DEAR children who love the Lord Jesus, can be disciples of His; and I want to tell you a true story, to show how God can richly bless any little service a dear child may do for Him, and that very often at a time when he or she may not be expecting it.
The little girl I am writing about had early learned that she was a lost sinner, and then, when she heard the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)), she joyfully accepted Him as her own Saviour, and found peace and rest in believing in Him.
I would like every dear child who reads this to ask themselves these two questions: first, Do I know that I am a sinner? The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)); and then, secondly, Have I trusted in the Lord Jesus, whose precious blood can alone wash away the terrible stain of sin and make me whiter than snow? Because I must tell you that none of you can do any work for the Lord Jesus until you have first trusted in Him as your Saviour, and if you try to work for Him before you are saved, God plainly tells you that all your righteousnesses are simply “filthy rags” in His sight.
Now, to go on with our story, Annie was an only child, and she, no doubt, had many mice toys to play with; but she had one thing of which, she was more fond than anything else, and this was a dear little grey cat. I am sure you will agree with me, that a pet pussie is much nicer than even the prettiest doll or any other toy, because they have to stay just where you like to put them, and cannot love you back again, whereas a pussie is so fond of its little master or mistress (if they are kind and do not tease it), and it will run after them and purr so loudly when petted or stroked.
One day poor Annie had a great trouble, for she could not find her dear little cat anywhere; and she came to her mother in great grief, saying, “O! mother, dear, I have lost my cat—what can we do to find her? Will you come with me, and enquire at different houses to see if she has wandered there?” Then she added in a low voice, “Is it right to pray about it, and ask God to let me have my pet again?”
“Most certainly,” her mother answered, “nothing is too small to take to our Father in heaven. He knows all our troubles, but He invites us to bring them to Him, and to feel quite sure of His interest. We will go as you wish, and you shall decide the way to take in search of the wanderer.”
Now I must tell you that since dear Annie had known the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, she much wished for others to know Him too, and when she went out, she was in the habit of giving away little gospel books: and on this day, although her young heart was full of trouble, she nevertheless did not forget to take some books with her, when she set out with her mother in search of her missing favorite; and as they called at different houses, asking the inmates if they had seen anything of a pretty grey cat, she left behind a little book, to tell of the Saviour’s love to poor, perishing sinners.
You will perhaps be surprised to hear that she did not find her pet again. God, her loving Father, had a wise reason for not granting her this request; but He allowed her loss to be the means of blessing to two precious souls that day, although Annie did not know about it in this life. She lived to grow up, and when she was about nineteen years old, the Lord took her home to Himself.
Some little time afterwards two of her aunts were looking for some apartments in the same neighborhood where Annie and her mother had gone that day so many years before, and at one house they were surprised by being asked if either of them had called at a certain house some years before with a little girl, who, while searching for a grey cat, had left behind a little book, called, “Lord, show me myself.” Both the mistress of the house and her servant had read it, and the Lord had graciously used it to the conversion of both their souls, and they so much wished the giver of it to know the happy result.
You may imagine how surprised and pleased Annie’s two aunts were to hear all about it, as they both loved the Lord Jesus; and then they were able to tell the lady some interesting details about Annie’s death.
Now, does not this simple incident show how the Lord can bring great blessing out of any small service which we may render to Him? And ought it not to encourage every dear child who really loves Him and wishes to serve Him, to work diligently for such a blessed Master, remembering that the Scripture says, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand, for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good”? (Eccl. 11:66In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. (Ecclesiastes 11:6).) And again, “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal. 6:99And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9).)
Messages of God’s Love 7/20/1913