WORD HAD come to some natives living deep in the jungles, that a missionary had arrived in another native town. He was telling the story of how God so loved the world that He gave His beloved Son to save poor lost sinners. Maria, a young lady, was much concerned and told her mother she would like to go to the meeting — a walk of eight to twelve hours through the jungle.
Her mother was quite angry at the thought and told Maria she would whip her in an effort to keep her from going to hear the gospel. She even threatened to kill her. Poor Maria was quite disturbed, but so deep was her interest in what the missionary had to say that she told her mother, “Well, you can whip me if you want; but I’m going to hear the gospel.”
The mother went away and returned in a few minutes with a large leather whip. Hoping to make her daughter change her mind she said, “I’ll lay this whip on you if you insist on going to those meetings.” Maria’s mind was made up, however. The old lady began to whip her. Time and again the whip came down on Maria’s back. Finally when she thought her daughter could stand no more the old woman asked, “Now do you still want to go and hear the gospel?”
“Yes, Mother,” Maria replied. “I still want to go and hear the story of Jesus.”
With that she left. She walked all day long and finally arrived at the village where the missionary was holding the gospel meeting. Her patient suffering and sacrifice were well rewarded, for as she sat in the meeting she heard the wonderful story of Jesus and His love for lost sinners. She believed that she was a lost sinner but that Jesus had died to wash her sins away with His own precious blood. That night she accepted Him as her own Saviour and was gloriously saved. She went back to her village rejoicing, to tell her mother and others in her village of Him who loved her and gave Himself for her. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20). Can you say that, dear young reader?
ML-09/01/1963