The Sabbath

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 18 (Supplement)

The Sabbath

CHRISTMAS. I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, goodwill to men. And thought now, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peaqe on earth, goodwill to men. Till ringing, singing on its way The world revolved from night to day; A voice, a chime, A chant sublime — Of peace on earth, goodwill to men. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fall; The right prevail, With peace on earth, goodwill to men. —Longfellow. DAILY 4 TEXT. Sunday. The Last Enemy: God Is unto us a God of salvation;' And unto Jehovah the Lord believeth escape from death. -—psalm 68: 20. Monday. Defraud Not: For this is the will of God, . . . that no man defraud his brother in any matter—l Thcssalonians -i: 5, -i. Tuesday (Christmas Day.) Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given and the government shall lie upon his shoulder, and his name shall he called Wonderful Counsellor The Mighty God. the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the universe of his government and peace there shall he no end. Wednesday. Our Authority: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and Ihe Father by him.—Colossians 5: 17. Thursday. God’s lieneflts: Blessed he the Lord, who daily hearetlrour burden. Even the God who is our salvation. —Psalm 68: It). Friday. An Unlimited Supply: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you. ye shall ask what ye will, and if shall be done unto you.—John 15: 7. Saturday. Unfailing Strength: I will go into the strength of the Lord God: t will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.—Psalm 7J: )6

THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE. LIFE AND POWER. TRANSFORMING THE WORLD. With its, message of peace and good will, its appeal to our common manhood, Its tender associations of hearth and home, Christmas is the most human of all' the Festivals of the Church. Year by year as it comes round we wonder afresh at the beauty and simplicity of the Gospel narrative, with its lending of the heavenly and the earthly, its pervading sense of mystery, its compelling charm. As we pass behind the story to ponder on its meaning gratitude awakens because It tells of a Divine Love coming down to tabernacle among men. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" is the phrase in which St. John sums up the spiritual significance ot the birth of Jesus Christ, and the Christian ‘Church has ever since accepted his valuation of the event. When the Prince of Peaoe Was Born. there entered into the world a new power which transformed it and is destined to transform it still further. For that Holy Babe lias commanded the homage of the centuries, and a troubled humanity still turns to Him as One who holds the secret of peace. Who, however, would have anticipated the manner of Ilis coming? “Their prince shall be one. of themselves’’ had been the messianic prediction of a Hebrew prophet, hut who would have cradled Him in the manger crib of a lowly inn or nurtured Him in Ihc home of a village carpenter? Yet such was (lie fashion of ilis advent, as if God would bid us remember the sac-redness of life’s common things. Is not this one of the lessons of Christmas, that earth's familiar places, Lhe home and the workshop, and man’s everyday tasks and duties can lie transfigured, it’ seen in the light of Him who proclaimed Himself to be the Light of the world? And, as a more important part of the sarnie lesson, does not, this Birth teach us how great are the spiritual possibilities of our common human nature? II was our manhood which lie, the Son of God, assumed. lie revealed its capahililies and lifted it into closer communion with God. At limes we perhaps are templed to despise it when it ran fall. 'But lie wore and carried if hark to God unspotted; and that He did. not for himself alone, but that. He might, lie. the Captain of our salvation. The central message of Ohrislmas is of One 'being born among men who is a creative source o[ life and power. Power is one of the Keywords of Christianity. ‘ The glimpses which we have in (Continued id next column.;

I classical literature of the pagan world ; just before the birlh of Christ show a j society, not only corrupt and lacking 1 in moral llbre. buL also partly conscious of its need ami looking for help. Philosophy, indeed, advocated nobler ways of living.' But there was lacking the motive power for living in accordance with the ideals proclaimed. If was Ibis new powei which Christ brought. He set up a loftier standard of conduct than any , who had preceded Him, and at the same time disclosed new sources of spiritual aid. H is this advent ol fresh power when the Saviour of the

world was born which is the core of the Christinas message. It is easy to miss Hie religious significance of Christmas and be content with Its more human associations, forgetting what !}es behind the slory of Hie manger. "Philosophy," it has been said, "is history taking its time." Cliristianily lias now behind it a long history, and if we ask what is the philosophy of that history, what is the secrel of Hie religion’s vitality, wo we come hack to the creative Person of .loses Christ, from whom lias flowed and flows to-day, both for society and the individual, a regenerating stream of life.