A soldier was brought to Jesus in a singular way by a little child. He was quartered for some weeks with a Christian farmer and his family.
They were kind and hospitable and truly Christian people. His first meal in that house made a deep impression on his mind. Before eating, the parents, children, and farm-servants each stood behind a chair and bowed the head, while the father asked a blessing. After they had eaten, all did the same, and the father returned thanks. The farmer and his servants went to the harvest-field, the children went to school, except Johnny, the youngest. The soldier sat down after dinner, gazing from the window on the surrounding objects, feeling, impressed with this thought, “These people love God.”
While thus meditating, the little boy came to him, looked into his eyes and said,
“Tell me something about Jesus.”
Rather startled at the request, he began talking about dogs, horses, cows, and other things. When he stopped, the little one looked into his face again, and said,
“Do tell me something about Jesus!” Somewhat ashamed, the soldier replied,
“I don’t know anything about Him.” Johnny, much surprised at the answer, replied,
“And you so big, and don’t know anything about Jesus Christ? If you don’t love Him and serve. Him you won’t go to heaven.”
The soldier could not reply. This was an arrow from God. He felt miserable. He soon left the house and joined his comrades in the village. In vain he tried to forget the child’s words,
“And you so big, and don’t: know anything about Jesus!”
He lingered till dusk, and returned to the farm-house, hoping the family had had supper, that he might avoid the prang. The careful wife had reserved the supper, and, as he sat down to table and was about to eat, his little friend said,
“Please, pray first, then eat.”
Quite discomfited by this rebuke, he down his knife and fork, not knowing what to do. The little fellow seeing his embarrassment, folded his hands and asked God’s blessing on the soldier’s supper. Strange thoughts passed through his mind while he was eating.
When the table was cleared, all the family was seated for evening reading, and each one was supplied with a Bible. All united in reading the Scriptures; the soldier read with them. All joined in singing a hymn. The father prayed, and he did not forget the soldier; they then retired for the night, all except their guest, and the farmer and his wife. They spoke kindly to the young soldier, and read other portions of Scripture, and prayed, then showed him his room. The strangest feelings came over him. The Spirit of God was shedding light on that dark mind. He was ashamed, troubled, hardly knew what to do. So he kneeled down by the bed, and prayed the first prayer he had offered for many years:
“O God of this house, be my God.”
He there sought for mercy. He found peace in believing on Jesus, and became a devoted servant of God.
You see, God can use even a little boy or girl in leading a “big” man to Christ.
ML 12/29/1940