# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1918_S89 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) NOTICE TO READER. When yon finish reading this magazine, place a 1-cent s' 1 on this notice, nail the magazine, and it will be placed in the hands of our sol- diers or sallors destined to proceed overseas. No Wrapping — No Addrcas, A. 8. BurLEson, Postmaster-Gencral. The Zutheran Pioneer, A. MISSIONARY MONTHLY. Pousitisuep spy THE EvancericaL Lutieran Synopicat CoNFERENCE oF NortH America. REv. F. J. LANKENAU, EDITOR. Entered at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Ly Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 5, 1918. , ST. LOUIS, MO., DECEMBER, 1918. No. 12. Look to Bethlehem! When comes the merry Christmastide, Not all will share the joy and mirth Which princely pelf and treasures bring, Those joys of momentary worth. But, ah! a look to Bethlehem Brings lasting joy to all the earth! Some playful hands will ask for gifts, Some hungry mouths for food will call; But mother-eyes will look in vain For more than crusts of bread — her all. But, lo! in Bethlehem there lies A Gift for them —in humble stall! The tear-stained heart for comfort looks — Her dearest in the battle fell; But star of gold and empty chair Another flow of tears compel. But look! In Bethlehem there’s balm Which e’en this sorrow can dispel! Yea, though no riches we possess, On earth the poorest people be, Though sorrows rend our hearts in twain, Though tears form pools of misery, Yet will we look to Bethlchem, And thus from every ill be free! Terpert C. Craus. ‘Unto Us a Child Is Born.’’ Every word of the Christmas-message is replete with comfort and good cheer for us. So also the angelic assertion that the Savior of sinners is “born.” Isaiah, hundreds of years before, had emphasized this same fact when he prophetically declared : “Unto us a Child is born.” “Child,” “born,” what boundless joy and comfort for us sinners there is in these two words! The Savior is born a little child. He does not come in His divine majesty, sitting upon the throne of His glory, to take us to task because of our shortcomings and misdemeanors. Nay, He comes as a child, as our flesh and blood, as our brother. In this way “Unto you is born this day a Savior.” God shows His love to the whole world of sinners, in this way the heavenly Father proves beyond all doubt that it is His earnest desire to receive us into His family and make us heirs of life eternal. For it was only by becoming a true man that God’s eternal Son could save us; it was only in this way that He could put Himself under the Law to re- deem us, who were under the Law; it was only