It was Fred’s birthday. He was ten years old, and got up early that morning, as it was much on his mind that he could now write his age with two figures. But what do you think he spied when he got out of bed? Ah, he saw some one had been up earlier than he, and put a package on his table. It was addressed to Fred in large handwriting. He soon saw that it was for him, and quickly opened it and there he found two beautiful books. One was a Bible, and the other a text book.
It did not take him long to get dressed that morning, and he was off to his mother’s room with the two books under his arm. Then he learned his first lesson from his birthday Bible. We do not know what the lesson was, but we know a good one to begin with: “THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM: AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY IS UNDERSTANDING.” Prov. 9: 10.
Then another one is, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105.
These are two very important portions. If we think of the holiness of God, then we are afraid to do anything contrary to His will, knowing He cannot allow sin to go unpunished; so, to have the fear of Him before us, will make us wise, and keep us out of many evils.
The second verse shows us how we may get proper guidance for all our path down here — it must be by the Word of God. It is the lamp that gives out the light for our whole path, and shows us where we should go and what we should do. May you, dear reader, consider these portions well.
ML 09/13/1959