IT has been my happy privilege, for many years, to minister to the sick, old and young; and very blessed it has been to be able to speak to them of Christ. I was once nursing a lady, who had a large family of children; one of the little girls, ten years of age, was so naughty that she had to be sent from home during her mother’s illness. This grieved me dreadfully, so that I cried to God in secret to let her come back, and also asked Him to incline her mother to let me have her in my room. I thought it would be a good opportunity to tell her how Jesus loved children.
After a few days the little girl came to see her mother, and I asked leave for her to stop at home. The mother replied, “Ah, no! nurse, she must go back to her aunt’s, for she upsets the whole house, I cannot have her.” I promised the lady that if she would let her stop, I would take the entire responsibility, upon which the child threw her arms around my neck, and said, “I will be a good girl.”
I took every opportunity of reading the Bible to my little charge, and of speaking to her of Jesus. In a few weeks there was a marvelous change in her life and ways, even to the servants. Before I left the house, I saw this dear child was truly born again, and that Jesus was her Saviour. It was sweet to see how she longed to bring others to know Him; she bought little books and gave them to the servants, and told them all how Jesus loved sinners. It was a sad time for both her and me when we had to part; but Jesus was with her. Often she would come to my cottage for me to pray with her that she might be kept near to the Lord.
Several years passed away, and we lost sight of each other. Many were the trials of her life during those years. Some three years ago I was walking by a cottage, when someone tapped to me on the window. I turned, and saw it was this dear child of other days, now grown into womanhood. She came out to me, and sobbing on my shoulder, said, “Ah! come in, you are the very one I wanted to see. I am not sure if Jesus has pardoned all my sins; I have such doubts sometimes.”
“Then you don’t give Him credit for His finished work on the cross, do you?” I asked.
She looked questioningly at me. I quoted several passages of Scripture, to explain my meaning, such as Hebrews 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17), “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more;” verse 4, “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified,” and many others.
She rose and paced the room. For the first time she realized that Jesus, who was delivered for our offenses, was raised again for our justification, and that her life was hid with Christ in God.
“Why did I not see this before?” she exclaimed.
I told her she had been looking at herself instead of at Christ, at God’s right hand. I learned that her circumstances were cast in a trying path for faith, but her joy from that day was full. She became a faithful witness for the Lord wherever she went, and has since then been ever diligent in seeking to carry the good seed to those who are sunk in sin.
We were kneeling together only the other evening, to ask God to give the joy and liberty, which she now rejoices in, to all who believe in Christ.
Dear children, see how this once naughty little girl has grown up to be a servant of God. How blessed it was that she came to Jesus when she was but ten years old, and so became a joy and comfort in the home where she had given such trouble! Will you not seek the same precious Saviour while you are young, and then seek to win other children to Him, who do not know Him? I think you will like to read a little hymn written by this dear Christian:
“Chasten, Lord, each fault of mine,
Holy thoughts renew;
Thy love into my heart doth shine,
Thy work I must pursue.
“Thine the power to save,
Thine to Lead and guide
All those, Lord, who walk with Thee,
And nothing from Thee hide.”
Dear children, I hope you understand that you have nothing to do for your salvation, only to receive Jesus. You must accept Him as a free gift. You are as poor helpless sinners, you can do nothing, but “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Sin was atoned for when Jesus died, and now “all that believe are justified from all things.” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). Mark “from all things,” not from some only. Surely God’s beloved Son is worthy of all our trust.
F. T.