The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-12-19


NCOLDEN TEXT-Glory to God in the
hhest. and on earth peace. good will to-
Nh men.-Luke PA.
ITnsel and toys, snow and sleigh
His, crowded department stores
brushing throngs, gifts and greet
cards, Christmas dinner and fell
Eship with family and friends
khat all Christmas means to us?
these things are proper in their
Ice-eXciting and interesting-but
g are not enough.
IThey have never been enough and
Etainly they will not do this year,
kh a world in chaos. We need not
se any of the thrilling enjoyment
tChristmas by properly observing
day; in fact, we shall only en-
lace its meaning and bring out its
al glory by keeping Christ at the
Mart Of our Christmas.
1.-THE opening verses of Luke 2 tell
Of the coming Of Mary with Jo-
kph to Gods appointed place at His
kgointed time for the coming into
3 world of His Son to be made
sh and dwell among us John l:
Our lesson tells us of
l. Good Tidings of Great Joy wv.
God had good news for the people
This world and He gave it, as was
scustom, to those who were faith
Fly discharging their humble
tiles (cf. Judg. Gil, II; I Kings
kl0. God is still ready to reveal
Is glory and grace in the "ofice,
Achen, mill, barn school-room,
b open feld-places where people
d at work on daily tasks" Doug
b. You need not be in the great
wch in a large city to meet Him
Christmas day. He will reveal
kmsef in all His beauty where you
n, though you be in the humblest
Surroundings and at the most mental
sk Look for Him!
Jesus came as a Saviour. "The
World did not want an adviser. The
World had advised itself almost into
el. The world did not ask for a
peculator. Everything that man
build do had been done, and men
BIT in the darkness of their own
tsdom. The world did not want a
fOrmer, a man who could change
is outward and transient relations,
engineer that would continually
evote his time Cor appropriate re-
tmeration) to the reimbursement of
be wheels and the pulIeys and the
arious mechanical forces of soci-
III, The world wanted a saviour"
BoSeph Parker).
Note that the army of heaven
kame to declare peace, not war; but
ply to those in whom He is well
keased'' ". IA, R. W. AS long as
pen serve the devil and displease
Nod, they will have no peace.
Il. Great Faith and Consistent
ctiOn wv. Is, 16).
The shepherds did not say, "Let
now go and see if this thing has
pme to pass, or (which we expect
hope will come to pass, but said,
(which is come to pass" They
ent not to test Gods word. but in
be assurance that they would "see"
that had come to pass. Blessed
Fith! Let us too believe Gods word
US.
But faith without works is dead"
games 2;1O. The shepherds might
'hve made many excuses for not
Eping but "they came" and found"
be Saviour. Perhaps you who read
feSe words have failed at that
pint; you have not come to Jesus
+ your Saviour. No more appro-
piate time sould be found to come
ban 7}ht now. Believe, then act
b your faith.
Some of us who are Christians
bed also to learn of the shepherds.
ge talk a great deal about our de-
|ptlon to Christ. Especially at this
Christmas season we render much
| lip service to Him. Let us make
real, and our lives viriIe and
lctive for Him.
Ill. Good News for Meditation and
PROCLAMATION wv. 1920.
The gospel is literally good
ews." What a blessed privilege it
to have such good news in a day
evil tidings, of darkness and
fSpair.
There are two things we ought to
b with the gospel of Gods redeem
lg grace. We should make it
hoWn to the ends of the earth, but
'e should also do as Mary, "who
ept all these things and pondered
fem in her heart" We know she
ed special reasons for doing so,
|ut may we not suggest that you
DO make this Christmas a time
'hen you will ponder in your own
eart what God has done for you in
|hrist?
The shepherds also set us a Christ
has example, for they made
Down abroad the coming of the
hviour. Will you tell someone else
play? viii you, like the shep-
erds, be "glorifying and praising
'od" this Christmas? You will if
pu, like them, go to the manger
hd meet Jesus. If you go to this
lorld's empty show of celebration,
ou will return empty (see v. 20).
May the blessed peace of Christ
( yours this Christmas. That is
BY wish from the heart to you.
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For the second time in less than a