In a city of South China, there lived a family called Chung. When I first knew them, there were two little boys and two little girls. One little girl was named Grace, and the other Happy. When the time came for Grace to go to school she spent all her time studying and she was soon at the top of the class. But Happy was quite different. She was full of fun and mischief. She didn't want to study, but she was a real help to her mother at home, looking after the baby and running errands.
When little Happy was about six years old, her father died. Then the poor mother was in real trouble. There were six children by this time, and very soon there was no money corning in at all.
In China, when a family is in money difficulty, the way out is very often to sell one of their girls. Isn't that a terrible thing to do? You ought to be thankful that you do not live in a heathen country where so few people have ever heard of the one true God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Poor Mrs. Chung did not want to sell one of her little girls, for she loved them very much. But how could she see the whole family starve? There seemed to be no other way out, and at last it was arranged to sell little Happy. Because she was a healthy little girl, and so bright and cheerful, she was sold for ninety dollars.
Poor little girl. I think her name ought to have been changed right away, for she was not happy any more. How would you like to be a slave with nobody to love you and care for you, having to work hard all day for someone who was always scolding and ready to beat you? I am sure you are thinking to yourself, "I'm glad I am not a slave
like that.), And yet I wonder if you are really as free as you think. If you will look at Romans 7:14,14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (Romans 7:14) you will see that the Bible says that we are "sold under sin." And in chapter 6, verse 16, it says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are?"
Now, whose servant are you? You know that you belong to God. God made you. But if you have not yet accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, then you are a slave of Satan, and you cannot free yourself.
Poor little Happy would very much have liked to run away home again, but she was a slave and could not help herself at all. Every day she grew thinner and sadder. All her pretty, merry ways were gone, and every night she cried herself to sleep.
But there was someone else very sad too. That was Happy's mother. She also got thinner and sadder every day, and I think she often cried too, as she thought of her dear little Happy. She wanted to ransom her daughter, but she had no money, and she didn't know what to do. But then something wonderful happened. A relative of hers left her a piece of land, and she found that by selling the land, she could get exactly ninety dollars. Eagerly she got the money, and set out to buy Happy back again. But alas, her mistress would not sell her back for ninety dollars; she decided one hundred and ten dollars! At at this time, a missionary called at the home, and heard the whole story. This missionary had just received a letter from Canada, in which twenty dollars had been enclosed. Gladly the money was given to Mrs. Chung, and she went right back to buy her dear daughter once more. The money was paid, and dear little Happy was once again in her mother's arms. Not a slave any more, but set free to live with her mother and brothers and sisters! What a happy time that was. She still worked hard, but it was so different now, for she was with her own dear mother who loved her, and it is so easy to work for someone you love.
Do you know, dear boy or girl, that there is Someone who loves you very much, and wishes to deliver you from the slavery of sin? The Lord Jesus Christ died On the cross in order that He might rescue boys and girls, and men and women, and bring them to His own happy home in heaven. It cost Him a lot more than one hundred and ten dollars to deliver me, but He loved me so very much, that He was willing to die in order that He might deliver me. And He will deliver you too, right now if you will but trust Him.
Messages of the Love of God 1/12/1958