ARF was a small dog who bonged to a school teacher. Arf made friends with a small kitten and they became much attached to each other. They played together, they went around exploring tether, and often slept together beside the kitchen stove.
One day when they were taking a nap, the kettle boiled over and the scalding water poured down on the sleeping pup. Poor Arf ran away howling piteously. He had not gone far, however, before he remembered his little companion. Though badly scalded, he returned immediately, picked up the kitten in his mouth, and carried him away to a place of safety. Wasn’t Arf a true friend!
Now the Lord Jesus is “a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” He loved us, and when some of us were sleeping in our sins, at all cost to Himself He came and picked us up, suffered in our stead, bore the wrath and judgment we deserved, and lifted us to a place of safety. No one will ever know how much He suffered there in Calvary’s dark hour.
How sweet the gospel message that tells us He died for sinners everywhere. He died for you, dear reader, if you will but trust Him as your Saviour.
ML-05/27/1973