Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1946-12-21

$:14-21. 49,. -.
MEMORY SELECTION - Thanks be
unto God for his unspeakable gitt-1
Corinthians e:l5.
When Jesus was born In Bethle-
hem there were only a few men and
women Of faith who could see In the
Babe Of the manger the glory and
the power Of Christ. 1t was dark
and unbelieving age into which he
was born-and who win say that 1t
is different in the day In which we
celebrate Christmas. 1916.
Indifferent, ignorant and sinful
people are glad to try to capitalize
on the spirit Of Christmas. but they
still despise and turn away from the
Son Of God, Jesus the Saviour.
II behooves 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 3:16).
God loved-so God gave. Love
prompts the heart to give. One may
give without loving, 1t is true, out
one cannot love without giving.
Gods love for man existed from
all eternity. It provided way OF
redemption for man and in due sea-
son the Saviour came, to live, to
love, to die for all mankind.
It was no chance event, no acci-
dent in history; it was the heart OF
God speaking in his 'unspeakable
gift" III Cor. 9:15) 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. 3:14-2D.
PauPs prayer for the Ephesian
church (and for US also who are in
the family" v. 80 tells us how
we may by our lives as Christians
express our gratitude to God.
The church of Christ, made up OF
those who are believers in him.
should show its relationship to God,
and its appreciation of his grace by
its
l. Strength ". 16). 1t does not
honor God nor is he properly rep
resented in the world by those who
are spiritually weak and Ineffective.
It is the privilege OF the believer
to be strengthened with might w.
16) and this takes place as the
Holy Spirit has liberty with power
penetrating to your inmost being.
as Weymouth translates it. No part
of mans inner being Is then left
weak or without the light and grace
CT the Holy Spirit.
2. Love ". I'D. This is the strong
foundation Of all spiritual develop
ment and usefulness. Roots arr
put down deep Gas we change the
figure of speech to hold the life
steady, and to provide the nourish
ment for spiritual living.
This is all possible because Chris
makes his home in the heart. Thinf
of the privilege of making such {
guest feel at home in our hearts!
Let us be grateful, and let us rec
ognize him and honor his presence
8. knowledge wv. Is, 19). The be
lever has to know not only the
movable, but also that which passe:
knowledge, namely, the love O
Christ.
We shall grow in grace as we
grow in the knowledge of the
love of Christ QI. Pet. 3:18. We
with all of Gods people-what {
great and delightful company-art
to comprehend, to really grasp, th'
length and breadth and height ane
depth of his love.
We say with the psalmist, "Sucl
knowledge is too wonderful for me
it is high, I cannot attain to it
Cps. 1876. But then we remem
Der that it is as Christ dwells I'll
our hearts by faith" ". I'D that w
are able to comprehend such truth
Most Christians live on a yer.
low plane, going along with linn
tied and unsatisfactory Christian ex
perience when all this is availabl
to them by faith.
4. Faith ". 20). Here we see VIII
1t is possible to do the impossible
to know that which passes know
edge, to see the unseen. 1t Is b
faith In him who ''is able to do ir
fnitely beyond all our highes
prayers and thoughts" (Weymoutt
v. 2O) that we attain unto thi
blessed place of blessing.
So this Is the Thank you" tha
God wants this Christmas. He want
the unbeliever to turn to him j
faith, and the believer to really b
what he ought to be and can be
Christ. Then a mans whole life wi
say, Thank you, Lord, for savin
my SOUL
For the tenth successive year tn
writer of these notes expresses
his readers everywhere his goo
wish for a most blessed Christina
both in heart and home. May tn
Lord give us all special grace thi
ar "a thank him for his gree