Messages of God's Love: 1947

1.Calling the high priest a whited wall, and intentionally claiming his Phariseeship in order to divide his audience. (Compare chapter 24:21.) Acts 23:3; 23:6.

2.“Far hence to the Gentiles.” Acts 22:21.

3.“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35.

4.Burned them publicly. Acts 19:19.

5.Scoffers, procrastinators, and believers, Acts 17:32-34.

6.“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

7.He was “well reported of by the brethren.” Acts 16:2.

Young People’s Bible Questions for January

The Answers are to be found in 1 Corinthians.

1.When should we lay by our substance int the Lord?

2.Give four references that show that the teaching of the Epistle to the Corinthians was meant for other Churches as well.

3.Give the only reference in the Bible to the “Lord’s table.”

4.What is the temple of God at the present time?

5.Should women cover their heads in prayer?

6.Give an example of “household baptism.”

7.How should brethren greet one another?

ML 01/05/1947

Christ Is Coming! Are You Ready?

Recently a dear child of seven years had been reading, in her Bible these wonderful verses in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 17:

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up tether with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

This little girl was so overjoyed with the happy prospect of soon being caught up to be with Christ that she went out doors and told a group of playmates about her hope.

Later this little one told her mamma, “O, mamma, it just makes me so happy to talk about the Lord’s coming!”

Are we telling our lost neighbors and friends that Christ is coming—just as this little girl did?

If there are still some of our readers who do not know the blessed Lord Jesus as their own Saviour, take Him now.

“Behold, NOW is the accepted time, behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

Those who reject this matchless Saviour are fast rushing to eternal judgment.

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3.

ML 01/05/1947

A Boy with a Future

How many boys and girls, especially when they leave school, go out with the desire and hope that they will make a name in this world, or get rich and have all that their heart might wish? It does not take long till most of them are sadly disappointed; the great height they had hoped to reach, has not been gained; or those who have reached it, find they have soon to give it up; but there is another future staring them in the face, which is eternity. They have spent all their time for gain in this poor world that they have to give up so soon.

May each of my readers consider the future that lasts forever. Are you prepared for it? The scripture says,

“FOR WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?” Mark 8:36.

It matters little whether we get along well in this world or not; the question of all importance is, “Where will you spend eternity?”

If anyone is lost for eternity, it must be his own fault. The fault would be that he had not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore would perish and lose the grand blessing of having eternal life.

Dear reader, may the aspirations of your heart be for eternal future of happiness with the Lord.

ML 01/05/1947

Prayer Answered Quickly

Two little girls said their prayers together one night. At the close one jumped right up, but the other knelt quietly by the bed.

“What are you waiting for, sister?” “I was listening for God to answer,” said her sister. “Don’t you remember Miss— said we musn’t hurry over our prayers? She said it was like the little boy that knocked at her door once, and then ran away before she could open it, so now I always wait to see if God wants to say anything to me.”

“Did He say anything to you tonight, sister,” asked the other, looking startled.

“You know,” was the answer in a low tone, “we said, ‘God bless all my friends,’ and right away I thought of Sadie Burwell, ‘cause we had a fuss today: and while I waited, God said, “Tell her you are sorry.’”

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32.

“This is His commandment, that we should believe on the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one ather.” 1 John 3:23.

ML 01/05/1947

Kindness

We do like to see children careful and kind to their pets whatever they may be dogs, kittens, birds, etc. to feed them well, and keep their houses clean and comfortable. They will appreciate your kindness to them, and will be friendly to you.

Boys and girls are not always kind to each other, and this is not pleasing to God. If we are His children, through faith in Christ Jesus, we have been forgiven many, many sins, and as we remember how much God has forgiven us, we shall also be able to forgive others who may do us a wrong. Think of how many times we displease God in our ways, and how gracious He is to us.

“BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.” Ephesians 4:32.

ML 01/05/1947

Loved to the End

John 13:1-17

The Lord Jesus knew the men who believed Him would have sorrows when He was gone and He taught them in a plain way how they could help one another. In that land people often walked barefooted or with sandals bound on their feet, so the dust of the roads soiled them. It was the duty of a servent to wash his master’s feet at evening, and also the guests. That refreshed those washed, but was not a pleasant task for the servant.

Yet the Lord Jesus did that for the disciples that last evening He was with them. They were in the room where they had eaten the passover supper together, and He laid aside His outer garments, fastened a towel around Him as a servant then did, and taking a basin of water He washed each disciple’s feet, and wiped them with the towel.

When the Lord had washed all He sat down again with them, and said, “If I then, your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you.”

This would show them that they should do whatever was needed for one another, to be like Him: He had left His place of glory to come to earth to do for all. Then there was still more those men would learn of how to help each other, for the Lord told them, “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.”

If He had meant only that they should wash dust from one another’s feet, they would have known His meaning then, for that was a common act to them. But later those men would find they did wrong things as they walked through the world, those would soil their lives as dust soiled their feet.

Water could not clean their wrong ways, only God’s word could do that by causing them to be sorry for their wrongs. They could help one another if, when one knew another had done a wrong, he would tell him God’s word, carefully and patiently, just as a good servant would not be careless and rough when he washed his master’s feet.

He was to give His own life that all who believed Him would be made “clean” of their sins in God’s sight, by His blood, but as long as in this world each one would need to be corrected by His words, or He could not bless them, or have “part”, or enjoyment with them. (vs. 8). This is called “washing of water by the Word”, Ephesians 5:26.

How kind and wise the Lord Jesus was to show those men that night not to be proud, but humble, as servants to one another, and He planned for their help and blessing in the time ahead for them. His same care is for all who belong to Him now.

“Having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end.”

ML 01/05/1947

Wonders of Snow

Most children like winter because of the lovely snow. They are delighted when they see the flakes fly in the air. What pleasure they have in snow-balling, making snow men, coasting, toboaning, etc. These are good exercises.

The snow has been falling on mountain and valley; carpeting all in spotless white, and glittering in the sunlight.

The next time it snows, let some of the flakes fall on your coat sleeve and examine them with a magnifying glass. You will see a mass of beautiful little starry crystals, so graceful in form, so delicate in structure, that the most skillful fingers could never hope to make anything like them. These are exquisite formations, which put to shame our poor human artistry. Nothing in all nature is lovelier than a snow crystal. God says,

“Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail?” Job 38:22.

“WHERE WAST THOU WHEN I LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH? DECLARE, IF THOU HAST UNDERSTANDING.” Job 38:4.

ML 01/12/1947

Do You Want to Go to Heaven?

A little boy, four years old, was amusing himself one day in the room of an invalid friend. She had a little table fitted with drawers in which she kept many things which it was convenient to have at hand. To look into those drawers, and examine their contents, was a never failing amusement to little H—.

On the day of which I speak after he had sat quietly on the floor for a good while, playing with something in one of the drawers he began asking his friend various questions. Why could she not walk about? How long was it since she was well? When would she get well? To this last question she answered,

“When is please God to make her so.”

“When would He?”

That she could not say; but as the persistent little questioner pressed for an answer, she said she did not think she should be quite well till she went to heaven.

“When shall you go?” said little H—.

“When God pleases.”

“And what shall you take with you?” “O, nothing,” was her reply.

“But you will take your little table; you can’t leave that behind!”

“O, no, I shall not want it there.” “But why won’t you want it?”

“Because Jesus is there, and He will give me all I want; I shall not want to take anything with me.”

Again his friend told him that where Jesus was we should want nothing; We should have everything, and be always happy.

“‘Do you want to go to heaven? said H—. “I don’t.”

Here he got up, and ran away to play, and the conversation ended, while his friend was left to reflect on the way in which little H— had expressed the unspoken feeling of many a heart.

Is it not so? How many of us are ready to go? I do not now speak of the readiness of knowing our sins put away, that we are washed in the blood of Jesus. There must be that readiness, or the thought of going will fill our hearts with fear. But is there this heart readiness? Is the Lord so all to us, that there is no packing up to be thought of; but that when His summons comes, we shall be glad to go?

Now let me tell you of another little boy, of about the same age, a happy, joyous child, whose sweet, clear voice might be heard all over the house, as he went about singing like a little bird. He was very fond of the hymn:

“There is a happy land, not far away,” and would often talk about “sweet baby,” a little brother who had been taken to the Home above. Less than a year after the baby’s death, this little boy was ill.

One day, his mother was watching tenderly by his bedside, when he said,

“Mother, are there a great many people in heaven?”

“Yes, Alfred, a great many.” “Mother, would there be room for Alfred?”

The tender mother, who, till now, had not thought she might have to part with her precious child, remembered,

“In My Father’s house are many mansions,” and answered, though with an aching heart, “Yes, there would be plenty of room for Alfred.”

“Then, mother, I want to go to Jesus.” And very soon after, God took him to His home above.

Dear reader, which little boy’s words express the feeling of your heart? The boy at school is happy, and rightly so, with his games, and his lessons, and companions, but if an offer comes to go Home, what then? Is the Lord’s presence the home of our hearts?

“Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8.

“Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ: which is far better.” Philippians 1:23.

ML 01/12/1947

Playing Like a Christian

A little girl called Jane got to know that “forgiveness of sins” was for every one that believeth. She believed what God said about Jesus Christ, and was quite a different child from what she used to be. She was a Christian at home, in the school, and when playing among her school-fellows.

One day she said to her mother, “Mother, I am quite sure that Emma is converted, that she loves the Saviour.”

“How do you know that, my child?” said her mother.

“Why, mother, because she plays just like a Christian; I am sure she loves Jesus.”

Now, it is quite to be expected that a Christian child should play and be active like other children, and have a child’s thoughts and ways; that is, as to the measure of them. But if you are very happy in the Lord Jesus, do you not think it will show itself in all your ways?

One of the prophets, speaking of the time when Christ is to reign over the earth, in the millennium, foretells of the boys and girls playing in the streets. No one could want to forbid play any more than work or study, only so that you play and study as a Christian, and do all things with the thought that God is looking on you with love, in His own dear Son.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

ML 01/12/1947

A Teacher's Prayer

I have a class of little children,

I hope to meet above;

And often for them am I praying,

The children whom I love.

I know that they are sometimes naughty,

Ay, more than I can tell;

And yet I trust to see in heaven

Those whom I love so well.

I do believe the Lord did bring them

To hear life-words from me:

And O, dear Master, make me faithful

And true to them and Thee!

Whatever snares, temptations, trials,

They may meet in their day,

Do Thou befriend them, loving Saviour,

And guard them on their way.

When kneeling down, thy’ve in Thy presence

Their evening prayer begun,

Maybe with tearful eye confessing

The wrong things they have done.

They’ll know Thou wilt for them be pleading

Before the throne on high,

And that for Thy sake they’re forgiven,

Who for those sins didst die.

And now I ask, O heavenly Father!

That those I’m calling mine—

The children, by Thy grace, I’m teaching—

May one and all be Thine.

Filled with the Spirit, holy vessels

May they become for Thee;

To please Thee here, and do Thee service

Throughout eternity.

ML 01/12/1947

A Friend Untrue

John 13:18-38

It has always been a sign of friendship for people to eat food together, just as boys and girls sometimes ask mother if they may invite a friend to eat with them. It is thought mean and deceitful, even among savage tribes, to harm one who has treated another as a friend and given him food.

The men who stayed with the Lord Jesus and went about with Him must have eaten many meals with Him and were called His friends. Their last meal before He was taken by the soiers was the passover supper, and it would seem He was as the host, the disciples, His guests. (Luke 22:11.) After they had eaten He told them these words from the psalms,

“He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me.”

To “lift up the heel against” means to hurt a person when turned from them and unexpected, and it is deceitful and ungrateful for one who has been treated as a friend to do so.

Jesus told them plainly, but with great sorrow, that one of them would betray Him, which meant, would give Him into the power of His enemies.

All the disciples knew that the leaders of the temple were trying to have Jesus taken, but those who loved Him could not think one of them would betray Him to them, yet they knew His words must be true, and the one nearest Him asked, “Who is it, Lord?”

It was a custom then to dip a portion of bread in broth or other liquid to soften or give flavor to, and it was polite for the host to do that and hand to his guests to eat this was called, a sop.

The Lord said to them, “He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.” He then dipped a portion of bread and gave it to Judas.

Judas had been to the chief priests before this and bargained to betray Jesus to them and they were to pay him. (Matt. 26:14-16). He had not told this to the other disciples, or no doubt, they would have tried to prevent him. He was even so deceitful when the others asked, “Lord, is it I?” to say, “Master, is it I?” (Matt. 26:14,15,16,25).

He knew the Lord Jesus deserved no wrong, and when he heard His words that one would betray Him and was given the sop as the one to do so, he should have been amazed that the Lord knew his wicked plan, and confessed his sin to Him. Then he would have given up such a wrong.

But Judas kept on his plan for the sake of the promised money; he did not care that the Lord should be his friend, so the evil spirit, Satan could enter his mind to urge him on to betray Him. And he went away to bring the soldiers, as told later.

The Lord told the disciples that He was to be betrayed so that afterward they would know how perfectly He had known all, and that He was the One foretold in the scriptures, long before. verse 19. He also told Peter what he would do that night, though Peter loved the Lord; and He said all would leave Him, (Jo. 16: 32) this all came true.

ML 01/12/1947

Protection

O you naughty dog, for hurting my kitty! I will not let you get near her again.”

So she took kitty in her arms and on her lap for protection, as she looked at the dog with an expression of “I don’t like you.”

It seems as if nearly every creature has a torment. Dogs torment cats, and cats torment birds, etc.; but who do you think is your enemy? I expect that many of you can readily answer, “It is Satan.” That is true, and there is a place of safety provided for us, where Satan cannot reach us, and where is that? I believe some will be able to tell me where that is, “Safe in the arms of Jesus.”

Have you, dear reader, gone to the Lord Jesus Christ and put your trust in Him? If you have, you may trust Him for everything, and rejoice in His readiness and ability to save you from sin and Satan, and to lead you in the paths of righteousness.

“IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN.” Psalms 118:8.

ML 01/19/1947

God's Love

“I have loved you, saith the Lord.” Malachi 1:2.

Is not this a sweet pillow to rest upon tonight? But a pillow is of no use if you only look at it; that does not rest you. You must lay your head down upon it, and then you rest. So, do not only think,

“Yes, that is a very nice text;” but believe it, and lay your heart down restfully upon it; and say, “Yes, He loves me!”

How different these words are from what we should have expected! We should have expected God to say, “I will love you, if you will love Me.” But no! He says,

“I have loved you.”

Yes, He has loved you already, poor little restless heart, that wants to be loved! He loves you now, and will love you always.

“I wish I knew whether He loves me!”

Why, He tells you so; and what could He say more? There it stands “I have loved you, saith the Lord.”

It is true, and you need only believe it, and be glad of it and tell Him how glad you are that He loves you.

“Yes, I know He loves good people; but I am so naughty!” Then He has a special word for you, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

He says nothing about “good people,” but tells you that He loved you so much, while you were naughty, that He has sent the Lord Jesus, His own dear Son, to die for you. Could He do more than that?

He says in the same verse (Mal. 1:2),

“Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?”

Wherein? O herein! not that you loved God, but that He loved you, and sent His Son to suffer instead of you.

When you lie down, think how many answers you can find to that question, “Wherein hast Thou loved us?” See how many proofs of His love you can count up; and then go to sleep on this soft, safe pillow, “I have loved you, saith the Lord!”

ML 01/19/1947

Trusting the Lord

A Christian mother, known to me, has two little girls, one aged nine, the other seven. One evening I was reading the Scriptures with her, and as the children were listening attentively, I said to them, “You know the Lord Jesus may come at any moment, even tonight.” The elder of them crying, answered,

“Ah! I do hope Jesus won’t come tonight, for my sins are not forgiven,” begging me to kneel down and pray for her.

Before doing this I asked the younger child how it would be with her should Jesus come. She said, with such a joyful face,

“O! Mrs. T., I should like to see Him. I wish He would come tonight, for He has forgiven all my sins.”

We then prayed, the elder child crying all the time most bitterly. When we rose from our knees she said, “I am so wicked, I am afraid to go to sleep tonight lest Jesus should come and not take me.”

I told her to go upstairs to her bedroom, and, when she was alone to tell Him everything that was in her heart. She said she would go, if her little sister would come too, and the two children went together, the little one doing her best to comfort her sister, explaining to her the love of Jesus, and asking her to trust Him.

She is always doing something for Jesus. She writes letters, and puts them under the doors of the houses where she has reason to think the people do not love the Saviour.

Once she felt so very sorry for a man whose life was a wicked one, that she wrote him an earnest little note, and then made so bold as to ask to speak to him of Christ. The man’s life became quite changed after that. She so loves to spread the blessed name of Jesus as far as she can, and writes out verses of Scripture, and drops them on the road, and then prays to the Lord to make the people read them.

This dear child does all this little work quite alone, and does not say a word about these things to anyone.

The mother of my little friend is very poor, and has many trials. One Saturday she was asking God to send them something for Sunday, if He would please to do so, for there was nothing in the house. As the evening grew on she said—

“It’s quite clear God does not intend we should have anything for tomorrow.”

“O, mother,” said the child, “I feel sure He does, for I have asked Him to send us something for a fire, and some money, too.”

A few minutes later the last mail came in, and the postman brought a letter with money in it, and as the mother opened it, her little girl said, “I was sure God would send it.”

Trust Jesus, dear children, trust Him for all your sins, and bring to. Him all your needs. The child believed the answer would come in answer to prayer, and God sent it. God is true, and if we go to Him in faith, nothing doubting, He will answer our prayers.

ML 01/19/1947

The Little Children's Saviour

Jesus said: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God... and He took them up in his arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them.”—Mark 10:14-16.

Little babes with Jesus resting,

Nothing know of sin or care;

Naught of sorrow they are tasting,

Naught of pain or sickness there.

Every trouble left behind them,

Never to be felt again,

If remembered, it would remind them

Of their great and endless gain.

Of their first and fallen nature,

Far from God and born in sin;

And how such a ruined creature

God to heaven could welcome in.

Babes who have not known transgression,

Yet are helpless, hopeless, lost:

But to make them His possession,

Jesus paid a priceless cost.

Happy babes! with Jesus resting,

Safely on His bosom laid;

Nothing ever there molesting,

Nothing there to make afraid.

How they love their tender Saviour,

Thank Him for His precious blood,

And for such a home forever.

Home of pleasures there with God.

ML 01/19/1947

The Way to God's House

John 14

If you wanted to go into a beautiful building which was built high above you, and you could see no possible way to get there: then someone showed you a path or door close beside you and said, “That is the way”, you would know what to do.

The Lord Jesus told the men who loved Him the way to God’s House in Heaven, just so plainly as that: He had told them He was to return to the Father and that they should be there with Him; He said they knew the way. But the men did not think they knew the way: they knew they could not take themselves, nor lift one another there. One of them asked “How can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the Way.”

The holy Person Who was beside them was the way or door to Heaven; they believed Him the Son of God and loved Him, so they “knew” Him. He was the true One and the Life, so could give life to them to be with Him. There was no other door or way to enter Heaven, only He could take them there.

The Lord Jesus was first to give up His life on earth on the cross, but the disciples did not then understand that, or when He said, “because I live, ye shall live also.” But after He was risen from the tomb and they saw Him alive and go up from them into the sky, they understood all His words, and they did not forget that the Lord Jesus Himself was the only way to God. Peter afterward told the leading men of the temple that there was no other way; “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

Is there any other way now for us to reach God’s House? Could we lift ourselves there, or could our friends or parents take us there? Or if we could do many kind things would that make us a way to God? No, we must go the only way the disciples could go,—by Jesus Himself.

If a person does not believe in the Lord Jesus there is no way possible for him to reach God or the blessed place, Heaven, for He said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

The Lord told the disciples that after He was gone the Father would send the Holy Spirit to teach them and to bring all things He had said to their remembrance. They would not see the Holy Spirit as they had Him, but He would be in them to comfort them.

The Lord had been talking with the disciples in the room where they ate the Passover meal; He said He would not talk much more with them because one He called, “the prince of this world”, was coming. A prince is a leader or ruler, this one was against Christ, “had nothing” in Him, (vs. 30); from other verses we know He meant the wicked spirit, Satan, who was then leading Judas to bring the soldiers to take Jesus.

Then Jesus said, “Arise, let us go hence”, so they must then have left the room to go to Mt. Olivet, outside the city.

ML 01/19/1947

In the Beginning God

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” Genesis 1:1.

When was the beginning?

This is a time we cannot understand. It is a depth too great for us to look into, too great for us to measure. One thing is certain, the heaven and the earth had a beginning, however long ago it may have been. God alone had no beginning.

“From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” Psalms 90:2.

There was a time called “In the binning”, when nothing existed but God alone.

Then God made all things out of nothing. He spoke, and from nothing came the heaven, and from nothing arose our earth, and all that is there.

“He hangeth the earth upon nothing.” Job 26:7.

He called the heaven and earth into being by a single act of His all powerful will. It is by reading the Word of God that we have the knowledge of all these wonderful things.

“THROUGH FAITH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLDS WERE FRAMED BY THE WORD OF GOD.” Hebrews 11:3.

But, dear children, sin came into the world through Adam and Eve, and everyone has sinned since then; all are sinners, so God loved all, and sent His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to take their place, bear the judgment due to them; shed His blood to wash away the sins of all who will accept Him as their Saviour.

In creation, we see God’s power; but in redemption, we see God’s love.

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

ML 01/26/1947

Carrie

Carrie D., the young friend of whom I am going to tell you, was brought to know the Lord Jesus as her Saviour.

One day, when walking down a road in the town of W—, she saw written on a fence these solemn words— “Sinner! where wilt thou spend eternity?”

She was frightened and troubled by the question; she tried to forget it, but could not; so, on returning home, she took her Bible, and the first words she read were,

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Carrie had found out that she was a sinner, in need of a Saviour. She was aroused, but failing to trust Christ at once, she did not then find the good work was begun however and, although there was a delay some weeks, Carrie at last put trust in Christ, and found peace believing.

She was now filled with joy, and wanted to do something for the Saviour who had saved her soul. She began by distributing tracts, and then also to speak to others of the Saviour She was in the habit of giving away tracts on her way to school.

One morning she did not take the tracts with her as usual, and seeing an old lady in the road, she longed to give her a tract; but looking into he lesson book, she found just one. Carrie offered it to the old lady, who took it, and read the title—another solemn question, “Where will you be a hundred years hence?”

“Can you tell me where you will be in a hundred year’s time?” asked the old lady.

Carrie, who now knew where she was going to spend her eternity, was able to reply, “Yes, ma’am, I shall be with my Saviour in heaven. Will you be there?”

The old lady shook her head. Carrie stood and endeavored to point her to Christ, but had at last to leave her, for fear of being late at school. The old lady’s parting words were, “Goodbye, my dear. I will read my Bible till I find Christ as my Saviour.”

Soon after this, Carrie again met the old lady, who took her by the hand and said, “O my dear, since the day I first saw you, I have known the greatest joy in my heart. I went home and found peace with God that same night.”

She also told Carrie that she was going away, but that if they never met again on earth, they would meet it heaven, through the precious blood of Jesus.

I could tell you of other things that Carrie did because of her love to Christ, but now I want my young readers to think about the question that was blessed to her soul.

You may not be so old as Carrie, but do not on that account turn away from the question. You are not too young to die; you are not too young to trust Jesus. Should my reader be older than Carrie, so much more need for your coming to Christ at once.

O my dear young friend, think of the time you are wasting! Your young life might be spent in the service of Christ, and every day that you remain away from Him is a day lost. Some, it is true, are saved when they are old, but they have lost something they can never regain — precious years, which might have been spent on earth for Christ.

My dear young friend, where will you spend your eternity? Where? Think of this solemn word. “Eternity!” When once you have passed from this life, your future happiness or woe is unalterably fixed. Time ends, and eternity, in this sense, begins.

Flee, then, to Jesus; He has died to atone for sin, and all who rest upon Him receive forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. Trust Him as Carrie did, and as thousands of children have done, and then seek to bring others to trust in Him too.

ML 01/26/1947

Little Amy

I was reading the other day of a little girl who was sick. She had to take a dose of of very disagreeable medicine.

“Mother, is it bitter, and bad to take?” asked the child, whose name was Amy.

“Yes, my child, it is bitter,” said her mother, “but not very bad to take, if you make up your mind to take it, like a good girl.”

Her mother took her in her arms, and held the glass. She did not coax, or threaten, or promise her pretty things; she wanted her child to be willing to take it for the sake of getting well.

“Wait a minute,” said Amy; and clasping her little hands together, she shut her eyes and said, “O my Saviour, will you help a poor little child to take her medicine and make her well? Will you please give Amy a mind to do it? Amen.”

Then she opened her soft blue eyes and stretching out her hand, she took the glass, and swallowed the medicine.

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7.

ML 01/26/1947

A Pleasant Surprise

A lady was walking in her garden one day, and she was startled by seeing a neighbor’s boy among the apple trees, — looking, as she thought, for some fruit; for she knew he was not a very good boy. However, before she could speak, the boy lifted up his head, and with a beaming face said, “I am only looking for a ball, ma’am. I love the Lord Jesus now, and I could not take anything that is not my own; so do not be afraid of me.”

The lady was only too glad to learn that the boy had just been brought to know Jesus.

May you, dear children, know, as the little boy did, the love of Jesus in your hearts, and may the power of it show itself in your consciences as it did in his, teaching him that what he could do before (such as taking what did not belong to him), he could not do now, for his Saviour’s sake.

“Walk honestly toward them that are without, that ye may have lack of nothing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:12.

ML 01/26/1947

The True Vine

John 15:1-17

The Lord Jesus talked to the disciples about a vine: this may “have been on their way to the garden where they were going.

There seem to have been vineyards always in that land, and He explained things which they did not know by things they could see or knew.

The people of Israel had been called “a vine” for God, what He could enjoy, as fruit of a vine is enjoyed. But because they had not been obedient to His words, they were like an “empty vine”, with nothing to please Him. (Hos. 10:1).

Jesus said to the men who believed in Him, “I am the true vine”, and He said they were “the branches”.

If you live where grape vines are grown, you know the main stalk of a vine which comes out of the ground is very strong, like a tree. If a branch is cut from the vine, that could grow no fruit, and would wither and dry.

The Lord said, “As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” He wanted those men to remember that strength for them to do what would please God, as “fruit”, must be from Him; just as the main vine gives strength to the branches. They were not to trust in the nation, Israel, or in themselves, but in Him.

He would be gone from them, but they were still to depend on Him, and to “abide” in His words (vs. 7); that meant to keep, or obey, His words.

A man who takes care of grape vines early cuts away much from them, so the strength will not go for vines and leaves; for it is fruit he wants.

The Lord Jesus spoke of God the Father as “a husbandman”, or caretaker; He is wise to know how best to correct His people that they may have “fruit” to please Him.

The “fruit” named here if they kept His words would be, “to love one another”; He said to them twice here, “that ye love one another”, verse 12 and 17. They were to love those who believed in the Lord Jesus, because He loved them. (John 13: 24). That would be the first “fruit” for God to see and enjoy, and something all can do, if they keep Christ’s words.

Some have supposed a “branch” cut, meant that one who believed the Lord Jesus Christ could be cut off from Heaven; but the Lord had just told those men the way to Heaven; it was not by “fruit”, or some good work, but by Him. He had also said He gave eternal life to all who believed Him; and eternal life could not end, or be “cut off”. And He had said those who believed Him could not “perish”, John 3:15,16; 10:28.

The meaning of the Lord must have been plain to those men that they were to depend on Him and obey His words while they were left on earth, for that would be like “fruit” for God to enjoy.

What did the disciple John afterward teach others? 1 John 3:23.

What is the first “fruit” of Galatians 5:22?

ML 01/26/1947

Bible Questions for February

“The Children’s Class” Answers for November

1.“There is,” etc. 3:12.

2.“Saying,” etc. 4:7.

3.“Who will,” etc. 2:6.

4.“For the,” etc. 6:23.

5.“For when,” etc. 5:6.

6.“Who is,” etc. 8:34.

7.“Paul,” etc. 1:1.

The Children’s Class” Bible Questions for February

The Answers are to be found in 2 Corinthians

1.“Are comforted of God.”

2.“Judgment seat of Christ.”

3.“Them which believe not.”

4.“God loveth a cheerful giver.”

5.“Liveth by the power of God.”

6.“Ye through His poverty.”

7.Where was a door opened to Paul when he came to preach?

“The Young People’s Bible Class” Answers to Bible Questions for November

1.By dying with Christ. Romans 6:7-8.

2.God. Romans 8:33.

3.We know they work together for good to the believer. Romans 8:28.

4.Thru faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 7:25.

5.In the Holy Scriptures. Romans 1:2.

6.They perish. Rom. 2:12.

7.Thru faith. Rom. 3:31.

“The Young People’s Bible Questions for February

The Answers are to be found in2 Corinthians

1.Why could Paul take pleasure in his infirmities?

2.What is an unequal yoke for a believer?

3.What equips us to comfort other believer, in their sorrow?

4.Why did the apostles tell the Corinthians to examine themselves whether or not they were in the faith?

5.Where are deceased believers?

6.What would Satan (the serpent) seek to do to the believer?

7.What are we to do with the reasonings (see margin—imaginations) of our natural minds in divine things?

ML 02/02/1947

A Defeated Enemy

One day, a little girl and boy living in the mountains of Western Canada came running indoors to their mother crying, “Mother, there is something pretty all curled around the tree!”

The young mother had heard of a family of rattlesnakes being in that section, and as she went out of the door, instinctively reached for an axe.

Yes, there was the mother rattlesnake with two young ones, entwined about the tree. For a brief moment, the mother wanted to watch the serpents glistening in the sunlight. Well she knew though, that to watch them would mean certain harm for her and her children. At once she struck the large snake on the head and then the two smaller ones and killed them. Then the mother stood with her children looking at the dead snakes—now defeated enemies.

After Satan had tempted Eve to sin and she in turn caused Adam to sin, God promised that One would come into the world who would bruise San’s head and spoil his power. The blessed Lord Jesus did this at Calvary’s Cross.

Now, for the child of God—Satan is a defeated enemy. If we are Christ’s, redeemed by His precious blood, Satan can no longer have us. When he tries to tempt us, if we quote some verses—or even one verse—from the Word of God he is powerless.

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.

Those who still refuse Christ, and let Satan dazzle their eyes with the foolish things of this world, are headed for an eternity in Hell.

“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

ML 02/02/1947

I Am the Door

To show you the meaning of the title of this story, I would like to tell you about an Eastern sheep-fold.

There is a large space enclosed by a fence about twelve feet high. This fence is made of stones of all sizes piled up on one another, and laid so as to fit closely together. The way into the fold is formed by an archway, but NO DOOR.

At the end of the day the shepherd brings his sheep into the fold, counting to see that they are all there. If one is hurt or lame, he rubs it with oil and comforts it. As the sheep live with him for several years, the shepherd of the East knows his sheep well. He gives them names, and has a special call for his own sheep, and they know it and his voice. If a strange shepherd gives the same call, they do not know his voice and run away frightened.

At night when the sheep are all safy in the fold, the shepherd still watches over them, and to do this he lies down under the archway. Then no robber or wild animal can get in without going over his body. The shepherd is THE DOOR.

Now I wonder if you understand the words of the Lord Jesus when He said, “I am the door of the sheep.” John 10:7. He has also told us that He is “the Good Shepherd” Who cares for the sheep.

“All we like sheep have gone astray.” Isaiah 53:6. Will you let the Lord Jesus take you into His fold? Have you heard His voice calling, “Come unto Me?” He gave His life for the sheep —for you, if you will accept Him as your Saviour.

“I am the Door, by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved.” John 10:9.

ML 02/02/1947

The Locomotive

When you stand at a railway crossing and watch a huge locomotive and the rest of the train rush by, how like a tremendous, swift, living monster it seems. Perhaps the stewardess in the picture is explaining to the little girls how steam is used to turn the huge driving wheels which move the engine.

It must be pleasant to go on a long trip, and have a stewardess to entertain little folks, and point out interesting things.

All of us are taking a journey through life, and we have a guide to explain things we need to know about the journey and about God, into whose presence we are going. Yes, it is the Word of God, and it is more than a guide: it might be compared to the locomotive for power, and the ability to accomplish its purpose.

“The Word of God is quick (living) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

“THY HANDS HAVE MADE ME AND FASHIONED ME: GIVE ME UNDETANDING, THAT I MAY LEARN THY COMMANDMENTS” (THY WORD). Psalms 119:73.

Many changes have been made on locomotives since the first one, which ran at a speed of three miles an hour. But God’s Word is perfect, and is unchanging and unalterable.

ML 02/02/1947

Hated Without a Cause

John 15:18-27

If someone came to your town and cured all the sick and crippled and blind, and gave food for the hungry, and did many other things no one else could do, would every one honor that person? That is what we would think everyone would do.

There has never been but one who did all those good things for people, and besides, always spoke what was true, and what was right for God: that one was the Lord Jesus. Yet many did not honor Him, instead, they hated Him, though he had done no wrong. He said of them, “They have hated Me without a cause.”

Those words were in the scriptures written long before and told how many hated Him: “They that hate Me... are more than the hairs of mine head.” Psalms 69:4. Why had they hated Him when He had always been right? It was because they were doing wrong to others and to God, and thought no one knew their sins, and wanted to keep on with them. He said because He had come and spoken God’s words to them, they had “no cloak for their sins.” That meant they had no way to cover or hide their sins, no excuse for them.

He had come to save them from the sins, and offered blessing for all. So it was the kindness and love of God they refused; to have their own ways. Their hatred was so terrible they had tried to stone Him and were then planning His death.

The Lord called the people who were against Him, “the world”.

When we use the word, world, this may mean the countries and all nations, or the people, or also the tribes they have made. The word is not in those ways in the Bible, as “God Who made the world” (all creatures Acts 17:24); and “God so loved the world” (the people) John 3:16. There it is also much used as the Lord here, meaning the people who don’t believe or want to know God: though the world hate you, ye know that they hated Me before it hated you”.

He told the disciples, “I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” verse 19. They were still on earth, but not belonging with those who hated Him.

The people who do not believe Christ can soon be led by Satan, who is called, “prince of this world” who is always against the Lord, and tries to “blind the minds of them that believe not” until they think the things they can do or have in this world are better than the glory of God (2 Cor. 4; Eph. 2:2).

Even boys and girls can be led to follow Satan’s ways if they hear of the love of God and of His Son, the Lord Jesus, and do not believe or care to know Him.

The Lord again spoke to the disciples of the Holy Spirit to be seen to those who believed Him, to help and comfort them, and to teach them of Him. And one of these men, John, afterward wrote to some, whom he called, “children”, about the Spirit: he said, “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.

ML 02/02/1947

"Can't You Talk?"

Can’t you talk?” Surely a fine noble-looking dog like this one would have many pleasant conversations with his pretty winsome little mistress. Even kitty would express its devotion in words, too.

Although God has withheld speech from our pets, He has bestowed especially upon the dog, such faithfulness to and trust in his master, that man is put to shame. Whoever saw a dog that considered himself too intelligent to serve his master? No, the better dog he is, the better he learns his master’s desires and tries to please him.

We in our natural state can know God only as our Creator, Sustainer and Judge. To any person who does not know Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord, the question in the title may be addressed: “Can’t you talk?”

If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you do not desire to talk with Him, because of His holy character; but He longs to give you eternal life, if you will only confess your sins and take refuge in Christ.

Do hasten this moment to accept God’s gracious, loving provision for your hopeless condition.

“THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” Romans 6:23.

Having been made a new creation in Christ Jesus through believing in Him, we can indeed talk intimately with the Lord Jesus and with God our Father. Let us thank God often, and present our requests to Him.

ML 02/09/1947

Locked Out

One morning a mother went out doors, leaving her little boy playing in his room. While the mother was out, the boy locked the door.

His mother knocked and called, but the boy could not open the door. Later, the door was forced open.

A little girl heard the mother knocking frantically on the door and it deeply impressed her. She told her daddy that it made her think of the time when people would want to get into heaven—but the door would be shut then, and it would be too late.

Today, dear boys and girls, the door of mercy is still open for all who would enter through the Lord Jesus. We read in John 10:9.

“I am the Door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and, shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Sometimes we sing—

“One door and only one

And yet its sides are two

Inside and outside

On which side are you?”

Be sure, dear reader, that you are on the “inside”.

How sad for those who have neglected this great salvation! They will be like the foolish virgins in Matthew 25:11 and 12.

“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us: But He answered and said, “Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”

ML 02/09/1947

Find Jesus

A poor mother lay dying in a neglected tenement in a great city. She had not much to leave to her little girl, but calling her to her bedside, the mother said,

“Nellie, I’m going to die; and there is just one thing I have to say to you —find Jesus!”

Soon after that the mother died, and little Nellie was left to the mercy of a neighbor who took her in and cared for her. But her mother’s last words filled little Nellie’s mind:

“Mother told me to find Jesus.” So she asked the woman who had taken her in, “Where can I find Jesus?”

“I don’t know,” brusquely answered the woman, “I am busy: don’t bother me”—like many others too busy to find Jesus herself, and unable to show the way to another.

Nellie, after that, went into the street “to find Jesus,” and asked the first man she met,

“Sir, please tell me where to find Jesus!”

“I don’t know,” he answered, and hurried on his way.

Nellie next saw a man coming out from a saloon, and asked,

“Mister, do you know Jesus?”

“No I don’t,” was the reply, “but I ought to.”

Now as little Nellie passed on and was crossing the street, the poor child was knocked down, run over, and being badly hurt, was carried to the hospital. After a time she regained consciousness, and found herself in a nice clean hospital ward; she looked around, all was quite strange to her, and seeing the nurse, she asked the same question, If this was the place to find Jesus?

“I don’t know; you had better go to sleep and rest,” kindly answered the nurse. So, like an obedient child, Nellie did so, and many days she lay on her cot in the hospital wondering where she should find Jesus. But God never lets a seeking one go away without a blessing; for His own Word says, “Seek, and ye shall find.” Not only so, but all the time Nellie was seeking Jesus, ‘twas He Himself who was seeng her. One day she called,

“Nurse! Nurse! come here—come!” and with a bright glad face, she said, “I have found Jesus; He is here in my heart. Nurse, won’t you have Him too?” And indeed the nurse was finay led to the Lord Jesus; and others too, in that hospital, in the few days that Nellie lingered before going to Heaven — to Jesus whom she had sought and found.

Children have you found Him? or rather, have you let Him find you? If you are seeking Him, you may be sure that He is seeking you, and wants you. Neither is it far away you should go to find Him, but He is very near to you, even knocking at the very door of your heart, as He has said,

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20.

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6.

ML 02/09/1947

Edith and the Snowflakes

“Come, look at the snowflakes, mother,

So pure and white and fair!

They are falling all around us,

And resting everywhere.

No leaves are seen in the garden,

The snow has covered all;

I think I should never weary

Watching the snowflakes fall.

“To me they seem just like treasures,

Strewn by some unseen hand;

By one who delights to spread them

Upon both sea and land.

I wonder not that their beauty

Is far too fair to last,

For their pure and dazzling brightness

Can never be surpassed.”

“The snowflakes are pretty, Edith,

And pure, and fair, and white;

But I know of something fairer—

More spotless in God’s sight,

I’ll tell you about it, darling,

For you would like to know

How ought on earth can be fairer

Than e’en the pure white snow.

“He saw we were lost and guilty,

So he devised a plan

By which to bring full salvation

To sinful ruined man.

God sent down His Son from heaven,

He spared Him from His side;

And that we may be forgiven,

The blessed Saviour died.

“Yes darling, He came to save us

By dying on the tree;

And He bore the awful judgment

Bore it for you and me,

By His blood has made atonement

For all who will believe

And He waits today to bless us,

If we His word receive.

“His blood is so precious, Edith,

It cleanses from all sin,

And it leaves the soul as spotless,

As though no stain had been.

It is fit for God’s own presence,

Christ’s blood has made it so;

The soul that has trusted Jesus,

Is whiter far than snow.”

“Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalms 51:7.

ML 02/09/1947

The Spirit of Truth

John 16

Do you remember in the second verse of the Bible, in the account of the creation of the world, what is said?

“The Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.”

So there has always been the Holy Spirit, and many times written of in Scripture. But the Lord Jesus told the men who believed in Him that, when He was returned to Heaven, the Holy Spirit should come to live in them. Jesus spoke of the Spirit as though a person, saying “He”; but not an earthly person, nor in a body, as the Lord Jesus took.

The Lord called Him the Spirit of truth and the Comforter, which meant also, one to counsel and to defend us. The Lord had before told of the Spirit as likened to the wind, saying,

“The wind bloweth where it listeth (pleases), and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8.

We cannot see the wind, yet we feel it and know it is here: we can see what it does: it is a great force in the world. So the Holy Spirit is a force or power, greater of course than any power here.

And what the Lord Jesus told of the Holy Spirit (called also the Holy Ghost) was what He would do: first, what the Spirit would do for the disciples: He would “bring all things to their remembrance” whatsoever Jesus had said to them: He would teach them all things; guide them to all truth: tell them things to come: and abide, or stay, with them forever (see John 14:16,17,26; 15;26:16:13).

“He will reprove the world O sin.... because they believe not on Me.”

To reprove means to speak against wrong: the Spirit would speak God’s words, by the men who believed Christ to show those who did not believe Him their sin: the Son of God came in love to save sinners: the greatest sin anyone can do is to not believe Him.

“He will reprove the world of righteousness... because I go to My Father.” Because the Lord Jesus was righteous, God raised Him and He is in Heaven: the Spirit tells men to believe that.

“He will reprove the world of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

Satan was the first to lead to doubt and unbelief of God’s words (Gen. 3:4), and has ever since tried to lead people to unbelief. The penalty for sin is death and to be apart from God; Christ took that punishment on the cross, and the Spirit tells of judgment for Satan and all who follow him. These facts are more explained afterward, as the Lord said would be, read Hebrews 2:14.

After the Lord was gone to Heaven, the Holy Spirit came (Acts 2); from that time the men who loved the Lord Jesus, but had been afraid of those who did not believe, spoke with power by the Spirit. They preached Christ came to die for sinners, that God raised Him, and that there was judgment for all who did not believe Him, (see Acts 4:8; 5:29-32).

ML 02/09/1947

I Am the Lord!

What a sad picture we have before us this week. We see the awful result of despising and disobeying God. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, was one who had no thought of God, neither did he fear Him. Just think of one of God’s creatures doing as he pleased instead of asking God that He wanted him to do. But Pharaoh went further than that. He disobeyed.

“Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2.

He ought to have known the One who had created him, for God has shown Himself in creation.

“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20.

No wonder that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. And God does so tay to those who despise Him and refuse to know Him. Should not Pharaoh have known who it was that was providing him with food and raiment? He evidently did not.

Do you, my reader, know the One who gives you all you need? If you do, then you can say,

“The gift above all the gifts that God has given, is His beloved Son to die for us.”

“Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6.

“Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

The awful end of Pharaoh here on earth is what is pictured before us, and not him only, but all who followed him. But the terrible and final judgment of those who will not know nor fear God, will be to be cast into the lake of fire which is the second death.

“TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS.” Hebrews 3:7. 8.

ML 02/16/1947

How Lewis Was Awakened

Lewis is a son of a dear friend of mine, and I want to tell you how this boy was saved.

At home, in the Sunday School, and at meetings, Lewis had often heard about the second coming of Christ; how when He comes it will be to take His own away and leave the unsaved behind; and that those left behind shall be “condemned with the world.”

One night, after he had gone to bed, Lewis’ parents went out to visit his grandmother a few blocks away. After they had gone, he woke up. The house was so still; not a sound was heard. He got up then to look for his parents; he went to their bedroom, and not finding them there, went downstairs to search for them; but they were nowhere to be seen. He then called for them, but there was no answer. The awful thought arose: Has the Lord come and taken father and mother and all His own to heaven, and am I left behind!

How terrible it seemed! It made his heart sink. He got down on his knee, and cried to God. He had always said his prayers before, he says, but he never really prayed in his life until then.

Now, while he was praying, the telephone bell rang; and he said to himself, “God has heard my prayer.” He went to answer the phone call, and how glad he was when he found it was from a Christian man he well knew, asking for his father. From this he knew at once that Jesus had not taken away the people, and there was yet opportunity for him to be saved. How thankful He was to God! And then and there he received Christ as his own Saviour.

He did not tell it at once to his father and mother, however, as he should but was led to do this by a sheet almanac upon the wall on which was the following text, in large letters:

“IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALT BELIEVE IN THY HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED” Romans 10:9.

Lewis would look at this, on going to bed and when getting up, night and morning, and from it he saw that he should confess the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. So he told his parents all that had happened, and confessed to them that he was now saved. How thankful they were to know that their child, with them, was now ready for the coming of the Lord!

“I was very sad when I thought Jesus had come, and I was left behind then I was glad when I found He had not yet come, and there was salvation for me.”

Children, Jesus surely is coming Are you ready, or would you be left behind? We believe He is coming soon, and it is time you were saved. Come to Him now, then, while He is saying, “Come;” for by and by He wil say, “Depart.” This is after He has come and closed the door against all who heard the gospel and neglected or refused it. The word of God says, “The Bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut.”

My young reader, see to it that you also be READY.

ML 02/16/1947

Luxury and Poverty

Even among the poor brute beasts there is such a thing as luxury and poverty. Just look at that fat dog sitting on the top of the wheelbarrow! He has been well cared for, and everything eatable seems to be eaten up. The poor, hungry, half-starved dog is looking so wistfully at the empty plate in the basket, and would say, if he could, “I would like one bite, as I am so hungry!”

Have you ever thought why it is that there is such a condition in this world? God’s Word is where we get the answer. All this has come in through sin. It is not that the brute beasts have sinned, but man, who was made head, sinned, and the whole creation under him consequently suffered as the result.

What a terrible thing sin is! It always has its bad results, and the worst result is—those who have their sins upon them must be finally banished from God, because God could not allow sin in His presence.

But there is good news for us all, and that is, God is love as well as holy, and in His wonderful love He gave His only begotten Son to take our place under the awful load of our sins, and He bore the dreadful penalty on the cross. That is why the Lord Jesus said, when hanging there.

“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

Can you answer by saying, “It was on account of my sins being laid upon Him, and God who is more holy than to behold iniquity, could not look upon the Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour?” If you can say this, you have the great remedy for the awful, eternal result of your sins.

May you rejoice in that Saviour as yours, who has delivered His own from eternal wrath.

“BEING NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM.” Romans 5:9.

ML 02/16/1947

Jesus, the Saviour

When in my quiet bed I lie,

And mother takes the light away,

Jesus, the Saviour, still is nigh

To hear and help me, if I pray.

But He was in a manger laid,

To Him the Jews would give no bed.

A holy child, from morn till night

Jesus obeyed His parents’ will;

But most of all ‘twas His delight

His heavenly Father’s to fulfill.

For this He tarried, for He loved

To act and speak as God Him moved.

So when the time was come He went

With willing steps of God to speak;

And all day long His strength He spent

To win the lost, and raise the weak;

And gladly give, in place of fear,

The knowledge of a Saviour near.

Brighter and brighter, heavenly grace

At every step shone sweetly out;

Yet sinners of the chosen race

Hated, refused and cast Him out;

But mercy reached beyond their sin,

And pardon through His blood came in.

He rose; and now He lives to save,

And bless the souls that trust His love;

Faithful to raise them from the grave,

And gather to Himself above;

None shall be lost, for His they are,

He makes each one His loving care.

ML 02/16/1947

Prayer of the Lord Jesus

John 17

It is many times told of the Lord Jesus while He was on earth, that He prayed to God the Father; sometimes He went to a mountain to pray, and to a desert or other lonely or quiet place. Sometimes the disciples were with Him, but His words in those prayers are not written (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:18,28).

