THE postman’s knock brought Mary quickly to the door. It was her brother Alphie’s birthday, and she was sure there would be letters and parcels with presents that morning for Alphie. She was not disappointed, for the postman had quite a number.
One after another was opened, each one bringing gifts and good wishes, then last of all, a plain envelope in a boy’s handwriting. “Who is this from, I wonder?” said Alphie, as he opened the letter. In it was a sheet of gray note paper, folded around a pretty text card, on which were printed in beautiful letters, the following words: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” On the sheet of paper there was neatly written: “With the earnest prayer that you may believe on and receive Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour. From your old classmate, Willie Brent.”
“See this, Mary,” said Alphie, as he held up the card and the note paper to his sister.
“What a strange thing to send,” said Mary. “I wonder what he means by it.”
When school opened in September, the meaning became clear. Willie had been converted during the holidays, and he had sent the word that God had used to lead him to the Saviour to Alphie, his friend and companion, as his birthday text.
We are glad to tell you that not long after, Alphie too believed on the Lord Jesus as his “own personal Saviour,” and the boys were then companions and brothers in the Lord. In the Gospels we read: “Andrew... first findeth his own brother Simon,... and he brought him to Jesus.... Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him,... Jesus of Nazareth.” John 1:40-42,4540One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:40‑42)
45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (John 1:45).
ML-06/28/1964