Article December 18, 1954 Issue

THE GOOD TIDINGS OF CHRISTMAS

BETTIE BOONE SALEM

What a glorious occasion is Christmas. How its coming afresh each year blesses and inspires the heart of humanity. What kind motives and loving deeds it engenders, and how eternal are its promises.

Perhaps no Christmas story ever written is so dear to mankind as the one related in the first chapters of the Gospel of Luke. We see in this account that when the great enlightenment of the Saviour's appearing came to the shepherds who were "keeping watch over their fiock by night," they were at first "sore afraid." We read, "The angel said unto them. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." And after describing the good tidings of the Saviour's coming, the narrative continues, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

These good tidings of great joy can come now into the daily experience of each earnest follower of Christ Jesus. They will reach the one who keeps patient, ceaseless watch over his own consciousness. The angels of God's presence today herald the appearing of Christ as the Saviour. They reveal that heavenly power which alone dispels the uncertainty of mortal living. They still announce the presence of the Christ with the comforting assurance that there is nothing to fear.

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