“OH, how glad we are to find you are not gone!” Such was the exclamation—in their own language of course—of four Central African girls of about fifteen years as they came rushing into the Missionary’s house one day, with consternation on their faces.
What did they mean?
Well, there had been a slight earthquake, and these girls, who had often heard the missionaries speak of the Lord Jesus coming for His people were terribly afraid that He had indeed come, and that they were left behind.
No wonder their joy was great when they found that they were mistaken, that the earthquake was not the signal of Jesus’ coming, and that still they might be saved.
Not long after there was a time of famine. The chief decided that this was because some of their gods were offended, so he commanded his people to worship a new fetish—a kind of idol.
But three of those girls now boldly took their stand for the Lord Jesus, and refused to have anything to do with this heathen custom.
This was no easy thing to do.
It meant scolding day after day, ill treatment too, of one kind and another, but they stood firm.
What a cheer it is to those who love the Lord, to learn of the whole-hearted zeal of those young converts from heathenism.
I want you, dear young reader, to ask yourself if those African girls, or you love the Lord Jesus most. Or would you have to confess that you do not love Him at all? Sad indeed would such an admission be, but better confess the truth to yourself, and to Jesus. Then never rest till you can truly say, “Yes, I do love Jesus, but He loved me first.”
ML-02/17/1935