LET us take a little look together at our picture today, dear children. Notice the earnest expression on the face of the old lady, as she is telling the children something which interests them very much. How eagerly they are listening to what their dear grandmother has to say to them, and they know that what she is saying is true, for they have never had reason to doubt her word. Can you look at the picture and not think that the children love their dear grandmother and have confidence in her?
And what lesson can we learn from this? Ah! confidence is a beautiful thing. When we have a friend in whom we can fully trust we are glad to tell this friend about what we have done and what we expect to do; and of what has given us joy or sorrow, and what our wishes and hopes are, and we believe that all he says to us is true. But it is only when we have confidence that we can thus tell out what is in our heart, and trust in what he says.
Now I want to ask you if the Friend above all friends is your Friend. There is a Friend that you can trust perfectly; a Friend who can hear your slightest whisper, and who will not turn away from you if you speak to Him. He will always listen to what you have to say. If you have pain and sorrow, He feels for you in your suffering; if you have comforts and blessings, it is He who gives them to you.
Can you tell me who this dear Friend is? I think you will all be ready to answer—Jesus. And that is right. I hope you will listen to all that He has to say to you in His word, and when you have learned to know Jesus as your Saviour, you will then learn to know Him as your Friend; and a very precious Friend He is— “A Friend that stieketh closer than a brother”!
I hope you will “tell Jesus” about everything that concerns you, giving Him the full confidence of your hearts; then you will have sweet peace.
ML 12/30/1900