HOW good it is to find children willing to listen to those who are older and to find the older ones willing to instruct the children.
The older we get, the more we learn, but if we want true wisdom, we must turn to God’s word. There we read, My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for under, standing; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Prov. 2:1-51My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1‑5). So, dear children; while it is good to listen to some old Christian drawing your attention to some portion of God’s word, the great thing is to receive it and, as it were, hide it in your hearts and in that way you will be kept in God’s ways, and you will be reminded constantly that His eye is upon you, He knows all that you do and even knows the thoughts of your heart.
Then it is by His word that we know the way of salvation; it is there we learn of God’s love for this world of sinners and of His sending His Son to die for us and of Jesus being the only way for poor sinners to come to Him.
May you, dear children, believe in Jesus as your own Saviour now, if never before, and then walk in God’s fear continually.
I once read of a little boy who gave his attention to the story of Jesus and His love, told by his school teacher; he believed it and rejoiced that Jesus was his Saviour. Sometime afterward a terrible epidemic of diphtheria, which interrupted the school, left not a few cheerless homes. This dear little boy was brought near to death, but spared and left speechless. As strength returned he went to school. One day, while listening to the stories of the blind man, the paralytic, the leper, of Jesus who could heal all, the boy’s dark eyes danced, he jumped up, clapped his hands, lisping, “Jesus!” Again and clearer he articulated, “Jesus!” Out of the door, down the street he sped, saying, “Jesus!” The palsied vocal cords had felt the healing touch; he knew Jesus before as his Saviour but was rejoicing then that He had seen fit to restore his speech.
From that on a great blessing, in the salvation of souls, took place in that little town, which before had been a very wicked place.
This blessing God gave through the faithfulness of that teacher telling the children about Jesus and also by the little boy attending to God’s word spoken by the teacher and receiving it into his heart.
ML 10/23/1904