FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
‘GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN’
“Oh that today the human family would recognize that song!” And wonder why there is no peace on earth and goodwill among the nations and kingdoms of the earth!
That “peace on earth” and “goodwill toward men” sung by the angelic choir of heaven with the humble shepherds out in the fields only as their audience on earth, while the whole heavenly universe rejoiced, can only be understood, appreciated and possessed when we turn our attention away from the frenetic world around us and focus on the following:
“The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden ‘the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.’ Rom. 11:33. We marvel at the Savior’s sacrifice in exchanging the THRONE of heaven for the MANGER, and the companionship of adoring ANGELS for the BEASTS of the stall.
“Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence Yet this was but the BEGINNING of His wonderful CONDESCENSION. It would have been an almost INFINITE HUMILIATION for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his INNOCENCE in Eden.
“But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by FOUR THOUSAND YEARS OF SIN. Like every child of Adam, He accepted the results of the working of the great LAW OF HEREDITY. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a HEREDITY to share our SORROWS and TEMPTATIONS, and to give us AN EXAMPLE OF A SINLESS LiFE…….
“To meet a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for OUR LITTLE ONES. “Herein is love.’ Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth!” (Desire of Ages, pp. 48, 49).
I will not greet you with a Merry Christmas but with this message that is much better, more truthful, uplifting, encouraging and edifying!
God bless all, NMF