THE NEW CREATION

A publication of the Christian Discipling Ministries International

A magazine published bimonthly and dedicated to the spiritual wel-

fare of God's New Creation on earth.

CDMI Main Office

36 Chapel Lane, Somersworth, NH 03878
Website: CDMI.org
New Creation Editor Printing & Distribution
Bob Whittaker Center CDMI
356 Fairgreen Pl 36 Chapel Lane
Casselberry, FL 32707 Somersworth, NH 03878
[email protected] Manager: Bruce Blake
[email protected]

Donations CDMI Bible Correspondence

2462 E. Laurel Street Courses CDMI
Mesa, AZ 85213 P.O. Box 540
Laureen Shaw Warrenville, IL 60555
[email protected] Manager: Allan Crawford
[email protected]

CDMI Website: http://www.cdmi.org Phone: 239-237-6319

2021CDMI Board Members: Dan Anas, Bruce Blake, Allan Crawford, John
DiCesare, Dan Donnarummo, Henry Gmiterek, Dennis Gorham, Joe Knapp, Bo
Shaw, Steve Teunis, Gus Vassilopoulos, Elmer Weeks, Bob Whittaker

Note:
1. All correspondence or requests in regard to magazine subscrip-
tions, booklets, and tracts should be sent directly to the CDMI Print-
ing and Distribution Center shown above.
2. All donations made to CDMI should be sent directly to the Do-
nation Address shown above. Donations are tax-deductible.
3. All correspondence or requests in regard to Bible Corre-
spondence Courses should be sent directly to the CDMI branch
shown above.
4. All other correspondence should be sent to the Main Office.

Reminder: If you move or change your address, be sure to send

your new address to the CDMI Printing and Distribution Center as soon
as possible. See the address above. Thank You!
Volume 83, Numbers 11 & 12 Nov/Dec 2021

Contents
Page
Contents….....………………………………………………….….1
Editorial: Is It Time for a Restart?..…………………………..….2
Gifts to Our King…...….….……………………………………….3
My Sacrifice (poem)………..……………………………………..7
Is America on a Slippery Slope?.................................…....…..8
On the Way (poem)…………...…………………….....………..11
Pride………………………………………………………...…….14
Joy to the World! The Lord Has Come!.....………………...….16
Joy to All People………………………………………..…..……18
Be Ye Transformed………………………..….......………….....20
The Design of the Epistle to the Galations………………...….25
A Song of Thanksgiving…………………..……..……..……….29
A Portrait of Jesus: Giving Hope to the Hopeless…………... 34
Prayer List……………………………………………………...…35
Grads/Websites/Letters…..........…………………………….....36
Conferences and Conventions ...………..………………...….37

NOTE: The thoughts presented in the articles are those of the writer and
are not necessarily totally endorsed by the New Creation Staff. “Study to
show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15.
“Prove ALL things and hold fast to what is good.” – 1 Thess. 5:21.

The New Creation magazine and all of CDMI’s other publications are sent out
free of charge to all who request them. This magazine and all other publica-
tions are totally supported by the voluntary and generous donations of those
who wish to help us in this work for the Lord. Your support makes it possible
for CDMI to provide this magazine and booklets and tracts to the poor around
the world. All donations are tax exempt .

1
 Is It Time for a Restart?
Editor’s
Last January I received two shots of the Pfizer Page
Covid 19 vaccine. Since I am now eligible be-
cause of age and interval to receive a recom-
mended booster, I immediately signed up. It
took me more than ½ hour to fill in the online
registration for my desired appointment. But at
the 30 minutes limit I lost all the information I had carefully en-
tered. However, when I started over I was already geared to fill
in the blanks and easily completed the forms within the fixed
time interval.

Isn’t that like the walk of the Christian? We begin with great
hopes and make good progress, but then seemingly run out of
time. We slip up, overtaken by the sinful tendencies of the
flesh. We need a restart. The Lord is good, very good and
merciful; he provides for the erring and those who are out of
the way; a humble and contrite heart He will not despise. Now
we are geared to move ahead on His timetable and we find his
yoke is easy and his burden is light.

After checking in at the pharmacy, I had to wait for the vaccine

administrator to prepare the doses for the registered. One man
ahead of me hadn’t done his paperwork and was frustrated. A
variety of people arrived while I waited. One, using a walker
and a private assistant, spoke loudly, appearing confused and
demanding. Another, a wife of fragile frame, leaning on her
husband for stability physically and mentally, shuffled in. As I
looked upon our group I realized here was real humanity. All
were young once but time had passed us by; we were in our
sunset years. We all needed a restart.

With Christ as our savior, brother, and chief we have the

greatest gift from God. What a privilege we have in our disci-
pleship to Jesus! He is our restart. How many restarts do we
need to keep this in mind? .... May God’s great gift be an inspi-
ration for your Thanksgiving and Christmas joy!
R. Whittaker
2
 Gifts to Our King
A Christmas Meditation
"My son, give me your heart" (Prov. 23.26).
The wise men of the East came seeking the new-born Je-
sus, King of the Jews, with gifts of myrrh, frankincense and
gold. From this incident we gather some valuable suggestions
respecting our obligations to our Messiah, and the need to re-
new/increase them at the close of another year.
The wise men…arrived at Jerusalem and made inquiries
respecting the new-born Jewish King. The news soon spread,
and the holy city was in commotion because, according to the
prophets, Messiah, promised for centuries, was due to appear
about that time, and "All men were in expectation of him.”
This expectancy naturally would be heightened by the
coming of these Magi from a far country, supposedly Persia, to
show homage to Messiah. The news finally reached the royal
palace, and King Herod himself, who, doubtless on his own
account, felt a jealousy toward anyone who would be likely to
share the royal honors and dignities, thus detracting from his
own importance. Additionally, he felt that as representative of
Caesar's government it was his duty to see to it that no king
should arise in the land under his jurisdiction, whose title-
claims would in any measure conflict with Caesar.
We have assurance that there was a truth connected with
the appearance of a special and peculiar star. It guided the
wise men of the east to the country of Messiah's birth and to
the capital city of that country. The Lord may have given them
additional understanding of the matter, just as He subsequent-
ly warned them in a dream. Herod cunningly affected to be
deeply interested in the search of the wise men for the Messi-
ah. He called the wise men of Judea to assist. These were the
chief priests and lawyers, men learned in the Law and proph-
ets of Israel. He inquired where the prophets had foretold that
the Messiah should be born. They promptly answered, "Beth-
lehem of Judea," and for that city, only six miles away, the
Magi set out. They promised to return and identify to Herod
the baby King and where He might be found, ostensibly so
that the king might also go to worship at His feet, but he really
3
wanted such knowledge to destroy the baby Jesus. In route for
Bethlehem, the miraculous star that they had seen in the Far
East appeared to them again, apparently as a ball of light or
fire traveling near the earth. It served as a guide until rejoicing,
they reached the very house and found the “young child” and
His mother.
Tacitus, Suetonius and Josephus tell us that throughout
the entire east at this time, there was an intense conviction,
derived from ancient prophecies, that before long, a powerful
monarch would arise in Judea and gain dominion over the
world. Virgil, who lived a little before this, says that a child from
heaven was looked for, who should restore the Golden age
and take away sin. Confucius had prophesied the appearance
of such a deliverer and a deputation of his followers going
forth in search of Him were the means of introducing Bud-
dhism into China. The clearest of all these prophecies was by
Zoroaster, said to be a disciple of Jeremiah from whom he
learned of the Messiah and talked concerning Him to his disci-
ples.
We should remember that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego were princes in Persia and intimate with the wise
men of that country, which at that time was the principal nation
of the world. It is easy to see how traditions would be handed
down, especially as Daniel's prophecy respecting the time of
Messiah's birth might be well known to the disciples of Zoroas-
ter, Persia's wise men. There were Jews scattered abroad
throughout that country who more or less kept alive the
thought of Israel's hope for the great Messiah so long prom-
ised of God, and they prophesied of one bringing blessings not
only to Israel but through them to all families of the earth.
God chose as messengers of His good tidings not only
wise men, but reverential men, men of faith, and His choice of
these messengers from the east to arouse the people of Ju-
dea and Jerusalem as heralds of the great King was not an
exception to the rule. Although not of the nation with which
God had so far dealt and given His promises, they were, nev-
ertheless, good, reverential men. They delighted to know of
the coming blessings of peace on earth and goodwill amongst