But the Lord’s words in His prayer the evening before He and the disciples went into the garden where Jesus led the soldiers to take Him, were written, and are very wonderful words.

“These words spake Jesus and lifted up His eyes to heaven”, and after He had prayed, “He went forth with His disciples over the brook, Cedron” to the garden (John 18:1). That brook flows through a ravine outside of the city, so must have been a lonely place and where they were alone that night.

The great temple should have been a place for prayer (Isa. 56:7; Mark 11:17). But the Lord Jesus was rejected in the temple, and the chief priests were then sending the men to take Him; yet this prayer of the Lord, who knew all their plans and all He would suffer that night and the next day, were not for Himself, but for those who trusted in Him.

He said He had told them God’s words and they had believed Him, and He prayed for them to be kept from the evil of the world. Then He prayed also for those who would believe Him when those men told them of Him. From those words we know this prayer is for all now who believe the Lord Jesus their Saviour, as those men did; and as they taught and wrote of Him.

Ever so many people since that time, in all parts of the world, have believed the words written by those men, and have put their trust in the Lord Jesus. To all these the words of this prayer have been very blessed.

Have you noticed the first words of this prayer? He said, “Father, the hour is come: glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee.”

It was the hour, or time, for His death, when He was to suffer for the sin of the world. But He spoke of glory, for by His death God would have glory, and would give special glory to His Son. Some day all pele saved by His death will give Him glory.

One thing He prayed for was that those who believed Him should behold His glory: “I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me...”

It is written that because the Son of God left His glory to come to earth and “Became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name that is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11.

ML 02/16/1947

A Mother's Love

Is it not a pretty sight to see a dear little baby lying in his mother’s arms!

We often see it, and have, no doubt noticed by the expression of the mother’s face, how much she loves her baby; but if we look at him, we see, not so much an expression of love, as, a picture of helplessness.

The little one cannot do anything for himself, but the mother must do everything for him; first, because she loves her little baby; second, he is not strong enough to take care of himself. This reminds us of the love that God has shown to us, for the Bible says:

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10. This is beyond a mother’s love for her baby.

Have you ever thought that God really loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you, so that you may be saved through Him? He loved us when we were helpless, and could not do anything for ourselves in order to be saved. He looked upon us in love, and knew our helplessness, so He did everythiny for us.

“WHEN WE WERE YET WITHOUT STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.” Romans 5:6.

ML 02/23/1947

Labor Made Light

Wash day is always a toilsome one, and well it is if strength and endurance are possessed, so that its labors can be gone through without too much exhaustion.

The temper is often tried on such occasions, and the Christian needs mercy and grace for the time of need, when this work has to be undertaken; But with Christ there is a full supply, as the following story shows.

Susie W—had lost her father. Her mother was quite an invalid, and as Susie was the eldest daughter of a large family, the burden of responsibility and work fell almost entirely upon her.

I was visiting her mother one day. Susie had been brought to know and trust the Saviour only a few months previously. Mrs. W—showed me some lines that her daughter had written, referring to a hard wash-day. I asked permission to copy them and pass them on. Remember, that they were written by one who was but “a babe” in the family of God, only a few months old!

This “looking away to Jesus” is a wonderful thing. If it enables a poor tired girl with a headache to finish up a hard day’s washing with “a glad and grateful song,” it must be well worth trying! And so it is. Heart occupation with Christ in glory is a real thing; and it works.

ML 02/23/1947

What Susie Wrote

I was feeling, O! so tired,

My head was aching too;

For the day had seemed a long one

With so many things to do.

“O! shall I ever finish?”

I murmered with a sigh;

Indeed the work seemed endless,

I felt that I could cry.

Suddenly these words came to me,

As if whispered in my ear:

“Tis rest in looking upward,

Upon His face so fair.”

Then I looked away to Jesus,

Away from all my care,

Away to where He dwelleth

In glory bright and fair.

And the beauty of the Saviour

Burst on my longing gaze,

And I seemed to see God’s glory

Shine in His blessed face.

And that sight so grand, so glorious,

Filled me with joy divine,

As I whispered, in my gladness:

“I am His, and He is mine.”

I forgot that I was tired,

That the day had seemed so long;

And the weary task was finished

With a glad and grateful song.

Do you ever feel so burdened

With a heavy load of care?

As the daily task and worry

Often more than you can bear?

Let your eyes look off to Jesus,

Let His beauty hold your gaze;

And He’ll fill your heart with gladness,

And your lips shall sing His praise.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4.

“Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Proverbs 16:20.

ML 02/23/1947

Redemption Point

Niagara Falls, which some of you have seen, is one of the greatest of waterfalls. There is a place in the river above the falls called, “Redemption Point.” One is safe if he does not go beyond this spot, but if he should venture past, his boat will be caught in the current and then carried over the falls. A sign is placed at that spot to warn everyone, of the danger of passing the safety line.

One day, some men were seen drifting along very near to this point. People on the bank called in warning, but they took no heed. It was seen, too, that they were drinking strong drink — the Word of God warns us not to do this—and laughingly one of the men waved the bottle to the folks on shore. Again and again they were warned, but still drifted on unheeding till, passing Remptation Point, they were caught in the mighty current’s power and carried to their deaths over the falls.

Boys and girls, God warns us of a more fearful thing than even being dashed to pieces over Niagara. He tells us to, “Flee from the wrath to come.”

Judgment is going to fall on this wicked world. Let us not refuse to heed the warning by hardening our hearts against it—but, NOW, while there is yet time, close in with God’s offers of mercy. Soon it may be too late.

“To lose one’s wealth is much,

To lose one’s health is more

But to lose one’s soul is such a loss,

As nothing can restore.”

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ NOW.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Cor. 6:2.

ML 02/23/1947

Mickie, a True Dog Story

Hundreds of stories might be told of the faithful love of dogs for those who were their kind maers. There is a touching tory of a little dog named, “Mickie,” hat you will enjoy!

Mickie lived in the Southern States. His master was a little boy who had just started school. So fond of John was Mickie, that he accompanied him everywhere and always took him to school and came to call for and escort him home.

One morning John was later than usual in setting out for school, To avoid being late he cut across a sandy lot, Mickie as usual, trotting ahead. Suddenly the dog stopped, growled, and made a terrific leap forward at some object in the path. What do you think it was? A deadly rattlesnake! A great struggle followed, John standing aside trembling and fearing both for himself and Mickie. The brave dog never once let go his hold on the cruel reptile and after a time the snake’s struggles ceased and it lay dead. But what of Mickie? When the little hero sprang at the snake it had, as quick as lightning sunk its poisonous fangs into his body. Not long after, Mickie too, lay dead —his life laid down to save his loved little master. You can imagine John’s grief at the loss of such a true friend and we know he would never, never forget Mickie’s loving devotion.

How clearly this story reminds us of Another Who laid down His life that we might live.

Satan, our enemy, who is sometimes called, “that old Serpent, the Devil,” had us in his power, but Jesus, God’s beloved Son, came and gave His life—laid it down willingly—that all who believe He died for them, might be saved—delivered forever from Satan’s power.

Just as John could not deliver himself from the snake so we had no power to deliver ourselves from sin and Satan. Jesus, seeing our helplessness, came and did all the work for us. Believe on Him, dear children. Believe He did this for you and you will be saved.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6.

ML 02/23/1947

A Good Memory

This afternoon I went to see an old lady who was ill, and has to be in bed almost all the time. But this doesn’t make her sad and miserable, because she knows the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. She is so bright and happy and always ready to tell of the Lord’s love to her. While she lies there all alone she speaks to Him and He speaks to her.

You may be wondering what I mean when I say that Jesus talks to this old lady. She doesn’t hear a voice speaking aloud to her, you know. No; the Lord Jesus speaks to us now through His Word, the Bible.

If we want to send a message to someone who lives a long way from us, we send them a letter. So God’s Word is like a letter. In the Bible we read how much He loves us, and how He sent Jesus to die for us. Then we read too how Jesus is now in heaven watching over all those who trust in Him, whether they are old or young.

When this old lady was a little girl she learned a lot of hymns and verses. Now she is old and cannot read for herself, but the Lord brings these verses to her mind, and they are such a comfort to her.

Although she is eighty-seven years old, yet she can remember what she learned when she was a little girl about five or six years old! I don’t suppose you little ones think when you are learning your verses for Sunday School, that if you live to be old, you will most likely still remember those verses. How important it is then to learn them well!

Did you know that it is ever so much easier to learn them when you are young? That is one reason why we need to learn as much as possible of God’s Word now, and not wait until we grow up, for it will be much harder then.

“From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15.

ML 02/23/1947

Loving in Deed and in Truth

Everyday little four-year old sister learns a text from God’s Word, and her Mother not only teaches her the verse, but also the meaning of it. Recently she learned this one,

“My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18.

Mother explained that she should not only say that she loved someone, but should prove it by doing the things that please the one she loves.

A day or two after, little sister was helping her Father, when suddenly she looked up into his face and said, “Daddy, I’m not only loving you word, but in deed and in truth.”

And so she was, and that is just what we, who love the Lord Jesus, should be doing all the time, seeking to please Him by our walk and ways.

ML 02/23/1947

Only a Step

Only a step to Jesus!

Then why not take it now?

Come and thy sin confessing,

To Him, thy Saviour, bow.

Only a step to Jesus!

Believe, and thou shalt live;

Lovingly now He’s waiting,

And ready to forgive.

Only a step to Jesus!

O, why not come and say—

“I come to Thee, my Saviour,

I cannot stay away!”

ML 02/23/1947

Bible Question for March

“The Children’s Class” Answers for December Questions

1.“So then,” etc. Rom. 14:12

2.“That if,” etc. 10:9

3.“O the,” etc. 11:33.

4.“For your,” etc. 16:19

5.“For rulers,” etc. 13:3

6.“And be,” etc. 12:2

7.“Christ.” 15:3

“The Children’s Class” Questions for March

The Answers are to be found in Galatians

1.“That hangeth on a tree.”

2.“They that are Christ’s.”

3.“Reap, if we faint not.”

4.“Crying, Abba, Father.”

5.“That I might live unto God.”

6.“The gospel which was preached.”

7.To whom are we to do good as we have opportunity?

“The Young People’s Bible Class” Answers to Bible Questions for December

1.We are to bless them. Romans 12:14.

2.Avoid them. Romans 16:17.

3.Phoebe. Romans 16:1.

4.Yes, all of them. Romans 15:4.

5.No. Romans 11:26.

6.Help them. Romans 12:13.

7.He should meet all his obligations. Romans 13:8.

“The Young People’s Bible Class” Bible Questions for March

The Answers are to be found in Galatians

1.How did Paul receive his gospel?

2.How does God describe this world?

3.If one builds again the things he destroyed what would he be?

4.Can anyone be justified by the law?

5.How are we delivered from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh?

6.How do we become the children of God?

7.If we sow to the flesh what shall we reap?

ML 03/02/1947

Safe in the Arms of Jesus

Hugo was about eight years old, when, one day, being instructed in music, he played, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” When he had finished, he said timidly, “I don’t like to play this hymn.”

“Why not?” asked the teacher.

“Because, I feel that I ant not yet safe in the arms of Jesus;” and he cored his face with both hands, and wept bitterly.

For a long time he would not be comforted, but finally listened to this: “Hugo, you may be saved. What is it that keeps you from Jesus?” He thought a while, then said: “The sins of my heart.”

Hugo had believing parents and had often heard how Jesus died to save us, but he could not say: “Jesus has saved me.”

His teacher now reminded him of all Jesus had done for him; how He died unto sin once and had borne sins. Hugo listened, but gave no answer.

“Hugo, do you believe that Jesus died to save sinners? You need only in your heart to believe on Him, and you shall be saved. Do not the Scriptures say: ‘He that believeth on Him is not condemned?’” John 3:18. Hugo promised to think over what his teacher had said and played on.

This he did indeed; and when the music lesson came to an end, he went to his own room and turned to the Lord in earnest prayer, and there and he believed that He had been punished in his stead. There he found peace.

That night after Hugo had gone to bed, his teacher came to him as usual to read a few verses from God’s word, then asked him at the close,

“Hugo, are you now safe in the arms of Jesus?” He answered with a happy smile:

“Yes, I am, and I have said to myself all day long, with joy: ‘Safe in the arms of Jesus;’ He died for me and for my sins, and God’s word says, as you have reminded me today: ‘He that believeth on Him is not condemned.’”

And, now, I would ask my dear young reader: Can you say, “Jesus has saved me?” Do you rest in His arms?

Little Hugo was sorrowful and wept because he could not truthfully say it. He mourned on account of his sins, then found peace through faith in the Lord Jesus who died to save sinners.

I trust not one of my young readers nay be careless about his soul’s salvaton, but earnestly ask himself the question, Am I the Lord’s? Give yourself the good Shepherd, follow Him daily and give Him joy.

“Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25.

ML 03/02/1947

Saved Just in Time

On a Sunday evening a great number of children assembled at our “Children’s Special Services.” Amongst them I noticed three or four boys about seventeen years of age, they seemed inclined to be noisy. We were, however, with that small inconvenience, looking to the Lord for wisdom; and after the address we invited those children who were really anxious know more about Jesus to stay behind, saying that we should be very happy to point them to the One who says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

A great number responded to our invitation, and stayed behind to be spoken to; amongst them were those three elder boys whom we had noticed. They were now quiet and subdued, and seemed really anxious about their souls.

We prayed to the Lord for them, spoke to them individually, but could not get any satisfactory answers from them; and as the hour was late we went to our homes, praying for those to whom we had spoken that evening.

On the Thursday news came to me of the death of a boy who had been crushed in a printing press a day or two before, but who had lingered for two day after his terrible injuries. This boy proved to be one of the three who had been at our school the previous Sunday evening, and who had remained to be spoken to.

More cheering news reached me on the Friday; the dear boy had sent a message to me just before he passed away: “Tell Mr. R—and the teachers at K—Street,” he said, “that I found Jesus on Sunday night.”

This was all, but the joy it occasioned us may be better imagined than described, for our hearts were overflowing with praise to Him “Who doeth all things well.”

Dear reader, I narrate these few simple facts for your benefit, and for the Lord’s glory. Let the sudden call which came to this boy remind you that “in the midst of life we are in death.” Should death come as unexpectedly to you as it did to him, where would you spend your eternity? Would it be with Jesus in glory? or would it be with friends in darkness? If you are not prepared for death, I trust this true story may lead you, through the Lord’s grace and mercy, to cast yourself as a sinner upon His loving kindness, and thus bring glory to His name by believing in Him.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15.

ML 03/02/1947

A Winter Scene

What a beautiful winter scene this is, with the sun shining on the pure white snow.

Most children like winter when the snow flies around them, touching their faces, and falling on their clothes, and they love to make snowballs. The parks look beautiful with all the dark trees and bushes surrounded by the white snow.

Is there anything whiter than snow?

Yes, a sinner who is washed in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is whiter than snow.

Are you washed, dear reader, in the blood of Jesus? Just come to Him, and accept Him as your dear Saviour, Who loves you so much, as to die for you on the cross, and bore the judgment you deserved for your sins.

“COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD: THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL.” Isa. 1:18.

ML 03/02/1947

Sophie, the Young Collector

“Will you please give me a subscription for ‘The Poor Children’s Breakfast?’” said a little voice, as I opened the door, in answer to a gentle knock the other evening. The collector was so exceedingly small, that I could scarcely see her in the darkness, and so I asked her to come in. As she stepped inside the door, I found my visitor to be a girl of seven or eight, with a pretty, intelligent face, and a pair of bright blue eyes. After responding to her request, I said, “And what do they say to the children after breakfast?”

“O! they sing hymns, and tell them about Jesus,” said my little friend with a smile.

“That’s good,” I said; and in order to find out the spiritual whereabouts of the interesting child, I added, “I suppose, you are one of His little lambs, are you?”

Her little face beamed with delight as she replied, “Yes sir, I was converted nearly a year ago, at the Children’s Meetings held then, and have been a lamb of Jesus’ flock ever since then.”

Wasn’t that a delightful testimony? There was a clear ring about it, and I found on making inquiry, that Sophie, the little collector, was a Christian at school and at home, as well as at the Children’s Meetings. These are the marks of a true Christian.

Conversion first, by believing on the Lord Jesus; by receiving Him as Saviour, Conduct — Christian conduct at school among companions; at home among brothers and sisters.

Consideration of others, seeking their blessing.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal life.” John 10:27,28.

ML 03/02/1947

SNowBalling

O I love the winter!” So said a little boy as he thought of the different kinds of fun to be enjoyed in the snow and on the ice.

Snow-balling, sliding, tobogganing, and other pleasures seemed most attractive to him.

God said to the snow, “Be thou on the earth,”....

“Great things doeth He which we cannot comprehend.” Job 37:5,6.

In our picture the boys are having plenty of fun snow-balling each other, and they are enjoying their play immensely.

We know all our readers have heard the gospel message, and hope each one can say,

“WASH ME AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.” Psalms 51:7.

“The blood of Jesus Christ, has washed me, and made me whiter than snow.”

“Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord though your sins he as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 03/09/1947

An Answered Prayer

A Christian nurse was, sometime ago, engaged to attend on two children—one a baby, the other a boy of six, named George. After a little while, she asked George if he knew who God was.

“Yes,” Georgie said; “He lives in the sky.”

“And do you know that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die, in order that we, though so naughty, might go to heaven?”

“No,” answered George, for no one had ever told him that God is love. “That was good of God,” said the child. “Do tell me some more about it.” And this the nurse gladly did.

A few days after, Georgie (who slept in his nurse’s room) woke her up, sang, “O, nursie! I have the toothache. Will God make it better if I ask Him?”

“Yes, dear, I am sure He will.”

There was silence for a time, while the nurse and child both prayed that God would take away the pain. Then the boy said brightly, “Nursie, it’s gone! God has made it better because I asked Him.”

And thus little Georgie began to know that God loves and listens to the prayer of a little child.

Dear children, God is as ready to answer your prayers as He was Georgie’s, but do not forget first to ask Him to teach you to believe in your heart that Jesus died for sinners, and when you indeed believe, then you will find it easy to go to God in all your trouble or pain, for you will be quite certain that God loves you, and loves to listen to you and help you.

“All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22.

“Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you.” John 16:23.

“Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged:

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

ML 03/09/1947

A Little Girl Like Me

The preacher was pressing on his audience the importance of accepting Christ, and with Him life eternal as the gift of God, and while closing his address he observed a little girl in tears, whose attention had delighted him during the evening.

He determined to converse with her before she went out, but while he was busy she was gone, and with sincere regret he went away.

On the following evening his little friend appeared, but there did not seem in her the intense interest of the precious evening, and at the close there were no signs of tears.

Grieving at having lost his chance, the preacher, however, went to her, and, sitting down beside her, spoke of her attention and emotion during the address the evening before, asking at the same time how she seemed to have lost that anxiety.

“Oh,” said the little girl, “you told us last night of God’s willingness to give Christ and eternal life through Him, and I went home to my closet and asked Kim to give me Christ and life eternal; and don’t you think He’d do it for a little girl like me?”

“I am sure He would,” said the preacher.

“And so am I,” said the child; “and I feel like singing now, although I felt could do nothing but weep last night.” “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML 03/09/1947

A Little Boy's Inquiry

A mother was startled one day by her little boy abruptly asking: “Mother, what is the meaning of eternity?”

“Well, my boy, what do you want to know about eternity?”

“Mother, I want to know how many years there are in eternity.”

“My dear boy, I cannot measure the vastness of eternity; I cannot count out its endless ages; man cannot describe its space. Man can tell with tolerable certainty the distance from the earth to the sun, but with all his power of intellect he cannot comprehend eternity—it is forever and ever; no end, no end, no end!”

Ask yourself, dear reader, “Where must I spend eternity?”

Eternity is before you and you must enter.it. Which will it be—with Christ in glory, or with fiends in despair?

“In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:11.

Or, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting, fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matt. 25:41.

“Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:44.

Do not let another day go by without taking Jesus as your Saviour. The matter is too solemn. It will not do to wait any longer.

There is no salvation in the next world; an endless eternity with the devil and his angels! A thousand years will pass, but it will be eternity still. Think of it, my unsaved reader; a never-ending eternity of woe, anguish and gnashing of teeth, lies before all those who refuse or neglect this great salvation, which is offered to you now without money and without price.

Come to the Saviour just as you are —guilty, lost, helpless. God’s delight is to save poor sinners. “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7.

ML 03/09/1947

Let Go of the Rope

A lad on the roof of a high building where several men were at work, was gazing about with apparent unconcerned when his foot slipped and he fell. In falling he caught a rope and hung suspended in the air where he could only hold on for a short time. He knew his danger and expected in a few minutes to be dashed to death on the stones below. At this moment a kind and powerful man rushed out of the house and standing beneath him with extended arms, called out, “Let go of the rope, I will catch you.”

“I can’t do it,” said the boy.

“Let go and I promise you won’t be hurt.”

The poor, frightened boy hesitated for a moment, and then let go and dropped easily and safely into the arms of the man.

Here is a simple act of faith. He knew he was in danger of death, he saw that someone was ready to save him, he believed what he said, he let go every other dependence and hope, and dropped right into the arms of his saviour.

“The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27.

ML 03/09/1947

Love One Another

When my brother and I were children we would walk by a toy shop each week and we would always stop to look at the dolls and toys.

One time my brother asked me which doll I liked best and I pointed to a lovely one with blue eyes and golden hair.

About two weeks later as we walked past the shop again, my brother went inside and told me not to watch him. I turned the other way but there were tears in my eyes for I guessed what he was doing. He soon came out again with a package and inside was the doll I had admired.

My brother had worked and earned enough money to purchase the doll. I often thought of my brother’s kindness when playing with the doll.

“Let us love one another: for love is of God.” l John 4:7.

God has given us many wonderful gifts but His greatest Gift to us is His beloved Son.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Have you accepted God’s Gift or are you refusing Him as Saviour?

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15.

ML 03/09/1947

Darkness and Light

Some friends once brought us a beautiful white rabbit and we were so pleased with him. We put him in a pen and gave him carrots and lettuce to eat.

The rabbit soon started to burrow underground and made little tunnels to hide in. He seemed to enjoy being in his dark tunnel more than eating his food. It gradually became dangerous to walk in some parts of the yard for fear of slipping into one of the tunnels.

In John 3:19 we read that “men loved darkness rather than light, cause their deeds were evil.”

“For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:20.

The Lord Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12) and all who love Him dwell in the light.

Many times boys and girls who are saved and seek to please the Lord Jesus wonder why their deeds show up so easily. So often when we fail, our failures are noticed while those of the unbelieving are overlooked. This is because we dwell in the Light.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

Let us seek help from Him so that we will not bring dishonor to His hole Name.

“Let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Isaiah 2:5.

ML 03/09/1947

Who Are You?

“Well,” these two little kittens might be saying, “you are a queer little creature! What kind of pussy cat are you? Where did you come from and where are you going?”

But of course we know this is a grasshopper. If one of those kittens should put out its paw to touch this queer object how startled they would be as it gave one of its great leaps into the air. We are told that some grasshoppers can make a jump of sixteen feet!

Once upon a time, in a certain State, there was a great plague of grasshoppers. These are very greedy insects, you know, and if there are many they will eat every green plant in sight. The crops were in grave danger of being completely destroyed so the governor of the state called all the people, on a certain day, to pray to God to deliver them from these destructive enemies. Now you know grasshoppers lay their eggs in the sand and the warm sun hatches them out into tiny, delicate, hungry hoppers whose chief business is to eat and eat and eat.

Well, the people prayed but during the next day or so the sun shone hotter than ever. Millions of little grasshoppers hatched out and the people were inclined to think God had not heard. Then suddenly the temperature began to drop. It grew colder and colder until a frost descended—a severe frost. All those baby insects perished and the big ones too and so the plague was stayed. The people rejoiced and thand God and the governor had it written in the state’s books how God had heard and answered prayer.

“CALL UPON ME IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE; I WILL DELIVER THEE, AND THOU SHALT GLORIFY ME.” Psalms 50:15.

ML 03/16/1947

Elsie's Birthday

It was the evening of Elsie’s birthday. She had been looking forward to it eagerly for weeks. The longed for day had brought all and more than all its expected presents and treats; yet now, as she listened to the story read by her sister in the room which they shared, a vague, feeling of sadness came over her. It was not that her birthday had proved in any sense a disappointment, but she felt inclined to cry because the happy day was over.

Presently mother came into the children’s room, and as was her custom, sat down to read.

Surely it was no chance that the text for that evening was, “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:11.

Those beautiful words sounded like music in Elsie’s ear that night. Familiar though they were, they came to her with fresh power, lifting her thoughts from the fading joys of earth to the lasting happiness of Heaven. For the first time in her short life, she began to realize dimly that “the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).

Elsie is a woman now, but she has never forgotten it. That verse was God’s message to her; and now that childhood’s days have passed away, she recognizes it as one link in the golden chain of love by which her Heavenly Father was drawing her to Himself. She came to Jesus and was saved, and became “happy Elsie.”

So day by day does our loving Saviour seek an entrance into the hearts for which He died. He has loved us “with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness” has He “drawn us” (Jer. 31:3).

In the passing of earthly pleasures He would remind us of the, one joy which knows no ending, the one Home where there is no parting, the one Friend who never leaves us.

ML 03/16/1947

A Word Spoken in Due Season, How Good It Is!

Prov. 15:23

There came into a prayer meeting a worldly, scoffing infidel, and as he spoke mockingly to his friend, a little boy about ten years old stole up to him, and looking up into his face, said,

“Sir, aren’t you afraid to mock God?” About ten years afterward this gentleman came to the father of that boy and said to him, “I want to know what has become of your little boy? I should very much like to see him. Ten years ago I was an infidel; I came into one of your meetings to turn all into ridicule. I was standing at the door mocking at what was said, when a little boy (who I found out afterward was your son), looking up solemnly into my face, said, Sir, aren’t you afraid to mock God?’ Do you know that word went straight to my heart. I could not shake it off. He said it so earnestly. It was evident the child meant it. I felt I had been mocking God. I became very miserable. I could not rest. I went home, and got more and more wretched. Weeks passed away, and still I could not shake it off. At last I began to pray, and by and by God was pleased to change my heart. I became a different man, and throughout eternity I shall have to thank God for that little fellow’s remark to me.”

“God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” 1 Corinthians 1:27.

ML 03/16/1947

Books of Books

Love the Book of God Eternal,

For its sacred pages care;

Have no friends who scorn or hate it,

None who sneer at what is there.

Fear not to confess it faithful,

For its truths to stand and dare;

God will honor all who reverence

All that He hath spoken there.

Teach its truth and spread its message,

Of the fear of man beware;

God will give you strength and courage,

Sure as He has promised there.

Soon amid those heavenly regions,

Free from all earth’s din and care,

We shall know in full fruition;

All it told of Christ is there.

ML 03/16/1947

The Two Roberts

One Sunday evening many years ago, two young fellows, both named Robert, were at a Gospel meeting. As they wended their way home, one of them who knew the Lord as his Saviour, turned to the other and said,

“Well Robert, what did you think of the message tonight? Are you going to trust in the Saviour?”

“That way of being saved is far too easy,” said his friend, and for some time they walked on talking of the all-important subject of being saved.

Presently they came to a stone bridge which went over the railway line, and as they stood looking over the rails the Christian boy said,

“Do you remember the building of that tunnel yonder? It took some years to build, it cost a large amount of money and more than one man lost his life over the job. Since then, you and I have often been through that tunnel. It was easy for us to get in the train and go through, but it was pretty costly to make such a thing possible. So, in the same way it wasn’t easy to make it possible that you and I might be saved. It cost God the giving up of His Son: it cost the Saviour the suerings of Calvary, the bearing of the judgment, in order that you and I might be eternally blessed. O! Robert, it wasn’t easy for God, although we may find it easy to trust the Saviour.”

“I hadn’t thought of it like that bore,” said his friend, and after a little more conversation the two Roberts went down on their knees on the stone bridge, and the one who until that night had not heeded the gospel message, there and then took the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, owning his need of Him, and thanking Him for making it possible that he might be saved.

It was two happy young fellows who left that bridge. On their way home they called to see a Christian friend, and the one who had so recently trusted the Saviour told how the Lord had saved him that evening on the bridge.

What rejoicing there was in that little room! And what is more, there was rejoicing also that night in the courts of glory over another sinner renting.

Has there ever been joy in heaven over you, my dear young reader? There has, if you have come as a needy sinner to the Saviour and trusted in Him. “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psalms 2:12.

ML 03/16/1947

Children, Obey Your Parents

One great mark of the sad state of the present age in which we are living is, “disobedience to parents” (2 Tim. 3:2; Rom. 1:30), and this lies at the threshold of a sinful, unhappy and dishonored life. The first sin was that of disobedience, and thus it is the beginning of all sins.

Children are exhorted to obey their parents, because “it is right.” God takes pleasure in obedient children, and His blessing rests upon them, even in this world. The blessing of prosperity, and a long life, was attached to it under the law, and though the Christian is not now to look for success on earth, as a special mark of God’s favor, yet under God’s government, earthly blessing still follows children who are obedient to their parents.

“Children, obey your parents, in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Colossians 3:20.

ML 03/16/1947

Rowland Hill

Rowland Hill used to tell this story of himself: “People say when I preach the Gospel very earnestly, ‘How excited Mr. Hill gets!’

Why, I was walking through Wotten-under-Edge one day, and saw some men digging gravel. All of a sudden the earth gave way and buried two or three of the men. I ran as fast as my old legs would carry me, and I shouted, help! help! help! But people did not say, ‘Poor old Mr. Hill is going dreadfully excited!’ Oh, no. He might be as excited as he pleased when men’s lives were in danger; but when a man’s soul is in danger the proper thing to do is to quietly and calmly say to him,

My dear friend, unless something shall interpose, you shall one of these days become somewhat different from what you now are, and it will not be quite so well for you in another world as, perhaps, you might desire.”

How different God’s thoughts to those of men. “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.” Luke 14:23.

ML 03/16/1947

Decide for Christ

Decide for Christ today,

And God’s salvation see;

Yield soul and body, heart and will

To Him who died for thee!

Decide for Christ today,

Thyself thou canst not save;

Helpless and guilty, dead and blind,

No longer judgment brave.

Decide for Christ today,

Confess Him as thy Lord;

Proclaim to all, the Saviour’s worth,—

How faithful is His Word.

ML 03/16/1947

Let Nothing Be Lost

A little child once gently reproved his nursemaid for shaking the tablecloth into the fireplace.

“O! Charlotte,” said he, “don’t you know that God takes care of sparrows? The Bible says so; and God will be displeased at your wasting those crumbs, which would have served the sparrows for breakfast.”

ML 03/23/1947

Feeding the Birds

How beautiful the snow is, white and clean, and these dear children have been enjoying their play in it. But now they have thought of something else, as the ground, trees and bushes are covered, and the ground is hard with frost, the dear birds are unable to get any worms or insects to feed upon.

It is good to see the boys showing kindness to these little creatures, by putting grain on the stand, where they will soon be looking for it.

We might think they must soon starve to death. But no; God takes care of even the little birds. He feeds the sparrows; He hears the raven’s cry.

Let us learn from it,—two little leons. First; may we learn to show kindness to all of God’s creatures. God cares for them, and we should care for them, too.

Second; let us thank God for His care over us. While He thinks of the little birds and cares for them, He tells us we are of “more value than many sparrows.” He does not wish us to be troubled about what we shall eat and what we shall wear. He would have us to take these cares to Him who cares for us. He gives us this beautiful word, “Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.” Should not this be enough for our hearts?

“SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL. BE ADDED UNTO YOU.” Matthew 6:33.

ML 03/23/1947

Then You're All Right

Little Philip had learned to love Jesus, and he wished that others, too, might learn to know and love Him.

One day he was earnestly talking to a little boy about what he had learned in Sunday-school.

Philip told him about a picture that was drawn on the blackboard, in which were three men who were called “A,” “B,” and “C.”

C. had a great bundle on his back, which seemed to be pushing him right into some flames which were springing up, as from underneath a great overhanging rock a short distance before him.

B. was walking along with apparent indifference as to the load which was on his back, not seeing the flames, while A. with outstretched hands and joyous face, was pressing upward toward a cross on which hung a Person who had many loads piled upon Him, and A’s load had rolled off.

“Christ died for our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:3.

“Who His own Self bare our sins in His own body on the Tree.” 1 Peter 2:24.

Philip explained to his little friend that these loads were sins and would sink any one who carried them into the lake of fire if he did not get free from them; but A. had looked to Jesus and saw his load laid upon Him, and he saw the flames from above coming down because of his sins, and he knew then that Jesus had suffered the flames of God’s wrath for those sins, and he would never have to suffer for them, and his load was gone.

After Philip had explained the picture to the little boy, he asked him which he was like— A, B or C. The little boy said he was like A. Philip, with beaming face, said to him; “Then you’re all right.”

How many of my little readers have been delivered from the great load of their sins by believing on Jesus, and are now “all right,” as dear little Philip put it!

To show how real these things were to Philip, let me tell you of another occasion when he was telling his Sunday-school teacher that they were going to have a “big watermelon” for dinner at their house. The teacher asked him if the thought of having a nice watermelon made him happy. After a moment’s reflection he replied: “I would rather love Jesus than be happy about such things.”

And the dear boy was right. These earthly things can only serve for a short time and they are gone, but those who “love Jesus” will have joys that will never fade away.

“Jesus Christ: Whom not having seen, ye love; in whom, though ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”1 Peter 1:7,8.

ML 03/23/1947

Sarah's Hymn

When we were children, my brother and I attended a little Sunday School every Lord’s Day afternoon. When the classes were over we would often visit a dear lady named Sarah and take some “Messages of the Love of God” papers to her.

Poor Sarah was a cripple and had to sit in a wheel chair and yet even worse than this — her mind had never developed, so she was not bright. Even though this dear one was in this sad condition, she was a child of God. Her poor old face would brighten up at the lovely Name of “JESUS”.

We would ask Sarah to sing for us and in a cracked voice she would sing:

“What will it be to dwell above,

And with the Lord of glory reign,

Since the blest knowledge of His love

So brightens all this dreary plain?

No heart can think, no tongue can tell,

What joy ‘twill be with Christ to

dwell.”

Not long after Sarah did go Home to dwell with Christ.

I often think of this dear one who didn’t have any luxuries in this life and yet in Christ she possessed all things. 2 Corinthians 6:10. How much better to be a poor, old lady trusting in the Lord Jesus than to be a rich man in a palace without Christ! We read,

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36,37.

ML 03/23/1947

Because I Love You!

A dear little girl, barely two and one half years of age, ran to her mama with an ice cream cone held tightly in her hand. The baby said,

“I want you to have some of my ice cream.”

“Why do you want mama to have a taste?” asked mama.

Baby smiled sweetly and said, “Because I love you!”

How sweet these words were to the mother’s heart! Mothers and fathers like to have their children show their love in different ways.

How much greater is the love of our blessed Lord Jesus who gave Himself to win our love. Yes, He died on the cruel cross of Calvary, the just One for the unjust that He might bring us to God.

Can each little reader say from his or her heart, “The Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

After we know Him as our own Saviour, then we will want to please Him, and let others know that we bong to Him.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

Remember, though, dear children that we cannot please God until we have accepted His beloved Son by faith.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

ML 03/23/1947

The Strong Arm

One day, when the roads were icy and slippery, a little girl was out walking. She was rather timid, for you know unless you can run and slide, it is difficult walking on slippery paths.

“Frightened I slip,” cried the little one.

“Take my arm. Here is a strong one for you,” replied the lady with whom she was walking. The child took the offered arm, trusted to it, leant on it and went on her way safely home.

What made the difference? The child had not changed. The state of the roads had not changed. Nothing had changed, but the child was leaning on a strong arm quite outside herself. The strength of another kept her and brought her safely to the end.

So the Lord Himself will keep each one, boy or girl, who trusts in Him. His is a strength and power outside of you, above you and for you. He wants you to lean on His arm all along the road till He brings you home to Himself in heaven. Only trust Him. He will never let you go!

“Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe.” Psalms 119:117.

ML 03/23/1947

Making Her Mother Love Her

A little girl was greatly troubled because she thought that her mother did not love her.

One day she was busily trying to scrub a floor, when a friend, passing by, asked, “What are you doing, little one? You are not strong enough to work so hard.”

The child, looking up with her eyes full of tears, replied, “Perhaps mother will love me if she sees I am trying to help her.”

Knowing the mother’s loving heart, the friend said,

“Dear child, your mother’s love is not to be won, she loves you already as much as ever she can.”

Many have fallen into the same mistake with regard to the love of God. He will not love a man any more on account of the dreary drudgery of “works of righteousness,” so called, which he may undertake in the endeavor to secure His blessing. He loves us already, in spite of our condition.

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. And again we read, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Can all who read this, say, “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us”? 1 John 4:16.

Account the truth as to the love of God no strange thing to be doubted, but as a blessed, divine reality, to be received in simple faith. Then, where once all was dismal and dark, all will be bright and blessed for time and for eternity.

ML 03/23/1947

O, Come to the Saviour

O, come to the Saviour,

He’s calling today!

How long wilt thou linger?

His voice now obey,

He’s speaking from heaven

In love to thy soul;

His blood He has given,

Wilt thou be made whole?

The Father is calling;

His language is “COME;”

His rich grace is bringing

The wanderers home.

His heart is delighting

The lost ones to bless,

His love is inviting

The weary to rest.

No need, NOW, to labor,

THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE;

To be in God’s favor,

BELIEVE ON THE SON.

Christ’s death has secured

Salvation so free;

The cross He endured

For you and for me.

The Saviour is coming

For all who believe;

The Star of the Morning

“His own” will receive.

O, children, confess Him,

The throne-seated Lord;

And you will be with Him

Where He is adored.

ML 03/23/1947

Wolves

Wolves are fierce creatures, living in forests, enemies to cattle,—ravenous, greedy and crafty.

In times of a great famine, when they can get no food, wolves are said to destroy one another; they run around in a circle, and the first one to fall through dizziness is devoured by the rest. When they set upon sheep they make choice of a dark cloudy day, that they may escape the more safely; and they go against the wind, to prevent the dogs from smelling them. They are very cautious and difficult to entrap. They rarely attack a man unless rendered fearless by hunger.

Scripture takes notice of this animal, as it does many others, and if you will read carefully the scriptures that relate to the wolf, you will see that the Word of God takes notice of it, that it is violent, cruel and greedy.

In John 10:12, you may read of the Lord Jesus Himself speaking of the wolf catching the sheep and scattering them.

God, in His Word, likens all of those who are saved to sheep.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6.

We too have an enemy, but like the poor sheep, helpless and defenseless against wolves, we are powerless against the great enemy of our souls, Satan, but, as we read in John 10:11,

“I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

We learn that the Lord Jesus Christ as “The Good Shepherd” has died, given His life, that He might save all who put their trust in Him, from the power of Satan, and from the consequences of their sins.

Have you put your trust in the Lord Jesus yet?

“BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED.” Acts 16:31.

ML 03/30/1947

Waiting for Jesus

At the close of a Gospel meeting for children, several young ones remained, desiring to hear more of the “good news,” which had been the subject of the address.

One little girl, of about nine or ten summers, was sitting by herself, evidently much interested. I sat by her side, and asked her name, and then said, “For whom are you waiting?”

Her simple reply was, “Jesus.”

“And whom is Jesus waiting for?” I asked.

One word alone she answered, “Me.”

Little Mary was waiting for Jesus; Jesus waiting for little Mary, and so, very soon, the two met, for Mary, just as she was, a poor, lost sinner without one plea, but that the Lord Jesus had shed His blood for such, came to Him who was “waiting for her,” and found that He kept His word, and did not cast her out.

My little friend, do you know that Jesus is waiting for sinners like you to come to Him? Yes, just as you are, and just now. This loving Saviour—

Stands patiently:

Though oft rejected,

Calls again.

How many times has the Lord Jesus called you? Perhaps, through your Sunday-school teacher, or father, or mother, but you have not come. You have kept Him waiting. He still calls, “Come unto Me, come unto Me.” When on earth, He called a little child unto Him (Matt. 18:2), and the little one seems to have come at once. Now, will you come? But you say, I am such a sinner, must I not wait till I am better? No, my dear little friend, the Lord says, “Come now ... .though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 03/30/1947

Converted in a Ditch

In a country district, not far from where I resided, lived a shepherd, a warm-hearted and faithful Christian. He was never backward in grasping opportunities for saying a few words for his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There were two boys employed on the same farm, and their great delight was to give as much annoyance to the shepherd as they possibly could. But he sought grace for each day, and was kept superior to every opposition and persecution. In spite of the treatment he received from the boys, his heart went out to them, and he desired blessing for their souls and prayed incessantly for it.

During the dinner hour he would go and sit in a ditch at the side of a field on the farm and partake of his humble meal. The boys used to follow, and sit a few yards off, in order to keep up their annoyance. After his meal he would take his well-worn Bible from his pocket and read a chapter out to the boys.

This went on for some considerable time, apparently with no effect. Indeed, the boys seemed to get harder and harder. But he still pursued, waiting upon the God of patience, endurance and long-suffering; the One who willeth not the death of a sinner, in spite of his rebellion.

One day, however, one of the boys was particularly quiet, and would not join the other in his disgraceful conduct. The faithful man continued his practice day by day, and the boy still remained quiet and subdued. Some days after, at dinnertime, he confessed the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, in the ditch.

No more annoyance from him. His great desire was to read the Word with the shepherd. They arranged a Bible reading in the man’s home, and the two met together for some time, and were much encouraged. They prayed for the other boys who were still on the wrong road.

Each dinner hour found them in their usual spot, and soon afterward the second boy was brought to the Lord, much to the cheer and comfort of the dear man of God, who had borne a quiet, faithful testimony for many a day.

“Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

ML 03/30/1947

The Lord's Care

A little boy and girl once went with their father for a drive into the country. They were very fond of this pretty drive, as it was through the beautiful fields, and they greatly enjoyed seeing the cows and horses feeding quietly in the grassy fields, and besides, they were driving to a place where a few of the Lord’s people had gathered to remember their blessed Saviour in His death.

The little room was situated upon a very steep hill. After the meeting they harnessed the little pony into the buggy and started down the hill, but their father said, “Now, children, you must walk down this hill.”

The children obeyed but were a little cross, perhaps, it was because they did not want to lose the ride. However, their little faces soon changed and they were so glad they had walked down, for presently a strap in the harness broke, and the pony kicked and plunged all the way down the hill, and then it ran away, round a corner, kicking all the while, and the dear little children began to get so frightened, and the little girl cried, for they were afraid their dear father would be killed, but God was watching over His own, and when the buggy and pony and the dear father were all upset the children were so glad to find that he was not dangerously hurt, and, although he would be very ill for several weeks, he would be spared to them.

Now, I want my dear little readers to learn two things from this little story. First, that God watches over His own, when they seek His care and ask for His protection. He will keep us through the greatest dangers, for He loves to hear His people speak to Him. And little children too, as the little hymn says: Children’s prayers He loves to hear, Children’s prayers delight His ear and Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto Me.” Jesus is just the same now, and is not willing that any should perish.

The second thing I want you to learn is: God loves to see little children obey cheerfully. You see, these two little children did not obey cheerfully, and still there was a loving God watching over His little children, for they might have been killed had they been in the buggy.

You, dear children, who have Christian parents, listen attentively, and go cheerfully and gladly to do all they say, for they love you too dearly to tell you to do anything that is not right, and you know God looks not at the act, so much as the way it is done; so do it heartily as unto the Lord.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

ML 03/30/1947

Keep Them Out

I don’t want to hear naughty words,” said a little boy.

“It’s no matter,” said another boy, “what Joe Smith says; it goes in one ear and out the other.”

“No,” said the first boy, “the worst of it is, when naughty words get in, they stick. So I shall do my best to keep them out.”

It is much easier to keep naughty words out, before they get in, than it is to get them out, after they once are admitted into the mind. It is easier to soil a piece of paper, than it is to clean it, and the Scripture says, the man whom God approves and blesses, is one who,

“Stoppeth his ears from the hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.” Isaiah 33:15.

Evil outside is bad enough, but evil inside poisons the very fountain of life.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

ML 03/30/1947

Behold the Lamb

Behold the Lamb for sinners slain,

To cleanse them from each guilty stain

His precious blood and shed;

He took their place upon the tree,

Made sin for sinners there to be,

To set the guilty captives free

By dying in their stead.

He lay beneath that righteous stroke,

O’er Him the waves and billows broke,

He bowed His head and died;

God there forsook His only Son,

That holy, true, obedient One!

By whom alone His will was done,

When He was crucified.

Behold Him now upon the throne;

The source of life and peace alone,—

No longer in the grave;

Dispensing blessing full and free

To such as lost and ruined be.

O! children, there for refuge flee!

Whilst yet He’s free to save.

Soon He will rise and close the door,

Glad tidings then thou’lt hear no more,

The day of grace be past;

Then such as would not bow the knee,

Unto the rocks and dens shall flee,

Thus hidden from His eye to be,

Who comes as Judge at last.

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” John 1:29.

ML 03/30/1947

Bible Questions for April

“The Children’s Class” Answers for January

1.“Purge out,” etc. 1 Cor. 5:7

2.“But if,” etc. 8:3

3.“For as,” etc. 11:26

4.“For the,” etc. 1:18

5.“For other,” etc. 3:11

6.“Therefore,” etc. 15:58

7.“Above five hundred.” 15.6

The Children’s Class” Bible Questions for April

The Answers are to be found in Ephesians

1.“The gospel of your salvation.”

2.“Nigh by the blood of Christ.”

3.“The sword of the Spirit.”

4.“Because the days are evil.”

5.“Forbearing one another in love.”

6.“Unsearchable riches of Christ.”

7.By what are we saved through faith?

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for January

1.On the first day of the week. 1 Corinthians 16:2

2.1 Corinthians 4:17; 7:17; 11:16; 14:33.

3.1 Corinthians 10:21.

4.The Church. 1 Corinthians 3:16

5.Yes. 11:10

6.“Household of Stephenas.” 1:16

7.With a holy kiss. 16:20

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Bible Questions for April

The Answers are to be found in Ephesians.

1.What verse clearly proves that salvation is “not of works”?

2.When is a believer sealed with the Spirit?

3.What “passeth knowledge”, yet God wants us to know it?

4.How many spiritual blessings belong to the believer?

5.Of whom does Paul call himself the prisoner (two verses)?

6.Is it ever right to tell lies?

7.What sword is the believer to take?

ML 04/06/1947

Fannie's Conversion

Fannie was just dressed for the grand evening party which was to be held at her friend Laura’s. She looked very beautiful in her white satin dress, her pearl necklace, and her head crowned with white roses. She looked satisfied with herself as she glanced in the mirror. Little Katie came in to tell her that her friend had called for her, and clapping her little hands, she said, “O sister Fannie, you look so pretty.”

Then she suddenly stood still looking very soberly at Fannie, while tears glistened in her eyes.

“Why! what’s the matter, Katie?” said Fannie.

“O sister,” answered the child, “I was thinking about what mamma read to me yesterday.”

“What was it, Katie?”

“Why, all about heaven, and we are to have on white robes, and crowns on our heads; and I was wondering if we would look like you do now: but O Fannie, Jesus didn’t give you that robe and crown, did He? and does Jesus like you to go to parties? O, sister, don’t you want Jesus to give you a white robe and a crown to wear in heaven?”

“O, hush, Katie, do. I must go now,” and with a hasty kiss Fannie ran down the steps to join her friend. But the words of her little sister kept ringing in her ears, and the thoughts would keep coming.

