Messages of God's Love: 1977

When I was a boy, before I was converted, I was working part time in a theater. On this occasion the theater was in a state of great excitement: a famous actress was to perform, and the old scenery of the stage was replaced with new brightly-painted scenes and hangings. Everything was done to please the star and to make the new play a success.

The night came—the handbills and placards had done their work, and the house was crowded. While engaged in carrying drinks to the orchestra, I was called upon to carry wine to one of the boxes. There I found the famous star chatting with one of the actors about the crowded condition of the house.

“Oh,” she remarked, “suppose the gallery should give way!”

“There would be a good many more souls in hell if it should, I am sure,” he replied lightly.

These words seemed to touch a chord in the heart of the actress, for she turned to me instantly and said, “O leave this place—leave it! You are too young to be here. There is something better than this; leave now before it is too late.” And oh, the look that was in her eyes, telling of the thirst in her soul that had never been quenched. She had been at the world’s well, oh so often, and had drank and drank and drank, but never had been filled. She had never got her fill from the pleasures of the world, and she knew it.

“Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again,” are the Lord Jesus Christ’s own words, and they were so true of her. Her words cut me to the heart, and I left. That was the last night I ever drank of those waters.

And, O unsaved one, if you are still drinking of the waters of this poor world (its pleasures or anything else), stop! There is a spring where you may drink and be satisfied—be filled—even to overflowing. He is able that promised, and He has said, “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Rev. 21:6. Again, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” John 4:14. The water given by the Saviour’s blessed hand alone can satisfy—none other ever can. Drink then, while yet there is time. Hear once more the gracious invitation of His love extended to us—once, when down here in this world, and now again from the glory, where He is—it is for you, dear thirsty soul:

“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” John 7:37. “Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.

ML-01/02/1977

The Rainbow

Genesis 8:15-22

God did not forget Noah in the ark. The rain ceased, and after 150 days the flood waters began to go down. The ark at last rested on the top of Mount Ararat.

Noah opened a window and first sent out a raven. The raven did not come back. There was plenty of flesh for it to eat. Then he sent out a dove, but the dove could find nowhere to rest, and she returned in the evening to the ark. A week later he sent the dove out again, and she came back with an olive leaf. He sent her out again a week later, and this time she did not return. So Noah knew that the flood waters had gone down.

Then Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked out and saw the ground that it was dry. Then God said to Noah, “Go forth of the ark,” and Noah went forth with all the creatures that were in the ark.

Noah built an altar and sacrificed some of all the clean beasts to God.

God blessed Noah and his sons, and God set a rainbow in the cloud as a promise that He would not again destroy all living things by a flood.

The ark is a picture of the Lord Jesus. God is one day going to judge the world for its sin, but, like Noah and his family in the ark, all who come to Jesus and take Him as their Saviour, find in Him a refuge and will be safe from judgment in that day.

ML-01/02/1977

Betty's Rescue

The railroad ran right through the farm where little Betty lived, and this warm summer day she was having fun walking along the tracks in her bare feet, trying to keep her balance on the rails. Pete, her little dog, was scampering along beside her.

The ten o’clock train was due to pass in a few minutes, and already the whistle of the big engine could be heard up the track. But Betty was having such a good time she did not hear it. The train whistled again as it came nearer, and its big bell began to clang loudly, warning every one to get off the track at once. Still Betty seemed not to hear.

The engineer saw the little girl’s danger, and the big locomotive gave another loud long blast. Pete scooted out of the way, and just then Betty looked up and saw the train bearing down upon her. Instead of jumping out of the way she just froze with fear. The engineer was trying to stop the train but could not because of its speed. Little Betty stood right in its path, terror-stricken.

It seemed as if the big engine would strike her down, but suddenly something else—she knew not what—struck her, knocked her off the rails, and sent her tumbling down the bank. It was Pete! Her faithful little friend had seen his little mistress’ peril and acted the only way he could. The little rescuer was grazed by the engine’s fender and sent flying down the bank after Betty, but he was not badly hurt.

Oh, how Betty hugged and thanked her faithful little playmate for saving her life that day. She loved him before, but she loved him far more now after he had rescued her from such a dreadful death!

And Someone has come to rescue you, dear young reader, from a worse peril. Like the great train coming down the track, the judgment of God is coming and will fall upon all who are in their sins. Now the Lord Jesus came into this world to save sinners and all who trust Him as their Saviour are spared from judgment. He has borne that judgment for them; He takes them out of that place of condemnation and danger and puts them in a place of eternal safety where the judgment of God can never touch them. So Jesus died that we might live.

Have you, dear reader, been saved yet? “The Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither is His ear heavy that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

ML-01/02/1977

Try Christ

Abderahman III, one of the sovereigns of Spain in the days when the Moors reigned over that land, was surnamed “the wise and happy.” Called by many of his admirers the “Solomon of the West,” he swayed the empire of that kingdom for upwards of fifty years.

His court was most magnificent, and he was distinguished for his meekness, generosity, and love of justice. He possessed all the virtues which constitute an able monarch. His chief delight was in making all around him, all connected with him, all whom he governed, happy. He was fond of science and a favorite of the learned. Historians, poets, philosophers and others were his companions, friends and servants.

In those golden years of the Moors their knowledge of botany, chemistry, and their skill in medicine and mathematics was far-famed. They distinguished themselves in algebra, optics and astronomy, and excelled in agriculture, mechanical arts, manufacturing and commerce.

Thus Abderahman surrounded himself with all the delights that wealth or intellect could administer, and men would say that if ever a mortal deserved to be happy, he deserved it.

However, it does not appear that this was so, for after his death there was found a memo in his own handwriting stating that of all those days in his whole life in which he had been entirely happy, or had met with no cause of sorrow, the number recorded of days so spent was “fourteen!” He tried every means of which he knew to secure happiness, but he did not try “Christ,” and in all the means he tried, he failed!

How many today, like Abderahman then, have sought happiness in vain! How few have sought it wisely! How many in that search have tried first one thing and then another, but have not tried “Christ"! To them we would say. “Try Christ, try Christ.”

“He satisfieth the longing soul.” Psalm 107:9.

I sighed for rest and happiness

I yearned for them, not Thee;

But while I passed my Saviour by

His love laid hold on me.

Now none but Christ can satisfy,

None other name for me!

There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,

Lord Jesus, found in Thee.

ML-01/02/1977

"Forgiven"

I heard a voice, the sweetest voice

That mortal ever heard;

Oh, how it made my heart rejoice,

And every feeling stirred.

’Twas Jesus spoke to me so mild,

He called me to His side;

He said, although with heart defiled,

I must in Him confide.

I saw His face, the fairest face

That mortal ever saw;

I longed the Saviour to embrace,

From Him new life to draw.

“Come unto Me,” He kindly said,

“And I will give thee rest;

Thy ransom price I freely paid;

Rejoice, for thou art blest.

I felt His love, the strongest love

That mortal ever felt;

Oh, how it drew my soul above

And made my hard heart melt.

My burden at His feet I laid,

And knew the joy of heaven,

As in my willing ear He said

The blessed word, “Forgiven.”

ML-01/02/1977

Rain!

Memory Verse: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1

“It is twelve months since we have had any rain,” cried the chief of the tribe, “it must be because our ‘gods’ are angry with us for letting the white people come to live with us.”

The crops were failing and the animals were dying of thirst in the mountainous area of Southern Sudan. Only three white people lived in this country which was about the same size as Wales.

That evening, just as it was growing dusk, one of the three missionaries looked out of her window and saw an amazing sight. The chief, with every man, woman and child, was walking slowly across the field towards the missionaries’ home! They had come to tell the missionaries the decision that had been made at the ‘public inquiry’ held a few minutes previously.

“Listen to us,” demanded the chief, “The God of the white people must send rain before twelve noon tomorrow. If He does not, then our ‘gods’ demand that the three missionaries be sacrificed.

The three missionaries went to their room that night but did not sleep. They read and re-read those parts of the Bible, which tell how God sent rain after Elijah had prayed, and how He delivered Daniel from the lion’s den and the youths from the fiery furnace. They prayed and read the Bible all night. They could not eat; they just felt they had to get right into the presence of God and plead with Him to work a wonderful miracle so that all this tribe would know that the Lord was really stronger than the ‘gods’ of the heathen people.

The Lord Jesus Christ drew very near to them as they prayed, and many of the wonderful promises in the Bible became very real to them as they searched its pages. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,” “Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto thee.”

The time seemed to go far too quickly, and soon the dawn had broken and the missionaries could hear the drums beating in the village telling them that preparations were being made for a very important day. The missionaries still prayed. How often did they get up from their knees to look out of the window! How often did they go back onto their knees to ask again that rain might fall!

At about half-past eleven on the appointed day, one of the missionaries shouted excitedly, “There’s a small cloud over there!” The two other missionaries rushed to the window and oh, what joy filled their hearts as they spotted a tiny cloud away over on the horizon. How they thanked God!

It was exactly twelve noon when the rain poured down on the village and drenched the place! Every water barrel, water pot, jug, pail, bucket or anything they could get hold of was placed outside and was filled to capacity with cool refreshing water! But the amazing thing was this: two miles away there was another village nestled away among the hills, but there they had seen no rain! The rain had only fallen on the one village among the tribe where the missionaries were praying.

The chief of the tribe was very impressed with the God of the white people. From then on he often asked them to come to tell him more about God and God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Many others in this tribe were also very interested and wanted to hear more, and the chief was very willing for the missionaries to have full liberty to go where they wanted to preach the Gospel.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psa. 50:15.

“He is able to save to the uttermost.” Heb. 7:25.

ML-01/09/1977

The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

After the flood the whole earth spoke one language, and they all dwelt together in a plain called Shinar.

We read about men like Nimrod who became a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord.

Men began to build great cities. They were very proud and thought to make a great name for themselves. So they said one to another, Let us make brick, and let us build a city and a tower whose top may reach to heaven. God wanted the people to spread themselves over the earth, but they said, Let us not be scattered over the earth. Let us live together in our city.

But God came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.

And God said, “Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”

So God confounded, or mixed up, their language so that they could not understand one another’s speech. And God scattered them abroad from there all over the earth: and they left off building the city.

Therefore, the name of it is called Babel; because there God confounded the language of all the earth.

ML-01/09/1977

Lost Lucy

Lucy was lost. She was only three and one-half years old and had wandered away from her home that Saturday afternoon—where, no one knew. She had been seen by someone running in the direction of a tavern where her father was in the habit of going on his way home from work. There was a deep pond close by, and they were afraid she might have fallen into it. But no one could tell, and her mother was in great alarm.

When hope had almost gone, there was a low knock at the cottage door, and Lucy’s mother was almost afraid to answer. But when she did, there stood the village policeman holding Lucy in his arms, all safe and sound. The dear little child had gone to keep her father from entering the tavern and she had posted herself at the door to watch. He was longer coming than usual, and Lucy could not go away without him. As one after another entered sober and came out drunk, she seemed frightened, but kept her post until the kind-hearted policeman came along. He had heard of her mother’s anxiety, and lifting little Lucy up, he carried her home.

Years have passed since that event in Lucy’s little life, but she has not forgotten it. Neither has her father, for it was the last time he ever entered the tavern door. He was soundly converted to God, who not only saved his soul but took away all desire for drink that was ruining his life. He became a happy follower of Christ.

Lucy, who has grown up to be a beautiful young girl, is also saved and on her way to heaven. So was the old policeman who found her that day. They are all in the old village, new creatures in Christ, saved and on their way to glory. Are you, dear young reader?

ML-01/09/1977

Faithful Oscar

Oscar, the farmer’s dog, was a favorite with the children. They rode on his back, they threw their caps in the air for him to catch, and tossed sticks into the river so that they could watch him plunge in and bring them back to land.

But besides all this, Oscar was a most useful dog. He would take letters to the post office, he would carry a basket out to the field, he would walk with the children to and from school, and see that no boy or girl molested them.

There was one thing in particular that caused Oscar to stand high in the estimation of the farmer and his wife, and that was his faithful watch over Ernie, their little boy. One day, Ernie wandered far from home and lost his way in the town. Ernie had been forbidden to go further than the end of the lane leading up to the farm to meet his brother and sister coming from the school. But Ernie, like some other little boys and girls I know, took his own way one day and set off along the main road to town. Then he wandered off the road and lost himself.

Oscar missed his little charge and set off after him. For several hours neither Ernie nor the dog were missed at the farm, but when the children returned from school without Ernie and the dog, the parents became alarmed. Three parties set out in search of Ernie, one to the fields, one other to the woods, and a third to town. After a full hour of searching, Ernie was found lying asleep near the gate of a big farm, with Oscar lying close to him, guarding the child like a sentinel. The sleeping child was carried home, and for many a day Oscar was loved for his faithful care of him.

I know of One who left His home in the glory bright, to seek and to save that which was lost. His name is Jesus. Is it possible that the service of a faithful dog can be remembered, and yet the love of Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour, who went into death for sinners, be forgotten? How are you treating this Saviour, dear boys and girls?

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15. “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

ML-01/09/1977

A Wife Saved

Years ago a man was converted to God, but his wife was so bitter about it that she resolved to do away with him if she could.

One evening she waited for him with a weapon in her hand in a dark spot in the woods. She knew her husband would pass there on his way to the Bible study. However, he did not come alone but with two strangers who had met him on the way. So, she decided to wait until his return to do the awful deed.

She paced up and down impatiently, and then it began to rain. When the rain began to pour down heavily, she crept near to the little meeting room in the dark and took shelter under the porch. There she heard all that was said.

The Word of God went to her heart like an arrow from God’s bow. Suddenly she saw her whole life in the light of God and realized her sinful, lost condition. It was a terrible shock to her. Then when the meeting was over, she rushed into the hall, the weapon still in her hand, and cried out: “Is there still grace and mercy for me, the greatest sinner?” Then she confessed her terrible plan.

They prayed with her and assured her the grace of God would forgive her, great indeed as her sin was, for “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20).

Weeping and broken hearted, she walked home with her husband. Before the sun rose next morning, she had found salvation and peace in the blood of the Lamb.

“He came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas... and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18.

ML-01/09/1977

The Little Gopher

Memory Verse: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

It was a warm summer evening and milking time on the farm. The farmer was busy carrying pails of milk from the barn to the milkhouse. The little kittens gathered at the favorite hour to await their share of the abundant supply. The farmer paused and filled a small pan on the floor especially for them. Their little spiked tails pointed in four directions as they surrounded the dish, and their furry tummies grew round and full as they lapped at the warm milk. Mother Puss was out hunting.

In the nearby fields the gophers sat near their burrows or played in the evening sun. Suddenly they all dived for their safety. Alas, it was too late for one little fellow. Something dark and huge suddenly appeared from nowhere, and he was pinned to the earth by great cruel claws. Mother Cat had intercepted him. He squeaked with terror and pain as her teeth closed on the nape of his neck.

Apparently it was not Mother Puss’ intention to kill and eat her victim there. In triumph she headed for the barn. Paralyzed with fear, the little gopher ceased to struggle. The sight of the green fields where he had lived his brief but happy little life faded from his eyes; then he fainted away.

It so happened that on this weekend a friend from the city had paid the farmer a visit. He was in the barn at the very moment when in marched Mother Puss proudly displaying her catch. He watched as she deposited her prize at the feet of one of her little toms, who immediately pounced upon it, biting and growling fiercely. Then in true cat fashion he proceeded to play with it for awhile.

The visitor had a tender heart and loved God’s little creatures, now suffering because of man’s sin. He knew that gophers were no friends of the farmer, that they dug holes in his fields and ate his grain. He knew they were pests and marked to be destroyed. Still he himself had tasted of mercy, for he knew God “who is rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4), and he longed to show mercy to that poor little gopher.

With this on his heart, the visitor stooped down to effect the rescue. The kitten growled horribly and its teeth gripped its prey more tightly, determined not to give him up. But strong fingers forced the little jaws open, and moments later the little gopher was lying far from danger on the soft grass outside.

A long while he lay there motionless. Then his little eyes opened on the blue sky above once more. Was it a dream, after the horrible reality of the past hour? At last, a poke from the stranger stirred the little creature to life and action. He got on his feet and started off as fast as he could across the yard in the direction of home — a “saved” little gopher, bruised and bitten—but free!

How like the gopher is the sinner! an enemy of God by wicked works (Col. 1:21) living far from Him on earth which He has made, helping himself to what is really God’s, robbing Him and sinning against Him continually. Not only is he a sinner against God, but he is also a captive to Satan, (2 Tim. 2:26); being carried down to judgment (Heb. 9:27).

Now there came into this world a heavenly Stranger, Jesus the Son of God. He saw our desperate case as sinners and looked upon us with pity and love. There was power in that love too, and at all cost to Himself He stooped to save.

The man in our story might have given the farmer a dollar or two to pay the farmer for what the gopher had robbed him of; but all the gold in all the world cannot pay sin’s debt. “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. 9:22). A spotless victim must die in the sinner’s stead, and Jesus came to take that place. He has answered to God for the sins of all those who trust in Him as their Saviour. He has paid the full debt, and God demands no more. Those who believe in Jesus shall not perish; they have been set free—not to live to themselves, “but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:15.

How is it with you, dear reader? If you stand before God in your sins it will mean everlasting fire. Jesus is passing by. Now is your opportunity to be saved. Take Him now.

ML-01/16/1977

"God Is Not Mocked"

A God-fearing miner had often experienced the blessedness of the scripture, “All things work together for good to them that love God,” Rom. 8:28, in connection with the cares and burdens of life. His fellow miners often heard it from him, but they despised the Word of God and treated him with scorn.

One day, as he was about to descend with his mates into a shaft 1500 feet deep in the earth, a dog grabbed his carefully wrapped lunch. Not wishing to go hungry, he was forced to run after the dog in an attempt to rescue his dinner. However, the foreman could wait no longer, and he and the crew started to descend the shaft. Seeing their companion running behind the dog, the men in mockery cried after him, “All things work together for good.”

Indeed this incident did work tether for good for our friend. On the way down the cable of the elevator broke, and the whole crew plunged into the depths beneath. None of the men came out of that mine alive!

“God is not mocked.” Gal. 6:7.

“All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28.

ML-01/16/1977

Sandy's Rescue

One dark midnight, flames were seen coming from the windows of a house. In a few minutes fire trucks came rushing to the scene, their sirens screaming loudly. A crowd quickly gathered, eager to help put out the fire or to rescue anyone in the house. One after another the folks were brought out and kindly received into the homes of the neighbors. It was supposed that all had been saved when a woman burst through the crowd, wringing her hands and crying piteously, “My Sandy, my Sandy is still in there!”

Was it possible that a precious child was still in danger of the awful flames, and no effort was being made to reach her? Yes, the girl was still in the burning house!

Sandy had been put to bed as usual, and after she was asleep, her mother had gone out to see a sick neighbor. The sound of the fire-siren and the shouts and cries of the crowd brought her quickly to the spot. She gave a hurried glance to see if Sandy had been brought out, but no Sandy was there. Sound asleep in her bed, the little girl was unconscious of her terrible danger.

The firemen looked at each other in dismay. There was not a moment to spare; but who was to risk his life to save little Sandy? Another moment and a tall fireman, his helmet gleaming in the light of the flames, was seen ascending the ladder. It was a terrible risk, and the people below stood with bated breath as they saw him enter the window and disappear amid the smoke.

In less than two minutes he appeared again at the window, clasping the child in one arm. There was a ringing cheer from the crowd, and many a “God bless you” as he came down the ladder. Sandy was soon safely in her mother’s arms. But that noble act cost the fireman his life. The flames from which he saved the young girl had burned him so badly that he never recovered.

Could Sandy ever forget the love of the one who saved her? No; many a time she wept as she thought of his sacrifice, and she often went to the cemetery to put flowers on his grave.

But the love of the fireman was only a shadow of the love of Jesus, who left His heavenly home and, on the cross of Calvary, endured the wrath of God against sin to rescue sinners from eternal hell.

Who would be foolish enough to remain in a burning building with the flames raging all around? And yet many sleep on in their sins in this world which, like Sodom and Gomorrah of old, is soon to be destroyed by awful judgment, unconscious of their terrible danger. Awake and be saved, unsaved reader.

“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.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

“Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Luke 18:16

ML-01/16/1977

Joshua

Joshua 1:1. 2

We now come to the book of Joshua. Moses, that honored servant of God, raised up to bring His people out from Egypt’s bondage, who had guided them all through the wilderness to the borders of Canaan, has passed away. Joshua takes his place. It is he who leads the people into the promised land which God had given them.

Both Moses and Joshua are types of the Lord Jesus, and Israel typical of us, His redeemed people now. Christ has delivered us from Satan’s power, His precious blood shelters us eternally, our sins are put away forever; we have been brought to God and now bask in the sunshine of a Father’s love.

The Lord Jesus is journeying with us as we pass through this desert world. Here we are often humbled in order that we might prove what is in our hearts, but we experience that wonderful grace which meets our every need along the way. We feed upon the heavenly manna—Christ, the bread of life come down from above; and we drink the living water which flows from the Rock, Himself smitten for us.

Israel’s inheritance was an earthly one; but we are a heavenly people, and heaven is our home. God would have us to enter in by faith and enjoy those heavenly blessings which He has given us in Christ, who is already in that heavenly land, seated at God’s right hand. But this can only be through death—our death with Christ, of which Jordan is a type.

Joshua, then, is a type of Christ as the Captain of our salvation. He by His spirit leads us into the possession and enjoyment of the heavenly joys and privileges which belong to Him, and He shares them with us.

Joshua was first called Oshea, meaning “deliverance,” but later he was called Joshua, which means “the Lord’s salvation.”

In Deuteronomy God was teaching His people that obedience and blessing go hand in hand. Now that Moses is gone, Israel’s path of obedience and blessing was in following their new captain. So it is with us. May we seek grace to follow Christ our Captain in childlike faith so that He may lead us more and more into the enjoyment of heavenly things.

In the first part of this book we see a remarkable divine energy. God’s time had come; He would have His people cross the Jordan and take possession of the land, so Joshua is given a solemn charge. “Arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them.”

God Himself had given them that beautiful land with its green hills and valleys, its brooks and streams, its waving fields of corn, its olive trees and vineyards, so pleasant a sight for their eyes to rest on. He wanted them to enjoy it to the full, yet more than all He would have them appreciate and enjoy Himself, the Giver.

But what glories are spread before the eye of faith in that heavenly land which now belongs to the believer-the glories of Christ who fills that scene above. And all these glories and blessings are unfolded to us now in His Word. Oh, that we might be stirred, dear Christian, like Israel of old, to “Arise,” and possess, to know more of “the breadth and length, and depth and height.”

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.” Col. 3:1.

Our God the center is,

His presence fills that land,

And countless myriads owned as His,

Round Him adoring stand.

ML-01/16/1977

A Ferry Disaster

Memory Verse: “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live.” Isaiah 55:3

A few weeks ago in the Southern States a ferry boat cast off from the shore of the Mississippi. It was early in the morning before daybreak, and on board were over 100 men and women on their way to work on the other side of the great river. Fog rolled over the water, but apart from that, all was the same as usual. In 10 or 15 minutes the passengers would be busy starting their day’s work, just the same as they had always done.

Suddenly, out of the fog the blast of a ship’s horn was heard. Fog makes sounds more eerie than usual, and that horn so close must have startled the passengers on the ferry. A second time it sounded. How close it was! Would the ferry swing away from evident danger? A third blast. Was the captain paying attention? Alas, the ferry kept right on course. Things must be all right after all.

In the darkness and fog an enormous tanker loomed up on the port side of the ferry. Without a chance to stop or swerve or change course, the tanker struck the ferry mid-ships. Up into the air went the ferry and down she crashed into the cold, dark, 80-foot waters of the Mississippi. Ferry, cars, passengers and crew were all plunged into the waters of death. Most of those aboard the ferry perished in the cold eerie darkness. Only a few were saved.

Three times a warning was given and three times it was ignored. Then death followed.

Dear boys and girls, God has warned us many times of a danger right at hand. He has warned of terrible judgment to come. If you are unsaved, we plead with you to heed the warning voice of the gospel and find in the Lord Jesus your only way of escape. Go in haste to Jesus and take Him as your Saviour. Be saved from the wrath to come.

“It is appointed unto men once to die; but after this the judgment.” Heb. 9:27.

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9.

ML-01/23/1977

Lost Wimpy

Poor Wimpy was lost! He had followed little Janie home from school.

She had petted him and seemed so friendly. However, mother had different thoughts. She did not want Wimpy. When Janie brought the little stray dog into the kitchen, Mother’s first act was to seize the broom and sweep the homeless pup out the back door and send him scrambling down the steps.

Poor little Wimpy found shelter in the old woodshed where he sat cold and miserable. He did not know that in the meantime four little children to whom he belonged were searching for him and crying because he did not come home.

