The Gift of Love

His Wondrous Birth

"When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, . . . to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Gal. 4:4, 5.

Like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God's purposes know no haste and no delay. In heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined. When the great clock of time pointed to that hour, Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Satan in heaven had hated Christ for His position in the courts of God. He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son to come. a helpless babe. subject to the weaknesses of humanity. He permitted Him to meet life's peril in common with every human soul. to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss. God gave His only-begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure. "Herein is love." Wonder, heavens! And be astonished, 0 earth!

His Life of Service

"The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matt. 20:28.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world as the unwearied servant of man's necessity. His compassion knew no limit. En every city. town, and village, through which He passed. He laid His hands upon the afflicted ones and healed them Where He had passed, the objects of His compassion were rejoicing in health. His voice was the first sound that many had ever heard, His name the first word they had ever spoken, His face the first they had ever looked upon.

The afflicted hailed Him as a messenger of life and peace. He comforted them with the assurance of their heavenly Father's love. He went from place to place, explaining the Scriptures. At every opportunity when an interest was awakened by either friend or foe, He presented the word.

He helped all who were in sorrow and affliction. With tender, courteous grace He ministered to the sin-sick soul, bringing healing and strength, speaking hope to the downcast and peace to the distressed. He went about lifting up the bowed-down and comforting the sorrowful. With unwearying patience and sympathetic helpfulness He met men in their necessities.

He went about doing good and healing all who were afflicted. Satan had succeeded in debasing the image of God in humanity. Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. He came to lift us up from the lust, to reshape the marred character after the pattern of His divine character, and to make it beautiful with His own glory.

His life was one of constant self-sacrifice. He often dismissed His disciples to visit their homes and rest. but He gently resisted their efforts to draw Him away from His labors. All day He toiled, teaching the ignorant, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, feeding the multitude; and at the eventide or in the early morning, He went to the sanctuary of the mountains for communication with His lather. Often He passed the entire night in prayer, returning at daybreak to His work among the people.

Christ came to break down every wall of partition. He made no difference between neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies. That which appealed to His heart was a soul thirsting for the waters of life. He passed by no human being as worthless, but sought to apply the healing remedy to every soul. He demonstrated that His gift of mercy and love is as unconfined as the air, the light, or the showers of rain that refresh the earth. Wherever hearts are open to receive the truth. Christ is ready to instruct them.

Christ came to this world to reveal the light of God's love. His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known.

He came to this world to show that by receiving power from on high. man can live an unsullied life.. As one of us, He was to give an example of obedience. He took upon Himself our nature and passed through our experiences. He endured every trial to which we are subject. He exercised no power in His own behalf that is not freely offered to us. As man, He met temptation and overcame in the strength given Him from God.

It was Satan's purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man, but in Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Savior has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken.