One day a little boy of eight years came to our house on an errand and, while here, told me that he carried an evening paper and that one of his customers had dropped off, and he would like to have me subscribe.
I said to him, “We do not take any papers here, George.” “It will only cost you about six cents a week,” he said.
“It is not the cost that would hinder me to take it, George,” I said to him, “but it is because there is so much that is bad in the newspapers, that I do not wish to take them.” He quickly replied, “But the one I carry is good.” “Yes,” I said, “it is better than some of the others but there are many things in it which it is better for the Christian not to read.”
As he scanned my face earnestly, with his large, expressive eyes, I said to him, “I would like to help you in some other way if I could, but ask the Lord and He will help you.” I could tell George to ask the Lord for help, for he says he is the Lord’s. His answer was, “I have asked. Him, and He has given me all I’ve got.” “Ah! that is good,” I said, “the Lord is watching over all our steps, and He helps all who put their trust in Him.”
Gazing upward for a moment, the dear boy said, reverently, “The Lord is watching us now, He knows what we are talking about.” “Yes,” I said, “He looks down into our hearts, and He knows our very thoughts.”
Now, dear little readers, I world like to have you learn the verse I gave to George. It is short—has only four little words in it, and you can very quickly learn it. It is this, “THOU GOD SEEST ME.”
I hope you will learn it, not in your head only, but in your heart also, as I trust this dear boy has done. Wherever you go, whatever you do, God’s eye is upon you. You cannot hide from Him: He sees you in the dark as well as in the light. If you are tempted to do what is wrong, stop for a moment and think of your little verse— “Thou God seest me.”
Would you want to put out your hand to take what did not belong to you, if you knew that God’s eye were looking right at you?
Would you feel happy to say unkind and unclean words, if you knew that God’s ear were listening? Oh: don’t forget that God knows all about your words and ways, and when you meet Him you will have to speak to Him about these things. Keep this truth before you, “Thou God seest me,” and by the grace of God, you will be kept from many a wrong thing.
ML 05/14/1899