Sammy was a slave boy years ago. One day when his master’s son ‘ought home a book, Sammy asked, What’s dat, Willie?”
He was told it was a spelling book and on being asked what it was for, Willie replied, “To learn to read.”
“How’s you do it?”
We learn that first.”
So Willie taught Sammy his ABC’s and soon he could read the speller though at that time the law said no colored person should do so.
Later Sammy was given a new Testament and be-Ii re long he could read it. When he read that “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 3:1616For 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), his heart went out in love to the Lord. He believed, his sins were forgiven, and he was so happy that he wanted to tell others of Jesus’ love.
When he became a young man he used to go to other plantations, read his able and tell about the One who had saved him.
One day his master said to him, “Sammy, I hear you go and preach on Sunday.”
“Mas’r,” said Sammy, “I must tell sinners Jesus died for them,”
“Sammy, if you go preaching again, I’ll tie you to that tree and whip all the religion out of you.”
Sammy made no answer—he knew his master was a very determined man. But he thought of what Christ had suffered for him on Calvary’s cross, and felt this was not much to suffer in return for such love and grace.
The next Monday the master said,
“Sammy, I hear you were preaching again on Sunday.”
“Yes, Mas’r, I must go and tell sinners how Jesus was whipped that we might go free.”
“But, Sammy, I told you I would whip you if you did, and I will.”
Blow after blow fell on poor Sammy’s back, and finally the master said, “There, Sammy, I don’t believe you will preach again. Go to the cotton field and work.”
By the next week Sammy could not stand straight — his back was covered with sores and scars. But, New Testament in hand, he stood before the people of the plantation and told them that, although he had suffered much, he Lord Jesus suffered on the cross, not only from man, but also the wrath of God for our sins.
Monday morning the master called him and said, “Sammy, they tell me you were preaching again.”
“Yes, Mas’r. I must tell sinners that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and now He’s living up in heaven for us.”
“I don’t want to hear you preaching. Bare your back and take the flogging,” and once more Sammy’s back was lashed till it was covered with blood.
“Now go to the cotton field and work. I reckon you’ll never want to preach again,”
Next Sunday Sammy’s back was in a terrible condition, but hobbling along he found his friends in the next plantation.
“Masr1 whip me mos’ to death last Monday, but I am willing to die tomorrow if only you take the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, and taste His love for you.”
Many were touched at Sammy’s faithfullness, and some gave themselves to the Saviour he loved so well.
On Monday morning he was called to his master. “Make bare your back again—I told you I would whip ye till you gave up preaching.”
The master raised the ugly whip hut he could find no new place to strike, and said, “Why do you do it, Sammy You know I will whip you the next day and no one pays you for it.”
“You ax me, Mas’r, what I’se dole it for. I’se goin’ to take all those scar up to Jesus by-n-by, and show Him how I suffered; because He loved ye an me, Mas’r.”
The master dropped the whip and in a softer tone he said, “Go down to the cotton field.”
Sammy went away praying, “Lord forgive him for Jesus’ sake.”
Later in the day a messenger cam to the cotton field, crying, “Mas’r dying.” Sammy went straight to his master’s room, who cried out in agony when he saw him, “Oh, Sammy, I’m sinking down to hell—do pray for me!’
“I’se praying for you all the time Mas’r. You must pray for yourself.”
“But I don’t know how to pray.”
Sammy poured into his listening ear the story that he had so often told of the Lord Jesus’ great love in leaving His throne of glory to come down her and die on the cross for sinners, “All that is left for you to do is to accept Jesus as your Saviour,” said Sammy “He died ‘cause He loved you an’ me.’
Not long after this Sammy’s mastet confessed what a sinner he had bee and sought pardon through Jesus’ word on the cross—and he was saved. He did not die, but soon gave Sammy his freedom papers, and Sammy spent the rest of his life telling others of the One who died on Calvary, “because He loved you an’ me.”
ML 04/16/1961