I EXPECT my little readers have often read about the “Prodigal Son,” in the 15th chapter of Luke. He asked his father one day to give him the portion of goods that fell to him, and his father did so. Soon after this, he gathered together all that his father had given him, and left his home and went far away. By and by all his money was spent and there was a famine in the land where he was, and no person would give him any work to do, or anything to eat. He was a very bad man, and spent all his money in wicked ways. All his friends had left him and he had no place to go. At last he went to a man who hired him to feed his swine, and he was so hungry, that he would have eaten what he gave to the swine. So when he had lost all his friends, and had no place to go, he remembered that his father had plenty and enough to spare. He felt how bad he was, and said, “I will arise and go to my father.” He went, and found that his father was ready to receive him with open arms; ready to forgive him for all the naughty things he had done. He said to his father, “I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” His father kissed him and called for the best robe, the ring and the shoes to be put on him, and the fatted calf to be killed, gave him all he could eat and wear, and did all he could to make him happy. This bad man didn’t deserve to be treated like this, did he? But his father was glad to do all this for him, because he loved him. Now, the prodigal is a picture of each one of us. We have done many naughty things against God. We have said things and thought things that are wrong and yet God is ready to forgive us, just as the father was ready to forgive his son. If God had not loved us very much, He would not have sent Jesus into this world to suffer and to die, so that we might go to be with Him in His happy home. His love for us is so great that no matter how bad we are, He has said “Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.” The father was willing to receive his son, when he came, Confessing his sins, and God, too, is ready and willing to receive those who come to Him. Our prayer is that all of the girls and boys who read this paper may come just as they are, and believe on Jesus. The prodigal son could not buy good clothes, he could not improve his appearance he could not pay his way, he had to come just as he was to his father; so those who come, just as they are, believing in Jesus, receive forgiveness and peace.
Little children, come to Jesus, He is ready to receive,
He is ready, too, to pardon
All who in His name believe.
When the prodigal confesses All his sins against God and man; Then the father gladly gives him All the gifts of love He can.
Glad is he to have his father Give him robe and ring and shoes, Glad to have a son’s blest portion, All the father’s love could choose.
But how glad his aged father
Is, to manifest his love,
To the one so undeserving—
Ah, how much like Him above!
God, to show His love to sinners, Gave His only Son to die, Made them heirs with Him forever, Sharers of His home on high.
Come to Jesus, now, dear children, Let not one more day go by; Then when Jesus comes from heaven, He will take you up on high.
Then forever in His presence,
You will in His love rejoice;
Find in Him your happy portion,
Since on earth you’ve heard His voice. E. B. H.
ML 09/10/1899