In the Book of Isaiah, we can read of numerous prophecies of our Lord written hundreds of years before His birth. However, none come close to the magnificent description given of the “Child” that was to be born (Isaiah 9:6). Or, could we call Him the “Star” that was born? This is the same One who was called the “Star of Jacob, the Scepter of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). He also calls Himself the “Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).

A star, when illustrated on paper, usually is composed of five points. Isaiah’s prophetic description gives us five point that make Jesus the brightest star of all.

Wonderful

No other has been able to match the marvelous works He has done. “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5).

Counselor

Jesus dealt with every problem imaginable (moral, religious, racial, etc.). When those He counseled left Him, they proudly proclaimed, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29).

Mighty God

Certainly, though He became flesh and dwelt among us, He still embodies all attributes of God. He is eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient.

Everlasting Father

Jesus is our father in that all created things owe their existence to Him (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16, 17), and all beings that desire to have life must obtain it through Him (John 10:10).

Prince of Peace

In a world of war and strife, isn’t it comforting to know there is One who is able to bring “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14)?

Let us be like the wise men of old that sought Jesus. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” (Matthew 2:10).

Copied from the Sixth and Washington Streets Bulletin

Hope is an anchor and a helmet. Paul tells us to put on the breastplate of faith “and for a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Hope is the anchor of the soul. Many are now driven by the wild winds of the angry sea and will soon be wrecked on the rocks of the distant shore. Only a good anchor can keep them from certain death. The writer of Hebrews says, “We have a strong consolation (encouragement) who fled for our refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which is the anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:18,19). “The eye of the Lord us upon them that fear them, upon them that hope in mercy” (Psalm 33:18).

Let us not give up but press on toward the mark of the high calling. God has given us a helmet to protect us in the battles of life. Let us not trust in our own strength. When Peter looked at the waves and took his eye off Christ, he began to sink in the sea (Matthew 14:28-33). Jehovah says, “Fear thou not: be not dismayed: for, I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).

Let us not forget that Jesus said, “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven” (Matthew 5:11,12).

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is” (Jeremiah 17:7). Let us “rejoice in hope” and be “patient in tribulation” and “Continue instant (steadfastly) in prayer” (Romans 12:12). As Paul says, “We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end” (Hebrews 6:11). — Copied
Editor’s Note: The article, “HOPE,” was written by the late G.K. Wallace. He has gone to his eternal reward, yet his great influence continues on to benefit all of us. Brother Wallace preached the dedication ceremonies of our auditorium back on March 1, 1970.

The church is a wonderful fellowship. Within the body of Christ we find our best friends. For the children of God the church is a wonderful social life. "Church life" is our “everyday life.” How we look forward to gathering together on the Lord’s Day and other scheduled Bible study periods; meeting with the family and feasting on the Word of God’s grace. None of us is perfect, therefore it is a wonderful thing to give and receive strength, encouragement, and forgiveness from each other. How refreshed we are after we have been with those of “like precious faith.” We look at the church like a little taste of heaven. One day all of these thoughts and feelings will be ours, always and forever! — Chris

...between the atheist who supports no church and the member who will not support the church to which he belongs?

...between those who do not believe in Bible classes and those who never attend them?

...between the skeptic who does not believe the Bible and the negligent Christian who never reads his Bible?

...between the man of the world and the person in the church who lives like the man of the world?

It’s something to think about!