DO MY little readers know that God loves them, and cares for them, and wants them all to be really happy? I am going to tell you a story that will show you that this is so.
C—was a boy who lived with a great number of other boys at a large school. One evening, at prayers, the master, who loved the Lord Jesus, and wanted the boys to love Him too, had been speaking to them about the fourth chapter of Romans. He told them how God forgave the sins of everybody who believed His word; and spoke of the way Abraham had his sins forgiven, as that chapter tells us.
The master felt that night that God was speaking, to the hearts of some of the boys. I dare say my little readers have heard God’s voice speaking to them and telling them of their sins. And it has made you unhappy, has it not? Well, if God makes you unhappy, it is only that you may come to Him, and tell Him all about it; and then He forgives all your sins, and fills your heart with joy.
That night, when prayers were over, and the boys had marched out of the dining-hall, the master stepped down from the desk to go out too. But, just before he got to the door, a voice whispered,
“Call C—over, and speak to him of his sins.” Do you know whose voice that was? It was God’s, who loved C—, and wanted him to be happy in knowing his sins forgiven.
But the master thought it was no use speaking to him, as he was playing with other boys; and he turned to go out. But the voice said again, “Call him over.” Feeling sure then that it was God who was speaking to him, the master called the boy to him, and said, “C—, do you know that your sins are forgiven?” Poor C—s eyes filled with tears as he replied, “No, sir.” God had been speaking to him that night, and all the time he was playing his game his heart must have been very sad as he thought of his sins, all black and unforgiven. But God, who loved him so, and knew all that was in his heart, was going to make him glad. The master very gladly told him how Jesus had laid down His life at the cross, so that his sins might all be washed away. C—listened to every word, and not only listened, but believed it, too; and when the master asked him, a moment or two after, whether he could now say his sins were forgiven, he was able, with a heart full of joy, to say, “Yes.” And his bright face showed that he meant it.
Dear boys and girls, are your sins forgiven? If not, I tell you that God loves you as much as he loved dear C—, and Jesus died for you as much as He did for him. The good news now is, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).
ML 01/21/1906