In a devoted Christian family, who were walking in the fear of God, the daily reading was one morning in Exodus 27. The twentieth verse was dwelt upon. The parents talked together about the oil that was used in the vessels of the tabernacle, and looked up passages in the New Testament that explained its meaning and how it could be applied.
When the reading was over and the older children had left the room, the youngest child, a boy of five years, was detained, as was the usual custom, to be taught some simple verses by his mother, and to pray with her. The parents had not supposed that this child would understand what they had been talking about that morning, or that he would feel the slightest interest in a subject which they thought far beyond his age. However, when he had learned his verse, he kneeled down to pray, and in the midst of his prayer he paused, then he exclaimed earnestly,
“O, my God, make me to burn this day with pure oil.”
The morning lesson had not been lost upon him. And his earnest petition to God was not lost. For, throughout the day of his life, he was a devoted Christian. Thus was the earnest cry of that little child heard and answered. God’s Word had found its entrance in his soul, and it did its blessed work.
What an incentive this case should be to young Christian parents to maintain the “family altar,” in this day of luke-warmness, when too many feel that they cannot spare the time for this. God’s rich blessing is upon it; and sorrow will be to those who neglect it.
And are there few, or many, young Christians who are seeking daily to “burn with pure oil”? Such as are, will be lights in the darkness, and will be “polished shafts” in the quiver of the Lord.