That evening little Janie told her Daddy about the little stray dog that had followed her home. Daddy had a tender heart and wondered what they could do about Wimpy. That night as he read the newspaper he suddenly paused and asked Janie, “Is that little dog black and white?”

“Yes,” replied his little girl.

“It says here in the ‘Lost and Found’ columns that someone has lost a little black and white dog named Wimpy. Let’s go and see if he answers to that name.”

“Wimpy!” called little Janie.

Out dashed Wimpy from the old shed, and soon he was in the arms of the little girl. A short time later, after a car ride, Wimpy found himself back home again with the four little children he knew and loved. He was wagging his tail excitedly, and they were laughing and crying all at once!

We find in the Bible the words “lost” and “found.” God speaks of boys and girls and older people too who are unsaved, as “lost.” Those who have come to the Saviour he calls “found.”

What are you, dear young reader lost or found? The Lord Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Receive Him as your Saviour and you will no longer be “lost,” but “found!”

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6.

“Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:6.

ML-01/23/1977

A Chief Who Took Off His Hat

To the South of us, about 4,000 miles as the crow flies, in the heart of South America lies the land of Bolivia. There the Inca Indians have made their home for centuries. Deep in the thick jungles and high up in the Andes Mountains dwell over 300 tribes, many of whom have never been reached with the gospel.

Years ago a missionary from New Zealand went to Bolivia to tell the Inca Indians of God’s great love for them. It was a hard life, beset with many dangers and sorrows, but God took care of him and his wife and blessed their labors. At first the Indians were very hostile, and on many occasions these two servants of Christ were face to face with death, but God protected them.

One day as the missionary talked with old Cipriano, an Inca chief, he quoted John 3:16 to him in his native Quechua tongue: “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.”

As the old Indian listened intently, his dark eyes lighted up first with wonder, then with joy, and he took off his hat in reverence. Like most of his people he believed there was a supreme Being, but never before had he heard that this same God loved him. It was a happy day for the old chief, for right there and then he believed that message of God’s love and was wonderfully saved. He passed from heathen darkness to light and became a happy Christian. Since that time many of his tribe have “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.” 1 Thess. 1:10.

If our reader has not yet accepted Christ as Saviour, won’t you, in simplicity like the old chief Cipriano, receive Him into your heart by faith, just as you are?

ML-01/23/1977

The Angel of the Lord

It happened back in those early days of the gospel testimony in Bolivia.

Every morning I was accustomed to visit the Conventilla in the city of Potosi. A conventilla is a large building where many families live. I used to go down there and give out gospel tracts every morning.

In those early days there was much opposition from the people and their religious leaders, and our lives were often in danger. One morning I had just finished distributing gospel tracts to many in the conventilla, and was just going out the door, when a howling mob of some 200 people followed me, crying out: “Kill him. Get rid of him. Do away with this evangelist. Do away with him!”

They followed me down the street and some already had picked up rocks to stone me to death, when at the critical moment a little boy—a fair-haired little fellow—came across the street to see me. I stopped and stroked his little head, surprised at seeing such a dear fair-haired little lad in a land where all have such dark complexions and black hair. The little fellow, stranger though I was, put his arms around me and was such a comfort to me at a time of such danger and trial.

The mob, seeing the little boy’s attitude toward me and my affection for him, ceased from their violence, and some were heard to call out: “Leave him alone; he must be a good man. See how he loves that little fellow.” Dropping their stones, the crowd dispersed and I was left alone with my little fair-haired friend.

Soon after, the lad crossed the street and went his way. Every day I went back to that section of the city and tried to find him, but I saw him no more. I came to the conclusion that this was another instance of which that wonderful scripture speaks: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and deliveth them.” Psa. 34:7. I could never find the boy after and truly believe that it was the angel of the Lord that intervened on my behalf on that occasion.

ML-01/23/1977

Job

Job lived after the flood, perhaps in the time of Abraham. He was a perfect and upright man who feared God and hated evil.

He had seven sons, three daughters and a great many servants. He had thousands of sheep, oxen, camels and asses, and was the greatest man in all the east.

Satan told God that Job feared Him only because He had blessed him with so many good things. God allowed Satan to destroy all Job’s flocks and cattle; even his sons and daughters were killed. Still Job remained true to God.

But God would test Job still further. He allowed Satan to smite Job with sore boils from his head to his foot, so that he suffered terribly.

Job’s three friends, instead of comforting him, only condemned him.

They said that there must be some great secret sin in his life that caused God to send this trial. But they were wrong, and Job knew it. He felt that God loved him, but then, why should He allow him to suffer so when he was such an upright man? As days went by in his trial, Job was righteous in his own eyes, and he justified himself rather than God.

Elihu told Job he was wrong and that God was right. At last when God Himself spoke to Job, Job humbled himself and said, “Behold I am vile.”

After that God blessed Job. He took away his sickness. He gave him seven more sons and three beautiful daughters, and more flocks and cattle than he had lost. So Job had more at the end than at the beginning. He was a happier man too.

ML-01/23/1977

Joshua

Joshua 1:3-6

“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.”

God had given Israel the land of Canaan, but they must put forth energy to possess and enjoy it. To gaze out over those beautiful fields of ripened grain and the vineyards and olive trees, would not be eating its fruits, nor to look up at those mountains was not digging out the precious metals. Step by step they were to win the ground, for their enemies were there ready to contest every inch of soil.

So it is with us spiritually. All spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ are ours, but they can only be reached through death, as seen in Israel’s crossing the Jordan. Only as having passed through death with Christ can we appropriate them by faith through the power of the spirit of God. It is possible for us to have an intellectual grasp of heavenly truths, but our enjoyment of them and how much our life and walk are affected will tell if we have really made them our own. We need to occupy ourselves with these things, to dwell upon them and let them prove their reality in our lives.

Then it is instructive to notice the boundaries of the land given here: “From the wilderness” on the south, “and this Lebanon” on the north, “even unto the great river, the river Euphrates” on the east, “and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun on the west.” Here we have the world’s characteristics set forth: 1) its barrenness; 2) its power; 3) its prosperity; and 4) its restlessness.

God’s people are like a garden enclosed, surrounded by a world with which they can have nothing in common.

There would be conflict for there were enemies there, and so it is that in this sense Canaan is not our heavenly rest. It is really our entering into our heavenly portion now. We have spiritual enemies, “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but... against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). Satan opposes all that is of God, and we need the whole armor of God to withstand in the evil day (Eph. 6:13).

But, dear Christian, are not Christ and the blessings He gives worth all the conflict? And for us victory is assured: “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Three times the Lord cheers Joshua with the words, “Be strong and of a good courage.” How precious is His Promise to be with us all the way home.

ML-01/23/1977

A Kindness Repaid

Memory Verse: “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Edmund Singer, who lived near Halifax, Nova Scotia, fed and sheered a lost mongrel dog. The dog seemed grateful and hung around his shack for a time. Then he disappeared.

Singer was hurrying home one day a month or so later along an icy side road. A heavy snowstorm had set in-a storm that was merging into a blizzard. The temperature was below zero. Singer was none too warmly dressed. His foot slipped on a sheet of ice, hidden from sight by the fast-falling snow. Down went Singer with a crash breaking his right leg. There he lay, helpless, unable to move.

Few, if any, would pass along that isolated side road during such a blizzard. Singer was in immediate danger of freezing to death.

Then it was that a dark figure appeared, apparently from nowhere through the heavy-falling snow. It was the nameless mongrel dog Singer had befriended. The dog sniffed eagerly at the fallen, helpless man, then dashed off into the storm.

Joe Baron, a lumberman, was plodding along a main road some distance away when a dog sprang out of a swirl of snow. The dog whimpered and tugged at his coat, beside himself with excitement. Joe realized the dog wanted him to come somewhere, and he followed to where Singer lay half dead in a drift. The lumberman lifted the suffering man with much difficulty and helped him to the nearest house.

The mongrel dog capered ahead, barking in gay triumph—the dog had repaid Singer’s kindness by saving him from death.

The dog has been called “man’s best friend,” and what a wonderful example of faithfulness many a dog has proved to be.

But man has a better Friend yet than the faithful creature who follows at his heels or sleeps beside the stove on cold winter nights. That is the Lord Jesus Christ. He has done what no creature ever has or ever could do. He left His home in the glory and came into this cold world of darkness and death to save poor man ready to perish.

We see Him pictured in the Samaritan who found the poor man lying half dead on the side of the road. While others passed him by, the Samaritan bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine. Then he traded places with the man, set him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn, where he provided for his keep until he should come back for him.

How many poor perishing sinners has the Lord Jesus found along the roadsides of this world. He has healed their wounds that sin and Satan have made; He has given them a new life by His Spirit and made their hearts glad.

He has raised them up together and made them sit together in heavenly places, and He has brought them to the company of His own people where they are comforted and cared for until He comes again.

All this the Lord Jesus has done for those who love Him. And much more will He do not only as long as we are in this world but when He has us in His eternal home in the glory.

Oh what a Saviour! Well might we praise and thank Him forever!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8, 9.

ML-01/30/1977

A Gift from the King

Albert was a young Swedish boy. One day he walked along the street very sad at heart. His mother was sick and he wanted to buy her some fruit. However, he only had a few pennies in his pocket. As he walked along he passed one of the estates that belonged to the King of Sweden. There in the beautiful gardens large bunches of luscious ripe grapes hung on the vines.

How good they looked, and as he stood and eyed them he thought of his mother. Picking up courage, Albert ventured to ask the gardener if he would sell him one of those bunches of grapes. The gardener, however, was a stern man and told Albert, “No, these grapes belong to the King.”

It so happened that the King’s son standing by overheard the conversion. He felt sorry for young Albert. Albert was almost overwhelmed when the young prince cut off two fine bunches of grapes and put them in his hand.

“Sir,” said Albert, “how much money do you want for these grapes?”

“I don’t want anything for them,” replied the Prince. “My father does not sell them. He is the King and he gives!”

How happy Albert was as he ran home and presented the lovely grapes to his sick mother as a gift of the King.

Now God is like that, but oh so much more. It is His joy to give. We learn from the New Testament that He is a giving God, and that we are poor needy sinners, who have nothing to pay. And God has given His best His only beloved Son. He could not have given more. “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.

Salvation is not to be bought with money, nor is it something we can work for, as many would have us to believe. Salvation is a gift from God, the Giver. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8, 9.

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23. Have you this gift, dear reader?

ML-01/30/1977

"Do You Ken Christ?"

Old Isabel Chrystie was over 90 years of age and had long been on the heavenly way.

When the old pilgrim lay dying, she was unable to recognize family, friends or preacher. To each inquiry she still replied, “I do not ken you.”

At last the question was put to her; “Isabel, do you ken Christ?”

The countenance of the dying saint brightened at the sound of her Saviour’s name. Looking up with a smile, she promptly replied, “That I do, but nay say muckle as I would like, and will do by and by.”

That night the aged believer went to be with Him whom she remembered and knew when all others were forgotten and unknown.

ML-01/30/1977

Jane's Decision

Jane was a young girl, just sixteen. She lived far out in the country so that it was only occasionally she could attend the little chapel where the Word of God was preached.

One Sunday she was reading a book, the biography of an honored Christian lady whom God had used in blessing to others. As she closed the volume, Jane said to herself, “That was a beautiful life.” After a little thought she added, “And I should like to live such a life.”

A few minutes later she knelt down and prayed, asking the Lord to make her His own so that she might live for Him and serve Him in her life. The Lord heard her prayer and gladly accepted her, even as she accepted Him as her Saviour, for He never turns any one away. Jane was supremely happy.

That was the great decision of her life. She went on steadfastly, living for Him whose love had won her young heart, and grew up to be an honored, beloved Christian lady.

Lord, make me from this hour, Thy loving child to be, Kept by Thy power, kept by Thy power, From all that grieveth Thee.

ML-01/30/1977

A Baby for a Nickel

A man once told a very little girl that he would sell her his baby for a nickel. Now little Nell loved little babies, and she thought that would be a very cheap way to get one; so she ran home quickly to get the money. Her mother was very busy and gave Nell the nickel, not stopping to listen to what the little girl wanted it for.

Little Nell ran back to the man expecting to claim the baby. Of course, the man would not give up his baby. He did not mean what he said, and the little girl went home crying bitterly.

Little Nell’s mother always told her the truth. She thought that others meant what they said, just like Mother did.

It is wrong not to tell the truth, even though we may not mean anything by it. We often make others feel badly when we say things we do not mean.

ML-01/30/1977

Joshua

Joshua 1:7-10

In order to encourage His people to go in and possess the land He had given them, the Lord graciously promised His unfailing presence, His strength and nearness to them in the conflict with the enemy. He knew that the giant sons of Anak still trod the land, and that those great high cities, walled up to heaven, were everywhere. So in His grace He would encourage His people to learn to measure these giants by His strength instead of their own, and the great walled cities by His power, not by their weapons of war.

“Be thou strong, and of a good courage,” He had told them. And we, as Christians, are called to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” How well it is for us when we cease to look for strength in ourselves, when we realize that we have no might of our own, but find all our strength in God. The psalmist could say, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee... they go from strength to strength.” (Psalm 84.)

Still again the Lord calls upon His people for strength and courage, but this time it is that they might obey all His Word, for obedience is always governed by the Word of God.

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee.” God says, as it were, All My power is with thee, Joshua; but there must be obedience.

“Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left.” They were not to deviate from it to even the slightest degree. One step aside will lead one astray altogether. As Christians we are called to walk a straight road, unlike the crooked paths of this world, where every man goes his own way, afar from God! Israel must confess that “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and thus John the Baptist was sent to proclaim, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” Mark 1:3.

God’s Word was not to depart out of their mouth; “It is written” was to decide everything. It was to be their meditation day and night. We need to meditate on the Word in order to obey. With the world against us, we need courage to obey. To do God’s will and simply obey His Word requires courage in the face of the world, courage within our own hearts—the courage of faith which looks to God. And this is the secret of success and prospering in the conflict. When we are in the path of God’s will, He will give us strength to go on in it, but we will not have His strength if out of that path.

In the Word of God we find His will made known to us. It keeps us in His presence and we learn from it His thoughts, His ways, His purposes and promised blessings — all His wondrous mind. We learn what He delights in, and so when we meditate in the Word, we dwell in the blessed atmosphere of His love and holiness.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whitheoever thou goest.” What power the assurance of His mind gives! It would be impossible to obey His command unless assured of His blessed presence.

ML-01/30/1977

"Lion, Go That Way!"

Memory Verse: “He that trusteh in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.” Psalm 32:10

One Sunday morning in Africa two Christian natives set out to visit a village some miles away. The narrow trail led across a wide plain through tall grass on either side, and as they walked along they had a strange sense that they were being followed. What was their fright when, looking around, they saw a lion stalking them.

Terrified, they stood motionless! The lion stopped too. They could not run away, nor were there any trees to climb, so these dear children of God prayed that He would protect them as He had long ago shut the lions’ mouths for Daniel, His servant, in the lions’ den.

Thus encouraged, the two men turned around and quietly started on their way again. Then, looking back, they saw the lion was following them again. When they hurried on, the lion hurried after them; if they walked slow, he slowed down too. This went on for some time until they came to a path that went off in another direction.

They went a little way on their path, and then they turned around and faced the lion. He stopped too. Then, pointing to the other path, they spoke thus to the great beast: “Lion, we beg you to go that way, while we go this way!”

Evidently, the lion did not appreciate being told what to do and where to go, for he put his head down and growled angrily. The native Christians again asked God to save them. Then again addressing the lion, they said: “In the name of Jesus Christ, we command you to go that way.

At this, the lion looked along the other path and began to dig up the earth with his great claws. The men turned and began to walk slowly on their way. Looking back, with thankful hearts they saw that the lion had taken the other path.

Reaching the native village, they gathered the people together and held a gospel service. The native audience listened amazed at the story of how God had watched over them and protected them from the great lion. A little later, these two dear servants of Christ came home by the same path that they had come, singing hymns of praise and glory to God for all His gracious goodness and for His great deliverance.

“Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Prov. 29:25.

Now will I tell to sinners round

What a dear Saviour I have found;

I’ll point to Thy redeeming blood,

And say, “Behold the way to God.”

ML-02/06/1977

The Stolen Puppies

A family of boys who lived on the edge of our village were thrilled beyond words one day when some one presented them with a basket containing five fat roly-poly little puppies. What fun they had feeding their lively little pets and watching them roll and squirm as they played on the lawn.

But evil eyes were on those doggies as well as admiring ones, and one dark night three of them disappeared from their kennel.

The boys all felt sad, but Mother said: “Never mind, we will tell God about it, and He can, if He sees fit, let us know where to find them. Or if it is His way, He can send them back to us again.”

Three weeks later on a fine summer morning, to their great surprise and joy the boys found the missing pups playing around their kennel, and they carried them to their mother. “God did it, my boys,” said Mother. “How I do not know, but I’m quite sure He had to do with their being returned. He is a great God, yet He is interested in our little things; He wants us to trust Him to leave them in His hands.”

The boys had confidence in their mother’s faith and were quite ready to believe that the return of the pups had not happened merely by chance.

Imagine their surprise when sometime later, Tom, a schoolmate, told one of the boys that he had been converted at a children’s tent meeting. He told them that he had bought the pups two weeks before from a tramp for only a few cents. Now that he was a Christian, and knowing what a Christian ought to be and how he should act, he felt he must bring back the pets which he knew to be theirs.

This incident was never forgotten by those boys. Their mother’s confidence in God, and the fact that conversion makes people want to be honest and to restore what is not their own, along with Tom’s fine testimony to what the grace of God had done for him, impressed them greatly. It was the means of their being led to the Saviour not long after.

So God turned it all about for blessing. And that is just what God is seeking to do for you, our dear reader. He wants to bless you, to make you happy in His love.

ML-02/06/1977

The Boy Who Could Make Coffee

Years ago a famous French chef was giving some lectures on cooking. Among the many ladies present was a young fellow, Will Corcoran. So intent was he at copying down recipes in his note book, that he did not notice the many quizzical looks and smiles directed at him. “He is surely in dead earnest,” whispered one lady to another. “Perhaps he intends going into the king's kitchen.”

But no, Will was simply going to sea as soon as he could get a berth. The lesson on coffee-making interested him most of all, for he had been told that the seamen drank lots of coffee, and that the way to their hearts was through the coffee pot.

When Will went to sea the sailors soon saw that he had a higher motive in his heart than a desire to please them, and the fact that he always kneeled down to pray before turning in to bed showed plainly what it was. But the one thing which led to his influencing the crew was the fact that he could make good coffee.

On one terribly wild night their good ship, the Ophir, rolled and pitched in the raging seas, and the storm threatened to send her to the bottom. “We’ll go down before morning,” remarked a mate to himself, as he gazed into the awful darkness.

“I don’t think so, Sir,” came a voice from behind him. “God holds us in the hollow of His hand, and He is able to keep us. My mother often read to me about that. God is with us even here. Let’s ask Him to keep us safe.”

The mate was no coward, but he was drenched to the skin and thoroughly miserable. “Go on with you, boy,” he scowled. “Don’t give me any of your preaching.”

Will only smiled as he ran to the galley and returned with the steaming coffee pot in his hand. “This is my business anyhow,” he said cheerily. “Take a cup, Sir, and you’ll feel better.”

Will’s pleasant earnestness, the mate confessed, quite took the wind out of his sails. “I’m half inclined to think you’re right, boy,” he said. It was a great admission for the mate to make, and Will slipped away triumphantly to see what coffee would do with the others. Here and there along the slippery deck he went with the coffee pot in his hand, and during that night many a shivering man was warmed and into many a heart he infused fresh courage. When morning dawned the Ophir was still afloat, the storm had died down, and many of the sailors had good reason to thank the young cook. Some of them joined him in his prayers that morning.

This went on day after day, and the Lord blessed Will’s testimony to the men during that voyage.

ML-02/06/1977

Joshua

Joshua 1:10-18

“Then Joshua commanded the offers of the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.”

We might wonder why the people are told to prepare food and then lodge on Jordan’s banks for three days before crossing over. Three days speaks of a perfect period of time; they also speak of death and resurrection. Perhaps in the sight of Israel waiting patiently on Jordan’s banks the Lord would have us learn that we could not cross the river of death, nor break down this world’s strongholds in our natural energy. If we would follow the Lord, it must be in His time and according to His Word. God has His own time for everything, and He would not have His people act in fleshly zeal.

To prepare food and then wait for three days also suggests the necessity of our taking time to digest the truth we have learned and make it thoroughly our own before going forth to engage the enemy in conflict. Many of us are inclined to be impulsive, even in the Lord’s things, and He has to teach us often by some humbling circumstance that we must wait on Him and not act in fleshly zeal.

The three days here are only figurative, of course. Through grace one might learn a lesson quickly while another’s exercises might cover months and even years.

In the latter part of the chapter we read of the two and a half tribes Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh-who chose to remain on the east side of the Jordan. They must, however, cross over and fight alongside of their brethren. But they fight without the personal reward.

God would have all His people cross the Jordan into the land, but there are many Christians who, while they love the Lord, nevertheless they get very little beyond thinking of Christ as the One whom to trust for their daily needs; they enjoy but little of Him as the risen Man in the glory who has united them to Himself forever. It is a blessed thing to know the Lord as our Shepherd here on earth as the One who comforts and cares for us in our daily circumstances; but we ought to know what it is to be dead and risen and united to Him who is outside this world altogether.

The two and a half tribes had “much cattle,” and they found the rich pasture lands on the east of the Jordan well suited to their purpose. Like many today, their thoughts were of earthly things when they might have enjoyed a richer portion within the land on the other side of the Jordan. Still they went over armed with their brethren and helped them in their wars to secure their possessions. And we, engaged in combat with the enemy to possess more of the unsearchable riches of Christ for ourselves, are also given the privilege of making known to others the riches of His grace and love.

ML-02/06/1977

A Short Sermon

Once when C. H. Spurgeon, the great evangelist, was to preach in Crystal Palace, he went to the Palace earlier in the day to try out the acoustics of the place. Having to say something, he said something worth saying: “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

A workman busy in one of the galleries heard the words that seemed to come to him from heaven, and smitten with conviction of sin, he put down his tools and went home. He did not rest until he was able to rejoice in Christ as his Saviour.

ML-02/06/1977

The Brave Sea Captain

Memory Verse: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Uncle William had come to visit us for a week. We all loved Uncle William, perhaps most of all because of the interesting stories which he told.

The first morning that he was with us, he gathered us all together and asked us each to say a Bible verse for him. It was Janie’s verse which made him tell us this story. Her verse was, “Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4.

“That will always be my special verse,” said Uncle William, “and I will tell you why.

“It takes me back to the very first trip I took at sea. We ran into a terrible storm, and we all thought that we would never see land again. The waves piled up so high around us and then came crashing down on our ship with a thundering roar. The great vessel cracked and groaned in all its joints as though it would split in two. For two days and two nights the storm raged on, and all during that time the brave captain stood on the bridge and guided the ship as best he could. It was cold, and the rain and hail and sleet beat against him, but he would not leave. On the third day the storm began to wear away, the danger was over, and the captain went down to his cabin to rest. But he never came out again. Pneumonia set in, and in three days he was dead.

“Children, I can’t tell you how I felt as they let the body of our brave captain down into the sea. I cried like a little child. But I was not the only one — tears were in the eyes of the big strong seamen too.

“Among the passengers there was a gospel preacher. I can still hear his voice, sounding out over the wide ocean, ‘Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.’ He spoke of the bravery of our captain who had given his life to guide the ship, and then he went on to tell us of the matchless love of our Lord Jesus who went into death for poor sinners like ourselves. He warned us about the storm of judgment ahead, and begged us to take Jesus as our own Saviour. In that very hour, Jesus became my own personal Saviour, and that verse has been a favorite of mine ever since.”

Can you, dear reader, also say, Jesus is mine? He loves you and wants to wash your sins away, and be your Saviour, too.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18.

“Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

ML-02/13/1977

How the Justice Got Saved

Richard Baxter, the gospel preacher, was riding to a village some distance from his home to preach. Night came on, and in the darkness Baxter missed his way. Finally he saw a lighted house near the roadside. Knocking at the door, he asked if he could spend the night there. The man of the house said he could.

At supper time the man asked his guest what his business was. Mr. Baxter told him in a quiet way, “I’m a man-catcher.”

“Oh,” he replied: “You are the very man I want. I’m the justice of the peace, and I want to catch Dick Baxter, who is to preach tomorrow morning in a nearby house.

Mr. Baxter did not tell the man who he was, but he agreed to go with him to the meeting the next day. The next morning they went to the house where the people had gathered to hear Dick Baxter preach. When the justice of the peace found that Dick Baxter had not yet arrived, he thought, “I suppose he has heard of my plan to arrest him, and he’s not going to show up.”

After a while the justice suggested that his guest should offer a prayer and talk to the people. Then Mr. Baxter began the meeting. He prayed with such power, those present felt that God was there. Then he delivered such a heart-searching message that the juice was melted to tears. As he closed his message, Mr. Baxter turned to him and said, “I am the Dick Baxter you are looking for! Take me!”

