When God announced, in the second Psalm, that He had set His King upon the holy hill of Zion, He added: "Thou art MY SON, this day have I begotten thee". Here is a genuine mystery. But, God continued: "Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession". Thus, it is revealed that the Messiah, the Anointed One, is to rule as a universal King; He is called the "Son of God".
    When Ahaz, King of Judah, would not be assured that the plot of his enemies would fail, the Lord spoke saying: "Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God". But he did not want to "tempt" the Lord. God gave the sign anyway: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings", (Isa. 7:10-17).
    Intense as has been the controversy surrounding the translations of this particular passage, it cannot deprive mankind of the wonder and grace manifested when God took

    The Corinthian Christians had not learned the Master's rule of suffering patiently -- nor the secret to a life of peace. When attacked, they retaliated; wronged, they insisted on their "rights", (I Cor. 6:1-8). This was just the opposite of the law and life of the Lord Jesus Christ. When reviled, He did not revile again. As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not his mouth. Seeing this contrast, Paul asked the Corinthians: "Why do you not rather take wrong?"
    Some do not take wrong because it is not pleasant. No one really enjoys being teased, hurt, cheated, or pushed around. "If I don't show him he can't 'bully' me around, he may get the idea I'm a coward"; and thus, the matter is made worse. It is always best to consider the honor of God's name -- leaving all vengeance to Him.
    "But others don't take such foul treatment lying down!" you may argue. Still, the command of Jesus is to "love one another". And let it be remembered that "love worketh no ill, endureth all things". The Master Himself admonished: "Resist not evil". He surely knew the very best plan for overcoming evil -- it is "with good".

    With mixed emotions I write this article. Love for my brethren and the cause of Christ compels it. Should I never write again, this is what I consider the most relevant and pressing need of the hour -- so far as the welfare of my brethren, and the progress of the Gospel, is concerned.
    All are aware of the "apostasy" foretold by our Lord and His apostles that is to characterize the closing days of this Gentile age. So very few seem aware that this is prophesied of the Lord's OWN PEOPLE -- who have left their first-love. Because of abounding iniquity the "love of many shall wax cold", said Jesus. The intensity of love cannot "diminish" where no love is! It is when one's love for Christ diminishes that he ceases to love his brother -- and more, to BETRAY his brother.
    During the past 25 years there has rapidly developed among brethren whom I dearly love a divisive and Christ-dishonoring spirit that, obviously, has not counted the cost

with eternity in view. Nor is this evil spirit limited to any particular category; it is recognizable in every Baptist group with which I am at all familiar. Policies, programs platitudes and prestige are so manipulated or defended by self love as to assure the exclusion of a "unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace".
    In reality our fellowship is too often disturbed by self-appointed "god-players" who assume the role -- both of judge and jury -- but who render their verdicts and confidently prescribe what compromising therapy is absolutely necessary for positive rehabilitation....all this without bothering to get at the "root" of the problem.
    "A whisper separateth chief friends"; and "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth", (Prov. 16:28; 26:20). But how terribly often have ministers of the Gospel erected fantasies of exaggeration from mere splinters of half-truths -- all designed for the vindication of self in some abortive venture into "godmanship". The apostle Paul cautioned his brethren at Corinth against "debates, envying, wraths, strife's, backbitings, whisperings, swellings and tumults" (2 Cor. 12:20). Yet, how tragically often have men of God, in our day, departed from their high calling to become sowers of suspicion and purveyors of scandalous gossip which Satan has successfully used to hinder multitudes from giving serious consideration to the claims of God upon their hearts, affections and lives.
    It is utterly impossible for one to serve the Lord so long as he has one eye on Him and the other on

men whom he hopes, by his own careful, carnal manipulations, to get "on my side". Far too often, thru the centuries, division has come among God's people --- more through conflict over some personality quirk than love for the truth. It seems so much easier to merely "take the word" of someone whose personality we admire(someone we can "rap" with) than to take a truly "brotherly" approach to one who has become the victim of malicious gossip. How often have DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES been mere "inventions" designed to excuse someone in the magnifying of personality conflicts -- mere subterfuges behind which the carnal man would escape the responsibility of TRUE BROTHERHOOD!! And, I am sure that "the flesh", with my permission, can so manipulate my own life, if I fail to make Christ MY ALL, and look upon my brethren as being HIS MEMBERS!
    It is not my intention, in this article, to arraign or indict any brother in particular; it is hoped that each of us may be moved to honestly search our own hearts and be certain that we abandon all that would bring shame and disgrace on the name of the Living Christ -- remembering that as we treat a brother, so are we treating Him. What we must eventually admit is that the whole lot of us are "sinners" in constant need of such divine grace as will enable us to "bridle" our tongues, "love one another as Christ has loved us", and practice the Golden Rule -- always esteeming others "better than ourselves". The time to begin IS NOW!! I am fully convinced that if we fail to get our eyes on the Lord, and allow Him to be God, He will work out His purpose WITHOUT US; what foolish

losers we would be!!
    My brethren, we MUST love the Lord with our whole hearts, souls mind and strength; but this is only HALF of what He expects. Have we really learned to love others as we do ourselves? even our brethren in Christ? and IN THE MINISTRY? Only when love is "without hypocrisy" will it be a mighty, moving force in the effecting of God's perfect will and work. Perfect love casts out both fear and suspicion. Is YOUR love a force? or a FARCE? Love of truth demands that we despise all error; it must be rejected -- wherever it is found. But love for God does NOT demand (or even permit) that we despise a BROTHER, for whom Christ died.
    Should I never write again, my heart's desire is that my brethren may be challenged to "be right with each other"; ONLY THEN will it be possible to be "right with God". And only then may He fully bless and use us in reaching others FOR Him.

    Perhaps the main reason why so very few ever "take wrong" is that they "get mad and react without doing much thinking". For the sorry bunch that mocked, ridiculed and abused Him, at the time of His crucifixion, Jesus prayed: "Father, forgive them". He did not strike back.
    Courage and faith are necessary if one would quietly "suffer wrong" to his own person. But God will undertake for such as leave their wrongs in His hands. Can YOU trust Him to do so -- without being self- righteous? or sour?

upon Himself a human body and walked as a man among men. And, while the translation of "almah", by the word "virgin", may not be necessary or even permissible, as regards the "sign" for Ahaz (for that sign was, obviously FULFILLED in a son born to the prophet and his wife, Isaiah 8), when Matthew came to record the larger Messianic fulfillment of the prophecy, he was perfectly justified in the use of words specifically designed to emphasize the significance of the birth of Jesus. 'Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with

child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us', (Matt. 1:22-23).
    For God to be "with us" would certainly require a unique arrangement, and this is exactly what the prophets foretold, and the Gospel writers confirmed. In no place do either of them belabor the issue, nor attempt a rationalization of the physical process involved, in effecting this incarnation of deity. But, in every place, they exhibit a simple faith in stating WHAT HAS HAPPENED, and appear content to let the matter rest. The simplicity of the Gospel record is a very welcome contrast with the outrageous and immoral behavior attributed to heathen deities, in the writings of the mythological religions which existed side by side with ancient Judaism.
    Many Old Testament passages, of a Messianic nature, deal with the coming one as "being born" and "growing up", (Isa. 9:6-7). The one thus born is destined to assume governmental responsibilities.
    Darkness, distress, anguish and gloom are to be dispelled by God's glorious "Light"; the gift of heaven to earth will come in the person of a holy child. Divine light, wisdom, might, fatherhood and peace will come through His reign on the earth. When He sits upon David's throne, He will establish a genuine and universal peace. Under His righteous sceptre, judgment and justice will prevail for ever.