A WEALTHY merchant sat in his office, busily engaged with the morning letters. A tap was heard at the door, and in response to the merchant’s “Come in,” a lame soldier in soiled uniform walked in, and taking off his cap, began to search his pockets, saying confusedly, “I have a letter for you, sir,” The merchant returned to his desk, feeling annoyed that he should be interrupted so early in the day, by one whom he regarded as a beggar.
In the meantime the soldier had found the letter, and with a trembling hand, laid it on the merchant’s desk.
He was about to throw it on one side, and ask the soldier to come back at another time, when his eye fell on the envelope, the address of which he immediately recognized to be in the familiar handwriting of his only son, who was an officer, and had gone with his regiment to the battlefield.
That sight at once changed the merchant’s thoughts toward the visitor, and he immediately found him a chair, and asked him to be seated.
Opening the letter, he read—
“Dear Father,
The bearer of this is a soldier discharged from the hospital. He is going home to die, Do anything for him that you can, for the sake of CHARLIE, your son.”
The busy merchant laid aside his morning duties, and “for Charlie’s sake,” he found a resting place and other comforts for the needy soldier, and the following day, loaded with many gifts, he was sent on to his native place, where “for Charlie’s sake,” the wealthy merchant showed him much kindness for many years.
This touching story tells how God for Christ’s sake, is now dealing with needy sinners. In ourselves we deserve nothing, and have no claim upon God to show us kindness. But whenever the Name of Jesus is presented to God, whenever a sinner’s faith lays hold on that worthy Name, God at once saves, and forgives.
“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name’s sake. 1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12). And gives eternal life,
Apart from the Name of Jesus, God’s beloved Son, there is no salvation and no forgiveness. In that Name, the chief of sinners will be welcomed to God’s heart, and everlastingly saved.
ML 10/10/1937