Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1946-12-20

When Jesus was born in Bethle'
hem there were only few men and
women Of faith who could see In the
Babe Of the manager the glory and
Ire power Of Christ, II was dark
and unhclievinR age into which he
was born--and who will say that II
Is diTeren, In tho day in which we
celebrate Christmas, 1916
Indifferent. ignorant and sinful
people are glad 10 try TO capitalize
on the sririt Of Christmas, but they
still despise and turn away from the
Son Of God Jesus the Saviour
1t behonves us, therefore. to pre-
sent once more the message Of the
Saviour who came at Christmas
that all men may hear Of him.
Our lesson speaks of Gods great
gift Of love and tells what manner
Of men and women we should be be-
cause he did give his Son for us
]. Gods Christmas Gift to Us
(John 8 l6i
God loved-so God gave. Love
prompts the heart to give One may
give without leving it is true. but
one cannot love without giving
Gods love for man existed from
all eternity II provided way Of
redemption for man and in due sea-
son the Saviour came, to live, to
love. TO die for all mankind
II was no chance event, no acct
dent in history; il was the heart Of
God speaking in his ''unspeakable
gift Gil Cor. 9:l5D OF his only be-
gotten Son
That leads us TO our second Scrip
ture and our second point. We who
receive gifts try to express our
appreciation in a polite and proper
way.
II. Our Thank You" to God
(Eph. 3:l4-2D.
Pauls prayer for. the Ephesian
church tand for us also who are in
the family" v. l5 tells us how
We may by our lives as Christians
express our gratitude to God.
The church of Christ. madx upRf
those who are believerss hin,
should show its relationship to God
and its appreciation of his grace by
its
l. Strength ". l6). II does not
honor God nor is he properly rep
resented in the world by those who
are spiritually weak and ineffective
1t is the privilege Of the believer
TO be strengthened with might "
l6) and this takes place as the
Holy Spirit has liberty with power
penetrating to your inmost beinE,
as Weymouth translates It. No part
of mans inner being is then len
weak or without the light and grace
Of the Holy Spirit
2. Love ~. 10 This is the strong
foundation OF Oh spiritual dcvr'an
ment and usefulness Roots enc
put down deep Gas we change Gc
fEuge of speech 10 hold the lil.
steady and 60 provide the nCurlar
mont for spiritual living
This is an possible because Gnu e
makes his home in fhc heart Th.
of the privilege Of making such a
guest feel at home I'm our hesr
Let us be grateful ard let us r.r
ognize him and honor his r.ca n.e
3 knowledge wv. 49, 49, THE b..
lever has To- ,now not only a
movable, but also that which r.....
knowledge, namely 'he love ..
Christ.
We shall grow IN grace "s VA,
grow in the knowlcdaa Of m.
love Of Christ Cll Pet 3.l3l 49,.
with all Of Coos people waa %
great and delightful company me-
to comprehend, to really grasp f..
length and breadth and he CHI agH
depth Of his love
We say with the psalmist, Such
knowledge is too wonderful for ue.
It is high, cannot attain tn 3D.
ops. 1890. But then we reuem.
Der that ii is as Christ dwens Fri
our hearts by faith" ~ ~ that We
are abe to comprehend such truth
Most Christians live on very
low plane, going along with o ur..
tied and unsatisfactory Christian ex
perience when all this is availa nc
TO them by faith
4. Faith " 2o) Here we see SHY
IT is possible to do the impossible.
TO know that which passes k.
edge, to see the unseen. It Is cv
faith In him Who lis able 10 d. r.
6nitely beyond all our h.ea,
prayers and thoughts" tWeymc.y
v. 20) that we attain unto this
blessed place OF blessing
So this is the Thank you" psi
God wants this Christmas He wants
the unbeliever to turn to him In
faith, and the believer TO really Re
what he ought TO be and can be IN
I'LL lh't iitH IMAM NAble nv WIZ
say. Thank you, Lord, for saving
my soul"
For the tenth successive year the
writer Of these notes espresso. Co.
his readers everywhere his good
wish Tor n most blessed Christmas
both in heart and home May he
Lore give MS al special grace his
year 10 thank him ior bis greet
CHI irimas Git 10y a iie wholly 5cdi
Gated to h,n.