“Will, O will I cheat myself out of the robe of righteousness, and the crown of eternal life.”

With a heavy heart she tried to enter into the enjoyment of the evening, but she could not rest, so bidding her friends good night, she gladly left for home. Going to her room, she laid aside her garments, saying, “I will never put them on to go to a party or such places again.”

Kneeling down she prayed God to wash her sins away, and clothe her in the robe of His righteousness.

She wept and prayed until nearly morning, then she heard the voice of Jesus saying, “Thy sins are forgiven thee, go in peace.”

ML 04/06/1947

Who Hath Created These Things

As we look at this wonderful scene of God’s creation, how we are made to realize His greatness and glory!

As you look at such a picture, or as you witness such a scene, do your thoughts go out to Him whose hand has formed it all?

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” Psalms 90:2.

But if we only knew the power and wisdom of our Creator God, we should be miserable indeed, because sin has shut us out from Him. It is by taking His Son as our Saviour, that we can know God’s love, and can go to dwell in His presence.

“OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST; WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY.” Titus 2:14,15.

ML 04/06/1947

In a Circle of Fire

A wicked man once tried to convince a converted Hindoo that his religion was worth nothing and that it had never done him any good. “After all, what is it that Jesus has done for you?” said the mocker.

“He has saved me,” replied the native with great vehemence, “He has saved me.”

“What is that?” said the unbeliever.

“Come with me outside,” replied the Hindoo, “and I will show you what that means.” They went out; the Hindoo picked up a quantity of leaves which were nearby, made a large circle of them and after having found an earthworm, he put it in the center of the circle of leaves and applied a match to it. The unbeliever watched with great astonishment. As the fire came near the poor worm, it began to writhe and show symptoms of distress, but it was impossible for him to get out of the circle of fire. Then the Hindoo put out his hand, delivered the earthworm from its dangerous position, and placed it on the grass, out of all danger.

“That,” said he, “is what Jesus, the Friend of all sinners has done for me. I was exposed to the flames of hell, which were what I deserved, and there was no possibility of my escaping. I was condemned and ready to perish. He came to my help, dying for my sins, snatching me like a brand from the burning, and He has given to me, a poor earthworm, a place near His heart.” The unbeliever had not a word to answer.

Could you, too, dear little boy or girl, say that you had been saved by the death of Jesus? Can you say like the Hindoo, “He has saved me?” Perhaps you do not yet realize that the ring of fire is around you. One sin is enough to condemn you to hell. “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matt. 12:36.) “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23.) But God does not want you to be lost. The Lord Jesus said when He was here on earth, “It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matt. 18:14). And so the Lord Jesus gave His own precious life to save you. And you, helpless as the poor worm, have only to trust all to Him, as He saves you from the circle of fire.

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14,15.)

ML 04/06/1947

An Afternoon in the Meadow

Is it not refreshing to ride along a country road on a hot summer day and see cattle lying in the grass on the shady banks of a stream? Perhaps some of you, dear children, spent your vacation in the country and helped the farmer drive the cows to and from the meadow. They are God’s creatures, and He takes note of boys and girls who are kind to them. He has provided the restful spots, green meadows and brooks by which they are refreshed and nourished. The well-fed cattle enjoy these comforts.

We are touched, as we think of God’s provision for His dumb creatures, which have no souls to save. But, dear readers, greater love is going out to you.

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

You have a never dying soul. Have you ever asked yourself, Where will my soul be, if I am called to die; or if the Lord should come? This is a most important question, and should be answered between God and yourself at once.

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15.

“Be ye also ready.” Matthew 24:44. “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:8.

“While they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matthew 25:10.

ML 04/06/1947

A Song of Trust

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.” Proverbs 3:5.

I am Jesus’ little lamb,

Ever glad at heart I am,

For my Shepherd gently guides me,

Knows my need and well provides me,

Loves me every day the same.

Even calls me by my name.

Day by day, at home, away,

Jesus is my Staff and Stay;

When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,

Into pleasant pastures leads me,

When I thirst, He bids me go

Where the quiet waters flow.

Who so happy as I am,

Even now the Shepherd’s lamb?

And when my short life is ended,

By His angel host attended,

He shall fold me to His breast,

There within His arms to rest.

ML 04/06/1947

The Ducklings

You know, dear children, God has many feathered creatures in His creation. Among them is the duck family. How beautifully covered they are with their warm coat of white feathers.

Have you ever seen ducks in water? How they paddle and swim. They get much of their food out of the water, so they are the happiest when near it.

Now, my dear little readers, if God so cares for His feathered creatures, providing everything needful for them, do you not think His love goes out in a much deeper way to boys and girls who have souls to save?

Ah, yes: He loves you so much, that He gave the Best Gift of heaven for you, His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God is no respecter of persons. He does not look at the outward appearance, but He looks at the heart, and sees your young hearts black with sin, but He has graciously provided a Saviour for you, whose precious blood will wash away all your sins, then you, in God’s sight, will be whiter than snow.

“COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD: THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW: THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 04/13/1947

Watching and Waiting

There are three dear little girls I know who always feel sad when their mother has to leave them for a short time.

These dear children watch and wait for mother to come home again and their little faces are anxiously pressed against the window pane to catch a first glimpse of their mother on her return.

Sometimes though, the children become so occupied with their books and dolls and for a time forget to watch for mother. Mother comes home then, and no one is watching from the wiow and the children are quite surprised when mother walks in.

Doesn’t this make us think about the Lord Jesus being away now at God’s right hand but soon He will come again “in the air” to take those who love Him to dwell above? 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17.

Are we watching and waiting for His return or are we taken up with the things of this world so that we forget, for the time, that He is coming?

“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.” Luke 12:37.

“Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven” 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10.

“The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5.

ML 04/13/1947

What Charlie Missed

One, day a father called his five children to him and said, “I am going away from home; perhaps I shall be away a long time What would you like me to bring you. when I come back? You may all choose something.”

The children looked very pleased, and the eldest girl came close to her father and whispered, “I should like to have a canary in a pretty cage.”

“Very well, you shall have it,” said her father. Mary clapped her hands with delight.

“I should like to have a spade, so that I can dig in the garden,” the biggest boy said.

“Father, I want a hoop,” requested Janie, and Emmie a tiny little girl said, “Please bring me a new dolly.”

“Yes,” said their father, “you shall have what you asked for. I promise to bring them when I come home.”

But there was one boy named Charlie, who had not asked his father for anything. When the other children wanted to know the reason he said, “O, I thought very likely Father will forget or change his mind, and so it is no use asking.”

When the father of those children came home, he called them to him and said,

“Come here and get your presents.”

Sure enough, there was a lovely yellow canary for Mary, a spade for John, a hoop for Janie and a nice new doll for little Emmie. But what about Charlie? There was no present for him because he did not believe his father’s word. He was bitterly disappointed when he saw the nice presents his father had brought the other children.

In the Bible, God’s precious Word, He has made a great many promises—promises for boys and girls, as well as grown-up people. But unless we believe them they will not do us any good. Some of the promises were given us by the Lord Jesus Himself when He was on this earth. Here are three of them:—

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

“He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47.

“I will come again and receive you unto Myself.” John 14:3.

If you come and believe on Him, He will give you everlasting life, and make you one of His own dear children. I hope none of my readers will be like Charlie, and miss God’s blessings bause you do not believe what He says.

ML 04/13/1947

Story of "Nip"

My brother and I had a faithful little black dog, named, “Nip”, and many happy hours were spent with him.

One day we left our old home and moved to another city. We felt we couldn’t part with “Nip” so he was tied in the baggage car of the train while we rode in the coach. Quite often we would go back into the baggage car and sit with our dog. We would stroke his head, and feed him, but we would soon tire of sitting in the dark car and we would then go back to the coach and watch the scenery.

We loved our dog in our childlike way, but our love for “Nip’ would often fail.

How glad we know of the love of the Lord Jesus to poor sinners. His love never fails and is above all other love.

We sometimes sing:

One there is above all others—

O how He loves!

His is love beyond a brother’s—

O how He loves!

Earthly friends may fail or leave us,

One day soothe, the next day grieve us,

But this Friend will ne’er deceive us

O how He loves!

His love took Him all the way to Calvary’s cross to suffer, bleed and die, so that all who put their trust in Him might go free.

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

ML 04/13/1947

How Long Is It Safe to Wait?

When I was a little girl, my grand-uncle from the West Indies came on a visit to our home. The aged man with his long gray hair, clasping my mother, to whom he had been a foster parent, in his arms, said,

“God be praised that I see you alive and well.”

Before he had been with us many days, he and I were great friends, but I could see that he was sad at heart that I had no interest in the things of God, in which he occupied the whole of his time. One morning, he said,

“Emms, how long do you think it will be safe for you to remain unsaved? Will it be safe to wait until you are twenty-five?”

I could not answer that question, but sat silent. So he said,

“I was at the funeral of a young lady of nineteen the other day, so it would not be safe. Eighteen; how would that do?”

I remembered my cousin C. died at eighteen, and so did my grand-uncle, for he mentioned it at once. He looked at me in tender sadness and said, “Each day is a danger, for we caot tell when Death may come. The Word says,

“Now is the accepted time.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

No more was said then, but I had no rest until about a week later I received Jesus as my Saviour. I do not regret my choice.

ML 04/13/1947

Only a Step

Arthur and his mother lived alone, his father had been dead many years, and the rest of the family had grown un and started homes of their own. Of course they were devoted to each other, and Arthur was all that his mother could wish him to be, except in one respect: He loved his mother, but had not yet begun to love his mother’s Saviour; he was obedient to her, but had not yet obeyed the Gospel.

One Sunday night, he was about 14 at the time, he went with his mother to a Gospel meeting. I was the preacher that night, and remember it well. Several times in it I quoted the words:—

“It’s only a step to Jesus; Why not take it now?”

These words fastened themselves upon young Arthur’s mind, and when he turned in to bed that night he could not get rid of them. They would not let him sleep. And that night he thought over the whole question. Should he take that step? Jesus called him, and had a right to his young life; he knew that he ought to, for he was a sinful boy and needed the Saviour; he knew he ought to, for otherwise his life would be wasted, and if he did not come at all, his soul would be lost.

The night wore on, and Arthur heard the clock down stairs strike ten, eleven, and twelve. It was then that his decision was made; he made it on his knees bide the bed, and then when it was made, he ran into his mother’s bedroom. “Why, Arthur,” she said, “What is the matter?” “I’ve come to tell you, mother, that I’ve taken the step,” he said. “It was only a step to Jesus, and I’ve taken it.”

That made his mother happy, and it made Arthur happy, too, and there was joy in heaven; and I rejoiced, when I heard about it. I expect the only one who was sorry was the devil; for he does not want any one to be saved. The Lord Himself told us, when the Word of God is preached, “then cometh the devil, and taketh the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe, and he saved.” Luke 8:11.

“It’s only a step to Jesus.”

Boys and girls, can any of you who have not taken it, give any reason why you should not do so NOW.

“Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2).

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” (Eccl. 12:1).

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation.” (Heb. 2:3).

ML 04/13/1947

Jesus, When a Child

Jesus, when a little child,

Was obedient, meek, and mild;

I have wicked thoughts within,

And am prone to ways of sin.

Jesus left His home above,

Came to earth in grace and love,

On the cross to bleed and die

For poor sinners such as I.

Jesus now to heaven is gone,

Where He sits upon the throne;

And is waiting to receive

All who on His name believe.

Jesus soon again will come

To convey believers home;

Then shall they His face behold,

All who’ve loved Him, young and old.

ML 04/13/1947

The Train

How quickly the train travels along! And it is filled with people who are going on a journey. Some of them are expecting to meet loved ones at the station when they come to the end of their journey, while others are on business. Some of them may be going to the deathbed of a dear father or mother, and how sad they would feel. Of course if we love the Lord Jesus we have comfort in our sorrows, for God is the “God of all comfort”.

But although we may not ride on the train very often, we are all travelers on another journey which is much more important. Every moment, and every hour of each day, brings us nearer the end of that journey. We are travelers to eternity. In eternity there are only two places, Heaven or Hell. When we get on the train we need a ticket, on which is printed the name of the station where we are to get off, and no one would get on the train without knowing where they were going.

And yet dear children, how many people will tell you they don’t know where they are going to spend eternity, and they do not seem to care. How foolish they are! Those who are trusng in the Lord Jesus are happy because they know that their journey will end with Him in Heaven, for the Word of God tells us, “We know... we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens”. (2 Cor. 5:1).The Lord Jesus has paid the full price for our “ticket” and we can sing

Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed me white as snow.

Where is your journey going to end? Why not accept the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour today?

“O THAT THEY WERE WISE, THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THIS, THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER THEIR LATTER END!” Deut. 32:29.

ML 04/20/1947

Can't God Count

A little girl and her brother were carrying a basket of cakes to their grandmother. Curious to see what was in the basket, they very carefully raised the cover and looked in. When they saw the tempting cakes their mouths watered to taste them. After counting them over several times, they almost made up their minds to eat just one of them. Nobody would know it, and it would taste so good. While they were looking at the cakes, and just about ready to take one, the little girl looked up in her brother’s face, and asked the question, “Can’t God count?” This settled the matter, the lid was shut down, and all the cakes were carried to grandmother.

Do you know, boys and girls, that God can not only see everything that you do, and hear everything that you say, but that He keeps a book of all those things. If He turned to your page in His book right now, what would He see? Would He see a long list of wrong things, sins that you have done, or would He see your page washed clean and white in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus?

The Bible says “Thou God seest me.” (Gen. 16:13) But how glad we should be that the same God who has seen all that you have done, has also told us “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7.)

ML 04/20/1947

How God Saved a Blind Girl

During the summer, tent meetings were being held at Portland, Oregon. ong those who attended was a little girl, 10 years old, named Laura Checkley. She lived with her parents about 40 miles from Portland, but as a result of having a tumor on the brain, she had gone blind. Her parents decided to bring her to Portland to be examined by some doctors. The doctors said that she must be taken to a hospital and have an operation.

Before having the operation, she came with her parents and Christian friends to the Gospel meeting in the tent. During the meeting that evening, a verse was quoted which is well known to all boys and girls who attend Sunday School. It was “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16.)

While the speaker was telling about the great love of God in giving His beloved Son for the world of lost, guilty sinners, and pointing out the meaning of the word “whosoever”, Laura saw her part in that verse, and, as one of the “whosoevers”, believed on the Lord Jesus as the One who died for her sins. She had entered the tent unsaved and unhappy, but according to her own testimony she departed from the tent saved and happy. Almost immediately after, she went into the hospital at Portland, and had several very delicate and painful operations on her head. Although she was on the third floor of the large hospital, people all through it could hear her singing in a clear strong voice of the love of God. Her favorite hymn was “In tenderness He sought me”.

Laura was interested in the salvation of others, and, hearing the people who came into her room speak about the great number of sick people, she tried to be a witness for her Saviour by speaking to them about salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus.

After remaining in the hospital several months, her health improved and she was taken home. The Lord gave her the privilege of speaking for Him in her own home, and in the neighborhood.

After being home for a short time, it was found necessary to take her back to Portland. A Christian conference was being held at the Gospel Hall at that time, and, sick as she was, she pleaded to be taken to the meetings. She had a great desire for the Word of God, and loved God’s people. She attended the meetings for one day, and then she passed out of this life, to be with her Lord and Saviour.

Will you too, include your name in John 3:16 as Laura did, accepting the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour? Then you will know that when you must leave this world behind, you will go to be with Him in heaven.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2.)

ML 04/20/1947

For God so Loved …

Can you finish that verse? Most boys and girls know John 3:16 by heart, but let us try a few questions about God’s love.

What kind of boys and girls does God love? How many times we hear the answer “Good boys, good girls,”

But does John 3:16 say “For God so loved good boys?”

No, it says “For God so loved the world”. And what kind of people are in the world? They are all bad, so bad that they don’t want God’s only Son. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. (Rom. 3:23.)

So we know that when God’s word says “God so loved the world,” it means the very boy or girl, the very man or woman who is reading this paper. Think of it my friend “God loves you”. And then the rest of the verse tells us how much God loves you— “That He gave His only begotten Son.” Why should you fear to meet a God who loved you and sent His Son to die for you?

Get into your room to-day, alone with God, telling Him that you are a sinner, and thanking Him for sending His Son to die for you. Then you can rejoice in the assurance of the rest of the verse “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” You will know that you are saved and have everlasting life.

ML 04/20/1947

Bible Talks

For boys and girls
John 18:1-10

In the seventeenth chapter, while the Lord Jesus was praying so earnestly for His disciples, Judas was preparing to betray Him into the hands of those who hated Him. How little men knew of the goodness that was in the heart of God, which led Him to send His Son. “Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

But the Lord Jesus was God, and He knew all that was about to take place, “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth” (vs. 4). He went over the brook Cedron to a garden (the garden of Gethsemane) and Judas came there with his band to take Jesus captive. They brought lanterns and torches and weapons, thinking such things were needed, but they could not have done anything to Him unless He had willingly submitted, and this He did because it was His Father’s will.

Jesus went to meet them and said, “Whom seek ye?” They replied “Jesus of Nazareth”. The Lord Jesus said “I am (he).” Many, many years before when Jehovah God appeared to Moses in the desert, He told him to tell the children of Israel that “I AM” had sent Him unto them (Ex. 3:14). Now the Lord Jesus was that “I AM”, and so when He had said that, a little bit of His glory was seen, even by those wicked men who had come to take Him, and they could not stand in His presence. They all went backward and fell to the ground; yet even after this they got up on their feet again and bound Him. Their hearts were hardened by sin, and Satan had entered into Judas, and led him to do this terrible act of betraying Jesus to be crucified. Even although Judas had been with the Lord for so long, and had seen all His wonderful works, his heart was still black, because he did not have faith. Dear boys and girls, you may have a Christian father and mother, but unless you have accepted Christ as your own personal Saviour you are lost. Have you accepted Him?

Peter thought he should light to prevent the Lord Jesus from being taken captive, and so he took his sword and cut off Malchus’ ear. The Lord Jesus’ act of healing was to heal Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:51), showing that He loved His enemies, and we ought to love our enemies too (Matt. 5:44). He proved His love to the utmost, when He died on the cross for us who were His enemies. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. (Rom. 5:8).

Instead of being kind to our enemies, we are sometimes like Peter, and by naughty and unkind acts we close their ears to the truth. We need to be very careful about this even at school and in our play, for if we love the Lord Jesus, we would not want to dishonor His precious name before others would we?

ML 04/20/1947

Rescued

Many years ago, during a severe storm, a vessel was seen battling with the gale, and those on shore feared for the safety of the crew for, owing to the fierceness of the wind, they were unable to launch the lifeboat.

Before morning the occupants of a lighthouse on one of the desolate, almost uninhabited islands near shore thought they heard cries of distress, and when the morning dawned the lighthouse keeper discovered that the ship had struck a rock almost a mile away. The crew were still clinging to the mast and were in danger of being washed away by the great waves that were beating on them from all sides. He feared whether they could hang on until the sea had become calmer, and they could be reached.

His daughter also was watching the poor sailors, and her pity nerved her to urge her father to attempt to rescue them. To her joy he agreed and the father, mother and daughter launched the boat and they two set out.

At every instant they were in danger of being swamped by the sea, and yet they kept on until they reached the perishing sailors. The nine survivors were numb with the cold, weak and exhausted, but, with great difficulty, were finally placed safely into the boat, and through God’s mercy at length reached the lighthouse.

The lighthouse keeper and his danger were willing to save them and they also proved themselves able to save.

What about you, dear reader? If still in your sins, you are in greater danger than these perishing sailors for you are unable to save yourself from the storm of God’s judgment, but there is One who is not only willing, but is able to save you from your sins. The Lord Jesus has proved His love and power by dying on the cross for you. Trust yourself to Him for He is not only willing but,

“HE IS ABLE ALSO TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM.” Hebrews 7:25.

Ml 04/27/1947

How Ida Ward Was Saved

Mrs. Ferris was packing up to leave her cottage home for the last time. Her dishes and books, she had packed with care—in fact everything was ready, only one thing she left behind. For many years, her favorite gospel text had been hanging in her bedroom, and now, as she left, instead of taking her beloved text, she simply knelt down, asked the Lord to bless it to the one who might next use her cottage, and left it behind.

Some few weeks after, Ida Ward came to the village and took possession of the little home. For a long time Ida had been troubled about her sins, and longed to have peace with God. Have you, dear reader, ever been burdened about your sins in the presence of God? Perhaps you have tried to shrug off the gentle knocking of the Saviour at your heart’s door. Perhaps you have tried to silence the whisperings of the Spirit that you must get right with God. May you turn and find the deliverance that Ida found.

When she entered that bedroom, there, in plain letters hung the text “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15.) There and then, in that quiet bedroom, she knelt and accepted the Lord Jesus as the One who had died to save sinners. She placed her own name in that text and found peace. Will you do the same NOW?

ML 04/27/1947

The Sea

Laughing, lifting, lashing Waters!

Foaming, frisking, flashing Waters!

Dancing, dazzling, dashing Waters!

Waves, like children, romping, rushing,—

With each other playing, pushing,—

How I love to watch you play,

Sparkling Waves, so bright and gay!

Soaring, surging, smashing Waters!

Cruel, crafty, crashing Waters!

Dreary, dreadful, dashing Waters!

Waves, like fiends, are raging, roaring,—

Tossing proudly, wild hate pouring.—

How I hate to watch your Wave,

What else is it, but a grave?

But you wild and willful Water,

“Wot you not you have a Master?”

One Who says, “You go no further?”

Waves, like children, you must hear Him,—

Cruel or gay, you all must fear Him,—

Now I joy to watch the sea,

For HE cast my sins in thee!

“He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Mic. 7:19).

The above lines were written by a missionary while returning to serve the Lord in China. Perhaps some of our readers have watched the waves as he did, and I wonder if you too can say that your sins have been cast “into the depths of the sea?” If not, accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour today and you will know that your sins are gone.

ML 04/27/1947

The Clean Dress

One afternoon a happy group of children had an outing on the bank of a river.

One little girl wandered away from the others and fell into the shallow water. How unhappy this little girl was when she returned to the group! All the children were playing about in clean, dry clothes while her dress was wet and muddy. She felt so miserable and wanted to cry.

Another girl took the child to her home nearby and put one of her own clean dresses on her. The little one was happy once more as she skipped back to the other children.

We are like this child in that we have all wandered away from God and our hearts are soiled by SIN.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way: and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6.

We could never hope to enter into God’s presence in our sinful condition, so the Lord Jesus became our Substute by dying on Calvary’s cruel cross of shame. Now, if we accept Him as our own Saviour, we can stand before God, “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6,) and made the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21).

“It is the Father’s joy to bless

His love has found for me a dress,

A robe of spotless righteousness

O Lamb of God, in Thee.”

Ml 04/27/1947

Forgiven

I suppose we have all been in a cemetery at some time or other, and have looked at the gravestones. Some of them are large while others are very small. Underneath each one of these stones, someone has been buried, and their name is usually engraved on the stone, with the date of their birth and also of their death.

Now there is a very unusual gravestone in Evergreen Cemetery near New York, and the only word on it is “Forgiven”. What a wonderful word that is! The name of the person buried there is not known, but the Lord knows it, and if they died trusting in the Lord Jesus, their name is written in heaven.

If you die, it won’t matter very much what kind or size of stone is put over your grave. The one important question will be—Were you saved? Were your sins forgiven? You may be kind and love your father and mother, which is very nice, but that won’t put your sins away. There is only one thing that will remove your sins. It is the blood of Jesus. ‘Do you know Him as your Saviour now, for if you die without Him you will be lost forever. “In whom (Christ) we have redemption through His blood even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14).

ML 04/27/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
John 18:11-18

The Lord Jesus told Peter to put his sword into the sheath, for He was going to drink the bitter cup, that is, He was going to the cross to bear God’s judgment against our sins. If the Lord Jesus had not borne our sins, we would have been lost forever.

Then they bound the Lord Jesus, and yet He had come to set at liberty those that were bound (Isa. 61:1). Those poor men were bound by their own sins, but did not want the Lord Jesus—the only One Who could set them free.

After this they led Him to Caiaphas the high priest. Although God had ordered that the high priest should offer sacrifices for himself and for the sins of the people, yet Caiaphas condemned the Lord Jesus to death even though He was the sinless One. Caiaphas had previously prophesied that Jesus should die for the people (John 11:50) little knowing that the Lord Jesus was the Great High Priest (Heb. 3:1) who was going to offer Himself as the one perfect Sacrifice for the sins of the people. Even when our sinful hearts were seen at their worst, then God’s love shone out the brightest, for “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20).

Peter and another disciple (John) followed the Lord Jesus to the high priest’s palace. Peter, though very self confident, found out his own weakness. He should not have been warming hielf at the world’s fire. Now boys and girls there is a lesson for, us here, for if we try to be good friends with those who do not love the Lord Jesus, we will soon find ourselves denying Him. Psalms 119:63 tells us the kind of friends we should have. “I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts”. It was a young damsel (a young girl) to whom Peter denied his Lord (vs. 17). Be sure you don’t let any girl friend or boy friend keep you from confessing Christ. When you begin any friendship ask the Lord for courage to confess His precious name at the very start, for one denial leads to another as it did with Peter, and who can tell the sad results of one wrong act. Great things often have very small beginnings, and we have to be watchful. Peter didn’t intend to deny his Lord, in fact he said he wouldn’t (Matt. 26:35), but we are only safe when we keep close to the Lord and walk in obedience to His Word. If any of our readers are unsaved, will you not confess His name today? As you grow older it will come harder, and many older people do not accept Christ because they are afraid to confess Him before their friends. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:9).

ML 04/27/1947

Bible Questions for May

“The Children’s Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for February

1. “Who comforteth.” etc. 2 Corinthians 1:4

2. “For we, etc. 5:10

3. “In whom,” etc. 4:4

4. “Every man,” etc. 9:7

5. “For though,” etc. 13:4

6. “For ye,” etc. 8:9

7. “Troas.” 2:12

“The Children’s Class”
Bible Questions for May

The answers are to be found in Philippians and Colossians.

Write in full the verse in which you find the words,

1. “In the hook of life”.

2. “Every knee should bow”.

3. “The fruits of righteousness”.

4. “Children obey your parents”.

5. “So walk ye in Him”.

6. “The forgiveness of sins”.

7. “The righteousness which is of God”.

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for February

1. Because thus the power of Christ rested, upon him. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

2. Being linked with an unbeliever in any fellowship or association. 2 Corinthians 6:14,

3.Having tasted the comfort of God in our own sorrows. 2 Corinthians 1:4.

4. Because if Paul was not a genuine apostle it looked bad for the Corinthians as they professed conversion under his preaching. 2 Corinthians 13:5.

5.Absent from the body—present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8.

6. Corrupt his mind from the simplicity the is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3.

7. Bring them into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5.

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Bible Questions for May

The Answers are to be found in Philippians and Colossians

1. Where is our conversation?

2. When are we to rejoice in the Lord?

3. Of Whom are we to walk worthy?

4. How are we to “do all things?”

5. What is given us on the behalf of Christ?

6. How are we to sing?

7. In what did Epaphras labor fervently?

ML 05/04/1947

Irene

Irene was a long, long way from home. She was too young to know how far it was, but she knew that there would be a long ride on a big noisy train before she was home again with her father.

Her father found the big home very quiet without his little Irene, and he knew that she was five hundred miles away.

But Irene did not worry. Mother had promised to take her home to her father, and she felt sure that her mother would do it. When they were all packed and ready to go, a man asked her, “Where are you going Irene?”

“I’m going home”. she answered, “And where is your home?”

“Home is where my Daddy is”, she answered. She did not need to know anything more than that. Her father was waiting for her and mother would look after the rest, and she was happy.

The boys and girls who are reading this story are bigger than Irene, for she was only three, so perhaps you can answer some harder questions. If you belong to the Lord Jesus, Heaven is your home, and God is your Father, waiting there for you to come home, Jesus Himself has promised to come and take you there, and although you do not know how far it is, it will just take a twinkling of an eye for Him to take you to Heaven. When people ask us questions, we who are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, can just answer, “Home is where God my Father is, and Jesus is coming to take me there.”

“In My Father’s house are many mansions... I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. (John 14:2,3)

ML 05/04/1947

While You're Young

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” (Eccl. 1:2:1)

O won’t you come to Jesus while you’re young?

Don’t think it will be better

To delay it until later,

But remember your Creator while you’re young.

ML 05/04/1947

Springtime

The pretty picture on the front page of our paper makes us think of how much we enjoy a walk through the woods in the springtime. How we love to pick a handful of the pretty wildflowers and bring them home. Did you ever stop to think, children, of all these different flowers growing out of the same ground. They are red, blue, white and yellow, as well as many other colors. They are all different shapes and sizes, and God has made each one of them “as it pleased Him”.

Then we look up at the great trees, and can see the little buds bursting out into large leaves, which give us such nice cool shade on the hot days during the summer time. I wonder if you thank God for all these wonderful things, instead of just taking them thoughtlessly for your own pleasure, and forgetting the God who made them all.

When we begin to think about trees, it reminds us of a tree that was cut down one day, about two thousand years ago, and from it was made a cross on which the Lord Jesus the Son of God was crucified. Cruel men put nails into His hands and feet, and cried “Away with Him”, Can you tell me why God allowed men to use one of His own trees for such a terrible purpose? Will tell you why it was. It was because the loved sinners, yes even the very men who nailed Him to the cross, and the only way they, or any of us can be saved, is by accepting the Lord Jesus as our own personal Saviour. Have you done this? If not He is willing to save you today. Are you willing to let Him?

WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE.” 1 Peter 2:24.

ML 05/04/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Genesis 1:1-4

The Bible is not like any other book. All other books are written by men, and some of them are true, but many others are not. But the Bible is God’s Word, and although God used men to write it, they did not write just what they wanted to, but wrote exactly what God told them. “The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Men have written many books about how this world began, but they only suppose things. These are called theories. What God has told us in the Bible is true, and we must therefore believe it. As we grow older we find there are many things we cannot understand. God has given us the answer to some of these questions in His word, and we can thank Him for it. Other things God has not told us because it is not good for us to know. “The secret things bong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever” (Deut. 29:29).

The first verse tells us how the Heaven and the Earth began, “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth:” God is the only One Who can create anything, that is, make things out of nothing, and Ephesians 3:9 tells us that God created all things by the Lord Jesus Christ. And again, in John 1:3. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything. made that was made.”

Both the Heaven and the Earth were created perfect, for God always makes things perfect, until sin spoils them. Now in verse 2 we read, “The earth was without form and void.” It had been spoiled. Perhaps many, many thousands of years had rolled by since God created it, and somehow it had been spoiled. God has not told us how, for it is one of His secrets. What God has told us in the rest of the chapter is how in six days He made everything necessary and beautiful, and then created Adam to live on the earth and enjoy it.

On the first day, “God said, Let there? be light and there was light (vs. 3), “God is Light”, but the sad thing is, that since sin has come into the world, “Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). When the light from God shiner into our hearts it first shows us how sinful we are in His presence, but then God also tells us the way we can be made the children of Light, being made perfectly fit for His presence by “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son (which) cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Have you taken the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour? If so, you are one of the “children of light”.

ML 05/04/1947

A Storm at Sea

A ship was coming home to England after a long voyage. The captain and sailors were very glad to think that at last they should see their own country again. The captain had his wife on board, and you may be sure that she, too, was rejoiced at the thought, for she had two children whom she had not seen since she left England.

One night, when they had nearly reached the port for which they were bound, a terrible storm arose. The wind blew, and the waves beat against the ship, so that at last the captain was obliged to give up trying to guide her, and, sad to say, she soon struck upon a rock, in sight of land, just as it grew light in the morning.

With very great difficulty, the captain and his wife managed to escape from the ship, which was beaten to pieces by the violence of the waves, and climbed on a rock, to which they clung with all their might, When the people who had gathered on the shore observed their distressing position, the life-boat was sent out. It was terribly hard work, and the poor fellows were almost obliged to give up in despair. But at last they got near enough to make their voices heard, and they managed to give the captain to understand that when they cried “Jump”, he must endeavor to take a leap into the boat.

They dared not take the boat close to the rock, because she would have been dashed against it, but they wished to wait till some large wave carried her near enough for them to spring from the rock to the boat. The captain was to come first, and his wife next time.

Soon a huge wave came rolling along, and carried the boat to within a few feet of the rock; “Jump” cried the sailors. The captain did so, and in a moment he was landed in the life-boat, his only place of safety amid that angry sea that was raging around. But his poor wife was still on the rock. Oh! will she take the saving leap?

Again they waited for the wave, and again they cried “Jump” but no, the poor woman hung back in fear, and the returning wave carried the boat far away from the rock. Once more they cried “Jump for your life,” and again she feared to trust herself. The men were now worn out and faint with the terrible exertion of battling with the waves, but for the sake of the captain, they agreed to make one last effort for her salvation.

“Jump NOW!” they cried. O, what a moment!

She came to the edge of the rock, hung back for a moment in an agony of fear and indecision, and then she jumped. But the boat had been carried back again. It was TOO LATE!

That one fatal pause was her ruin. The last words her poor husband heard, as, her body was swallowed up in the boiling waves, were, “TOO LATE! LOST, LOST!”

Think of his anguish of mind, as he went in safety to the shore, leaving his wife drowned in the depths of the sea And what of her soul? Oh! I fear her words were but too true, she was LOST not only body, but soul.

And what did the captain learn from this do you think? First, that the lifeboat was the only place of Safety in the midst of that storm, and secondly, and best of all, that there is only one place of safety for a poor sinner who is LOST, and dead in trespasses and sins. For the first time in his life he learned, be was in this condition, and once and for all he learned too, that Jesus died to save lost sinners, and that there is “none other name wider heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

His poor wife had been afraid to leave her place of fancied security for the boat, where she could have been safe till she reached the land.

O, are you afraid to trust Jesus? He is much safer than a life-boat. He says of God’s children, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” John 10:28. You know you are not safe at any moment the waters of sin and death may swallow you up. O, fly to Jesus now, there is no time to put it off. Your one moment of delay may be your ruin, for soon Jesus, will have risen up and shut to the door, and then it will be useless to cry without for it to be opened.

“TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS.” Hebrews 4:7.

ML 05/11/1947

Will on Trust Him?

A little girl was standing on the corner of a busy street looking very frightened and worried. She looked eagerly and carefully into the faces of those who passed by, evidently wanting someone to take her across the road in safety.

A Christian man came along and she took one keen look at his face. Then she stepped forward, and asked him if he would please take her over.

He did so, with care and, gentleness, and then asked her, “There were many others passing by, and why did you ask me instead of one of them?

“Oh sir,” said the little girl, “when I looked into your face, you looked so kind that I felt I could trust you.”

Dear boys and girls, you have a journey to take, and a very dangerous and difficult journey it is. Perhaps you have already traveled along the road of Time for 10 or 15 years, but who is holding your hand? You will meet with many trials and temptations along that journey, and the Lord Jesus wants to take your hand and lead you safely through to the glory. He says “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). If you wish your journey end safely in heaven and if you wish be kept from much sorrow and happiness along the journey, look up to Jesus, and you will say as the dear little girl did, “I know I can trust Him.”

“Whoso putteth His trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25).

ML 05/11/1947

Strawberry Picking

During the strawberry season, a girl of twelve, named Gladys, went to a farm with a group of boys and girls to pick berries and pack them into boxes for market.

The farmer told the young girl’s mother that of all the boys and girls who picked, strawberries for him, he knew the boxes Gladys packed had good fruit in the bottom of the box as well as on the top! So many of the boys and girls would hurriedly fill the boxes with spoiled fruit and then place good berries on top.

Perhaps you are wondering why the farmer could trust Gladys and not always the others. We will tell you Gladys had accepted the Lord Jesus as her own Saviour and was seeking to please Him in her daily life. Yes, Gladys was picking strawberries to the glory of God!

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of ‘God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” Luke 16:10.

ML 05/11/1947

Quicksand

When we were children we would often wade or swim in a little river near our home. We would always keep away from one spot though, where there was dangerous quicksand.

No boy or girl would deliberately try to stand on treacherous sinking sand, for they would soon be taken down, and yet so many are doing just that with their precious, never dying souls! Perhaps some are depending on the shifting sand of good deeds, saying prayers, or even attending Sunday School, instead of trusting in Christ. O what awful despair awaits those going down to everlasting judgment!

The blessed Lord Jesus Christ is called the Rock in 1 Corinthians 10:4. If we trust in Him for salvation through His precious blood, we can never be overthrown from that wondrous Rock and can sing

“On Christ the solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand.

Let all around my soul give way

He still abides my lasting Stay”.

ML 05/11/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 1:4-13

Then God divided (separated) the light from the darkness, making the Day and the Night. Each night is followed by another day, but when time comes to an end, as it will someday, there will be eternal Day for the saved ones, and eternal Night for the lost. Remember the separation will be eternal. Will it be eternal day with Jesus in Heaven, or eternal night in Hell for you? If you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you can gladly answer that you know you will be with Him in Heaven, but if not, it is just as certain that you will be in that awful place of judgment.

On the second day God made a firmament which He called Heaven, and it separated the water in the clouds above, from the water on earth. There are three heavens mentioned in the Bible. The first heaven is where the clouds are, and where the birds fly. The sun, moon, and stars are in the second heaven. The third heaven is where God dwells (2 Cor. 12 12).

God made the dry land appear on the third day. Up to this time all the earth was under water but when the dry land appeared, God set the bounds of the seas (or oceans) (Prov. 8:29), for how easily God could make the waters cover the earth again, as He did at the time of the flood. They are kept in their place by His mighty power, and He has promised they will never cover the earth again. Think of the majesty and greatness of God, and then of how wonderful it is that He thinks, about us, who are so small and helpless, and loved us enough to send His Son to die for us.

God also made the grass, the vegetables, the trees, and all kinds of plant life, on the third day. Each one has its seed, or seeds, in it, from which to grow new plants. Men can make wonderful things, but they cannot make life. They cannot make a single seed, or give life to the tiniest insect. Life is entirely in the hands of God, and this is one secret men will never be able to find out. When God sent the plague of lice in Egypt, even the heathen magicians had to say “This is the finger of God” (Ex. 3:19).

We always reap what we sow too, for a pumpkin seed will always grow pumpkins, and turnip seeds will always grow turnips. This can be applied to our lives too, (Gal. 6:7). If we are disobedient to our parents, we may have children someday who will be disobedient to us. And then there is a brighter side to it, for if we live to please the Lord we will reap a good harvest, in having His blessing on ourselves. Which kind of seed are yen sowing?

ML 05/11/1947

The Postman

How glad we are to see the postman coming to our door, bringing us a letter. Sometimes when people are expecting letters, they will sit at the window and watch for him to come.

But every letter doesn’t bring good news. Some of them bring us very sad news. They tell about friend, who are sick, or perhaps about one whom we loved who has died, and this brings us sorrow.

Now God has written us a letter and though we are sinners, it brings us good news. It tells us of the Lord Jesus who died for us, in order that we might have our sins washed away in His most precious blood. It is a long letter, longer than anyone the postman would bring to us. God’s letter is the Bible. When you read it just stop and think of how wonderful it is that God has written to us because He loves us. “These things have I spoken unto you... that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11).

How would we feel if we wrote a letter to someone whom we loved, and they said they didn’t have time to read it. Would it not make us feel very badly. I am sure it would. And yet many people say they haven’t time to read God’s letter, the Bible. Then others who read it, instead of thanking God for the good news it brings, they try to find mistakes in it. But it is perfect because God cannot make mistakes. It brings great blessing to the one who believes it, and we delight to read it over and over again.

Have you ever read all of God’s word? Why not start today and ask the Lord to help you to understand it? Above all we desire that you should know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

“AND THAT FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS?” 2 Timothy 3:15.

ML 05/18/1947

Bubbles

Near an English town one day, a group of boys and girls were blowing soap-bubbles. Do you know what fun that is? They watched the tiny bubbles grow larger, and saw the colors changing as the pretty bubbles floated through the air.

An old Christian named Henry Moorehouse came along just as one little fellow had caught a big one and closed his hands tightly over it. He could hardly be coaxed to give up his prize but at last he carefully opened his hands and what do you think was there? Perhaps you can guess how the little boy felt when he looked in surprise at his empty hands and said his childish way “I’ve nowt”.

The other children laughed but the little fellow was very near tears, for instead of a pretty bubble he had nothing at all. Henry Moorehouse did not laugh for it made him think of many people who try to get money or pleasure in this world. They try hard for these things, and hold them tightly, but when they come to die, they have nothing at all. When you come to die, what will you have? I hope you will have Jesus, for if you do not know Him as your Saviour, you have nothing at all.

ML 05/18/1947

Nobody's Son

From a western prairie home a young father had gone on business to a distant town. He was detained over night and as he laid down to sleep he prayed for God’s protection for his young wife and baby alone at home.

At that very moment his wife was tucking the baby into its little crib. As she did so, suddenly she noticed a man’s foot showing from below a heavy drape. She turned pale and terror filled her heart, but on glancing round the room her eyes lighted on a text on the wall, “Like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him .” Psalms 103:13. This assurance calmed her—God saw and God cared.

She knelt down by the crib and prayed in a low voice that sinners might be led to Christ, and that those who were meditating crime might repent and be saved. Then she prayed for God’s care over herself and her babe claiming His power and promise to save. She then calmly sat down, a look of peace suffusing her face.

With a sudden movement the robber stood before her. In a low husky voice he told her he had heard her prayer for protection and that her prayer was already answered for he would not harm her. “My mother prayed for me to but now she is dead and I am a wanderer for whom no one cares. O! lady pray for me as long as you live. Pray for ‘Nobody’s son,’” and he hurried out.

Years later as she was listening to a preacher tell the story of his conversion to a large company, he told of the prayer that first awakened him, and she realized her prayers had been answered, for the robber for whom she had prayed so long, was now telling others of the great salvation offered to all who will take Jesus as their own Saviour.

It was a joy to them to meet, and thanking her for her prayers, he told her how he was now no longer “Nobody’s son” but a child of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

What honor to God and blessing to the robber flowed from this dear woman’s faith! By FAITH in Christ we become God’s children and then we trust our loving Father to care for us all along our pathway down here—and He never, never disappoints faith. Have you proved this, dear children? “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)

ML 05/18/1947

The Last Words of Two Sons

A young boy who had been playing on the street was struck, and very badly injured. He was brought into his home unconscious and the doctor was called at once. His father too, was called home from the office, and his heart was nearly broken as he saw his dear son in such a serious condition.

“Can nothing be done to save his life?” he said to the doctor.

“No”, said the doctor, “he is past help—he is dying.”

“Can anything be done to bring him back to consciousness? He does not know he is dying.” The father knew he had never told his boy about God’s way of salvation.

“We will try” said the doctor.

In a little while the boy opened his eyes and looked around. The father bent over him and said, “My boy, do you know you are dying?”

“Am I dying?” said the boy. “Father, will you pray for me? You have never prayed for me. Am I lost? Oh, father, do pray for me!” But the father could not pray, the doctor could not pray, and before a servant of the Lord could be called, the boy was gone.

Another man stood by the bedside of his sick boy. The doctors had just given up hope. Bending over his son he said.

“My boy, do you know you are dying, very likely today?”

He was weeping for his son, the tears running down his cheeks.

“Oh, father don’t weep for me. When I die I will go to Heaven, and when I get there I will go right up to Jesus and tell Him that it was through you that I. heard the story of Jesus’ love.”

Yes, I’d ten thousand times rather that my son should be an heir of God, than have him heir to the greatest wealth in this world. Dear parents what would you tell your child if the doctor said to-day “There is no hope?” Dear child—what would you say if your Daddy told you that you were going to die? “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10.)

ML 05/18/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Gen. 1:14-25

God made great lights, the sun, moon, and stars, on the fourth day. In recent years men have made some wonderful searchlights which will shine for about a hundred miles, and we have many bright lights in our homes, but the sun which God has put in the sky is about ninty three million miles away, and yet it lights up the whole world, and makes our electric lights look like nothing. Not only does the sun give light, but its rays are so warm in the summer time, that we are glad to get into the shade to keep cool. We could not live without the sun, for nothing would grow without sunshine.

The moon hasn’t any light of its own, but during the night it reflects (like a mirror) the light from the sun, to that part of the world which is in darkness. It reminds us of how we who are saved should reflect the light of Christ to this world that is dark because of sin. Sometimes the earth comes between, and makes an eclipse of the moon. So we have to be careful that the sinful things of this world don’t come between us and the Lord, and keep us from shining for Him.

On the fifth day God made birds to fly in the sky and fish to swim in the sea. Isn’t it wonderful to think of all the great and small fishes, so many different kinds that swim in the water. The great whales down to the tiny sardines were all created by the word, of God. Some of them swim in very water and others in shallow brooks, some in salt water, others in fresh, but God has given to each one a body suited to where He has placed them. A fish could not live under the water. Then there are all the beautiful birds with their lovely feathers and pretty colors, right down to the sparrow that is so common. Some of them have lovely songs, and others do not sing at all, and often the birds that are not so beautiful to look at, have the sweetest song. Not only did God create these wonderful fishes and birds but, He sustains them, that is, He keeps them living. “By Him (Christ) all things consist” (Col. 1:17). Which we look at all these wonderful creatures we know that God takes His pleasure in them too.

The sixth day was the last day of creation. Each day was a day of twenty-four hours, because God has told us “The evening and the morning were the sixth day” (vs. 31) and each day was the same. On the sixth day God made all kinds of cattle, animals and creeping, things. There were lions, bears, and all other kinds of animals but they were not wild, until after sin, came into the world. What a wonderful scene it was, fresh from the hand of God, without a groan or such a thing as fear, or death. All that was needed to make creation complete was man, who was to be placed over it all as its head.

ML 05/18/1947

Playing with Boats

Every boy likes to play in the water, and especially if he has a boat like this little lad. He can watch the waves making his little sailboat bob up and down, and the wind makes it turn around this way and that.

We will tell you about a boy who had a lovely sailboat which he had made himself. He took it down to the water one day, attaching a long string to it, so he could let it blow out a long way in the river, for there was a good wind that day. When he wanted to go home he thought he could pull it in again with the string, but while he was having such a good time watching it riding on the waves, he let the string go and it was soon gone.

He came home feeling very badly, to tell his parents about it but it was too late then, for the boat was lost.

That little boat is just like you and I, dear children, God made us, but we are lost, because we have sinful fallen natures, and we have wandered away from Him. We are just as helpless and unable to find our way back into the presence of God, as that little boat was to find its way back to the little boy who made it.

One day the little boy was going down the street, and to his surprise he saw his own sailboat in a second hand store window. He walked in to the store and said to the man, “That is my boat.” “No” said the storekeeper “I bought that boat, and it is mine.” “But” said the boy “I made it.” “If you want it you will have to buy it,” said the storekeeper.

The little boy turned and walked out of the store feeling pretty sad. He went home and told his father and mother all about it. They loved their little son, so they decided to give him the money to buy the boat back again. How happily he went back to the store again and Missing the last part of story.

ML 05/25/1947

The Old Shoemaker

Little Ruthie in passing the shoemaker’s window never tires of stopping to watch him at his work. There are so many things inside at which to look! She often stands gazing at his sober face wondering what he is thinking about as he hammers in the nails. He usually declares when a customer calls to take, his shoes home that, “Now they are as good as new,” and they certainly look it with such a strong new sole, and the leather polished so well that it shines. Still, if you look inside, you

Text missing.

Bible Talks

ONCE a month we hope, if the Lord will, to use one page of our paper for little talk together, prayerfully desiring your blessing.

