The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1895, Page 2

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2 The Lutheran Pioneer.

The Wise Men from the East.

Our picture is an Epiphany picture. Do you
know what Epiphany means? It means ap-
pearance. The Gospel lesson of the Epiphany
‘festival tells us that the Saviour appeared, or
became known, to the wise men from the East.
These men were gentiles, or heathen, and lived
in a land far away from the place where Christ
was born. By a wonderful star God let them
know that the Saviour had come. They thought
they: would find Him in the great city of Jeru-
salem, in the king’s palace. So they went to
that city, but they did not find Him there.
They were told, however, from the word of
God that the Saviour should be born at Beth-
lehem. “For thus it is ng
written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem in
the land of Juda, art not
the least among the prin-
ces of Juda, for out of
thee shall come a Goy-
ernor, that shall rule my
people Israel.”” The wise
men trusted this word of
God and started on their *
way to the humble village
of Bethlehem. And the
star, which they saw in the
East, went before them,
till if came and stood
over where the young
child was. And when
they had found the Say-
iour, they fell down and
worshipped Him, and
opened their treasures,
and presented unto Him
gifts: gold, and frankin-
cense, and myrrh. They
then went home with
happy hearts, for they
had found the Saviour.

without ‘a preacher? and how shall they preach
without they be sent?’’ The work of preparing
and_ sending out missionaries to the heathen
rests as a sacred obligation upon the Church
of Christ. Those:who believe in the Saviour
and know that in Him alone salvation from
eternal ruin and misery is to be found, should
be active in the work of making Him known
to all people. Christians must not play at
missions. No! They must be in earnest, and
must hestir themselves in the discharge of their
obligations. God has given us great oppor-
tunities, and these opportunities bring with
them great responsibilities. “There is much
work to be done in our Home Mission, in our
Colored Mission, and in our mission among
the heathen of India. May the love of Christ

ment. It may be, but I repeat it, if you are

walking at God’s side you are going forward
to nothing but good; great goodness is laid
up for you that trust in God. Take the truth
as a fact; God has great goodness laid up for
me. If the worst which I fear shall come to
pass, I shall find His goodness laid up in the

heart of the disaster.

Be thankful, as you

“know’’ that with God as your guide you can
not be traveling any road which does not lead
to something better.—W._R. V.

———- o<>e

To-morrow or To-day.

An unconverted sinner ought to remember
at the close of a year that he has lost that
period, and not only lost it, but converted it

‘These wise men from the East were gentiles, | move our hearts and hands to increased mis- |
and therefore we learn from this story that the sionary effort!

Saviour has come, not only for the Jews, but|”

also for the gentiles. Not only were the shep-
herds of Judea directed by the angel to the
newborn Saviour, but heathen from Jands of
darkness were Jed to Bethlehem to behold and
to worship Him who was born’as the Saviour
of all men. We here see the fulfillment of
prophecies delivered hundreds of years before.
= Ihe gentiles shall come to Thy light, and
Kings to the brightness of Thy rising.’” And
Again the propliet says, ‘‘Rejoice, ye gentiles,
with His people.” Therefore the command is
given; **Go ye into all the world, and preach

the Gospel to every creature;’” ‘Go ye, there-},

: fore, and teach all nations.’ It is God’s gra-
_Clous will that all men, without distinction of
‘Face; color, or social standing should come to
| Knowledge of the truth in Jesus and be saved.
t “how shall they. believe in Him of whom
have not heard? and how shall they hear

—

“Up, the ripening flelds ye see,
Mighty shall the harvest be,
But the reapers still are few,
Great the work they have to do.

“ord of harvest, let there be

Joy and strength to work for Thee,
Till the nations far and near

See Thy Light and learn Thy Fear.??
oa ee

The Coming Years.

We are often speculating on whatis to come;
whether the years shall bring life or death,
prosperity or sorrow. :

You who know that you are God’s dear chil-
dren through faith in Jesus Christ may take
one answer as regards the coming years; you
are going forth into nothing but goodness.

“All things work for good to them that love to

God.” I can not say that you may not be go-

:

into the means of sin and
ruin; that he is more sin-
ful than at the beginning ;
that his mass of guilt and
the reasons of his con-
demnation are mightily
enhanced, his evil habits
strengthened; and that
he may, within a few
days, be lodged in the
grave, and summoned to
the judgment.

The sinner says, ‘‘To-
morrow.’’ ‘The Saviour
says, ‘‘To-day.’’ Dear
reader, what:do you say?

To many, to-morrow
never comes. Are you
sure it will come to you?

’ And, if it does, will it
- come only to find you

again repeating your ex
cuse for neglecting the
salvation of your soul?
Remember that it is writ-
ten for our warning, ‘‘See
that yerefuse notHim that
speaketh from heaven.”

————. a 0

A New Year’s Wish.

“What shall I wish thee?
What can be found
Bringing thee sunshine
All the year round?
Where is the treasure, ,
Lasting and dear,
That shall insure thee

A happy New Year?
Peace in the Saviour,
Rest at His feet,

Smiles on His countenance,

Radiant and sweet.
Joy in His presence,

Christ ever near,
This will insure thee

A happy New Year.”

—_——_> +o or er -

“Gop alone can turn the heart of the sim
The language of Di
ing fc tion is ‘Thou hast destroyed thyself,
ing forward to meet trouble, toil, disappoint-| Me is thy help.’”’

Himself.

ner
vine revela-
put in