May 4

Fear not; for, 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.

What man needed was a Savior, a Deliverer mightier than the forces that held him bound, and such a one God had promised man. Adam and Eve, leaving Paradise, were consoled by the promise of the Seed of the Woman, the Savior, who should bruise the head of the Serpent. Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob looked forward to that Deliverer and were sustained by the hope that the Savior would come soon. Succeeding saints and prophets took up the pleading strain: "Oh, that the Salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!" and sang and prophesied of His advent. Finally, when the fulness of time was come, He arrived; and in what manner? "God was manifest in the flesh." "The Word was made flesh." "Unto us a Child is born."

The Savior of the world was born. God has become our Brother; He appeared among us in our own likeness, in the form of man, like us in all respects with the exception of sin.

Why did the Son of God become man? That in our stead He might fulfil the commandments of God and atone for all our transgressions by painful suffering and bitter death. The Babe of Bethlehem is our Savior, our Redeemer. Could we receive gladder tidings than these? Could there be a greater evidence of God's love to man?

This was indeed the accepted time and the day of salvation promised by the prophets. When the long-hoped-for Messiah appeared in the flesh and performed the great work of redemption, by which the whole fallen human race was reconciled with God, behold, then the day of salvation had come; then God showed that He is kind to sinful man, that He truly loves the world, the world of sinners. How gloriously did God's kindness and love appear in the birth of Christ in Bethlehem! Should not this stir us to the highest pitch of gratitude? The shepherds went and told others. Let the glorious truth receive universal proclamation!

Prayer.

O Lord God, heavenly Father, Thy grace is too far beyond our understanding, Thy kindness too immeasurable, Thy glory too radiant, to enable us to realize its magnitude. Therefore we ask Thee to open our eyes that we may see the wonders of Thy grace, to move our hearts that they may be borne away with Thy loving-kindness, and to make our tongues burn to praise it worthily. The angel's message resounds in our hearts: "Unto you is born this day a Savior." Amen.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th' incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with man to dwell — Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Let us all with gladsome voice Praise the God of heaven, Who, to bid our hearts rejoice, His own Son hath given.