NEVER had a more attentive scholar than Bobbie. He was always in his class at the hour; always able to repeat his “text” correctly; and, if there were “Bible Questions” given, he was sure to have the answers the following Lord’s day. I asked the boys in my class one day to write out their “Birthday texts” that is, the text that had been used as the means of their conversion, or second birth, on a slip of paper, or write them in their text books, and bring them the following Lord’s day to Sunday-school.
I did this on purpose to make them think; for I knew full well that most of them had no such text to bring. Their ways too plainly told, that they had not been “Born again,” or been “Born of God.”
Next Lord’s day came, and I asked the boys to read out their texts, but no one spoke. Some of the bigger boys held down their heads, and seemed ashamed. At last, Bobbie stood up with his text book in his hand, and quietly said, “My birthday text is found in 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), ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ I am a sinner—that is my name—so Jesus came to save me. I believe on Him.”
The simple testimony of the dear boy the youngest in the class was greatly blessed of God, and before another year, several others had come to the Savior, had been born again, and could tell their “birthday text.”
Dear children, have you a birthday text? Can you point to some text given in the Word of God that has led you to Christ, and has given you the knowledge of salvation? If not, then let Bobbie’s “birthday text” be yours “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
ML-10/24/1920