The pastor of a large congregation stood gazing out of his study window. It faced the beautiful building in which he preached. As he looked admiringly at the neat lawn and handsome edifice he saw a shabbily dressed old man, evidently a laborer, go into the church. It was the noon hour, and the old man did not tarry long. In a few minutes he emerged through the same great front door by which he had entered and went hurrying down the street. Somewhat upset, the minister sought out the sexton and told him what he had seen. He asked the caretaker to keep watch and find out what was going on as the altar had some valuable furnishings.
Next day the sexton watched. Sure enough, at midday the old man again entered the church. He went directly to the altar, stood there a few minutes and quietly left. After observing this same procedure for a few days the caretaker accosted the man as he turned to leave. He inquired: "What are you doing here?"
"Oh," said the old man, "I come here to pray."
"Now listen," said the sexton sternly; "you don't stay long enough to pray. I've watched you! You just go up to the altar for a very few minutes, and then you hurry away."
"Yes, you are right," said the old man. "I can't pray a long prayer. But every day at my noon hour, I just come and say: 'Jesus, it's Jim—Jesus, it's Jim—Jesus, it's Jim.' Then I wait a bit and soon go away. It's just a little prayer, but I know He hears me."
How encouraging to this dear old Christian must have been the Lord's words in Matthew 6:77But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Matthew 6:7). Indeed, it is well to know that we are not heard of Him for our much speaking. Our Father, who alone knows each heart, can judge the need and values aright that simple address: "Jesus, it's Jim."
Some time later Jim was seriously injured in an accident. He was carried, unconscious, to the City Hospital. As he improved he accepted thankfully the Lord's provision for him. Doctors and nurses attended gladly to his injuries, and were in turn cheered by his smiling patience. They could not fail to see in him the outshining beauty of the in-living Savior.
The men's ward where Jim was placed had been a real trial to all who worked on that floor. For some time the patients in it had been cross and miserably abusive towards the nurses. Some delighted in grumbling from morning till night. Try as they might, the hospital staff had not been able to improve the situation.
Then slowly but surely, things changed. The men ceased their fault-finding. They became more cheerful and contented. They took their medicine and ate their meals without complaint.
One day, hearing a burst of laughter from the men's ward, the floor nurse rushed in. She asked: "What has happened here? You are such a nice, cheerful lot of patients now. What has brought about this change?"
"Oh, it's Jim," one patient promptly answered. "He is always so happy in spite of all his aches and pains. He makes us ashamed to grumble. We just can't grouch since Jim's here; he is always so cheerful."
The nurse turned to Jim to get his answer. His silvery hair on the white pillow gave his calm face an angelic look. His quiet eyes were full of peace. "Well, Jim, the men say you are responsible for the changes in their attitudes. They say you are always so happy."
"Aye, nurse, that I am! I can't help being happy. You see, it's my Visitor. He makes me happy."
"Your visitor?" The nurse was puzzled. She had always noted that Jim's chair remained pitifully vacant during visiting hours. He was a lonely old man with neither kith nor kin.
"Your visitor?" she repeated. "But when does he come?"
"Every day," Jim responded emphatically. A blissful light shone in his eyes, and his face was radiant with joy. "Every day at noon He comes and stands at the foot of my bed. Oh, I can see Him and the smile on His lovely face! He says, 'Jim, it's Jesus—Jim, it's Jesus—Jim, it's Jesus—.' "
Let me ask you, dear one redeemed by the Savior's blood, are you too keeping tryst with Him who so loves you? Do you respond to His desire as expressed in Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)? "THERE," He says, "there am I."