A SCOTCH gentleman was lately walking through his fields when he heard, the cries of a bird apparently in distress. Looking up, he saw a lark hotly pursued by a hawk, which by a series of fierce dashes tried to secure his prey; but the lark was for a time successful in evading the attacks. The hawk however was gaining the mastery, and the lark, terror stricken, seeing the man below, came down like an arrow, and fluttered actually inside the man’s coat, where it cowered, trembling, in his bosom. The hawk followed until within six yards, but seeing what had occurred, he flew off as if in disgust. When the lark was liberated, it soared upward, singing doubtless a song of gratitude to its deliverer.
How safe and happy was the little bird! But not half so safe and happy as those who have fled for refuge from the power of sin, and Satan’s malice, to the Lord Jesus Christ! Of these He says, “They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.”
Are you, dear children, in that place of safety? You know how afraid of the man the little bird would naturally have been; but in the presence of a greater danger, its terror overcame its timidity, and it flew to the only place of shelter.
I hope that our dear young readers are able to say, with the Psalmist,
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Ps. 91:2.
ML 12/23/1900