Sam was an African boy who had been taken to live in a missionary’s home when war broke out between enemy tribes. Mr. Murray, the missionary, could tell that Sam was a very smart boy, so he chose Sam to help him by carrying messages and doing other little jobs. Mr. Murray was soon warned by others to be careful, because Sam was a thief. Before long he discovered that some of his valuable things were missing. Mr. Murray didn’t know what to do about this. During the Bible readings, Sam sat there looking bored and not paying any attention.
Mr. Murray prayed a lot for Sam. Then one day he called him and said to him, “I know you are a very smart boy; I want you to help me.” Sam looked very pleased.
Mr. Murray continued: “I have lost quite a few things and I want you to find them, and also to find the one who has taken them.”
The next day Sam brought one of Mr. Murray’s missing things and said, “I have found this, but I have not found the one who has taken it.” The following day he brought something else and said the same thing. Then he added, “How can one get forgiveness?”
Mr. Murray replied: “Don’t you know that if we confess our sins, God is willing to forgive us because the Lord Jesus has died for our sins on the cross?”
Mr. Murray also quoted Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) to Sam: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The following day Sam came to Mr. Murray with his arms full of valuable things and asked him to see whether he now had all of his missing things. Then Sam said, with tears in his eyes, “Forgive me; I am the thief.” Mr. Murray was very happy to forgive him and they both knelt down to pray and Sam asked God for forgiveness. There and then Sam gave his heart to the Lord Jesus. From then on Mr. Murray didn’t lose any more of his things and Sam went around singing. For him old things had truly passed away, and all things had become new. He was now a new person in Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).) He didn’t feel guilty anymore, because his sins were all washed away in the blood of Jesus.
When Sam grew up, he became a missionary to his own people, and he loved to tell others about what the Lord had done for him.
Mr. Murray loved Sam, even though he knew he had stolen from him. Did you know that, no matter how many wrong things you have done, God still loves you? Well, He does! Even though we deserve to be punished forever for our sins, God does not want any of us to have to be punished for our sins. He wants all of us to know that even though we have sinned, God Himself has provided a Savior. His own precious Son, the Lord Jesus, died on the cross for our sins. And, what God did for Sam, He also wants to do for you.
Messages of God’s Love 3/24/2024