But he did not arrest Dick Baxter. God’s Word had broken the man’s heart, and instead of prosecuting the evangelist, the justice himself got saved. He lived to become a testimony for Christ in that village.

“Is not My word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jer. 23:29.

ML-02/13/1977

A Sheep Book

A group of poor shepherds and a missionary were gathered together around a log fire one chilly night in a cabin in the mountains of Asia Minor. These rugged men listened intently while the missionary read to them from the Holy Scriptures.

Very appropriately the missionary read from John’s Gospel, chapter 10. “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” v. 11.

An eager voice interrupted: “Oh, Sir, is that the gospel?”

“Yes,” he replied, “This is the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“Oh,” said the shepherd, his face aglow with simple pleasure and confidence, “I didn’t know before that that Book was a Sheep Book.”

Yes, the Bible is a sheep book; it is for lost sheep as well as for those who are found.

It tells of Jesus the Son of man, who “came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6.

The Lord can say of those who trust Him as their Saviour: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29.

ML-02/13/1977

Baby Moses

Long ago a wicked king, called Pharaoh, ruled over Egypt. He first made the Israelites slaves, and then when they multiplied so, he ordered them to throw every newborn son into the great river Nile.

But there was one godly father and mother who had a beautiful baby boy and they just couldn’t throw him into the river. They had faith in God and so were not afraid of the king’s command. They hid their little son for three months, but after that they thought he was getting too big to be hidden any longer. We are sure they asked God to take care of their little boy.

The poor mother gathered some bulrushes that grew along the river bank and made a basket called an ark, covered it with pitch, and put her little son in it. Then she left it floating among the rushes at the edge of the river. His sister stood afar off to watch what would happen.

Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to bathe and seeing the little ark, she sent her maid to fetch it. When she looked in and saw the baby, he was crying. She felt sorry for him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

The baby’s sister came up at that moment and asked her, “Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for thee?” Pharaoh’s daughter said, “Go;” so she went and called her mother. Perhaps Pharaoh’s daughter thought what a nice kind nurse she was, though she did not know she was the baby’s real mother.

“Take this child away and nurse it for me” she said, “and I will give thee thy wages.” So the mother took the child and raised him. Then she took him back to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She called him Moses because she drew him out of the water.

When he grew up Moses was called of God to deliver his people from their slavery. He led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and for forty years across the wilderness to the borders of Canaan, their promised land. Then after those many years of faithful service, God took this servant home to heaven.

ML-02/13/1977

Joshua

Joshua 1

The book of Joshua is so full of deep and precious meaning to the children of God that we are conscious of our weakness in trying to explain even a very little of it. However, we are encouraged when we remember that Moses told his people to read out of the Word of God even to the little children, so that if we learn these wonderful stories when we are young, the Lord Jesus by His Spirit will explain them to us some day.

“Moses, My servant is dead.” We have now a new leader in Joshua, raised up to lead God’s people across the Jordan and into the land of their promised possession. And our Joshua is the Lord Jesus who passed through death for us, but is risen again and now the blessed Man at God’s right hand who, by His Spirit, leads us into the enjoyment of our heavenly blessings.

Moses was in one way a symbol of the law; but the land was aside from the law and given of God by promise to Abraham and his seed long before on the ground of unconditional grace. Moses and his rod of judgment are forever laid aside, for the heavenly places to us are according as He hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world.”

We as believers, through the death of Christ, are dead to the law and to that with which the law had to do—the flesh, the old nature, and the world. We are crucified with Christ and risen with Him. So we read: “Moses, my servant is dead; now, therefore, arise.” “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God... For ye are dead (or have died).” Col. 3:1, 3.

“All this people” were to go over Jordan with Joshua. And so we are all raised and seated in heavenly places now in Christ Jesus. The youngest, the weakest and the least instructed babe in Christ is as much there as the established, well-taught teacher or most aged father among the saints of God.

“As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee.” It was as if the Lord said, If I was with you through all the desert scenes and made all your needs and necessities My care, how much more will I be with you now when you are fighting My battles in the land and My warfare is your care. Moses could say, “these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee, thou hast lacked nothing” (Deut. 2:7.). Thus the Lord reminds them of His ever watchful presence and care that their hearts might trust Him whose battles were now to be fought and whose land was now to be taken from the enemy. In every hour of need “I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”

ML-02/13/1977

He's Mine

A Christian man tells the story of how the day after he first landed in Corsica, he distributed in the streets of Bastia some gospel tracts which were gladly received by all. He had brought with him from the hotel one small New Testament and had given it at the Old Port to a quiet-mannered, sad-looking lady in black. She had kept asking him for it. Four months later while walking on the Piazza, he was met by this same lady, who smilingly reminded him of the little book.

“Have you read it?” he asked. “Yes, Signor.”

“What have you found in it?”

“I have found Jesus Christ in it.” “And who is Jesus Christ?”

“My Saviour.”

Oh how deep and precious is the joy of being able to say, “We have found Him” (John 1:45). “He is mine.”

ML-02/13/1977

Saved By Indians

Memory Verse: “Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7

Jimmy lived with his parents near a deep swift river. He had been warned against swimming in such a dangerous stream, but one hot day the temptation to go for a swim was so strong that he disregarded the warning and decided to just swim near the bank. However, he became bolder as the water seemed so calm, and he ventured out a little farther where the current was stronger than he realized, and it soon pulled him under. He struggled hard, but the river was stronger than he and almost claimed him as its victim. Just as he was going down the third time he was seized by strong, brown hands and hauled into a canoe. When he came to himself, he found that his rescuer was an Indian.

Now, we would suppose that the Indians, for there were two, would take the boy home to his anxious parents—but not so! They took him on and on down the river until they reached the Indian camp. Here Jimmy’s rescuer took him to his own home and, as he and his wife were childless, it was decided that the child should live with them as their own son. Jimmy cried for his beloved parents. How he wished he had not disobeyed them! How true it was in his case that “The way of the transgressor is hard"! Hover, the Indian woman was very kind to the little boy, and, in course of time, he became quite fond of her.

Now I must tell you that Jimmy’s parents were believers and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. They had taught their little boy how to be saved, and the many scriptures he had learned were now a comfort to his lonely heart. And not only this, but Jimmy taught his Indian parents of the God who had loved them and sent His Son to die for them. In course of time the Indian and his wife came to know the Lord as their Saviour.

Now since they were Christians, they began to realize how wrong it was of them to keep Jimmy away from his parents. Finally they could not rest until they had taken the stolen boy home. How great was the joy of both Jimmy and his loved parents to be reunited, and how glad they were to meet the Indians who had not only saved their boy from drowning, but who had been saved themselves to rejoice in the Lord’s salvation, through the words their own son had spoken to them.

Thus the Lord brought good out of evil, though Jimmy never forgot the terrible suffering his disobedience caused both himself and his parents.

“Honor thy father and mother... that it may be well with thee.” Eph. 6:2, 3.

ML-02/20/1977

The Safe Compass

Tom was a country boy who had just finished school. He was about to leave Sunday school and his friends to go and take a job in the big city. A kind Christian friend, who had gone with him to the station, said to him: “Now, Tom, remember you are going to launch your craft on a big and dangerous ocean.”

“Yes, I know it,” said Tom, and taking a Bible out of his pocket, and holding it up, he added, “But you see, I have a safe compass to steer by.” That was fine, and we trust that dear Tom sought guidance from its sacred pages to steer a safe course home to heaven. The Book was the guide of young Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5, 3:15, 17) and it is still the best guide for youth today.

“Wilt Thou not from this time cry unto Me, my Father, Thou art the guide of my Youth?” Jer. 3:4.

ML-02/20/1977

Why Does Mother Keep You?

A Christian preacher one day asked a little girl, “Are you worth anything?”

“No,” she replied.

“Then why does Mother keep you?” he asked again.

“Oh, ‘cause Mama loves me,” came back her bright answer.

Why does God love us so? We do not know, except to say that love is His nature, for “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. But we do know that He does love us.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

ML-02/20/1977

Owls

Did you ever see an owl? Owls are birds that fly about at night. They stay in some dark, secluded spot all day, but at night they are hunting about in the darkness for their supper, for they can see well in the dark. They eat mice and rats, fish, reptiles, insects, and sometimes birds and rabbits.

The nest of the owl is made of sticks and twigs and oftentimes are built in rocks or old houses or in the hole of a big old tree.

Some owls are as white as snow, and their feathers are as soft as cotton. Some are brown, and others are gray. Sometimes in the night we hear their strange eerie call which sounds much as if they were saying, “Whoo? Whooo? Whooo?”

In some of the Northern countries where the snow stays upon the ground much of the year, there are owls with pure white feathers. They are very large too; they can hardly be seen, since they look so much like the snow.

We often think of the owl as a wise old bird, and no doubt he is wise in many ways, for God has given His creatures remarkable wisdom in natural things.

Now the Lord Jesus is perfect wisdom; He is the Creator “who is blessed forever” (Rom. 1:25); and one of His names is Wisdom (Prov. 8). He gives understanding to the simple. “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” Prov. 8:1.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” Prov. 9:10.

Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life.

Matthew 7:14

ML-02/20/1977

Among Robbers

One night a band of robbers broke into the house of a Christian man in China. They took away his son and then asked for a great sum of money as a ransom. The poor father did not have enough money to pay the ransom, and he knew that if the money was not paid on a certain day in an appointed place, the child would be killed by the robbers. But he knew the One who has said: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psa. 50:15. The father got down on his knees and prayed earnestly to God to save his child. He prayed the whole day and the following night.

Early in the morning he heard the voice of his boy at the door. He had a happy face, but his clothes were torn and his feet were sore. He told his parents how the Lord had helped him. In the evening, while the robbers were quarrelling among themselves and not watching him, he took the opportunity to steal away in the twilight. He had run all night to get home. With thankful hearts the whole family Praised the Lord for this deliverance.

ML-02/20/1977

Joshua

Joshua 1

Three times in this chapter the Lord encourages Joshua-“Be strong, and of a good courage.” No doubt it was because fear had prevented them from going into the land before. They were afraid of the giants, and afraid of the way. It was a new way to them, and there was plenty to terrify them. If they looked at the Jordan overflowing its banks, they might feel afraid of death. But if they were keeping the word of God they could say, “But we passed through the Red Sea, and it only drowned our enemies; and we sang the song of redemption on the other side.”

Again, if they thought of the enemies of the land, they might well feel afraid. But if they had God’s Word in their hearts they might say, “Oh, but God destroyed Sihon and Og that great giant, and He will destroy all our enemies if we only trust in Him.”

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee.” There are adversaries, but the word is, “In nothing terrified by your adversaries” (Phil. 1:28). There may be giants and we as grasshoppers in our sight, and the cities walled up to heaven; but that is no matter. The greater and higher they are the greater their fall, and the more complete the proof of what God’s power can accomplish by those who walk in obedience to His Word.

We need courage and strength to obey. We will prove God’s strength to be with us when walking in the path of His will, but not out of it, and we need courage to do His will in this evil world. Many a young Christian has found that to have God’s Word as the standard of conduct, dress and associations bring reproach from the world. Men will say that times have changed, but in a scene where all is fast slipping morally and spiritually, going down to judgment, how thankful we can be that there is that which changes not and to which faith can ever cling God and the Word of His grace, “which liveth and abideth forever.”

We need courage with self to obey the Word. Who is not conscious of the unsubmissive will of the flesh in us that which is not subject to the will of God, neither indeed can be? Also we need special courage with self to do His bidding, and this is the only path of happiness. Then we need courage one with another, with the world, with our friends, our relations, and with all.

God sees the future, the end from the beginning, and He has given His Word in view of all. When looking at the enemy, He tells us to “Be strong and of good courage.” When He looks at ourselves, He says, “Be thou strong and very courageous... Turn not from it (the word) to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”

In the end of the chapter the two and a half tribes who settled on the east side of Jordan seemed to be impressed with the Word of the Lord to Joshua and went to war with their brethren to help them gain their possessions. They left their wives and little ones behind. The Lord takes care of the loved ones of those who serve Him in helping their brethren.

On the other hand, the wives and little ones left behind here never saw that good land. What a lesson for Christian parents here! May we not “fall short,” content to bring our children only halfway, as it were, but seek to lead them into the enjoyment of those heavenly joys and blessings which are theirs in Christ, the risen and glorified One.

ML-02/20/1977

In the Gypsy's Tent

Memory Verse: “Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood.” Romans 3:24, 25

George was the son of a praying mother. Again and again she had pleaded with him to give his heart to the Saviour, but all in vain. His Sunday school teacher prayed with him and for him, but his words seemed to fall on deaf ears. George plunged deeper into sin.

His mother still prayed for her wandering boy, who had grown utterly reckless. Then she died with this prayer on her lips, “Lord, save George.” George received the news of her death unmoved and rambled from place to place, drinking and gambling.

One day as he tramped across the country without money and friends, he fell suddenly ill, and lying down under a hedge he thought he was going to die. All night he lay there in a burning fever.

Thinking he was going to die, he remembered what a bad young fellow he had been, and he tried to recall what his Sunday school teacher used to tell him. But somehow his brain was muddled and he could remember nothing right. It was, he said, as if God shook him over the fire as he lay under the hedge. All the sins of his life came before him, and he felt he was the blackest sinner out of hell.

In the early morning some gypsies came by and one of them asked him what he was doing there. He had just enough strength to murmur, “I’m dying.”

“Poor fellow! Here, give us a hand!” said one to another, and they carried George away to their tent where they treated him as if he had been a brother. One little girl named Vic, would often sit by his side and bathe his head. Then one day as he lay there he thought he heard his mother singing him to sleep. He opened his eyes and there was little Vic by his side, singing. When she saw him awake, she stopped.

“Go on, sing that again,” George pleaded. “I think I’ve heard that before.”

Then she sang ever so sweetly, “He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood avails for me.”

“Yes, that’s just what my mother used to sing,” George exclaimed. “But now she’s safe up yonder, and I shall never see her any more.”

“Oh yes, you may, if you will only come to Jesus,” said the gypsy girl.

“No, no, little girl; I’ve been too bad altogether. I can’t come to Him.”

“Yes, I’m sure you can, for you know the hymn says, ‘His blood can make the foulest clean,’ and that means the very worst, doesn’t it?”

“Sure it does; but it seems too good to be true, for I knew the right, but did the wrong. It cannot be; I’m lost.”

“See,” said the girl earnestly, “it says in my Testament the lady gave me that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost; so that must be you!”

“Well, it looks like it, doesn’t it?”

“Yes; and here again, ‘I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ "

“Thank God for that. Yes, I see it all now, that my mother and my teacher used to tell me, and I will now take the Lord Jesus as my Saviour and ask Him to take all my sins away and to make me His.”

There was rejoicing in heaven that day, as well as in the gypsy tent, over one sinner that repented. Dear young reader, we were all prodigals once, wanderers from the Father’s face. But has there been joy in heaven over you yet? Have you repented of your sins and turned to the Lord?

George proved afterward that Christ is a present salvation. One who not only cleanses from the guilt of sin, but saves from sin’s power. One day in the tent the awful craving for drink came upon him, and he cried to the Lord to save him from that thirst, lest he be drawn back into his old ways. Then the little gypsy girl read to him, “According to your faith be it unto you,” and George cried, “Lord, Thou wilt, and Thou dost save me from this awful thirst.” The desire for drink left him.

George showed by his altered life that his repentance was sincere. He was able to hold down a steady job, and it was his joy to spend his spare hours seeking to bring others to that wonderful Saviour, who is mighty to save mighty to keep.

The little gypsy girl has since gone to be with the Saviour she loved and served here. One day when He comes in the clouds and all His own meet Him in the air, she will meet the man in whose blessing she was so greatly used of the Lord.

ML-02/27/1977

Standing in God's Smile

A tiny boy, two years old, stood in a ray of sunshine and said gaily, “Me standing in God’s smile, Mamma.” His mother replied, “God grant that my dear little boy may so live as always to stand in God’s smile.”

Not long after, God called the mother home, and the little boy was left to the care of others. He grew to manhood and became much respected in the world. So great was his desire to get on, he forgot to put God first. But he was restless and unhappy and no longer did he enjoy the sunshine of His love.

One day, looking over some relics, he found a paper parcel, and opening it found a tiny pair of shoes and these lines in his mother’s handwriting: “These shoes were worn by my darling boy when he was two years of age. He stood in a ray of sunlight, saying, ‘Me standing in God’s smile, Mamma.’ God grant that my darling boy may so live as always to stand in God’s smile.” Through these lines God spoke to him. It came home to him how he had been long out of fellowship with God, in fact he had gotten far from Him. The memory of his mother’s faith and the impressions of his tender years came back to him. Humbly he turned back to the God of his mother, confessed the sin and failure of those years, and found the Saviour willing and ready to receive him back; for “him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML-02/27/1977

The Great Fire of London

On September 2, 1666, one of the most disastrous fires of history took place. It has been called The Great Fire of London.

In the previous year —1665 — there was what has become known as The Great Plague. This terrible scourge meant death to 100,000 people.

The great fire broke out in a wooden house near London Bridge. It burned for four days, during which 400 streets, 13,000 dwelling houses, nearly a hundred churches, including St. Paul’s Cathedral and many hospitals and public buildings were destroyed.

In an effort to check the progress of the fire, houses were deliberately blown down to make gaps which the fire could not cross.

Terrible though the fire was, it was really a blessing in disguise, for it swept away the last traces of the plague in the unhealthy houses and streets of the town.

Does this not remind us of the plagues which were sent upon Pharaoh when he would not let the enslaved children of Israel go out of Egypt? All these plagues were sent as a punishment, but a greater plague than any of these came upon the world long before Pharaoh lived.

It was the PLAGUE OF SIN! It had its beginning in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, our first parents, disobeyed God and brought ruin on the human race.

This is no myth, as some of the so-called wise men of the world would have us believe. It is a fact that cannot be denied. We see evidences of this awful plague around us day by day. We feel its evil influences in our lives.

SIN — what a terrible plague it is!

The Great Fire of London helped cleanse away the foulness of England’s greatest city, but the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, amid the fires of Calvary’s cross, came to cleanse men and women, and boys and girls everywhere of the great plague of sin. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. “Through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43.

O what blessings flow from the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. How many can truthfully sing —

O precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow

No other fount I know

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Have you, my dear reader, you who are plagued by sin, come under the power of the cleansing blood of the Lord Jesus? If not, why not come to the Saviour now?

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

ML-02/27/1977

Joshua

Chapter 2:1

We now come to the wonderful story of Rahab and the destruction of Jericho, or mercy triumphing in the midst of terrible judgment.

Jericho, situated in the beautiful plains of the Jordan, was, we are told, indeed a “place of fragrance.” It was a city of great strength in a position of exceeding loveliness. But it was the seat of the enemy’s power, and a figure of this world devoted to judgment by the word of God. The Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven with all His saints, and in flaming fire will execute judgment on the peoples of this earth who know not God and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 1:8). He will overthrow the strength and overturn the foundations of this world, and after that He will set up His kingdom and reign.

We see in Rahab a poor Gentile, dwelling in the doomed city, yet nevertheless an object of the rich display of the grace of God. Like us, she belonged to that large company we read of in Ephesians 2:11, 12: “Ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”

But degraded though she was, God was going to save Rahab. He had marked her out for blessing beforehand, and we who are debtors to His mercy alone, saved by sovereign grace, were chosen in Christ “before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (Eph. 1:4).

Joshua sent out two men to spy out Jericho. Perhaps he thought only of judgment, but God had thoughts of mercy, and the two spies became evangelists. Thus in the story of Rahab the harlot we see the riches of the grace of God shining out and showing that, no matter how degraded and sunk in sin, no one is beyond the mercy of God. The men of this world like to display their power and wealth in material things, but God finds His delight in revealing Himself as God “Who is rich in mercy.” In the coming day He will display “the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:7).

The two spies were directed by God to the very house in the city where His grace had prepared a heart. Perhaps there was no better place in Jericho where they could lodge, for who can tell the moral condition of the cities of Canaan? Even in Abraham’s day long before the iniquity of the Amorite was marked before God. For four hundred years He had borne with the ever-increasing corruptions of the inhabitants of the land, and now that the iniquity of the Amorite was come to the full, His judgment was about to fall.

How solemn to think the world’s judgment is so near and that we are to be taken out of it before the judgment falls! “What manner of persons ought [we] to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” (2 Pet. 3:11.) Like Rahab who busied herself in bringing her family under the shelter of the scarlet line, may we earnestly warn sinners of the doom that awaits them and urge them to seek the shelter of the blood of Christ.

God’s house is filling fast—

“Yet there is room!”

Some guest will be the last—

“Yet there is room!”

ML-02/27/1977

An African Student

Memory Verse: “Is not My word like as a fire? Saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29

Edward was a young African student. He heard the gospel preached one day and then wrote asking the missionary for some tracts. He read the tracts and then asked for a Bible. God says of those who read His Word, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear... and keep those things which are written therein.” Rev. 1:3. Edward believed that Jesus is the Son of God and trusted Him as his Saviour.

However, Edward had a problem his parents still practiced “juju” or witchcraft, and they told him that if he continued to be a follower of Jesus, they would cut off his tuition from school, turn him out of their home and disown him.

Now Scripture says: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” Psa. 55:22. Edward proved faithful; he refused to give up his Saviour, so his parents disowned him.

Nevertheless, the Lord was working in that home. His parents’ hut caught fire and burned down. While digging amid the smoking ruins, they came upon some tracts Edward had hidden there. They read the tracts, their hearts were melted, and soon they sent a message to Edward to return home.

Edward came home carrying his Bible, and his parents listened while he read to them from the precious Book. He showed them how the Lord takes care of His own, just as He took care of the tracts in the fire. He read to them the story of Elijah, and then turned to John’s Gospel. The wonderful story of the Saviour’s death on the cross and of His resurrection had a profound effect on their hearts.

In time the parents became true believers in the Lord Jesus and gave up witchcraft. They told their witch doctor all that had happened, that they were now saved and on their way to heaven. He asked for the tracts, and he too read them. It wasn’t long before the witch doctor himself came to Christ and was wonderfully saved too.

O the power of the name of Jesus! “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1:16.

ML-03/06/1977

The Power of His Name

For two days he traveled alone, scarcely meeting a human being. At last he found himself in the mountains and suddenly surrounded by a band of Indians. He expected each moment would be his last. Not knowing of any other resource, he tried the power of singing the Name of Jesus to them. Taking his violin he began with closed eyes to sing and play:

“All hail the power of Jesus’ Name

Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem

And crown Him Lord of all!

When he began the third verse, he opened his eyes to see what they were going to do, when lo! he saw tears falling from their eyes. They invited him to their homes, and he spent nearly three years among them.

Scott’s labors were so richly reward that, when he was compelled to leave them because of ill health, they followed him for thirty miles.

“O Missionary,” they cried, “come back to us again.”

Through the preaching of the good news of salvation, many of those Indians were made new creatures in Christ Jesus.

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Rom. 1:16.

ML-03/06/1977

The Crooked Man

How many of you remember the crooked man you used to read about in your nursery rhyme book?

“There was a crooked man,

And he walked a crooked mile;

He found a crooked sixpence

Against a crooked stile;

He bought a crooked cat,

Which caught a crooked mouse,

And they all lived together

In a little crooked house.”

He WAS a funny fellow, wasn’t he? HE was crooked, and everything ABOUT him was crooked. He chose a crooked house and a crooked cat. Why do you suppose he did that? “Because he was crooked himself.” Yes, that’s right.

But you know, boys and girls, we’re all pretty much like him. Our hearts are wicked; we love wicked things, and we like to walk down a crooked path in this world just like the crooked man. God wants us to walk a straight path, but we can’t do it the way we are, can we?

That crooked man couldn’t walk straight until HE was straightened out. And if we’re going to walk on the path where God wants us to walk, we’ll have to have our hearts changed. God is the only One who could make that crooked man straight. Doctors could not help —he’s SO crooked only God could straighten him.

And, you know, our hearts are so sinful that no doctor or no one in the world can make them clean. We can’t do it ourselves either. God is the only One who can—by washing them in the blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you ever opened YOUR heart to Jesus and asked Him to make it clean? The Bible says that your heart is wicked, but Jesus can make it white as snow. Accept Him as your Saviour, and He’ll cleanse your heart right now. Believe that He died to save you.

The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

Oh, yes, oh, yes, there’s something more,

Something more than gold:

To know your sins are all forgiven

Is something more than gold.

ML-03/06/1977

Saved on the Hay Rake

It was a hot summer day and Jack was riding the hay rake. A verse of Scripture was going through his mind, “Christ also path once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Pet. 3:18.

An evangelist had gone over that verse with Jack very carefully the night before as he tried to show him God’s way of salvation. But somehow they were just words to Jack.

