LITTLE Martha was very naughty at school one day, and her teacher had to send her out of the class for the rest of the morning. She went out with a proud step, slamming the door after her. Her teacher, Miss Andrews, was sad to see her little Martha’s heart so full of anger, and looking around on the faces before her, she could see someone else as sad as she was. It was her sister Sarah.
Soon Sarah came up to her teacher, and Miss Andrews asked her if she had been too hard on her little sister. “No,” said Sarah, “I think she ought to be punished, but—”
“But what, dear, don’t be afraid to speak out.”
“I wanted to ask, if you would let me change with Martha,” said Sarah. “She has a cough, and the other room is cold; I can bear it better.”
“But Sarah,” said Miss Andrews, “everyone passing through and seeing you there will think you are in disgrace, so you will get the blame as well as the punislunent, and you have always been good in class. How will you like to lose your good name?”
“But I would not care about that; do let me go to her, and send her in,” said Sarah, and the tears which she could no longer keep back, told how much she loved her naughty sister. Her teacher could not deny her.
Sarah’s face brightened, and she left the room. A moment after, the door opened, and Martha was gently pushed inside and the door closed again. Half unwillingly, and with a look of shame, the little girl went to her seat, and her teacher was glad to see the angry little face softened into tears, as she bent her head over her desk.
The morning’s work went on but the teacher, who was a Christian, thought of that sister’s love, and the story it told to her heart. She thought of the punishment that once hung over her head, for she knew she was a sinner, and she thought of the love of the Lord Jesus who had changed places with her, and who on Calvary’s cross had borne that punishment in her stead.
“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Pet. 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24), “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Pet. 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).
Dear reader, do you know the Lord Jesus as the One who bore your sins on Calvary’s cross? He bore the punishment of your sin and guilt in order that you might never have to bear it; He died that you might live, and be with Him in the glory, if by faith you claim Him as your Saviour, you will never have to come into judgment. But if you refuse Him, then you yourself will surely have to bear the awful judgment of God against your sin. Trust Him now and be saved for both time and eternity.
ML-06/12/1960