The Sabbath

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19765, 21 December 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

The Sabbath

EMMANUEL. Of all the names the Saviour bears, (And each becomes Him well). One hath peculiar charm for me, His name, Emmanuel. “God with us”—now and evermore! “God with us,” —all is well! His name we worship and adore, — His name, Emmanuel. Emmanuel! Emmanuel! God come from Heav’n, with men to dwell! Our human life He entered in, To share our sorrows, bear our sin—--0 precious name, Emmanuel! HOW HE CAME. When the golden evening gathered on the shores of Galilee, When the fishing boats lay quiet by the sea, Long ago the people wondered, though no sign was in the sky, For the glory of the Lord was passing by. Not in robes of purple splendour, not in silken softness shed, But in raiment worn with travel came their God. And the people knew His presence by the heart that ceased to sigh, When the glory of the Lord was passing by. For He healed their sick at even, and He cured the leper’s sore, And sinful men and women sinned no more, And the world grew mirthful-hearted, and forgot its misery When the glory of the Lord was passing by. Not in robes of purple splendour, but in lives that do His will, In patient acts of kindness He comes still; And the people cry with wonder, though no sign is in the sky, That the glory of the Lord is passing by. W. J. Dawson. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be j saved.”—John 111. 16 and 3 7. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful,

Counsellor The the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. “Of the increase of His government and peace mere shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon His Kingdom to order and establish it with judgment and with justice from hencefor even for ever.” —Isaiah IX., 6 and 7. CHRISTMAS. THE LEADERSHIP OF A CHILD. WONDER AND RECEPTIVENESS. Christians at Christmas place themselves under the leadership of a Child: “unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” They bow in homage before the cradle of the Babe, recognising in Him both the perfection of human nature and the supremacy of those elementary principles of right which belong to what may be called the childhood of humanity, to man in his simple, unsophisticated being. Justice, brotherhood, love are among these principles, and it is in submission to them that man reaches his true development, thus fulfilling the ancient prophecy, “A little child shall lead them.” Two of the chief characteristics of a child are wonder and receptiveness. His is the temper of eager expectancy. But wonder should not be the mark of the child alone; it should be present in the life of the grown man, and not least in that of the Christian. The whole setting of the Christmas story, told in the oGspels with an exouisite simplicity, breathes an atmosphere of wonder. And those who have submitted themselves to the leadership of this Child know that they Can Never Exhaust That Leadership. He opens up for them fresh avenues of truth and service, and to follow Ilim becomes the joy and inspiration of their lives. An adoring wonder fills their being. The receptiveness of a child follows naturally from its capacity for wonder. Receptiveness is essentially a mark of Christian discipleship, for the disciple must be ever learning. There is a Spirit of Truth who can guide us into all truth, and there are secrets of the kingdom which, hidden from the wise and prudent, are revealed to babes, to those, that is, who are humble enough to feel their need of illumination, and ready enough to search for further light. Receptiveness characterised the life I of Jesus as child and man. His soul was always open to His Father’s influence, and because it was so open lie could be the perfect channel of Divine revelation. There is none of (Continued In next column,/

us who does not retain through life something of the child’s receptiveness; it is for us to see that the capacity does not lie dormant. Christmas speaks of Divine creativeness and of the coming into the world of a new stream of supernatural power. Man’s need was met by the birth of a Saviour; his capacity fjth receiving God was matched by a revelation of the nearness of God. When the Word was made Flesh it was no more possible, to think of God as a distant Ruler of the universe. He was seen to be the Spirit of life and love Entering Into Fellowship With Men and seeking to impart to them all of Himself that they could receive, that they might live their lives at a new and higher level. Renovation of character comes to those who accept Christ’s leadership. In Isaiah’s arophetic vision the leadership of the child ushered in an age of Messianic peace, when even the inveterate foes of the animal world lay down together in amity. Peace is Christ’s gift to His disciples. Discontents and disharmonies vanish as the personality becomes unified under His control. We learn to become whole and win an inner freedom which enables us to rise above the tyranny of circumstances. What is true of the individual is true of groups and nations, whose mistrusts and jealousies can disappear under the sovereignty of Him who is the universal Saviour of mankind.