Jack had wanted to be saved for a long time, for he knew he was a sinner and afraid to meet God. At night after chores were done he would sit at the kitchen table and read his Bible. Then when every one else was gone to bed, he would kneel and pray, “O God, save me, save me.”

At times when working in the corn field he would kneel between the rows and with tears plead with God to save him.

However, all his praying and reading the Bible brought no peace to his poor troubled heart. If the Lord Jesus were to come, he thought, He would take his folks who were saved home to heaven, and he would be left behind.

Poor Jack! So burdened was he that he began to think the Lord must not care for him or He would surely have heard his cries and taken his sins away.

Then all of a sudden the words of that verse he had memorized seemed to speak to him with life-giving power. “Christ HATH also once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust” — “For ME,” cried Jack to himself joyfully "I’m the unjust one, and He has already done it!” As he thought on the rest of the verse, his face began to glow with an inner joy — “that He might bring us — bring ME! — to God!”

“I’m saved... I’m saved!” he exclaimed, his heart unable to contain its happiness. “The Lord Jesus has suffered for my sins. There’s nothing to worry about... it’s all done!”

The sun shone down just as hot as before, but now Jack only thought of the warm smile of God. Even the hard bumpy seat on the rake seemed a holy place, for there it was God had met him and had spoken peace to his soul through His precious Word.

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jer. 15:16.

ML-03/06/1977

Joshua

Chapter 2:2-11

“And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country.”

At once the king sends to Rahab to demand the surrender of the two spies, but she refused and hid them. It seems natural for her to lie, for she deceived the king telling him the men had gone, where she did not know. Actually she had hidden them under the flax on the roof of her house. She was really a traitor to her country and lied to the king, but it was to throw herself under the protection of the God of Israel. For what folly it was to cling to Jericho which she knew was doomed.

God did not commend Rahab for her falsehood, and we ought to remember that we should never do evil that good may come (Rom. 3:8). God overruled her lie, but He did not approve of it (Rom. 3:7), for His Word says, “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord.” Prov. 12:22.

However, Rahab is commended for her faith in Hebrews 11:31. “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” In James 2:25 she is found in company with Abraham, for her works justified her before men. “Was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”

While the men of Jericho pursued in vain after the spies, Rahab communed with the two men on her rooftop. “I know,” she said, first, “that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.”

How lovely to see faith working in Rahab; for “I know” is the language of faith. Rahab saw in Israel a people without a country, but God was in their midst. Faith always connects God with His people, and she identifies herself with the Israel of God.

We have heard, she said, how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea, and we have heard what you did to Sihon and Og on the other side of the Jordan. And when we heard these things there was no courage in any of us, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. How beautiful to see such faith given to a poor sinner in a city doomed to destruction!

“We have heard,” says Rahab. She is a beautiful example of the word: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17. In the midst of the abounding wickedness and idolatry of her country, Rahab had learned that Israel’s God was the true God and that He had given them the land.

She had given proof of her faith by hiding the spies under the flax at the risk of her life. She had taken their side, she had taken God’s side; in spirit she had crossed from the world’s side to the side of God and His people. She says as it were, If God is to show grace to me, I must be with His people.

ML-03/06/1977

A Converted Gambler

In Switzerland once, a Christian gave a tract to a man in a town that was notorious for gambling. On his return to the town several days later he met this same man who exclaimed, “I thank you, Sir, for leading me to Christ who has saved both my soul and body.” He then explained that the day he had been handed the tract he lost so heavily in gambling that he was contemplating suicide. He had read the tract, was arrested in his downward course to ruin, and found Christ as his Saviour.

What mattered it now if he had lost all this world’s goods? He had found Christ, the true riches. Henceforth, he could look on to “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, which fadeth not away, reserved in heaven,” for him. Dear reader, have you found these true riches?

ML-03/06/1977

Chinese Bandits

Memory Verse: “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and ... delighteth in mercy.” Micah 7:18

During the war between China and Japan the town of Yangcheng changed hands four times. Each time the Japanese were in power, the missionaries would flee to the mountains and live in caves having very little to eat. Each army in turn looted the city until there was scarcely anything left.

I was attempting to care for the sick and wounded; and only one of my orphan boys, Tim, was with me. One day I was in the middle of the courtyard telling some poor women of God’s wonderful love.

“We are all sinners,” I said, pointing unthinkingly at a crowd in the doorway. I gave them the simple gospel. The women drifted away, but soon Tim came hurrying in and exclaimed, “The general is coming for you.”

Two hours later there was a great commotion in the courtyard, and there was the Chinese general. He glared fiercely at me and said, “You are under arrest.”

“But why?”

“Who told you about me?” “Nobody. I only know what everyone else in the city knows.”

“Oh yes, someone did. Tell me who it was and I will take my men away.”

Again and again I declared that I knew nothing of his private life. But he continued to rave and curse and finally left leaving his soldiers on guard.

Two days later the general came back again threatening me. “How did you know I was a sinner?” he asked.

“I only know that the Bible says so,” I said, and handed him my Bible.

Pulling off his hat he began to read. Then I recall that I had caught a glimpse of a man in my doorway the day I talked to the Chinese women. For an hour he read on from verse to verse.

“What was this Bible? What was this gospel? Who was Jesus Christ?” Gradually he quieted and quit swearing; then a note of longing came into his voice.

“Is it possible for me to be saved?” he said at length.

“With God nothing is impossible,” I replied.

“I am too wicked.”

“No one is too wicked. Why don’t you kneel down and confess to God that you have sinned but want to take Jesus Christ as your Saviour?”

Still the battle raged. “What do I get if I believe?” he demanded.

For two hours the battle went on in this man’s soul, the Spirit of God striving against the power of Satan who fought to keep him under his power. Finally he knelt down, humbly confessed his sins, and accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord. When he arose from his knees, he ordered his men to bring me something to eat. He stood by while I ate and then finally burst out, “If I have taken this God, then I have to tell my men about it, don’t I?”

“Yes, to show them that you are a real Christian.”

After a long pause he said, “I will talk to my men tomorrow.”

The next day, standing before his men, he said: “Up to this time we have been a bandit troop. Now we will become honorable soldiers as last night I took Jesus Christ as my God. I find that this Book” — and he held up my Bible — “is against dishonesty and wickedness.”

He asked me for a Bible which I got for him, and he left saying he would come again soon. However, two years went by. Then one day a dirty beggar hobbled in. He sat down on a stone. He looked desperately ill and starved.

“Don’t you know me?” he asked, as I gave him something to eat.

“No, I don’t.”

“I belong to Jesus.”

“Where are you going?” I asked him.

“Here.”

“But surely you do not belong to Yangcheng.”

“I belong to Jesus,” seemed to be the only sensible remark he could make.

Then Tim pulled me aside and said, “He is the general.”

“What is your name?” I asked gently.

“No name. I belong to Jesus.”

Tim and I cared for him, and very slowly his health improved. Then I learned his story. On the day he bravely confessed his faith to his men, they arrested him, took his clothes, tied him to a mule and left the city. They continued looting, dragging the general with them. They tried hard to break his faith. He was tortured, kicked and beaten, but fixed in his mind was the knowledge that he belonged to Jesus. Finally one night one man said to him, “We want you back. Will you lead us?”

“No, because I belong to Jesus.”

They left him alone, but the man brought him some peasant clothes and sent him on his way. He begged in the villages, telling everyone he belonged to Jesus. Weary and sick after fifteen months, he made his way back to us. As his health improved, his mind cleared. In the villages he was loved by all the Christians, especially the children. He never grew strong again, and a year after his return the Lord took him home. All the Christians mourned, for to them he had been “Big Brother.”

ML-03/13/1977

Sally's Conversion as Told By Herself

There are six in our family and I am the youngest. My brothers and sisters were all saved, and often told me about the need of a Saviour; so did my father and mother and my Sunday school teacher. Still, I was without Jesus. Some children’s meetings were held in the hall where our school is, and many boys and girls were anxious, and waited to be spoken to in the after meetings. I felt very miserable, especially when I heard them say they were saved.

One night I felt a load on my heart, and waited too. A gentleman spoke to me; he told me Jesus would save me if only I trusted Him, and he read this verse—“I will trust and not be afraid” (Isa. 12:2). He asked me if I could say that. I then saw it was all in trusting: I did trust Jesus and He saved me. I am happy now.

Sally Owens, 8 years old.

ML-03/13/1977

Old Joe

Old Joe lived in the West Indies years ago. He was very anxious to learn to read the Bible. He lived a long way from the missionary’s house, and yet he would come whenever he had time to learn a lesson. It was such hard work, and he made such little progress, that the missionary got tired and told him one day that he had better give it up.

“No massa,” he said with great earnestness, “me nebber gib it up till me die.” And then, pointing with his finger to the beautiful words he just spelled out John 3:16.

“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.”

With tears in his eyes, he said, “It’s worf all de trouble, just dat one verse!”

Then let us love our Bible more,

And take a fresh delight

By day to read their pages o’er

And meditate by night.

ML-03/13/1977

Peggy's New Testament

Peggy was just a little girl, and her parents were very poor. A kind man, walking along the road near the cottage where she lived, gave her a New Testament, and asked her to read a few verses of it every day. Peggy was delighted, but her parents were angry and threatened to take the precious Book away from her.

However, Peggy was so interested in her Book and the wonderful things it told her, that she could not stop reading it; so she dug a hole in the garden, lined it with pieces of wood, and then put a wooden lid on top. She covered the lid with a light layer of dirt. Into this strange place she put her precious Testament, taking every opportunity she could to read it.

Dear Peggy learned from the Book the way of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and she came to trust Him as her Saviour and became a faithful follower of Him. Nor did it end there. Her parents, seeing the wonderful change in their little daughter’s life, gave her liberty to read her Testament in the house, and by this means they were both brought to know the Saviour as their own.

Dear reader, you may not have such hindrance placed in your way by those at home as Peggy did, but has your heart been won for Christ?

“Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13.

ML-03/13/1977

Joshua

Chapter 2:12-17

“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” Heb. 11:31.

Rahab saw that though Israel were a poor people wandering in the wilderness, not yet in possession of the land of their inheritance, nevertheless God was with them and they were His people. Though she was only a poor Gentile, yet grace brings her into the family of faith, like Ruth the Moabitess of a later day who could say, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” (Ruth 1:16.) This was indeed beautiful faith; and Rahab, before any of Israel’s victories, already identifies herself with God and His people so that when the two spies came, she received them “with peace.”

She had confessed the Lord as “God in heaven above and in earth beneath.” (v. 11.) Then He must prevail; it would be hopeless to resist Him. He had given Israel the land, and the doom of those who opposed was certain. Daniel in his day read in “the handwriting on the wall” the fall of great Babylon, and for us now the written Word proclaims most solemnly that the judgment of the world draws nigh.

Having told the spies all she knew, Rahab’s faith now rises higher, and she puts before them what she desired. She sees in these two men the servants of the Lord, who cannot lie, and her faith claims the kindness of God. “Swear unto me by the Lord, that ye will also show kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token.” Her faith had grasped something at least of the blessed truth that Israel’s God was a God of mercy, and how unlike the gods of her people.

The life of those two men were her guarantee of salvation; thus she preserved them under the flax on her roof.

And we as believers now have the guarantee of our salvation in a Saviour who has not only died for us, but is risen from the dead, “raised again for our justification,” a living, glorious Saviour at God’s right hand.

Rahab brings God into the matter. She makes Him a party to this matter, the greatest transaction in her life, and what she asked for she got. God is equal to the greatest demand, and He responds to Rahab’s noble faith through His two servants: “And the men answered her, our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business.” Their life was the guarantee of hers, even as Christ’s is of ours.

How beautiful this all is! such faith given to a poor sinner in a city doomed to destruction! And Rahab does not merely ask for herself; she asks for others, those near and dear to her by nature’s ties. “Give me a true token,” she says; “and that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” Her faith seems to say, There is nothing too much to claim from God. Does not this faith of Rahab who lived long, long ago, who had so little light compared to us, put many of us to shame?

ML-03/13/1977

A Niagara Rescue

Memory Verse: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15

One day some years ago the people living near Niagara Falls were startled by the cry: “Man in Niagara! Man in Niagara!” So they all ran, thronging the Suspension Bridge and crowding the cliffs nearby.

Then some one cried out: “See, see, over there—he is hanging on a rock!” pointing as he spoke to a low water-washed rock about sixty yards below the great falls on the American side.

Then the question went through all the murmuring crowd: “Can we save him? Can we save him?” They got a long rope ladder and threw it over, but there were some bushes growing out of a crevice down part way in the rocks, and as the rope ladder fell, it got tangled in the bushes, and they could not loose it.

Then they asked this other question: “Who will go down and clear the rope ladder and try to save that man?” It was a terrible thing to do. The man who dared to do it would do so at the greatest risk of his own life.

At last a brave young fellow stepped forward and said, “I’ll go.” Carefully he climbed down the rope ladder to the bushes; with difficulty he got the ladder clear and then it fell near the imperilled man. The rope ladder swung and swayed, and below the young man were the dashing boiling waters. One loose grasp, one misstep, and nothing could save him. But he went slowly and steadily down and down.

At last he reached the spot where the drenched, buffeted, weakened man was clinging. Holding with one hand firmly to the swaying ladder and putting one foot as firmly as he could upon the low rocks the water was dashing over, with the other hand he took hold of the poor fellow, and, saying words of comfort to him, got him to take hold of the rope ladder and try to climb up to the cliffs above.

So, painfully, laboriously, resting often to gain strength, the poor man climbed up, the brave helper below all the while steadying the ladder as best he could. At last he was in reach of the top, and strong arms, reaching over, seized him and lifted him into safety, amid the tears and shouts and eager joy of the multitude.

The story illustrates, though in a poor way, what our Lord Jesus has done for sinners. He was the One Who came down from Heaven to us, amid all the storm and death and judgment our sins deserved.

He came down to us. He did not stand, like the people on the cliffs, away off in the far heavens shouting to us to climb up. He was like the brave helper in the story: from the far heavens He Himself came down to us.

But our Lord Jesus does not simply bring the ladder of escape to us. He takes us up in His arms of love and lifts us up completely out of the place of danger and judgment. It was “while we were yet without strength, Christ died for us.” Let us not resist Him, but with deep trust rest our fainting souls on Him. So our Lord Jesus is the One Who comes to us; and there is not one of us who may not be saved because He came.

Come now, before it be too late.

ML-03/20/1977

"Attention!"

Peter was standing on the platform of a railway station waiting for his train to come along. It was a few minutes late and he was looking this way and that, greatly interested in the other trains and in the coming and going of the crowds nearby. Suddenly he heard one of the station officials shout,

“ATTENTION!”

“Who can he be shouting at?” thought Peter. “Someone may be in danger; I wonder what the trouble is.”

Again came the shout, louder than ever,

“ATTENTION!”

This time Peter looked on either side of him, wondering to whom the call was directed, when suddenly a strong hand grasped him by his coat collar and dragged him back. Just then a locomotive came whizzing past so close that he would have been caught and dragged along had he not been pulled away.

“Thank you, sir, for saving my life!”

“But didn’t you hear me shouting at you?”

“Yes, sir, I heard you shout ‘Attention’ but I didn’t see any danger and I thought it meant somebody else.”

Maybe you wonder how a locomotive could be so near, and yet Peter didn’t see or hear it. There were so many other things and so many other noises about him, that the danger came on him without his noticing it.

“ATTENTION!”

This word is directed to you, dear reader, and don’t take it for anyone else. You are in danger of losing your soul eternally. Hear these warning notes of God’s Word: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” Hebrews 2:3.

“Flee from the wrath to come.” Matthew 3:7.

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

This message is not for the boy next door or for the girl around the corner it is for you! Have your sins been washed in the blood of Jesus?

ML-03/20/1977

Little "Nuisance"!

“It is a little daughter, Master. Will you accept her?”

The nurse knelt before the Chinese father and laid a small bundle at his feet.

“A girl?” the father asked, turning away with disappointment. “Just a worthless girl—just another nuisance! Another mouth to fill with rice!”

Nuisance was not thrown into the river as many Chinese baby girls are, but her life was a very hard one. She learned what it meant to work, and work hard, at an age when little girls in this country think of nothing but to play. Punishments and scoldings were frequent. Then one day while she was still a small girl, her father decided to sell her for a slave!

How frightened little Nuisance was the day her father took her away to the slave market! It was hard not to cry as rough men came up to handle and feel of her to see if she were strong and well to make a good slave. With downcast eyes she did not even see the quiet man who finally bought her and led her away. Though her life had never been a happy one, still she was leaving all that she had ever known, and just what terror the future might have in store for her, she did not know, but feared.

Imagine her surprise when she heard her new master speaking kindly and lovingly to her! She was brought to a lovely home where she was told she was not to live as a servant, but as the daughter of the man who had bought her to set her free!

As little Nuisance found herself loved and cared for, it seemed to her that no greater love could ever be shown to her. But one day the man who had bought her told her of the great love of the Saviour who had seen her, not only as a little slave girl, but had seen her in the bondage of sin, and in His wondrous love had died that He might deliver her from the power of Satan.

“Truly, truly, I have been bought by love!” the little Chinese girl wept with joy.

After some years she became a faithful missionary to her own people. How she loved to tell especially the other poor neglected girls of the great LOVE of the Saviour for them, for had He not delivered her—one who had been but a nuisance, and in the bondage of both slavery and sin!

ML-03/20/1977

Joshua

Chapter 2:18-24

Rahab let the two men down by a cord through the window, for her house was upon the town wall. And the men said to her, “Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.”

But more than this, let us notice here the two “whosoevers.”

“And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him... And she said, According unto your words, so be it.”

How wonderful the grace God pledged here to whosoever took refuge in the house of faith in this doomed city of Jericho! On the other hand judgment was the certain doom of whosoever was found in the streets of Jericho.

And so it is today, dear reader. If you, whether young or old, a great sinner or a little sinner, will take your place in the great whosoever of John 3:16, there is pardon, salvation and eternal life for you. But if you reject the Lord Jesus Christ or neglect to take shelter under His precious blood, you will find yourself in the whosoever of Revelation 20:15: “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” How dreadfully solemn this is!

While Rahab was sheltering the two spies, the men of Jericho were scouring the countryside looking for them. To Rahab these two men were God’s messengers of life and salvation, but to the king and his people they were enemies. How often in the history of this world have men sought to get rid of the Word of God and those who proclaim it, rather than bow to His claims and be saved. The Apostle could say: “We are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life.” 2 Cor. 2:15, 16.

The two men had said to Rahab, “when we be come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window.” But it appears that she did not wait for the advancing hosts of Israel to cross the Jordan. As soon as the men were gone she acted, and the scarlet cord in the window witnessed not only to her faith, but in type proclaimed Christ and the value of His work to save the vilest of sinners. Not only was Rahab safe, but she was sure also, for she trusted the word spoken, saying, “According to your word, so be it. '

The blood of the slain passover lamb, sprinkled on the doorposts and lintel in Egypt that dark night, turned away the destroying angel; so the scarlet line hung in the window would preserve the house and all in it from destruction and death when the walls of Jericho should fall at the noise of the trumpets of the Lord. May we each know the peace and shelter of the blood of Christ, as Rahab knew the safety of the scarlet line.

ML-03/20/1977

The Bible in the Stool

Memory Verse: “God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 6:8

In France many years ago there was a family who loved the Bible. Hover, they lived in the times when people were forbidden to read the Bible, and if anyone was found reading it, they were threatened with punishment and even death.

In spite of this persecution, however, the father of this family felt that whatever else he must do without, he must have the Bible to read for himself and for his children. But he knew that unless he could hide it, it would soon be taken away from him. He knew, too, that if he expected to keep it, he must hide it in some place where enemies would not think of looking for it. If he should put it in any of the drawers or in the cupboard or under the bed, they would be sure and look there and find it and carry it off.

So he got a wooden stool with sides around the top. He turned it upside down and fastened the back of the precious old Book to the underside of the top of the stool. When the stool was turned upside down, you could open the Bible and turn over the pages and read any part of it. Then he made a sliding lid to the underpart of the stool so that the Bible might be protected from evil eyes and injury. When that lid was pushed in, there was nothing about the stool that would lead anyone to suspect what a treasure there was inside of it. It was just a common-looking wooden stool, and anyone might sit on it as he pleased.

If someone came in and did not know what was there, they would have thought it, very strange to see the father take that stool every morning and evening, and carefully turn it upside down, lay it reverently on his knee, draw out the lid, and gaze very earnestly on something. In this way they kept their Bible for years and found salvation, comfort and happiness in reading it.

One day one of those who hated the Bible came in the house looking for the precious Book, but he could not find it. He searched till he was so weary that he came and sat down on the very stool to rest himself. As he sat there, he wondered where the Bible could be; but he never succeeded in finding it.

Sometime after, the family heard of America and of the liberty people had there to read the Bible as they pleased and to worship God. So they all came over to this country in a ship, and their precious Book, the Bible, came with them. They loved it and guarded it. It was the greatest treasure they had in their new home. Then when the father died, he handed the Bible down to his children with a charge to keep it in remembrance of the sufferings and trials he had passed through in his native land.

That French family has long since passed away; but that old Bible which was hidden away in the stool, is still to be seen in the hands of their great grandchildren. We are told that the family who now owns it lives in Western Pennsylvania.

Why do you suppose this family loved that Bible so? Why, because it told of a Saviour who loved them and died for their sins upon the cross of Calvary. It told of the way to.. true happiness by trusting in this Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. It spoke words of comfort in times of trial and guided them in the right way.

The Bible says, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36.

Again it says, “The world passeth away... but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2:17.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9.

ML-03/27/1977

How Grasshopper Was Set Free

Mr. Grasshopper was hopping along gaily one day when he landed right in the middle of a spider web. This did not seem serious at first. The web didn’t look very strong, and his back legs were powerful. Surely he could get out in a few kicks, but somehow every kick only tangled him more in that strange sticky web.

A moment later a black spider appeared from a hole in the ground. Running across the web he came right up to poor Mr. Grasshopper and bit him. It stung, and soon Mr. Grasshopper began to feel himself grow strange and weak so that he could hardly kick any more.

That might have been the end of poor Grasshopper if a kind lady had not been watching what was going on. She knew poor Grasshopper could not save himself and that he would die. So before Spider could sting him again, she reached out her hand, lifted Grasshopper free of the web and set him on the ground.

At first Grasshopper’s hop was a little weak, but each hop grew stronger until he had got far away from that dread spot. Spider was very excited and angry at losing his prisoner, but if you or I could have talked to Grasshopper after his deliverance, we would have found him a most thankful and happy fellow.

Satan too spins webs—webs of temptation and sin. Those little threads of sin may seem frail at first, but they become terribly strong if one continues in them, and only the blessed Lord Jesus can break them and set one free. Satan knows what kind of a web to spin to catch boys and girls and older people too. He knows what temptation will best snare each of us.

The Lord Jesus is stronger than Satan. He came into this world, bound the strong man (Satan), and ever since then He has been setting his prisoners free. He is the only Saviour. He is the only One who can set you free from sin and Satan’s power; and as that kind lady reached out and saved poor Grasshopper, so we read, “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:1. Trust in the Lord for salvation!

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

ML-03/27/1977

The Tempter

The serpent came to Eve one day

And tempted her to disobey;

He told her she’d be very wise,

And foolish Eve believed his lies.

Yes, Eve believed in him, instead

Of minding what the Lord had said;

And that is how sin came to be,

And how it passed to you and me.

ML-03/27/1977

The Sad Story of Jean

Jean was a bright pretty girl and a favorite of all her companions at work. She was just sixteen, and she was looking forward to a life of pleasure. God had given her a good home and a fine voice which she used to sing all the popular songs as they came out.

In the office where Jean worked, there was a Christian girl who used to speak to some of her companions about the Lord Jesus. She had often spoken to Jean, but had met with laughter instead of interest.

“Don’t worry about me, Margie; I have a long life ahead of me.” So Margie would walk quietly away to pray for her friend.

One afternoon Jean went home from work feeling sick. Her mother thought it was just a cold, but before morning she seemed so much worse that a doctor was called. He at once found it to be a very serious infection and gave very little hope of recovery.

“Mother,” cried Jean, “send for Margie to come and pray for me.”

Margie came and at once began again to tell Jean of God’s love in sending Jesus to die for her. But that was not at all what Jean wanted.

“Pray to God to make me well again,” she said. “If God will make me well, I shall try so hard to be good, and will go to church too, and will read my Bible.”

Margie was shocked to hear all this strange talk, and she knelt down and cried to God to awaken poor Jean to her need of a Saviour before she died.

They parted soon, never again to meet on earth. “Mother,” said Jean, “I will not die. Oh, Mother, the holidays are coming. I cannot die! I have so many parties and so many plans; I must not die!”

Before morning, Jean was in eternity.

Dear reader, you may be young and healthy, but you may be in eternity tonight. We plead with you to come to Jesus and take Him as your Saviour right now before it is too late.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

ML-03/27/1977

Joshua

Chapter 3:1-9

“And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel.”

Israel were about to cross the Jordan and enter Canaan at last. However, they must lodge there for three days to prepare themselves for so solemn and wonderful an event. Those three days speak of death and resurrection. We cannot follow the Lord in the energy of mere human nature. They were about to tread a path hitherto untrodden, and they needed to think deeply on these things.

The Ark of God—borne by the priests—was first to pass down into the waters of death, and the people were to follow it. However, there was to be a space between them and it, about 2,000 cubits, and they were not to come near unto it. As Christians we rejoice to give the Lord Jesus Christ His full place, for in all things He must have the preeminence (Col. 1:18).

“That ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.” No one but the Lord Jesus could pass through death and then rise above its power; but He has led the way for us. It is a new way altogether and we but follow Him, who is the firstfruits of the resurrection.

Both the Red Sea and the Jordan speak of the death of Christ. However, the Red Sea is more His death for us, or redemption, while the Jordan figures our death with Him. In grace too wonderful to tell, He associates us with Himself in His death and resurrection and makes us sit together in Him in heavenly places.

It was harvest time and the people could immediately enjoy the ripe rich fruits of Canaan when they entered the land. So for us the full rich fruit of our place in heaven in Christ the risen One is ours to enjoy as soon as we enter there by faith now.

We are “planted together” with Christ in the likeness of His death, and we are united to Him in His life. Because He lives, we live also. We are “saved by His life” (Rom. 5:10). Again we read, “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Christ our Ark has brought His people clean through the river of death into the promised land. In Christ, the believer is, as it were, on the far side of Jordan, and at rest in Canaan. Well might the Apostle say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

The Lord told Joshua: “This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel.” When we see in Joshua a type of the Lord Jesus, leading His people in the power of the Spirit into their heavenly portion, when we see the exceeding riches of His grace by which He has associated us with Himself as His bride, how we delight to magnify and exalt Him. Surely He is worthy of our homage and our praise!

ML-03/27/1977

The Stolen Flute

Memory Verse: “Through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43

There was once a musician who had an ebony flute with beautiful silver keys. Ebony, you know, is a kind of black wood, very hard, and often used in making musical instruments. But though this flute was very beautiful to look at, and gave out very soft, rich and sweet notes, it had one defect. One of the upper keys was broken so that it could not be used. When the musician was playing on his flute and came to this broken key, he always had to skip one note, which made a discord in the music.

The musician had a friend, a tailor by trade, who also was very fond of music, and often came to the musician’s room to hear him play. He also played a little himself on the ebony flute with the silver keys.

One night the tailor called to see the musician, but finding he was out, he figured out a way to get into his room and stole his prized flute. There was nobody there to see him, and so he felt sure that the secret of his wickedness would not be found out.

A day or two after, the tailor called on the musician again and pretended to be very sorry to hear of his loss. He said he wondered who could have been so mean as to steal it. He even accused an old woman who used to come to the house to sweep the rooms of having taken it, but no evidence could be proved against her.

Not long after the tailor moved away to another town. Here he could make free use of the stolen flute without the fear of his being discovered; and he did so. He had a bird of which he was very fond-a bullfinch, a bird something like a sparrow. It is quite common in England and the northern parts of Europe. It has a soft, pleasant voice, and when kept in a cage, can be taught to sing a variety of tunes.

The tailor used to spend a good deal of his leisure time teaching his bird different tunes by playing on the flute. But his bird could only learn by imitation and had to copy exactly the lesson that was played. In teaching the bird its music lessons from the flute, when the tailor came to the broken key, he always had to skip one note.

Well, after a while the musician had occasion to go on business to the town to which his former friend, the tailor, had moved. While he was there, he called on him.

To entertain him during his visit, the tailor brought in his beautiful bullfinch to show him and to let his friend hear the different tunes which he could whistle and sing. The musician was quite delighted to listen to the soft, sweet voice of the bird as he sung over one tune after another. But he soon noticed that as the bird raised its voice, it always skipped one particular note. Then he thought about his lost flute with the broken key. He found that the note the bird skipped each time was the very same note which he himself used to skip when playing on his ebony flute. The thought occurred to him that this bird had been taught to sing from lessons given on his flute. Then he felt sure that the tailor had stolen the flute.

The musician turned to the tailor. “This bird skips the very same note that my flute used to skip,” he said, “and now I know that you stole my flute.” The tailor was so taken by surprise that he confessed that he had stolen it. He gave the flute back to its owner and learned a lesson that day which he never forgot. “Be sure your sin will find you out.”

God can use the smallest of his creatures to work His sovereign will. We can hide nothing from Him. Sooner or later it will be brought to the surface. His Word says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3.

We were all born into this world in sin. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. If you are without Christ, you have death before you, and “after death the judgment;” and then the second death, which is the lake of fire. But if you know Christ as your Saviour, you have eternal life now; there will be no judgment for you because Jesus has borne it all for you upon the cross.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

ML-04/03/1977

The Story of Pierre

It was in the days of the first Napoleon. The French army was retreating from Moscow and terrible hardships were endured. In the bitter cold, through blinding snow the men dragged their weary feet, their ranks getting thinner every day.

As column after column of troops retreated ever westward, the cry of a little child was heard. He had been dropped by his mother from one of the wagons that had passed on ahead. Several of the soldiers rushed back and rescued little Pierre from death. Opening his great coat, one of the men reverently and gently laid the little one close to his heart, thus shielding him from the icy blasts. Another soldier, and another, would take his turn in bearing safely onward that weak child whom they had rescued from a snowy grave.

As the days passed, the situation became more desperate, the hardships increased, while the guns and attacks of the enemy troops took their terrible toll. Rivers had to be crossed, and battles fought to clear the way for the survivors of that ill-fated expedition.

Amid all the dangers and sorrows of the homeward march, there was one who was safe and well cared for. Sometimes carried by one soldier, and again by another, it so came about that little Pierre reached Paris safe and sound. The soldiers had saved him from death and they were not going to leave their work half done. They finished the work they had begun by shielding and watching the rescued one till they arrived safe in the capital at last.

This world is a cold dreary waste "the valley of the shadow of death” filled with hardships and sorrows along the way. But the care which these kindly soldiers bestowed upon motherless little Pierre shall be as nothing compared to the infinite tenderness with which God, the Almighty Redeemer, shall lead you on to that city of eternal rest, dear reader. Only trust Christ now as your Saviour, and you will be saved from death, kept by the power of God, and safely landed in that heavenly land.

“Redeemed..., with the precious blood of Christ,... kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.” 1 Pet. 1:18, 19, 5.

ML-04/03/1977

Whiskers, the Prisoner

Grandma was sitting in the big armchair knitting. By and by she became drowsy and dropped off to sleep. Whiskers, the kitten, discovered the beautiful, soft ball of yarn lying on the table. In a moment he had rolled it onto the floor and bounded after it.

What fun he had! He had the time of his life rolling, tumbling and kicking at the tangled yarn, until he himself began to look like a ball of yarn, for most of it was wound and tangled about him. When he finally decided to stop playing and kicking, he found himself a prisoner! When Grandma awoke, she found Whiskers fast asleep amid the knots and tangles of yarn. She snipped the threads of yarn with her scissors and set the little prisoner free.

At first it was a fun game for Whiskers, but then he found himself so wound up in the yarn that he could not free himself. How like that sin is! Perhaps it starts out with just a little fun, but if we are not careful, Satan leads us on until we find ourselves hopelessly entangled in the meshes of sin, and we cannot escape.

Only the Lord Jesus can free us from the cords of sin and from Satan’s power. He came into the world to destroy the works of the devil and to set His captives free. Whenever a boy or girl or man or woman trusts in Jesus as Saviour, he is delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). He is brought “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.” (Acts 26:18.)

ML-04/03/1977

Joshua

Chapter 3:10-17

The Red Sea was God’s way of power for bringing His people out from their slavery in Egypt; the Jordan was His way of power for bringing them into their blessings in Canaan.

The priests, the representatives of the people, were to take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before Israel, and He takes the title of the Lord of all the earth. Satan acts through the power of the world to hinder our entrance into our heavenly portion. These seven nations of the Canaanites within the land represent the enemy’s power arraigned against God and His people. Yet, the earth is the Lord’s and Joshua says, “Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites...”

The people then remove “from their tents” to pass over Jordan. They were going to a place of permanent habitation, and their tent life and pilgrimage would be over. Our standing is fixed, for we are made to “sit together” in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

It was harvest time, and the Jordan was overflowing all its banks. “And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water,... that the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon a heap very far from the city Adam... and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.”

The waterfloods could not overwhelm the Ark of God, conqueror of everything. So death has no dominion over the Lord Jesus. He has destroyed the power of death for His people. “Death and judgment are behind us” for we have in Christ already died, the judgment has already passed on us at the cross. We are beyond them and their power and dread.

What a wonderful sight it must have been! We can hardly imagine what it was like, the wide river dried up, the priests going on before bearing the ark, now standing still in the deepest part, while the thousands of Israel passed by—men, women and children, with their animals and cattle, and all the Levites with the parts of the tabernacle. For the moment the feet of the priests touched the brim of the water, it all dried up.

“Until all the people were passed clean over Jordan” the Ark stood before the heaped-up waters. When the Ark was removed, the waters swept on in their place. So only in Christ are we safe. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

ML-04/03/1977

What Jim Learned

Memory Verse: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6

Jim’s father was dead and he lived with his mother who worked very hard to make both ends meet. As he grew older, he could not bear to see her work so hard. He determined to help her all he could, and this he did manfully. But weeding, watering and digging in the garden was hard work, and then he had also many weary journeys to try and sell the vegetables from the garden.

It so happened that a neighbor had a donkey that grazed in the lane, and knowing the neighbor was willing to sell it, Jim told his mother that he could sell many more vegetables if he had a donkey to haul them around. He suggested trying to save some money to buy the one that grazed in the lane. His mother was willing; so together they toiled and lived as plainly and cheaply as possible, and little by little they were saving up the necessary amount. Then something happened that postponed the purchase of the donkey, which was a great disappointment to Jim, but by which he learned a lesson he never forgot.

One evening when his mother was out, Jim was at work in his garden, when some of his schoolmates came along and began coaxing him to come and play a game for money on the green. Poor Jim did not have the courage to say No, and at last he was persuaded; he went with them, quite forgetting to fasten the garden gate. The game resulted in Jim winning a few pennies, but then his tempters said he must buy drinks all around, which ended in Jim’s going home without a penny in his pocket. With a heavy weight of shame upon his heart, he feared to meet his mother and wondered what he should say if she asked him any questions.

As Jim drew near home, he saw the garden gate wide open, and looking inside he beheld the donkey making short work of his precious peas and cabbages. The damage and loss was sufficient to postpone the purchase of the donkey. Jim was crestfallen. He knew that he alone was to blame. With a heavy heart he drove out the donkey, fastened the gate and went into the house miserable and ashamed. But the lesson he had learned was a cheap one, in spite of what it had cost, for it cured him of following evil company in gambling and drinking, and therefore he never ceased to be thankful for it.

Beware of the tempter. It was the ruin of Eve when she listened to the serpent in the garden of Eden. All the misery that has ever been known in this world came through thus yielding to the tempter.

Our great safeguard is in being kept by the Lord—for those whom He keeps are well and safely kept. To have His holy fear implanted in our hearts will make us say when tempted, as Joseph did, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Gen. 39:9. We need the power of God to keep us from the power of Satan who lays snares for our feet, and this we prove when we take the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. Not only does He put away our sins and our guilt, but He gives us strength to resist temptation and to walk in a way pleasing to Him in this world. Read your Bible and be much in prayer, dear young Christian.

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Cor. 15:33.

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Ex. 23:2.

ML-04/10/1977

Little Janet's Faithful Love

Lee was a drunkard. He had broken his poor Christian wife’s heart, but before she died, she told little Janet, their only child, never to leave her father. “Be patient and kind to him, Janet,” she said, “and try to win him back from his sinful ways.”

After her mother’s death, however, Lee treated his little daughter shamefully. He swore at her, beat her, and sometimes turned her out of the house at night. Still she never left him.

One night about eleven o’clock a neighbor was going home. He found Janet sitting on her door step; it was raining and she was wet to the skin. Her drunken father had driven her out some time before and she had sat down on the step to listen for his heavy snoring before she crept back into bed. The kind-hearted neighbor tried to persuade the little girl to go home with him, but she would not leave her father. Things went on like this for months.

At length her father grew less violent to his self-denying child. One day at the tavern, after a heavy drinking spree, he had fallen asleep. He woke up to find his child at his side waiting to lead him home. He turned to her, and in tones almost tender said, “Janet, what makes you stay with me?”

“Because I love you, Daddy.”

“You love me! — a poor, miserable drunk. Everyone else despises me; why don’t you?”

“Dear Daddy,” said the little girl, her eyes brimming with tears, “Moy taught me to love you; and every night it seems, in my dreams, as if she comes and stands by my bed and says, ‘Janet, don’t leave your Daddy. Some day he will get free from the power of drink. God will deliver him from his evil ways, and then how happy you will be!’ "

Poor Lee broke down before such love as this. He took his little girl up in his arms and wept over her like a child. That was the turning point in his life. From that day on he became a sober man.

Does not this illustrate the more wonderful love of Jesus? How many have turned to Him from their sins to love and serve Him because of the power of His love. “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19.) It was love that brought Him down from heaven to go to Calvary’s cross for us. It was love that held Him there until redemption’s work was complete. Now He can save the worst sinner and all who put their trust in Him.

“To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.” (Eph. 3:19.)

ML-04/10/1977

So Much to Thank God For

It was bedtime and little Mary knelt down to pray. This night she prayed unusually long. As Mother tucked her little girl in bed, she asked, “Why did you pray so long tonight?”

“Mother,” replied her little girl so sweetly, “It was because I had so much to thank God for tonight!”

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18.)

ML-04/10/1977

Rachel

Rachel was a little Jewish girl who had opened her heart to the Lord Jesus and knew Him as her Saviour. She learned many verses from the New Testament by memory.

One day when her father came home from a trip, Rachel ran to meet him and said, “Daddy, I love Jesus! He loves the little children!”

Her father was very angry, and told his little girl never to speak about Jesus again. But one day Rachel became very ill. The doctor shook his head and said he did not think she would get well again. They had a Christian nurse who cared for the little girl and sang hymns to her.

One day they called Rachel’s father to her bedside. The doctor said she was dying. Her father prayed a Jewish prayer. Then suddenly Rachel opened her eyes and repeated from memory the story she had learned from the Bible of how the Lord Jesus raised the little daughter of Jairus from death. When she had finished telling the story, she became still.

Her father fell down on his knees and began to pray to the Lord Jesus. “Oh Jesus,” he said amid tears, “Thou who didst raise up the daughter of Jairus, raise up my little Rachel, and I will believe in Thee as my Saviour and Israel’s Messiah!”

The father’s prayer was answered. Rachel opened her eyes, and from that moment on, she began to get well. The father was as good as his word.

ML-04/10/1977

Joshua

The Crossing of the Jordan

Chapter 3:14-17

“And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests, bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, “And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

“That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon a heap very far from the city Adam,... and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people passed over right against Jericho.”

Israel had the pillar of fire to lead them out of Egypt; they had the ark to lead them into Canaan. Both were symbols of the Lord’s presence, and in either case they had but to follow divine guidance. They could not make a way for themselves through the waters of the Red Sea nor through the river Jordan. Both were a barrier to them, but the Lord went before His people and opened up the way.

At the Red Sea God made a path through the waters by the rod of His power, but at the Jordan the ark takes the place of the rod. The ark represents Christ. Its shittim wood speaks of His holy humanity; its gold, His deity, and the tables of stone within, His perfect righteousness as Man. Jesus went through death before us, and we pass over as dead and risen in Him.

“That ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.” v. 4. Israel were about to tread a path hitherto untrodden, and they must have their eyes upon the ark. And so for us; every step of faith is new, and it is only by “looking off unto Jesus” that we can “know the way by which we must go.”

Every believer is seated in the heavenly places in Christ; in fact, one could not be a true Christian and not be there. God Himself has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2). Yet in following the Lord, the believer will find himself, practically speaking, treading an unknown path. How many of God’s dear people do not know experimentally what it is “to have passed this way”—they think of heaven’s joys as belonging to a future day, after we leave this world, when the truth is that God would have us enter in and enjoy now all the blessings He has given us in Christ the beloved One.

ML-04/10/1977

Humility

A father and his tall young son were walking through a narrow hallway which was crossed overhead by a large beam. The boy did not notice the beam as they were talking.

Suddenly his father said, “Stoop! Stoop!” The young fellow didn’t understand what he meant until he hit his head against the low beam.

Then his father said to him, “Son, you are young. You have life before you. Stoop low as you go, and you will miss many hard bumps!”

The young man never forgot that lesson from his father. It was a help to him all through life.

God’s Word says, “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” (Proverbs 29:23.)

ML-04/10/1977

Better Than a Gun

Memory Verse: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25

Two brave missionaries were traveling in Africa through a part of the country belonging to a fierce headhunting tribe. They had had a hard day crossing rivers and valleys and climbing mountains. There was no footpath and they had to cut their way through the tangle of jungle. At nightfall they came near to a village, and pitching their tent some distance from the native huts, they soon fell asleep.

Suddenly in the darkness they were awakened by the sound of a soft footstep. Someone—friend or foe?—had discovered their presence, and was stealthily approaching. For what purpose? Would tomorrow’s sun see two white men’s heads being carried as trophies through the village?

They could only lie still and ask God for His protection as the steps drew nearer. Then the flap of the tent moved and a voice whispered, “Have you got a gun?”

No, they did not have a gun—they were missionaries, servants of Christ, armed only with the sword of the Spirit. They thought, “Had we better pretend we have a gun and frighten the strange visitor away? No, that would be telling a lie. As followers of Jesus we must speak the truth even though it cost us our lives. How could we preach the truth of the gospel to these people if we start by deceiving them?”

“No, my friend,” one of them said aloud, “We have no gun. We have not come to harm you but to bring you the good news of salvation, to tell you about Jesus who died for sinful men everywhere.”

By this time the Lushai tribesman had drawn back the flap of the tent letting the bright moonlight stream in. They asked him to come in and tell them why he was walking about in the night.

He came in, but he would not believe that the white men had no gun until he had searched every inch of their tent. “All white men carry guns,” he said. At last, unable to find any, he went quietly away, leaving the two men to sleep.

The next day when the missionaries entered the village, they heard the reason why they were disturbed during the night. A deer had gone into the village, and the people wanted to shoot it and have a feast. Not long before, however, the government had taken away all their guns because of their dangerous head-hunting raids. Now they could not even shoot a deer.

They were amazed that two white men should come to Lushai without guns. It was a brave thing to do, but the messengers of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Saviour of the world, won the admiration of the hillmen of Lushai, and many of them were brought to the Lord. Now instead of head-hunting, they have a peace which only the followers of Christ can have, for “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1.

The Lushais thank God still for sending two brave soldiers of His who carried no gun, and they themselves find the sword of the Spirit their best weapon of warfare and defense.

ML-04/17/1977

The Blackbirds and the Beetles

In Hollister, California some years ago a farmer discovered that the dreaded army beetles had settled in one of his fields. He was sure that in a matter of hours his whole farm would be eaten bare, and he was filled with despair.

Then his little daughter, Joanne, spoke up.

“Daddy,” she said, “Why don’t you ask God to keep His promise and drive the beetles away?”

Together they knelt in prayer, and earnestly claimed God’s promise: “Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing... and I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground.” (Malachi 3:10, 11.)

Getting up from their knees they saw a flock of blackbirds alighting on the field where the beetles were already at work. More blackbirds came and still more! The sky seemed filled with them. The birds all landed on the ground and remained until there wasn’t a beetle left. Then they flew away.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” (Psalms 50:15.)

ML-04/17/1977

"It Stings!"

Little Joey was out for a walk with his mother one bright spring morning. Merrily he skipped along in front of her enjoying the sunshine, the flowers and the singing of the birds. He loved these times alone with his mother.

“Look, Mommy!” he shouted. “How pretty!” and his little hand grasped a cluster of white lilacs which grew near the path. The next moment, however, his face grew red with fright, and he dashed the flowers to the ground. “It stings, it stings!” he cried.

A busy little bee in search of honey was at that moment sucking nectar from the lilac blossoms when Joey’s hand disturbed him. In a moment he had driven his sharp sting into the child’s hand.

Mother dried her little boy’s tears and comforted him. Then she said, “Now, my boy, let this teach you a lesson. Many pretty things have sharp stings.”

Often Satan makes some things appear very pretty, just as he did to Eve in the garden of Eden. “When Eve saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat;” but she didn’t see the sting of sin that went with it.

The Bible says, “The sting of death is sin.” (1 Cor. 15:56.) Everyone of us has been stung by sin, and the only remedy for sin is the blood of Jesus.

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7.)

ML-04/17/1977

God Knows and That's Enough

A doctor in a welsh mining town had a very remarkable nurse. One evening after she had worked hard all day, he said to her, “Why don’t you ask for more pay? It’s not right that you should work for so little.”

“I have enough to get along, Door,” she replied.

“You ought to have an extra ten dollars a week at least,” said the Doctor. “God knows you are worth it.”

Smiling, the noble self-sacrificing nurse replied, “Doctor, God knows I’m worth more, and that’s all that matters!”

She felt God had called her to her work, and she looked to Him to reward her for faithful service in His own time and way.

“Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Colossians 3:17.)

ML-04/17/1977

Mr. Gong's Joy

Mr. Gong was a happy Christian attorney in China. Often his non-Christian neighbors on the other side of the wall would hear him singing hymns. They said, “Oh, he is happy because God has smiled on him, and he is doing well.”

However, one day Mr. Gong’s little boy died and went to be with Jesus. The neighbors said, “Now Gong will be just like the rest of us in his sorrow. We will hear no singing over the wall tonight.”

Nevertheless, that night Mr. Gong and his family gathered as usual for family worship. Their hearts were filled with sorrow, and yet they sang hymns and praised God just as before. The neighbors were astonished to learn that Christians have an inward joy even in times of sorrow.

That night Mr. Gong remarked, “I’ve never really understood how wonderful it is to be a Christian until this moment. I shall never forget it. God is always with us-both in happy times and in times of sorrow.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3.)

ML-04/17/1977

Joshua

The Crossing of the Jordan

Chapter 3:15-17

When Israel crossed the Red Sea, the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. But in the Jordan there was no water; there was nothing to be afraid of. The moment the feet of the priests carrying the ark of God touched the brim of the river, the waters all dried up-Jordan’s swift stream-type of death-rolled back and rose upon a heap, very far away by the city of Adam.

The name, Adam, reminds us that it was through the first Man that sin came into the world, and death by sin. But now at the Jordan, when the Ark, type of Christ, enters its waters, the rapid stream of death is turned back. Through Adam came death; but in the very place where sin reigned unto death, life has come through Jesus. Grace now reigns “through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 5:21.)

“What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?” Psa. 114:5. Israel did not see those waters-the power of God was there, and the people, young and old, weak and strong, passed over into the land of promise.

How wonderful for us the lesson of the Jordan! Here we have resurrection power out of death. The Lord has passed through death and entered into heaven, and God by His power has brought His saints in Christ to where He is.

The Lord Jesus went down into death, but God has raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand, above all principality, and power and dominion—far above all heavens that He might fill all things.

“And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan,... until all the people were passed clean over.” All the people went over in the strength of the ark, and so it is by the power of God in Christ that we enter into the heavenly places. Christ stood firm for His people, and we are secure in His strength. Every single believer is blessed alike with the heavenly privileges-the least of all saints and the weakest believer. Canaan is for all, and all in Christ are there, because of the power of that love which stood firm in death until all His own had passed over. Well might we repeat: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). And blessed be the name of His dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. “To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” (Rev. 1:6.)

ML-04/17/1977

A Villain Saved

Memory Verse: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32

There was living in a village in China a terrible villain. So severely had he been punished for his evil doings, that he had lost his eyesight. But blinding a man does not make him see the error of his ways. The law cannot cure a man morally or spiritually: it is too cold a process to melt.

Law and terrors do but harden all the while they work alone. But a sense of blood-bought pardon, this will melt a heart of stone.

The sightless Chinaman became a blind beggar, threatening his neighbors and doing all sorts of violent deeds. Once he entered into an oil shop and demanded money. When it was not forthcoming, he struck out right and left with his heavy stick, breaking the pots of oil and spilling it in all directions. Getting hold of some of the broken pieces of crockery, he cut himself and then went to the magistrate to complain of ill treatment. The store keeper was fined $100. for the supposed assault.

In addition to this, the blind man was a great opium smoker, and knew the power of the evil habit. But can you hush the thunder, stay the rising tide, or reverse the downflow of Niagara? Then may a sinner by his own power cease to sin. Or in Scripture language, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23.

An old lady got this sinner to the medical mission hospital. There he found that Christ died for sinners as bad as he, and that God was able to save to the uttermost all who came to Him through Jesus. He came, and was at once made a new creature in Christ Jesus.

It is a sin to limit the holy One of Israel (Psalm 78:41), in this day of grace, “for what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:3, 4.

After the change, it was the blind man’s great delight to sit in the waiting room of the hospital and point to himself. All knew what he had been: they now saw what he was. Having been so bad, he was a good example of what God could do — the sun had melted the icicle. None are too bad to be saved; though we fear many may be too good.

Three things make it possible for the worst to be saved: 1) the infinite value of the blood of Christ; 2) the almighty power of His arm, and 3) the unbounded love of His heart.

ML-04/24/1977

Rosa, a Little Italian Girl

Rosa was a happy little Italian girl just 10 years old with black sparkling eyes and curly hair. She attended a Sunday school conducted by a Christian lady who told the little Italian children the story of Jesus’ love.

One day Rosa came to the class downcast and sad. Her kind teacher took her apart from the other children and said to her, “Rosa, you look very sad today; what is the matter?”

The little girl looked up mournfully into her face and said, “Because I have been thinking about what you told me. I was wondering if Jesus cares for me or not; do you think He does?” and her eyes filled with tears.

“Yes, Rosa, Jesus loves you. Did He not come down from His happy home in heaven to show His love for sinners? And did He not say when He was down here, ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me'? How then can you doubt that He loves you? Can you repeat the verse that tells you so, Rosa?”

Rosa repeated the verse slowly.

“Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14.

“Well, Rosa, who do you think that means, you or me? Does Jesus invite big folks like me, or little ones like you, to come to Him?”

The little girl clapped her hands with delight. “It’s for me!” she exclaimed. “It’s for me, for me! Jesus loves me; now I know!”

From that day on, Rosa believed that Jesus loved her, and she loved Him in return. She became a lamb of the Good Shepherd’s flock, one of His faithful little followers.

ML-04/24/1977

Teddy's Fear

Teddy had gone with his father to visit Grandma. They stayed longer than they had first planned, and it was dark when they started for home.

On the way they had to go through a swamp. As they passed along, they could hear the frogs croaking, the insects were chirping, an owl made a weird sound in the woods, and a bat flew overhead. The trees made black silhouettes against the evening sky.

Little Teddy was frightened. “Day,” he asked, “Will something get us?”

“Oh no, my boy,” Daddy assured him.

Soon the little fellow asked again, “Daddy, will something get us?”

When Daddy realized that his little son was frightened, he took his hand in his saying, “You needn’t be afraid, Teddy. I won’t allow anything to harm you.’ The little fellow’s fears disappeared as he walked courageously beside his father.

Those who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and God as their Father have nothing to fear. The Lord will be with them and will not allow anything to harm them. The Lord Jesus says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews. 13:5.)

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the. Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty... He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust.” (Psalms 91:1, 4.)

Jesus loves me this I know,

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but He is strong.

Jesus loves me He Who died,

Heaven’s gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let a little child come in.

ML-04/24/1977

Joshua

The Crossing of the Jordan

Chapter 4

“And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, “Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, “And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night...

“And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.”

Here we have two sets of stones of memorial—those taken from the dry bed of the river and set up in Gilgal in the land, and those set up in the midst of the Jordan, in the very spot where the feet of the priests that bore the ark stood firm.

We can look at these stones in two ways. They point to the Lord Jesus Himself at the moment when the waves of judgment were flowing over His holy soul in death, and they point to Him as the risen One, Who was dead and is now “alive for evermore.” They also tell of our being now one in life with Him Who was dead and now lives forever; thus we are both risen with Christ and dead with Him.

These stones taken out of the river speak of resurrection; those left in the river ever remind us of death. And it is well for us to note the order here. For as soon as we are redeemed and are introduced into this life in resurrection, then our thoughts turn back to the cross to that precious death of our Saviour, the path by which we came into this new sphere of peace and heavenly blessing.

It is as those that are redeemed that we keep the memorial of His death. Death in which we once would have perished, had we tried to cross it alone, is now through grace the constant food of our souls; only it is the Lord’s death—not ours.

As we think of that ark, standing firm in the midst of the deepest part of the river— "(for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest)" until all Israel were passed clean over, how precious to contemplate our blessed Saviour in death upon the cross for us, bearing all our sins in that dark hour!

When deep to deep still calling

The waters reach Thy soul;

And death and wrath appalling

Their waves did o’er Thee roll.

It was Joshua, we read, who set up those twelve stones in the midst of Jordan. And oh, that we might be in such a state of soul that our blessed Lord can lead us back to stand, as it were, on Jordan’s brink and gaze with bowed, humbled hearts into the depths of death’s dark raging flood, to see the spot where His precious feet stood fast, until all His own were safely over. How sweet to sing then,

Oh, there Thy love grace unbounded

And perfect love we see;

With joy and sorrow mingling

We would remember Thee.

The Lord values our remembrance of His love more than we shall ever know.

ML-04/24/1977

Earth Heaven

EARTH

O what a bright and blessed world

This groaning earth of ours will be,

When from its throne the tempter hurl’d,

Shall leave it all, O Lord, for Thee.

HEAVEN

But greater far that world above,

When we as we are known shall know,

And in the sweet embrace of love,

Reign o’er His ransomed world below.

John 3:15, 16, 36

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen!”

Rev. 22:7, 12, 20

ML-04/24/1977

Kumar the Buddhist

Memory Verse: “The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.” Lamentations 3:25

Kumar was a Buddhist, but his religion had not given him the peace of mind that he sought. He had become anxious about his soul, and in his fashion, he tried to accumulate merit by going on a tiresome journey to a sacred mountain. How true is that word, “If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, wash, and be clean?” 2 Kings 5:13.

Kumar’s religion told him that if he performed this pilgrimage three times, he would be free from sin. The joeys took him eleven years; but when all was done, he felt sin was not gone; the load remained. He did not know that no journeys were needful.

No ascending to any mountain was required. The mount where Jesus died for sin was the only mountain the new Christian religion told him of. He asked to know more, and was told Christ took our place under the law of DO: He did all that wanted doing; now all was DONE. More than this, He took our place under the curse deserved for what we had not DONE, and bore it all.

But instead of being glad, Kumar’s proud heart rebelled, and he said, “I will do anything to save myself; but I cannot receive this new teaching.”

He brought his books and argued with the missionary; but he had to own that the Book of books had the best of the argument. Did it not say -

“By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight.” Romans 3:20.

Again, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8, 9.

At last the holy Spirit of God opened Kumar’s eyes to see that he could do nothing and that nothing was to be done, but to obey the Word, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. The only work was faith. “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:29.

Kumar believed, and he was saved, and immediately he brought others to the mission. For this he lost his trade, and was so persecuted that he had to start in a new line of work and preach Christ in his spare time.

In the village where he and his son lived, there were several fires. The priests said the fire gods were angry, and must be appeased by processions and gifts. The young convert would have nothing to do with this. The pressions were, however, conducted, and for several nights they marched through the place chanting. Unhappily for the priests, a fresh fire broke out in the middle of the ceremony, and so powerless were the priests, that the flames spread with terrible rapidity; and, as if to prove that the Christian was the cause of the calamity, the fire came straight in the direction of his home, only a thatched wooden building.

Kumar was advised to bring out his belongings, but knowing they would be stolen, he refused saying, “We will pray and trust in our God.”

He did so; but on spread the fire, devouring all before it.

“We trust Thee, O Lord: do Thou let this people see that Thou art the true God.” So he prayed.

The next house caught fire and was burning.

“Now will you bring out your belongings?” they asked.

“No! God will deliver us.”

At the last moment the wind changed and the direction of the flames was altered. The people were amazed as the fire burned around three sides of Kumar’s little house, leaving it safe in the midst of destruction.

What a comment upon Psalm 91:9, 10: “Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”

That night 176 families were burned out, and in the morning as they gathered among the ruins, the Lord’s dear child preached to them.

“Now you see your gods can do nothing for you,” said Kumar; “our God has saved us from the fire.”

ML-05/01/1977

How Johnny Found the Light

Miss Smith had a Sunday school class of young boys. After the lesson was over one afternoon, she laid her hand on the head of one of her scholars and said, “Johnny, are you afraid to die?”

“Yes,” he said sadly.

“Why, Johnny?”

“Oh, Miss Smith,” he said in a low voice, “because it seems somehow like going into a strange house in the night without any light.”

“And yet, Johnny,” she said, “there have been Christians who were not afraid to die, and some were even glad and thankful to leave the world. Do you understand how it could be?”

Johnny looked perplexed and shook his head. Then she tried to explain it to him. She told him of the times of the martyrs when strong men and delicate women and children were devoured by wild beasts and burned at the stake; they met death in those dreadful forms not only willingly, but gladly—even joyfully—because of the love they had for Jesus and of the light which He caused to shine into their souls.

Just as the teacher finished speaking, the bell rang and school was over. It was summer time, and the teacher left for a vacation in the country.

When she came back, it was fall. One day soon after she returned, a note was brought to her from Johnny’s mother. She said her dear boy was very sick and wanted to see his teacher. As soon as possible Miss Smith went to his house. As she entered the room, she saw a sight which she said she could never forget. The dear boy was lying in the arms of his father. His mother sat sobbing by the bed and holding the hand of the dying boy in her own. But looking at Johnny’s face, oh how different it seemed from what it was when she had last seen him! All the sadness and fear which it then expressed were gone. He did not look now like one who felt as if he were going “into a strange house at night without any light.” His face looked as bright as if there were a sun shining in his soul.

As soon as Johnny saw his teacher, he cried out: “I’m not afraid to die now, Miss Smith; Jesus who was with the martyrs is right here,” — laying his hand on his heart — “and He makes it all light.” She stooped to kiss his brow, but could not speak a word.

“Sing, Daddy,” said Johnny; “Sing, ‘There is a fountain filled with blood.’ "

His poor father tried to sing the little hymn, but his strong voice failed him and he had to stop. Then his mother took it up and managed to get through the first verse alone. In the second verse, the father joined her. They sang the hymn through. While singing the last verse, they closed their eyes.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song,

I’ll sing Thy power to save;

No more with lisping, stammering tongue,

But conquerors o’er the grave.

When they opened their eyes again, Johnny had gone. While they were singing the last verse, his gentle spirit passed away. A sweet smile still lingered on his face. There was a light, too, on Johnny’s face. And there was light in that blessed Home to which he went! In Johnny’s own words, “Jesus was there, and it was all light.”

Dear boys and girls, have you trusted in this Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ? He is just as ready and willing to save you as He was to save Johnny, and He says, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

“In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11.

ML-05/01/1977

Correction

The article entitled “Timothy” (October 24, 1976 issue, reprinted from an old periodical) reads “He was left in charge of the church at Ephesus.” This should be corrected to read, “he was given a special charge at Ephesus.”

ML-05/01/1977

Joshua: The Crossing of the Jordan

Chapter 4

Those twelve stones taken from the dry bed of the river and set up in Gilgal, testified of the mighty power of God in cutting off the waters of death before the ark of His presence. Twelve in number, one for each tribe, they declared that all Israel had entered into Canaan. When set up together within the land, they were a witness to Israel’s oneness. Thus they were a memorial of the Lord’s great work for His people in bringing them into the fullness of their blessing.

God did not order that nine and a half stones should be set up in Canaan and two and a half on the other side of the river. He purposed that all Israel should be united within the land. The two and a half tribes might choose to dwell on the other side of Jordan; they might not practically come up to the full measure of the blessing God had for them in Canaan, still those twelve stones within the land told of their oneness with their brethren there, regardless.

And here we have set forth in type long before, the purpose of God for His people now. The Church is one body in heavenly places. We are “quickened together,... raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This is the blessed work of the Spirit of God and founded on the redemptive work of Christ.

Perhaps (like the two and a half tribes of Israel) some members of the Church might take a position which denies the oneness of the body, still as being united to Christ they belong to the undivided company. They might lose the enjoyment of their heavenly portion as long as they live below their privileges, nevertheless God will not be turned aside in His purposes of blessing. Divisions may spoil the beauty of the work of God in the Church on earth, still Christ is not divided, and in heaven that perfect oneness will be seen, and the beauty and glory of the work of God will be displayed in the Church.

The men were to carry those stones on their shoulders, and they illustrate what we, the Lord’s people, should be as we walk through this world: “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our body.” 2 Cor. 4:10. We are dead and risen with Christ, but this calls for self-denial and dying to the world through the power of His death.

As soon as the feet of the priests bearing the ark were lifted up on dry land, then the waters of the Jordan returned and swept on as before. As soon as the ark was gone, the power of death was as great as ever. Only in Christ we are safe.

The tide of death and judgment flows on as terrible as ever. Only those in Christ find there is no power in death for them, because Jesus has abolished death and brought life and incorruptibility to light through the gospel. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

O may the life which now on earth I live

Be spent for Him, who His for me did give;

O make me, Lord, in all I will or do

Ever keep Thy glory in my view.

And when my course is run, and fought the fight,

Life’s struggle o’er, and faith is changed to sight,

Then, all-triumphant, I shall ever be,

Safe in Thy home, for I belong to Thee.

ML-05/01/1977

How God Answered Prayer

Memory Verse: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Ed and Kenny Renner were on the other side of the Big Thompson River from their parent’s motel when the terrible flash flood struck on the evening of July 31, 1976. First, the bridge over to the motel was washed out. Then they watched in fascination as the waters rose quickly into the parking lot and floated all of the cars down the river like a big traffic jam.

Ed said: “The complete feeling of helplessness came over us as we watched the water continue to rise across the front of the motel. The rushing stream was just below the window sill. There was still flickering candle light in the living quarters where my mother and Kenny’s girl, Tammy, were staying. But when the water rose to about halfway up the windows, all went dark, and we just knew it was all over for Mom and Tammy. All we could do at that point was to stand there transfixed and pray to God for some miracle. From then on we watched the water as it went on over the top of the doors and windows on the bottom floor.

“What we couldn’t know until much later was that at that very moment our prayers were being answered. Mom had checked in a couple with two teenage children from Georgia just before this nightmare had started. She had asked the father (Mr. Henrich) to invite his wife and family inside while he registered for the room, to get them indoors and out of the downpour of rain. Minutes after his family had entered the motel office, they watched their camper float away.

Mr. Henrich had the presence of mind and strength to tear a hole in the ceiling of Mom’s bedroom with the aid of only a butcher knife and an old hammer (the only available tools for the moment.) He managed to make the hole in the ceiling, through ceiling tile, a double floor and a double carpet, into the unit on the second floor. It was just large enough to push Mom through, her cat Misty, Tammy and her dog, and his own family. By the time he was pulled up, the water was up to his neck.

Later, when the water had gone down far enough, Ed and Kenny worked their way across to the motel. There on the mountain behind the motel they found their Mother and Tammy and several others who had escaped from the second floor of the building. Yes, God had answered their prayers. He is a prayer-answering God.

And God can answer your prayers too, dear reader. One prayer which He will always answer immediately is, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” When the publican prayed this prayer in Luke 18:13, we read that he “went down to his house justified.”

The flash flood down the Big Thompson River that dark night in July, 1976, was a terrible disaster; however, God saved many people out of it. But the coming judgment for sin will be a far worse disaster for this world and those who are unsaved.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Romans 1:18. God “now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained.” Acts 17:30, 31.

This is the day of grace; now is the time to be saved.

“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.

ML-05/08/1977

How Sherry Was Saved

“Mother, can I go outside to play for five minutes?” asked Sherry. The little girl had just gotten home from school, and Mother greeted her with a loving smile and a kiss as she walked in the door.

Sherry’s class had an arithmetic test next day, and most of the children had studied for it, but Sherry wasn’t as ready as she might have been.

“Not now, dear,” said Mother. “Learn these few tables first, and then we’ll see.”

Sherry flung herself on the sofa in anger, stomped her foot on the floor and exclaimed, “It’s not fair!” Many other naughty words she said besides.

“Sherry,” said Mother, with a pained look on her face, “I thought my girl knew the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, but many things of late have made me wonder.”

An arrow pierced through Sherry’s heart, and a cloud of gloom settled down on her young mind. A lump formed in her throat and a tear trickled down her cheek. She looked away from Mother. She knew in her heart she had never trusted in the Lord Jesus as her Saviour.

Daddy and mother had often told her the way of salvation, but she had kept putting it off. Sometimes at night she would wake up afraid and would tiptoe into their room to see if they were still there. As long as they were there, she knew the Lord hadn’t come and left her behind. Now she felt the Lord was looking right into her naughty heart and she began to cry.

Mother said to Sherry again, as she had many times before: “Tell the Lord Jesus you are a sinner and want Him as your Saviour. He will wash away all those black sins forever, for He loves you and died for you.”

Mother and Sherry knelt down together, and Sherry told the Lord what a sinner she was, and she asked Him to be her Saviour. The Lord saved Sherry right then and there. Mother prayed too, and thanked Him for saving her little girl.

Tears of joy ran down Sherry’s cheeks as they got up from their knees. She had a smile and a look of peace that reflected the peace that now filled her heart. The burden of sin was gone!

Dear boys and girls, take the Lord Jesus as your Saviour now while you are young. You’ll be glad you did.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9.

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

ML-05/08/1977

Old Rob's Story

Old Rob, the coast guard, was the general favorite among us children. During the summer months when many were on vacation, you would often see a group of boys and girls sitting on the beach, with Rob in their midst telling some thrilling tale of the sea.

Years have come and gone since I heard him tell the following story, and I seem to remember it as yesterday. He was telling us of his early life as a sailor, and of a wonderful deliverance from ship wreck which he had when all the crew with whom he sailed, except one other sailor and himself, went down to a watery grave.

Wiping the tears from his cheeks, he said, “And now, my dear ones, I will tell you the cause of the ship wreck. It was because our captain neglected to examine his chart. The chart was there hanging in his cabin, but he seldom looked at it, else we had never sailed so near that hidden rock on which our ship was wrecked.

“But his negligence taught me a lesson for which my soul will ever bless the Lord. It was the means of leading me to examine His Word, and see how I stood for eternity. We are all sailors across life’s sea, where many hidden rocks lie buried. But God has given us His Word that we may know them and avoid them.

“Many, like our captain, give no heed to that chart and become wrecks in soul and body for time and eternity. The Word of God has been a good friend to me for many a year. It guided me to Christ, He saved my soul, and ever since I have made His Word my companion and counselor. Take an old sailor’s advice, children, and believe and value your Bibles. Your souls will be safe, your steps will not slip, and heaven will be sure if you have Christ and His Word in you.”

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105.

ML-05/08/1977

Joshua: The Crossing of the Jordan

Chapter 4

We learned earlier that the Jordan is a figure, or picture, of death. For man to attempt to pass through it by himself would be to perish. But the ark went before God’s people, Israel, and the ark is a figure of the Lord Jesus. He has gone before to dry up the waters of death for all His own.

He has abolished death, that is, He put an end to it, and broke the power of death by dying on the cross. He has brought life and incorruptibility to light through the gospel (2 Tim. 1:10). The gospel is the good news about the Lord Jesus; that He died and rose again so that every believing child of God might pass out of death into His Father’s house.

The Red Sea is also a type of death, for it is God’s way in the Old Testament to teach us parts of the same thing by many different types. This makes it easier for our minds to understand God’s great thoughts.

The blood of the Passover lamb sprinkled on the doorposts saved the children of Israel from the judgment of God that dark night in Egypt. And the first thing a sinner learns is that Jesus has shed His blood to save him from judgment.

But God’s people must not stay in Egypt, and to get out of Egypt they must pass through the Red Sea. The sinner must learn that the death of Christ has saved him from the world’s judgment and from all that would keep him in this world. So the cross of Christ separates the Christian from the world just as the Red Sea separated the children of Israel from Egypt and from the Egyptians, their oppressors. They saw them sink like lead in the mighty waters, and then they saw them all dead on the sea shore.

In Egypt the Israelites were quite safe from God’s judgment because the blood was on the doorpost, but they were dreadfully afraid for Pharaoh was there, their taskmasters were there, and their burdens were still there too. However, the moment they were on the other side of the Red Sea, their fear was gone, the power of Egypt was broken, and standing, as it were, on redemption ground, they burst forth into that wonderful song of God’s salvation. Just so a saved sinner can look away from the world and its bondage and say, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1.)

After crossing the Red Sea, Israel found themselves in the wilderness. And so it is in our soul’s experience that having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, brought to God and delivered from the world and Satan’s power, the world becomes a wilderness to us-there is nothing here for us and we must find our all in Christ.

But God did not intend that His people should always remain in the wilderness, so He said they must learn something more about death. Not only were they to see their enemies dead on the shore, but they were to go into the place of death themselves, that they might know that the living God was among them. So Israel had to cross over Jordan, type of death, while Canaan, the land of promise, is a figure of those heavenly joys and blessings that God has prepared for those who love Him.

ML-05/08/1977

A Prisoner

For fifteen years she had been an invalid, and for eleven years had been a prisoner between sheets.

“Eleven years in bed,” I said with a tone of pity.

“No,” she replied, “eleven years in His arms,” reminding me of the restful text, “Underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut. 33:27

ML-05/08/1977

A Race With Wolves

Memory Verse: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15

Very seldom have wolves been known to attack man in our country, but this true experience in the Old World was told by a man years ago.

It was in December and my wife and I went to visit my wife’s parents. We left our little six-month-old twins at home in the care of Peggy, our old trusted nurse.

After a happy day together, we started home in the sleigh with our old servant Franz. It was a splendid journey as the horses just flew over the frozen ground.

About nine o’clock we reached the outskirts of the woods. Then the horses began to get restless. They would rear up and then suddenly fly off at a terrific speed. We could not account for their strange behavior except that in the distance we heard the sharp howls of dogs.

With astonishing speed the horses raced on. Franz did all he could to quiet them but in vain. The howls grew louder, and looking around I could see in the darkness two great hungry dogs running behind our sleigh.

“If they come too close, Franz,” I cried, “give them a dose of the whip.”

“Sir,” cried the old man, “they are wolves!”

I had never seen a wolf before, but it seemed the intense cold of winter had driven them into our neighborhood nearer to the villages in search of food.

As we were unarmed, our safety lay in the speed of our horses. We urged them on with the whip, but our pursuers followed close on our heels.

Franz threw his fur coat to them, but this delayed them only for a little. Soon they were on us again pressing closer to the flying horses.

How we cried to God in our anguish asking Him to help us. And God did help us.

We succeeded in reaching home. A gate was opened, and in a flash we were in the yard. In a moment Franz had closed the gate, and we were safe.

But that is not all the story. Thankful to God for His mercy, we immediately went to the room where our children slept. But how shall I describe our new terror, when thick heavy smoke met us. I sprang to the door and opened it. My wife screamed.

There lay our faithful nurse in her bed unconscious, the children ghostly pale in their cribs. We carried all three into our room, and to our unspeakable joy succeeded after some time in bringing them back to consciousness.

We then discovered how the fire had started. A burning ember must have fallen out of the fire after they had gone to bed. The floor had caught fire and filled the room with thick smoke. Thankful to say we soon had the fire put out. Had we arrived 15 minutes later, our two darlings and our old nurse would have perished.

That night I learned what true thanksgiving to God is. Such anguish those wolves had given us! But in the wonderful counsel of God, those hungry creatures had served to spur on our horses to greater speed so that we might not arrive too late to save our children and old Peggy.

Yes, God reigns. Even the wild creatures of the woods must obey Him when He protects His own.

“O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psa. 107:8.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psa. 50:15.

ML-05/15/1977

Hughie's Verse

Hughie sat on his father’s knee one Sunday afternoon when all the other children were away at Sunday school. He was only five years of age, and his father had been telling him a Bible story. He also taught him to sing the hymn—“Safe in the Arms of Jesus.”

“Are you in the arms of Jesus, Daddy?”

“Yes, my boy; I am.”

“And is Mommy?”

“Yes; Mommy is there too.”

Hughie sat quietly for a minute thinking; then looking up into his father’s face, he said, “Jesus has big arms to hold so many; I will be there too.”

In after years when Hughie was a little older, he knew better how “big” the arms of Jesus were, and how strong they are too, for he had trusted himself to Jesus, and he can sing now, knowing what the words mean:

Safe in the arms of Jesus;

Safe on His gentle breast.

Yes, dear boys and girls, the Lord Jesus has strong arms. He carries the lambs of His flock—that is, the little ones who believe on Him—in these mighty everlasting arms, safe to heaven.

ML-05/15/1977

Just in Time

Wayne Link was sleeping alone in his motel room on the second floor of the Cedarmont Motel right next to the Big Thompson River. It was the evening of July 31, 1976, when the big flash flood surged down the canyon.

A little after nine o’clock Wayne was awakened by the roaring of the river which was louder than usual. The electric lights wouldn’t go on, so Wayne grabbed his flashlight.

“It was pitch dark, no light to be seen anywhere,” he recalled. Pointing his flashlight into the night, he saw water running level with the floor of the motel’s second story. A car’s roof was lodged against the motel.

Wayne ran to the rear of his room and kicked out a window. Pushing himself through the opening, he started climbing up the side of the canyon. Within a minute or two the whole motel was swept away by the surging flood.

Wayne, along with some 25 others from the motel and a nearby restaurant climbed the steep canyon wall to its top. They built a roaring fire and, sheltered from the rain under a large tarpaulin, they waited out the night. The next morning the water had gone down so they climbed back into the canyon where rescuers found them.

Wayne had been “just in time.” Had he been two minutes later in escaping from the doomed motel, he would have lost his life in the raging torrent. How solemn to think that all of us are but a step from eternity!

God tells us in His word, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

“Flee from the wrath to come.” Luke 3:7.

The terrible blows of judgment that fell on Egypt long ago, the fire from heaven that burned up Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain, the flood in Noah’s day, and many solemn happenings since, are warnings of “judgment to come,” for this world has rejected and put to death the Son of God on the cross.

However, while God hates sin, He loves the sinner. For “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Those who climbed the mountain side of the Big Thompson River that dark night found a refuge from the raging flood waters below. Those who trust in Jesus find in Him a refuge from the coming storm; indeed, He is the only place of safety for the sinner. Have you fled to Him for refuge? God says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML-05/15/1977

Joshua: The Crossing of the Jordan

Chapter 4

The Israelites did not really die when they passed through Jordan; they passed through the place which, but for the ark being there, would have been death to them, and they got into a place of safety and blessing.

Suppose a child of God is dying. He sees how the Lord Jesus has gone down into the grave for him, like the ark standing in the midst of Jordan, and he says, There is no fear of death for me; the water is all gone, the Lord Jesus has put an end to death, He has broken its power. I have only to look at Him Who has risen out of death, for I go up to where He is alive for me. So what we call death for the Christian is only passing into life.

There is no fear of death to those who know that Jesus destroyed the power of death, and that He went up out of the grave to God’s right hand. The child of God follows Him by faith as Israel followed the ark.

How wonderful this all is! And this is why God said, “Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out the Canaanites,” and the inhabitants of the land. When the child of God knows that Jesus has risen out of death, he knows that God will without fail give him victory over everything that hinders him from entering into the joys of God’s own presence.

Israel learned that God was “the living God” when He destroyed the power of death; that was when the ark stood on dry ground in the midst of Jordan. God would have us never forget the death of Christ, and this is why He told Israel to take up twelve stones from the spot where the ark rested, and to put them in the land for a memorial forever.

“On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel.” He showed them how great Joshua was. And Joshua is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation, Who leads us into the enjoyment of heavenly things by the Holy Spirit. He is made great to us in His death for He is the resurrection and the life. We know a little of His greatness when we first learn that He died for us, but we see Him greater and greater the more we learn about His death. He is magnified to us because He died and rose again. By faith the child of God has passed from death into life now in this world; in Him we have crossed the Jordan and have tasted the joys of heaven.

And surely we can taste the joys of heaven now here on earth, for Jesus is in heaven, and is it not a joy of heaven to know Him? We can speak to Him, and He to us. The way is open to heaven, and though we are not there yet, still our hearts can follow the One we love to where He is. We can go to heaven now by faith and be with Jesus there in spirit, and when we enjoy Him there, this is tasting the joys of heaven.

Of those twelve stones that Joshua set up in the midst of Jordan, where the ark stood, it says, “and they are there unto this day.” The Christian can look back to the death of Christ and say, There is the memorial of all my blessing. The cross is the spot where Jesus is magnified to me. The stones in Jordan have long passed from sight, but the remembrance of the death of our precious Saviour and Lord will abide for all eternity.

ML-05/15/1977

Saved From the Ocean

Memory Verse: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Some years ago a ship was sailing down the east coast of America. A sailor on the lookout, surrounded by the vast stretches of the ocean, suddenly heard a telephone bell sounding out across the water. Startled and wondering, he looked around. Was he dreaming or only half awake? What was the matter? Where did it come from?

The bell sounded again! He was sure it was a telephone bell, but where was it? How could there possibly be such away out there on the ocean, with nothing to be seen but the endless waves. He called one of his mates, who, coming on deck from below, also heard it. They told the captain, and he heard it too.

They stopped their ship, and some of the crew went off to investigate. They were not long in finding a buoy floating amid the waves with a telephone fixed to it. The line was connected to a submarine in distress. The sub was under water except for a few feet of the stern and swinging about in a most helpless manner. Inside the men were suffering from lack of fresh air, having been thirty-five hours in this dangerous situation.

When the sailors returned to their ship, a radio message was sent to the U.S. Admiralty for help. The ship was brought close to the sub and a hawser firmly attached to it until more help came. Then they cut a hole in the upturned stern of the sub through which fresh air and hot drinks were poured through for the exhausted men.

In the meantime an American boy, named Moore, trying out his homemade wireless set, picked up the ship’s message. Thrilled to have received so important a communication, he sent a telephone message to the Navy Department, and was more delighted than ever to find that he was the first to have received the call for help.

Ships and tugs were immediately dispatched to the scene at once. The hole in the sub was soon enlarged, so that the men could get out. What joy it must have been to the sailor who first heard the telephone bell, to see twenty-seven men step out of the submarine, saved from a horrible death, and know that he had played the first part in their release.

This wonderful rescue came about first, because the imprisoned men by means of the telephone bell sent out a cry for help; second, the sailor heard the bell, and third, the young boy, Moore, on shore, picked up the wireless message and sent for powerful help. Had the man on the lookout been deaf, the poor men in the sub would probably have perished, for few ships passed that way.

Twenty-seven men were saved, because they cried for help, and because two people heard.

But greater wonders are going on around us every day, for men and women, and children in distress are constantly crying for help, and their cries are heard at an immeasurable distance by One, and that One, God Himself, who is willing, and able to save. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

On the other hand there are multitudes who are daily sinking down to death and judgment, without God and without hope, to be lost forever in the ocean of eternal woe. O dear young reader, do not you be among them! God loves you; Christ died for you. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save. You can be saved now. Only call upon Him and you will be safe forever.

ML-05/22/1977

God's Mercy to a Boy

Long ago a boy lay dying of thirst under some bushes in a wilderness. His mouth was parched, and his strength almost gone. His mother was with him, but she could not bear to see her son die, so she moved away from the spot saying, “Let me not see the death of the child.”

The boy was suffering for his naughtiness. He had a good home and a wonderful father, Abraham, who feared God and obeyed Him. But as his son, Ishmael, grew up, he mocked his father’s other son and heir, Isaac; and God told Abraham to send the naughty boy away.

Now the boy was dying of thirst, but he remembered his father’s God, the only One who could help him, and God was gracious to him, and it says, “God heard the voice of the lad.”

How wonderful! God heard the voice of a naughty boy, who cared not for Him until he needed His help! And not only did God hear the voice of the boy, but an angel from heaven repeated the fact to his mother. Notice the words: “And the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.” Gen. 21:17.

Then God in His great mercy to this naughty boy, showed his mother where there was a well of water, and she fetched him a cooling drink. Thus he was saved from dying of thirst.

The next thing we are told is, “And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.” This was the result of his cry which God heard.

Perhaps there is a boy or girl reading this who, like Ishmael, has been disobedient and naughty. Still you need not feel you are too bad to ask God to forgive you. He will hear your prayer of faith, if it is really a cry of sorrow for your sins. Ishmael was desperate and no one but God could help him; but in spite of his naughtiness, God heard him and spared him.

Do not go on without God, who wants to bless you. He says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psa. 50:15.

ML-05/22/1977

Joshua

Chapter 5:1-9

“And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.”

Satan had not been able to prevent Israel’s departure from Egypt, nor could he stop them from crossing the Jordan. Full well He knows with whom he has to do in this conflict, and he quails before the power of God in His people.

However, he does not give up the fight. He had challenged and sought to frighten the people along the wilderness journey, but now he changes his tactics. Within the land Israel found themselves engaged in a more subtle, deadly warfare.

As Christians we have the same subtle foe. The New Testament epistle which answers to Joshua of the Old and which sets forth in a most blessed way our exalted place and portion in Christ, warns us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph. 6:11.

It is his way to corrupt the truth of God; at the same time he will use the flesh in all its forms to get an advantage over the Christian. May we be able to say with the Apostle, “We are not ignorant of his devices... For we are not as many, which corrupt the Word of God.” 2 Cor. 2:11, 17.

But before Israel could use the sword against their enemies, they must have the sharp knives applied to themselves. So it was at Gilgal the people encamped and were circumcised, for none of those born in the wilderness had had this mark put upon them.

Circumcision is a figure of death to the flesh. It was a painful thing, especially at the first; and when we as believers put the sentence of death on the flesh, it suffers. However, if we are to enter in and enjoy our heavenly portion in Christ, which Canaan typifies, the flesh in us must be put in the place of death.

The old nature in us does not like to be denied; however, after Gilgal’s painful lesson, God gave His people that mighty victory at Jericho. The flesh in us, if allowed to work, would only lead to ruin and defeat; but if mortified (Co1.3:5), or put in the place of death, it will mean sure victory for us in our heavenly warfare.

Gilgal was a blessed place for Israel, for it was their first possession in the promised land. There it was Joshua put those twelve stones taken out of the Jordan. There it was God Himself rolled away the reproach of Egypt, for it was a great disgrace for the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to have been bond slaves in Egypt.

Gilgal then for us is the cross, and our circumcision was accomplished in the death of Christ, by which we are wholly separated to God. May we be “always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” 2 Cor. 4:10.

ML-05/22/1977

They Ignored It

On July 31, 1976 a terrific storm raged in the Colorado mountains causing a tremendous flash flood on the Big Thompson River. After it was all over, 145 people were dead or missing.

One newspaper article had this headline:

“THEY WERE TOLD, THEY IGNORED IT, NOW THEY’RE DEAD!”

This article stated: " ‘Warnings issued Saturday night by law enforcement officers failed to persuade some people in the Big Thompson canyon that a killer flood was approaching,’ Sheriff Bob Watson said Sunday.

" ‘Some people were very reluctant to move — we couldn’t excite them enough,’ Watson told reporters. The Sheriff said that some residents and visitors in the canyon found it hard to believe that ‘a previously quiet, gentle-moving stream’ could quickly swell to the point where it could take their lives.”

How sad to think that 145 precious souls have suddenly passed into eternity! But it is sadder still that many lost their lives simply because they ignored a warning.

Saddest of all, however, is that many, many people living today will perish and pass into a lost eternity without Christ the Saviour, without hope, — simply because they ignored the warnings of coming judgment.

O, unsaved reader, come to the Saviour now and be saved.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

God has warned of greater sorrows,

He has told of judgment sore

Which will fall on Christ rejectors,

When the day of grace is o’er.

But His only Son once suffered,

He for us the judgment bore;

Those who come to Him are sheltered

By His blood, forevermore.

ML-05/22/1977

A Narrow Escape

Memory Verse: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Fourteen-year-old Cindy Miller phoned her friend, Stannis, at the Covered Wagon restaurant. Stannis was worried. The Big Thompson River was rising and had surrounded the restaurant.

Suddenly, even while they talked on the phone, a flash flood of tidal waves proportions, bore down on the restaurant and washed it away. Everyone in it perished.

In horror Cindy and her parents realized that the restaurant was only four miles up the river. In minutes they too would be washed away if they could not escape. While Mr. Miller quickly warned the neighbors, Mrs. Miller crowded the children into the car.

Down the canyon they drove as fast as possible. Seconds after they crossed one bridge, it collapsed. At the end of the canyon there was high ground and safety. Could they make it? They came around the last bend of the road and pulled up on high ground. Looking behind, their unbelieving ayes saw a wall of water nineteen feet high surging down the road they had just traveled.

What a narrow escape from almost certain death!

They escaped! How thrilling! But how much more thrilling it is to hear that some boy or girl, or older one too has escaped from judgment, from passing into a lost eternity, through trusting their soul’s salvation to the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not neglect your salvation, dear reader.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

Every one of us was born in sin. We all inherited a sinful nature from our fallen parents, Adam and Eve. Every child of Adam needs salvation. God has provided this salvation in the death of His own beloved Son. Jesus is the only Saviour of sinners, the only hope of man!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

ML-05/29/1977

Unconcerned

It was lifeboat drill for all passengers aboard the ocean liner. One of the ship’s officers was seeking to impress all on board with the urgency of being prepared for disaster at sea. He then showed the passengers how to fasten the lifebelt. All listened with interest as they were gathered together in the ship’s lounge.

Turning my eyes around the gathering, I was amazed to see a man seated at a little table; and quite unconcerned, he was playing with a pack of cards.

How many are like that today? frittering their time away, heedless of the eternal welfare of their souls. How grave the danger in rejecting, or neglecting the gospel message!

Passing onward, quickly passing,

Many in the downward road;

Careless of their souls immortal,

Heeding not the call of God.

Passing onward—

Trampling on the Saviour’s blood.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3

ML-05/29/1977

All Settled

Robert’s older brother had been brightly saved and was very happy in the Lord. Now Robert was concerned; in fact he was greatly troubled.

Early Sunday morning he came to his mother’s room saying, “O, Mother, I can’t stand it, I can’t stand it any longer.”

“What is the matter, Robert,” she asked. Then he told her how he could not sleep at nights for fear the Lord would come and he might be left.

His mother, who was a widow, and a Christian, had a quiet talk with her boy. She told him the Lord Jesus loved him; had died to put 1. way all His sins, and all he had to do now was to ask Him to come into his heart and be his Saviour. The result was that Robert confessed the Lord in a very simple way; then he said, “O what a Saviour, that He died for me!” Needless to say, his mother’s joy was beyond telling.

“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.

ML-05/29/1977

"I Had a Kind Mother"

A lady was passing a tavern some time ago just as the owner turned a man into the street. He was quite young, but his face showed that he had been drinking heavily; he looked like one on his way to ruin. He was swearing dreadfully and shaking his fist at the man who had thrust him out of the tavern.

So blinded was he with passion that he did not see a lady standing near till she laid her hand on his shoulder, and in a gentle loving voice asked, “What is the matter?”

The young man started as if a heavy blow had struck him. He turned quickly around, trembling from head to foot. He looked at the lady for a moment and then said, “Oh I thought it was my mother’s voice; it sounded so strangely like it. But she has been dead many years.”

“Then you had a mother who loved you?” said the lady. And with this he burst into tears.

“O yes, I had a kind mother who loved her boy. But since she died, everything has gone against me. I am lost, lost to everything that is good lost forever.”

“No, not lost forever; for God is merciful and gracious, and in His pitying love He can save the chief of sinners,” said the lady in the same kind, sweet voice. Her words seemed to have a powerful effect upon that young fellow.

As she passed on her way, he took down the number of the house into which she entered. Then he too went on his way with new thoughts stirring in his soul.

Years rolled by and the lady had almost forgotten the incident when one day a stranger called at her door, and sending in his card, he asked permission to see her.

Wondering who it could be, she saw a fine-looking, well-dressed man. He rose respectfully to meet her and said, “Pardon me, but I have come many miles for the pleasure of thanking you for the great favor you showed me a few years ago.”

“I’m puzzled to know what you mean,” she said, “for I don’t remember having seen you before.”

“I’ve changed so much that I don’t wonder that you have forgotten me,” he replied. “But though I saw you only once, I would have known you anywhere, and your voice too; it is so much like my mother’s.”

The moment these last words were spoken, the lady remembered the poor young man to whom she had spoken to kindly in front of the tavern long ago. He wept and she wept with him. Then wiping away his tears he told her that the kind words she had spoken to him that day had been the means of turning him from ruin and of making him a different man.

“Those words, ‘not lost forever,’ followed me wherever I went; and it always seemed my mother’s voice speaking to me from the grave. I have repented of my sins and now I am trusting in the Lord Jesus. Thankful to say, by the grace of God, I have been able to resist temptation. I have read in His word how to be saved forever from “the wrath to come.”

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24. 177

ML-05/29/1977

Joshua

Chapter 5:10-12

At Gilgal, within the land, Israel encamped, and there they kept the Passover. God had set them free from the service of sin in Egypt, the land of their bondage, free from the trials of the wilderness, and free from their own selfish wills.

There they ate of the lamb roast with fire, and on the day after the Passover, they ate of the old corn of the land, and unleavened cakes and parched corn. How delightful this all must have been after those long weary wilderness journeyings.

Every day for forty years the manna had not ceased to fall around their tents; but now we read that after they had tasted the old corn of the land, the manna ceased to come any more. They ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year, but it was in Gilgal they tasted it first.

They kept the Passover in remembrance of the night they left Egypt. When they ate the lamb in Egypt, it was the beginning of their journey. They ate it in haste because they were going to fly from the power of Pharaoh. But when they ate the Passover on the other side of the Jordan, they had come to the end of their journey, and they could look back in peace and remember all that God had done for them.

He had in His mercy brought forth His people whom He had redeemed, and He had guided them in His strength to His holy habitation. He had brought them into the promised land and there they kept the Passover again, for it was a night to be much remembered.

When we are at home with the Lord in the glory, we shall never forget the cross. But there we shall have the Lord Jesus Himself — the One who is God’s Lamb, who is also the manna, the Bread which came down from heaven, and also the old corn of the land; for all these are figures to teach us the different ways in which Jesus is known and enjoyed by His heavenly people.

The manna came down to where they were and lay all around them in the wilderness, but the corn only grew in Canaan, and they must be in the land to get it. When we speak of feeding upon Jesus as the manna, we mean that we enjoy Him as the humbled Man down here when He took the form of a servant and became obedient unto death. Every word He spoke down here and everything He did was like the small coriander seed which the children of Israel gathered. And the Holy Spirit loves to gather and admire, and to delight in the ways and manners of this heavenly Man, and to feed upon Him in our hearts.

But when we speak of feeding upon Him as the old corn of the land, we mean that we are enjoying Him as the risen Man who is gone up to glory. The same Jesus still, but risen from the dead and set down at God’s right hand in heaven. All power is His, and all the glory is His, and we who believe are one with Him where He is.

ML-05/29/1977

I Know

“How do you know that Christ is risen?” a scoffer asked an old Christian.

“I spent an hour with Him this morning,” the old saint replied quietly.

“I know whom I have believed.” 2 Tim. 1:12.

ML-05/29/1977

I'm Getting Paid

Memory Verse: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

It happened at the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago. The audience of men were singing, and now and then one would get up and give his testimony.

“If any wants to come and say a word for Jesus,” said the speaker, “let him come now.”

A man in one of the back seats rose to his feet and started down to the front. There was a strange look on his face. Evidently he had been living a dissipated life. You could not tell whether he was thirty or fifty years of age.

Just as he passed a row of seats, another man who looked like he, too, was from skid row, said to a companion of his, “He’s getting paid for this!” By this he meant that the man was going to get the price of a night’s lodging. Well, when this strange man reached the front, he leaned up against the platform and told his story.

“Men,” he said, “my home is near Boston. I had one of the best fathers that ever lived, but I sinned against him. A year ago my father called me into his study and said, ‘You have dishonored your father’s name. First of all I want you to go away and I want you to stay away. Then because you have dishonored my name, I want you to change yours.’

“I have a sister back in the east whose name I have not had on my lips for months. I came to this city and sank so low that they wouldn’t have me at the police station. The other night, as I was passing this gospel mission, I heard them singing my mother’s hymn, ‘Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.’

“Men, Jesus Christ met me here. My sins have been forgiven. I have been a Christian for two weeks.

“As I came down the aisle a moment ago, I heard a man say that I was getting paid for this, and I want to tell you that I am getting paid. This morning I received a letter from my father who said that I could not come home too soon, that the doors are wide open to receive me, and that his arms are outstretched to welcome me. He tells me that my sister has never closed her eyes in sleep without mentioning my name in her prayers. So, boys, I’m going back home tonight, and I’m getting paid! Praise the Lord!”

The prodigal son who came back was surprised at the welcome he got from his father. The Bible says, “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

And sinners who return home to God in repentance will be surprised at the welcome they get from that ever-gracious One — a more wonderful welcome than they could ever get from their fellow man. For “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” Rom. 5:8.

God has been glorified in that precious death. There the great sin question was settled, and God can pardon and bless every sinner that believes in Jesus. God now finds His own special joy and delight in blessing sinners who come to Him through Christ His beloved Son.

ML-06/05/1977

A Lamb in Christ's Flock

Three little girls were chatting together. They were telling each other what they wanted to be when they grew up. Beth wanted to be a queen. Sue wanted to write books, but Karen wanted to be a lamb in Christ’s flock.

“Suppose you stray away and get lost?” said Beth.

“Oh, answered dear little Karen, “the Bible says, ‘The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.’ "

Any little child who puts his trust in the Lord Jesus need have no fear of being lost. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep, will carry the lambs in His bosom quite near to His loving heart.

“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” John 10:28.

Safe in Christ, the weakest child

Stands in all God’s favor;

All in Christ are reconciled

Through that only Saviour.

Safe in Christ; safe in Christ!

He’s their glory ever;

None can pluck them from His hand,

They shall perish never.

Now by faith the justified,

Know that God is for them;

To the world they’re crucified,

Glory is before them.

ML-06/05/1977

Little Emmy's Faith

I met little Emmy playing on the sidewalk one day, and I said to her, “Do you know that the Lord Jesus loves you?” Her face lighted up with such a sweet simple smile, and the ready answer came: “Oh, yes, I do.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because the Bible says so.”

“But you know what that holy Book says, that we have ‘all sinned and come short of the glory of God, and there is none righteous — no, not one.’ "

“But Jesus said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto me.’ "

“But you are a sinner. You have done naughty things. What makes you think He would receive you?”

“Because the Bible says He died for sinners, and I know He died for me.”

“Well now, this is a very great thing for you to say. How can you be so sure about it?”

“Because the Bible says so.”

“The Bible also says that Jesus will come again and take His people from earth to heaven in a moment some day. What will become of you then? How would you feel if He were to come now while you and I are talking?”

“I should be very happy,” was her sweet reply.

This was childlike faith, and I found that she showed by her ways that the word of her lips was the real working of the Spirit of God in her soul.

ML-06/05/1977

Jack the Sailor

Jack was the typical sailor — light and easy, bright and breezy, as they say. He had been away from home for a long time, but now he was back and his little children had so much to tell him that when he got shore leave and found himself in his own home, time flew all too quickly.

Jack had been aboard a large ship on a long cruise. At one place which they stopped, Jack got a few hours shore leave. Wondering about, not knowing what to do or where to go, he passed a mission hall brightly lighted up and went in. There he heard a gospel message simply told, and that night dear Jack accepted the Lord Jesus as his very own precious, personal Saviour.

When Jack got back to his ship, he decided to hoist his colors at once, so when he was about to turn in to his bunk, he first knelt down to pray. A hush came over the men, followed by laughs and jeers. At length one of the roughest of them said, “Let’s get some water to pour on him.” So they got a pail of water, and coming back, they poured it over poor Jack. This was repeated not only once, but night after night. Jack said nothing, but took it all meekly. He knew well who the ring leaders were, and every day he sought to do each one of them “a good turn,” treating them in the kindest way possible.

At last the worst of them all came to Jack one day and said, “Tell me, what has happened to you? A month ago if we had treated you like we’ve been doing lately, we would have gotten the worst of it.

Jack told him just what had happened, that he had met the Lord Jesus Christ and He had saved him. Not long after the sailor broke down and confessed the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. Jack was able to claim his arch-persecutor as a brother in Christ.

Then one by one, other men in the crew were converted, too. When the voyage ended, over a dozen sailors met every night to read the Bible and learn more of their precious Saviour.

It may be that some of our readers are staying away from the Lord Jesus and hesitate to take the all-important step because they fear they will be laughed at or persecuted. Let this story of Jack encourage you to trust Him now and confess Him boldly at once. Then you may have the great honor of leading others to His blessed feet.

ML-06/05/1977

Joshua: The Man With the Drawn Sword

Chapter 5:13-15

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship.”

The Lord Jesus ever comes to us in ways perfectly suited to our need and condition. He came first as the Shepherd to seek the lost sheep, and as our Redeemer when we needed redemption. He is our Guide through the wilderness where there is no way; and as the true manna, He is our daily food. In conflict He takes His place before us “with His sword drawn in His hand” as our Captain to lead us on to victory. With such a Captain, where there is faith to trust and follow Him, nothing can stand before us.

In the energy of faith, but not knowing at first who this stranger was, Joshua challenges him, “Art thou for as, or for our adversaries?” This was most commendable in Joshua and may be of instruction for us, for there can be no neutrality in our heavenly warfare. If one would fight the battles of the Lord, he cannot be on neutral ground. He is either for Christ or against Him.

