HAVE you heard of a little girl who was asked, “What is it to have faith?” and who answered, “It is to take God at His word, and ask no questions?”She was right, too, in her simple reply. One who has faith believes what God says because He says it. Just as the youngest of you believe your mother’s word because she has never deceived you. If she were to say to you, “I will take you to see grandpapa this afternoon,” would you not run off, and perhaps tell everyone in the house that you were to go out with mamma, and call upon grana that afternoon? Why would you do this? Because you believed what your mother had said. So the young christian can say, God has spoken, and I believe Him.
There were two little girls whom I knew, one named Katie, the other Elsie. Katie was about five, and Elsie about two-and-a-half years old. They often showed their love in their own childlike way, peeping at times through the half-opened door, and then quietly coming into the room where I was reading or writing, and at last sidling right up to me, waiting for the nod or smile or word which they sought.
One day, just as I was going out, I held out a penny, and said, “Here is a penny for you, Katie, if you will take it.” Katie was standing near the fireplace, and looked very wistfully at the coin, but did not move. So I repeated the words, but she did not come. Though she seemed to wish to have it, she did not, I suppose, believe I would give it to her. Turning to little fair-haired Elsie, I said, “Here, Elsie, is a penny for you, if you will take it.” Without waiting a moment, the little one ran forward and, of course, soon held it in her tiny hand. She believed me, and received the little gift. Katie did not believe me.
Are there not many boys and girls, who read Messages of Love, like Katie? In this way I mean: they want very much to have their sins put away, and to be made clean in God’s sight, and fit to be with the Lord Jesus in His glory; and when they hear that God is ready to pardon—that Jesus came down to save sinners, and died upon the cross for them, and now, as it were, holds out salvation to all who know their need, yet they do not believe Him. Something keeps them back. They think they are too bad, or that it is not for them. Others are like Elsie; they see the Lord is willing and waiting to give just what they need, and so just as they are they come by faith to Him, and receive the forgiveness and blessing which He delights to bestow.
Which are you like, Katie or Elsie?
Faith is a very simple thing,
Though little understood;
It frees the soul from death’s dread sting,
By resting on the blood.
ML 09/24/1899