You are approaching, or perhaps we should say you have come to some c)-the most important years of your life, and you realize that certain choices have to be made. God is interested in these. decisions and wants you to look to Him for guidance. He has told us that “That the way of man is not in himself; it is no in man that walketh to direct his steps’. (Jer. 10:23) Chapter not valid for Book. This simply means that we haven’t the wisdom to make our own decisions aright. We need His help, and. we have His lovely promise, “He that spared not His, own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not, with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). God our Father loved us enough to give His Son to die for us, and He is interested in every detail of our lives.

There are two things in the life of Moses to which we would like to draw out attention. First God has told us that Moses “refused”, something. “By faith. Moses when lie was come to years refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter” (Heb. 11:24.). Moses had litany advantages as a young man. He \vas brought up in Pharoah’s court. lie had a splendid education and was (nighty in words and deeds. He might have said to himself that God had put him in Pharoah’s court and he should not leave there. But Moses did not reason that way. He loved God, and the people of God, and the time came when he must decide. It must be a clear-cut decision, and not just a half-hearted one. So he refused to be called the son Pharoah’s daughter. He could have had plenty of the world’s honors and pleasures, but he refused them all. Dear voting people have you made such a decision, or are you trying to go halfway with the world? You will never he a happy Christian until you take a definite stand for the Lord before your friends.

The second thing is that Moses “-chose” something. He could not have refused as he did, if he had not first made a choice in his heart. He chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt” (Heb. 11:25-26. He did not choose an easy path, nor will you find the path of faith an easy one. ‘It is path of affliction and reproach, but it has, a glorious end. We have only one short life to live, and what a privilege it is to be able to spend it for precious Saviour who has done so much for us, Perhaps will say there is nothing for you to do. But have you asked the Lord, as Saul of Tarsus did when he was saved, “Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?” The Lord has something for each one of us to do, if we are wilng, and He will reward us with His “greater riches”, “The things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).

ML 05/25/1947

Don't Delay

One day, while her mother was away at work, Reba took dinner with a friend. Reba enjoyed being invited out, as all little girls do. Her hostess was a kind Christian woman, and the two had often talked together abort the things of the Lord.

At this time the lady told Reba that the Lord Jesus would soon come to take the Church to be with Himself. By “the Church” she meant all those who know Jesus as their own personal Saviour, and who have confessed their sins to Him.

Little Reba seemed quite troubled, and said,

“I do believe in Jesus, and before I go to bed tonight, I shall confess all my sins to Him.”

“O but suppose He should come this afternoon,’’ replied the lady.

Then Reba said, “If you will go out into the kitchen, I’ll go into the parlor, and tell Him now.” And since that time, Reba says she knows she has eternal life.

I wonder how it is with the little boys and girls who read this paper. Have you believed in Jesus, and have you confessed your sins to Him?

ML 05/25/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 1:26-31

And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (vs. 26). Our verse begins with two wonderful words, “Let us.” This means that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, purposed together for the creation of man. He was to be created in the image of God, because he was to represent God on the earth as the head of all creation, of all the animals, the birds, the fishes, and the little insects. Then too Adam was to be morally after the likeness of God. Of course he did not yet have the knowledge of good and evil. He was innocent.

What a wonderful scene it was, with everything fresh from the hand of God and all very good.

Man’s life, or breath, came directly from God, for “God ... .breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (ch. 2:7). When cows, horses, and all other animals die, that is the end of them, and some people will tell you that when you die that is the end of you, just the same as animals, but God says “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). It is better to believe God than man isn’t it? The Bible is God’s word and it tells us the truth. If you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, there is no judgment for you, for the Lord Jesus bore your judgment on the cross, so that when you die you will be “Absent from the body—present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). Your body will be put in the ground and go back to dust again, but your spirit will go to lie with the Lord, and be there happy with Him until He comes and gives the shout in the air (1. Thess. 4:16). Then your body will come up out of the ground, and will be changed into a body just like Christ’s, and you will be with Him forever.

If the one who reads this is unsaved, then when you die your body will go into the ground too, but your spirit will go to the prison house of the lost (1 Peter 3;19), to wait there in torment until the resurrection of the wicked dead, which will be about a thousand years after the first resurrection (Rev. 20:5). The first resurrection takes place when the Lord Jesus comes for His own. Yes, your body will come up out of the ground, even if it has gone back to dust again, and you will stand before God to be cast into the lake of fire to stiffer there forever (Rev. 20:10). God warns us of then things because He loves us. Don’t listen to those who tell you that there is no hell for God says there is. But God has provided a way of escape, and if you will come to the Lord Jesus just as you are, he will save you. Come now.

ML 05/25/1947

Bible Questions for June

“The Children’s Class”
Answers to Questions for March

1.“Christ hath,” etc. Gal. 3:13

2.“And they,” etc. 5:24

3.“And let,” etc. 6:9

4.“And because,” etc. 4:6

5.“For I etc. 2:19

6.“But I etc. 1:11

7.All men. 6:10

“The Children’s Class.”
Bible Questions for June

The Answers are to be found in 1St. and 2nd. Thessalonians.

Write in full the verse in which you find the words,

1.“The Lord Himself shall descend”.

2.“Not as pleasing men”.

3.“None render evil for evil”.

4.“Who believed not the truth”.

5.“If any would not work”.

6.“We should suffer tribulation”.

7.“Obey not the gospel”.

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for March

1.By the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal. 1:12)

2.This present evil world. (Gal. 1:4)

3.A transgressor. (Gal. 2:18)

4.No. (Gal. 3:11)

5.Walk in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:16)

6.By faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:26)

7. Corruption. (Gal. 6:8)

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Questions for June

The Answers are to be found a lst. and 2nd. Thessalonians,

1.In what were they to increase and abound?

2.With whom are we to be patient?

3.For whom were the Thessalonians waiting?

4.Are all signs and wonders from God?

5.Did Paul seek glory of men?

6.Are we to go on with those who walk disorderly?

7.Can our faith grow?

ML 06/01/1947

Thou God Seest Me

A father once took his little son with him to steal some apples from an orchard. Before climbing the fence he looked around to see if anyone, was watching, when his little son remarked, “Father, you have forgotten to look in one direction”.

“Which direction” asked the astonished parent, to which the God-fearing boy replied, “Father, you have forgotten to look up”. This so softened the father’s heart that he returned home without committing that sin.

Did you know, boys and girls, that the Bible says “Thou, God seest me?” (Gen. 16:13). There is nothing that you have done that the Lord has not seen. There is nothing that you have said that the Lord has not heard.

But in spite of all that God has seen in you and heard from you, God loves you. Yes, the Word of God tells us “Christ died for the ungodly.” How glad we should be to know that the very One who has seen all these things so loved us that He gave His Son to die for us. “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

ML 06/01/1947

Grandmother

Many years ago there lived a little boy named Timothy. He had a good and loving grandmother whose name was “Lois.” This dear grandmother had a daughter, named Eunice, who was Timothy’s mother. What great care these two must have taken of the little boy! But there was one thing that Timothy’s mother was most particular about. It was that her child might know the Holy Scriptures. Why did they want him to know God’s precious Word? Because it would make him “WISE UNTO SALVATION.” They each knew Jesus as Saviour, having learned of Him in the Word, so of course, they wanted the young boy to be saved too. And God rewarded their labor of love and faith, for Timothy became “A good soldier of Jesus Christ,” and spent his life telling others of his wonderful Saviour. Of him the apostle Paul wrote— “From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus,” 2 Timothy 3:15.

ML 06/01/1947

The Doctor

We cannot look at this picture, without feeling very sad. We can see the anxious look on the doctor’s face and the mother over by the window with her head down on the table, thinking no doubt of how she would miss her little boy if he should die. The father is standing by, trying to comfort her, but his own heart is very sore too, for no doubt he loves his dear little boy.

Dear children, you will never know how much your parents love you until you are very, very ill. Then you will find how their hearts go out to you, and they will do anything in their power to spare your little life. But there is fa limit to what they, or any other person can do, for your life, as well as the life of everyone else is in the hand of God. Many years ago there was a king named Belshazzar who forgot this, and was living a very sinful life, and God sent this message to him, “The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorfied” (Dan. 5:23). Yes, our life is in the hand of God and who can tell when your turn to die will come.

When we think of death, then we must think of what comes after it There are only two places to go. Heaven or Hell. Those who know the Lord Jesus as their own personal Saviour know they are going to be with the Lord Jesus in Heaven, and so they are not afraid when they conic to die. But if the one who reads this is unsaved, you may well be afraid, for there is nothing before you but judgment. Will you not take the Lord Jesus as your Saviour today? He loves you even more than your father and mother and can cleanse all your sins away in His most precious blood.

“BOAST NOT THYSELF OF TOMORROW: FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH.” Proverbs 27:1.

The hart panteth after the waters,

The, dying for life that departs;

The Lord in His glory for sinners,

For the love of rebellious hearts.

Call back all the days of the ages,

All rain-drops come down front above;

All flowers of summers departed,

But think not to measure His love.

Henry Suso.

The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. Ephesians 3:19.

ML 06/01/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Genesis 2

After man had been created, God looked over all that He had made and said it was very good. Then on the seventh day God rested.

Everything was beautiful and peaceful. But now sin has spoiled everything, and there will not lie any lasting peace on earth until God makes “A new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). We who are saved, have peace in our hearts now, and when we get to heaven we will be in God’s rest forever. If anyone who reads this is unsaved, there will not be any rest for you, unless you accept Christ as your Saviour. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked (Isaiah 57:21).

The Sabbath (the seventh day) was God’s promise of rest on the earth, but sin soon spoiled it. Man never could, and never will, obtain rest by his own obedience. The Lord Jesus, the obedient. One, died in order that blessing might come to fallen man. The Sabbath is for God’s earthly people and when the Lord Jesus reigns over the earth in a corning day the Sabbath will be kept again. But we are a heavenly people, and our rest is in heaven, riot on the earth. We keep the first day of the week (Sunday) just as the early disciples did (Acts 20:7. It is the Lord’s Day, (Rev. 1:10) and we should try to spend it in a special way for the Lord and not for our own pleasure. Perhaps there is some little friend we could bring with us to Sunday School, or some sick person whom we could visit, and tell them about the Lord Jesus.

God planted a beautiful garden where Adam was to live, and filled it with lovely fruit trees, flowers, and vegetables. A great river flowed through the garden to water it. There was everything in it to make Adam happy, Adam could eat of the fruit of any of the trees but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and God said he must not eat of that one, for if he did he would surely die (vs. 17). Adam had only one command to keep, and he could fully enjoy everything in the garden.

Then God brought all the animals to Adam for him to name them. Lions, bears, cows, horses, and all the other creatures. Adam gave them all their names.

But Adam was alone, so God made it wife for him, to be his companion and helpmeet. He put Adam into a deep sleep, and took out one of his ribs, from which He made Eve to be his bride. Now Adam had someone with whom he could enjoy everything God had made for them. This would remind us of what the Lord Jesus passed through on the cross. The deep sleep tells us of His death for us. He gave Himself, in order that He might have a bride, which is made up of all those who accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.

ML 06/01/1947

The Birds

In our picture today we have four little birds, and we can see one of them eating the berries which grow on these bushes. It reminds us of the verse in the Bible which speaks about the birds. It says, “And God feedeth them” (Luke 12:24).

God has made all the berries, and other kinds of food that grow out of the earth, not only for the food of man, but He cares for the birds and animals too. He has given the birds their pretty feathers and their lovely songs, and we love to look at them and listen to their sweet singing as we walk through the woods, especially in the springtime. We should not forget to thank God for all His blessings to us, for He has given us all these things because He wants to make us happy.

But the sad thing is that sin has spoiled this world, and even birds get sick and die. The Bible tells us “Ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:31). God loves us even though we arc sinners, and sent His Son to die for us, in order that we might have our sins washed away in. His precious blood, He wants us to spend eternity in the bright home which He has prepared in Heaven for those who are saved, whereas when the birds die that is the end of them. Have you given your heart to the Lord Jesus, so that you can say that you know you are going to be with Him in heaven sonic day?

“THE EYES OF ALL WAIT UPON THEE; AND THOU GIVEST THEM THEIR MEAT IN DUE SEASON.” Psalms 145:15.

ML 06/08/1947

The Two Alls

The Special Meetings had been a time of undoubted blessing to many, and now the last meeting of all had come.

At the close, the missionary was hurrying away to a late train. He looked at his watch. He had just three minutes in which to catch it. Fortunately, the station was close at hand.

As he walked rapidly up the street, he turned as he heard footsteps behind. A man was running after him.

“O! sir,” said he, breathlessly, as he came up, “can you speak to me? I am very anxious about my soul.”

“Well,” replied the missionary, “my train is just here, and it is the last one, but—”

He looked fixedly at the man for a moment before he added:

“Look up Isaiah 53;6. Go in at the first ‘all’ and go out at the last ‘all,’ Good-night.”

And he ran to catch his train.

The man stood staring after him until he disappeared into the station, and then he muttered,

“Go in at the first ‘all and go out at the last ‘all’, What does it all mean?”

So, when he arrived at his own house he got down a Bible. He turned ta Isaiah 53:6, and read these words: “‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.’”

“Go in at the first ‘all,’” he repeated “ ‘All we like sheep have gone astray.’ I am to go in with that ‘all.’ Yes, I see.

It just means I am one of those who have gone astray. And go out with the last ‘all.’ ‘The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.’ I see. Yes. I am to go out with those whose iniquity has been laid on Christ.”

It took a rather longer time to grasp the truth than those brief sentences might lead you, dear reader, to suppose. But that short, pithy comment on Isaiah 53:6, brought by the Holy Spirit light and peace to that man’s conscience and heart, and he rejoiced that night in Christ his Saviour.

May it be blessed to you!

ML 06/08/1947

The Bible in Heaven

Albert Midlane, the author of that little hymn, “There’s a Friend for Little Children”, was talking oat day to a little girl who loved the Lord Jesus.

“Mr. Midlane,” she said. “I would like to take my Bible to heaven with me.”

“And why would you like to do that little one?”

“Because if Jesus asked me why I was there, I would point to His own words ‘Come unto Me.’”

That was her own personal invitation from the Lord Jesus. And He wants it to be your invitation too.

It is a good thing to have a verse of our very own from God’s word. if you were asked if you were going to be in leaven, what would you say? Could you turn to a Bible verse as that little girl did? If you are not yet sure you are saved, get your Bible now, and look up Matthew 11:28. Put your finger on that verse and make it your very own invitation to heaven.

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give on rest.”

ML 06/08/1947

You May Have My House, John

John was page-boy to a doctor in London. He wore a uniform, with a row of bright buttons down the front of his coat. John’s master loved the Lord Jesus, and often had meetings in his large drawing-room. People would come from all parts of London to these meetings. John had to open the front door when they knocked, and to show them to the drawing-room. When all the people had come, he would sit on a chair near the door and listen to all that was said.

At one of these meetings the subject spoken about was the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Verses were read from the Bible to show that any day He might come and take all those who are washed in His blood to Heaven, and cave the rest to be punished.

When the meeting was over, the doctor called his page-boy, and said: John, did you listen, to what was said at the meeting tonight?” “Yes, sir” said John. “Do you understand about the Lord Jesus coming again?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, I just wanted to tell you that when He comes I shall not want the things that I now have any more, you may have my house then, John.”

Such an offer took John by surprise. Did his master really mean that he should be the owner of that fine house? Then the master went on to say: “You may have all the furniture too, John, and the carriage and horses, and all my money as well.”

John could only stammer out his thanks. He was quite taken aback at his good fortune. And in this frame of mind he went off to bed. He could not sleep, however. He lay awake thinking of what his master had said. Presently he asked himself the question, “Why should I want a house and furniture, carriage, horses and money when the Lord comes?” He thought how terrible it would be to be left behind, even if he were to become the owner of all these things.

Soon he could bear it no longer, so he slipped out of bed and went down the passage to the room where his master slept.

He knocked at the door once or twice, before his master opened it. “Why, John,” said the doctor, “what is the matter?” “Please sir” said John, “I don’t want your house when the Lord comes, nor the horses, nor the money.” “Well, John, what do you want?” “Oh, sir, I want to be ready when the Lord comes to go with Him to Heaven.”

How glad the doctor was to hear this. He took the boy into the room, and they knelt down together and told the Lord Jesus what John wanted. Before he rose from his knees John was saved? He put his trust in the Saviour, and all who do so are saved forever. He was now ready for the Lord’s coming, washed in His precious blood.

“The coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8.)

ML 06/08/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 3:1-6

Adam and Eve were enjoying the beautiful garden together, and how happy they must have been. But the happiness did not last long. They chose to listen to the voice of the serpent (Satan) rather than to the voice of God. God had provided everything for them, and given them such wonderful things, while the serpent had not done anything for them, so why should they listen to him? But they did!

How cleverly the serpent asked his question, “Yea hath God said?” He first put a doubt into Eve’s mind by questioning whether God had really spoken. This is always the way Satan begins. He wants you to doubt the Bible, the Word of God, and if he can get you doubting, he will be able to ruin you, as he did Eve. The Christian needs an armor for his spiritual battles, and we are told, “above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”, (Eph. 6:16). Never let one doubt enter your mind as to the truth of the Word of God, or Satan’s fiery darts will get in.

Then Eve replied to the serpent by saying, God hath said, “Ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” We can notice two mistakes in her reply. First she added to God’s Word. God hadn’t told them not to touch it, but unbelief adds to God’s Word, as well as taking away from it. Then Eve also said “Lest ye die”, which shows there was a doubt in her mind. But God’s Word was definite, “Ye shall surely die” (ch. 2:17). Satan saw that she was doubting, and he said, “Ye shall not surely die” He flatly contradicted what God had said, Satan had his bait all ready, just like a fisherman, so that when they grabbed at it they would be caught with his hook. He told them they would “be as gods, knowing good and evil.” But he only told them part of the truth, for although they got the knowledge of good and evil (a conscience) when they ate of the fruit, they received a fallen nature, wanting to do evil, and without the power to do good.

Eve listened to Satan, and disobeyed God. She saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, F all looked good, except for one thing. It was disobedience to God. So dear children, the world with its bright lights, its sinful pleasures, and its famous men and women, looks very attractive. But stop a moment. It is Satan who has fixed up the world to take your young hearts away from the Lord, and “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” (Mark 8:36). If you listen to the voice of God through His Word, you will have the victory over these temptations. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

ML 06/08/1947

All Aboard!

All boys and girls like trains. Do you like to stand and watch the big engine race down the track, and do you like to wave to the engineer?

The big train in this picture has stopped at the city of Davenport, Iowa, and is just ready to start out for Chicago. Before the train starts to move the conductor calls out “All aboard,” the bell rings, and then the big engine starts down the track.

What kind of people do you think you would find riding on this big train? You would find sick people and healthy people, rich people and poor people,—but everyone has to have a ticket. Perhaps you remember, if you have had a ride on a train, that the conductor comes to everybody and says “Tickets please.” Then you give him your little ticket, and he punches it and goes on to the next person.

When we ask boys and girls where they would like to go when they die, they nearly always say “To Heaven.” But when we ask, “And are you sure you will be there?” they often say, “Oh, I don’t know.”

Do you think you could buy a ticket to Heaven? You know you couldn’t do that. Would you like to know how to get there? Jesus has paid for the ticket! Yes, Jesus died on the cross, He shed His precious blood, He rose again and went up to heaven, and now He calls to boys and girls and says, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14.

I am so glad that Jesus died for me. I am so glad that He paid the fare for me, when He died on the cross, and now I am sure I am on my way to heaven.

Very soon after this picture was taken, the train started away, and anyone who had not boarded the train was left behind. And very soon the Lord Jesus will not be calling you to Him anymore. Will you be left behind when He closes the door? Will your father and mother be taken to heaven and you yourself left behind? Jesus has paid the fare, and wants you to give your heart to Him now. He says,

“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.” John 14:6.

ML 06/15/1947

The Roaring Lions

“Oh Daddy, what was that awful roaring?” Little Ethel was visiting the zoo for the first time and was frightened by the roaring of the lions. It was dinner time for all the animals, and the lions were demanding their food right now! The whole building seemed full of the noise and almost seemed to shake.

Do you think the little girl was afraid of the big roaring lions? No, she was in her father’s strong arms and felt quite safe as they walked very close to the cage, If she had met them among some trees I am sure she would have been very frightened; but when she was in her father’s arms watching them in their cage, she felt very safe and unafraid.

Dear boys and girls, this makes us think of someone else we read about in the Bible, who is like a roaring lion. Do you know who it is? It is the devil. Our enemy “the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. Do you know whom he wants to devour? Yes, it is you and, I and every other boy and girl, and grown-ups too. Just like those lions at the zoo would like to make a mouthful out of some small animal.

The devil tries to keep boys and girls from coming to Jesus, and from accepting, Him as their own precious Saviour. He wants to have boys and girls spend eternity in hell with him.

But the Lord Jesus says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. If we come to Jesus he won’t let that old enemy, the devil have us, for He says in. John 10:28, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” The Lord Jesus loves us, died for us to wash our sins away, and wants us to be in Heaven with Him. He warns us against the devil who hates our souls. Oh, do accept the Lord Jesus today! Make Romans chapter 10 verse 9 your very own.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God that raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

ML 06/15/1947

Sunday School at Home

It was raining hard one Sunday, and a little girl was looking out of the window, afraid it might keep her from going to Sunday School.

She had learned to love the Saviour and knew that her sins had been washed away by His precious blood. Her mother was a Christian, and they were a great comfort to each other. Her father was not saved, but let his wife and child do as they pleased, for he loved them both very much,.

This rainy Sunday he told his little girl it was too wet to go out, and said, “Suppose we have school at home today, you and I.”

She said, “Then you will be the teacher, and I will be your little class.”

So she got her Bible and two hymn books, and put two chairs opposite each other, and then said, “Now, father, school is ready.”

He sat down on the chair opposite his little girl and asked, “What must I do?”

“You must give out a hymn to begin with.”

“But, my dear, I don’t know any of these hymns, and I don’t know the tunes.”

“Perhaps, then, you will let me give out a hymn that I can sing, and you can help me.”

She soon found a hymn that she knew well. It was her favorite, and it told of the Lord Jesus coming from heaven to seek and to save the lost, and how that on Calvary He shed His blood for the cleansing of sins. She began singing, and the words were carried home in power to his heart. He could not sing for a choking feeling in his throat, and it was hard work to keep back the tears. He did not know what he was bargaining for when he offered to be Sunday School teacher, and as soon as the hymn was over he was going to leave the room.

“Father, we are not done yet,” she said.

“I think we have had enough,” he said as he sat down on the chair again. “What must we do now?”

“Father, you must pray.”

“My child, I cannot,” he said.

“But father, we always pray after we sing a hymn, and you wanted to have, Sunday School.” she said, looking up pleadingly into his face.

A great struggle was going on in his heart, which was softened under the words of the hymn that was just sung, and now what was he to do. Would he break his word, or yield? The beseeching look of his little girl brought him to his knees, but his heart was too full to allow him to speak.

His little girl, seeing he did not begin, gave him a nudge with her elbow, and said, “Father, pray.” He could hold in no longer and burst into tears and sobs.

Just then the door was opened by his wife, who had been praying for him for years. Quickly she kneeled at his side, and earnestly united her prayers with her husband’s. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shone into his heart, and he was saved. Many times after did they thank God for that wet Sunday that brought about such blessed results.

“The Lord is ... . not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

ML 06/15/1947

Only One Way

How many children say,

“I’d like to go to heaven

Yet never think that they

Must have their sins forgiven,

Before they can in glory be,

Or Jesus Christ in glory see.

None can to glory go,

Or dwell with God above,

Save they who Jesus know,

And taste a Saviour’s love;

The holy words of truth declare

No other grounds of entrance there.

ML 06/15/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 3:7-15

As soon as Adam and Eve had taken of the fruit, their eyes were opened, and the conscience which they received by their sinful act made them feel their nakedness. So they made aprons out of fig leaves to cover themselves. This is just like men and women today, who try to cover their sins by their own good works, but although such things may look very good in their own eyes, and perhaps in the eyes of others, we know that nothing we can do will put away one sin from the presence of God. “The wages of sin is death,” and God was about to teach them that the only way they could stand in His presence, was in a covering which He Himself provided through the death of another—a substitute.

While clothed in these, fig leaf aprons they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden, and they hid among the trees. They were afraid of God, and their aprons did not make them fit for His presence and they knew it. Dear young reader, are you hiding from God? Do you feel like running away when someone asks you if you are saved? It is because you are a sinner and need the robe of righteousness which God has provided through the death of His Son. “He hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Cor. 5:21.

But God loved His fallen creature, and He began to seek him. Isn’t it wonderful, that the first words God spoke to Adam after his fall were, “Where art thou?” And God has been seeking man ever since, even though men continue to run away and hide from Him. If you are unsaved, God is seeking you, and wants to save you.

God asked Adam some questions because He wanted him to confess his sin, but Adam blamed his wife for it. Perhaps you are trying to blame someone else, or even worse you may blaming God as many people do today. But remember this, dear young reader putting the blame on someone else will not take away the dark stain of sin. Stop blaming others at once, and come to God as a guilty sinner, and you will have all your sins removed. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Then you will not be thinking of who is to blame but your heart will be filled with thankfulness to God for what He has done for you.

Eve was like her husband, and she blamed the Serpent (Satan). God then cursed the Serpent for what he had done, but He allowed Adam and Eve to hear the wonderful promise that the Seed of woman would bruise the Serpent’s head. The Lord Jesus Who was born of a virgin was the promised Seed and when He died on the cross He defeated all Satan’s power. Satan is a real person, with real power, but for the believer he is a defeated enemy who cannot harm us as long as we walk in obedience to the Word of God. Soon we will be completely delivered from his power when the Lord Jesus comes and takes us to be forever with Himself.

ML 06/15/1947

Puppies

We all enjoy watching little puppies like those in our picture, as they run about and play with each other. God’s creation is so wonderful, and it would be very interesting if we could take time to learn all the habits of animals.

We can learn some lessons from their ways too, and God calls our attention to a good number of them in Proverbs 30. For instance, the tiny little ants prepare their meat in the summer, and we all know how busy they keep themselves picking up crumbs, and other small particles of food, to carry into their holes in the ground.

But I think we can learn something from these dogs too. See how closely the mother dog is watching her puppies, and if any danger came near she would stand in front of them and bark. This would warn the puppies of the danger, and they would stay close to her. God, has given us many warnings in His Word, and we should listen to them. Here is one of them, “Flee from the wrath to come” Matt. 3:7. Dear boys and girls, have you found a shelter from coming judgment? There is only one safe shelter, and God has told us where to find it. Listen, “There is therefore now no condemnation [judgment] to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1. Can you say you are “safe in Christ?”

There is another thing that a dog does, which many people forget to do. If you are kind to a dog, or give him something to eat, you will see him wag his tail. This is how he says “Thank you.” Now, we know that all our food comes from God, and we should never forget to thank Him for it. Many people sit down and eat their meals without thanking God at all. I hope all our little readers, and older ones too, bow their heads and “give thanks” before they eat. We should do it at home, in the school lunch room, or in the restaurant, just as Paul did when he was on board ship in Acts 27. It says that he “gave thanks to God in presence of them all” (vs. 35), even although the other men were not saved as he was. This reminds us of another verse,

“BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS.” Psalms 103:2.

ML 06/22/1947

It's Worth the Effort

An old man, who lived in the West Indies, was very anxious to learn to read the Bible. He came a long distance regularly to a missionary to take his lesson. He made but little progress, and his teacher, almost disheartened, asked him one day,

“Had you not better give it up?”

“No, massa,” he said, with great energy, “me never give up till me die,” and pointing with his finger to John 3:16, he read carefully, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Then he added with touching emphasis, “It is worth all de labor to be able to read dat only single verse.”

Perhaps you can read John 3:16 without all that hard work, or perhaps you know it from memory, but do you know the Saviour of whom it speaks? Do you possess the everlasting life which God offers to “whosoever will?”

ML 06/22/1947

I Got Ready Long Ago

You have heard many stones about boys and girls, but this time we are going to tell you a story about an old man. This dear old man loves the Lord Jesus, for he gave his heart to Jesus when he was a boy. Although he is very old and has white hair he still loves to tell others about his Saviour.

One day this old man took very sick and was taken to the hospital. He was so sick that he was unconscious, that is, his eyes were closed and he didn’t know where he was. When at last he opened his eyes, he saw a doctor looking down at him. The doctor said, “Mr. Sherman, you are very sick. You are going to die before this day is over.” What do you think Mr. Sherman said? “Oh, doctor. I am so glad to hear you say that.” The doctor was puzzled. Excuse me, I said you are dying.” “Yes, I heard you,” said Mr. Sherman, “And I’m glad to know I am dying.” The doctor was puzzled. Most people seemed so frightened when they thought they were going to die. But Mr. Sherman was quite happy because he knew it just meant he would soon be with Jesus the doctor again turned to Mr. Sherman and said, “There is a man here who will help you get ready to die.” Mr. Sherman looked at the doctor and the other man, and said, “Sir, do you think I would wait till I was dying to start getting ready? I have been ready to die since I was a boy!” The doctor and his friend had never heard anyone speak like that before, so Mr. Sherman went on to tell them that the Lord Jesus had died for his sins, and that he was ready and happy to die, and be “with Christ which is far better.”

Contrary to the doctor’s expectation Mr. Sherman improved, and he is still able to tell others about his Saviour.

Boys and girls don’t very often think about dying. But would You be as happy about it as Mr. Sherman? Would you know you were going to be “with Christ?” If you have not accepted Him as your own precious Saviour, get down on your knees right now, before you finish reading this paper, and thank Him for dying for you.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 06/22/1947

The Eyes of the Lord Are in Every Place

We all know, dear boys and girls, that nothing’ is hidden from. God. We may sometimes do wrong, and forget about it but lust the same it is true that “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him “ Hebrews 4:13.

Now I shall tell you about a little boy’s conscience. His name was Walter, and he lay awake one night for a long, long time after his mother had put him to bed.

Thinking that he would be asleep in a few minutes she had gone downstairs to see some friends in the parlor.

Poor little Walter! He could not sleep nor civil rest. He turned his pillow over and tried to make his bed more comfortable, but the fault was not in the bed, and not in the pillow, but in the child’s own heart.

He had been doing wrong that day; and his conscience told him of it. That was why, he could not sleep.

At last he could bear it no longer, and getting out of bed, he went downstairs and called his mother, who followed him quickly.

“Mother”, he said, “I am very unhappy. I promised you that I would take no more fruit at dinner time: but after you left the room I took a bunch of grapes and three apples, and I hid them in my box in my room. I am very sorry, mother, and I want you to forgive me, I could not go to sleep, because I had disobeyed you, and told a lie too.”

His mother did forgive him freely, and was thankful that he had not hidden his sin. But she reminded Walter that he had grieved the Lord, his Saviour and his Best Friend, and that her child could not be happy without confessing his sin to Him. So they knelt together, owning the sin, and asking the Lord Jesus to keep him from doing it again.

Then Walter went to sleep; for the Word of God says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9.

ML 06/22/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 3:16-24

After letting Adam and Eve hear the wonderful promise of a coming Redeemer (the promised Seed). then God told them the sad results of their sin. They were to have sorrow, suffering and hard work during their lives, with death at the end. It became a groaning creation, and even the animal creation have had to share in the suffering. God also cursed the ground for Adam’s sake, and all the thorns and thistles we see are the results of this curse. We cannot help but think of the crown of thorns which wicked men placed on the head of the Lord Jesus, when He was made a curse for us. Yes, He died on the cross to put our sins away, and bring us into even greater blessing than if Adam had never sinned at all.

Then God clothed Adam and Eve with coats of skins, and in. order to get these skins the animal must be killed. This pointed on to the Lord Jesus, Who died for us, that we might be clothed in a robe of righteousness suited to the presence of God. Any other robe or covering that a sinner can have is only “filthy rags” before God. (Isa. 61:10 & 64:6)

If God had allowed them to eat of the tree of life and live forever in this sad world, it would have been terrible. So He drove them out of the garden and would not let them return. But God had something much better in His purposes of grace, and in Revelation 22 we read about a new scene, and all in that city can eat of the tree of life, for “there shall be no more curse.” The ones who enter there “have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” Rev. 7:14.

God placed Cherubim and a flaming sword at the entrance to the garden keep the way of the tree of life. These are types or symbols to bring certain things before our minds. Even today symbols are used. For example, in a certain city there is a large building with two lions carved out of stone in front of it. These are a symbol of strength. Now God uses a great many types in His Word, but He does not want us to form our own opinion about what they mean or we might make some bad mistakes. The meanings of, these types are found in the Bible if we read it carefully and prayerfully. The Cherubim speak to us of God’s righteousness in the government of this world. God must act in righteousness and punish sin. We deserved the punishment, but the “flaming sword” of God’s judgment fell on the Lord Jesus at the cross (see Zech. 13:7), and He bore all the sins of those who believe and now we can sing,

Death and judgment are behind us

Grace and Glory are before

All the billows rolled o’er Jesus

There they spent their utmost power.

Dear young reader, can you say that Jesus bore your judgment? For if He did not bear it for you, then you must bear it yourself in Hell forever. You will be kept out of the heavenly city, where only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life can enter.

ML 06/22/1947

The Telephone

This little boy looks very happy, as he talks into his toy telephone. I suppose he is pretending that he is talking to his father who is away at work.

A good many of us have telephones in our homes and we can talk to our friends so easily. We can use “long distance” and hear the voices of those whom we love many hundreds, and even thousands, of miles away. God has allowed men to make some wonderful discoveries and inventions in recent years, but instead of thanking God for the. wisdom He has given them, many of them take all the credit to themselves. Let us learn to be thankful to God for all His many blessings.

We would like to talk to you about something much more wonderful than telephones, or any of man’s inventions. It is prayer. Just think that we can kneel in our bedrooms, and talk to God up in heaven, which is millions and millions of miles away, and He hears us at once. We don’t have to wait, as we do sometimes on the telephone, but we can pray at any moment of the day or night, God not only hears, but He answers our prayers according to what He knows is best for us.

There is one prayer God always delights to hear from a lost sinner. It was the prayer of a publican (a tax gatherer) who knew that he was a sinner, so he prayed these words, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13. God heard his prayer and saved his soul. Another man who was standing near him, was praying and telling God about all the good deeds he had done. His good deeds were only “filthy rags” in God’s sight, but he thought he was good enough and did not need a Saviour at all. He did not get the blessing because the Lord. Jesus only saves those who confess that they are sinners. Why not do as this publican did, and pray to God, telling Him that you want to be saved now? He is able and willing to save you.

“THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS?” 1 Timothy 1:15.

ML 06/29/1947

Eliza's Answer

What do you know about the Lord Jesus? Perhaps you can think of a good many things about Him. You know where He was born, some of the wonderful things He did, and how He was crucified. But let me tell you an interesting story about that very question.

Eliza was a little girl who went to Sunday School and loved to listen to stories about Jesus. One day, when the lesson was about over, the teacher said, “Now children, I want each one of you to write on a piece of paper during the week, what you know about the Lord Jesus. Next Sunday, bring them to the class and let me read them.” The next Sunday, each girl in the class had her paper ready, and the teacher took them home in her purse. She was pleased, as she read them over, to see that the girls had listened well in the class, and had written such nice papers about the birth, life and death of the Lord Jesus. But when she came to Eliza’s paper, what do you think she read? Eliza had simply written “The Lord Jesus is my own precious Saviour.”

Oh how happy the teacher was! The other girls could write such nice stories about Jesus, but Eliza loved Jesus and had taken Him as her own precious Saviour. Can you, dear boy or girl, tell a lot of stories about the Lord Jesus? I’m sure you can. But can you say as Eliza did, “The Lord Jesus is my own precious Saviour?” “God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

ML 06/29/1947

Do You KNowThat Man?

A Christian man was traveling by train one day. and was reading a booklet entitled “The Man Christ. Jesus.” When he had finished he turned and handed it to a bright looking young girl on the opposite seat, with the remark, “Do you know that Man?”

Her simple warm-hearted reply was, “He died for me!”

What a grand thing to be able to say! Perhaps you know a great deal ABOUT that Man, His birth, His miracles, His death. But can you say, as that traveler did, He died for me!”

How sweet to react Paul’s testimony about Him in Galatians 2:20 “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

ML 06/29/1947

Holidays

The Young People’s Page

Holiday season is here again, and everyone is making plans to go here and there for the summer. We hope those who are still attending school can say they “passed.” We can do even our school work to the glory of God, and of course if we want to please the Lord, we will always try to put Him first. We should take time to read the Word of God each day, never allowing our studies to interfere with it, for this is the most important kind of “learning.” The Lord Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35.

In choosing the place we should go, for our vacation, it is a good thing to ask the Lord, as Saul of Tarsus asked when he was saved, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6. If we try to make our own choice, we might decide on a place that would not be pleasing to the Lord at all. Some young people think it would be just fine to have their own way, and no one to correct them, but this is a great mistake. You can thank the Lord if you have a Christian father and mother, who give you wise counsel, and seek your blessing. They want you to lead a happy and useful life for the Lord, and you can only do this by walking in obedience to the Word of God.

Perhaps you didn’t know there were any verses about holidays in the Bible. Well, there aren’t any that mention the very word “holidays”, but here is one that would surely have a voice for us. It is found in Acts 4:23. “And being let go, they went to their own company.” During the school year, or at your work, you have been in the company of many who did not love the precious Saviour Who died for you, but when vacation time comes, you are “let go’’ for a little while. You enjoy the feeling that you are free! Yes you are free to choose your “own company.” Does your heart say, like the men we have read about in our verse, “Oh, I want to spend my holidays with those who love the Lord Jesus, and want to walk in obedience to His Word.” If it does, then you will have the Lord’s blessing on your vacation, and will return home again refreshed in body, and happy in your soul.

We can enjoy the fresh air, the rippling water, and the bright sunshine, but we are only passing through. this world, and our object in life is not to see what a good time we can have but to live for Christ. We need the change and rest at times, but it is only that we might regain strength to live “not unto ourselves, but unto Him.”

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2. We can apply the truth of this verse to every detail of our lives—even to our holidays. To be conformed to the world, simply means that we want to be like it, but when we think of what this world did to our precious Saviour, we are led to say with the Apostle Paul, “The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14. How can we want to be like the world in our manner, our conversation, or our apparel? On the contrary, the world should see in everything we do, that we “had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13. Occupation with Him will transform (change) us, so that with renewed minds we will desire to put the Lord first in everything. May He keep us close to Himself, and help us to spend our holidays for His glory.

ML 06/29/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Genesis 4:1-8

God gave Adam and Eve two sons, whom they named Cain and Abel. I all sure they loved their boys and told them of how sin came into the world by their disobedience, and then of how God clothed them in the coats of skins. No doubt Cain and Abel both knew the story well, but what a great difference there was between the way they received it. Abel believed it, for he knew that he was a sinner, and he saw that the death of another must come between himself and God, or he could not be accepted. Cain was careless about it, and thought that the works of his own hands were good enough to be presented to a holy God.

So they both brought their offerings to the Lord. Cain brought his first. It was the fruit of the ground which God had cursed, and there was no blood shed. How could God accept such an offering from Cain in his sins? He could not. Then Abel brought his offering, and what a difference! He brought “the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.” He acknowledged that death was what he deserved, but the little animal died in his place, and God accepted him and his offering.

Sometimes we hear people say that God accepted Abel because he was good, and rejected Cain because he was bad. No, boys and girls, they were both bad sinners, but Abel was accepted because his sacrifice answered to God for his sins, and pointed on to the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God. These two brothers had the same opportunities of hearing the right way, and perhaps you have a Christian father and mother who have often pointed you to Christ. Have you accepted Him, as the One who died for your sins knowing the way will not save you. You must come yourself.

When Cain’s offering was rejected he was very angry. Many people today get very angry when you tell them that their own works will not fit them for the presence of God, and that they need Christ as their Saviour. They don’t like to hear about the blood of Christ. God told Cain “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” The way was still open for him to bring a sacrifice which God could accept, but he would not. And the way is still open for you unsaved one. “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7.

Cain was first envious of his brother then he began to hate him, and this led to murder. O boys and girls, let us be careful of envy and jealousy. If you are saved, you can ask the Lord Jesus to help you not to envy others. If you find those feelings in your heart, you should pray for the friends you envy, and ask God for grace to specially kind to be them. You will then soon get the victory and love them, but if you don’t do this, you will get away from the Lord in your soul and end up by doing something very naughty.

ML 06/29/1947

Bible Questions for July

“The Children’s Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for April

1.“In whom,” etc. Eph. 1:13

2.“But now,” etc. 2:13

3.“And take,” etc. 6:17

4.“Redeeming,” etc. 5:16

5.“With oil,” etc. 4:2

6.“Unto me,” etc. 3:8

7.Grace. 2:8

“The Children’s Class”
Bible Questions for July

The Answers are to be found in 1St. and 2nd. Timothy, Titus and Philemon.

Write in full the verse in which you find the words,

1.“Able to keep”

2.“Church of the living God-

3.“In works they deny Him”

4.“To save sinners”

5. “From a child”

6.“More than I say”

7.“Carry nothing out”

The Young People’s Bible Class
Answers to Bible Questions for April

1. Ephesians 2:9

2. After that ye believed, (Eph. 1:13)

3. The love of Christ. (Eph. 3:19)

4. All. (Eph. 1:3)

5. The Lord. (Eph. 4:1) Jesus Christ. (Eph. 3:1)

6. No. (Eph. 4:25)

7. The sword of the Spirit. (Eph. 6:17)

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Bible Questions for July

The Answers are to be found in 1St. and 2nd. Timothy, Titus, and Philemon,

1. Whose “soldier” should we be?

2.What are young men exhorted to be?

3.What kind of apparel should women wear?

4.Where was the “church” (assembly) the place where Philemon lived?

5.What should we hold to avoid “shipwreck”?

6.Is money, or the love of it, the root of all evil?

7.Which is more profitable, “godliness” or “bodily exercise”?

ML 07/06/1947

An Enemy

A beautiful moth had just forced its way out of any ugly cocoon! I expect it was very tired and weak, but there was a good place for it to rest on a pine cone nearby. It could hang on to it with all of its six legs, letting its beautiful wings spread out and dry in the delightful warm air. Ah! how restful it was, after being so cramped in its narrow little house.

But while it was resting there, an enemy approached. As quietly as a shadow he came up the limb to the very cone on which the moth reposed. “What a beauty! What a feast!” said to himself, and before the poor little moth could move, Snap! Snap’ went the little jaws—the beautiful wings were bitten off, and the fat juicy body was devoured. Then on went the little hunter seeking other prey. Perhaps the little moth did not know she had any enemies., and so her lack of watchfulness cost her, her life, Boys and girls, you have an enemy. Did you know that? He is said to be like a “roaring lion” walking about seeking whom he may devour. His name is Satan, or the Devil. If you were standing in front of your house, and you saw a roaring lion coming down the street, what would you do?

“Run into the house as quickly as I could.” I hear someone say. Yes, that would be the best thing to do—seek a hiding place at once. How very foolish it would be, to stay on the street and try to fight such a strong animal!

Now God has provided you and me with the safest, strongest hiding place that ever was. “A Man shall be as an hiding place” Isaiah 32:2. That Man is the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10. Will you not say, dear children, like one of old, “I flee unto Thee to hide me.” Psalms 143:9.

ML 07/06/1947

Birch Trees

Three lovely birch trees! How their pretty white bark shines in the sunlight, and it is a wonderful sight to see whole forests of them. Perhaps some of our readers have trimmed off some of this “birch bark”, and made a little photo folder, or a toy canoe. It is sometimes used to write on, and one time a letter came to our home written on this birch bark with the envelope made from it too. Many hundreds of years ago when there was very little paper, and very few people could write, they used skins or parchment for writing letters. The Bible was written in this way, and these parchments which were called manuscripts were very valuable. There weren’t any printing presses, and anyone who wanted to read the Word of God had to go where one of these manuscripts were kept, and read there. They could not buy a copy, and the only way they could have the Word in their homes, was to copy parts of it for themselves. If they could not write they would have to pay a “scribe” to copy it for them.

We should be very thankful for the open Bible we have in these lands, and we can buy one at a very reasonable price in the book store. We have almost all learned to read and write too, so that we can read it in the quiet of our own homes. What a wonderful message it brings to us of God’s great love in sending His Son into this sad. world to die for sinners. But thousands of people have the Bible in their homes, and yet they have never believed this precious message. The only way to be saved is to take your true place as a sinner before God, and accept the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour. Dear reader, have you done this?

“THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.” Psalms 119:105

ML 07/06/1947

Watching for You Daddy

Some of our young readers love the Lord Jesus, and know they are saved. But how many of our young hearts ever wish the Lord Jesus would come and take us home to heaven this very day? How many of us are eagerly watching for Him.

Upon coming home from work one night, a little girl’s father missed her eager face at the front window. He asked his little daughter what had happened. She replied, “I just stopped watching” Her fattier was a little later than usual, and she got tired watching, and went back to playing with her toys. Dear young believer in Jesus, are you tired of watching for Jesus? Are you only waiting?

Another time when her father ramie home from work he said, “And what have you been doing all day?” His little daughter quickly answered. “Watching for you, Daddy!” How it cheered the father’s heart! Surely it gladdens the Lord’s heart when are watching for Him, Are you a watcher or a tired waiter?

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matt. 24:42.

“Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.” Matthew 24:46.

ML 07/06/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Genesis 4:9-26

One day when Cain was out in the field with Abel his brother he became so angry that he killed him. What a terrible thing to do! He did not seem to realize that God was watching him, but let us remember He sees everything, we do. You may be able to hide things from others and perhaps from your parents, but you cannot hide anything from God.

For He sees what we do,

And He hears what we say,

My Lord is watching

All the time time, time.

And although God sees and hears everything, He loves us. He does not love our sins, but He loves us, and wants to cleanse us from all our sins.

After Cain had murdered his brother, the Lord asked him where Abel was. Cain replied, “I know not am I my brother’s keeper?” This was a lie to God, for he did know where his brother was. He had killed him and he tried to cover up his sin by telling a lie. Have you ever done something you knew to be wrong, and then tried to cover it up by telling a lie? And you often end up by telling two or three lies! When you do one wrong thing, then Satan tries to catch you in his net and lead you on in a sinful path. Only the Lord Jesus can set you free, and H will, if you come to Him telling Him “all the truth,” Here is a verse good to remember at all times, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23. Don’t try to cover things up, children, confess them at once.

God told Cain that. he was to be a fugitive and a vagabond (a wanderer) in the earth. Cain did not like the punishment, and he was very sorry about it, but not for his sin. Many, people today are much like Cain. They are very sorry when they are found out, and even cry when they are punished, but they have never really repented before God. Dear young reader have you ever taken your place as a guilty sinner before God? This is true repentance, and the moment you do this and trust in the work the Lord Jesus has done for you, you will be saved.

Then Cain went out from the presence of the and Lord and built a city. He was trying to make himself happy away from God. This is just exactly what the world is today. It has so many attractions for your young heart, to make you forget the Lord in a whirl of pleasure and excitement. In the city which Cain built, there were harps and organs, and all kinds of beautiful things made from brass and iron, but let us not forget where it was. It was “out from the presence of the Lord.” It is the same world today, and Satan is it’s god and prince. Just as Call city was later destroyed by a flood, so there is a day near at hand who this poor world will be burned up Here are two verses for us to consider “Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth-But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Matthew 6:19,20

ML 07/06/1947

God's Wonderful Creation

“He spake, and it was done.” Psalms 33:9.

