Magyar Egyház, 1970 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1970-12-01 / 12. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11 world, as the gospel of our Lord spread from pole to pole. Just remember the many, who will not receive Christ neither His message in our own time, who live in godlessness and ruthless atheism with only one purpose in mind even today:“to annihilate Christianity,” and to destroy the churches apd temples of God. What shall we do then in 1970? How can we celebrate Christmas today? First of all, make every preparation before Christmas at home: read your Bible, have family devotions, sing praises to God and attend worship services regularly and faithfully. Then be ready to receive the “gift” of our Omnipotent Heavenly Father. Accept His Son as your Savior, trust Him, obey His commandments and be His loyal and faithful disciple wherever you are. Be ready to defend your faith against all kinds of evil. Do not be an ungrateful child of God. Remember how many blessings He has bestowed upon you every day. Christmas comes and Christmas goes, but God’s greatest gift, Christ Jesus can enter into your heart at any time and bring everlasting joy with Him. Give thanks to God for His “unspeakable gift”. If you yould like your Christmas to be a real commemoration of the first Christmas, then you must humbly open your heart to receive this “supreme gift” of God: Jesus Christ our Savior! Dezső Ábrahám MERRY CHRISTMAS Merry Christmas to you, the young and the gay, God guard you and guide you in His perfect way! Merry Christmas to you, the lonely and sad, Remember Christ came to make all people glad. Merry Christmas to you, the ones we hold dear, God bless you and keep you and stay very near! Merry Christmas to you, our neighbors and friends, As wider and wider this circle extends. Merry Christmas to you, the stranger ivithin, May true understanding and friendship begin! Merry Christmas to you! Merry Christmas tonight, And deep in each heart may the Star still shine bright! Merry Christmas to you, everyone everywhere, Peace on earth and good will — this be our prayer. GOD’S PERSONAL WORD Every year we are the recipients of Christmas greetings and they are always welcome. Some of these carry printed messages that are meant particularly for the recipient. They are personally chosen for us, and they are personally signed. Such messages are always noted and taken to heart. But tucked away in the many Christmas greetings which we receive are some that carry a personal note. These are always the most gratefully received and the most avidly devoured. Humanity hungers for the personal word. No other word takes its place. Indeed, in an age of machines and mass movements the hunger for the personal is even more acute. God did not create our hearts for turbines and calculating machines. God created our hearts for other hearts. Only the personal word can satisfy the hunger of the human heart. Christmas was and is God’s personal word to man. Christmas was not God’s first word to man. He spoke in many other ways. He spoke through nature. Nature is God’s word to man. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. He spoke through law. Physical law tells of the dependability of the universe. Moral law tells of God’s requirements to man. The Ten Commandments are directive and corrective; but they are not redemptive. He spoke through history. The generations are God’s footsteps For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4) He who has eyes may read. But nature, law, and history, though clear and unmistakable words from the Eternal, are not personal and humanity hungers for the personal. That is the meaning of Christmas. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...; and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” (John 1:14.) It is like receiving a Christmas greeting card with a personal note added in longhand. Jesus was God’s longhand to the children of men. His life was lived out on a very personal level. He called men and women by their first names, was himself called by his own first name. He preached a sermon or two,
