WISHING YOU AND YOURS A
BLESSED CHRISTMAS.
The Gordons
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AND LO THE STAR
Far in the East a bright star gleams;
Scholars of Parthia see its beams;
They who have waited Messiah's birth,
Know that at last He has come to earth.
"Come, let us follow," they eagerly cry,
"The constellation in yonder sky!"
"Follow a star!" their companions jeer.
"Stay you, my friends, in contentment here.
"He who follows a dream or whim
Can expect no good to come to him.
Whither ye travel ye do not know;
Foolish ones, how can ye go?"
"True, we know not each step of the way,
But faith will light up the night as the day.
We seek the Christ, and we follow His star,
Though it lead us through desert to lands afar."
Then onward they travel, past many a foe;
Through desert hardships they gladly go,
Till they come to a dwelling in Bethlehem,
And the sight of the Christ-child is given to them.
Ever since, men have followed the same bright star,
Though friends have jeered, and it led them far.
Through tear-dimmed eyes they have often seen
It turn drab winter to springtime green.
Dreamers of earth -- ah, yes, but they find
The glory of God while others are blind.
No way can be dark when His star is bright;
No heart can be lonely when Christ is its light.
-- Cosa Elizabeth Reynolds
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" . . . I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12
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OUR FATHER . . .
FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS
Jesus taught His disciples to pray: "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors . . . " (Matthew 6:9-12).
We are debtors to God. Luke records it thus: "Forgive us our sins." Our debt takes the form of sin. Paul reminds us that "all have sinned." We are all alike sinners and so debtors to God. And what is worse we cannot pay the debt. It is beyond our means to pay. The best we can do is to ask forgiveness. "Our Father . . . forgive us our debts."
As we stand this side of Calvary we see that He has done just that. As Jesus hung upon the cross He cried to the Father, "Father, forgive them." The Father has forgiven us in Christ. "God in Christ hath forgiven you," says Paul. But not without blood sacrifice. "Without shedding of blood is no forgiveness." Jesus foretelling His coming death, and referring to His shed blood, says, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins." So it is Christ "in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." When we recognize this fact then forgiveness of sins becomes a reality with us personally.
BUT THIS WORKS BOTH WAYS. "Father . . . forgive us . . . as we forgive." Can you conceive of one who has known the sweet forgiveness of God through Christ, who himself would refuse to forgive another indebted to him? No, in fact, "if I forgive my brother," says Martin Luther, "such forgiving confirms my faith, and gives me proof of my belief that God has forgiven me and continues to forgive me day after day."
An unforgiving spirit evidences an unforgiven person. One who has been forgiven all his trespasses by God through Christ, invariably manifests a forgiving heart toward his fellow men. The Scriptural admonition for the Christian is: "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Since the cross, forgiveness is an actuality for all who will take it by faith in Christ. The question you must answer is: Have I this forgiveness?
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AS WITH GLADNESS
MEN OF OLD
As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious God, may we
Evermore be led to Thee.
As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed;
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heav'n and earth adore;
So may we, with willing feet,
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.
As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare,
So may we, with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring.
Christ, to Thee, our heav'nly King.
Holy Jesus, ev'ry day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.
-- W. C. Dix
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THE INCOMPARABLE CHRIST
By A. Fraser Naismith
THE WONDER OF HIS WISDOM
Matthew 12:42
"The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here" (Matthew 12:42).
Solomon is the human expression of Wisdom desired and bestowed. In First Kings chapter 3 the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Ask what I shall give thee." His answer is worthy of note, "I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in . . . give thy servant an understanding heart."
To this request God replied, "Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither has asked riches for thyself, not asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."
This wisdom which was divinely bestowed on King Solomon was soon put to the test as the remainder of this chapter reveals. Without going into detail it should be observed that the king called for a sword, suggesting that the living child over whom the two mothers disputed, should be divided in two and a portion given to each of the mothers. The real mother said, "O my lord, give her the living child and in no wise slay it," then the King said, "Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof."
In First Kings 10 the Queen of Sheba (called the "Queen of the South" in Matthew 12:42), came to visit Solomon, having heard of his fame concerning the name of the Lord, and she plied him with hard questions. When she had seen all Solomon's wisdom there was no more spirit in her. She further confessed, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes have seen it: and behold the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard."
While there is much that was divinely approved in the life of Solomon -- for "all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God put in his heart" -- when he was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God. "Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord" (I Kings 11:6).
WE TURN FROM THE RECORDS OF THIS "WISE MAN" SOLOMON and consider the One who stated "Behold a greater than Solomon is here," CHRIST, who is Wisdom personified! The Holy Spirit through Paul affirms Christ to be "the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (I Corinthians 1:24). If we would consider Wisdom in the abstract or in the concrete we must turn to one Person only, even Jesus Christ our Lord.
