Janie’s letter was a secret. She had written it all herself, addressed the envelope carefully, and slipped it into the mail box without telling anyone. That is no small task for a little girl of seven years old. Now she waited impatiently for the answer.
But no answer came. Do you know how she felt? Perhaps you have sent a message, a very important message, to someone, and no answer came. There must be something wrong. Would you like to find out why Janie’s letter was not answered?
Well, she let Mother into the secret, told her all about the letter, and Mother said, “Did you put a stamp on it?”
“No,” said Janie. “I forgot that it needed one.”
“Perhaps that is why you did not get an answer,” said her mother.
That was very disappointing for a little girl. But Mother helped her to write another, and to fix the proper stamp in the corner to show that its delivery was paid for. Someone must pay it, you know. Then all kinds of wheels and bags and men and machines got busy taking care of little Janie’s letter.
Do you know, little one, that you ought to add something to your prayer, to carry it up to God? You should say “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” The Lord Jesus has provided a way of blessing for you. He has paid, with His own precious blood, that you a poor sinner might be able to come to God in His Name. If you refuse that Saviour, your prayers are not acceptable to God at all.
Janie licked the stamp with her tongue. But your tongue is not enough to say the precious Name of Jesus. Your heart must say it too, and you must own Him as your Lord and Saviour. How God loves to have a poor sinner come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ, owning his guilt, and believing in what His Son accomplished on the cross. Then, after we are saved, we can come with our requests, asking for what we need in the Name of the Lord Jesus. His answer is always right, though sometimes it is not what we expected.
ML 10/04/1953