Devotions by Ralph Chambers
Christmas

Christmas Newsletters

CHRISTMAS ... AND CHILDREN

It has always been true, and it always will be true-Christmas and children belong together and Christmas without children just isn't complete. Whether they're our children or ones we've never seen before, seems like human beings just naturally yearn for the gleeful screeches of happy children when Christmas time rolls around; peculiar, isn't it? And yet, it's not so strange after all, not when we realize that there never was a Christmas until a Child brought it straight from Heaven and it within our hearts.

Yes, the Christ Child was the first Christmas gift ever given, and He was sent from God to everyone who would accept Him. What a priceless Gift! Here was all of the Heavenly Father's love wrapped in swaddling clothes and bound with the scarlet cords of sacrifice! AND WITH THAT GIFT, CHRISTMAS WAS BORN.

Sometimes the Christ Child may be pushed into the background while tiny elves and a little old fat man takes the center of the stage. However, there is nothing that has not changed - it was on that first Christmas day nearly 2000 years ago that a Child brought joy and hope and comfort to a lonely and desperate world.

It was a Child who spread the spirit of-giving throughout the earth and even today - because God willed it so - children are still the inspiration of every joyful Christmas. "So it was in the beginning and thus it will ever be" until the wondrous, Christ Child has put down all enemies of righteousness and the fullness of His Kingdom has come. AMEN

Nov. 28, 1977

If Christ Had Not Come

December 6, 1974

A few year ago a striking Christmas card was published with the title, "If Christ had not come?" It was founded upon our Saviors words, "If I had not come?" The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Christ had never come.

In his dream he found himself looking, thru his home, but there were no stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreathes of holly, and no Christ to comfort gladden and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing toward Heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Savior had disappeared.

A ring at the doorbell and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hastened with the weeping child and as he reached the home he sat down and said, "I have something here that will comfort you." He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise but it ended at Malachi, and there was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.

Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation no word of glorious resurrection, no open Heaven, but only "dust to dust, ashes to ashes," and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that "He had not come," and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream.

Suddenly he awoke with a start and a great shout of joy and of praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by: "O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem........"

Let us be glad and rejoice on Christmas Day, because, "He has come," And let us remember the annunciation of the angel,

• "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10,11)

May our hearts go out to the people in heathen lands who have no blessed Christmas Day.

• "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and SEND PORTIONS TO THEM FOR WHOM NOTHING IS PREPARED." (Nehemiah 8:10)

AFTER CHRISTMAS CLEAN-UP

Well! Christmas is past. The tree will soon come down and be disposed of, the decorations will be carefully packed and stored away. The gifts that we have received will either be put to use or stored away. Left-overs from our Christmas family dinner will finally be disposed of or consumed and we will turn our attention to future activities or responsibilities that pertain to every day life.

Oh yes, we forgot in our list of Christmas things to be used or stored away one very important item. What are we going to do with the tiny babe that lay in the manger at Bethlehem? It was about Him that we sang in our Christmas carols. We referred to Him in our prayers and in our sermons. For a period of time He seemed to be the center of our attention.

Will we now lay Him aside as we have our Christmas decorations until another Christmas? Will our celebration of His coming conclude with the benediction at our last Christmas service or with the storing away of our Christmas decorations. After all, He did come to this world to find a place in the life and affairs of mankind. Will we now turn our back upon Him or will we give Him His rightful place on the throne of our heart as our reigning Lord and King?

December 29, 1980