"Never man spake like this Man" was the testimony of the soldiers sent to arrest Him (John 7:46). "He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes" (Mark 1:22). The words He spake "they are spirit and they are life." The parables that He taught were truly miracles of His wisdom; while the miracles which He wrought were parables of His power.
Wisdom in the Hebrew Scriptures is more than a human endowment: it is more than a divine attribute: it is a Person! While some may find difficulty in interpreting "Wisdom," in the Book of Proverbs, as applying to Christ because it is a feminine noun, it would be good to remind such that the "red heifer" of Numbers 19 is also in the feminine: and who would doubt the application there to Christ?
It is one of the grandest types of our Lord in Old Testament writ. The context of Proverbs 8 brings "love" forcibly before the heart (verse 17). The principle of love is of paramount importance, and we can say "We love him, because he first loved us." Then there is the thought of "seeking." "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found" (Isaiah 55:6). "Wealth" is emphasized too; and Paul reminded the Corinthians, "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he is rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).
"Righteousness" and "judgment" follow in the train of the preceding principles. Wisdom speaking says "I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures" (Proverbs 8:20-21). Paul confirms this in First Corinthians 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." It is apparent that Wisdom and Righteousness walk hand in hand: they were perfectly harmonized in Christ, and He left us an example that we should follow His steps.
WHEN JAMES PENNED HIS EPISTLE HE TOO REVEALED THAT WISDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE CLOSELY ALLIED, for in chapter 3 verses 17 to 18 he states, "Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
We have said that Christ is Wisdom personified: and He has come from above and is "pure." Every thought and word and deed of His was wholly in harmony with the Father's mind, for He claimed "I do always those things that please him."
This Wisdom is "peaceable" and Christ is designated "The Lord of Peace" (2 Thessalonians 3:16). He was never alarmed or dismayed. Peace was His in view of His mission to earth; it was His throughout that mission; and when He had finished the work, that peace remained undisturbed. He assigned to His followers peace saying, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you."
This Wisdom is "gentle." Never at any time did our Lord injure anyone. He could take the children in His arms; and could say "Suffer little children to come unto me."
This Wisdom is "easy to be intreated." Jairus fell at the feet of Jesus and besought Him that He would come into his house. This ruler had only one daughter and she lay dying. Christ responded to the request, for He was easy to be entreated, and He raised the girl to health.
This Wisdom is "full of mercy and good fruits." It is true that woman in Matthew 15 sought mercy of the Lord, but her approach was wrong. She was a Gentile and had no claim on Him as "Son of David": for she cried "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David." When she took her rightful place as a Gentile then Christ bestowed upon her the blessing she craved -- her daughter was made whole.
Wisdom is "without partiality" as revealed in Christ. No matter the need He was ready to meet it, whether it was in a Hebrew or a Gentile. He met the need of Nicodemus in John 3, and of the woman of Sychar in John 4. Impartiality is confirmed in the usage of the word "whosoever"; and the glorious invitation of John 7:37 "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink," reveals how impartial He was.
The seventh factor is as important as the six preceding ones -- it is "without hypocrisy." The Christ of God was wholly transparent. With Him there was no duplicity, for if there was one thing more than another that He detested it was hypocrisy. In Matthew 23 Christ seven times over speaking of the scribes and Pharisees designated them "hypocrites."
THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES (9:13-18) GIVES US A LOVELY LITTLE PARABLE. The little city -- this earth -- was taken, and the conqueror consolidated his position by an army of occupation holding the inmates in bondage. There appeared in the city a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. No human strategy could have conceived a plan of liberation. This poor, wise man "by his wisdom" delivered the city. What a triumph was that of Christ at Calvary!
By what might seem defeat
He won the meed and crown;
Trod all our foes beneath His feet,
In being trodden down.
There is a sorrowful anticlimax to this story -- "the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard."
In Solomon we have Wisdom and Peace manifested. In our Lord Jesus Christ these great principles are seen in perfection. Solomon made a good start but made a very bad finish. Our adorable Lord is "par excellence" in every principle enunciated in our study. In Wisdom there is the revelation of God in Jesus Christ: in Peace there is the present enjoyment of all that Christ has secured for God and for us. He is superlative! in Him there is no trace of failure, for at the end of the pathway of obedience unto Him who sent Him He stated "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work thou gavest me to do."
Truly "the half has not been told." "Behold a greater than Solomon!"
(From "Things Concerning Himself")
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NEVER MAN 'CAME' LIKE THIS MAN
There are all types of men in the world. Each a distinct individual. Each a unique personality. Some of the greatest ever born are portrayed in the Sacred Scriptures. But never has there been, during the long history of the human race, a man like Jesus. He is above all men unique in character, personality, and work.