Who made the world, so fair and bright,

And hung it up in space,

And made two orbs to give it light,

And set them in their place?

Who binds the water in the clouds;

Who rules the raging sea;

Who holds the overflowing floods,

At whose rebuke they flee?

Who formed the everlasting hills,

Which tower to the sky?

Who made the sparkling little rills,

That laugh and bubble by?

Who made the trees, the grass, the flowers,

The little birds so gay;

Who gives the sweet, refreshing showers,

And sends the sun’s bright ray?

‘Tis God alone, who can create,

Who made the earth and sun.

The Firmament so vast and great;

Who “Spake, and it was done.”

And He made man, and when man fell

Devised a plan in love,

To save him from the depths of hell,

And give a home above.

Then let our hearts go forth to God;

All praise to Him be given!

We’ll bless Him, and adore, and laud,

The Lord of earth and heaven.

BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, THAT ARE IN HEAVEN, AND THAT ARE IN EARTH.” Colossians 1:16.

ML 07/13/1947

What Will You Do With That Voice in Eternity?

At a meeting one evening, a Christian was very much impressed with the sweet voice of a young lady who was singing near him.

After a while he turned and asked her “Do you love the Saviour?” She replied, “I am not a Christian, and so I suppose that I do not love the Saviour.” “Then, my dear young friend,” said he, “what will you do with that voice in eternity? Will it be spent in uttering the wailings of the lost forever?” He said no more, but turned and left her to think it over.

The thought remained with her, and every time she sang it came back to her “What will I do with my voice for all eternity?” Dear reader, maybe you enjoy singing, maybe you sing hymns, but may I ask you “Do you love the Saviour?” If you have not yet given your heart to Him, if His precious blood has not yet cleansed away those sins of yours, then be assured that your voice will never be lifted in singing, once you leave this earth. Come today to the One who died for sinners, let Him put a new song in your mouth, now and for all eternity.

“And they sung a new song, saying Thou ... .hast redeemed us us to God by Thy blood.” Rev. 5:9.

ML 07/13/1947

Little Mollie's Prayer

Work was getting scarce in the workshops of Messrs B. and Sons so the master decided to dismiss their men two hours earlier earlier day, making as small a reduction possible, as winter was setting in, and it was likely to be long and hard.

Hence it was that James Harvey was home earlier, before even his little lass had said her evening prayer.

James’ wife, knowing her husband’s, great dislike to anything in the form of religion, was in the habit of hearing her child’s hymn and prayer before daddy’s return at night; although the child often waited, wrapped up in mother’s shawl, and with her little pink toes resting on the bright steel fender, for her daddy’s good-night kiss, and for him to carry her to bed.

Mollie was devoted to her father. and on this night, instead of, as usual going to say her prayers by, her mother’s knee, she climbed on to her father’s, saying,—

“Let Mollie say her hymn to daddy “No,” said James uncomfortably “ say it to your mother;” but the sensitive little face showed so much disappointment as she slowly turned to clamber down from her sear, that the father’s heart relented, and he said,

“All right! Go on then.”

Rubbing her cheeks with the hem of her nightgown, and smiling with joy all over her sweet face, Mollie said,

“Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,

Bless Thy little lamb tonight;

Through the darkness be Thou near me

Keep me safe till morning light.

All this day Thy hand hath led me,

And my wants have been Thy care;

Thou hast clothed me, warmed, and fed me,

Listen to my evening prayer.

Let my sins be all forgiven,

Bless the friends I love so well,

Take me when I die to heaven,

Happy there with Thee to dwell.”

Bless father, mother, Mollie, everybody, Christ’s sake; and please make Mollie dood ‘ittle girl. Amen.

Now James listened to each word lisped by his darling child. In her sweet innocence, and clothed in her little white night-dress, she reminded him of a picture of “Praying Samuel” of which he was the proud possessor when a boy. Ah! how changed he felt since then, and how stupid and ignorant he had grown! To think that all these years he had thought “Of mine own self I have done all this work that has kept a home over our heads;” and even his little child knew better, his little lass of only four years old, Thou. hast clothed me, warmed, and fed me,

Listen to my evening prayer.”

It was years since James had said a prayer, and he was not going to be made uncomfortable by a little child’s! Not he! He would take a walk, or better still, go to hear the noted infidel lecturer, who was to give an address that very night.

The room was crowded, but James managed to find a seat, and prepared himself to listen.

The lecturer began, but try as he would to grasp the foolish arguments put forth, James heard, over and above the childish voice saying,

“Thou hast clothed me, warmed, and fed me, Listen to my evening prayer.” James’ thoughts began to go back—back to the days when he was a little lad, and lived with his parents in the pretty little whitewashed cottage with thatched roof. And, in fancy, James could see, sitting by the fireside, his mother busy knitting, while on a little round table by her side was her Bible. And then a few years later, when time’s wrinkles had grown deeper with sorrow and care, James could see her again, and he remembered all she had said to him, her youngest born, as he was about to take his start in the world.

“Mind the prayer ye learned when ye were a little un. Never think ye are too much of a man to acknowledge the Lord. I’m getting old now; I’ll no’ be here much longer. Stick to Jesus, my lad, through all. There’s no one can take His place. I’ve given the rest o’ ye a Bible as ye’ve started, but I’ll mind as how ye are to have mine when I’ve done wi’ it. ‘Twont be long now!”

Ten long years had gone by, and for nine of them James had had his mother’s book, but in all that time he had never read it!

Even before he left home he had become quite indifferent to its pure helpful truths; and then, in the busy workshop of a large town, he had heard his fellow workmen say that there was no God. And so in time he had fallen into their foolish reasoning, giving up the truth he once heard, and he had nothing to put in its place.

Now on this night, after hearing his child’s prayer, how could he go on in the old way?

Either he must continue in his unbelief, and train his child accordingly, or he must return to the simple faith of his dear sainted mother. Which must it be?

ML 07/13/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 6:1-13

We did not have a “talk” on the fifth chapter, because it is mostly names. However we might just say this: when you are reading your Bible each day, as we hope you do, you should always take time to read over these names. God has put them down in his Word for a purpose, and it shows us that He knows our names, and that He takes notice of little things in our lives. Among all the others. He tells us that “Enoch walked with God.” That is, Enoch lived to please God, and instead of dying as all the others did, God took him to heaven without death. This reminds us of the time when the Lord Jesus will come (and it is very soon) and He will take all those who are trusting in Him up to heaven without death (1 Thess. 4:16,17). Are you ready for that moment?

Men and women had been living on the earth for over one thousand five hundred years, and instead of getting any better they were becoming worse and worse, God looked down and He has told us just how bad things really were. He saw “that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil, continually.” Your heart and mine are just as bad as this, and there is only one thing that can cleanse them. It is the precious blood of Christ.

“And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with. man.” God had been patient for many years, and the tine was drawing near when He must act in judgment. Dear young reader; Are you saved? Do not trifle with His goodness any longer, lest He should have to say that His Spirit would not strive with you anymore. What a solemn thing that would be! If your sins are troubling you now, it is because God’s Spirit is striving to bring you to the knowledge of Christ as your own precious Saviour. Open your heart to the Lord Jesus today and you will be saved. Tomorrow may be too late.

God said that He would destroy the earth with a flood of water. All the fine things, with the harps and the organs of Cain’s city; all the places of pleasure, with the great men who had built them were to be buried under thy waters of the flood. Judgment was written on them all. But there was one man who had faith. It was Noah. He walked with God, and he believed Got God told Noah to build an ark t shelter himself, and all who would enter, it, from the coming storm, and be and he did exactly as God told him.

Noah did not follow the crowd, or he too would have perished in the flood. I suppose the others told him he was foolish but he did not listen to them, for he believed God. He preached and warned them, but they would not listen to his message and the only ones who entered the art with him were seven others of his own family. Dear young reader, don’t follow the crowd. They may laugh at you in school, and tell you that you should have a good time with them but don’t forget that the crowd are going down the broad road to judgement.

ML 07/13/1947

The Horse

How gentle are these big fine horses! And they are so useful to these farmers for drawing in their load of hay. But horses were not always so. Once they were wild fierce creatures apt to slash out at one, and kick and bite—untamed roamers of the hills and valleys. How came the change? Man, in early ages, tamed these animals and taught them to be obedient servants, ready and willing to do his slightest wish. We are told in James 3:3, “Behold we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us: and we turn about their whole body.” Indeed man has tamed every kind of beast, even lions and tigers, and great wriggling serpents.

But there is one small thing man simply cannot tame. Do you know what it is? Yes the TONGUE— your tongue and mine. “It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison.” James 3:8. Who can tame this fearfully evil thing? Only the Lord who made our tongues can tame them.

Come to Him now as a helpless needy sinner, He is willing and able to save you, for “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. 1:15. Then you can trust Him to keep your tongue so that it speaks right things, and is controlled by His power and His love. Why not trust Him today?

SET A WATCH, O LORD, BEFORE; MY MOUTH; KEEP THE DOOR OF MY LIPS. Psa. 141:3.

ML 07/20/1947

Little Mollie's Prayer

These and other thoughts passed in quick succession through James’ mind, and he was not a little startled when called upon as a “representative working-man” to thank the lecturer for his address.

“Jim’s been asleep,” said someone nearby, as James was clearly “not himself” when he rose, as in duty bound, to perform this duty.

The next two nights James lingered around the shop when work was over. He “could not face that child’s prayer;” but on the third night an irresistible influence came over him, and he hurried home as soon as work was over.

Mollie said her prayer as usual, and then sat still for a long time looking into the fire, her little face puckered up with anxious thought.

“What is the child thinking on?” said Mrs. Harvey.

“Ay, what is it, Mollie?” her father asked.

“What does people say in their prayers when they’s all like you and mammy? You’s sheep, isn’t you?”

No reply. The mother stitched on in silence. Then her father abruptly said,—

“Time that child was in her bed,” and taking her up, hastened on.

“No, daddy,” and chubby little arms were thrown coaxingly around his neck: “no, daddy say his prayers to Mollie!”

Putting his child down in her little cot and covering her up, James turned away with a frown on his face but a dull, empty feeling in his heart as he muttered,

“Wonder if her mother’s put her up to that. There’s no knowing.”

In the night Mollie’s parents were startled to hear a hoarse cough and heavy breathing from the cot by their side, and shortly after, their darling little Mollie was in all the agonies croup.

In the intervals between the more severe pain, the child, seeing her father leaning lovingly over her, said,—

“Daddy’s not koss, daddy’ll say his pray—”

The sentence was never finishes for the child grew suddenly worse and though a doctor had come and tried all the usual remedies, it was evident she was passing away.

“You pray, Mary,” said James; but the poor woman’s heart was too sore and the doctor was about to speak, when, to the surprise of all, a voice in dreamy half-consciousness whispered..

“Bless Thy little lamb tonight.”

And then, opening her eyes very wide, as if the more clearly to recognize someone she, but none else saw little Mollie passed away to the “Fields of light” above.

“She’s not DEAD, doctor? our little lass as we loved so?” said the frightened parents.

“She’s gone, my friends; gone home!”

“Gone! and her dear little ears, NEVER HEARD ME PRAY, and ‘twas the last thing she asked. O sir! what’ll I do?”

“Let us all pray now,” said the good doctor; and as they knelt around the bed on which lay all that was mortal of little Mollie, the mists of doubt and unbelief rolled away from the sorrow-stricken father’s heart, and he was able to realize that there is a God who hears prayer, and who orders and rules all— even sorrow— for everlasting good.

Other little feet mow wait daddy’s return, and clasp their arms round his neck, to repeat the evening hymn that “ sister Mollie” used to say; but though the parents dearly love these, deep down in their hearts is a well of affection for the child who taught her father to bow with reverent love at the footstool of Him who welcomes us into His gracious presence, and who is “good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call on Him.” Psa. 86;5. “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” Psa. 34:6.

“To think,” said James one night to his wife, “to think that for so many years I should have been BELIEVING IN NOTHING! What a fool I was! And how many men there are who have no more sense than I had! ‘Tis just because, as we leave off being children, we grow big in our own conceits, impatient of the control our conscience tries to exercise over us, and we like to feel we owe all to our own selves. I know, leastways, that is how it was with me; but please God, I shan’t be so no more. You and I had a hard lesson, and one we feel every day, but thank God that I ever had a child to lead me to Jesus. Though it was by following after her, it MIGHT HAVE BEEN HAND IN HAND TO THE BETTER LAND, if only I had been a wiser man; but now—well, I can trust, and that FOREVER.”

ML 07/20/1947

Brian

Brian, the teacher wants you,” That was the message to Brian as he was on his way to the schoolyard. It was no use saying “No,” so he turned back, slowly slowly, his face very red and his heart thumping, to knock at the door of the teacher’s office.

Can you guess why Brian felt so badly? He had been playing in the storeroom among piles of glass windows, where boys were forbidden to go, and he knew that the teacher must, have found it out. Perhaps you know that uncomfortable feeling, and you have felt miserable as Brian did. When, Brian had come into the office, he had to be punished severely enough that he remembered his lesson for a long time afterwards.

How would you feel if the message came to you, “Little boy, God wants you?” It is no use saying “No” to Him. Would you come fearfully, knowing that He must punish you for your sin? Brian’s punishment was soon over, but if God has to punish you for your sins, the punishment will last forever in Hell.

There weren’t any of Brian’s friends who loved him enough to take the punishment for him, but, dear reader there is One who loved you enough to take the punishment for you. It is Jesus, the Son of God. If you will put your trust in Him as the One who suffered for your sins on Calvary, you will know that you are saved. Then too, you will be able to say that you are ready to meet Him without any fear.

“Perfect love casteth out fear.” 1 Join 4;18.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1.

Why not trust Him today?

ML 07/20/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Gen. 6:14-22

Noah, was not left to make his own plans for the ark which God told him to build. God gave him all the instructions he needed as to the size, the number of stories, and also that it was to have only one window and one door. In fact God even told him what kind of wood to use, as well as about the pitch with which he was to cover it within and without. Many people try to make their own plans for salvation, such as good works prayers, going to church, and many; other ways which they think are good enough. But they do not want to come in God’s way. The Lord Jesus Christ and His work are the only “ark” of safety from coming judgment.

This ark was a tremendous boat, as large as the great vessels that sail the ocean today. There was room for all who would enter but there was only one door. The only door of salvation now is the Lord Jesus who said, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John l0:9. After they had entered there was only one window which they could look out, and it was in the top so they could look up. Some of our readers know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and there is a lesson for us here. In all our difficulties and trials, let us learn to look up to the Lord in prayer. He is able and willing to help us in every time of need.

The wood and the black pitch would remind us of how the Lord Jesus died on the cross for us, and so whether we looked at the ark from the inside or outside, we would think of the Lord Jesus going through death, in order that we might be saved. Noah was to bring all kinds of food into the ark, and we who are “safe in Christ,” find the food that is necessary for our new nature in the Bible. This is why we should read the Word each day, to make us “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18.

Perhaps in building this great ack Noah had the help of some others who did not come into it when the flood came. They might have been good carpenters, and willing helpers, but the ark would not do them any good unless they took shelter inside. There are many boys and girls who are much like this. They come regularly to Sunday School, and even help in it by giving out the hymn books, and doing other things, but they have never accepted the Lord Jesus as their own personal Saviour. They can tell all about Him, and even tell others how to be saved, but like Noah’s helpers they refuse to come to Christ themselves. Dear young reader, are you one of these helpers who cannot say you are saved yourself? The Lord Jesus is waiting to save you, but if you put it off, you may find yourself outside the door, and there will not be any way of escape for you then, God’s judgments will fall on you, and you will have to spend eternity in outer darkness, away, from God forever.

ML 07/20/1947

The Lion

Every boy and girl can tell us that the animal in our picture today is a lion. God tells us in His Word they are the “strongest among beasts”, and they are often spoken of as the kings of the forest, for all other animals are afraid of them.

Satan, our great enemy, is compared to “a roaring lion”, and only the Lord Jesus can give us deliverance from his power.

Many, many years ago Daniel was cast into a den of lions for praying to God, but God shut the lions’ mouths, so that not one of them was able to hurt him. God’s power is infinite, and not even an animal can harm us unless God allows it.

But although God is able to deliver anyone from the lion’s mouth, He has sometimes allowed His own people to be killed and eaten by these wild beasts. It was not always as easy to be a Christian as it is today. For many years after the death of Christ, His followers who were called Christians, were persecuted and put to death because of their faith in Him. They had to have their meetings in the woods, or some other secret place. In the great city of Rome they were bitterly persecuted, and they used to meet for prayer and the reading of God’s Word underneath the city in what were called the “Catacombs.” These dark passages and rooms which had been dug out as burying places for the dead, were used by the Christians because they could hide there from those who were trying kill to them.

If any of these Christians were caught they were cast into prison, and kept there for some time. Then on an appointed day, great crowds of people assembled in a vast arena to watch these dear men, women, and children who loved the Lord Jesus, being thrown to the lions, or burned to death. The lions were kept in dens without any food, and then when they were very hungry, they were let loose to kill these faithful Christians. God could have delivered them, but He did not, because He wanted them to get a special reward— “a crown of life”, given to all who die for Christ. These dear Christians were so happy in the very presence of such a terrible death, that they would sing and pray while the lions came roaring on them. They knew they belonged to the Lord, and that when they died they were going to be with the Saviour they loved so much. He had died for them, and anything they could do, even to death, was as nothing compared with what He had suffered for them on the cross.

When we think of all the blessing; we enjoy today, we should thank the Lord over and over again. Should the one who reads this be unsaved, let us warn you that a more terrible future is before you than to be thrown to hungry lions. You will spend eternity in a place where there is weeping, and wailing and gnashing of teeth forever. Don’t wait one moment longer. Accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour now.

“Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear.” Luke 12:4,5.

“Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear Him.” Luke 12:5.

ML 07/27/1947

Ye Are Not Your Own

Two little eves to look to God,

Two little ears to hear His Word,

Two little feet to walk His ways,

Two hands to work for Him all my days.

One little tongue to speak His truth,

One little heart for Him now in is youth.

Take them, Lord Jesus, and let then be,

Always obedient and true to Thee.

Perhaps many of our little readers have sung this hymn. Often we sing hymns because we enjoy the tune, bet it is a good thing to think seriously about the words, because we are singing to the Lord, and He wants us to really mean what we sing. When we realize that our eyes, our ears, and all we have belong to Him, we should try to use them for Him day by day.

“Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price.” 1 Cor. 6:19,20.

ML 07/27/1947

The Praise of God or Man, Which?

Dear young folks, will you look up John 12:43. It tells us about some people who “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” These men were chief rulers, and had a very good position, and when they saw the wonderful works the Lord Jesus did, they believed on Him. But then a great test came. They would he put out of the synagogue, if they confessed Christ, so what would they do. They considered it carefully, and then they decided it would be better to have “the praise of men”, and keep their good position. Their friends would say they were foolish, and would not have anything more to do with them if they were put out of the synagogue, and they thought more of them than of the blessed. Son of God who was going to the cross to die for them. What a sad ungrateful choice they made!

And could this have a voice for us today? We know it has. We all like to be well thought of by our friends, and it pleases our vanity when they praise us for things we do. But are we going to “love” their praise so much that we are willing to displease our blessed Lord to get it. When we search our hearts in His presence we must confess that we have done this at times. Think of the Lord Jesus giving up everything for us, and He never did anything to please Himself, He always pleased His Father and did not seek a “reputation” before men. Let’s bring it a little closer to our everyday life. Suppose you have a reputation for generosity, and then some day one of your friends asks you to buy a ticket on a raffle which you know is not pleasing to the Lord. You don’t want to be called “mean”, and have your friends laugh, and you wonder what to do. How you wish they hadn’t asked you! It is a question of whose praise you want the most, the praise of men, or the praise of God. If you buy the ticket you will have the praise of your friends; if you refuse, telling them it is because you want to please the Lord, you will have the praise of God. It is only a simple act of obedience, but His Word says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 4. What an encouragement to choose the path of obedience!

When we please the Lord in these little things, it strengthens us to make the greater decisions for Him, as well as giving us an inner sense of peace and joy. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye” 1 Peter 4:14. It does not merely say that we should be happy, but “happy are ye”—a positive fact. As another has said, “There are joys in the path of faith only known to those who walk in it.” Satan will tell you that it is a hard path, but “he is a liar” (John 8:44), and would seek to rob you of this true happiness. Of course this happiness is only known by those who are really saved, and have the new nature which delights in obedience.

The “praise of men” is all for this world. But when do we get the praise of God? It is in heaven, when everything we have done comes out. The precious blood of Christ has put away all our sins, but God will pick out of our lives everything done for Him, and “then shall every man have praise of God”. 1 Corinthians 4:5. How wonderful it will be to have His smile of approval then. It will be far better than the world’s smile now.

ML 07/27/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Genesis 7

God had waited in patience for one hundred and. twenty years since warning that the flood was coming, but apart from Noah and his house, men went on as carelessly as ever. Then the time came that the flood must come, and the Lord said to Noah, “Come thou and all thy house into the ark”. The Lord did not say “Go”, but “Come”, for He was to be in the ark with Noah and his household. Some of our readers are the children of Christian parents, and they have often told you of the Lord Jesus because they earnestly desire that each one in their family should be safe from the coming judgment, Don’t turn a deaf ear to their loving entreaties, or you will wake up some day to find that the door is shut with you on the outside. Come to Jesus today.

Noah then gathered all the animals, the birds, and the creeping things into the ark as God told him. Then he and his wife, with his three sons and their wives went into the ark, while God waited for seven days more. Oh the patience of God! Noah did not shut the door himself; it was the Lord who shut him in. He is the One who “shutteth, and no man openeth” Rev. 3:7 and how solemn for those who were on the outside. There was no second chance for them. It was too late.

Then it began to rain, and the water rose up from beneath too. I suppose the people got out of their homes, both the rich and poor together, and began to climb the hills. The ones who had their houses on the hilltops would think they were safe, but the water rose higher and higher, until soon they had to join the crowd and try to climb the great mountains. But it was no use for the water soon covered even the highest mountains, and they all perished except those who were in the ark. Perhaps many of the young people has great plans about the good time were going to have, or the fine home, they expected to build, but their lifeless, bodies were soon. floating on the waters and their souls were lost forever.

How often they would wish they had taken shelter in the ark, as they saw the waters rising! I suppose they, had often laughed at Noah as they watched him, building, and heard him preaching, but the laughing was all gone then and they realized that Noah was right and they were all wrong. They may have told Noah that there had never been a flood before, and that it was “contrary to all the laws of Nature.” But, boys and girls, God made the laws of Nature, and He can bread them. Be careful of men’s foolish argument. Every word of God is going to be fulfilled and He has said that this world is going to be destroyed by fire the next time. He has told us to that the Lord Jesus is coming beforehand to take those who are trusting in Him safely home to heaven. Do not delay one moment longer. “Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Matt. 24:44.

ML 07/27/1947

Bible Questions for August

“The Children’s Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for May

1.Philippians 4:3.

2.Philippians 2:10.

3.Philippians 1:11.

4.Colossians 3.211.

5.Colossians 2:6.

6.Colossians 1:14.

7.Philippians 3:9.

“The Children’s Class”
Bible Questions for August

The Answers are to be found in Hebrews. Write in full the verse in which you find the words.

1. “The Lord is my helper”

2.After this the judgment-

3.“God is not unrighteous”

4.“So great salvation”

5.“The living God”

6.“Deceitfulness of sin”

7.“Naked and open”

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for May

1.In heaven. (Phil. 3:20),

2.Always. (Phil. 4:4).

3.The Lord. (Col. 1:10).

4.Without murmurings and disputings. (Phil. 2:14).

5.To suffer for His sake. (Phil. 1:29).

6.With grace in your hearts, to the Lord. (Col. 3:16).

7.In prayer. (Col. 4:12)

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Bible Questions for August

The Answers are to be found, in Hebrews

1.Is there any “remission” of sins without, shedding of blood?

2.For whom did Noah prepare the ark?

3.Will God remember our sins? (Two verses)

4.What should we do in time of need?

5.Will God forget a labor of love?

6.To what should we give more earnest heed?

7. With what kind of sacrifices is “well pleased?”

ML 08/03/1947

Watching

What peaceful scene this is, as the deer rest quietly the woods! Any of us who have watched these graceful animals have marvelled at the way they cam jump over fences, and leap, over any stumps or stones that are in their way. All God’s creatures are so wonderful!

But even the animal creation has suffered through Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden, and they live in constant fear. Notice how the deer in our picture are watching and listening lest some enemy should approach unexpectedly. God has given them this sense of danger, so that they can make thu escape. Sometimes however, they don’t see the danger in time, and are caught.

Boys and girls have enemies too; not so often trying to take their lives, but enemies of their souls. There is a verse in Mark 8:36 which tells us the value God places on our souls. It says, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall fain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Yes, they are worth more than the world and everything in it. How watchful we should be that we do not allow any enemy to rob us of such a priceless possession.

Our three great enemies are, the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world holds out many attractions to take the hearts of the young away from the Lord, causing them to forget their great nedd of Christ as their Saviour. Then the flesh is the bad nature within us, which delights in these sinful pleasures, and makes us proud, envious, and naughty. Last of all there is the devil (Satan) who is always trying to lead us into temptation and sin, and keeping sinners from taking the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. God alone can deliver us from the power of these great enemies, and our only place of safety is “in Christ”, God’s beloved Son.

Satan may be whispering in your ear now, saying that there is plenty of time to be saved. Are you going to listen to Satan, the great enemy of your soul, or will you listen to the loving voice of He Lord Jesus who died for you? He says,

“BEHOLD NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATON.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 07/03/1947

The Old French Shoemaker

A good many years ago, in the town of Names, France, a Bible was given to a beggar. Unlike the most of his class, the man could read.

When he found that the book was not known in the towns and villages which he passed through in his wanderings, he decided to make a little money by reading a chapter to those who would be willing to pay for it.

One day he stopped before the little shop of an old man who made shoes, and asked him for some money.

“You ask charity of me! exclaimed the old man, I am just as needy as you are.”

The beggar replied: “If you are not willing to give me money, then give me sou (a French coin worth about two cents) and I will read a chapter of the Bible to you.”

“A chapter of what?”

“Of the Bible.”

“What book is that? I never heard of it before.”

The old shoemaker, curious to know something about the book, gave the beggar a sou, and asked him to read. He at once sat down on a stone in front of the house and began to read. He opened the Bible at the third chapter of John’s Gospel, and the poor old man listened with delight to the words of grace and truth, which fell on his ears. It was something entirely new to him.

The story of Nicodemus talking with the Lord Jesus deeply impressed him, and especially was he struck with the 16th verse of the chapter.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish; but have everlasting life.”

Before the reader concluded the words: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him,” the old man was full of anxiety to hear more, and cried, “Go on! go on!”

“O! no,” replied the beggar, “only one chapter for a sou”.

Another sou was quickly handed over, and then the old man hearkened with speechless joy to the sweet story of the Saviour at Sychar’s well, and felt as he had never felt before when he heard for the first time the Divine words: “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The time soon came, however, when the fourth chapter of John had been all read, and the beggar would read no more without another sou.

ML 08/03/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 8

Even during the darkest days the child of God can look forward to a bright future, and so after this terrible judgment God had blessing in store for those inside the ark. The rain stopped, and the waters began to go down, until the tops of the mountains were seen.

Then Noah sent out a raven, and this unclean bird flew around and probably fed on the carcases of those who had perished in the flood. It would remind us of our old sinful nature which feeds, on what is unclean and evil. Even though the raven had been in the ark its nature was not changed, and when let go, it went hack to its old habits. Being in the company of true Christians does not change or improve man’s sinful heart. We need a new nature from God, and this is received when one is born again. The Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” John 3:3.

The dove which speaks to us of the new nature, was sent out next, but finding no rest for her feet she returned to the ark. Nor is there any resting place for our new nature in this poor world, but we can find all we need in our “ark” which is Christ. After seven days Noah sent the dove out again, and when she returned in the evening, she brought back an olive leaf, pulled from a living tree. The next time Noah let out the dove it did not return, for new life was springing up out of the earth, and this the dove could enjoy. Dear young reader, do you enjoy the things of the Lord? If not, it is because you need to be born again.

When the face of the ground was dry God told Noah to go out of the ark, taking all the animals, birds, and creeping things with him. Noah was very thankful to the Lord for this wonderful deliverance, and so the very first thing he did was to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Like Abel he acknowledged that the only way he could approach God was through the death of another. The Lord Jesus has delivered us from something more terrible than the flood of water. He has saved us from the lake of fire, by His death for us, and we should thank Him over and over again for all that He has done. Many of those who love Him gather around His table each Lord’s day, to break the bread, and drink the cup, in remembrance of His death. He has asked us to do this, and we delight to show our thankfulness in this way.

God promised that he would not destroy every living thing again as He had done. It was because of Noah’s sacrifice that He made this promise, and it is because of the death of the Lord Jesus that god goes on patiently with this world now. When He does act in judgment again, there will be thousands upon thousands who will be delivered and brought into blessing because of the work accomplished on Calvary’s cross. Can the reader of this paper say that he or she is “safe in Christ” from coming judgement?

ML 08/03/1947

Mr. Dunlop's Robin

Mr. Dunlop’s was a white-haired old man who lived in a pretty country home in Canada. There were hundreds of birds around his home, some had nests in the apple trees, some in the fence posts, some in the grain field, and one on the ledge just over the side of his house. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dunlop were very careful in opening and shutting the door, so that they would not frighten Mother Robin. She had four tiny eggs at first, and then four little hungry baby robins to feed, so of course she was busy from early morning until dark.

One morning Mr. Dunlop heard a great fuss just outside the door. Mother Robin was chirping in such a frightened way that Mr. Dunlop hurried out to see what was wrong. He was just in time, for what do you think had happened? One of the little fuzzy robins had fallen from the nest and had landed beside the door, in a big barrel cold rain-water.

The poor baby robin could not get out itself, nor could the Mother Robin take it out. That is what God means, boys and girls, when He says that we were “without strength.” We could not do anything to save ourselves and neither could anyone else except the Lord.

Perhaps you can guess that the little robin did not die. In less than a minute, Mr. Dunlop put his hand into the cold water and lifted the robin right back into the nest. Mother Robin soon stopped her frightened calling and hurried away to find it something to eat. Mr. Dunlop began to think.

He thought of how he had been without strength, but in due time (that means just at the right moment) Christ had died for him. But the One who had saved him did not put him back where he was before. The Lord Jesus Christ will do far better than that for us. He will take us to His home, which is far better. But remember that Christ died for “the ungodly.” Can you do as Mr. Dunlop did, and put your name in this verse, believing that you are one of, “the ungodly” for whom Christ died?

“FOR WHEN WE WERE YET WITHOUT STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY. Romans 5:6.

ML 08/10/1947

The Old French Shoemaker

The old man could not go on paying, him for he was very poor; but he begged the man to tell him where he had got such a book.

The beggar said that he had got it from a Christian man in Nantes.

Nantes was about sixty miles away, but the old shoemaker walked all that distance and soon found the man who sold Bibles. The bookseller was very much surprised that the old man would walk so far, and gladly gave him a Bible to take home with him.

As soon as he reached his own village, the shoemaker invited the people to come to his house in the evenings, when those who could read, did so by turns, and others listened.

The blessed Word of God soon touched his heart and brought him to feel himself a sinner before God, and to see the Lord Jesus as the One who died to wash away his sins. He accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, and confessed Him boldly before others.

Perhaps the boys and girls who read this story have a Bible of their own. Do you value and read it as the shoemaker did? It tells you of a Saviour who longs to save you, if you will but come to Him and confess Him.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

ML 08/10/1947

I'd Run to Meet Him!

A little child of seven—

Or even three or four!

May enter into heaven

Through Christ, the Open Door

And when that child receiveth

By faith, the Son of God,

‘Tis then that child receiveth

Salvation through His blood!

No doubt many of our little folk have heard this hymn, or perhaps have sung its sweet lines themselves.

There is a little girl of three who loves that short song. Her name is Ethel. Not long ago, Ethel was watching out the window with her mother and they were looking at a house up the street. You could never guess, boys and girls, what they were watching—it was the funeral of a young boy just twelve years old, named Alan. Alan was an only child, and Ethel and her mother were feeelin badly for the sorrowful father and mother of that youn lad.

Soon Ethel saw the coffin carried out. Her mother told her that Alan’s body was in that box: but that his spirit had gone either to be with Jesus, if he knew the Lord as his Saviour or to a lost eternity if he did not. Now Ethel, although only three, loves the Lord Jesus very much, and longed to know where Alan had gone to spend eternity.

Her tender heart also felt sad for the father and mother, who no longer have a boy to explained to her that they would miss him so very much, just like father and mother would miss little Ethel if their “sunshine girl” were taken from them.

This thought, however, brought the most joyous, happy look to little Ethel’s face as she quickly and earnestly answered, “Oh, but Mother, I’d love to go to be with Jesus! Why, if I saw Jesus coming, I wouldn’t walk, I’d run to meet Him!” Oh, how that answer touched and gladdened her mother’s heart—to see how greatly her little daughter longed to be with Jesus, whom her young heart loved!

Dear boys and girls, no doubt many of you are older than little three-year-old Ethel. Perhaps you are as old as Alan was, but have you ever opened your heart’s door and let Jesus come in? Ethel has told Jesus that she is a sinner, and asked Him to wash all her naughty sins away in His precious blood. Now she says she is so happy to know the Lord Jesus has saved her, and often thanks Him when she kneels down to pray by her little bed at night.

Do you know your sins are washed alway? Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour?

“The blood of Jesus Chirst His Sone cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

“Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:14.

ML 08/10/1947

I Belong to Jesus

The shortest sermon I ever heard was preached by the shortest preacher I ever saw. It took place on a boat on the St. Lawrence river. Ever since the boat left the wharf, I had been amused by hearing a clear, high-set voice asking questions, one after another, as fast as the little tongue could go.

A policeman took his place beside the little boy, who turned up his dear little face and said, “Are you a policeman?”

“Yes” answered the man, looking at him kindly.

“Why are you a policeman?” was the next question.

The policeman gave a puzzled laugh, but took out the key of a patrol box, and a pair of handcuffs, and told him they were to put on bad boys when he took them away.

“You won’t take me away.” said the little fellow bravely, looking him straight in the face.”

“No, my boy, I won’t take you; but who do you belong to? asked the big man still smiling.

“I belong to Jesus.” said the child.

The big policeman got very red in the face, and, rising hurriedly, left his seat.

I shall never forget that little preacher and his little sermon.

The sermon was only four words. Dear reader, could you preach it truthfully?

“I BELONG TO JESUS.”

“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 10:32.

ML 08/10/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Gen. 9:14

Judgment is God’s “strange work”, for He delights in blessing. Noah and his family had been saved from the terrible waters of the flood by taking shelter in the ark, and now we read these beautiful words, “And God blessed Noah and his sons.”

No doubt many of our readers can say they are “saved”, because they have put their trust in the Lord Jesus as their own personal Saviour. What a grand thing this is! But, dear young folks, do you want His blessing in your life? Of course you do, for “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” Prov. 10:22. The only way to have His blessing is to walk in obedience to His Word. Many dear Christians have a great deal of sorrow in their lives because they walk in paths of their own choosing. Ask the Lord to help you to please Him day by day, and you will have a happy, useful life, with His blessing.

God has put the fear of mankind upon all the animals, birds, fishes, and creeping things. He has enabled men to tame many such animals as the horse, the mule, and the camel, and make them very useful servants, whereas there are many wild animals which, even though tamed, will not serve us. In spite of man’s sinfulness, and even hatred of God, He has given us abundant proof of His goodness, and of His care for His creatures. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psa. 107:21. Let us remember to thank Him for his many blessings to us.

God told Noah that “every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you.” There are some who say that it’s wrong to ear meat, but God’s word assures us that we can ear and enjoy it. “Every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.” 1 Timothy 4:4. We must not forget however that it is wrong to eat blood. (verse 4) and this command is repeated in the New Testament. (Acts 15:29). The life is in the blood, and the shedding of the animal’s blood should tell us that life for us is through death. We were dead in sins, but the Lord Jesus had died for us, shedding His own precious blood that we might live through Him.

When any man killed another, he himself was to be put to death. He was a murderer. Now this world has murdered the Son of God, and must answer to God for it. Peter brought this fact before the Jews in Jerusalem. He said, “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life.” Acts 3:14.15.

Dear young reader, you have your part in that awful act if you are still rejecting Him in your heart. You are just as guilty before God as the men who cried “Away with Him,” unless you have owned your guilt before God and taken His Son as your Saviour. Death, and “after death the judgment” are before you at this very moment unless you have a Substitute, who you can say has died in your place. Wonder of wonder, the One whom we murdered, Jesus the Son of God, died as a Substitute for sinner! Can you say, “He died for me?”

ML 08/10/1947

Ploughing

The men in our picture are working very hard. They have six strong oxen to pull the plough, although today, most farmers would use horses or tractors for this work. Soon the whole field will be covered with rough, brown earth instead of green grass or flowers. If you are a little child in the city, perhaps you are wondering why the men and the oxen are working so hard to turn all the and upside down.

If we asked one of the men, he would he quite ready to tell us that he is going to sow good seed in that field, so that when reaping time comes, he will have wheat to grind into flour, to make bread for Mother and the little ones at home.

Now children, the Lord Jesus said that the Word of God is like good seed, and it is only when we believe it in our hearts that God gives us a new life, by which we can please God and bear fruit for Him.

But we have more questions to ask our farmer friend. “There are little green plants in the field already, and why do you turn them all upside down?”

“They are only weeds,” he says, “and though some of them are ugly and some are pretty, they are of no use when reaping time comes.” They are like the things we do and say before we are saved. They spring from the old sinful nature, and God can only accept what comes from the new life He gives. God looks down very sadly, and says that all that the old nature does is just like weeds, no use to Him at all. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

Again we ask the fanner, “Why do you dig so deep? You don’t put the seeds away down there!”

“No,” says our friend; “but if the ground is hard and stony, the roots will not go down and the little plants will die.” This deep plowing is like the stirring up of our consciences. Sometimes when boys and girls feel that they are sinners, they are very unhappy and afraid to meet God. Then the good seed, the Word of God, falls right into their hearts and takes root. They believe it and are truly saved.

“Why do you cover up the seeds and leave them in the dark?” we ask.

Our farmer knows that if he left them on top, the birds would come and eat a great many seeds, just as Satan would like to come and steal away the Word of God from your heart before it takes root. If you accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour today, believing that He died for you, then you will be delivered from Satan’s power. The Lord Jesus has promised all His own that “no man shall pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28).

We hope the good seed will take root in your hearts while you are very young, for then we know that there will be fruit for God in your life, and He can make you a blessing to others too.

“BEING BORN AGAIN ... BY THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH LIVETH AND ABIDETH FOREVER.” 1 Peter 1:23.

ML 08/17/1947

One Cent or One Dollar?

Which do you want, little girl?”

The speaker had one cent in one hand, and one dollar in the other. Can you guess which one the little girl chose? She chose one cent! You wouldn’t do that, for you know that dollar is worth one hundred cents. But the little girl was very young, and she knew that she could get some candy with her cent, or put it in her “penny bank,” but she didn’t know what the paper dollar was for, and so she didn’t want it.

Sometimes grown men and women make a far more foolish choice than that. God offer them, and offer you, the gift of eternal life. Rom. 6:23. He offer you the forgiveness of sins new life, and a home in heaven. So many things He offers— and all as a free gift! Then Satan comes along, and he offers a few things that this world calls pleasures, which end with an aching heart and an eternity in hell. Which choice have you made?

You will never find anyone who has chosen Jesus and what He has to offer who is sorry for his choice. We who are saved are so thankful to the Lord Jesus for His love, and for all His gifts. But how many we meet who have chosen the service of Satan, and then they die in their sins they will be sorry for it in an eternity of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me. Rev. 3:20.

ML 08/17/1947

Jump or Be Lost!

An Arab was speedily being carried down the river toward a terrible waterfall He could not help himself the stream was far strong for him to prevent the boat from being swept to the raging rapids. Just then a friend on the shore saw his danger, and knowing that he could not swim, himself jumped into the sweeping water and swam towards him.

“Jump man!” he cried “jump into the water and I will save you!”

It was his only chance of safety. He must leave the drifting canoe, and taking the place of a drowning man trust himself to those strong arms stretched out to save him. So with you, dear reader if still in your sins, you can do nothing to save yourself, but the Lord Jesus is ready and willing to save you, if you will just trust yourself to Him.

“I cannot swim,” fearfully called the Arab.

“Jump, man jump!” urged his faithful friend, you are drifting toward the cataract!”

It was his last chance, but he answered back, “I am afraid!”

“Well, then goodbye,” cried the strong swimmer, as he turned to fight his way back to shore, “NOTHING CAN SAVE YOU.”

It was true “nothing could save him.” In a few minutes the canoe was swept over the terrible falls, a raging whirlpool buried him from sight, and he sank to rise no more.

The Arab’s friend risked his life in order to save him, but the poor Arab would not trust his love and power, and because of this he perished.

You, too, will perish, dear reader, if you refuse to accept God’s offer of salvation, for there is no other way to be saved, Jesus saw our need and came down here to save us for “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. He took our place, bore the judgment we deserved, and now by simple trust in the Lord Jesus we may have God’s gift of eternal life.

If you refuse His offer of life you must perish and be forever lost. How solemn this thought!

ML 08/17/1947

What Is Your Name

I have a book in my pocket with your name in it,” said a gentleman to a young girl.

“Indeed,” she said, “how is that? We never saw or heard of each other before.”

“I am quite sure it has your name in it,” he continued, “because it contains the name of every person in the world.”

The young girl seemed to think that he either had a very large book, or he was quite mistaken: but he showed her that his book was the Bible. He showed, her that in it there was a record of man’s ruin, and God’s remedy. When he showed her that the Bible says “All have sinned” Romans 3:23, she could not doubt his Word any longer, for “Sinner” is the name of every child of Adam.

Now, dear young friends, God’s. Book is specially written for those who bear the name of “Sinner.” It tells of some, who, we are sorry to say, lived and died in their sins: and of others who came in their sins and their need to Jesus, and had their sins forgiven and their names written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27.

Here we must warn our readers that God has a book in Heaven, in which is written every thought, word, and action in our lives. If these solemn records are not blotted out in the precious blood of Christ, they will appear for judgment at the great. white throne. Revelation 20:11-13.

Oh, dear reader, do come to the Lord Jesus Christ today, and accept Him as your own precious Saviour.

ML 08/17/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 9:8-29

God promised that He would never destroy the earth again with a flood, and as a token of His promise He has put the rainbow in the clouds. What a beautiful sight it is to see the rainbow stretching across the sky after, or during, a rainfall in the late afternoon! The sun shining on the raindrops makes all the lovely colors which we admire, and it looks so majestic in the dark clouds above us. Let us remember when we see it, that it is tell us, as a message from God, that He never forgets His promises—no never. He has made a great many promises in His Word, to cheer the hearts if those who belong to Him. Here is one which has given assurance to many a doubting soul, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shalt never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:27,28. Could we have any better assurance than the Word of God, on which to rest our soul? If you, dear reader, are trusting in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, don’t allow Satan to put a doubt in your mind as to your eternal security.

Although the earth will not be destroyed by water again, God has told us that it will be destroyed by fire the next time. “The earth also and the works that are therein shall he burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. The world is more guilty now, than in the days of Noah, because it has crucified the Son of God, but in long suffering patience God is still waiting for boys and girls, and men and women, to accept Christ as their Saviour before the judgment fall. Dear young reader, are you saved? Now is God’s time. Tomorrow may be too late, for the Lord Jesus is coming very soon, and them the door of grace will be closed forever.

We now come to a very sad part in Noah’s life, which should be a warning to us. None of us ever come to a point in our Christian life when we can settle down and say we are out of danger. No, the great enemy of our souls, Satan, is always busy seeking to trip us up, and lead us into paths of sin.

Noah planted a vineyard. There was nothing wrong in this, but the wrong came in when he used the fruit of it for a bad purpose. It is quite right for us to be engaged in our schoolwork, or in business, but let be careful that we do not let these things get such a hold on us, they rob us of our joy in the Lord. So it was with Noah, for he became drunk with the wine of his vineyard, to his shame and disgrace before God. Now we all know it is very wrong to be drunk with wine, but if we allow anything to fill our minds and hearts so that we have no time for the Lord’s things, it can us “drunk” too.

What a beautiful example of “love covering a multitude of sins” is seen in the action of Shem and Japheth. When they heard of their father’s sin they covered his nakedness, instead of talking about it as Ham did. Let us treat the failure of others in the way and pray for them. God has graciously forgiven all our sins, and we are to show the same grace to our brethren.

ML 08/17/1947

The Shepherd

Here is a picture of a dear old shepherd. Do you see his white hair under his little cap? His coat too, looks as if he is used to all kinds of weather, and never thinks of hurrying to shelter no matter how hard it rains. His big strong shoes must have walked many a mile over rocks and hills. No doubt he is tired now, but he does not forget to tuck the tired little lamb safely under his strong arm.

But there is a Shepherd who is far better than the one in our picture. Yes, the Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11). The Good Shepherd does not walk behind the sheep, but He goes before them, and He knows every rock and thorn in the path. The sheep follow Him because He calls them by name and they know His voice. He carries a rod and a staff because His sheep need to be corrected, but His love is wonderful, even to those sheep who are slow to listen.

If you, dear reader, have taken the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, then you are one of His sheep, and your heart has been washed whiter than snow in His precious blood. But some of His sheep get their feet soiled because they do not stay in the path He has chosen for them, and He has to use the rod at times to bring them back to His path. He then washes their soiled feet with the water of the precious Word of God.

The Good Shepherd will never fail because He is the Son of God, and has all power. Once He suffered and died for His sheep, and He lives for them now in Heaven. He does not put the little lambs under His arm as the Shepherd in our picture, but He carries them safely on His shoulders, and He is glad to have them there.

Would you not like to know this Good Shepherd? We have never seen Him yet, but we can hear His voice every time we read the Word of God, for this is the way He speaks to us now.

MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE. AND I KNOW THEM AND THEY FOLLOW ME.” John 10:27.

ML 08/24/1947

Saved at the Bottom of the Sea

How wonderful are God’s ways! Often the simplest thing will bring about eternal results. Let me tell you a very strange story of how a diver was saved. A diver, you know, is a man who works away down under the water. He wears a very strange looking suit and helmet, and he must have air pumped down to him through a hose.

A gentleman was visiting a professional diver at his home one day, and noticed on the mantel, the shell of an oyster with a bit of paper held fast in it.

The diver at once explained why such a strange thing was kept in the room.

He was once diving near the coast, and saw, at the bottom of the sea, an oyster on a rock with a piece of paper in the shell. He was very curious about it, so pulled the oyster off the rock and held it up to the goggles of his helmet. He found that the paper was a piece of a gospel tract.

Who can tell? —perhaps some careless person had torn it up and thrown it into the water. But God had his purpose in it, and it was used to bring that diver to the Lord Jesus. “How can I refuse the mercy of God that follows me to the depth of the sea?” said the diver to himself. And there, away below the surface of the water, he bowed, his head and accepted the Lord Jesus, as his own Saviour.

It may be that God has offered you. His great salvation many times. Let me assure you that there is no place where you can hide from His eye. Even as you arc reading this paper. His eye is upon you, just as surely as it was on that diver at the bottom of the sea. Do not seek to hide from Him. He loves you, and wants you to accept His Son, the Lord Jesus, as you Saviour.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they he red like crimson, they shall he as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 08/24/1947

It Makes a Difference

Mary, who was thirteen years old, was converted at Sunday School, and sought to please the One who had saved her. One day shortly after this, her teacher called, to see Mary’s parents.

