During a week of preaching, prayer and conversation with anxious souls, it was thought desirable to have a general tea meeting, and invite the anxious and those interested in the gospel. After tea and before the address, when many were moving about and conversing freely on the concerns of the soul—a poor, emaciated-looking woman came up to me with a sheet of hymns in her hand, and placing her finger on the words, “Jesus is mine,” said, with much feeling,
“I could not sing these words last evening, but, O, thank the Lord, I can sing them tonight.”
“Thank the Lord indeed, my dear woman,” I replied, “and are you happy now?”
“O yes,” she said, “but I was so unhappy last night,” and went on explaining her feelings and experience in something like the following words:
“When we all stood up to sing that hymn, ‘Jesus is mine,’ something said to me,
“‘You can’t sing that, Jesus is not yours.’ And there I stood trembling with fear, and could not sing a word. And when I saw all of you so happy, my heart was like to break. I did not know what to do; and after I went home I could do nothing but cry; I could not sleep; and I prayed, and prayed, that the Lord would save my soul, and give me faith to say ‘Jesus is mine.’ And the Lord had mercy on me, for He did answer my prayer, and I could say before I fell asleep, ‘Jesus is mine,’ and I am quite happy now.
“I am delighted to hear what you say; you ought to be the happiest woman on earth, what a noble prize you have found! But do you remember how you came to feel sure of Jesus being yours?”
“Well, it somehow came before my mind, that Jesus had died for me as well as for the others, and I should believe that, and put my trust in Him, for He will never cast me off; and I did feel that I could trust in Jesus, and that I could love Him for having died for me, a great sinner; and I should like to sing that hymn tonight if you will give it out.”
It was not difficult to see that all was real, and that the Holy Spirit had been her teacher.
I mentioned the woman’s desire to the meeting, with some of the circumstances, and we sang the hymn with great joy of heart, the woman joining with us. Those who are familiar with such scenes know the peculiar joy which such an instance of God’s grace produces. It is a sweet foretaste of heaven.
“Now I have found a Friend,
Jesus is mine;
His love will never end,
Jesus is mine;
Though earthly joys decrease,
Though human friendships cease,
Now I have lasting peace,
Jesus is mine.”
Not merely, observe, did she know pardon and salvation, precious as these are; but she knew Jesus Himself the Person, as well as the work, of the Lord Jesus. We believe a doctrine, we rest in a truth, but strictly speaking, we love neither. We can only love a person. This is power; this was the power of the poor woman. To lean upon an arm that will never grow feeble, to meet an eye that will never grow dim, to confide in a heart that will never grow cold, is rest and peace and joy; but joyless must the soul be that knows not the Person of the Lord Jesus, even though knowing pardon and salvation.
Dear reader, Where are you? What have you? Do you know the value of His work for your conscience, and the preciousness of His Person for your heart? You believe that He is the Savior of the world, but do you believe that He is your Savior? What are you without Him? What would this world be without a sun? Bright compared to the darkness and desolation of your Christless state. Still He lingers in love for you.
Come to Jesus now. He waits, He longs, He loves to receive you. Turn not a deaf ear, a careless heart, to His invitations. Wrath is reserved for the rejecter of Christ; the sword but slumbers in its sheath. O! turn, turn, TURN to Him now just now while His arms are extended wide to fold you in the everlasting embrace of His eternal love.
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).