A preacher was once traveling through the country holding gospel meetings. One day he stopped at a village where he had some business, and went to an inn to get his dinner. A pleasant-looking girl, about fifteen years of age, waited on him at the table. Now whenever this preacher met strangers, he liked to point out to them the way to heaven, or tell them something from God’s Word that would help them. So before leaving the inn he said to this young girl, “What is your name, my friend?”
“Jane, sir.”
“Well, Jane, do you ever pray?”
“Oh no, sir: I’ve no time for anything like that. Why, I hardly have time to eat.”
“Now, Jane, I want to make a bargain with you. I expect to be back here in about two months. I’ll teach you a little prayer, of only three words, which I want you to say every morning. It needn’t take any time; for you can say it, if you like, while you are getting dressed. And when I come back, if you tell me you have said it every day, I’ll give you half a dollar.”
“I’ll do it,” said Jane, “I’ll do it.” “Well, be sure and keep your promise.”
“Yes, you may depend on that, for I always keep my promise,” said Jane. “And now tell me what the prayer is.”
“This is it,” said the minister. “Lord, save me.”
Then he shook hands with Jane, and said good-by.
After two months, he came back to the village. On going to the inn for his dinner, Jane was not there, and another girl waited on him in her place. After dinner, he spoke to the man who kept the house, and asked where Jane was.
“Oh, she took to going to meetings, and left here, and now she’s living at the pastor’s down the road.”
Then he went to the pastor’s home. He knocked at the door, and who should open it but Jane herself. As soon as she saw the preacher, she lifted up her hands and said, “You blessed man! I’m so glad to see you again, and to thank you for teaching me that prayer. But I don’t want your half dollar, because I’ve got enough already.”
“Well, well, let me know what you’ve got. Come, tell me all about it.”
“You see, sir, after you went away, I used to say that prayer every morning. At first I said it carelessly, while I was getting dressed, without thinking anything about it. But, one morning after I had said it, these two questions came into my mind: What did that gentleman want me to say this prayer for? What does ‘save’ mean? I thought the Bible would tell me something about it, so I borrowed one, and read in it a little every morning. Pretty soon, I read one verse, which said, ‘The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,’ and another which said, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ Then I saw that I was a lost sinner. This frightened me. I began to pray in earnest. I asked Jesus to pardon my sins, to save my soul, and to teach me to love and serve Him. He heard my prayer. He has done all this for me, and more; and now I’m just as happy as the day is long. And so I thank you for teaching me that prayer, but I won’t take your half dollar.”
That was a happy experience for Jane, one that she will never cease to thank the Lord Jesus for through time and eternity. Has the reader yet come to know this blessed Saviour, “whose love is as great as His power and knows neither measure nor end?” Have you ever prayed the prayer of the publican, “God be merciful to me a sinner”? Luke 18:1313And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13). Perhaps you are quite ready to admit that you are a sinner, but have you felt your need of the Saviour? The first thing needful is “repentance toward God,” and next, “faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)). Apart from Christ there is no hope of salvation. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12). The sinner is shut up to the grace of God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8). Take heed, and despise not His grace!
ML 09/19/1965