“Well,” said her mother, who was not a Christian, “I don’t know what has happened to Mary, but I must say there is a very great change in her. Whatever I tell her to do she does at once without a word. I wish you could make all children so.”

Another girl, who was the maid in a certain home, was converted and rejoiced greatly in her new-found Saviour.

“What difference does it make in your life now that you are saved?” she was asked,

“Oh, I sweep UN E R the mat now.” she replied.

“Yes children, knowing Jesus as our Saviour should make a great difference in our walk and ways, for now we have One to please whose eyes are always upon us, and who has done so much for us and loves us so dearly, that to do all things to please Him should be our greatest joy. He is so gracious too, and notices and is pleased with even the smallest service. All our little duties at home, at school, and at play can be done as UNTO HIM.

“Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily (with all your heart) as to the Lord.” Col. 3:23.

ML 08/24/1947

Be Ye Also Ready

Fred was the son of Christian parents who knew and loved the Lord Jesus. They had often told into of how the Lord Jesus had left His home in Heaven, and come down to this world to die on the Cross, and there suffer the punishment of a holy God for our sins. He also knew that the Lord Jesus was one day coming again to take all those who believed on Him away to live with Himself, but that those who had not put their trust in Him would be left behind for judgment.

Now, although Fred knew all this, and knew that he was a sinner in the sight of God, he had never really given his heart to the Lord.

One Saturday night about eight o’clock in the everting Fred came home and found no one in the house. The thought immediately came to him, “The Lord has come and I am left behind.” He looked all over the house in each room, and even looked under the bedclothes to see if he could find anyone. Nobody was there! He was terrified. He got down on his knees to pray but the thought came to him “It is too late now. God will say, ‘Depart from me I never knew you.’”

Finally he got on his bicycle and started off for the town. He would see if there were any other people around. The streets seemed very quiet, but stay! There in the distance are two people walking towards him, and a wave of relief swept over hint as he recognized his own father and mother! They had only gone out to buy a few things from the stores. He still had the opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus as his Saviour!

Dear reader whether you he boy or girl, young or old, may the experience of Fred be a warning to you. The Bible tells us we are sinners in the sight of God, and only by trusting in the fished work of Christ on Calvary’s Cross, can we escape the wrath to come. The Lord Jesus may come at any moment, and we who have accepted Him as our Saviour will meet Him in the air. Will you be amongst that joyful throng, or will you he left behind to stand before a. holy and a just God in all your sins, to hear that awful sentence which will send you to the Lake of Fire forever? Let me urge you to trust the Lord Jesus now.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of Salvation:” 2 Cor. 6:2.

ML 08/24/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 11:1-30

Before going on with the eleventh chapter, we will just notice a couple of things in the tenth. The names given in it are of great interest to those who study the Word of God, for they tell us where the families of Noah’s sons settled after the flood. This gives us the key to some sere important prophecies in other parts of the Bible, for it is all linked together according to the perfect wisdom of God. The Jews are the descendants of Shem, the Gentiles of Japheth, and the black people of the earth are from Ham.

“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech” (verse 1). Think of how nice it would be if everyone still spoke the same language! It would save so much trouble, and even war, if they did, bust every blessing which depended on man’s faithfulness has been lost. Man’s course has always been one of departure from God, thus bringing God’s judgment upon him. The blessings we enjoy in the world today are the result of God’s patient grace to His creature, for we too deserve His righteous judgment.

These men in their pride decided to build a tower whose top would reach to heaven, perhaps thinking they could take shelter in it if there were another flood: although God had promised there would not be another one. However they started to build. Their tower must have looked very grand, and the bricks were well baked. It was getting higher each day! But what kind of mortar were they using? It was slime, which was really a black asphalt. This would remind us of our black sinful hearts which the Bible says are, “Deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” Jer. 17:9. The whole building was held together by the “black mortar” of sinful man and his efforts, and was doomed to failure. All’s men’s plans to reach heaven, or to escape judgment by their own works are useless. God’s salvation is by grace, and not of works (see Eph. 2:8,9).

In contrast to this tower that the children of men were building, we are told in 1 Peter 2 about a building that God is making. It is composed of all true believers, who are “living stones in this wonderful structure. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only foundation and the Corner Stone, and when any boy or girl accepts Him as his or him Saviour, God builds them as “living stones” into His building. All who are part of this building will surely reach heaven, and spend eternity with the Lord Jesus. Dear reader do not try to get there by your own efforts for you cannot. Accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour today.

God came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men were building. Remember, boys and girls, that God knows all about your plans too, and the motive behind every action. Are you leaving Him out of your life, or do you try to please Him day by day? These men were trying to work out their own plans without any thought of God, but they came to a sad end. God made them all speak different languages, and they could not understand one another, so they left their building, and were scattered over the face of the earth. In spite of it all, God is still working in grace, and is saving the souls of men and women, “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Rev. 5:9.

ML 08/24/1947

No Lives Lost

Have you ever watched a bad fire? Have you held your breath as the brave firemen went up and down the ladders rescuing men, women and children from the blaze, and trying to put out the flames? Such a fire occurred in Smiths Falls, Canada, in the winter of 1946.

Thirty-five people were driven from their homes onto the icy streets leaving everything behind. Thousands of dollars worth of their belongings went up in smoke and flames.

Why would anyone suddenly exchange a comfortable apartment for a cold street? Why would anyone leave all their earthly belongings and climb down a ladder? You and I know the answer—because their apartment, and their belongings were soon to be burned up, and they knew it.

The Word of God plainly tells us that “The earth also and the works that are therein shall he burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. No fire escape will help in that day. No streams of water will put out that fire. Then dear reader, may we ask “Where will you be—have you fled to Jesus for refuge?”

The day after the fire, the newspaper account said, “No lives lost.” Yes, everyone availed themselves of the means of escape. Nobody was indifferent about the danger. But how many are quite indifferent and careless about the danger of living in a condemned world without Christ as their Saviour. Perhaps as you read this ... . it may be your very last warning!

“FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME.” Matthew 3:7.

ML 08/31/1947

"I Told Tommy"

I’m saved to-night, sir,” said a little boy after a Gospel meeting.

“Oh! how do you know that?” said the preacher.

“It was the word that you spoke, sir.”

“And what word was that?”

“ ‘If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved,’” Romans 10:9.

“While you were speaking, I believed in my heart, and when you had finished, I told Tommy about it.”

Dear reader, have you ever confessed the Lord Jesus? Romans 10:10 says, “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32.

ML 08/31/1947

Your Name and Address

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

A little boy, nine years old, went one night with his father to a gospel preaching.

As they walked along the road, the father said, “Now Johnnie, I want you to pay good arrention while I am speaking, because in the address I intend to mention your name.”

“My name father! What say will you say about me?”

“Oh you must wait, my boy, and listen.”

So Johnnie fixed his eyes upon his father, and listened very quietly till the meeting was over. When they were walking home together he said: “Father, you forgot to mention my name.”

“No, Johnnie, I said it more than once. Now try to understand what I mean.”

After walking in silence for some distance, the little boy said, “If think know what you mean, father. Was it when you said ‘sinner’?”

“Yes, my dear boy, for that is certainly your name.”

Do you, reader, know your name? Perhaps you don’t know that both your name and address are put down in this Bible. But if you look at the verse at the beginning of this story, you will see that “Christ Jesus came into WORLD to save SINNERS.”

But there are so many children who do not know their names, and are like the little boy three and a half years, old who took up the Bible and said:

“Shall I read to you, Daddy?” and then pretended to read like this:

“God—says—I—am—a—very—good—little—boy.”

The dear little fellow couldn’t read at all, but he hoped that God though he was a good boy. But the Bible tells, us “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

Let us remember again:

Your name—Sinner.

Your address—The World.

But let us remember the good news, “Christ Jesus came into the WORLD to save SINNERS.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

ML 08/31/1947

A New Beginning

Summer holidays will soon be over for another year, and many of our young readers will be starting back to school again very soon. There is always something new and fresh about starting school, starting college, or beginning a new job. We like to be well prepared with new clothes, new books, and new hopes. But the newness soon wears off, and we have to settle down to work. This is true of everything connected with this world, because even the best of things in this fair creation have been spoiled by sin.

We would like to have a talk with you today, dear young people, about a different kind of beginning—very different from starting school. No doubt we can learn something from what God has told us about the children of Israel. When they were slaves in Egypt God told them that He was going to change their calendar and make a “new beginning” for them. He said “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” Exodus 12:2. He was about to deliver them from their misery and bondage, and give them a new start. One thing was necessary to this great change, and we find it in the next verse. “Take ... .every man a lamb.” This little lamb was to be taken and its load was to be shed and sprinkled on the lintel and two side posts of their houses. God then told them, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Exodus 12:13. It was a “new beginning” because the lamb was taken that was to shelter them from judgment.

Now let us apply this to ourselves. Have you had a “new beginning” in your own life, dear reader? You and I were born with a sinful nature which finds pleasure in doing wrong things. Perhaps you have tried to do better. You may have tried to give up some of your had habits and found that you could not do it. The Lord knows all about your helpless condition for His Word says, “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6. The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Lamb, died on the cross for sinners, and His precious blood alone can shelter us from the judgment of God which is soon to fall on this poor world. When you receive Him by faith, it will be a new beginning for you. God will give you a new nature which delights in pleasing Him. What a grand thing it is to have a good start—a completely new one like this! Then you can sing,

O happy day, that fixed my choice

On Thee my Saviour and my God;

Well may this glowing heart rejoice,

And tell its raptures all abroad.

If you are unsaved, dear reader, could there be any better time than now to be saved? Then you could start back to school confessing His precious Name.

I would like to tell you about a young man who was saved sonic time ago. He came to a preacher’s home one Lord’s day evening and asked the preacher to pray that God would have mercy upon him. He knew he was a sinner, and it wasn’t long until he found the sinner’s Saviour. He was afraid he wouldn’t have the courage to confess the Lord, but he soon found that he could not keep the good news to himself! He told the first person whom he met the next morning what the Lord had done for him, and also confessed Christ at work. The Lord gave him the courage he needed, and lie will give it to you if you ask Him.

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

ML 08/31/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 11:31,32. Genesis 12:1-5

We now come to a very interesting story in God’s blessed book. It is about Abram. God has told us a great deal about some people, whereas others are only mentioned by name. The Bible is not a history book, and there is always a divine purpose in everything God has been pleased to write down for us. “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4.

Abram was a man of faith. When we have faith in God it simply means that we believe exactly what God has said, because He has said it. And faith always shows itself in works—otherwise it would be dead faith. The Lord appeared to Abram and told him to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house, and come into a land that He would shew him. This was a hard thing for Abram to do, and the Lord knows just how difficult it is for you to take a stand for Him too, dear boys and girls. Ask Him to help you and He will. We often sing together,

Ask the Saviour to help you,

Comfort, strengthen and keep you,

He is willing to aid you,

He’ll carry you through.

Abram’s father, whose name was Terah, decided to go along with him, for at least part of the way. One day they began their long journey and travelling was very slow and difficult in those days. There were four of them in the company; Abram and his wife, his father Terah, and his nephew Lot. They intended to go all the way, Canaan, which was the place the Lord wanted Abram to live. However while they were traveling along they came to a very nice place, named Haran, and they decided to live there. Perhaps Abram’s father persuaded him that it was better than Canaan, for Abram seemed to forget that God had told him to go to the land HE would show him. God wanted him in Canaan not Haran, no matter how much better it seemed in Haran.

Abram was only partially obedient, for although he left his own country and his kindred, he did not leave father’s house, for his father was him, nor did he come into the which God was to show him. He stopped short of the path of full obedience to the Word of God. Dear boys and girls, are we not often like Abram, and choose our own path in some things? God could not bless Abram in Haran and he had to bring a great sorrow into his life to make him realize his mistake. His father died there, and how Abram must have felt it. Often sorrows come into our lives too, but God allows them for our blessing if we take them from His hand.

“For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve, the children of men.” Lamentations 3:33.

The Lord used this trial in Abram’s life to exercise him, and soon he gathered everything together and set out again for the Land of Canaan. This time he did not stop by the way however; he continued on his journey till he arrived in Canaan. The Word of God, and His promises of blessing were before his soul, and cheered him in the path. We too have “exceeding great and precious promises” 2 Peter 1:4, which encourage our hearts as we pass through this dark scene on our way to Glory.

ML 08/31/1947

Bible Questions for September

“The Children’s Class
Answers to Bible Questions for June

”

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

2. 1 Thessalonians 2:4.

3. 1 Thess. 5:15.

4. 2 Thessalonians 2:12.

5. 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

6. 1 Thessalonians 3:4.

7. 2 Thessalonians 1:8.

“The Children’s Class”
Bible Questions for September

The Answers are to be found in James 1St. & 2nd. Peter

1.“By the gospel is preached”

2.“Ye shall take it patiently”

3. “If the Lord will”

4.“Not willing that any should perish”

5.“Moved by the Holy Ghost”

6.“Let him ask of God”

7.“Rich in faith”

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for June

1.In love one toward another-1 Thessalonians 3:12.

2.All men. 1 Thessalonians 5:14.

3.God’s Son from heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

4.No. 2 Thess-2:9.

5.No. 1 Thess-2:6.

6.No. 2 Thessalonians 3:6.

7.Yes. 2 Thessalonians 1:3.

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Bible Questions for September

The Answers are to be found in James, 1St. & 2nd. Peter

1.How long are we to be patient?

2.What are we to “be ready” to do?

3.Where will we find “confusion and every evil work?”

4.How are we to “love one another?”

5.Does God want us to be “swift” or “slow” to speak?

6.Why is “the way of truth” evil spoken of in these last days?

7.Can a person have living faith without works?

ML 09/07/1947

Mountains

The mountains in our picture are very high, so high that there is snow on top of them even in summertime. If a man tried he could climb to the top of one of these mountains, but it would take some time to reach such a high position. Even from the top he would hardly be able to see anyone on the ground below, because they would be so far away. He might be quite pleased with himself for climbing so high, but he could not stay there very long and would soon have to come down.

Do you know who made the high mountains in our picture? It was God who made them, the very God who made you and I. We are very small beside these great mountains, but here is something to think about. Which pleases God more, a little boy, or a big mountain? Some day these huge mountains are going to be burned up, snow and rocks and all, until there is not a hint of them left; for the Word of God says, “The earth also and the works that are therein shall he burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10.

Our little readers may be very small, but you are more precious in God’s sight than the “mountains, even though there may be gold and silver hidden in them. Yes, boys and girls you have a living soul, and God wants to save you and take you to live with Him forever and ever. Isn’t that wonderful?

You cannot live with Him in heaven unless your sins are taken away. If you will come to Him, just as you are in all your sins, He is willing to blot them out until there is not one left in His sight. Why not accept Him as your Saviour today?

“GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” Romans 5:8.

ML 09/07/1947

The Children's Party

A group of happy children had just finished their supper and were playing hide and seek among the rooms and halls of our rambling old home. I had gone to my own room to give them a little more freedom, when suddenly one of the little girls’ slipped into the room to hide, not knowing I was there.

She was a tiny, delicate girl, scarcely able to enjoy such a game for she had fallen while at school as a child, and injured her spine permanently.

I asked her to stay, for she started to run away. She was a great favourite with us all, and she willingly came to me and sat on my knee while I chatted with her. As I looked at her and thought how there was little or no hope that she would live for more than a few years, I felt anxious about her soul, and longed to have a word with her about the Lord Jesus.

“How old are you, Bella?” I asked. “Just thirteen!” she replied.

“Are you really as old as that?” I said. Then I added, “Thirteen was to me a very special age, for do you know it was just when I was thirteen years old that I gave my heart to Jesus?”

She looked up sweetly into my face, and I added:

“Perhaps you have already given Him your heart.”

“No” she said in a whisper, “I have not done so yet!”

“Well, Bella” I asked, “would you believe me if I said that I was sorry I ever gave my heart to Jesus?”

“No,” she replied, “I am sure, you have never been sorry for that.”

“But don’t you think, Bella, that I would have been wiser to wait, and after I had grown up, given my heart to Him then?”

“No, I suppose the sooner the better” answered Bella.

“Do you really think so?” I asked. “Do you think it is a wise thing to give one’s heart to Jesus, and that as soon as possible, and that one is never never sorry for doing so?”

“Yes,” she said. “I do.”

“Well, Bella,” I said, “Jesus has often come to your heart, and I am afraid you have tried to send Him away. He comes once more tonight. Will you let Him in?”

A little more was said, and then Bella knelt down, and with tears, partly of sorrow and partly of joy, gave herself up to Jesus, and asked Him to come into her sinful heart, and wash it by His precious blood.

Putting my arms round her as she rose from her knees, I said:

“Bella, Jesus has been holding out His arms for you a long long time, and now you have come to Him, He just folds them round you like this.”

Dear boy or girl, did you know that Jesus was waiting to receive and bless you, and to wash your sins away? Do now as Bella did and accept Jesus as your own precious Saviour.

“Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 09/07/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 12:6-9

When Abram finally reached the land of Canaan, he found the Canaanites were in it. Yes, there were enemies who would like to have hindered him from possessing what God had promised him. We too will find many enemies in the path of faith, who will try to keep us from eoying the blessings which belong to all those who know the Lord Jesus as their own personal Saviour.

Perhaps he might have felt a little discouraged when he found these Cannanites in the land, but just at that moment the Lord appeared and encouraged him with the words, “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (vs. 7). When you feel discouraged, dear young believer, just think of one of God’s precious promises from His Word, and it will cheer your heart.

As soon as Abram had received this promise from the Lord, he built an altar to worship. Although we do not worship at altars made of stone today as Abram did, we know the Lord was pleased when Abram built this altar, because God was not fully known at that time. He had only partially revealed Himself, and it was not until the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world that God became fully known. All the glory of God shone out in the face of Jesus Christ. (see 2 Cor. 4:6). Now we do not need altars made of stone at which to worship God, for the Lord Jesus said, “The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the rather in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” John 4:23. We can now come right into His very presence by faith, and thank Him for all He has done for us, asking Him too for the things we need.

After this Abram moved to another place near Beth-el, where he pitched his tent and built an altar. Many of these names have meanings which are very interesting. Beth-el means “the house of God.” It is nice to be near the place of meeting where the Lord has placed his name. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst.” Matthew 18:20. Even boys and girls will find much blessing for their souls by coming regularly to the meetings.

Abram had his tent as well as his altar. I don’t suppose any of our readers live in a tent, but perhaps you have slept in one when you were on a journey, or for a short time during the nice weather. Tents are not permanent dwelling places, being used mostly by travelers, and Abram was a traveler—a pilgrim. Dear boys and girls, if you belong to the, Lord Jesus, and can say you are redeemed by His precious blood, you are travelers too. Yes, we who are saved are on our way to the Glory Land, and we don’t expect to stay in this poor sad world very long. We don’t want to build a mansion here, for we are soon going to leave it all behind when the Lord Jesus comes for His own.

On the east side of Abram’s tent and altar was a place named Hai. The word Hai means “a heap”, and that is just what this world and all its pleasures really are—only a heap of rubbish. It has no real or lasting happiness to offer you. Why not come to Christ? He longs to bless and save you, and then some day He will take you to His bright home above. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 09/07/1947

The Swan

If you have seen a pretty bird like this floating on the water, you will not soon forget it. I have never seen anything more beautifully mute and clean. Even in the brightest sunlight there is not a spot on his shining white feathers. Boys and girls who play in the park love to feed the swan, and watch him bend his long neck to gobble up the crusts which they throw on the water.

This pretty bird is mentioned only once in God’s Word. Perhaps you will be surprised to find that God calls it an unclean bird, and places it in the same list with such cruel birds as the hawk and the eagle. (Lev. 11:13-20). It certainly does not look as if it belonged in such had company, does it? But that is just where God, who does not judge by the outward appearance, has put the pretty swan, and its name has been on that ugly list for thousand of years—a pure white bird, but God says it is unclean.

Many children like to have clean faces and pretty clothes for other people to see, but God looks at the heart. All those who are not saved have unclean hearts, and God says that they will spend eternity in company with thieves and murderers and liars (Rev. 21:8). You may look just as clean and white as the swan in our picture, but perhaps your name is still on the unclean list of those who must spend eternity away from God.

But God has a list in heaven of these who are clean, so clean that He Himself I cannot find a spot in them. Would you not like to have your name written there, in the Lamb’s Book of Life? There are many boys and girls on God’s “clean” list already, because God has washed away their unclean sins, and He is very willing to do the same for you. Remember that “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. Would you like to be sure that your heart is clean in the sight of God?

“THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN. 1 John 1:7.

ML 09/14/1947

Little Curly

Little Curly was just four years old. She was a very bright little girl, with golden curls all over her head and big blue eyes which often opened very wide when she was surprised. And she was very much surprised one day, when Miss Norten—a young lady who was staying with her mother asked her if she had ever heard of Jesus. The dear little child did not know who Jesus was, for her mother had not even taught her to pray when she went to bed.

Miss. Norten took her up on her knee and said, “Why, Curly dear, I teach little boys every Sunday about Jesus, and that beautiful home He has gone to in Heaven.”

“Oh!” said Curly, “I thought you taught your little boys their letters, like I am trying to learn.”

“No, darling,” replied Miss Norten. “on Sunday I teach them of Jesus, who came down from heaven, and who died to wash away our sins. He says to all little children, ‘Come unto Me,’ and He will forgive those naughty things that you have done. And then some day He will take you to that beautiful home, beyond the bright blue sky for He lives up there.”

“But I can’t see Him,” cried Curly looking eagerly out through the window. “Did you come down from the sky to tell me of Jesus? Do you live up there, when you’re at home?”

“No, Curly dear, I did not come down from the sky, but God must sent me, I think, to tell you of His Son Jesus, and His love. So you must listen to me.

“One day, a very long time ago, God sent His only Son down from heaven to this earth. His Son came into this world to seek and to save sinners. His name was called Jesus, because He sal His people from their sins. Jesus, who was God’s beloved Son, became the Babe of Bethlehem. He grew into manhood and went about doing good, healing the sick helping the poor, and blessing little children. But men did not love Him, and at last they nailed Him to cross and there He died. While He was suffering on the cross, God punished Him for the sins of others. Now He lives again in heaven, and all who trust Him have their sins all washed away and forgiven.”

“Oh, then I would like to love trust Him,” said Curly, “and then maybe someday he will take me up past the bright blue sky. And will you tell mother and Teddy about Jesus too?”

That night, for the first time, Curly was taught to pray to God. She meant when she asked her to kneel beside her bed, but when she was told that God could hear her, she happily told Him all that was in her little.

The blessed Lord loves little children, and we do not doubt that He sent the message about Himself to this little child, who had never even heard of Him, nor been taught to pray to God.

“He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” Isaiah 40:11.

ML 09/14/1947

The Lost Child

The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

What an easy text for you to read, dear children, is it not? All words of one syllable! And easy to understand, too, because you all know what it is to seek everywhere for something that you have lost, don’t you?

Now, this text tells us about Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, seeking that which is lost, Perhaps some of you dear children are thinking that it must be to seek something worth a great deal, that God’s Son has come all the way down from heaven—something very beautiful and very good. Well, what Jesus is seeking is worth a great deal to Him, but it is not at all good. He is looking for lost souls! That means lost men and women, and little lost children.

Some years ago a family of little children went on a holiday with their mother. Harold, Katie and little Lucy had a lot of fun every day playing in the sand beside the lake. One afternoon, mother told Harold to take care of wee Lucy. Pretty soon Harold forgot all about his little sister and ran off to play, not knowing that she was toddling after him as fast as her very short legs could carry her. Lucy soon lost sight of her brother and was lost! When Mother found out that Lucy was missing, what do you think she said? Did she say, “Oh, well, we have one boy and one girl left, and that is quit—enough?” Oh, no! You all know a mother’s love better than that. And Jesus’ love for His little stray lambs is far greater than even mother’s love, so that, though He may have ninety-nine sheep left, He will still go after that one which is lost until He finds it.

Two very long hours passed away in hunting for Lucy. Poor Mother, Harold, and Katie, they were all in tears as they looked here and there for the lost one.

What do you suppose suddenly changed all the tears to smiles to smiles? Yes it was little Lucy, in the arms of a stranger, who had picked her up, and was now carrying her to the police station. Each one in turn hugged and kissed the little one that had been lost and now was found!

Dear children, will you give Jesus the joy of finding you? Will you call out to Him to save you? Do you know that you are lost, and that you need Him to seek you and to find you? How gladly He would pick up His little stray lamb, and lay it on His shoulders rejoicing “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:7.

ML 09/14/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 12:10

After Abram had been in Canaan for a short time God allowed a time of famine to come. The crops were poor, and there was very little food to eat, nor was there any pasture for his cattle. What was Abram to do? God had told him to come into that land, and had promised to bless him in it, and he must have wondered why God sent the famine. I suppose many questions came into his mind and troubled him. God was testing his faith.

Let us pause for a moment and apply this to our own lives. Many of our readers know the Lord Jesus as their own personal Saviour, and we rejoice in the knowledge that we are the children of God by simple faith in Him. Then someday trials and troubles come upon us. Satan whispers in our ears and says, “Why does God allow these things if He really loves you?” He tells us that the path of following the Lord is too hard, and that we should go after at least some of the pleasures of the world. Are we going to listen to his lies, or choose the path of obedience to the Lord?

These are trials of faith, and God allows them to test us. It is easy to go on with other Christians when everything runs smoothly, but when difficulties come we need to approach the throne of grace for help from above. God has told us to expect suffering in this world, and we should count it a privilege when we think of what Christ has suffered for us. “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29.

Alas for poor Abram! He made a bad decision. He did not act in obedience to God, but chose Him own path. He went down into Egypt. Egypt was the center of the world’s glory and wealth at the time. There wasn’t any famine there, and he thought he would have plenty of everything he wanted but the two things that were really most important, he did not, and could not have there.

He had to fit in with Egypt’s ways, and his tent and altar had no place it that land. Wealth and pleasure were of primary importance in Egypt, and Abram soon found himself doing the same things as the others around him. Yes, he was just like a man of the world, when he should have been a man of faith in Canaan.

Dear young reader, are you going after this poor world, as if you wee going to stay here forever? You would soon see the emptiness of it all if you caught a glimpse of the glory where Jesus dwells.

One day. I was walking, down the street, and watching the sun as it set in all its beauty in the western sky. After looking at it for a few moments, I turned to see something in a store window, but the glory of the setting sun had made everything look hazy and dim.

Now we want to tell you about “a light above the brightness of the sun” which we can look upon by faith. It is the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ, and when we have this before our souls, it makes all the pleasures of this poor world look dim.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

ML 09/14/1947

Firewood

Brother and sister are having fun together gathering wood for Mother’s fire. The two little dogs add to the fun but they are not really much help, are they? I don’t think even the bigger dog knows how to gather firewood! Sometimes he runs up with a piece of green wood in his mouth, and sister says, “No, no, pup, only dry wood will burn in Mother’s fire.”

Perhaps brother is old enough to read, and can tell sister what the Word of God says about dry branches; “If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6

You see, when we are looking for firewood, we do not look among the leafy trees, but we look on the ground for the dry, dead branches that are not clinging to the tree. They do not get any food or water from the root, and so they are dry and dead. Now the Lord Jesus says that these dead branches are like men, and that means boys and girls too, who will not abide in Him. They do not belong to the Lord Jesus at all and so they are good for nothing, and God must cast them into the fire of hell.

You don’t want to be a dry branch, do you? It is much better to be a living branch bearing leaves and fruit; but a branch cannot bear fruit unless it has hidden roots somewhere to give it food and water. If you would like to be a living branch, then take the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, and He will give you life. The more you learn to please Him, the more fruit you will bear for His glory, and you will never be cast into the fire of hell.

This is what the Lord Jesus said about those who belong to Him, who are like living branches:

HE THAT ABIDETH IN ME, AND I IN HIM, THE SAME BRINGETH FORTH MUCH FRUIT; FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING.” John 15:5.

ML 09/21/1947

You Paid for Them, Sir

One sunny warm day, a gentleman named Mr. Ford was walking through the country repeating to himself as he walked along, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1.

Just then a boy carrying an old rusty bird-cage came down the lane. Even before he got neat enough for Mr. Ford to see what was in the cage, he heard such piteous chirps, not at all like the song of the free birds around. As the boy came closer, Mr. Ford saw about half a dozen poor little sparrow all trying so hard to get out of the cage. They flew round and round, and beat their heads against the wires, but the door of the cage was tied with a strong string and there was no way of escape for the tiny prisoners.

Mr. Ford put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and said, “My boy, whose birds are those?”

The boy looked at Mr. Ford for a moment, then answered, “Mine, sir.”

“Yours, are they; how did you get them?”

“Caught them in a trap in the woods.”

“And what are you going to do with them now?”

“Give them to our cat.”

“Poor little things, I should like to buy them. How much will you sell them for?”

“Fifteen cents, sir.”

Without another word Mr. Ford took the money out of his pocket anal put it into the boy’s hand. The young lad looked as if he could not quite understand why a gentleman should give so much money for a few little birds but he only said:

“Thank you, sir! Going to the Station, are you? I’ll carry the cage up for you.”

But Mr. Ford did not want the cage taken to the station. Cutting the string that fastened the door with his pocket knife, he put his hand into the cage and took out a bird, smoothed its feathers then let it fly. Another, then another he let go, till, in less time than it takes me to write it the cage was empty.

The boy looked on. He could not make it out. To buy the birds only to set them free! At last he said:

“Oh, sir, you have let them all go!”

“Yes, they are all gone. Why did you not stop me if you did not want me to let them go? You said they were your birds when I first met you.”

“So they were, sir, till—till you paid for them.”

“So that makes all the difference. I bought them; they were mine, and could do what I thought best with them; is that it?”

“Yes, sir.”

Mr. Ford and the boy stood talking a long time after the birds were set free, for he had a very sweet and wonderful story to tell. It was the story of the Lord Jesus who gave His life, shedding His own precious blood, because there was nothing else that would set the poor captives of Satan free. He gave His life that He might save and set free the boy or girl who is reading this paper.

All those who have come to Jesus and trusted Him as their own Saviour do not belong to Satan any more. Are they sorry? No, indeed, they are glad because now they belong to the Lord Jesus who has bought them with His own blood.

Dear little reader, is the Lord Jesus your own precious Saviour?

“Suffer little children, and forbid them, not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:14.

Jesus paid it all—

All to Him I owe,

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed me white as snow.

ML 09/21/1947

A Little Boy and His Bible

There was a little boy living in a fishing-village on the south coast of England, who loved his Bible more than his breakfast or his dinner, and every morning he would steal away with it to the seashore. One afternoon he was reading as usual, when a number of boys found him out and began to annoy him. So, to avoid them, he got into a tiny boat that was anchored near. Some of them cut the rope, which the boy, being intent on his Bible, did not notice till he found himself drifting out to sea on the ebbing tide. Darkness and mist soon came on and the poor little boy was alone with his Bible on the wide ocean.

Two days after a large Norwegian vessel was passing up the channel, when a man at the look-out spied a black object on the water. The captain’s telescope soon made out that it was a small boat, so the ship sailed up to it, and then they saw a little boy fast asleep clasping a Bible! They lifted him out and he awoke, but fainted away directly through weakness from want of food. However kind care soon restored him, and then he told his story, and what a comfort his loved Bible had been to him in those lonely hours on the water, until he had become too weak to read. What a comfort God’s Word must have been to the lonely boy! Indeed, nothing else could have sustained him in this terrifying experience. Do you know the precious Saviour of whom this Word speaks and can you say, “Thy Word was unto ME the joy and rejoicing of mine heart?” Jer. 15:16.

“Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3.

ML 09/21/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 12:11-20 Genesis 13:1,2.

When Abram was about to enter Egypt he told his wife to say that she was his sister. Why did he not want to tell that she was his wife? It was because he was afraid they would kill him if he acknowledged it. He had the fear of man instead of the fear of God before him. Egypt would not want him if he acknowledged his proper relationship to Sarai, nor will the world want the Christian who owns that he belongs to Christ, and speaks about Him and His love.

However God had His eye on Abram, and intervened to bring about his restoration. Very often when we go into the world we bring, trouble upon them as well as upon ourselves. When Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord, the Lord sent a terrible storm on the sea, and all the men in the ship with him were in trouble as well as Jonah. Here in our chapter too, God plagued the house of Pharaoh for taking Abram’s wife. Dear young reader, when you try to go on with the world you only spoil their pleasure, and make yourself unhappy too, because your conscience will condemn you. You will always be miserable in such a path, for the things of God cannot mix, with the things of the world.

Finally Pharaoh found out that Abram had told him a lie, and that Sarai was his wife. He called for him and rebuked him for it. It is a bad thing when the world has to rebuke us because we do not act like the children of God. It is very dishonoring to the Lord and must have been a humbling experience for Abram.

A young man once took his friend to a place of pleasure, where he knew he should not go as a Christian. Then there he began to speak to her about he way of salvation. She immediately turned to him and siad, “Are you a Christian?” “Yes” he replied, “Well” she said, “Then what are you doing here?” When we confess Christ we always find the right kind of company but it is always best to confess His name first, instead of going place where we should not be as God’s children, thereby bringing dirshonor on His name.

Abram soon found that his place was in Canaan, and he “went up out of Egypt.” Lot too came up with him, but he was apparently just following, Abram, and not walking in his own faith. Dear young reader, are you following other Christians, or are following the Lord? Is He really the Object before your soul? Others may fail in the path as Abram did but He never changes. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.

There was no real progress of soul as long as Abram was in Egypt, though he became very rich “in cattle, in silver and in gold.” Such things as these have not attracted his heart while in Canaan for there he had his tent and his altar and above all the Lord’s presence and blessing. The Lord had not appeared to him while in Egypt. There are two kinds of riches spoken of in the Word of God. In Canaan Abram was “rich in faith.” He had “the true riches” (Luke 16:11) and “he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:10. In Egypt he had acquired what God calls “uncertain riches.” 1 Timothy 6:17. Which of the two are you seeking? Only “the true riches” will abide, the other soon passes away.

ML 09/21/1947

The Pyramid

Do you see this pointed tower of stone? It is called a pyramid, and was built thousands of years ago by a great king who lived in Egypt. Perhaps you remember that Joseph lived in Egypt too.

This great king set his slaves to work for months and years until they were quite tried out. The stones on top were very hard to put in place. Perhaps you are wondering why the king built so strange a tower and who lives inside it. You will be surprised to learn that it was not built to live in; but when the the old king died, he was buried inside it, and that is why is was made. Just a tombstone! Poor hard-working slaves, and poor foolish king!

Now we want to tell you about a great building which God is making. Perhaps you will understand a little better if we say that everyone who belongs to the Lord Jesus is a stone in that building. You don’t look much like a stone it is true, but you are a little part of God’s great building if you are saved, and a very costly stone too. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house.” 1 Peter 2:5. God has paid a great price for you, for He gave His only Son that you might belong to Him. You are a very beautiful stone in His sight, just as precious as if you were covered with shining gold because He loves you.

Jesus Christ Himself is the corner stone in this wonderful building (Ephesians 2:20).

The stone tower in our picture is partly chipped and broken already, but God’s building will never be spoiled. God’s work is not finished yet. There is still room for you if you are not saved. Would you not like to take the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour today? Tomorrow may be too late, for God’s building will soon he completed. When the last stone is laid, God will take all His people—the stones in His building—to Heaven. Then the door of grace will be closed forever.

“HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION?” Hebrews 2:3.

ML 09/28/1947

It Was for Me

The Sunday School time had come, but just the teacher and one young girl were present. It was a very stormy day, and perhaps the other children had to stay at home.

During the week, this girl had been learning the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, and she was repeating the verses over and over as she walked through the storm. But like many other boys and girls, she was just learning them in her head, and they didn’t mean very much to her. After prayer, Mary began to repeat the verses for her teacher. When she reached the fifth verse she said, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Then the tears filled her eyes and dropped on the open Bible before her as she sobbed: “It was for me, it was for me.”

The teacher waited for a few minutes and then said, “Let us thank Him Mary, that it was for you.” They knelt down, and after the teacher had thanked the Lord for opening the eyes of her dear scholar to seee Jesus as her own Saviour, the weeping girl prayed.

“Lord Jesus! I thank Thee that Thou didst die for me, that Thou didst take my punishment.”

Rising from their knees, the teacher saw a troubled look pass over the bright face of the dear girl who had just accepted Jesus. In deep distress dear girl said,

“Oh! my father, my mother, my brother they do not know this joy!”

So they knelt again to plead for those, who still didn’t know the Lord as their own.

It may be that you, who are reading this paper, could say a good many Bible verses, as Mary could. But did you ever stop and think that it was for you? Did you ever get down on your knees and thank God for sending His own Son for you?

If not you are far from God, and until you accept the love of a living, loving Saviour, and see Him as your Sin-Bearer, there is no peace, no life, no true joy for you.

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace, was upon Him; and with His stripes were are healed.” Isaiah 53:5.

Oh, why was He there as the bearer of sin,

If on Jesus they sins were not laid?

Oh, why from His side flowed the sin-cleansing blood,

If His dying thy debt hath not paid?

ML 09/28/1947

Purpose of Heart

Every young believer enjoys reading about the faithfulness of Daniel, and God would have us “imitate his faith.” A good deal has been written about this man of God in order to encourage crtir hearts in difficult times. Daniel’s circumstances were neither easy nor pleasant. He had been carried away captive from his home by king Nebuchadnezzar, and brought down to Babylon as a slave.

He might have wondered why God allowed all this to happen, but there is one thing that strikes us about Daniel —he never questioned the wisdom of God’s ways. He took everything from His hand, and sought the needed grace to be faithful to Him at all times. This beautiful submission is expressed in the words, “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] hand.” Daniel 1:2. It was “the Lord” who had allowed Jerusalem with its king and people to fall into the enemy’s hands, and it was “the Lord” who had placed Daniel in Babylon. True, it was because “the Lord” had allowed it.

Dear young reader, let us pause for a moment to apply this to our own lives. Perhaps questions often rise in your mind as to why God has placed you where you are. Could He not have given you a better home, or a teacher at school whom you liked a little better? Could He not have given you an easier employer to work for in your new job? Of course He could: and you probably think it would be much easier to let your light shine for the Lord if you were in the same place as someone else. But the Lord you to—

Shine, shine, just where you are

Send forth the light into the night,

And shine for the Lord where you are.

God’s Word says, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14), and He does not put all His lights in the same place. As we walk through the city at night we can learn a lesson by noticing the street lights. Some of them are placed at main intersections where many people can see and appreciate them, while others arc on back streets where very few ever see them. The city engineers have placed them where they knew they were most needed. Now God in His perfect wisdom has put each of us in the very place He wants us to shine for Him. If you are in a difficult place, dear reader, ask Him to help on, but be sure you have His guidance before you try to change places, for His ways are always best, “As for God, His way is perfect.” Psalms 18:30.

In addition to being submissive to the hand of God in placing him in Babylon, Daniel had “purpose of heart” to honor his God while there. He did not intend to do everything he was asked to in that idolatrous land. Obedience to God and His Word came first, for he was not “easily led” like many young people. No doubt he had a copy of God’s Word which he read and prized very highly. Then too he went to his room three times each day, and there alone with God he prayed to Him. This strengthened him and gave him wisdom for his path, for these two things—the reading of the Word and prayer were the real secret of his faithfulness to God. Dear young reader, are these things the habit of your life too? You will find it takes real purpose of heart to go on for the Lord even today, and we haven’t any strength of our own—but in the Lord is “EVERLASTING STRENGTH.” Isaiah 26:4.

ML 09/28/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Genesis 13:3-18

Abram returned to the very place in Canaan where he had had his tent and his altar at the first. It would not do for him to stop at some other place, because the Lord had appeared to him there before, and undoubtedly that was where He wanted him to be. It is always best to be in the place where the Lord wants us. There Abram called on the name of the Lord. If we want to have confidence that He hears our prayers, it is necessary to walk in the path of obedience to Him.

Shortly after Abram and Lot had settled quietly in the land, a quarrel began between their herdsmen. They had become so rich when in Egypt that now thee could not dwell together in Canaan. How easily riches can become a snare if we set our hearts upon them! God has a reason too in telling us that the Canaanite and the Perizzite were then in the land, for it is a sad thing when the world sees the children of God quarreling. Lot didn’t seem to feel badly about it, nor about the dishonor to the Lord’s name by such actions. Abram on the other hand was much concerned about it, and said to him, “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee... for we be brethren.” He did not want to quarrel because Lot was his brother, and he knew such things did not please the Lord.

Abram soon found the best way to settle it! He told Lot that he could take first choice of the land, and that he would take what was left. How kind this was! When you see a quarrel starting, dear children, do you give in to your friends as Abram did, and let them have first choice? This would surely please the Lord, and when we think of all He has done for us, and of how He forgave us when we deserved to be punished, we should forgive others too. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32.

Up, to this time Lot had followed all Abram’s movements, but he never really followed the Lord for himself. Now the test came. He must act for himself, and when he did, we soon discover where his heart was. He looked toward the well watered plants of Sodom, and said they were like the land of Egypt. His heart was still in Egypt, and he was quite ready to pitch his tent toward the wicked city of Sodom.

This world in which we live is filled with wickedness and sin too. It has crucified the Son of God, and likes Sodom. God’s righteous judgement is hanging over it. Those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour are safe from this judgement and some day He will come and call His own to be with Him forever. Dear young reader are you ready to meet Him?

After Lot had departed, then the Lord appeared to Abram, and promised to give him the land. He told him walk through it, for he wanted him to see all that belonged to him then moved to the plain of Mamre.

The believer’s blessings now are spiritual ones, for we are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3. God us wants to read His Word so that we may know the many blessings which belong to us in Christ. Do you read it each day?

ML 09/28/1947

Bible Questions for October

“The Children’s Class”
Answers to the Bible Questions for July

1.2 Timothy 1:12

2.1 Timothy 3:15.

3.Titus 1:16,

4.1 Timothy 1:15.

5.2 Timothy 3:15.

6.Philemon 1,21,

7.1 Timothy 6:7.

“The Children’s Class”
Bible Questions for October

The Answers are to be found in 1St., 2nd., 3rd. John and Jude

1. “Cleanseth us from all sin.”

2.“Because He first loved us.”

3.“My children walk in truth.-

4. “All their ungodly deeds.-

5.“Ye may know that ye have eternal life.”

6.“The will of God abideth forever.”

7.“The world hate you.”

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for July

1. Jesus Christ’s. 2 Timothy 2:3.

2. Sober minded. Titus 2:6,

3. Modest apparel, 1 Timothy 2:9,

4. In his house. Philemon 1,2.

5. Faith and a good conscience. 1 Timothy 1:19,

6. The love of it, 1 Timothy 6.10.

7. Godliness. 1 Timothy 4:8.

The Young People’s Class
Bible Questions for October

The Answers are to be found in lst, 2nd, 3rd John and Jude

1.Does God speak well of murmurer and complainers?

2.Is one who hates his brother in the light, or darkness?

3.What “victory” overcomes the world?

4.Could a person be enjoying the Father’s love and the world at the same time?

5. Should we invite a person into our homes, who brings bad doctrine about the person of Christ?

6.“Above all things” what was John’s desire for Gaius?

7.If we confess our sins what will God do?

ML 10/05/1947

Ye Are Not Your Own

What a fine little boy we have in our picture today! We can just imagine how thankful his father and mother must be to such a dear little lad to brighten their home. When we see boys like this running and playing, we love to watch them, and some of us who are often begin to think of how quick they will grow up. We watch their happy faces, and their bright sparkling eyes, and we wish that their smiles would never wear off.

As time goes on, they grow older despite of our wishes however, and they learn that this poor world has plenty of sorrows. Yes, dear children, sin in spoiled everything in this scene and on every hand we see sickness and death. When boys and girls learn to know and love the Lord Jesus when they are young, they can grow up with the knowledge of Him as their Saviour and Friend. Then they can meet all the sorrows of life calmly, because they know God is their Father, and they learn to take even the disappointment from His hand. They can take everything to the Lord in prayer, and they find not only hears, but He answers the prayer of faith.

When we know how much the Lord has done for us in dying on Calvary’s cross to put our sins away, then we want to please Him in our lives. Even little boys and girls can do this, and we hope the dear little lad in our picture, well as those who read our paper, will always remember what the Lord Jesus had to suffer for us on the cross. There is a little hymn which we somimes sing, and it reminds us that we who belong to the Lord, should use our eyes, our hands, our feet, yes everything for Him.

Two little eyes to look to God,

Two little ears to hear His Word,

Two little feet to walk His ways,

Two hands to work for Him all my days.

One little tongue to speak His truth,

One little heart for Him now in my youth.

Take them, Lord Jesus, and let them be

Always obedient, and true to Thee.

“YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN. FOR YE ABE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE.” 1 Corinthians 6:19,20.

ML 10/05/1947

The Indian's Confession

In a dense forest near to one of the great sugar plantations, there lived an old Indian. Many years ago some of the Lord’s servants went out to the place to tell the slaves and Indians the story of Gods redeeming love.

Among those who came to hear the Word was this old Indian whose younger days had been spent in great wickedness and sin. The Spirit of God used the Word to work deep conviction of sin in his soul. Stealing quietly from his home in the forest, he came to a hut in which the missionary lived, and asked to speak of the Lord Jesus. In his own simple way he told how he felt sad because of his sins, and wondered if the great God would have mercy on such a sinner as he was.

It is always a joy to point it weary sinner to the Saviour, more especially in these lonely places where the gospel is seldom heard. The missionary sat down by the door, and the old Indian sat by his side. Opening his Bible he read the words of John 3-:16, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,”

He also read Isaiah 53 several times, telling of God’s love for the world, and Christ’s death for sinners. The Indian listened carefully, and then, rising slowly, walked away into the woods.

He came again the next day and heard the same words, The third day a bright smile was seen on his face, and the missionary asked, “How is it now?”

“Happy, happy now all sins gone.” Then placing his hand on his heart he said: “Peace, peace.”

“How do you know?” the missionary asked.

“You read in Book, God love me, give His Son for me. Then take and beat, beat, beat Him to save Indian.”

He had rested, where every weary sinner, old or young, can rest with perfect peace—on the finished work of Christ, His changed life and ways soon told others that the old Indian was really saved, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

ML 10/05/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 14:1-16

In our chapter God tells us of a battle which took place in the vale Of Siddim. This valley was full of slime pits, and it would remind us of the character of this poor sinful world which is filled with snares and pitfalls of all kinds. Oh how many dear boys and girls are caught in the slippery paths of sin and fall there, just as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fell in the valley of Siddim. No doubt these kings thought they could get safely through the valley. They thought they could escape the slimepits, but they could not, and they fell there. This should be a solemn warning to us, for we are sometimes very self-confident, and think we are safe, even at times when we are in great danger. God’s Word has marked out the right path through this dark world, and we are only safe when walking in obedience to Him.

“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,” Jeremiah 10:23.

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6.

Let us remember the necessity of the daily reading of the Word and prayer, for one wrong act leads to another, and it is much easier to get into the “slime pits” than to get out of them. The Scriptures tell us, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34. No true child of God can ever be lost, but Satan knows how to trip us up, and we should hearken to the warnings God has given us in His Word.

Perhaps some of our young readers are unsaved, and have fallen in the snares of sin and you know you cannot deliver yourself. We have good news for you! The Lord can deliver you. Yes, He is able and willing to do it— wondrous Saviour! David the king speaks of this blessed fact in Psalm, 40. “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.” The Lord will do all this, and more, for any sinner who calls upon Him. The Rock upon whom we are set is Christ, and the song is unto Him who has redeemed us. Will you let Him save you today?

