MR. Chang was a gospel preacher who lived in a little village in China a few years ago. The Communists were trying to get complete control of the country, and they did not like the Nationalist soldiers coming to the villages.
One day some Nationalist soldiers, fleeing for their lives, asked the Chang family if they could sleep in their gospel hall. Mr. Chang was too kind to refuse them, so they spent the night in the hall.
The Communists were very angry the next day and told Mr. Chang he would be tried for harboring Nationalist soldiers. They put him in jail. Poor Mr. Chang knew that after the trial he would be buried alive, and soon would die.
The day before the trial, Mrs. Chang and several Christians were in the gospel hall praying for Mr. Chang. Suddenly a chicken from the neighborhood came into the hall cackling loudly, and laid an egg. The hen made such a noise that it disturbed the prayer meeting. Mrs. Chang got up and caught the chicken. She then tied a note to its leg along with a coin to pay for the egg, and the hen went off home.
An hour later, the lady who owned the village inn came down the street followed by a gentleman. Behind them came a crowd of curious villagers. Arriving at the door of the little gospel hall, the landlady simply said, “These are the Christians in this hall,” and then she withdrew.
The gentleman said he was the Communist judge, and addressing Mrs. Chang he asked her some questions: “Did you write this note that was attached to the chicken’s leg? And did you tie this ten cents to its leg?”
“Yes,” answered Mrs. Chang.
“Well,” said the judge, “that hen belongs to the lady who owns the inn where I’m staying.” He then asked Mrs. Chang what she believed of Christianity, and why she would do such an uncommon and exceptional act. “I have never seen honesty bore,” he said. “How did you become so honest?”
Mrs. Chang told him in her humble way of the Lord Jesus Christ, her Saviour, and of how He not only saves us from our sins, but He gives us a new life and nature that wants to please Him in all things.
The judge was impressed. “There will be no trial for your husband,” he said. “He can be released from jail, and we will forget the whole incident.”
How wonderful are the ways of God! The prayers of those poor Chinese Christians were answered. There is a beautiful verse in Psalm 50: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” v 15.
Let us not forget the last part of that verse:. “and thou shalt glorify Me.” How often we take God’s care for granted, and do not thank Him at all. He sent His dear Son into this world to save sinners such as we; the Lord Jesus took our place and died for us there on that awful cross. Now He is risen, gone back to heaven, and He wants us to trust Him as our Saviour, and to thank Him for all He has done. Then too He will give you a new nature that will want to please Him in all things.
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ,... we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5:17-18, 2017Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:17‑18)
20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20).
ML-03/14/1971