When Louis XVI the king of France died, or rather was put to death by his people, he left behind a little son who would have been Louis XVII if there had not been a change in the form of government. The nation became a republic, and so the lad was put in prison.
While in the prison, the people did all they could to make the little lad forget that his father was a king. They tried to fill his mind with all kinds of bad thoughts and bad feelings, but somehow the boy could not forget his father and the dignity due to his position as the son of a king. His early training seemed to remain fresh in his mind and kept him from many evil things.
One time when he was pressed very hard and sorely tempted, he began to cry, saying through his tears, “I can’t say it. I can’t do it, for I was born to be king.” What a brave answer this was!
Every boy and girl who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour is the child of a King too, for he will reign with the Lord Jesus some day. The Bible says, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion Forever and ever. Amen.” Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6).
We ought to remember this at all times. Whenever we are tempted to do anything wrong, to sin against God by a bad thought, word, or deed, let us think of what it cost the Lord Jesus to redeem us. Let us remember that we are in this wonderful position of being the children of God here in this world, and that we should act like it before our friends and neighbors.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1, 21Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1‑2).
ML 02/05/1956