LIZZIE L—was a child of four-and-a-half years old. An evangelist visited her town, and set up his canvas tent on the town links Lizzie spent much of her time on these links with her little playmates, and when the “good man’s show,” as she called it, came, they all attended the children’s service in the tent.
There the thought of Jesus’ love to her came with a power as great as it was new. No words were so often on her lips now as, “Jesus loves Lizzie, mamma.” In pure, childish joy she would, when, as she thought, alone and unobserved, clap her little hands, and say to herself, “Jesus loves little Lizzie.” Sometimes she would be overheard telling her little baby brother, as if he should understand her, and enter into her joy, “Yes, Willie, Jesus loves little Lizzie.”
It became more and more manifest that the Holy Spirit was the child’s teacher, and love to Jesus filled her heart.
On the Lord’s Day, seeing the people going to hear the Word of God, she went to her mother, eagerly asking that she might be dressed to go. None from that house had ever gone; but so earnestly did she press her mother to get her ready, that her mother promised when she got a new dress for her, she would not only let her go, but would go with her.
Thinking over her lack of a new dress, and that such a thing should stand between her getting to a place where she could hear about Jesus, she said to her mother— “Well, mamma, father won’t bring me a new dress, but Jesus is going to give me a dress.”
“Did you tell her of these things?” we asked the mother sometime after.
“No, I did not,” was the reply.
“Who, then, spoke to her of them?” we asked, The mother did not know.
Wishing to know if the dear child knew anything of prayer, we asked, “Did Lizzie pray?”
“O yes,” was the reply. “And even when she was so very ill with the croup in her wee throat, I did not wish to remind her of her prayer, lest the effort to pray should hurt her; but she herself remembered it, and prayed so sweetly.”
Are you a young worker in the Lord’s vineyard? Then never consider any case hopeless, and no living person too ignorant or too young to be the subject of the saving change. Remember, that it is yours to sow the seed. ‘Tis God’s to give the increase.
Are you a believer? Then let the truth that thrilled Lizzie’s heart be more heartily and fully received by you. The Lord Jesus loves thee.
Are you still ignorant of His love? O, hear Him who says, “As I live . . . I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Ezek. 33:11. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
O, what love! To have provided such a Saviour; and now He offers Him to you with all that He is. Is that not love?
“Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.
ML 03/31/1918