Lot dwelt in Sodom, and so he had, his sad part in this great battle. Yes if we try to fit in with, and find our portion in this Sodom world, we will have to share its sorrows. Abram was outside of all these worldly battles and struggles, for the Lord was the portion of his inheritance. He did not need seek after the “well watered plains” Sodom. He was truly satisfied with his tent and altar, because he had the promises of God. “He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God”, Hebrews 11:10.

Those of us who are saved have all we need in Christ. We are passing through this world it is true, but our home is with Christ in glory. If we have learned to find our satisfaction Him, we will soon find that the vanities of this dark scene are no better than the boasted treasures of Sodom. May our hearts be able to say like one of old, “I have Christ, what want I more!”

ML 10/05/1947

Two Little Boys

Two little boys with two little smiles, and four little hands and four little feet! Perhaps you have guessed that they are twins. They both get a very big share of love and kisses from the folks at home, but only their mother and father can tell them apart.

They are always together, and when they are a little older, they will probably be in the same class at school. Wouldn’t it be lovely if they would spend eternity together with the Lord Jesus in heaven?

There were two boys, hundreds of years ago, who lived together in the temple, under the care of a very godly old priest named Jehoiada. The two little boys, named Zechariah and Joash, were not twins nor even brothers. Joash was a little prince whose father had been cruelly killed, and so the faithful old priest cared for the little orphan as his own son. I am sure he taught them often from the Holy, Scriptures, and both of the little boys listened and learned that God is good and very kind, but that He must always punish sin.

When Joash was just seven years old, he was made king of Judah, with a royal crown upon his little head. For many years he was a wise and good king, while the faithful old priest taught him to do what was right, but we are sorry to say that his heart was not right in the sight of God. When the priest died, Joash soon showed that his heart was full of sin, and that he had no love for God at all.

Is your heart like that, little reader? Are you going to Sunday School and trying to be good because your father and mother are watching you? You have no doubt heard Bible stories, as Joash did, and he seemed to be a very good little boy, but it was just to please Jehoiada the priest, and when Jehoiada died, then the badness of his unbelieving heart showed itself. Do not be like Joash for his heart was not right in the sight of God.

Would you like to hear more of the other little boy? He also heard the truth from the godly old priest who was his father, and he believed it. He knew that God is just and holy, and he feared God and tried to please Him. When he saw that his friend, King Joash was acting very badly, it troubled him very much, and he went bravely to speak to him, and warn him that, because he was disobeying the commandment of the Lord, he must certainly be punished.

King Joash was very angry, and told his servants to throw stones at him until he died. Was he not very cruel to treat his faithful friend like that? After a while God allowed Joash to be killed by his own servants.

The two little boys in our story were both killed, but they will not spn eternity together. They had the same opportunities to know the Lord, and were taught from the same Holy Scriptures, but one boy believed the message in his heart, and lived to please God while the other boy plainly showed that, he did not love God at all. Which boy are you like? Knowing the way salvation will not save you, unless accept Christ as your own. Saviour.

“HE, THAT BEING OFTEN REPROVED HARDENETH HIS NECK, SHALL SUDDENLY BE DESTROYED, AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY.” Proverbs 29:1

ML 10/12/1947

Answered Prayer

Willie was a little boy about seven years old. His father was a drunkard, and his mother had a very hard time to get along.

One day in winter, Willie said, “Mother, can’t I have a pair of new shoes? My toes are all out of these. The snow gets in, and I feel very cold.

The tears came into his mother’s as she said,

“Well, Willie my dear boy, I hope soon to be soon to be able to get you a new pair.”

After waiting for some days Will: said again,

“Oh, mother, it’s too bad! Can’t I get some shoes somehow?” He stood thinking a moment, and then said, “Oh I know what to do. I’ll ask God to get them for me. Why didn’t I think of that before?” Then he went up to his own little room and knelt down by bed, and covering his face with his hands, he said, “Oh God, father drinks, mother has no money; my feet get cold and wet; I want some new shoes. Please, God, get me a pair. For Jesus sake. Amen.”

Then he went downstairs and wait, for an answer.

Shortly after this, a kind Christian lady who lived near them called in and asked Willie to take a walk with her. Willie went along. Pretty soon the lady saw Willie’s toes coming out of his shoes.

“Why Willie,’’ she said, “look at your feet. They’ll freeze. Why didn’t you put on a better pair of shoes?”

“These are all I have; ma’am. Mother has no money to get them with. But I’ve asked God to get me a new pair, and I’m waiting till He sends them.”

Tears filled the lady’s eyes when she heard this. She took him straight to a shoe store and had him fitted with a nice new pair of shoes.

He thanked the lady very much for her kindness, and, as soon as he returned home, he showed them to his mother.

“Look, mother,” he said, “God has heard my prayer and sent me the shoes. Mrs. Gray’s money bought them, but God heard me ask for them, and I suppose He told Mrs. Gray to get them for me.” Then he kneeled right down beside his mother and thanked God for sending him the shoes.

Perhaps some of the boys and girls who read this paper know Jesus as their Saviour. Let us learn to tell Him our needs, and to thank Him for what He gives us.

“My God shall supply all your need.” Phil. 4:19.

And if any of those who read this paper do not know Jesus as their Saviour, let them remember that He wants to give them the forgiveness of their sins, and the gift of eternal life.

“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

ML 10/12/1947

Ready Now

In the city of Liverpool, England, some years ago, on a cold cloudy morning, the captain of a steamer was coming down the street on his way to the steamer, when he noticed a poorly clad, hungry little boy standing in front of a fine restaurant.

The captain placed his hand gently on the boy’s shoulder and asked, “What are you doing here, my little man?” The little boy, with a piteous look, said, “O sir, I was just standing-here looking’ at the good things they have to eat in the restaurant.”

“Well,” said the captain, “if you had on good clothes, a clean face, and your hair combed, I would take you in the restaurant and get you something to eat.”

The little boy, with a look of love and gentleness, and with tears in his eyes at the captain’s kind words, brushed his hair with his hand and said, “I am ready—ready now.” To which the captain replied, “Well, my little man, God bless you; come with me into the restaurant and. I will get you something to eat.”

As the little fellow began to eat, the captain asked, “Where is your mother, my boy?” “Mother died when I was about four years old,” replied the child. “Where is your father?” “I haven’t seen father since mother died.” “And who takes care of you?” inquired the captain.

The boy, with a look of calm resignation, said; “When mamma was sick, just before she died, she told me that Jesus would take care of me; she taught me how to pray and to love Jesus.”

Putting his arms around the boy, the captain said, “Come with me my little man, and you will always be my boy.”

ML 10/12/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Gen. 14:17-24

Poor Lot had lost everything and had been carried captive himself. How little he realized when he “pitchted his tent toward Sodom” that such a sorrow was going to come upon him and his family! And we ourselves are only safe when we walk in obedience to God and His Word.

God loved Lot in spite of his failure, and undertook for his restoration. Abram who was in communion with the mind of God, loved his brother Lot too, He felt for him in his sorrow, and made plans to help him. He might have said, “It serves him right”, especially after the quarrel there had been between their herdsmen a short time, before, but Divine love does not act that way. Divine love forgives and still loves. Surely this is the way God has acted with us. “He hath not dealt with us after our sins.” Psa. 103:10. If God gave us what we deserved it would be eternal judgment, but He has forgiven us frankly and fully. We should always act the same way with others, and forgive them no matter how badly they treat us.

Abram did not love in word only, but indeed and in truth (1 John 3:18). He went to Lot’s assistance at once, putting his own life in danger to do it. He recovered not only Lot and all his goods, but he recovered others too, and came back in triumph. We are just as sure to have victory when we are doing the will of God, as we are sure to have defeat when we are not.

After such a fine victory, a great temptation soon confronted Abram, for when we are able to do something for the Lord, Satan often tries to take from us of the blessing, by getting our eyes off the Lord. We need strength from above offer the victory, as well as before it. Melchizedek, the priest is lost High God, came to meet him with bread and wine. Then he blessed Abram in the name of the Most High God which is the title which the Lord will take when He reigns over the earth in a soon coming day. He will be the “Possessor of heaven and earth but as yet He has not taken possession of His inheritance. Abram this in faith, owning His claims by giving tithes to Him of all he possesses.

Having received the bread and wine and the blessing of the Most High God he was prepared to refuse what the king of Sodom was about to offer him as king of Sodom told him to keep all he had recovered except the people. Abram had never wanted to live in the wicked city of Sodom, but now the temptation before him was just this—did he want any of the riches of Sodom when were offered to him?

He had never sought after those things, but this was a more difficult decision to make when they were offered to him. However his mind was made up—he refused them completely. He would not receive even a thread shoe latchet from the king of Sodom. Only faith in God can enable us to make such decisions for the Lord’s glory.

There is something very beautiful in the way Abram acted here. While he refused for himself, he did not refuse for the young men with him who had eaten of Sodom’s food. However he gave them the example of his own faith, which should have been a word, to them. May our lives be an example to others too!

ML 10/12/1947

A City Sparrow

It was very very early one morning in Ottawa, Canada, so early that very few people were awake. The birds had begun to chirp, although there was scarcely enough daylight yet for you to see your way without the street-lights. A big policeman walked down the quiet street, past all the darkened stores. He looked very big and strong but he had a kind heart underneath his shiny brass buttons, as I think you will agree when you hear his story.

Just in front of the policeman, on the sidewalk, was a little shivering sparrow, not able to fly. The man felt sorry for it at once, and stooped to pick it up, but it fluttered just beyond his reach. He tried again, but the sparrow was too quick for him, and somehow flopped itself farther ahead. The policeman thought his big warm pocket would be just the place for a shivering bird on a chilly morning, and he was quite sure that his wife would know now to feed and care for it until it was quite well.

He tried again and again, and I wish he had caught it, but he didn’t. Girls and boys, are you running away from the Lord Jesus like that? Do you not know that He wants to save you, forgive your sins, care for you very lovingly, and take you to live with Him in heaven? The sparrow did not know the kindness in the policeman’s heart, but thought he was an enemy. You also will not know the kindness in the heart of God until you let Him save you. Then you will find that the Lord Jesus, who gave His life for you, will show you all the kindness that is in the heart of God His Father towards sinners who come to Him.

The rest of our story is very sad. The little sparrow at last fluttered down through a grating in the sidewalk, which was used to light the basement of one of the stores. It must have died down there in the darkness, for it was quite impossible for it to get out. The policeman was willing to save it, but it did not allow him to do it.

Will your life end like that? Will you turn away from Jesus until it is too late? He is willing to save you now. Remember that He died for sinners like you, and do not turn away from Him any longer.

“THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN; BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH.” Proverbs 16:25.

ML 10/19/1947

Ready Now

He made arrangements to bring the little lad on the steamer and introduced him to his men, saying: “He will wait on me, and his name is “Ready Now.” He is always ready and you must not call him by any other name than “Ready Now.” The little boy cleaned up after the captain had given him a new blue suit of clothes, and he began his pleasant duty of waiting on the captain, and did so most faithfully.

The captain learned to love dear the little child. Shortly after the little boy had been on board, he took sick and one day he said to the captain: “I feel sick; I have awful pains in my breast. O captain, I want to get to you.” The kind-hearted man took the little child in his arms and pressed him to his heart. The little one fell asleep and was carried very carefully to his berth.

A few days later the doctor said t, the captain: “I have done all I can for that poor child; he is seriously ill and will die.” “O Doctor,” cried the captain “save him; “O Doctor,” cried the captain “save him; I can’t give him up.” But the child continued to grow worse. One day the boy sent for the captain who, he loved so dearly, and as the captain looked him in the face, he saw that death was very near.

The little boy, in a low, weak voice, said; “O Captain, I do love you, you have been so good to me. But say Captain, I am going to leave you; I am going to where Jesus and mother are. Yes, Captain, I am going to be with Jesus. Captain, won’t you give your heart to Jesus? Meet me in heaven Captain. Jesus loves you; won’t you let Him save you and be a Christian?”

The captain, with deep emotion and trembling voice replied “I have been thinking about it, my little boy.” Replied the captain, “I will not put it off much longer.” “O Captain, won’t you let Jesus save you? When will you be ready?”

With tears streaming down his cheeks, the captain fell upon his knees and cried, “I am ready Now— ready now.” And there on his knees, with a broken and contrite heart, the captain opened his heart to the Lord Jesus. About a half hour afterward some of the men came to the captain’s room, and found him kneeling in prayer, the little boy’s arms around his neck—the child cold in death’s embrace—the spirit had returned to God who gave it. He had pleaded with the captain to the end, and had won, a faithful little worker for Jesus to the last.

The captain gave up his position as captain of the steamer and went out to preach the Gospel of the grace of God to poor, lost sinners, and to tell of the dear little boy, who had been the means in God’s hands, of leading him to the blessed Saviour.

Dear young reader, are vou a Christian? Do you love Jesus as this little boy did? Are you ready to meet Him? Do you know Him as your personal Saviour who died for you on the cross, of Calvary? If not, will you accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour now, and then you can say “Ready now”. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

ML 10/19/1947

Safe Within the Gate

A young mother and her little boy had been visiting a friend and were starting home in the twilight. They lived in a wild mountainous section of the country, and had to walk up a steep path to their little cottage.

As they neared their home they could hear the barking of a hungry pack of coyotes coming down the mountain. Nearer and nearer they came. The mother and boy hurried on to their home and were soon safe within the strong-gate. They were just in time, too, for as the gate clicked safely, the coyotes rushed down the ravine near the house. How thankful the mother was that the Lord had preserved them from the hungry animals!

Doesn’t this little story make us think of the judgment soon to fall on this Christ rejecting world? Already we can see the world hastening on to its doom, but God, has provided a place of safety in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Flee from the wrath to come”—yes— flee to the open arms of a loving Saviour who says,

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

If the mother and child in our story had been a few moments late, they would no doubt have been trampled on and killed by the coyotes. So we urge any who are not “safe in Christ” to take Him NOW, for tomorrow may be too late.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10.

“And they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Man. 25:10.

ML 10/19/1947

Now

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus

Little children, while you’re young,

While your heart is soft and tender;

Jesus loves the little one.

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus

While you’re happy young and gay;

Trust in Him who died to save you,

Died to wash your sins away.

Now’s the time to trust in Jesus,

Soon will pass your youthful days,

And your heart will grow still harder,

If you go in evil ways.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1. “Those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Proverbs 8:17.

ML 10/19/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 15:1-12

After Abram had made such a grand decision—refusing all the king of Sodom had to offer—then the Lord appeared to him with these beautiful words, “Fear not, Abram I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great Reward.”

How often we find these sweet words in the Scriptures, “Fear not.” If you are unsaved, dear young reader, this message is not for you. God does not say “Fear not” to you, but rather warns you of coming judgment. Will you take the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour, and then His perfect love will cast out all your fears? (1 John 4:18) At Calvary all God’s righteous judgment against sin has been fully met, in order that poor sinners such as we, might be brought into blessing. Abram’s faith looked forward to the cross—we can look back to it as a finished work.

God also said, “I am thy Shield”, and if God undertakes our cause, and prises to protect us, all is well. If we know that God is for us, what a wondrous Shield we have! And He is our Reward too! Sodom’s king offered rards to Abram; Belshazzar offered rewards to Daniel; and the world will offer many rewards to you, dear boys and girls, if you go after them. May we be like Abram and Daniel, refusing. them because the Lord Himself is our Reward. Then we can say like Paul, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14. Could we have any better reward than this? An “exceeding great Reward” indeed!

Abram longed for a son, to be the heir of all God had promised him, and so he asked the Lord about it. What a beautiful reply he received from Him. “Look now toward heaven.” Oh, then in all our difficulties and problems, we too would learn to look toward heaven. Yes, we can ask the Lord’s help at any time, for He knows our needs,

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear,

What a privilege to carry,

Everything to God in prayer.

God then promised Abram that his seed should be as the stars of heaven and Abram believed it. Yes children to that is faith! It means that we believe what God says, even although we can’t understand all of God’s ways it would not require faith.

In making this covenant, or promise of blessing, it had to be confirmed by means of death. The only way in which a righteous God can bless sinful man is through the death of a Substitute and so the death of these animals pointed on to the one perfect Sacrifice— the Lord Jesus who died for us on Calvary. The fowls of the air would have come down on the carcasses, tell us of Satan (“the prince of the power of the air”) who has in ways tried to hinder the purposes God. In the energy of faith, Abram drove them away.

“A deep sleep ... and an horror great darkness” fell upon him while the sun was going down. Abram was mad to feel the solemnity of having with God. We are living in careless days, boys and girls, when we see very little real exercise before God. People think all too lightly about sin, and the horribleness to a holy God. If you have never felt your sins, our prayer is that you may feel them now, until you cry out “God be merciful to me a sinner.

ML 10/19/1947

Puzzles

Perhaps you like to play with puzzles, do you? Mr. Graham’s puzzle was not play and he did not like it at all. He had filled pages and pages with numbers of dollars and cents, but somehow he was no nearer to the answer. His forehead was a big puzzled frown, because he could not find enough money to keep his family in their comfortable home any longer.

He did not know that God has the answer to every puzzle that troubles little people and grown-ups too, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Mr. Graham would have missed many a sorrow, and so would you, little reader, if you would take your puzzles, big ones and little ones to the Lord Jesus for help in time of trouble.

Herbert Graham, who had begun to work in a big city, came home to find his father’s desk full of unpaid bills, but I’m sorry to say that he did not care very much. The time came, however, when Herbert had a bigger puzzle than even his father. Money was scarce in his new position, so he began to use his master’s money, and then to cover his sin by telling lies. His master soon found out the boy’s dishonesty, and he spent six miserable weeks in jail.

But even this did not solve Herbert’s puzzle. He knew that, although the police could not touch him now, his sin was still very plain in the sight of God. Try as he would, he could not get rid of his sins before God. Many a wiser man than Herbert has found that he could not answer the old question, “Who can say, I have made my heart Clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9.

Mrs. Graham read and loved the Word of God, and she had long ago found in its precious pages that God Himself is ready to forgive the sinner because Jesus Christ has died in the sinner’s place. She prayed often for her boy, and not only that, but she taught him from the Holy Scriptures that “the blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

At last Herbert could bear it no longer, so he just knelt down and told the Lord Jesus what a helpless sinner he was. He simply believed God’s Word and was saved. His puzzle was answered, his sin was gone, and now his joy was to please the One who said,

I, EVEN I, AM HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT THY TRANSGRESSIONS FOR THINE OWN SAKE, AND WILL NOT REMEMBER THY SINS.” Isaiah 43:25.

ML 10/26/1947

Nyangandia

Nyangandia was the name of an African girl who lived on the bank of a wide river, which she crossed every day in her little canoe, taking over clusters of bananas to sell. She had never heard of the Lord Jesus until one Saturday she came to the home of a missionary but instead of selling bananas she heard someone reading from God’s Word. As she listened, spellbound, to the story of the Saviour’s suffering and death on the cross, her heart was touched and streamed down her cheeks.

“May I come here again?” she pleaded, and the lady was happy to invite her to come on the morrow to her class. “I live across the river but I will come,” she responded.

Next day when the little ones gathered to hear the old, old story and sing Jesus’ love to them, Nyangandia was there too, listening as eagerly as before. When the children had gone away the teacher had a long talk with her, telling not only of her need of a Saviour, but of the One who left His home in this glory and came down here to die for her. And now let me ask a question of you, dear reader. Have you ever realized that YOU need a Saviour and that Jesus died for YOU—have you ever accepted Him as your own personal Saviour?

Before Nyangandia left to cross the river to her home, she told her new found friend that that morning she had discovered that her canoe was gone. Someone had stolen it during the night. Her heart was filled with dismay— without her canoe how could she cross that wide river with its strong current to reach the missionary’s home? But go she would, and soon the brave, darling head was seen above the water, and she swam until the other shore was reached.

So anxious was she to hear about Jesus that she risked her life to do so. Does not this put us to shame? It is God’s mercy that we live in this favored land where the Gospel is so freely preached, but have we not become careless and dull of hearing to its sweet solemn message? Let us then seek to value the Saviour’s love and learn more of Him even as little Nyangandia.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33.

ML 10/26/1947

A Good Start

Two months ago we had a little chat about a new beginning, and today we would like to go on with much the same subject, only that we want to talk more especially for those who are truly saved.

With this in mind, will you open your Bible at 2 Kings 22, where we read about Josiah, the boy king. He was only eight years old when he began his reign, but we have no doubt that even though he was so young, he had true faith in God, for he wanted to do what was “right in the sight of the Lord,” Just think of a crown being placed on the head of such a small boy! But it did not make him proud, nor did it make him forget the Lord. No, it was just the opposite. He decided that in that new position, that “new start” in life, he was going to honor the Lord, and try to please Him.

There is usually a time which comes into our young lives when we have to make a clear cut stand. We can sometimes go on for years in a kind of half-hearted way, until a time comes when we start a new school, we get a new position, or perhaps we have to make some important decision. Although we have been saved for a long time, we feel that the time has come when we must come definitely out on the Lord’s side or ... ..well, we will begin to go back, and who knows how far back we will go, if the Lord does not come in. It is a real turning-point, and how happy it is when we see young folks at such a time, come out and start to follow the Lord. Their fathers and mothers, as well as their friends are overheard saying, “What a lovely change we see in ... ”

It’s a kind of a new start, and a good one too! At such a time they often express the desire to remember the Lord in His death, according to His Word, “This do in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24. Then too, they want to do something for the Lord. They would like to give away some gospel tracts to help gather in the children and teach them the way of salvation, or perhaps visit the poor and the sick. They begin to talk about the Lord to other young people, and try to help them. Their worldly ways begin to drop off, and without being asked they give up this thing, and that friend, which was a hindrance to them in following the Lord. They read their Bibles each day, and don’t forget to kneel often in prayer.

They are regular at the meetings where the people of God assemble together, and how our hearts rejoice! Then we say like John of old, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 4.

Dear young reader, if you are really saved, the sooner that time comes in your life, the better. It is not an easy path, as Josiah found out, but it is one in which you will have the Lord’s blessing, and that is everything. You only have one life to live, and only what is done for Christ, and in obedience to His Word will abide. The rest will all be loss, and it is a good thing to find it out while you are young, and not have to look back on a wasted life.

Josiah’s life should be an encouragement to us in this for he started well, and as we go on. in our chapter we shall see next month that when he grew older he went on well too.

ML 10/26/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 15:13-21

Only God can foretell the future with assurance! And here we find Him telling Abram what was going to happen to his nation hundreds of years later. It is foretold too, with marvelous accuracy, and yet in a very few words. Everything is known o God, and how foolish it is to try to bide anything from Him. Every movement in our little lives only accomplishes His purposes, and if we belong to the Lord, He makes all things work together for our good.

Notice the words, “The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” God never judges until evil comes to its height. He is a patient and longsuffering God, delighting in mercy, but He cannot allow sin to go on forever. This world is rapidly getting worse. Boys and girls are doing things they would never have thought about in years gone by. They do not want restraint from their parents, nor their teachers, nor anyone else. They have no fear of God before their eyes. They want their own way—little realizing that they are just hastening on the awful day of judgment which is soon to come upon this dark scene. After the Lord has come, and taken His own to heaven (1 Thess. 4:16-18), man’s evil will “reach unto heaven” Revelation 18:5. Then “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” Daniel 12:1. Dear young reader, will you not listen to the warning, and “Flee from the wrath to come.” Matthew 3:7. You may go on for months, and even years, in your sins, having your good time (so-called), but remember judgment is coming. The only way of escape is through Christ.

“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 4:7. This may be your last opportunity to be saved. Will you come to Him now?

After God had told Abram about what was to come upon his nation in the future, Abram saw two things a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp. The “smoking furnace” speaks of a affliction and trial, while the “burning lamp” tells us of the light of God’s Word shining on our path, bringing encouragement to our hearts even in the trials. Abram’s nation (Israel) had many times of affliction, but God was faithful, and brought deliverance. But who endured “the furnace” like the Lord Jesus Himself, when He was forsaken of God on the cross? And now the “burning lamp” of His Word brings the message of blessing to us. Even all your difficulties, dear boys and girls let the precious light of God’s Word shine upon your path, and give you guidance and cheer.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105.

God then made a covenant to give the land of Canaan, which is now known as the land of Palestine, to Abram’s seed. It is their land, and it will be the centre of earthly glory and blessing when the kingdom of Christ is set up on earth. This time is drawing near and God is beginninh to put a desire into the hearts of the Jews, to return to their land. They are however, going back in unbelief, and will not be blessed until they repent of their great sin in crucifying their Messiah. We should not depise the Jews, for they are still the people of God. They are a scattered and suffering people today, because of their rejection of Christ.

ML 10/26/1947

Bible Questions for November

“The Children’s Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for August

1.Hebrews 13:6.

2.Hebrews 9:27.

3.Hebrews 6:10.

4.Hebrews 2:3.

5.Hebrews 10:31.

6.Hebrews 3:13.

7. Hebrews 4:13.

“The Children’s Class”
Bible Questions for November

The Answers are to be found in Revelation chapter 1-11.

1.“Redeemed us to God.”

2.“Great day of His wrath.”

3.“I am alive for evermore.

4.“The sword of My mouth.”

5.“He shall reign forever and ever.”

6.“White in the blood of the Lamb.”

7.“Death shall flee from them.”

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for August

1.No. Hebrews 9:22.

2.To the saving of his house. Hebrews 11:7,

3.No. Hebrews 8:12 or 10:17,

4.Come boldly to the throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16.

5.No, Hebrews 6:10.

6.The things which we have heard. Hebrews 2:1.

7.Do good and communicate. Hebrews 13:16.

“The Young People’s Class”
Bible Questions for November

The Answers are to be found in Revelation chapter 1-11.

1. For whose pleasure were all things created?

2. By what are we redeemed to God?

3. What will men seek and “shall not find during the tribulation?

4. What did the Lord have “against” the church (assembly) in Ephesus?

5. When will the people on the earth make merry and send gifts?

6. What had those in Philadelphia “kept.”

7. Who has the keys of hell and of death.

ML 11/02/1947

The Story of a Lion

Some years ago, a band of negro men in Africa set to work to build a great railway through the jungle. They slept in tents at night and worked hard during the day, until one night a terrible enemy filled them with such fear that work was impossible. A great lion began to visit the little tents, tear open the canvas covering and carry off a man every night! For a whole month, every man in the camp, thought of nothing else but to great lion; but they could not.

Now little children, there are no fierce lions around your home, but there is an enemy more powerful and more clever than a lion, who would like to lead your soul to hell. His name is the Devil, or Satan. Just as that great lion could not, be caught by all the skill of the tier railway men, so the Devil cannot be defeated by the skill of the wisest man in the whole world. He is more clever than you or any man you know.

But here is a surprise for you. One day, a wee white girl, in a summer dress and sunbonnet, found the huge lion lying on the grass. She called a little black boy to come and pat its great furry head, as she said to him, “We’re not frightened, is we?” Can you guess why the little girl had no fear at all. The great lion was dead! Her father had come with his gun and shot the wild animal, so that even a little girl need have no fear of it at all.

Now here is the best part of our story. The Lord Jesus Christ is the One who is stronger than Satan, and who has forever broken Satan’s power for us who trust in Jesus. It does not matter how strong you are, but how strong Jesus is! If you are safe in Him, you need have no more fear of Satan’s power than that little girl had of the dead lion.

You are a sinner, and you have no better defense against Satan than a canvas tent-covering against a fierce lion. What will you do when he comes to tempt you? Just kneel down and ask the Lord Jesus to meet him for you, for the Saviour has already defeated him at Calvary’s cross. God’s Word says,

“Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33.

ML 11/02/1947

Searching

Many little ones are reading

God’s most sacred Word,

Finding answers to the Questions:

Learning of the Lord.

Many little eyes are scanning

Through the sacred page,

Thus the Word of God they’re learning

At an early age.

Many little hands are writing

What God’s Word has said,

And their little hearts are feeding

On the heavenly Bread.

May they each in early childhood

Learn to trust the Lord,

And their lives be formed and fashioned

By God’s Holy Word.

ML 11/02/1947

Winning Stars

A young lady was dressing for a dance.

As she stood before her large mirror, she placed a light crown, decorated with silver stars upon her head.

Her little sister, who had been watching, climbed up onto a chair, and put her hands to touch the crown.

Turning to the fair-haired child, the older sister said, “Sister, what are you doing? You mustn’t touch that crown!”

“I was looking at that, and thinking of something else,” she replied.

“Tell me what you are thinking about.”

“I was remembering what my teacher said, that if we are used in the salvation of sinners, we would win stars for our crown in heaven. I wish I could win some soul!”

The young lady went to the dance, but could not find any joy in its brightness and music. Her little sister’s words had found an entrance into her heart. Everything around her seemed so empty and vain as she felt herself unsaved and unfit for God. Leaving early, she went back to her home, and going to the room where her little sister was sleeping, she put a warm kiss on her soft cheek, saying, “Dear little sister, you have won one star for your crown.” Then bowing on her knees at the bedside, she owned her sin and her need, and accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour.

Dear young reader, if you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, be ready to tell others of that One who loves them. There are many unhappy hearts in this poor world, and you may have the joy of pointing some of them to the Lord Jesus who can wash away their sins and fill their hearts with peace: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5.1.

ML 11/02/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 16

God had just made a wonderful promise to Abram. He had told him that his seed would be as stars of heaven, and that He would give them the land of Canaan for their possession. But as yet Abram did not have a son to be the heir of all these promises, and he became impatient. He wanted to see God’s promise fulfilled at once, and could not wait God’s time. His wife Sarai was not a true helpmeet in this either, and she gave him bad advice. Instead of turning to the Lord, Abram listened to her, and took things into his own hands. How often we too are impatient, and because we do not get the answer to our prayers all at once, we think we must act ourselves, instead of waiting on the Lord. We will always find that the result is the same as it was with Abram—we only hinder the blessing God has for us.

When Sarai began to see the results of her sin, and was despised by Hagar, she places the blame on her husband. She says, “My wrong be upon thee!’ Then she tried to get out of the difficulty by dealing unkindly to Hagar, so that she left her and went into the wilderness. Did you ever try to get out of a difficulty by acting proudly, and putting the blame on someone else? When we act in that way, without owning our failure to the Lord, He has to lay His hand upon us still further, until there is true restoration to Him. So here, the Lord sent Hagar back to Abram and Sarai, thus allowing them to feel the full result of what they had done. He did not bring deliverance until many years later, when there had been full restoration of soul.

Thus God allowed Abram and Sarai to reap what they had sown. His word solemnly declares, “be not deceived God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7. If we walk in disobedience to the Word of God, are sowing to the flesh, and the reaping, the time is not pleasant. May the Lord help you, dear children, to be careful how, you sow, for the “sowing” is done mostly in your young days. If you sow good seed, setting out with purpose of heart to follow the Lord, you will have His blessing on your life. If you follow after this poor empty world, and sow your “wild oats”, be assured that you will reap the same.

There was one thing that Hagar learned when she was in the wilderness after she had run away from Sarai. It is summed up in four little words, “Thou God seest me.” I hope everyone who reads these lines has memorized this little text. There isn’t a place where we can go, but what the eye God rests upon us. He sees and knows all we have ever done, and yet in spite of it all He loves us. He has undertaken the whole of the sinner’s case, and at Calvary’s cross, the Lord Jesus “bares our sins in His own body on till tree 1 Peter 2:24. What rest of conscience it gives to the one who believes, to know that although God knows all about us yet the work of His Son has made possible for Him to say, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17.

ML 11/02/1947

Ruth's Decision

The tallest lady in our picture today is Naomi. Her name means “Pleasant”, but she does not feel pleasant at all, because she has been ten years away from the Lord’s people, no wonder she is feeling very sad and lonely. Her husband and her two sons have died while the family was in a far country. And, little reader, if you choose as Naomi did, to stay away from the Lord’s people, you will have sadness and sorrow too.

But who are the two younger ladies in the picture? They are not in a very pleasant place, for we can see little else but stones and hare paths and cactus plants, but it is a very important place, because it is a place of decision. That means that these two ladies must choose whether they will go with Naomi to the land of Israel, or go home to their own people in the land of Moab. Israel was the chosen people of God, and Moab was the land of God’s enemies. What do you think they should do? Suppose you had stood there on the stony path, what would you have done?

You know, little reader, when you hear this story, you must make a decision too, and it is a very important one. Will you obey the Word of God, or will you go on in your own way without Him?

Orpah has already decided what to do. She is standing away front the others, ready to go back to the land of Moab, the land of God’s enemies, where she will not hear the Word of God and she can go her own way until she dies—but after death the judgment.

Ruth has decided too. She is going to the land of Israel, to God’s chosen people, to the land of the true God, and nothing can turn her aside. See how she holds Naomi with both hands! Ruth has never been in the land of Israel before. She will be a stranger there, but she is not afraid.

Do you not think that Ruth made a very wise decision? Will you not make that wise decision today, little reader? God wants you to come where you will learn more about Him, for His kindness and love are much too great for us to tell you until you know Him for yourself. His Word is full of kind messages for you, even though you are a stranger to God, yes, and an enemy of God. You are a sinner, but He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die, so that you could be near Him forever.

Will you go away, as Orpah did, or will you come to Him as Ruth did?

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

Next week, Lord willing we shall tell you the happy ending of Ruth’s story.

“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE.” Joshua 24:15.

ML 11/09/1947

Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out

A dear Christian man was lying on a sick-bed, knowing that very soon he would be called Home to meet the Lord Jesus. His sister was standing by his bedside, and he was telling her how he was led to the Saviour. He showed her a little slip of paper on which these words were written, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Then he told her this story.

He was only a little boy, when one day he stole a piece of cake from the cupboard. His mother had told him not to touch it. He took it to bed with him, but while eating it, he fell asleep with the half-eaten cake between his fingers.

Later on, when his mother came for a good-night kiss, she found her little boy asleep with the forbidden cake bide him, In the morning when he woke up, he found the piece of cake was still there, but neatly folded in white paper.

On it, in his mother’s hand-writing he read the solemn words; “Be sure your sin will find you out,” Numbers 32:23.

Not a word was said. He kept that piece of paper, and the words never left his memory, although he was yet unsaved. Soon, he could bear it no longer. He knew that the stolen cake was only one of many many sins, and that the Lord Jesus knew them all. At last he found another verse in the Word of God which says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. He owned his sins to the Lord, and also thanked Him for the precious blood which had been shed for him. You can well imagine how pleased his mother was, that her little note bad been the means of arousing her son to his need of salvation and forgiveness.

ML 11/09/1947

A Sailor's Story

The voice that first told me of my need of a Saviour is silent now. It was a young cabin-boy on board the ship in which I first sailed from England. We had a rough trip, and out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean we met with such a storm as made my coward heart fear.

I remembered how, as a little boy many years ago, my mother had taught me of God, and told me that I didn’t need to be afraid of the dark because He would be near and take care of me. But now this thought did not quiet my heart. I felt that God was near, and that it was His voice speaking in the storm; but I could not look up to Him as my Saviour and Friend, and the thought of His being near me only made me tremble with fear.

I had lived so long in sin and without God in the world, that surely He would not listen to me now, or take care of me in the storm. As I heard the wind and the waves roaring, and tried to look out into the thick darkness, I felt that there was not a glimmer of hope for me.

Just then this young cabin-boy came past me. I had often laughed at him and teased him when he tried to speak to me of his Saviour. As he passed me in the dark, I thought I heard him saying, “I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” Psalms 23:4.

At any time I would have laughed at him; but I was in no mood for laughing now, and so I called out to him as he went by, “Aren’t you afraid, Charlie?” The boy stopped and said, “No, master, I’m not afraid. When the storm in the heart has once been stilled, the outside storms can’t frighten one. If one’s heart is only in the harbor, there’s no room for fear.

“Amid the howling, wintry sea,

We are in port, if we have Thee.”

I would have given the world at that moment to have felt as the young lad did; though many a time when he had spoken to me before of the sure haven for storm-tossed souls, I had told him there would be time enough to seek the harbor when the storm came. How well I remember the sad look which came over his face when I spoke so, and how gravely he would say, “Ah! Master Smith, you should put into that port in bright weather if you wish to be there in the storm.”

He had hardly passed by when a huge wave broke over the ship. In the roar of the wind and the sea, I heard the boy’s voice, “Call upon God, Master Smith, call upon God! He says, ‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee.’”

Then and there, as I clung to the side of the ship, I called upon God and prayed that He would have mercy on my poor dark soul. He heard my cry of distress, and saved my soul. But the lad’s voice I have never heard again. Those words were his last upon earth, for that same wave carried him over the side and we saw him no more.

I found his jacket next morning. He had taken it off to help at the pumps, and there in the pocket was his Bible. I couldn’t help shedding a tear or two when I opened it, and saw how well worn and used it was. I have kept that Bible ever since, and it has taught me more and more about the loving Saviour who found and saved me on that dark night.

Dear friend, do you fear in the presence of death? Do not wait until some later time to conic to the Saviour. “Come NOW, and let us reason together, said the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 11/09/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Gen. 17:1-14

God did not give Abram up even though he had failed. If He gave us up when we fail, where would any of us be? Even though He has to let us feel the results of our mistakes, yet His love never changes.

God said to Abram, “Walk before Me, and be thou perfect.” Abram had not been walking before God when he became the father of Ishmael. It is so easy for any of us to walk before others, trying to please them instead of putting the Lord first. God would have us to be conscious of being in His presence at all times.

Some years ago there was a young man who really loved the Lord Jesus, and tried to please Him at his work. The other men did not like his quiet, living testimony day by day, and tried to get him to do things which would spoil it. One day a number of them made a circle around him, and then when he could not get away, they told one of their bad stories. Then they all started to laugh, but he did not join with them in their sinful laughter. He knew the Scripture which says, “Fools make a mock at sin”, and so he remained quiet and sober. At last one of the men said, “Laugh, John.” His simple reply was, “Men, I live in the presence of God.” This made them all ashamed, and they soon left him. They did not want to be in the presence of God. If you are unsaved, dear reader, you too are afraid of meeting God, but if you will come to Him now, just as you are, He will save you and His perfect love will cast out all fear.

When God spoke, Abram fell on his face before Him. There is always a reverence which is befitting when we are in the presence of God. That is why we should close our eyes, and if possible kneel down, when we talk to God in prayer. It is very displeasing to the Lord to talk or whisper during prayer at Sunday School, in meetings, or at any time when others are praying.

In order to confirm His covenant, God told Abraham that every man child was to be circumcised. Circumcision was the sign of death, and it was to keep fresh in the mind of Abraham as well as his children after him, that the only ground of blessing was, and still is through death. All this pointed on to the death of Christ. The children of Israel soon began to give great importance to circumcision as an ordinance. but lost its true meaning. Then God had to say that their “circumcision is made uncircumcision.” Rom. 2:25. It became only an empty form to then.

Professing Christendom has done much the same today with the two Christian ordinances, baptism, and the Lord’s supper. God’s Word makes very clear that these ordinances cannot save anyone’s soul. They cannot give life to one who is “dead in trespasses and sins.” Only faith in Christ and His, finished work can do that. Nor are they necessary to salvation, for the thief on the cross went to be with the Lord, even though he was never baptized. Many dear Christians too have never partaken of the Lord’s supper. These ordinances are however precious Christian privileges, when their true meaning is laid hold of by faith, from God’s blessed Word. If you are not saved, dear young reader, remember that nothing but living faith in Christ can save you.

ML 11/09/1947

Ruth in the Harvest Field

Do you remember last week’s story of Ruth, who went to the land of Israel with Naomi? They reached the land at the beginning of harvest time, when the men were busy cutting barley in the fields.

Ruth needed food for herself and for Naomi, but she had no field of barley, for you remember that she was a stranger, just come from the land of God’s enemies. God was watching over her, however, and He had made a law long ago, that the poor and the stranger were allowed to pick up little pieces of grain that fell from the bundles as the men were working. This was called gleaning. Ruth worked in the field of a rich man named Boaz. At the end of the day, when she beat out the grains of barley and threw away the straw, she had plenty for Naomi and herself.

Boaz noticed her in his field, and he did not send the stranger away. In fact, he showed her great kindness, told her not to glean in any other field but his, and to share the water that his young men had drawn from the well. Every time he spoke to her, he showed her more kindness than before, and she could not understand it, for he well knew that she was a stranger from an enemy country.

Boaz was indeed a wonderful man, but I can tell you of a Man far more wonderful than he was. His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is more than a man, for He is God also. You and I are strangers as Ruth was, because we are by nature at enmity against God. He knows all about us but this does not turn away His love. He offers us living water and the bread of life, and these are far more costly than the water and grain which Boaz offered to Ruth.

Ruth did not go to another field. She came there every day, and once he gave her six measures of barley that she had not worked for at all. She could not understand all his kindness, but I will tell you the real reason why to end so much for her. It was because he loved her. Not long after this, Boaz married Ruth, and the lonely stranger from Moab went to live with the mighty man of wealth, and shared everything he had. Isn’t this a wonderful ending for our story? Now the story of your life can have a far more wonderful ending than that, little reader, for the One who loves you is the Lord Jesus, Christ. He wants you to come and live with Him in His wonderful home in Heaven. You are a stranger and a sinner, and you do not deserve His kindness at all, but He died on the cross that sinners like you might belong to Him forever, He says,

“I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3.

ML 11/16/1947

Joquille

Joquille was a shepherd boy who lived in a village on the coast of Brittany. He used to sit on the green hillsides and watch the sheep as they fed on the tender grass, and sometimes as the birds sang, he played his violin.

One day while sitting there, his three little sisters were nearby gathering flowers by the side of the road. He heard laughing and talking as well as the clatter of wooden shoes and rightly guessed that several of the village women were coming down the road. Suddenly a piercing scream disturbed the peaceful scene, and Joquille sprang to his feet. Dashing along the lane in the direction of his flock, was a dog and cries of “Mad Dog” told him the cause for alarm. The women ran to him for protection and the little girls clung to one another under a hedge.

Joquille had nothing in his hands, but praying earnestly for, help, he bravely faced the foaming dog which leaped at his throat. He quickly sprang aside and taking off one of his wooden shoes, and holding it firmly in his hand he stood ready to fight. Again the dog sprang at him and an awful struggle began, at which the women looked in silent horror, but his three little sisters knelt and prayed for Joquille and themselves.

They cried to the One who had promised to hear, for in Psalms 50:15 we are told, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” The Lord Himself has promised that those who cry to him in trouble will be heard and delivered.

Their prayer was answered, and Joquille was given courage wisdom. By this time both he and the dog had fallen to the ground—still fighting. He remembered a tiny whip in his pocket which he quickly twisted and forced into the dog’s mouth, and then with his shoe vigorously attacked him again and again, and soon, after a quiver and a gasp, the dog lay dead. Joquille sprang to his feet but his arm and shoulder were bleeding freely, for he had been bitten and torn again and again. The brave boy had saved those who looked to him for protection but only at the cost of great suffering to himself.

Thus it is with the One who has saved me—and who is anxious to save you too, if you are yet in your sins. He suffered on Calvary’s cross the punishment that I deserved from the hand of God for my sins, and also gave His life that I might live. You, too, dear reader, may obtain eternal life by owning youelf a sinner in God’s sight and accepting it as “the gift of God ... .through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23.

The women sobbed for joy when they saw the dog was dead and Joquille’s sisters threw themselves into his arms. He suddenly turned faint and fell on the ground unconscious. At first they thought he was dead, but when he came to, he was sent by his master to Paris to be treated in Dr. Pasteur’s Hospital, for he feared the wounds might prove fatal. Many prayers went up for him that the nursing and skill might be successful. They were, and after a little while he returned home happy and well. Often he received thanks from those he had protected in the hour of danger.

How about you, my reader, have you yet thanked the Lord Jesus, the risen Saviour, who is now at God’s right hand—for all He has done for you? Surely we can say, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood ... .to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” Rev. 1:5,6.

ML 11/16/1947

Faithful Laddie

Sitting one day in our parked car on one of the village streets, I noticed a little boy of about four ran after a farmer’s wagon. He jumped up and seized hold of the back, and, dangling thus, rode along, all unknown to the driver. I was fearful lest some danger overtake the child, but presently the doctor’s large St. Bernard dog ran after the wagon and gently touched the lad as if to say, “Little boy, you are in danger hanging there! Please let go!”

Over and over again the noble creature sought to warn the child by these gentle touches, but the unheeding youngster still swung from the wagon enjoying his stolen ride. When the dog saw he could not persuade the boy to let go he ran and barked at the driver. Back and forth he kept going, touching the child and barking at the man, but failing to attract attention.

Finally, to the faithful dog’s relief, the boy let go his hold. Laddie did not leave him. however, until he was safely landed on the sidewalk, quite out of danger. Laddie was only a dog but he did what he could to deliver the little boy from danger.

We have a faithful Shepherd, dear children, whose love and power are infinite and whose eye is ever on His Own. Who are “His Own?” Those who have trusted Him as their own Saviour. If we should stray into paths of sin,——paths of our own choosing—He longs to bring us back to the paths of righteousness, peace and joy.

“He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalms 121:3.

“He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.” Psalms 23:3.

The Lord Jesus watches over us and cares for us because He loves us very dearly, and gave His precious blood to redeem us. How it grieves His blessed heart when we get away from Him, following the sinful things of this world. Yet He delights to restore us to Himself, when we come, confessing our sins.

ML 11/16/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 17:15-27

God told Abraham and Sarah that He would give them a son to be the promised heir. This seemed like an impossibility in their old age but “with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26. He asked God that Ishmael might live before Him, but this was not a prayer of faith. Sometimes we too ask God for things which are not for our good, and if we persist He may let us have them to our own sorrow. So it was here, for Ishmael did live, and his descendants were the continual enemies of the people of God. When making requests in prayer, we should always say “if it be thy will”, because God knows what is best for us.

In spite of Abraham’s failure, God was faithful. He fulfilled His promise in His own time, and gave them a son.

At the end of our chapter we see beautiful obedience on the part of Abraham, for although we all fail in some things, God takes knowledge of what is done for Him. Abraham and all his household were circumcised “the selfsame day” in which God spoke to him. Too often we are very slow in doing what the Lord has asked us to do. If there is something, dear young Christian, which you know the Lord wants you to do, ask Him for strength to do it now. Delay is always dangerous, and a hindrance to blessing.

The eighteenth chapter opens with a very beautiful scene. It was a very hot day, and Abraham was sitting in his tent door when three men came near.

He ran to meet them, and bowed himself. This was real courtesy, and God has put it in His Word to show us that it was pleasing to Him. We are told to “be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8), and we should always act kindly to others. It is never right to be rude and thoughtless.

We are living in days, when boys and girls often forget those little acts of kindness which God wants to see in, His children. Never mind whether others are courteous to you; you can be courteous to them just to please the Lord Jesus who died for you. So many children say they are saved, but it often saddens our hearts to hear them answering back, and being bold to their parents their teachers at school, and to others much older than themselves. When we have really accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we should be careful to show it out in our lives day by day. God wants reality, not just lip profession.

These three men were strangers to Abraham. He did not recognize at first that one was the Lord, and the other two were angels. However he welcomed them, and showed them true hospitality, He invited them to rest under the trees, and got water for them to wash their hot feet. People did not travel in fine cars in those days, and had to walk long distances in the scorching sun. How they must have appreciated Abraham’s thoughtfulness and the welcome he gave them. God takes more notice of the little things we do for Him, than we are inclined to think. When someone comes to your home, do you try to welcome them, and do little acts of kindness for them. The Lord will fully reward you, if you do such things “as unto the Lord” even if they forget to thank you. “Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10.

