JIMMIE had been promised a watch on his twelfth birthday, and how eagerly he looked forward to that day. At last it came, and Jimmie’s father, faithful to his prose, brought out the new watch and presented it to Jimmie. He held out his hand and received it from his father, and with a kiss, a hug, and a hearty “Oh, thank you, Daddy,” he was off to show his treasure to his brothers and sisters.
Jimmie had no thought then that the incident of that memorable day would be used in after years to show him how to receive another gift, worth far more than the new silver watch. When Jimmie was thirteen, he became anxious to be saved. Many of the boys and girls in the town had been converted, but Jimmie was awakened to see himself as a sinner. However, he could not understand about receiving eternal life as the gift of God.
One night, sitting beside his father in the living room, his father said, “Jimmie, do you remember how on your twelfth birthday you received your watch?”
“Yes, Daddy,” was Jimmie’s reply.
“Well, my boy, you must receive eternal life from God in the same way as you received that watch from me. Take it and thank Him.”
Jimmie saw in a moment the way to “receive,” and he did “receive eternal life,” as a gift from God, and became a happy follower of the Lord.
Dear young reader, have you received the gift of God? You do not work for a gift. You do not have to seek for it. You have only to receive it and thank the giver. This is exactly what all who are possessors of Christ have done. They have received Him as the gift of God, and thank God for Him.
ML-08/09/1964