Some of the people in Jesus' day believed Him to be the Christ. Others did not. Most of the religious leaders disbelieved. And their unbelief was anything but passive. They sent officers to apprehend Him. But the officers returned emptyhanded. "Why have ye not brought him?" queried the scribes and Pharisees. The officers answered, "Never man spake like this man." (John 7:46).
Indeed, Jesus was unique in His speech, as was He in every phase of His life. Never man 'came' like this Man. Never man 'lived' like this Man. Never man 'died' like this Man. Never man 'rose' like this Man. Jesus' life was one long miracle -- a miracle birth, a miracle life, a miracle death, and a miracle resurrection. No one else ever came, lived, spoke, died, arose, as did the Lord Jesus.
Since He is the only One of His kind it would do us well to study this Man's life. May we first consider the fact that "Never man 'came' like this Man."
NO ONE ELSE WAS EVER CONCEIVED LIKE JESUS.
Only of Him could it be said, "for that which is conceived in her (Mary) is of the Holy Ghost." Jesus was conceived by God in the womb of Mary. Thus He was "called the Son of the Highest." The heavenly Father, speaking from heaven, said of Him, "This is my beloved Son." John said He was God's "only begotten Son."
One day some angry Jews said mockingly to Jesus, "WE be not born of fornification!" implying that He had been. Many unbelievers today affirm the same of Him. Some who stand in our pulpits would have us believe that Jesus was conceived by Joseph, or an unknown Roman soldier, or even a mercenary soldier from Germany. This is nothing less than blasphemy, making Him the product of an illicit affair.
Jesus told those in His day who implied such blasphemy, "I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me." The same is true today. The person who would throw doubt on the conception of our Lord is in actuality dishonoring both the Father and the Son. They may say ever so fervently they love and serve the Father and Jesus, but they live a lie when they say that Jesus was not conceived as the Bible says.
Let the Scriptures speak. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost . . . for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." Shall we take the word of unbelievers who at best are only guessing, or shall we believe the record God has given us concerning His Son? God's messenger to Mary told her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing (person) which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
NO ONE ELSE WAS EVER BORN LIKE JESUS.
His was a miraculous birth. He was born of a virgin. The prophet Isaiah had predicted, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Matthew records that this was JESUS. So in the fulness of time "the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary . . . And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS" (Luke).
Who has ever heard of such a thing before or since? that a child is born of a virgin. A biological impossibility. One man plus one woman equals a new-born infant. But here was one woman, a virgin, to be delivered of a man-child. Mary had doubts at first, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" The laws of natural conception were set aside for this extraordinary birth. Jesus was born of a virgin. A miracle birth. With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible. He was conceived by God. Let the unbelievers ridicule and mock, they judge according to the flesh. Let God be true though this makes every man a liar.
NO ONE ELSE WAS PREEXISTENT LIKE JESUS.
Jesus Christ was unique in His birth, in that He had lived before. You and I had our beginning when we were born. Not so Jesus. His physical human life began at His birth but He had always existed in eternity past as the second Person of the Godhead.
Isaiah was very explicit when he wrote, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." The 'child' had his origin in Bethlehem's manger. The 'Son' was without beginning, eternal in the heavens, and was given to us through the birth of the 'child.' The 'child' was born of the virgin. The 'Son' was given by God the Father.
The importance of Christ's coming is closely related to us humans. He must be born as a child to become a man. He must become a man in order to give His life as a ransom for fallen man. In no other way could the debt of man's sin be paid. In no other way could the eternal Son of God pay the debt. He has to become one with us (except for sin) that He might die for us. Thus the eternal Son became man and as man accomplished our salvation.
SOME SAY IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HOW HE WAS BORN.
But it does make a difference. If He was not conceived of the Holy Spirit, then He was conceived as a result of fornication and could be no one's Saviour. If He was born of anyone other than the Virgin, then He was born in sin and shapen in iniquity like the rest of us and could be no one's Saviour.
If Jesus was conceived and born as other men He was not preexistent. If He was not preexistent then He was not God. If He was not Emmanuel ('which being interpreted is, God with us') then He could be no one's Saviour. If such were true, He Himself would need a Saviour. Does it make a difference how this One came? It makes a tremendous difference! It is the difference between our being saved or lost. If Jesus came as predicted and proclaimed in the Holy Scriptures then we have a Saviour and eternal life. If not, then we are of all men most miserable, without hope, still in our sins, and under condemnation and destined for the flames.
But Jesus came as written, and we do have a Saviour. "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."
"Wherefore he (Jesus) is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him."
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