If any of you children have read in the Bible where it says “that the men pray in every place”, you may be wondering how children. especially girls, can help out a prayer meeting. So turn to the-twelfth chapter of Acts and read about the prayer meeting, and the girl that was there.
You know of course that Rhoda was not praying out loud. The men present were doing that. But she was doing something very important at that prayer meeting, something that children can and should do: she was listening. Rhoda was a good listener. She listened to the voices of people who went to prayer meeting, at prayer meeting. After hearing the gospel and accepting it you should have a “desire” to be at meetings where the Bible is taught. Beside this you should attend prayer meeting where your ears may hear requests that are made known unto God.
Much is said in the Bible about the ears, Jesus said: “take heed how ye hear”, and also, “take heed what ye hear”. This would apply to you children as well as to grown-ups. What you listen to, determines what you are to become. There is but little that you can listen to that is about Jesus. The world would fill your ears with everything else. Today many homes have in them, machines that fill the ears with worldly things from morning till night. How sad if the Lord’s people should be more familiar with the voices of radio entertainers, than they are with the voices of those who speak well of Christ! At gospel meetings, Sunday school, and reading meetings you may hear the things concerning Himself. Remember, there are things said at prayer meeting that you should hear, also.
You will notice in the story that it is said of Rhoda that she recognized Peter’s voice. She must have listened to it before. It might have been at the breaking of bread. It might have been at a Bible reading or a gospel meeting. The important thing is, that she recognized the voice. It is hoped that you children often listen to the voices of those who speak well of Jesus. It is hoped that you listen to these voices, as they are used at prayer meeting.
If you have read about the little girl that waited on Naaman’s wife, and of Miriam and of Rhoda, you should realize that there is much to be done by those who do not and may not take any part in public ministry. How wonderful that the Lord can use weak things to confound the mighty! It is He who gives the increase. It is to Him you should look, and of Him you should think. It is your business to think and to read so much and so constantly, of Himself, that His love will constrain you to speak of Him. This will be true service indeed.
ML 06/18/1939