ML 11/16/1947

The Washlady of the Clyde

Up and down go hundreds of boats on the busy Clyde River in Scotland. And along by the shore, some years ago, you might have seen dozens of women down on their knees scrubbing clothes, not only for their own families but for others as well that they might earn a little money. Nearly every day was washday, but still they earned barely enough to live on.

One day, a poor washlady fell from the stone into the river which was flowing swiftly at that point. None of the other ladies could save her, but a man standing by, at once flung off his coat and shoes and, after a hard struggle, dragged her back to land. At first they thought she would not live, but the washladies tried to help her to breathe freely, and before long she opened her eyes.

She lay quite still, listening to the excited chatter of those who had watched the rescue, until she was able to speak. They all hushed to hear her whisper, “Oh, how I would like to see the man who saved me!” The man was sent for, and as soon as she saw him, she said, “Oh sir, you’ve done so much for me, and I’ve naught to give you but yon old wash-tub. Take it and welcome, with all my heart!”

The man quickly took off his hat and went around among the little crowd that had gathered. He brought back a goodly collection of silver coins, which lie poured out for the poor washlady, more than she had ever had before.

Now, little reader, the Lord Jesus has done far more to save you than the strong swimmer did for the poor washlady. Do you long to see the Man who saved you, and are you willing to give Him all you have, and to give it with all your heart? He wants your love and your thankfulness, and He longs to have you with Himself. Do you is tow why? This is the most wonderful part of the story. He not only wants to save you, but He wants to give you all He has, that you might share it with Him forever.

We could not believe such love, if His own Word had not promised us,

“I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3.

ML 11/23/1947

The Dying Singer

A nurse tells the following story which took place some yours ago.

They called for me one day to take the case of a sick young lady. She was a singer, and but twenty-one years old. Through over-exertion in singing, she brought upon herself a very dangerous throat trouble, and was now lying on a sick bed, from which, as I could judge, she would never rise. The father of the sick girl met me at the door with these words: “Nurse, two things I would like to ask of you; first, do not talk to my daughter about religion, and, second not speak to her about dying.”

I gave no answer and therefore he repeated them again. Again I did not answer. The young lady had no idea of the serious nature of her disease. She was a refined and lovely young girl and received me with much kindness.

The next morning I sat in her room reading the Word of God, as I always had done. The next day I did the same, and the third day she said, “Nurse, tell me, what are you reading?”

“I am reading the Word of God, the food for my soul.”

Then she said, “Please read it out loud.” I did so, and from that time she asked me to read it to her every day.

We had come to the story of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus on the cross, and she listened with great interest. Her father came to see her often and was very kind to his daughter. He often said, “My dear girl, you will soon he better, and then we will go away for a holiday.”

One day, when her father had left her, she turned to me and said, “Nurse, my dear father speaks so often of my getting better. What do you say? Do you think I will get well again?”

This was the dreaded question, but what could be done? I said, “Your condition is serious, but with God nothing is impossible. He can, if it be His will, restore you to health again.”

The next day she said again, “Nurse, do you think I am going to die?”

Again I tried to answer her carefully, but she replied,

“I see you are, afraid to tell me the truth, but it seems to me I shall never get well again. What would you do in my position? Oh, please tell me!”

“I would seek to have my sins forgiven, and have peace with God.”

“How am I going to do this? Oh, please help me.”

I pointed her to the Word of God, and to the Lord Jesus who died for our sins, and to God who gives eternal life to all who put their trust in Him.

After a few days of patient suffering, she found salvation and peace in Christ, and went home—a child of God—with a blessed and happy smile.

Her father came to me some time after her death and said, “Nurse, what have you done to my daughter, that she, although so young, could die so peacefully? I would like to have such peace too, so that I may die as she did.”

I pointed him to the same, Word of God, to the same Saviour, and to the same loving God, and he too found pardon and peace in believing.

My dear young reader, if you found yourself facing death, would your soul be at peace? Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour?

ML 11/23/1947

Are You Saved?

A little girl was playing in the sand with a pail and shovel, when a Chrstian gentleman came along and began to talk to her.

Soon he asked, “And if anyone asked you if you were saved, what would you say?”

Her whole face lighted up as she said so earnestly, “I should tell them I don’t know how much I love Jesus for having died for me.”

Back to her digging in the sand she went, a light-hearted playful child: but Jesus, who know all who trust Him, knows her and will keep her as one of His lambs. Can you say, “Jesus died instead of me?” Nothing will bring greater joy to your own heart,—and it will set the bells of heaven ringing.

“Rejoice with Me; for I have found My sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:6.

ML 11/23/1947

Faith

One day a man was looking for wild flowers. He saw a very beautiful one growing from the edge of a cliff, but found that he couldn’t reach it. Soon he found a young shepherd boy, and offered him some money if he would go down the steep cliff and gather the rare flower. The boy looked down and refused to go. Then at last he said, “If you will let my father hold the rope, I will go down.”

The man gladly agreed, and the boy ran away to get his father. They soon returned and the strong father held the rope and slowly lowered his boy down till he picked the flower, and then drew him up again.

“Why didn’t you let me hold the rope?” asked the man, as he gave the boy the money.

“Oh, sir,” he replied, “I didn’t know you, and you might have let it slip, but I knew my father would not let, it go.”

Now this was FAITH. The boy knew his father loved him, and that he could trust him.

Dear children, if you knew how much the Lord Jesus loved you, as well as His mighty power, you would surely trust Him as your Saviour now.

“They that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee.” Psalms 9:10.

ML 11/23/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Gen. 18:5-19

What a lovely meal Abraham provided for the three men who came to his tent door! Perhaps you never thought. God took knowledge of what we served for our guests, but He does! Abraham and Sarah both had their part, as well as one of Abraham’s young men, in preparing the cakes, the meat which was so “tender and good”, along with the butter and milk too! Wouldn’t you like to have helped in preparing that lovely meal for those three men, which were really the Lord, and two angels? What a privilege it was! But I hear some little boy or girl saying, “The Lord never came to my house, nor angels either!” Well, they haven’t come in a way that you could see them, that’s true, but we have a nice verse for you. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto.one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” Matt. 25:40. When you help mother I prepare the dinner, you can do it as if you were really doing it for the Lord! That would make you want to do it well, would it not?

The Lord again promised that Sarah was going to have a son. When Sarah heard this she laughed. She did not think it was possible. The Lord heard her and asked why she had laughed. Sarah then denied it, and said she had not laughed. Abram had laughed with pleasure in the seventeenth verse of the previous chapter, but Sarah laughed because of unbelief. The Lord knows the very reason why we do things!

At last the three men set out for Sodom, and Abraham accompanied them. It is just another little reminder of the kind of hospitality Abraham showed his guests.

Many years ago a dear servant of God had been holding meetings in a certain place. There was a young man in the home who always managed to stay out of sight. He did not want to be spoken to about his soul, though it was evident he was under deep exercise. On the night of the last meeting he went quietly to his room, and accepted Christ as his Saviour. Can you guess what was the first result seen in his life? Well it was just this. Early the next morning, the preacher had to take the train for home, and who should offer to carry his bags to the station but this very young man who had been avoiding him! Yes, he now wanted to be in his company, and like Abraham he helped “to bring him on his way.”

Would God hide His purposes from Abraham? No! That is why God has given us His Word. He has told us about all His counsels, though unsaved men cannot understand them. “The natural man receiveth nut the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2:1.4. Don’t expect your unsaved friends to understand the Bible. It is not until we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, that we have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling us to teach us its meaning.

Abraham was a strict father, though he was a loving one too! (Gen. 22:2). God said of him, “He will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.” He did not allow his children to do as they liked. He made them obey, because he loved them, and he knew that true happiness was the result of obedience.

ML 11/23/1947

Scrubbing the Floor

Little daughter is helping Mother to scrub the cottage floor. Don’t you think she is doing very well? Mother is quite sure to tell her that the spot she has scrubbed is very clean indeed, and she seems to be a cheerful little worker too.

Little daughter’s task reminds me of the story of a traveler who slept in a cottage in faraway Africa. He did not like dirty floors, and as he went to bed, he noticed that the floor of his room was the dirtiest he had ever seen. Before blowing out his candle, he decided to ask the landlady to have it scrubbed in the morning. But what do you think he saw in the morning, when the bright sunlight shone in place of his little candle? The floor was not made of wood, but hard-packed earth! Scrubbing would only make it look more muddy and filthy than ever. In fact, if little daughter had been there, she could not have made it clean with all the soap and water in mother’s pail.

Will you be surprised, little reader, if I tell you that that earthen floor is just like your heart in the sight of God? It is not only dirty, but no amount of washing that you can do will make it clean because it is bad all the way through. God says that the heart of man is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jeremiah 17:9.

The lady who lives in that cottage in Africa is quite satisfied with her dirty floor. All the neighbors have floors just the same, and she does not think that she needs anything better. Is that the way you feel about your sin-stained evil heart? Are you satisfied because other children’s hearts are just the same? God is not satisfied, and if you could see your bad heart in the light of God’s presence, you would not be satisfied either. That is why God sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die on Calvary’s cross, that you might be clean in His sight through the blood of Christ.

Do not forget that if you try, by any works of your own to make your heart clean, it is just like scrubbing the old mud floor. The precious blood of Christ will make your heart clean, but nothing else will.

“THOUGH THOU WASH THEE WITH NITRE, AND TAKE THEE MUCH SOAP, YET THINE INIQUITY IS MARKED BEFORE ME, SAITH THE LORD GOD.” Jeremiah 2:22.

ML 11/30/1947

The Hindoos' Conversion

Away over in India, there are many millions of people who do not know anything about God. Yet they are very religious people, and some of them are called Hindoos. One day a Hindoo became greatly troubled about his sins. He went to a company of Brahmans and told them of his burden, asking them what he should do. They all agreed about what to do, and gave him this message.

“Thou must drive forty iron spikes through thy sandals; and on these sandals thou must place thy naked feet, and walk to the sacred station, at Godavery River (four-hundred and eighty miles away). If through loss of blood, or weakness of body, thou art unable to proceed, thou mayest halt, and wait for healing and strength. When thou hast performed this, thou mayest hope that thy soul will be cleansed.”

Now dear reader, if someone came to you and said, “I am a great sinner. What can I do to get rid of my sins?” Could you give him an answer?

The poor Hindoo set out at once on his painful journey. At last he became so weak and weary that he stopped to rest under a tree. It was not long before a Christian missionary came along and. said, “The blood of Jesus Christ ... [the Son of God] cleanseth us from all sin.” The Hindoo plucked off his sandals, jumped up and said, “This is what I want!” He gladly received and believed the Word of God, and lived to tell many others that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sill.” 1 John 1:7.

ML 11/30/1947

Devotedness

Last month we were considering the fine start which Josiah made when he became king. This month, with the Lord’s help, we shall notice how he went on in devotedness, “He turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.” 2 Kings 22:2.

In the eighteenth year of his reign, he began to be exercised about the condition into which the house of God had fallen. It was in ruins, but that did not discourage him. It rather made him feel his responsibility, and so he started to find a way of repairing it. He might have said, “Well, it’s not my fault”, but he didn’t! He acted before God, and sought His glory.

Is the testimony to the truth very weak in the place where you live? Are there only a few meeting together according to God’s Word? Are you discouraged about it, or are you exercised like Josiah to “repair the breaches thereof?” Josiah did not build a new house, or start something new. No, he repaired the old one because it was built in the very place where God wanted it. It was in the place where the Lord had chosen to place His Name there (see Deut. 12:5), and no other place would do.

Dear young Christian, don’t step out of the path of obedience because things are weak, God’s Word never changes, and it is ever the believer’s perfect guide. You can be like Josiah, and “repair the the breaches of the house of the Lord.” You can go on faithfully, and encourage others to do the same. Josiah used the silver that was in the Lord’s house, to purchase the materials necessary to make these repairs. Are we using what God has given us—our “talents”, our money, or whatever we have, to help in the Lord’s work? There was work in the Lord’s house, for “carpenters, and builders, and masons.” Yes, and there is a place and part today for brothers and sisters, both young and old. The question is, are we willing to do our part? Too often we are like Peter who asked the Lord, “What shall this man do?” He was more concerned about what John should do, than about his own path, and the Lord replied, “What is that to thee? follow thou Me,” John 21:21,22. May He help each of us to follow Him more devotedly!

Perhaps there were other buildings which looked more attractive than the ruined house of the Lord, but not to the heart of Josiah who wanted to walk in the ways of the Lord. Oh, for more Josiahs among our dear young people! Those who are energetically seeking the Lord’s glory, and going on faithfully for Him.

“Howbeit, there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.” What a lovely comment about those who helped in this work! Each one gave to the Lord, knowing that although others might not appreciate their efforts, nor realize how freely they were giving—the Lord knew, and that was all that mattered! It is nice to have others appreciate our efforts, and we should try to encourage one another, but if we do not get their thanks, let us go on faithfully just the same. God will never forget to make any entries in His “book of remembrance!” Here is a word of encouragement from the Lord for us all, “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Heb. 6:10.

ML 11/30/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 18:20-33 Genesis 19:1-3

Sodom and Gomorrah were exceedingly wicked cities, where men and women lived careless lives without any thought of God. They little realized that judgment was soon going to fall upon them. And are there not many people today just like them? How many go on in their sins from day to day as if they would never have to answer to God at all. What an awful day it will be for them, when God judges this world in righteousness. Then only those who have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ will escape the judgment.

Abraham became an intercessor, pleading for Sodom, where Lot lived. Although he knew that the Judge of all the earth would do right, he also knew that God delighted in blessing. Would He destroy the city if there were fifty righteous people in it? No, God said He would not destroy it if there were only fifty righteous people in that great city. Abraham then asked, God if He would spare it if there were but forty-five. But there were not even forty-five! Abraham continued asking, reducing the number each time. What if there were only forty—or thirty—or twenty? What if there were only ten? No, not even ten people could be found who feared God and were accounted righteous, in that mighty city! Abraham then stopped pleading, and the three men went on toward Sodom. Dear young reader, if you are saved and are praying for others, keep on praying. Perhaps God would have spared those cities if Abraham had continued asking, but Abraham’s faith apparently weakened, and he stopped asking. What an encouragement, to pray we find in Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Yes, dear Christian “CONTINUE.”

Only two out of the three men went as far as Sodom. The Lord was not among them when they reached there. Just two angels came to the gate and whom should they find sitting there but Lot. He had advanced to quite a high position in Sodom, even though his righteous soul was vexed from day to day with their unlawful deeds. How sad it is to see one of God’s children trying to get to the top in this world which has crucified God’s beloved Son. God said to Jeremiah, “Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not.” Jeremiah 45:5. We should be like Abraham who was a stranger and a pilgrim in the land of promise. The believer’s place of exaltation is in heaven, and we shall reign with Christ when He reigns in righteousness in a soon coming day.

Lot invited the angels to his home in Sodom, and tried to make them welcome, but his efforts were rather unsuccessful. When they had arrived Abraham’s tent door, he had been able to make them feel welcome, but Lot’s house in Sodom had the stamp of the world upon it. Lot’s wife, and his daughters did not join in the welcome, nor did they help in the preparation of the “feast.” They were not accustomed to such visitors, nor were they at all “at home” in their presence, Poor Lot tried to do all he could for them, for at heart he was a righteous man, though most unhappy in his position. What a sad picture of a worldly Christian borne! In such a home there is never any happy unity, but a kind of the uncomfortable feeling when someone calls to talk about Christ. If you, dear reader, want to have a happy Christian home, begin now by choosing Christian friends, who want to follow the Lord.

ML 11/30/1947

Bible Questions for December

“The Children’s Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for September

1. 1 Peter 1:25.

2. 1 Peter 2:20.

3. James 4:15.

4.2 Peter 3:9.

5.2 Peter 1:21,

6.James 1:5,

7.James 2:5.

“The Children’s Class”
Bible Questions for December

The Answers are to be found in Revelations 12-22.

1. “The water of life freely”

2.“Anything that defileth”

3. “By the blood of the Lamb”

4. “Which die in the Lord”

5. “Small and great stand before God”

6. “Her sins have reached unto heaven”

7.“Thou art righteous, O Lord”

“The Young People’s Bible Class”
Answers to Bible Questions for September

1.Unto the coming of the Lord. James 5:7.

2.To give an answer. 1 Peter 3:15.

3.Where envying and strife is. James 3:16.

4.With a pure heart fervently. 1 Peter 1:22

5.Slow. James 1:19.

6.Because of false prophets. 2 Peter 2:1,2.

7.No. James 2:17,20,26.

“The Young People’s Class”
Bible Questions for December

The Answers are to be found in Revelations 12-22.

1.What will God take away from those who take away from the Words of His Book?

2.What Scripture shows that torment in the lake of fire will be “forever and ever?”

3.Can the “spirits of devils” work miracles?

4.Who is the accuser of our brethren?

5.Is the patience and faith of saints displayed in killing with the sword?

6.What comes first, and what is last Babylon’s merchandise?

7.Are God’s people to “come out of” the great religious system (Babylon)?

ML 12/07/1947

Winter is Coming

We have all watched the leaves turn pretty colors and fall to the ground, and what fun it is to kick through them on the lawns, paths, and roadways. How we like to rake them up into big piles and make bonfires with them! But it is not so pleasant to look up and see the trees all bare. Soon we begin to feel the wind getting colder, and find that the days are shorter too. Yes, the lovely autumn days soon pass by, and then comes the winter which in some northern parts is very severe.

However most children love to see the pretty snowflakes floating down through the air, and when there is enough on the ground the sleighs, toboggans, and skis begin to appear. If we were to examine these little snowflakes as they come from the sky above, we would find they are like tiny lace doilies. Everything was so beautiful and lovely when God created this world, but now wherever we look we can see that sin has spoiled even the beautiful things.

While we are enjoying running and sliding in our nice warm clothes, there are thousands of boys and girls, and men and women too who haven’t enough clothes to be comfortable, nor even enough fuel to keep their homes warm. Away too are short of food to eat, although the ground produces plenty for all if they could only get it.

Many, many years ago the Lord Jesus came down from Heaven to bring men blessing, and deliverance from suffering, but they crucified Him. They did not want Him, so they put Him to death. Death could not hold Him hover, and He arose the triumphant One who is now in Heaven, waiting to save any sinner who comes to Him. He is coming again soon, and will take all those who are trusting in Him and His finished work to His bright home above.

The Bible tells us about a man who, having watched the white snowflakes falling, felt how sinful and black his own heart was before God. He then asked God to wash him, and make him whiter than snow. Through the work which the Lord Jesus accomplished on Calvary’s cross we know that his prayer has been answered. If you are still unsaved dear reader, may his prayer be yours today.

“WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.” PSALMS 51:7.

ML 12/07/1947

The Right Side

This is a story of a little girl who loved the stars, and the moon, and all that is in the sky. Often she used to say. “My heavenly Father made them all.” She would lie awake when in her little bed and look through the window at the beautiful sky and would thank God for His love in giving His only Son to leave those beautiful heavens, to come down and die for her upon the cross.

One day her mother was working on some velvet, when little Nellie picked up a piece, and noticed that one side was soft and smooth, while the other side was rough and hard. Her mother explained that many things had right and wrong sides, and that the right side was always the better.

The dear little girl thought this over a great deal. Shortly after, she was lying in her little bed watching the stars when her mother came into the room.

“Oh, Mother,” she said, “if God made the wrong side of heaven so beautiful, what must the right side be like?”

Yes, dear children, we are not on the right side of heaven now, but when we get where Jesus is, all will be bright and beautiful. There will be no sin sorrow, nor crying. But will you be there?

“We know there’s a bright and a glorious home

Away in the heavens high,

Where all the redeemed shall with Jesus dwell,

But will you be there and I?”

If you take the loving Saviour now

Who for sinners once did die,

When He gathers His own in that bright home

Then you’ll be there and I.”

“And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27.

ML 12/07/1947

Tell of Jesus

Children, go and tell of Jesus,

How He died to save our souls;

How, that He from sin might free us,

Suffered agonies untold.

Tell the guilty of their danger,

While they wander far from God;

While they live to Jesus strangers,

And reject His precious Word.

Tell them of the joys of heaven,

Purchased by the Saviour’s blood:

How, that they might be forgiven,

Jesus left His home above.

Tell them how He hath ascended

To prepare a place on high;

Where all sorrow shall be ended,

Where the saints shall never die.

ML 12/07/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 19:4-22

Poor Lot tried in vain to make his visitors welcome. He was utterly powerless to change things in his home, much as he would have liked to do so. The men of Sodom knew that Lot was not accustomed to that kind of company, and they came to see who the men were. How different from the peacefulness of Abraham’s tent! Nor did the Sodomites usually find Lot’s door shut against them. It was usually open to them and they did not like being kept out. Lot was willing to pay an awful price to have peace in his home. Yes, he was willing to give his daughters to be companions of those wicked men, but the angels intervened and hindered, causing blindness to fall upon those about the door. It is a sad, sad story which should be a warning to all our voting. readers. It is but a fresh proof of the truth of God’s Word which says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7. Lot was reaping just what he had sown when he pitched his tent toward Sodom.

The angels then delivered their message to Lot and his family. They gave Lot the privilege of inviting his sons, his sons-in-law, and his daughters to find a place of safety outside of Sodom. He then went to their homes to tell them, but he seemed as one that mocked. There was no power in his words, because he didn’t live it before them. You will find, dear boys and girls, that if you want others to listen when you speak to them about Christ, you will have to act like a Christian before them. Your friends won’t take your message seriously unless you do. No, Lot’s sons- in-law, and his married. daughters would not leave Sodom. They perished in it, and it was Lot who had brought them there—how solemn!

Even Lot himself, with his wife, two daughters who were still at home, were slow to get out of the doomed city. The angels had to pull them out! They evidently did not like to think of losing all they had gathered together there, but leave it they must. Everything was going to be destroyed, just as all the boasted treasures and vanities of this present world are going to be burned up very soon. Let us take warning from this, and not try to build our hopes here. We will have to leave it all some day, and only what has been done according to the will of God will abide, and nothing else. If the one who reads these lines is unsaved, you will not only lose all you have gathered tether in this world, but you will lose your own soul too. Oh, will you not come to the Saviour this very moment, accepting His work on Calvary as that which can put away all your sins? COME NOW.

Lot requested that he might go to Zoar for refuge. He still wanted to live in a “city” instead of in a tent like Abraham, and so his desire was granted, hut surely sorrow followed him there too. If we are insistent in going after the things of the world even in a small way (for Lear was a little city), we may get our desire, but how can the Lord bless such decisions?

Our salvation depends only upon simple faith in the precious blood of Christ, out our happiness depends on obedience. So here, the angels told Lot they could not do anything until he was safely out of Sodom, but his choice of Zoar, brought him plenty of sorrow.

ML 12/07/1947

The Wonderful Book

The little girl in our picture is watching and listening while her uncle reads to her from God’s blessed Word, pointing to the words so that she can see them herself. Probably most of our young readers have Bibles in their homes, and we hope you are reading them each day. We hope too that this little girl will always remember to value God’s wonderful Book as she grows older.

Many years agd, there was a boy named Josiah, who had never seen the Word of God. He lived in Jerusalem, and there was not a Bible in his home, nor in the home of anyone else in all that great city. No doubt there is a Bible in your home, little reader, and if you are old enough, I hope you read it often. If you are too small to read, do you try hard to find someone to read it to you? You see it is God’s Word to us, and if we do not read it, how can we know how to please Him, whom we must all meet some day?

Well, when Josiah was eight years old, he became king of Judah, and he really wanted to please the Lord. So, when he grew to be a man, he ordered the carpenters to set to work to repair the great temple which King Solomon had built at Jerusalem. As they were working in the temple, what do you think they found? The most wonderful Book in the world—the Word of God! They brought it at once to King Josiah and read it to him. This made Josiah so miserable that he just tore his beautiful kingly clothes. What good were his fine clothes, when the Word of God told him plainly that he was a sinner, and that God must surely punish sin.

Perhaps you have felt unhappy as he did, little reader, when someone reads the Bible to you. That is much better than not caring at all. King Josiah was very sorry that he had not read the wonderful Book before, but as soon as he heard the precious words, he believed them at once and God blessed him.

Do you believe God’s Word when He says that you too are a sinner, and that He must surely punish sin? If you do, then God is willing to bless you with more blessings than you could ask for or even think about, because His Son Jesus Christ has suffered instead of us.

“CHRIST ALSO HATH ONCE SUFFERED FOR SINS, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST, THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD.” 1 Peter 3:18.

ML 12/14/1947

The Indian's Question

Some time ago, I was travelling with a native Evangelist from India. We had been holding gospel meetings in Portland and many souls had been converted.

My friend was dressed in a regular suit, but he wore a big white turban on his head, just as the Hindoos do in India. As we took our seats on the train, I noticed a girl about fourteen years old looking carefully at the big white turban. At last the girl came over to our seat and said to me.

“Please, sir, is that a real Hindoo?” pointing at my friend.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Oh, I am so glad; may I speak to him? Do you know I have often thought about the Hindoos? In our mission baud we give our money to convert the Hindoos. I would like to talk to him.”

“He knows English very well, and loves children, so I’m sure he would be glad to talk with you.”

She asked him a great many questions about India, its customs and ways, what they ate, and what kind of clothes they wore.

At last she got through, and then my friend said, “Now you have asked me a lot of questions, it is my turn to ask you some. May I?”

“Oh, yes.” she replied.

“Have you really given your heart to Jesus? Can you say your sins are all forgiven? You have sent your money to India to convert the heathen, but are you converted?”

You ought to have seen the change in her face; how all the brightness went out of it. She hung her head and spoke so quietly we could scarcely hear her say, “I am not sure.”

“Well, and would you not like to be quite sure?”

She looked up with tears in, her eyes and said, “Oh, yes I would.”

Then he went on to tell her all about Jesus—how much He loved her, what He suffered, and how He bled and died in order that she might know her sins forgiven.

The dear young girl then and there took Jesus as her own personal Saviour, and oh, how glad she was.

The next day she got off the train, and as she was leaving she came up with such a happy, smiling face to say goodbye.

“Oh, I am so glad I met you, for now I can say that Jesus is my own Saviour.”

Yes, my dear reader, it is not enough to know about Jesus. This girl knew about Jesus and even sent money to India that others might know. But she hadn’t given her heart to Him. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9.

ML 12/14/1947

Great Light; Great Love

Do your gods love you?” asked a missionary of a heathen then native.

“The gods know nothing of love,” came the sad reply.

So the missionary read the 16th verse of the 3rd chapter of John’s gospel. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The poor heathen listened carefully. “Read it again,” he asked. The missionary did so. Our “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“Once more!” cried the heathen, “please, once more!”

When he had heard it the third time he cried, “That is true! I know it is! That is great light—and great love!”

Have you, my reader, thanked God for sending His only begotten Son? Can you say, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me?” Gal. 2:20.

ML 12/14/1947

Saved by a Lamb

A group of people were one day visiting in the city of Werden. They were looking at the beautiful buildings and asking a lot of questions. One of the men noticed the figure of a lamb, carved in stone, at the top of a high tower. He at once found a guide and asked him what it meant.

“Oh, sir, you are looking at the lamb. Many years ago, a man was repairing that roof and was standing right where that stone lamb now stands. Suddenly the rope which held the scaffolding broke, and the man fell from that great height. Everyone expected him to be killed, as there were big stones all around the building. But they were surprised to see him stand up on his feet again, without even a scratch.

“A little lamb had been quietly nibbling grass among the blocks of stone, and the man had fallen exactly upon it, The lamb had been crushed to death, but the man was saved. He never rested. until he had a stone lamb carved and placed up there where you see it now.”

Does not this story remind you of another Lamb? You and I would most certainly have perished had it not been, for the death of that Lamb. Yes, the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, took my place and died that I might live. And when we get home to Heaven, we shall sing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Rev. 5:12.

ML 12/14/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Gen. 19:23-38 Gen. 20

Although Lot’s wife got out of Sodom, her heart was still there. The angels had said, “Escape for thy life: look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain”, but she looked back and became a pillar of salt. She became a constant reminder of the fact that there must he real faith if there is to be real salvation. Your father and mother, dear children, may bring you up in separation from the world, but unless you have to do with God yourself, and accept the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour, you too may “look back” and be lost forever.

God rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah. The sun had risen brightly that morning, and many of the people there had probably made their plans for the day, but they were never carried out. God’s judgment brought a sad and unexpected end to everything. And are we not living in similar days when people make their plans and leave God out? They want to forget about coming judgment, and—when they cannot forget it they deny it. May we plead with you, dear reader, not to follow the crowd that is going down the broad road? God has told us that the broad road leads to hell, and He is calling you to “Escape for thy life” because He wants to save you for eternal glory. He will give you the assurance of His own Word that there is no condemnation (or judgment) for you, if you will accept His beloved Son as your own Saviour. You will HAVE eternal life, and a home above, if you will just come to Him.

The last we hear of poor Lot is very sad and disgraceful to say the least. As you read these lines, perhaps you still have life before you if the Lord does not come. May He help us all to take warning from Lot’s course, for if we go after the world who can tell how our lives will end. Noe of us would like them to end as Lot’s did would we?

Again Abraham went down toward the south country, and in that place he got his eyes off the Lord. He had the fear of man before him and that always brings a snare, He should have learned that lesson long ago in the land of Egypt, but how often we have to learn the same lessons over and over again.

There is another thing here too Abraham told the truth to hide the truth. It is so easy to do that, aryl a very deceitful kind of lie indeed. Abraham said of his wife, “she is my sister,” and while this was true, it was deception, for she was really his wife. Let us learn to be open and be above board in all things, for the secrets are all going to come out some day, and God wants uprightness. “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Heb. 4:13.

God graciously intervened on Abraham’s behalf, and spared him the full results of his sin, but he let Abimelech rebuke him. It is a bad thing when the world has to rebuke us. Be careful, dear boys and girls, that you don’t do anything, so that your friends have to say, “I didn’t think a Christian would do that.” It is very displeasing to the Lord. God told Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet, and that he would pray for him. How gracious this was, for it shows that in spite of our failure God is patient and never disowns His children, though He does not belittle our sin. Salvation is always “by grace”, and grace alone!

ML 12/14/1947

Good-Night!

Good night everyone! Little Henry is going to sleep. Mother has gathered her three little ones about her and told them a story, and now one by one she is tucking them into bed. Mother works hard to keep her children healthy, happy, and clean but she is far more anxious that her little ones should learn to know the precious Saviour, and give their hearts to Him while they are still small.

To-night she has told them that the Lord Jesus is coming soon, coming in the clouds to give a great shout and call His own to be forever with Himself. The three little ones listened quietly until Mother asked, “If Jesus comes to-night, and you wake up in the morning and find that father and mother have gone to be with Him, what will you do?” There was a puzzled frown on two little faces, but Henry’s answer was ready at once “I would not be here, Mother. I would go too!”

What made little Henry so sure that he would go too? Did he not know that he was a sinner, and that the Lord Jesus cannot have one sin in heaven—not even one? Yes, he knew all this, but he knew also that the Saviour’s precious blood had washed away his scarlet sins, so that his little heart was whiter than snow in the sight of God.

No wonder little Henry loves the Lord Jesus. No wonder that, although he is now a man, he still loves to tell others about the wonderful power of the blood of Christ to cleanse from all sin.

When you go to sleep to-night, will you also be quite sure that, when the Lord Jesus comes, He will call you to Tle with Himself forever? His coming is nearer today than it was yesterday. Here is His promise—

“THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT.” 1 Thess. 4:16.

ML 12/21/1947

Willie's Letter

Willie and his mother lived in a dark, bare attic which, during the winter was very cold. One day when his mother was at work, and he sat there shivering, he thought of his father and what he had said just before he died— “The Lord will care for you and give you all you need if you go to Him.”

Willie did not know how to go to the Lord, so he decided to write a letter to Him. He sat down at once to do so, and in large letters wrote thus:— “Dear Jesus, we are very poor and though mother works all day she can’t get enough money for all we need. My father said to tell You when I was in trouble, so please send her a dress and shawl she gets so cold. Willie.” He carried to the nearest mail-box and then back home again to await the answer.

It was well that Willie did not know what happened to his letter when it reached the post office. It was thrown aside with others which did not have a proper address; and there it lay until the next day. But He who loves the little children was watching over Willie’s letter, and the postmaster, while standing near the pile of letters, noticed the one addressed to “Jesus”, and after reading it, at once put it carefully into his pocket.

That evening he read the letter aloud to some friends at his home, and one lady asked if she might supply the need. So, the next day, to Willie’s great delight, the needed dress and shawl arrived.

We hope that Willie learned how to come to the Lord Jesus, and to know Him as His own precious Saviour, as well as his Friend in need. The Lord is ever mindful of the needs of His own, and He delights to answer the prayer of simple faith. He says, “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.” 1 John 5:14.

ML 12/21/1947

The Man Who Knew

John 3:16

Some time ago we published a story entitled, “The boy who did not know John 3:16.” Today, we would like to tell you of a man who did know John 3:16.

An agent came to our house, and after taking care of a business matter we handed him a gospel booklet on which was printed John 3:16. The man took the booklet and said, “Oh, I know that verse!” Then he repeated it,

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

He went on to tell us that his grandfather had been a minister of the gospel, and that he had learned a number of verses. We asked him if he knew the Lord Jesus as His Saviour and he said, “Oh, there are so many different religions in the world today, and people don’t know what to believe. No, I am not a Christian.”

We thought how very sad and solemn it was, to be able to repeat verses of Scripture such as John 3:16, but not to believe in the Lord Jesus of whom the Scripture teaches. In the day of judgment this dear man will not be asked what church (so-called) he belonged to, but the one question will be whether or not he was trusting in the finished work of Christ.

If he does not turn to the Lord before he dies, he will go into a lost eternity. Think of it, in Hell and able to quote Bible verses! These verses won’t help him then, but will only rise to haunt him and add to his torment—to think that he could have taken the Lord Jesus but didn’t.

How is it with you, dear boy or girl reading this story? Perhaps you too, can repeat many verses of Scripture but as yet you do not know the Lord Jesus as Saviour. We do hope you will not neglect the salvation of your precious soul.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

ML 12/21/1947

The Little Chimney Sweep

Have you ever heard of a chimney-sweep? These boys used to make their living by cleaning out chimneys, and you can well imagine how black and dirty they were most of the time.

One morning, as our little friend the chimney-sweep was walking to work, he saw a row of school-books hanging on a fence. Some school-boys were playing nearby, and so he walked over and began to look at their books. Soon some of the boys came running over and told him to run away. The little lad took a marble out of his pocket and gave it to a school-boy, if he would just let him look at the pages. He couldn’t read, and soon wanted to know what the words were. The owner of the book read a few lines to him, and then offered to teach him the letters if he would pay a marble for each letter. The chimney-sweep was very glad, and for some time they met every day and studied the letters together. One day the school-boy had to tell him that his parents wouldn’t let him do it any more, as his clean books were getting dirty from those black sooty fingers.

The poor lad turned away very sadly and walked down the road. He would never learn to read! Soon he passed a churchyard, and found that he was able to read some of the letters on the tombstones. He went in, and as he laid his fingers upon the letters cut in the marble, he thought, “Nobody will blame me for studying here. My dirty fingers won’t stain these letters.” Again he found that school-boy and together, in that sad grave-yard, he soon learned the alphabet.

The first book he got was a Bible, and as he read it, he loved it. He not only loved his Bible, but he loved the Lord Jesus, and became a happy Christian boy. Can you, reader, say that you love your Bible? Do you love the Lord Jesus? I don’t suppose you had as hard a time learning to read as did our little friend in this story, but now that you can read, God has some good news for you. He says, “He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

ML 12/21/1947

Bible Talks

for Boys and Girls
Gen. 21

At last the time came for the promised son to be born. Abraham had waited fourteen years, before God fulfilled His promise in giving them Isaac. The birth of Isaac gave rise to difficulties with Hagar and Ishmael—difficulties too which Abraham had made for himself when he acted in unbelief many years before. Hagar and Ishmael mocked at the feast which was made for Isaac, till at last Sarah asked Abraham to send them away. This was a hard thing for Abraham to do, but the Lord told him to do as Sarah requested. It is always difficult to take a firm stand, and judge the activities of the old nature, but it must be done if there is to be blessing.

The sending away of Hagar has a typical meaning too. It is one of the interesting pictures of the old testament which God has given for our instruction. Hagar was a slave, and she pictures to us the law to which we were in bondage, but when Christ (the promised seed) came, we were set free from the law. The law was God’s perfect rule of life for man, but we have all broken it. In Christ we have been delivered from the curse of a broken law, and are now “under grace.” (see Gal. 4:22-31) Like Hagar, the law has been “sent away”, or set aside, while “grace reigns.”

God blessed Abraham in all that he did, and even Abimelech recognized this. The world watches those of us who are Christians, far more closely than we are apt to think. This should make us very careful that we do not hide our light, but rather let it shine.

You in your small corner,
And I in mine.

Abimelech’s servants violently took away Abraham’s well of water, and then shortly after this Abimelech wished to enter into. a conversant with Abraham. Abraham was willing to make the covenant on one condition only—the well of water must be returned to him. Dear young believer, we too have a “Well of water” in Christ—a place of refreshment for our thirsty souls which the enemy will take away with violence, if he can. Let us be careful not to make any “covenants” to “dwell” with those who would rob us of our joy in the Lord. Perhaps they may not intend to do it, and like Abimelech they are ignorant of it, but nevertheless Abraham did not make his covenant until the well was returned to him.

The covenant which was made was founded on Abraham giving seven ewe lambs, which would tell us of the perfection of the work of Christ, God’s Lamb. It is only through His finished work on Calvary that we have possession of our well of living water. The Lord Jesus said, “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14.

Abraham planted a tree (margin) there. This tree would be a constant reminder of the seven ewe lambs, and of the covenant made there, for God would never have us forget the cost of our redemption. It was in that place too, that Abraham called on the name of the Lord. The work finished on Calvary’s tree is the groundwork of all true worship. He called the place Beersheba (the well of the oath), and so we now have God’s own pledge that we have everlasting life through faith in His Son.

ML 12/21/1947

The Two Roads

In the front of our picture today we see one road, just one, and it has plainly been traveled by many people. You see every one of us who travels through this world to eternity, starts his journey on the same road, and that is the broad road that leads to destruction. The Scripture says that “we have turned every one to his own way.” Isa. 53:6. You began to show this when you were just a little baby, and would cry and scream if Mother did not give you your own way.

Yes, you have started on the broad road, boys and girls, and if you look to the right of our picture, you will see something that reminds us what the end of that road is. The Scripture says that it leads to destruction, and this means hell, or everlasting punishment. God did not prepare it for you, but for the devil and his angels. But He has warned you very plainly that this dreadful place is the end of the road on which you are traveling, if you are choosing your own way. Will you not stop and think?

Now you see there is another road in our picture. You do not need to stay on the broad road, for God has provided the narrow way that leadeth unto life. This way is prepared by God Himself, especially for sinners such as we are. When His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, was here on earth, He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

If you look to the left of our picture, you will see that the end of this road is out of sight beyond the mountains, I really cannot tell you how wonderful the end of the narrow road must be, hut we know that it leads to life, where the Lord Jesus Himself is, and where everything is as perfect as He Himself can make it, without one spot of sin.

You will notice that, at first, the two roads are so close together, that you could stand with one foot on each. Perhaps that is where your little feet are standing today, as you look down the broad road on which you are traveling, and then up the narrow way that leads to life. But soon the roads grow farther and farther apart, until the time comes when it is impossible to cross from the broad road to the narrow one—when it is forever too late!

Today, you may choose to walk the narrow way. Remember that Jesus Himself is the way to God the Father, and that this road is open now to every sinner who will come to Him and have life. Remember too that the same Saviour will take care of every one whose feet are traveling on the narrow way, and some clay He will take them to His Father’s home in Heaven. Then the narrow way will be closed forever, and what will be left for those who have chosen to stay on the broad road? God’s Word is very plain:

“HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE; BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.” John 3:36.

ML 12/28/1947

Daddy I'm Going to Jesus

Recently we were walking through a cemetery and we came to the grave of a little girl of five years of age. On the headstone these words were engraved:—

“In loving memory of Margaret ... Much loved by all. She fell asleep saying, ‘Daddy, I’m going to Jesus.’”

Underneath was written this little poem:

“Lead me to Jesus, He will receive me,

He is so loving, gentle, and mild;

Calling the children, bidding them welcome,

Surely He calls me, I am a child.”

Wasn’t this a sweet testimony for a little girl to leave behind for her bereaved parents and friends to remember? No doubt they often thought of those words— “I’m going to Jesus”, and didn’t mourn for their child as others which have no hope. (See 1 Thess. 4:13).

Even though little Margaret’s spirit has been with the Lord Jesus almost fifty years, her body is still in the grave. Soon, perhaps this very day, the Lord shall come for His own, and in 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17, we read— “And the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

If you, dear boy or girl, were to die this day would you also, like little Margaret, be able to say, “I’m going to Jesus”, or would you he eternally separated from that dear, loving Saviour who bids “Whosoever will” to come tc Him?

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.’ John 5:24.

ML 12/28/1947

The New Year

Yes, Thursday is the first day of a New Year! How quickly time flies, and yet we little realize it until we have to take down our old calendars and put up new ones. Then we pause and think—What are we doing with our time? How are we using it?

Many unsaved people around us are planning to spend their New Year’s Eve in sinful pleasures, trying to forget that time is hurring them on to eternity—yes, to eternal judgment. If the one who reads these lines is in that class we beseech you to consider your ways. Do not start another year without Christ.

Come to Him NOW, and then you can begin 1948 by joyfully repeating the words of the poet,

Time is winging me away,

To my eternal Home.

Undoubtedly most Christians know that the observation of “days, and months, and times, and years” Galatians 1:10, should not occupy an important place in their lives. Living for Christ is a daily thing, and not one that we only consider on special occasions such as New Year’s. However if any of our readers have a renewed desire to live for the Lord at this time we rejoice indeed. In fact this message is written specially for such. There was never a greater need for devoted Christians who would really put the Lord first in their homes, in their school, and at all times. The Lord’s coming is very near and our opportunities of serving Him will soon be over. May there be increasing “purpose of heart” with each one of us.

Perhaps the question might be asked by some as to whether they should make New Year’s resolutions to this end. We shall consider it in the light of God’s Word, and seek to get His answer to our question.

First of all let us say that the believer has two natures. The old sinful one which we all received at birth is hopelessly and incurably bad, for Romans 7:18 tells us, “I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” How very definite that there is nothing good there! The old nature cannot be “resolved” into pleasing God.

But what about the new nature which God has given to those who are born again? He tells us that it is “created in righteousness and true holiness” Ephesians 4:24, and that it “cannot sin.” 1 John 3:9. The old nature then cannot do anything but sin, and the new nature cannot do anything but please God. It does not need, a “resolution” to make it please Him. “Oh that the new nature would act more often!” we all say. Well, here is God’s way of deliverance from the old one which is the great hindrance. “Reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, [the old sinful nature] but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11. If we reckon the old nature dead (though it is not actually dead), then the Spirit of God working upon the new man, will occupy us with Christ, and we will have deliverance. God sees the believer in a new standing entirely, no longer in the flesh, but “in Christ” Romans 8:1, and when we know this, and are thinking of His great love toward, us, it will be our delight to please God. His Word will be “the law of liberty” to our hearts.

We can see therefore that it is not a New Year’s resolution that is needed, for it would soon be broken causing us to become discouraged, or if kept we would become proud, and both are wrong. God would have us to be occupied with Christ each day, and this will keep us humble because we are so unlike Him our Perfect Example, but happy because of His unchanging love toward us. Begin today, dear young Christian, and allow the Spirit of God who indwells you, to occupy your heart with Christ. When you fail, you have an Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1), to whom you can come with perfect confidence because His Word says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

ML 12/28/1947

Bible Talks

For Boys and Girls
Genesis 22:1-6

We have now come to one of the most beautiful stories in the Old Testament. God had fulfilled His promise and given Abraham a son whom he loved very dearly. Undoubtedly he did all he could to make Isaac happy, and I am sure they were always together, while Abraham told his boy all about the true God and His proses of blessing. Little Isaac learned to trust in God as his father did, with a real living faith, One day a great test came to Abraham. God asked him to do something very, very hard. He told him to take Isaac and go into a land a long way off, and build an altar there on which he was to offer up his only son for a burnt offering. How could he do such a thing, and why did God ask him to do it? Abraham did not stop to consider such questions. He knew that God would never ask him to do anything which was not for his good, because God loved and cared for him.

Therefore the next morning he and Isaac arose very early and started out. Abraham did not delay because he knew that the longer he waited the harder it would become. Don’t we often miss the path, dear boys and girls, because we delay? We try to persuade ourselves that there is an easier way than just simple obedience, but the longer we wait the more confused things become. Let us learn to “obey God rather than men”, Acts 5:29, and to obey at once.

Abraham was not left to choose the mountain he wished. His offering was to be made on the one which God told him of, and no other mountain would do. Moreover he had to walk for three days before God showed him where it was. He could not see it from his tent door; he had to “go forth” in faith in order to find it. God only gives us light for one step at a time, and when we take that step He gives us more Abraham did not do the work of the Lord negligently (Jeremiah 48:10. Margin). He had everything prepared; the ass saddled, and the fire and wood wen ready when the journey was started. Sometimes Christians forget, or neglect, to take their Bibles and hymn books with them, when they go to the meeting place. We should always put forth every effort to do the Lord’s work to the very best of our ability.

When Abraham saw the place afar off, he left the two servants with thy ass, while he went on with his son. This last part of the journey was the most difficult as Abraham and Isaac “went both of them together.” What a beautiful picture of God the Father, and Christ the Son, going on to the cross. How the Father’s heart found infinite joy in every footstep of that Blessed One as He went on to Calvary, there the finish the work He had given Him to do.

ML 12/28/1947

Messages of God's Love: 1947

Table of Contents

Bible Questions for January

Christ Is Coming! Are You Ready?

A Boy with a Future

Prayer Answered Quickly

Kindness

Loved to the End

Wonders of Snow

Do You Want to Go to Heaven?

Playing Like a Christian

A Teacher's Prayer

A Friend Untrue

Protection

God's Love

Trusting the Lord

The Little Children's Saviour

The Way to God's House

In the Beginning God

Carrie

Little Amy

A Pleasant Surprise

The True Vine

Bible Questions for February

A Defeated Enemy

I Am the Door

The Locomotive

Hated Without a Cause

"Can't You Talk?"

Locked Out

Find Jesus

Edith and the Snowflakes

The Spirit of Truth

I Am the Lord!

How Lewis Was Awakened

Luxury and Poverty

Jesus, the Saviour

Prayer of the Lord Jesus

A Mother's Love

Labor Made Light

What Susie Wrote

Redemption Point

Mickie, a True Dog Story

A Good Memory

Loving in Deed and in Truth

Only a Step

Bible Question for March

Safe in the Arms of Jesus

Saved Just in Time

A Winter Scene

Sophie, the Young Collector

SNowBalling

An Answered Prayer

A Little Girl Like Me

A Little Boy's Inquiry

Let Go of the Rope

Love One Another

Darkness and Light

Who Are You?

Elsie's Birthday

A Word Spoken in Due Season, How Good It Is!

Books of Books

The Two Roberts

Children, Obey Your Parents

Rowland Hill

Decide for Christ

Let Nothing Be Lost

Feeding the Birds

Then You're All Right

Sarah's Hymn

Because I Love You!

The Strong Arm

Making Her Mother Love Her

O, Come to the Saviour

Wolves

Waiting for Jesus

Converted in a Ditch

The Lord's Care

Keep Them Out

Behold the Lamb