4
men through whatever nation the Lord was pleased to find His
representative.
In one respect many Christians could learn numerous im-
portant lessons from these wise Gentiles. No false patriotism
stood in their way to hinder their appreciation of Divine favor to
the children of men. When they found the Saviour, they were
not daunted by His humble home surroundings. They wor-
shipped Him in three ways: Firstly, they fell before Him, physi-
cally expressing their reverence; secondly, they worshipped
Him in their hearts, giving expression to their rejoicing and
confidence; thirdly, they opened their treasure-box and pre-
sented to Him three gifts appropriate to royalty, the myrrh rep-
resenting submission, frankincense representing praise and
gold representing obedience.
Our consideration of the reverential spirit of these noble
heathen men, who had so little light and knowledge respecting
the great Messiah and His work, should bring a blush of
shame to us. We can reflect that we are favored with brighter
light to guide us to the Lamb of God. We see His star in a bet-
ter and truer sense and are guided to Him by many prophe-
cies. We have found not only a baby but One who bears our
sorrows and carries our grief. He made His soul an offering for
sin so that by His stripes we are healed. Therefore, what kind
of oblation should we pour at the feet of Him who loved us and
bought us with His precious blood? With what deep reverence
have we bowed the knee, prostrated ourselves and given out-
ward evidence through our bodies of full submission to our
great King? Him we know and through His gracious provision
for us and for the world of mankind we have heard, not uncer-
tainly, but with the voice of Him who speaks from heaven.
Have we offered our myrrh? Have we shown willingness for
service even in bitter experiences, in joy to honor the King as
we suffer with Him? Have we worshipped Him in heart? This is
not an outward form of powerless godliness but an offering to
Him of the frankincense of heart adoration, appreciation and
gratitude.
Have we laid at His feet our earthly substance, our gold,
and realized that all we have and are is but an offering far too

5
small. Will this be our attitude till the end of our present pil-
grimage?
The apostle's words, "Present your bodies as a living sacri-
fice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual wor-
ship," (Rom. 12.1), apply not only to the initial consecration of
our hearts to the Lord, but, as the Scriptures express it, to a
covenant of sacrifice, an agreement to die daily to self and be
alive more and more in the Lord's service. Thus, we shall glori-
fy Him in our bodies and spirits which are His. If we have
lacked in this in the past, shall it be so in the future? Shall we
continue to grow in knowledge…in love, in service, in worship
and in the privilege of laying our little all at the feet of Him who
is our gracious Heavenly King? His Kingdom is so soon to be
established and He has invited us to sit with Him in His throne,
share His glory and be participants as spiritual Israel in the
great work of blessing the whole world of mankind.
Our opening text is well worth remembering. This does not
apply to sinners who are not sons in any sense of the word.
The message to sinners is a call to repentance and to forsake
sin. Only those who have repented of sin and who trust in the
precious blood of Christ are reconciled to God and may take to
themselves the words "My son, give me your heart." When we
give our hearts, it includes all that we have and are, in the
highest and noblest and fullest sense. That which was illus-
trated by the gifts of the wise men is represented in the brief
statement, "Give me your heart." Whoever gives his heart to
the Lord fully and unreservedly gives his body, his worship, his
reverence and praise. He gives also his earthly treasure, time,
talents, influence, money, all to be used in joyful service for
the glory of the King.
All who have never answered this call are urged to do so
now. To those who have given their hearts to the Lord, we
urge a remembrance of the fact that the sacrifice once put up-
on the altar must remain there, and that the longer it remains,
the more joyful should be the service. In this, every opportunity
for sacrifice becomes more appreciated and our hearts be-
come more thankful. In turn each experience become richer
and brings the peace of God which passes all understanding,
ruling in our hearts and preparing us for the glorious things
6
which God has reserved for those who truly love and rever-
ence Him.
The Bible Study Monthly, England

My Sacrifice

Laid on Thine altar, O my Lord Divine,

Accept this gift today, for Jesus’ sake.
I have no jewels to adorn Thy shrine,
Nor any world-famed sacrifice to make;
But here I bring, within my trembling hand,
This will of mine ~ a thing that seems so small;
And Thou alone, O Lord, can understand
How, when I yield Thee this, I yield my all.

Hidden therein Thy searching gaze can see

Struggles of passions, visions of delight,
All that I have, or am, or fain would be ~
Deep loves, fond hopes and longings infinite.
It has been wet with tears, and dimmed with sighs,
Clenched in my grasp till beauty ~ it has none.
Now, from Thy footstool, where it vanquished lies,
The prayer ascends ~ ‘May Thy will be done!’

Take it, Oh Father, ere my courage fail;

And merge it so in Thine own will that I
May never have a wish to take it back;
When heart and courage fail, to Thee I’d fly.
So change, so purify, so like Thine own
Make Thou my will, so graced with love Divine,
I may not know or feel it as my own,
But recognize my will as one with Thine.
Poems of Dawn

7
 Is America on a Slippery Slope?

Years before Abraham Lincoln became President of the

United States and while still a young man, he discerned the
country was slowly losing its focus on the principles upon
which our country was founded. He is quoted as having ex-
pressed these words, “At what point shall we expect the ap-
proach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?
Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step
across the ocean and crush us with a blow? Never! All the
armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined could not by
force take a drink from the Ohio; or make a track on the Blue
Ridge in a thousand years. At what point then is the danger
to be expected? I answer: If it reaches us it must spring up
among us. If destruction is our lot, we ourselves must be its
author and finisher.”

I believe that if Lincoln was living today, he would express

an even deeper concern for the conditions this country finds
itself in. Could it be that we are in even greater danger of
heading down the slippery slope of suicide as a nation?

His foresight was prophetic for his day. The Civil War
would come upon the scene in only a short while. The North-
ern States and the Southern Confederate States would enter
into war among themselves that would have brother fighting
against brother. It is estimated that more than 600,000 young
men died in battle or by disease.

As divided as they were back then, today we seem to be

very much divided as a nation once more. Our President is
opposed at almost every turn. There used to be at least a re-
spect for the Office, but today this is far from being so. Even
the News Media have taken sides and express their slanted
opinions. It is almost impossible to know what really is truth!

The question is: Can we as Christians do anything about

turning this around? On the surface, it seems like an impos-
sible task. God has been pushed out of almost every possible
8
sector of our culture. Public prayer is either banned or
frowned upon by our secular climate. It is looked upon as
something not “politically correct” and even by some as per-
sonally offensive. Laws have been redefined by our Supreme
Court that contradict their original purpose.

As Christians we may not be able to turn things around for

it may not be in God’s plan to do so. Our responsibility is to
let our light shine while continuing to be the salt of the earth
at every opportunity. In our little corner we need to be an in-
fluence for good to the praise of our Heavenly Father and
Lord Jesus Christ. Opposition is to be expected from the sec-
ular world that surrounds us. In the parable of the persistent
widow, Jesus expresses some sobering words at the end,
“…when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
(Luke 18:8 (ESV). The way the world is headed, the answer
seems to be: “Very little!”

If we were without hope, the future would indeed be very

bleak and frightening. But we have God’s many precious
promises that there will indeed be a better world when Jesus
returns to establish God’s Kingdom on this earth. “Therefore
wait for me,’ declares the LORD, ‘for the day when I rise up to
seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to as-
semble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all
my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth
shall be consumed. For at that time I will change the speech
of the people to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon
the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord’”
(Zephaniah 3:8-9). Again we read in Acts 3:19-23: “Repent
therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted
out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of
the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you,
Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring
all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His ho-
ly prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up
for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen
to Him in whatever He tells you. And it shall be that every

9
soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed
from the people.’”

Just to make sure, if we have any doubt, the Prophet Isaiah

writes these convincing words in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts.” What God has promised will
come to pass in due time. Our job is to wait, always with hope,
and be faithful in the everyday tasks that the Lord sets before
us. Let us heed the prayer Jesus left to His followers and every
day lift up this petition, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be
Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth
as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). What a marvelous day we
have to look forward to!
E. Weeks

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free

indeed. John 8:36

THE true disciples heeding the Word of the Great Teacher,

and continuing in all things to be His pupils, are not only set
free from superstitions and ignorance, but also from the ser-
vice of sin; and receive instead a correct appreciation of their
own natural weaknesses and blemishes, and of the divine
mind--the Truth. In consequence, their freedom is one which
blesses instead of injuring them; one which brings humility in-
stead of pride and boastfulness; one which brings patience
instead of anger; one which brings generosity and benevo-
lence instead of spitefulness and selfishness; one which
brings joy and peace instead of discontent and bitterness of
spirit. Truly, the Son alone can make us free indeed.

Daily Heavenly Manna

10
 On the Way
The following poem is by the late Sr. Carlene Meyer,
written at the age of 26 in 1978. Her husband Br. Terry
Meyer of California sent it to the editor for the encour-
agement of the church, and we are glad to be able to
publish it in the New Creation. Br. Terry writes that he
sees this poem as a lesson in “touching lightly the things
of this earth” as we all press toward our heavenly calling.

On the way to where I was going

I picked a flower or two
and lay upon the soft green grass
dreaming under magnificent blue.

Insects hummed all around me,

butterflies basked in the sun.
I watched the birds fly above me,
a stream by my side did run.

A soft wind whispered past me

stirring the leaves above,
speaking of far-off places,
of enchantment, magic and love.

I uttered a sigh of contentment,

as all fused into one.
This world I lived in was perfect,
of sadness or tears I found none.

And then coming forth from the wind,

a powerful voice spoke to me,
saying, “Why tarriest thou on the earth child,
when a pilgrim you’ve covenanted to be?’

Astonished, I answered sincerely,

“But Father, this all comes from You!
I’m only enjoying your creations,
the moments spent, just a few.”
11
“Would you have me ignore these –
the birds, the sun and the flowers?
I want only to know them,
And so I spend these hours.”

His answer did surprise me,

for I thought that I’d been right
to tarry just a moment
in the wildflowers and the light.

“The time is short now child

to prove yourself to Me.
Your character needs shine brightly,
the purest of gold it must be.

“Oh little one, how do I tell you

that these trifling things below
are not in themselves so hurtful,
but cause you to walk too slow?

“Look to the path ahead child,

pick up your pace and run
the race that is set before you,
until it has been won.

“And for your faithfulness and love

I’ll give to you a crown,
which I have kept prepared for you
before the earth was found!

“In those days we’ll have full fellowship,

My jewel you’ll truly be,
amidst my throne of truth and light
you’ll dwell immortally.

“You’ll be with me on the divine plane,

you, the church and I
will have vast eternity
to create earth and sky!
12
 “You’ll know each flower intimately,
the smallest creature by its name.
I’ll give for you to create
each of these its frame.

“So you see now why I say

tarriest not on this earth,
for what I have in store for you
you’ll soon receive at your birth.”

I kneeled upon my knees in prayer

asking Him for strength
to run the race successfully
and faithfully the length.

Then I rose up to my feet,

the flowers I’d picked dropped to the ground,
and with one tear, yet overjoyed,
I ran the race with one less pound.

Carlene Meyer

Joh_14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the
life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Act 9:1-2 NASB Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder
against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high-priest, and asked
for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he
found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might
bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Act 19:9 NASB But when some were becoming hardened and
disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, ….

Act 19:23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance

concerning the Way.

Act 24:22 But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the
Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes
down, I will decide your case."

13
 Pride
What a terrible word. Webster defines it as “too high an opin-
ion of oneself” or “the state or quality of being proud.”
In Proverbs 16:5 we read “The LORD detests all the proud in
heart.” Also see Proverbs 6:17 and Psalms 10:15.
Not long ago, the LGBT members hid in closets. Look how
things have changed in this country and so much of the world.
Now they are clamoring for more acceptance and liberties -
like “Pride Month.”
What does it all mean? Has God changed His position on
these actions and now approves of this conduct because it is
done out of “love”?
Consider what God’s word says. In Matt 15:19&20, Jesus said
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery,
sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are
what make a man unclean.”
The Apostle Paul had much to say about this matter. He
warned the Ephesian church in his letter, saying, “But among
you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of
any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper
for God’s holy people”. (Eph 5:3)
And to the church at Colossae, Paul wrote “Put to death,
therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual im-
morality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry.
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming”. Col 3:5&6
In the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he deals ex-
tensively with this evil starting at verse 1:24: “Therefore, God
gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual
impurity for the degrading of the bodies with one anoth-
er.“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.
Even their women exchange natural relations for unnatural

14
ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural rela-
tions with women, and were inflamed with lust for one another.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the
knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind to
do what ought not to be done. Although they know God’s
righteous decree that those who do such things deserve
death, they not only continue to do these very things but also
approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:24-32
Unfortunately, many of the Christian churches and their mem-
bers are welcoming those who are practicing this lifestyle.
In the Corinthian church that Paul helped to build, one of the
members was practicing sexual immorality with his father’s
wife. (1 Cor 5:1) Paul condemned his action and the blind
eyes of the congregation members who approved it. (Verse 5)
Continuing on, Paul said this: “I have written you in my letter
not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all
meaning the people of this world who are immoral. In that
case you would have to leave this world. But I am writing you
that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a
brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a
slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not
even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside
the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge
those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Cor
5:9-13. Also read I Cor 6:9-11.
The battle line is clearly drawn. Judgement will be like Sodom
and Gomorrah. I lost one of my sons to AIDS in 1990. It was
the most painful time of my life. May we give warning to others
who may be at risk.
We are fast approaching the days that Jesus predicted before
His return. See Matt 14, Mark 13, and Luke 21.May we indeed
be found on the right side of this battle with the devil’s forces.
God Bless! D. Anas

15
 Joy to the World! The Lord Has Come!
What a privilege it has been for each of us to sing and read
those words over our life-times, especially during this season
when we celebrate Christmas. Hallelujah! What a loving God
to give us His Son as atonement for the sins of all mankind! To
send His Son to live and die that each of us may look forward
to eternity in His Kingdom- with His Son as our own personal
Savior!

Luke 1:1-18
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This
census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph
also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Ju-
dea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because
he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered
with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were complet-
ed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn
Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the
fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an
angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the an-
gel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born
to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heav-
enly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill£ toward men!

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into
heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go
to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which

16
the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste
and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the
saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those
who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by
the shepherds.”

Vs 8 talks about the wonderment of those who heard the

shepherds report. This brings us back to our own childhood
thoughts when we were first told of the "birth of Jesus Christ
our Savior", born in that manger -- a humble beginning as a
babe in a manger who was to grow into the King of the Jews,
who gave His life for the sins of all mankind. How wonderful this
story! It became clearer to us as we matured in life and in the
knowledge of Jesus and God's plan and lead us to the salvation
Jesus brought us, starting on that Christmas morning.

Galatians 4:4-7 “ B u t when the fullness of the time had come,

God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to
redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth
the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then
an heir of God through Christ.”

God's perfect plan in His perfect timing -- that leads to joy un-
speakable! By comparison, all the Christmas gifts we have now
opened, and we are enjoying, have no comparison to the gift God
gave us. 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescrib-
able gift!”

Whether we use the word "unspeakable" or "indescribable" to

acknowledge what baby Jesus means to us personally; let us
each shout for joy each day of our lives for our very own Savior!
Praise God! Hallelujah! Amen!

Merry Christmas to all our brothers and sisters every day of the
year! Love in Christ.
D. Ostwald

17
 Joy to All People?
Resting in the middle of all the beautiful images of the birth
of our Lord we read a most disturbing account which may cause
some to question the accuracy of the angel’s glorious proclamation:
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy
which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the
city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
In Matthew 2 we find the famous account of the wise men of
whom we sing: they came from the east, following Christ’s star,
bearing gifts for the “King of the Jews” which led them to Jesus. You
will recall that Herod was very disturbed by the news and had the
wise men brought to him and told them that after they found the
Messiah, they were to come back and let him know so he could go
and worship him also. (Yea, right?) The wise men are told in a
dream not to go back to Herod and an angel appears to Joseph and
tells him to “get out of Dodge”, go to Egypt for Herod would try to kill
the babe. Now we pick up at Matthew 2:16-18: “Then Herod, when
he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly an-
gry; and he sent forth and put to death all the children who were in
Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, ac-
cording to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, say-
ing: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentations, weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comfort-
ed, because they are no more.”
So much for that “good tidings of great joy which shall be
to all people.” Can you imagine the hollering and grief of losing all
the male children 2 years old and under? One might ask “Did these
parents find great joy as a result of the birth of the “King of the
Jews”?
Even after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he,
having paid the full ransom for the sins of the whole world and with
believers receiving eternal life for faith in Jesus Christ, about 60 mil-
lion people still die each year. Many are Christians and many are
young, tragic deaths. Where is their joy in the birth of Jesus Christ?
Open your Bibles and read Jeremiah chapter 31, a Messi-
anic prophesy of the hope and joy that He will establish in the com-
ing kingdom of God on earth. God gives this message of hope at a
time when Nebuchadnezzar has stomped Israel and taken the crops

18
and all the best it has; copper, silver and gold, the best tradesmen,
the most skilled and wisest people, and the best bred, most learned
children off to Babylon and left the rest to fend with what is left.
Amid this devastation, God gives these assurances of a coming
day: “For there will be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount
Ephraim “Arise and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.” (6)
and we pick up at vs 13 “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance,
and young men and old, together, for I will turn their mourning to joy,
will comfort them and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. I will
satiate the soul of the priests with abundance and My people shall
be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”
Now as we continue let me tell you that in Jeremiah 40 we
see that Ramah is a place outside of Jerusalem which was basically
the holding place where the selected Jews including the well-bred
and wisest children were gathered before being exiled to Babylon.
Jeremiah continues with the quote we find in Mt 2: (18) “Thus says
the Lord: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter
weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted
for her children, because they are no more.” This is “real time” de-
scription of what was happening in Jeremiah’s day as well as a
prophecy for the crushed mothers in Jerusalem at the time around
Jesus’ birth because Matthew places it there. Now hear the promise
of hope and assurance that God gives to the mothers of the children
swiped off to Babylon, the mothers of the massacred babies in Je-
rusalem and to you and me: (16) “Thus says the Lord: “Refrain your
voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall
be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land
of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your
children shall come back to their border.”
“There is hope in your future” -- God knows and has it cov-
ered is the message Matthew leaves all with the mothers of Jerusa-
lem and you and I when he included the prophecy in Matthew 2:15.
Not only is God letting the mothers know that He knew 600 years
earlier that they would suffer such loss, but He has it covered.
Merry Christmas everybody! Jesus Christ is the hope of all
ages and indeed is the “tidings of great joy that shall be to all peo-
ple.” -- in God’s time.
B. Blake

19
 Be Ye Transformed
(All Scripture references are from the NKJV unless otherwise stated.)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that

you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to
God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be con-
formed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what is that good and accepta-
ble and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:1-2

Why do we need to be “transformed”? Here are two verses to

refresh our minds about what we should already know.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wick-

ed; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

“They have all turned aside, they have together become cor-
rupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.” Psalm 14:3

The Greek word in our opening text, translated 'transformed',

is 'metamorphoo' (Strong's # 3339) and means to change,
transfigure, transform. From this Greek word we get the Eng-
lish word “metamorphosis”, generally illustrated by the myste-
rious change of a caterpillar into a butterfly. It seems rather
amazing that this transforming process of a small creature was
available for the Apostle Paul to use as an illustration. Most
young, whether born live or from eggs, bear considerable re-
semblance to their parents, but not in this case. One wonders
why some creatures have this strange, complicated process of
metamorphosis. Perhaps God created such a process seeing
that it would be useful in the distant future as an illustration of
the Christian experience?

In nature, the caterpillar crawls along a stem or branch, look-

ing only downward to the earth, and eating almost anything
green in its path. That is all that it does -- EAT. The caterpillar
eats ravenously, not so much to sustain its life, but to provide
sustenance for the butterfly that is to come. The caterpillar
20
cannot reproduce itself. The caterpillar, it is claimed, has no
brain but only a nervous center; it knows nothing.

The multi-footed ugly caterpillar, crawling along with poor vi-

sion, looking only downward, and with no hope of a future, is a
good figure of the fallen human being, the “old man”. It will
perish.

But at some point, instinct tells the caterpillar to attach itself to

a branch and spin a cocoon around itself -- then begins the
little-understood process of metamorphosis. While keeping
life-sustaining organs [nervous center, heart, etc.] alive, the
stored food supplies and other body parts begin to be broken
down into the basic building blocks of life, such as proteins,
sugars, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, etc. These basic
building blocks are then gradually reconstructed into a “new
creature”.

At the end of the process, the beautiful butterfly emerges. It

can fly! It can sip the nectar of flowers! It has compound eyes
for excellent vision. It has a brain! It has only 6 legs. Most
important of all, it can reproduce itself [via eggs]! This is a
good figure of the “new creature” as fully developed into a
heavenly being. What remains of the caterpillar is left behind -
- dead.

The caterpillar entering a cocoon, illustrates the human being

entering into the “narrow way”, by accepting Jesus as Savior
and by repentance and reformation. This is the beginning.
Applying this scenario to the Christian life, we find that the
transforming process [mostly hidden to the world] is a long se-
ries of surrendering to God’s will. This process requires pa-
tient endurance, and the Master is in control of the process. It
is a lifetime work.

Once in this “narrow way”, then, there should follow the grad-
ual transforming of the mind into Christ-likeness, and holiness,
and righteousness -- success in this ultimately leads to eternal
life in the heavens. It is in this “narrow way” that we will begin
21
to find the “spiritual” faith; a faith that must grow and develop
under the influence of the Holy Spirit. “Faith comes by hearing
the Word of God”. (Romans 10:17; my translation)

J.B. Phillips has an outstanding and memorable translation of

Romans 12:1-2:--
“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my
brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bod-
ies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable
by Him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its
own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that
you may prove in practice that the Plan of God for you is good,
meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true
maturity.”

“The Message” translation/paraphrase offers us this:--

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your
everyday, ordinary life -- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work,
and walking-around life -- and place it before God as an offer-
ing. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you
can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture
that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your atten-
tion on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily
recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.
Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its
level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops
well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2

The only other place Paul uses this Greek word for “trans-
formed” ['metamorphoo'] is in 2 Corinthians 3:18:
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding [reflecting] as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the
same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the
Lord.”

The Christian, like a mirror, reflects the “glory of the Lord” to

the best of his/her ability; and in the process is gradually
“transformed” more and more accurately into God’s image.

22
Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 use ‘metamorphoo’ in relating the
transfiguration of our Lord -- a startling transformation indeed!

Jesus taught essentially the same principle as “transformed”,

when he said --
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come
after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and fol-
low Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” Matthew 16:24-
25

Related Scripture texts to be considered:

“…knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that
the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no
longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 6:6

"I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the
mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law
of sin.‭" Romans 7:25‭

“…who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new cove-

nant, not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old

things have passed away; behold, all things have become
new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but

Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Him-
self for me.” Galatians 2:20

“…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old
man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and
be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the
new man which was created according to God, in true right-
eousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24
23
“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man
with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed
in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
Colossians 3:9-10

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the

hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -- rather let it be
the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of
a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of
God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Concluding thoughts:

Do we live our lives based on “feelings”, or are only concerned

about “doing”? Then we are not being “transformed”, we are
not “becoming” something new.

So, we see that the Scriptures urge us to be radically trans-

formed from the inside out, to change completely how we think
and act, and to have our minds renewed along holy and right-
eous lines; to be prepared for the heavenly existence.

Finally, let each ponder this question. What, after all, is truly a
good, acceptable, and perfect use of this Christian life for
God’s purposes?

L. Schneider

God formed us, sin deformed us, and only Jesus can transform us.

Reputation is what men think you are; character is what God knows
you are.

A true Christian is one who is right-side-up in an upside-down world.

If anyone speaks evil of you, your life should be such that no one
would believe them.

24
 The Design of the Epistle to the Galatians
It is easy to discern from the Epistle itself that the following
circumstances existed in the churches of Galatia, and that it
was written with reference to them.
(1) That they had been at first devotedly attached to the
apostle Paul, and had received his commands and instructions
with implicit confidence when he was among them; Gal_4:14-
15 “And my temptation which was in my flesh ye
despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an
angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the
blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if
it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your
own eyes, and have given them to me.” Compare
Gal_1:6.

(2) That they had been perverted from the doctrine which he
taught them soon after he had left them; Gal_1:6 I marvel that
ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel.
(3) That this had been done by persons who were of Jewish
origin, and who insisted on the observance of the rites of the
Jewish religion.
(4) That they claimed to have come directly from Jerusalem,
and to have derived their views of religion and their authority
from the apostles there.
(5) That they taught that the apostle Paul was inferior to the
apostles there; that he had been called more recently into the
apostolic office; that the apostles at Jerusalem must be
regarded as the source of authority in the Christian church;
and that, therefore, the teaching of Paul should yield to that
which was derived directly from Jerusalem.
(6) That the laws of Moses were binding, and were necessary
in order to justification. That the rite of circumcision especially
was of binding obligation; and it is probable Gal_6:12 (“As
many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain
you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution
25
for the cross of Christ.”) that they had prevailed on many of the
Galatians to be circumcised, and certain that they had induced
them to observe the Jewish festivals; Gal_4:10 “Ye observe
days, and months, and times, and years.”
(7) It would seem, also, that they urged that Paul himself had
changed his views since he had been among the Galatians,
and now maintained the necessity of circumcision; Gal_5:11,
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made
us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Perhaps they alleged this, from the undoubted fact that Paul,
when at Jerusalem Act_21:26, (“Then Paul took the men, and
the next day purifying himself with them entered into the
temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of
purification, until that an offering should be offered for every
one of them”) had complied with some of the customs of the
Jewish ritual. (note: Acts 21:26 occurs in his last visit to
Jerusalem, during which he was arrested, probably late in his
ministry, whereas the Galatians letter is believed to have been
penned earlier – editor)
(8) That they urged that all the promises of God were made to
Abraham, and that whoever would partake of those promises,
must be circumcised as Abraham was. This Paul answers,
Gal_3:7; Gal_4:7.
(9) That in consequence of the promulgation of these views,
great dissensions had arisen in the church, and strife of an
unhappy nature existed, greatly contrary to the spirit which
should be manifested by those who bore the Christian name.
From this description of the state of things in the churches of
Galatia, the design of the Epistle is apparent, and the scope of
the argument will be easily seen. Of this state of things the
apostle had been undoubtedly apprised, but whether by
letters, or by messengers from the churches there, is not
declared. It is not improbable, that some of his friends in the
churches there had informed him of it, and he immediately set
about a remedy to the evils existing there.

26
I. The first object, therefore, was to show that he had received
his commission as an apostle, directly from God. He had not
received it at all from man; he had not even been instructed by
the other apostles; he had not acknowledged their superiority;
he had not even consulted them. He did not acknowledge,
therefore, that the apostles at Jerusalem possessed any
superior rank or authority. His commission, though he had not
seen the Lord Jesus before he was crucified, he had,
nevertheless, derived immediately from him. The doctrine,
therefore, which he had taught them, that the Mosaic laws
were not binding, and that there was no necessity of being
circumcised, was a doctrine which had been derived directly
from God. In proof of this, he goes into an extended statement
Gal. 1, of the manner in which he had been called, and of the
fact; that he had not consulted with the apostles at Jerusalem,
or confessed his inferiority to them; of the fact that when they
had become acquainted with the manner in which he
preached, they approved his course Gal_1:24; Gal_2:1-10;
and of the fact that on one occasion, he had actually been
constrained to differ from Peter, the oldest of the apostles, on
a point in which he was manifestly wrong, and on one of the
very points then under consideration.
II. The second great object, therefore, was to show the real
nature and design of the Law of Moses, and to prove that the
peculiar rites of the Mosaic ritual, and especially the rite of
circumcision, were not necessary to justification and salvation;
and that they who observed that rite, did in fact renounce the
Scripture method of justification; make the sacrifice of Christ of
no value, and make slaves of themselves. This leads him into
a consideration of the true nature of the doctrine of
justification, and of the way of salvation by a Redeemer.
This point he shows in the following way:
(1) By showing that those who lived before Christ, and
especially Abraham, were in fact justified, not by obedience to
the ritual law of Moses, but by faith in the promises of God;
Gal. 3:1-18.

27
(2) By showing that the design of the Mosaic ritual was only
temporary, and that it was intended to lead to Christ;
Gal_3:19-29; Gal_4:1-8.
(3) In view of this, he reproves the Galatians for having so
readily fallen into the observance of these customs; Gal_4:9-
21.
(4) This view of the design of the Mosaic Law, and of its
tendency, he illustrates by an allegory drawn from the case of
Hagar; Gal_4:21-31.
This whole discourse is succeeded by an affectionate
exhortation to the Galatians, to avoid the evils which had been
engendered; reproving them for the strife existing in
consequence of the attempt to introduce the Mosaic rites, and
earnestly entreating them to stand firm in the liberty which
Christ had vouchsafed to them from the servitude of the
Mosaic institutions, Gal. 5; 6.
The design of the whole Epistle, therefore, is to state and
defend the true doctrine of justification, and to show that it did
not depend on the observance of the laws of Moses. In the
general purpose, therefore, it accords with the design of the
Epistle to the Romans. In one respect, however, it differs from
the design of that Epistle. That was written, to show that man
could not be justified by any works of the Law, or by
conformity to any law, moral or ceremonial; the object of this
is, to show that justification cannot be obtained by conformity
to the ritual or ceremonial law; or that the observance of the
ceremonial law is not necessary to salvation. In this respect,
therefore, this Epistle is of less general interest than that to the
Romans. It is also, in some respects, more difficult. The
argument, if I may so express myself, is more Jewish. It is
more in the Jewish manner; is designed to meet a Jew in his
own way, and is, therefore, somewhat more difficult for all to
follow. Still it contains great and vital statements on the
doctrines of salvation, and, as such, demands the profound
and careful attention of all who desire to be saved, and who
would know the way of acceptance with God.
Albert Barnes’ Notes
28
 A Song of Thanksgiving
“Tell…how great things the Lord has done for you.”
Mark 5:19
Through the Psalms the saint of God finds utterance for the
praise and thanksgiving of a gratitude-filled heart. Thus has
the Lord wisely provided means of expression for the pent-up
emotions within.
Among the many beautiful expressions of praise and
thanksgiving, we have chosen for consideration the 30 th
Psalm, perhaps composed after the Psalmist’s recovery from
a sickness which had nearly proved fatal…Who can consider
these words of warm gratitude without his heart burning within
him at the thought of his own “many benefits” received from
the “Giver of every good and perfect gift?”
“I will extol Thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and
not made my foes to rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried
unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O Lord, thou hast
brought up my soul from the grave …kept me alive, that I
should not go down to the pit” (vs. 1-3)
Is not this descriptive of our own experience? Do we not
remember “the hole of the pit whence we were dug?” We
“who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past
we walked according to the course of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in
the children of disobedience among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and the mind and were by nature the chil-
dren of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:1-3)…And what of
our many foes who so frequently triumphed over us; those
“works of the flesh,” the enemies within the fortress so graph-
ically presented in Gal. 5:19-21? “What fruit had you then in
those things whereof you are now ashamed? For the end of
those things is death” (Romans 6:21)…”We looked for some to
take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but found
none” (Psalm 69:20).
Then “this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and
saved him out of all his troubles.” He “looked down from the
height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the
29
earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that
are appointed to death.”…For “God, who is rich in mercy, for
his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ (by grace
you are saved), and has raised us up together, and made us
sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages
to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in
his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-
7). Therefore, let us, “Sing unto the Lord, O Ye saints of his,
and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his
anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life. Weeping may
endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (vs. 4, 5).
In its highest and truest significance, Praise is the instinc-
tive outburst of adoring worship that rises from a pure spirit at
the knowledge and vision of an Infinite, Self-existent, Sover-
eign-ruling God of Holiness, Justice, Goodness, and Truth. It
occupies a higher vantage ground than Thanksgiving, since it
represents reverent homage and appreciative adoration for
God, as he is in His eternal, glorious, perfect, and blessed Be-
ing, utterly without thought of the good he bestows upon the
worshiping, recipient creature. The offering of Praise, there-
fore, is the one spontaneous act of the true saint, unaffected
by promise of good and uninfluenced by expectation of return
for service. Thus unmixed with any thought of self, Praise is
the highest expression of honor to God, and brings the purest
and loftiest element into the Christian’s communion with Him.
In both Testaments it is characterized as an “offering” and
“sacrifice” by which God is glorified (Psalm 50:14, 23; 107:22;
Hebrews 13:15). Joined with the sweeter note of Thanksgiving
for unlimited “goodness and mercy,” Praise is the one re-
vealed employment of the sinless, redeemed hosts in the
Heavenly Presence (Revelation 5:7-14). “Praise waits for
Thee, O God, in Zion” (Psalm 65:1).
The “remembrance of his holiness” means literally “his holy
memorial” (“celebrate his holy memorial” ~ Darby) and refers
probably to the passage in Ex. 3:15: “This is my name forever,
and this is my memorial unto all generations.” God’s Name is
His revelation of Himself, in all His various attributes of Love,
Wisdom, Power, Holiness, Truth, and Righteousness. God’s
30
memorial is that great history of redemption which was, so to
speak, the setting up of a monument to His glory on which all
these attributes were inscribed. The Revised Version brings
out the precise thought in translating: “Give thanks to his holy
memorial name.”
The things of this Psalm are of continual interest. They do
not belong to any one time or any one type of experience.
Some of the notes in it are suitable to home, family and indi-
viduals throughout all the years of their history. Eminently so
is the 5th verse, which tells us of the bitter and the sweet, the
dark and the light, which run in various distribution along hu-
man lives. The underlying doctrine is the great fact that “God
is Love,” and that love runs through all, rules over all, explains
all.
Here is a reason why God is to be praised - because He
manifests Himself in love, not in wrath; or if in wrath, but for a
moment. Love directs all. Rotherham renders this verse: “For
there is a Moment in his anger, a Life-time in his good-
pleasure (or favor); in the evening cometh weeping to lodge,
but by the morning ‘tis a shout of Triumph (or joy).”…Weeping
is described under the image of a wayfarer who comes in at
evening to lodge for the night. The suddenness and surprise
of gladness, on the other hand, in the morning, are beautifully
represented by the simple “at dawn, a shout of joy,” without a
verb. Just as the sun in Eastern lands, without any long prel-
ude of twilight to announce his coming, leaps, as it were, in a
moment above the horizon, so does the light of God’s love
dispel in a moment the long night of darkness of sorrow. From
Isaiah we quote a beautiful parallel passage: “For a small
moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I
gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a mo-
ment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,
says the Lord thy Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:7, 8). And in the
greater picture of the Restitution day which the Psalmist’s
words bring to mind, with what thrilled hearts do we in fore-
taste picture the glorious revealing, through his Christ, of the
great God of the Universe, whose righteous and holy charac-
ter will then be made manifest to all humanity. In that “new
heaven and earth,” God’s blessings abundantly poured forth
31
upon astonished mankind will result in the wiping away of all
tears from their eyes and will more than offset their experience
under the terrible Night of Weeping (Isaiah 65:17:Revelation
21:4; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 25:6-9).
“And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Lord,
by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong:
Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled. I cried to thee, O
Lord; and…made supplication. What profit is there in my
blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee?
Shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon
me: Lord, be thou my helper: (vss.6-10).
In their time of trial God’s people in all ages have been
brought to feel their entire dependence on Him. In days of
flowing prosperity we have little sense of that dependence. As
the Psalmist expresses it here: “In my prosperity I said, I shall
never be moved.” We are very apt to dream, when things are
well with us, that they will always be so and never otherwise,
“Tomorrow shall be as this day.” Yet prosperity is more pleas-
ant than profitable to us. Though in show it looks like a fair
summer, it is indeed a wasting winter, and spends all the fruit
we have reaped in the harvest of sanctified affliction. We are
never in greater danger than in the sunshine of prosperity. It
is rare to receive much of this world and not, as the prodigal,
to go afar off; ‘tis hard to keep close to God in prosperity’ when
we have much of this world to live upon and content ourselves
with; to live upon God and make Him our content and stay, as
if we had no other life nor livelihood but in Him. We are very
apt in such a case to let go our hold of God and the exercise
of faith and estrange our affections from God.
It is more common to pray for strength to endure through
times of adversity and suffering than for strength to endure
through times of prosperity and gladness. Yet, it is these latter
times of buoyant self-reliance that are most full of peril. It is
not in those perilous ways when every step gives fresh evi-
dence that without our Leader we are lost, that we are most
likely to turn away from Him. That supreme peril comes rather
when we walk in the open plain, and have forgotten the ser-
pents that lurk among the flowers. For every soul that is
harmed by adversity, ten are harmed by prosperity. Yet you
32
will find a hundred persons who pray against that adversity
which so often brings men closer to God, where you will find
one who prays against that pleasant prosperity which too often
lures men away from God and from their own best future.
And how deceiving is that prosperity! When the days run
smoothly, all seems certain to continue. But then ill health fas-
tens on us; death invades our circle; relatives bring us into
deep waters; our means of living fail; we are plunged into a
very wilderness of woe. How falsely we judged when we
thought that it was by its own inherent stability our mountain
stood strong! No! It was solely the result of God’s favor, for
“all our springs are in Him;” the moment He hides His face we
are most grievously troubled.
What soul can be deserted and not be afflicted? The entire
world does no good without the favor of God. As all the stars,
though they shine together, do not dispel the darkness of
night; so no creatures can comfort us sufficiently when God
hides His face. His absence cannot but be lamented with
greatest grief, whose presence the soul prizes above all earth-
ly joys. “Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise to hide Thee from
Thy servant’s eyes!”
How moving is the Psalmist’s pleas to his God in vs. 8 and
9! Yet his prayer for prolonged life was not offered with the
view of any earthly possession or enjoyment, but only with a
view to the honor of God. He dreaded death as being an end
of Praise to God. His plea: if I may live I shall Praise God and
witness to His truth before the living, and this will avail to the
glory and honor of God. But in death, my lips are dumb as to
any testimony for God in the land of the living.
As we ponder our own brief span, our “fleeting breath,” well
may we repeat the poet’s words: “What need has God of this
poor clay?” We, therefore, with the Psalmist, ask aright for
life when we have in view that we may live to Praise Him.
“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou
hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness; to the
end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever!”

W. Siekman
33
A Portrait of Jesus –
He Gave Hope to the Hopeless
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He
anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He
sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and
recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who
are oppressed...today this scripture is fulfilled in
your hearing.” Luke 4:18-21
…Jesus’ ministry was, and still is, one that gives hope to those who
struggle and are in bondage. Whether the struggle is with doubt or
fear, sorrow or emotional scars, illness or suffering of any kind,
whatever it is that weighs us down, Jesus is there to give hope.
This particular day, Luke tells us that Jesus walked into the syna-
gogue in Nazareth, His hometown, to worship and was handed the
scrolls of Isaiah to read. Jesus read this passage cited above. He
knew it was His commission from His Father. He came to this earth
to give the good news to the poor, to heal the sick, to bind up the
broken-hearted, to give sight to the blind, and to set the captives
free…He came to this earth to give hope to the hopeless.
He had seen what sin had done; sorrow and suffering were eve-
rywhere. He saw the poor widows struggling for existence. He wit-
nessed the beggars at the side of the road crying out for alms. He
felt the weight that the chains of sin had put on the people around
Him and Jesus desired to do more than just encourage those who
had been bound by Satan; He had come to bring freedom! What-
ever means Satan uses to keep people captive, whether it is sick-
ness, addiction, poverty, depression, fear, guilt, etc. none of these
things will prevail against Jesus who still releases all captives who
are willing. At the cross, He paid the price to deliver this captive
world from sin and its bondage.
Yes, Jesus came not only to bring hope, but He came to bring
freedom to all who would receive Him. He did not come to condemn
people for their sin, but to release them from their sin. We must
continue the work that He left behind. The commission is ours as
well. We, too, are called to bring hope to the hopeless, to preach
the good news, to help people see that sin does not have to weigh
them down, because one look at their Savior, and they, too, can be
free. Jesus continues to bring hope to the hopeless through you
and me. Will you be Jesus to someone today?
D. Mathewson

34
Prayer List
“Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by
failing to pray for you.” (1 Samuel 12:23)

Let us be Prayer Warriors for our Brethren!

Allen, Russell and Family – VT (d) Jones, Arlene - VA

Ammerman, Shirley & Family – NJ (d) Karavas, Anna - CA
Anderson, Family– WI (d) Knapp, Jamie – NH
Bews, Sandra and Family TX (d) Knapp, Joseph – IL (d)
Boswell, Arlene – IL Leavitt, Denise & Richard – ME
Buxton, Jean & Family - UK Lepitre Family - IL
Carpenter, Gloria – KY Howes, Paul & Carla - UK
Cline, Ruth – MO Kingsmith, Beresford - UK
Cooper, Carmela – NJ Mazzotta, Eva – VA
Csutor, Judith – CT Miller, Alain – Canada
Day, Ronald – PA Moore, Ralph & Maryellen – CA
Dewys, Mary & Family – MI (d) Munoz, Sue - NY
Dickson, Roberta Jo – CA Orsburn, Judi – CA (d)
Donnarummo, Dan – OH (d) Parker, Geraldine – CA
Duhaime, George & Family – CT (d) Penton, Jim – Canada
Dunn, Kim - IL Phillips, Stella – OK
Fantuzzo, Tony – NY (d) Riggio, Fran – NH
Feliciano, Carmen - NY Rowe, Bryan - UK
Fischer, Mike & Liz – WI Schultz, Becky & Family – MN (d)
Foster, Jean – IL Schwartz, Ruth – TX
Gary, Inez – VA Seminoff, Brenda – CA
Hauslein, Karen – MD Thomassen, Sandi – NM (d)
Hawk, Barbara – PA Tuscia, Priscilla – FL
Hildebrandt, Lois - FL Weaver, Eddie - NY
Hogrebe, Joan – MO Weeks, Jeannie (Mitchell) (d)
Hopkins, Linda & Andrew – VA (d) White, Ken & Joan - NY
Iannaccone, Marie & Family – IL (d) (d) = death in the family

Entered into rest:

Bob Ammerman, NJ – August 2021
Susan Fiorello Munoz, NY – September 2021
Inez Gary – September 2021
Beresford King-Smith, England – September 2021

Important: If you know anyone in the names listed above whom no longer needs
special prayers, please advise us so we may remove their names. Also, if any of
the information is incorrect, please let the editor know. Thank you.

35
Bible Correspondence Course New
Graduates & Websites
Congratulations to the following students who
have completed their course and have been
awarded a Certificate.

USA
Belinda Kennedy of Ohio completed the Ransom Course
Margaret Roberts of Michigan completed the Ransom Course

You are invited to view the following websites:

http://www.cdmi.org (Christian Discipling Ministries International)
http://www.cbfchurch.com (Christian Believers Fellowship in NH)
http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk (Bible Fellowship in UK)
http://www.bbschurch.org (Lombard, IL)
https://sites.google.com/site/quietwatersdevotions/home
http://www.cartyorkshire.co.uk (CART)
http://www.campblessing.com (Camp Blessing)
http://www.homechristians.net (Fraser Valley, B.C.)
http://www.bibelgemeinde.at (Free Bible Students, Austria)
http://www.bibelgemeinde.org (Mission Work Bible Students, Austria)
http://bibelforscher.heimat.eu/ (Free Bible Students, Germany (English)
http:www.softgrafic.com/bibbia (Italian Bible Students)
http://www.newcovenantfellowship.org.au (New Covenant News, Austr.)

Letters from Our Fellowship

and Readers
There was no mail to publish in this issue, but
here is an excerpt from a letter by the Apostle Paul: “Rejoice
always; pray without ceasing; in everything give
thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do
not quench the Spirit.” 1Th 5:16-19 NASB

The only approach to overcoming is to know and believe the

promises of God.

36
 Conferences & Conventions
The Christian Believers Conference was held on July 29-
Aug.1 online through Zoom. The recorded sermons and inter-
active studies are posted on the CBC webpage
cbconference.com under the subtitle Recent Videos.

Notice: If you know of Christian friends who would benefit

from receiving the bimonthly New Creation Magazine via mail,
send their names and addresses to the CDMI main office, care
of Bruce Blake. The address is inside the front cover. Re-
member, the magazine is given at no cost. Also, please realize
you can read the current or past magazines online at
CDMI.org or subscribe there.

Note: If you would like to have your Convention, Conference, Camp, or

Seminar published in The New Creation Magazine, send information or a
program at least three months in advance of the issue month of the maga-
zine to the editor, Bob Whittaker.

Donations
Many people around the world appreciate the New Creation maga-
zine. For many, it is their only source of Christian communication.
Also, for many, they only have it through the generous contributions
of others. If you feel moved to help them in continuing to get the
New Creation, please consider a donation to CDMI.

Article Contributions
Please send articles for possible publication to Dennis Gorham,
4 Alicia Street Somersworth, NH 03878
email: [email protected]

Any information published in this magazine that you know is incor-

rect should be brought to the attention of the editor at his email ad-
dress: [email protected]. We strive for accuracy but do
not have full knowledge.

37