HE WAS one of the crowd of hungry, homeless boys that used to roam the streets of Shanghai. Several Christians took pity on him and gave him clothes and food and endeavored to win him to Christ.
One kind missionary even took him into his own home and sent him to a Christian school, treating him as his own son. But the wanderlust prevailed and Jimmy was soon back with his old companions roaming the streets. Wandering in the ways of sin was more pleasant to him than walking "the way of the cross that leads Home."
But one memorable evening found Jimmy among a group gathered for Bible reading in the back room of a Bible shop. During the meeting the teacher enquired:
"Jimmy, if somebody wanted to buy you, how much would you be worth?" After weighing the question thoughtfully, he answered, with great conviction:
"A strong, smart boy of fifteen should be worth at least three thousand dollars!"
"Well, Jimmy, Jesus wants you. How much are you worth to Him?"
This was an astounding announcement for which he was unprepared. Jimmy was pricked in his heart. The tears streamed down his cheeks as he replied, "I wouldn't be worth hardly anything to Him."
The price he had first put upon himself dropped lower and lower until Jimmy finally decided that instead of being worth three thousand dollars, he was "Worth only two cents to Jesus."
But then he received a new idea of what he was really worth. With a shock he learned that the Lord Jesus had esteemed his soul to be of more value than the whole world, and had given His own life upon the cross to purchase poor Jimmy. He had often heard that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)), but never till then did he realize that it was for him that Jesus died. Now he realized how worthless he really was. But that Christ should love him, and give Himself for him (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)) was a marvel that he could never — understand. But he believed it and the wonderful truth changed his whole life.
It became his desire to serve the Lord who loved him so greatly. And this he did until his life down here was spent. At an early age, his Saviour took him home.
Messages of the Love of God 3/23/1975