Joshua falls down and worships—he begins the conflict in Canaan as a worshiper! How beautiful this is! When we are dead and risen with Christ, and see all that we were as men in the flesh gone in those dark waters of death, when the reproach of Egypt’s bondage is rolled away and we are now heavenly citizens, when we remember the wonderful grace that redeemed us (seen in the Passover), when we have tasted “the old corn of the land” and see our place with Christ on high, the sense of who He is and what He has done for us bows our hearts in worship. This is God’s way of fitting us to fight His battles; we are ready to obey His commands and trust Him for everything.

But there was one more lesson Joshua learned, the same thing as was impressed on Moses at the burning bush. He was told: “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.” It was the same God, and His servant must always be as one who stands on holy ground.

Holiness and reverence become the presence of God; and so if God leads His people now to conflict, His holiness calls for us to be undefiled in our daily lives, to have those affections and that devotedness that become His presence.

If we are to be used of the Lord, there cannot be any lightness as to sin. We cannot make progress in the things of God or be victorious in our Christian life, if we are careless in our walk.

The Lord was Captain of His own host in Joshua’s day, and His sword was drawn for His people. In the same way He has deigned to go before us now, but in no way must His honor and glory be allowed to suffer through lightness or failure. May we seek grace to walk humbly and to serve Him “acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

ML-06/05/1977

Is That in the Bible?

Memory Verse: “Now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:26

Tom was born and grew up in Ontario, but when still a young fellow, he went to Michigan and got a job in a department store. He worked hard and was responsible, so that time came when he had a fine position in the firm and a good salary.

Well alas, like many another young fellow, Tom got into bad company, and lost his job through drink. From then on he went from bad to worse. In his wretched condition he found life a burden, and decided he would commit suicide. But God’s eye was upon poor Tom, and He did not leave him to himself. By some means or other he came into possession of a Bible which he diligently read. His eyes were opened to see that he was lost, guilty and condemned.

Then one day a friend suggested that he should go and hear an evangelist who was holding some gospel services in a nearby town. Tom gladly respond and drove to the place in a blinding snow storm. Several times on the way he thought he would return home, but felt impelled by some unseen power to press on. That night the preacher read the wonderful word of Isaiah 53:5, 6: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Tom was sitting in the very front seat, and during the reading of the precious scripture, he suddenly rose to his feet and with deep emotion asked, “Is that in the Bible?”

The speaker replied that it was, and added, “I will show it to you.”

When Tom had read the wondrous declaration that God had laid all his sin on Jesus, that He had been wounded for his transgressions and bruised for his iniquities, he exclaimed, “Thank God, that is enough for me!” And he left the meeting rejoicing — saved. Tom saw that Jesus died in his stead, and by believing on Him, who bore the wrath and curse due to him, he was saved forever (Acts 16:31), and had eternal life (John 5:24).

Tom’s life Afterward proved the reality of his conversion to God. Old things passed away and all things became new. The Bible was to him the “joy and rejoicing of his heart.”

He shut himself up in his cabin, and for several weeks he read and meditated on the Scriptures, only taking time to do his chores. Then from a heart filled to overflowing with love to Christ and sinners, he went to the school houses and told the “old, old story of Jesus and His love” in freshness, simplicity and power. The result was that numbers were led to know Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

ML-06/12/1977

Little Mary's Faith

“Fire! Fire! The school is on fire!”

The children were busy at their lessons one morning when someone burst open the door of their classroom and shouted the terrible message. At once the children sprang from their desks and rushed towards the door. So many tried to get out at the same time that there was danger of some being trampled down by the rest.

However, during this rush and panic, there was one dear little girl, Mary, who sat quietly in her seat and did not move at all.

Soon it was found that the alarm was false, and the pupils again went back to their seats in the classroom. Then the girl next to little Mary turned and said to her, “Mary, how is it that you could sit so quiet and unafraid when everybody else rushed out?”

“My Daddy told me,” said Mary quietly, “that if there was a fire alarm, it was best to sit still in our seats and wait for the teacher to tell us what to do. My daddy is a fireman, and he knows best.”

Here was faith. Little Mary trusted her father’s word, and she was not afraid. Sometimes our fathers make mistakes, but those who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour have a Father in heaven whom they can always believe and trust, even though many around may be frightened. God tells us in His Word, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isa. 26:3.

Faith is a very simple thing,

Though little understood;

It frees the soul from death’s dread sting,

By resting on the blood.

Faith is not what we see or feel;

It is a simple trust

In what the God of love has said

Of Jesus as the Just.

ML-06/12/1977

Not yet

“Not yet,” said a little boy, as he was busy with his bat and ball. “When I grow older, I will think about my salvation.”

The little boy grew to be a young man. “I am just about to start my first job. When I prosper, then I shall have more time than now.”

His business did prosper.

“Not yet,” said the business man. “My children need me; when they are through college and settled down in business, I shall be better able to attend to religion.”

He lived to be a gray-headed old man.

“Not yet,” still he cried. “I shall soon retire, and then I’ll have nothing else to do but relax, read and pray.”

And so he died.

He lived without God, he died without hope; and yet he did not mean to be lost; but procrastination was his ruin, and like countless others, he put off the salvation of his soul till it was too late.

O, do not listen to the great enemy of your soul, who would always lead you to say, “Not yet.” God says in His Word, “Come now.”

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Prov. 27:1.

The Lord Jesus has done such a wonderful work of redemption on Calvary’s cross that now He can save and bless any poor sinner who comes to Him, owning his need, and trusting to His precious blood.

Why do you put off coming to such a Saviour? Tomorrow may be too late. What then?

ML-06/12/1977

Story From Czechoslavakia

Some years ago two preachers went to a small city in Czechoslavakia to preach the gospel. When questioned by the authorities, they gave tracts to the officers. The next morning before they left the city, they were arrested and led off to the county courthouse. They paid the imposed fine and were released. But surely God “maketh the wrath of man to praise Him"!

Their tracts were confiscated and for the most part were burned. However, some of the police read them, and even the chief himself sought for more light and for more truth.

The police officer is now an old man, pensioned off, but he has put off the long-worn official uniform, and has put on the armor of God and is doing valiant service for his heavenly Master. Persecuted and misunderstood by his friends and acquaintances, he does not falter.

ML-06/12/1977

Too Late

“A flash flood is coming! It has already washed away a restaurant only 4 miles up stream!”

Don and Debby heard the warning and planned to get safely away. But why hurry so fast? There was plenty of time to put the jeep safely up into a driveway.

But!—Alas, their neighbors watched them perish in the angry waters. There wasn’t time for anything, but to escape. Don and Debby were too late!

How this reminds us of those who put off the solemn matter of their soul’s salvation! “Later,” they say, “I will make my peace with God.” Then that day finds them gone from this life into eternity — without Christ!

Dear reader, do not put off any longer so important a matter as the salvation of your soul. “It is time to seek the Lord.” Hos. 10:12. Come to the Lord Jesus now while there is yet time. He wants to save you, but it must be on His own terms, and NOW!

“He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” Heb. 7:25.

ML-06/12/1977

Joshua: Siege of Jericho

Chapter 6:1-7

We now come to the taking of Jericho. Now Jericho was closely shut up, and no one went in or out, for fear of the children of Israel. The men of Jericho might shut the gates to keep judgment out, but all was in vain. The proud city’s days were numbered. Jericho had been appointed for destruction long before, and all who took refuge within her walls would perish in her downfall.

Only Rahab and her father’s household were spared. Without doubt she waited for the return of the spies, for she had hung the scarlet line in her window, just as they had told her to do. Perhaps she could see the children of Israel in their camps outside, for her house was built on the wall of the city. In those days they used to put great walls around their cities and they built houses on the top of the walls.

What a wonderful thing is safety in the very place where judgment is to fall! When and how Jericho would be captured, Rahab did not know, but as to its capture she was clear, for she knew well that the Lord had given Israel the land. She had the token, and she would make use of it. So she bound the scarlet line in the window, confident that if the line were there, safety in the midst of judgment was assured to her.

Nothing else could be a substitute for the scarlet line. The men had told her to put it there; it was this they would look for when they came back to destroy the city and rescue her. And so it is that the blood of Christ is God’s own appointed place of safety for those who would heed His warning and flee from the wrath to come. “For God has appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31.

The Lord said to Joshua, See, I have given into your hand, Jericho, and the king, and the mighty men. The Lord then told him how he was to take Jericho. The priests were to take up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns were to go before the ark. The armed men were to go on before the ark and the people followed after. The priests were to blow the trumpets, but the rest were to say nothing. They were to march around the walls of the city once a day for six days. Then on the seventh day they were to march around not once, but seven times, and then the Lord would give them the city.

They were not to fight at all. Obedience to God’s word was to give them victory. God was with them, He was Captain of His own host, His Spirit was not yet grieved by evil in their midst, and He used His great power for His people. They had to obey in patience.

For a whole week they were to go on doing what God told them to do. Perhaps they might have said, what a foolish thing to march around a city just blowing trumpets. But God had said it, and every time they marched around, it was like telling the people inside Jericho that judgment was surely coming.

“For My sake” press with steadfast patience onward,

Although the race be hard, the battle long;

Within thy Father’s house are many mansions,

There thou shalt rest and join the Victor’s song.

ML-06/12/1977

One Golden Curl

Memory Verse: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

George was an honest working man. His home was in a humble street in the city, yet he was a “gentleman” in the truest sense, made gentle by “the grace of God,” with a heart overflowing with love to “all men.”

Once especially when he was going through a time of real sorrow and affliction, the two of us entered the room, but it seemed as if a third were present, One “like unto the Son of God” (Dan. 3:25). George’s heart was aglow with his favorite theme grace and glory. Joyfully he exclaimed with the Apostle, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:17, 18.

Stopping suddenly in the midst of his glowing words, he exclaimed: “I’ll show you something which illustrates this passage, though I seldom show it to anyone.” So saying, he approached a little folding desk, and opened it as one might open a treasure chest, which to him indeed it was. Folding back the upper part, he reached into the secret recesses of the seldom-used portion of the desk. My inquisitiveness was aroused. What was I to behold?

Producing from the bottom of this treasure hoard a small package wrapped in brown paper, he began to open it up. One wrapping after another only increased my anxiety, as it certainly increased his earnestness. At last, after much unfolding, on the cleanest of white tissue, now fast being moistened by falling tears, lay One Golden Curl—Tommy’s Curl, all that he had left of the boy who had been a father’s pride and a mother’s joy, before the Good Shepherd had folded the lamb to His bosom.

Holding the curl in his shaking hand, tears fast flowing down both our cheeks, his soul stirred to its depths as he contrasted the “temporal” with the “eternal.” He declared, “Brother, were it not for resurrection, life would not be worth living!”

When the doctor had given up hope, when mother had received the last sad look from those dear blue eyes, when father had kissed the pallid cheek for the last time, with trembling hand he had cut the golden curl that used to adorn the fair brow of his darling boy. Now once more that silent memorial was unearthed, reminding us that by virtue of redemption through the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7) the believing parent and the child were safe; by virtue of “the death of the Saviour and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Pet. 1:3.) The prospect of a reunion beyond this parting veil was assured.

Hence “Tommy’s curl,” a relic of the temporal in this land of sorrow and farewells, also spoke of the eternal where “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4.)

“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” (Matt. 18:11.)

“He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” (Isa. 40:11.)

“Jesus said... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25.)

ML-06/19/1977

The Treasures of the Snow

Although you cannot count the snowflakes, no two are exactly alike, and each under the microscope is a thing of beauty. The one shown here is called “Frog’s Feet.” Its lovely design speaks to us of the minute care of the Creator of “all things wise and wonderful; all things great and small.”

In the book of Job there are many questions asked. Here’s one: “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?” (Chap. 38:22.)

ML-06/19/1977

Jesus, Tender Shepherd, Hear Me

At the close of the evening service in an orphanage in Scotland, a thousand children sat with bowed heads and softly and sweetly sang:

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me;

Bless Thy little lamb tonight;

Through the darkness be Thou near me;

Keep me safe till morning light.”

The writer of this little hymn, Mary Lundie, as a child, was never strong, and from her earliest years, she had a very sweet and earnest disposition. Once, as a child of four, her brother, Cork, struck her in a fit of temper, but she immediately turned her other cheek to him saying, “There, Corie!” The angry boy dropped his uplifted hand. When she was asked who taught her such a thing, she replied, “I heard Daddy read it from the Bible one morning.”

Then one Sunday morning, Mary startled her parents by asking them to let her eat her bread without butter so that she could give the savings from her self-denial to the missionary fund.

At a very early age of 13, she was permitted to partake of the Lord’s supper, for she had for years come to know Him as her Saviour and Friend.

When she grew older, she was very happily married to a fine young Christian man, but her wedded life was very short, for she passed away at the age of 25 years.

She composed many hymns for her two children, and she will be long and affectionately remembered as the writer of “Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me.”

Another verse she wrote as her morning prayer was,

“I thank Thee, Lord, for quiet rest;

And for Thy care of me;

Oh let me through this day be blest

And kept from harm by Thee.”

ML-06/19/1977

In Search of Higher Ground

When the terrible flash flood struck the Big Thompson River, there were thirty-five Christian ladies enjoying a time of fellowship at the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch. At 9:40 p.m. a police siren went off, and a loudspeaker blared, “EVERYONE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY! FLASH FLOONG. LADIES, TAKE YOUR PURS AND LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.”

“In the pitch blackness of the night, it was all quite confusing,” said one. “They kept telling us to go to higher ground, but no one was showing us where the higher ground was.”

Most of the ladies found the higher ground; however, two cars containing nine were caught in the flood. They had tried to follow a police car, and the flood had overtaken them.

One of the cars containing five girls was washed off the road. The girls prayed, “Lord Jesus, we love Thee; and we’re ready to meet Thee.” Two of the girls escaped from the car. The other three were soon with their Saviour. How well for them that they had settled beforehand the salvation of their souls. Their life here on earth ended that dark night, but for them “sudden death was sudden glory.”

These girls were in search of higher ground to escape from the flood, and this reminds us that the flood of God’s wrath against sin is coming upon this world soon. Let each one who is yet unsaved seek for higher ground from this most terrible-of-all flood. The Lord Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:5. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

The ladies didn’t know where to find the higher ground that dark night in the Big Thompson Canyon; however, you and I have the clear Word of God to tell us the way the only way — of escape from coming judgment. “For God hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness.” Acts 17:31. But, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:9, 13.)

ML-06/19/1977

Joshua: The Fall of Jericho

Chapter 6:8-14

Jericho was the seat of the enemy’s power, a sample of the strength of the foe with which Israel had to do. The taking of the mighty city was the principle on which the whole land, with its cities walled up to heaven, was to be conquered.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.” Alas, Israel did not continue in this; but the Lord shows us in this tremendous victory, how easily things could be done — by His might, in simple faith and obedience. Surely it was altogether of the Lord.

What if Jericho be walled up to heaven! God sits above the heavens. What if it be “straitly shut up"! He who opened a pathway through the Red Sea and the Jordan could bring down its walls. It is He that casts down “imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5.

But what strange warriors and weapons!-priests with rams’ horns! Surely this is “the foolishness of God, which is wiser than men, and the weakness of God stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:25). No doubt the sight of a huge army, marching around so strong a city, and giving out such trumpet sounds, was to the ears and eyes of the men of Jericho the height of folly. But it was God’s way, and everything was built upon Him and His Word.

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are, That no flesh should glory in His presence.” See 1 Cor. 1:27-29. A Saviour crucified on a cross is foolishness to man. Nevertheless, God could say to Joshua, “I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor”-and all through these means despised of men.

The ram of consecration is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus in His devotedness unto death, and no doubt in the rams’ horns here we have a reference to the death of our blessed Lord. For it has pleased God by the foolishness of preaching Christ crucified on the cross—to save them that believe.

Furthermore, the priests were those who were separated unto God as worshippers, and so the sound of the trumpet comes from worshiping souls. Now every believer is a priest, and as such, being in His presence, we are “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

Joshua gave the orders for the day only: “Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.” The work of faith is a day at a time, step by step, and this is the only true and happy way of living for the Lord. When Israel returned to their camp at the end of the first day, they had the happy satisfaction of knowing that they obeyed God. This can be our comfort too, let the men of the world think as they please.

And should the surges rise,

Should sore afflictions come,

Blest is the sorrow, kind the storm,

That drives us nearer home.

ML-06/19/1977

A Hindu Finds Christ

Memory Verse: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

Gupta was a high caste Hindu, and had been taught to trust in Lord Krishna.

One day when he went to his grandmother’s guru, or spiritual teacher, for help, the guru told him to read the Bhagavad-Gita, or Book of books faithfully every day for six months, and then I will examine you. If you are worthy, I will be your guru.”

Gupta read every day because his soul had been tormented by fear of dying and of going to hell. He read aloud to the staff and customers of his father’s business.

“Six months will pass quickly,” he told himself, “and then I’ll be a follower of this great guru, and my salvation will be assured.”

Then one morning while reading aloud, others were standing around and a sentence of chapter 4 of the Gita smashed all his hopes of ever being delivered from sin, darkness and fear. The sentence read: “Lord Krishna came to save the righteous and to condemn the sisters.”

Gupta closed the book with a feeling of utter despair. His doom was sealed. He thought that Lord Krishna was the kindest, the closest to man of all the gods, who came to show men the way of salvation... but he had come to save only the righteous and to condemn the sisters!

“No salvation for sinners?” said Gupta. “Then there’s no salvation for me.”

While he was in this state of deep despair, he heard an open air gospel preacher, accompanied by several of the lower caste, read from the Christian New Testament. Holding the book up so all could see, the preacher said that it was the revelation of the true and only God, the Creator, and that it told the way of salvation.

“This is a faithful saying,” the man read for all to hear, “and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

A great conflict now raged in Gupta’s mind, and he got a copy of the New Testament for himself. For fear of his family, he read it in secret. Then one day he came across the verse in Hebrews 8:12: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,” he read, “and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

Something inside him said, “Yes, I’ll believe that. God can forgive me because Jesus died for my sins.”

Suddenly the fear of dying and hell left him. The words “no more” in the text convinced him that it had been settled forever and that he had found the salvation he had been seeking.

Gupta had found Christ, the Saviour and Friend, who would be with him all through life and had prepared a home for him in heaven when that life down here was fished. He was sorely persecuted and suffered much from his family and friends for Christ.

Gupta was renamed “Paul” after the great Apostle, and became a missionary to his own people. It was His joy to go about testifying that the God of the Bible is truly the One and only God for all mankind, and that the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ is His way to lead men out of darkness into His marvelous light.

“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.

ML-06/26/1977

A Little Wandering Lamb

Like a little wandering lamb,

Lost upon the hills I am;

Like a shepherd Jesus stands,

Holding out His blessed hands.

“Come,” He says, “Come back to Me;

Little lamb, I died for thee;

I will take thee to My home,

Little lamb, I pray thee, come.

“Thou wouldst like to have thy way,

On the lonely hills to stray,

Where the hungry lion hides,

Where the fiery serpent glides.

“I would have thee lie at rest,

Little lamb, upon My breast;

Thou shalt be My sweet delight

All the day and all the night.

“Though thou hast a wayward will,

Little lamb, I love thee still;

Come to Me and be forgiven,

I will bear thee safe to heaven.”

ML-06/26/1977

Pilgrims Here

Seventy-five year old Bill Griffing barely escaped with his life when the Big Thompson River flood half covered his home.

After the flood subsided, he was found standing thigh-deep in mud in his home and unable to move.

After old Bill was rescued, he said, “The flood had to come to teach people a lot of things — the realities of life.

“This has proved to me that there is no place on this earth that is solid enough. We are not supposed to be settlers here. Don’t you know how uncertain life is? We’re just supposed to be pilgrims!”

Old Bill doesn’t plan to move back to his home on the Big Thompson. “It came to pass that it is time I can’t be home there,” he said. For the time being he is just living one day at a time.

The Bible tells us of those of old who saw the promises of God by faith “and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Heb. 11:13. Let us follow their example.

But in order to follow their faith we must have an object outside this world and beyond this life. That object is the Lord Jesus Christ who once died, but rose again and is now at the right hand of God in heaven. This is the day of grace, and He waits to save and bless all who will trust Him as their Saviour.

ML-06/26/1977

"It's for Me"

Charlie was just a little fellow, and his parents were poor, but they were Christians and Charlie himself too loved the Lord. One day he was sitting on the front steps reading his Bible when a well-dressed man came by.

“You should put that Book away,” said the man scornfully. “It’s not for the likes of you!”

“But it is for me,” responded Charlie.

“How do you know that?”

“Well,” was the boy’s calm answer, “my name is mentioned in it.”

“Your name?” asked the man in surprise. “Show it to me.”

“Here, sir,” said Charlie, and pointing to the open page, he placed his little finger on the text: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim. 1:15.) Then he added, “that is my name—Sinner! —and therefore the Book is for me.”

Our name is written in God’s Book for we are all sinners. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23.) “But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8.)

God loves us and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die for us on the cross, so that “believing, [we] might have life through His name.”

“Verily, verily I say unto you, Verily, verily”-message ever new, “He that believeth on the Son,” ’tis true, “Hath everlasting life.”

ML-06/26/1977

Joshua: The Fall of Jericho

Chanter 6:15-20

On the second day, early in the morning Joshua rose, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord, and “they went on continually and blew with the trumpets.” Joshua had told the people not to say a word; the only sound heard was the tramp of many feet and the loud penetrating blast of the trumpet. Israel’s part was obedience, leaving the results with God. And so with us also; we need not be occupied with results.

Every day for six days the people marched around the walls of Jericho and returned to their camp. Nothing seemed to take place during those six long days, but they were doing what God had told them, and it was not in vain. Anything done in obedience to the Word of God is not in vain, dear Christian, and we are exhorted in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Then on the seventh day they got up at dawn and all marched around the city seven times. These seven days were a real test of patience, and so it is with us. “The trial of faith worketh patience.” This is our time of patient laboring, of proclaiming the gospel, and even if we do not seem to see fruit for our labors, let us go on faithfully.

In James 1:5 we read, “Let patience have her perfect work.” Surely this lesson is taught in Israel’s going around Jericho seven times on the seventh day. Those seven times Now God could have brought—down the walls of Jericho without Israel even going around once, but in His patient grace He waited for seven days before the terrible judgment fell. During that time, no doubt, Rahab was busy seeking to bring her loved ones into her house under the shelter of the scarlet line. And as we think of how near we are to the end, may our hearts be stirred up to more energy in the gospel, and to seek to get people under the joyful sound while the day of grace lasts.

The hour of the world’s judgment draws nigh! “For God hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness.” Acts 17:31. Again, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

“And it came to pass at the seventh time when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.” They did not shout when the walls fell. Even unbelief could shout then. But we as believers by faith can now take our place already as conquerors in the heavenlies knowing that Christ our leader has vanquished Satan, who had the power of death, and we walk as victors in newness of life.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.” Heb. 11:30. Every Christian has his Jerichos to overcome; and Jericho to us is the power of the world led on by Satan to hinder our Christian progress and to prevent us from taking possession of the heavenly portion God has given us in Christ. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.

ML-06/26/1977

Saved by the Dog Teams

Memory Verse: “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

It was winter time in Nome, Alaska, and little Richard Stanley, age 6, stricken with diphtheria, lay twisting and turning in his bed, his little body hot with fever. The doctor had only a little serum left, and he knew that unless all the children were given anti-diphtheria serum, they too would be infected with this terrible disease and die. Within 24 hours little Richard was dead, and several new cases had been reported.

A shipment of the serum was already on its way from the United States by train, but how to transport it from the nearest railway station at Nenana to Nome was the great problem. A thousand miles of wilderness, of snow, ice and forest lay between Nenana and Nome, and the only means of transportation was dog team. Ordinarily the trip would take two weeks, but the stricken people of Nome could not wait that long.

Then “Wild Bill” Shannon came up with a plan. Between the two towns were 15 trading stations, and Bill said that the distance could be traversed in one week instead of two if it were done in relays, the trappers and their dog teams driving themselves day and night. He volunteered to take the serum to the first post and hand it over to the next relay team.

Through icy winds and snowstorm, the brave trapper carried the 30,000 units of serum sealed in a metal case. Their faces were cut and frozen, their dogs were exhausted, but on and on each went until at last after six days, the life-giving serum arrived at Nome. The driver on the last part of the journey had to be chipped from his sleigh. He was almost blinded and unconscious, but he reached Nome.

This wonderful relay race to save the lives of the children of Nome had taken six days over 1,000 miles of frozen mountains, forests and valleys, through storms and winds in temperatures of 50 degrees below zero.

Apart from little Richard Stanley, only one other child died. The town had been saved by the serum which had been brought by the brave trappers and their dog teams. But that journey was nothing compared to that which the blessed Saviour of sinners took ALONE from heaven to earth when He came to save boys and girls, and men and women, from the awful effects of sin. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

Some of the trappers nearly died on the journey, but the Saviour died that we might have eternal life.

The people of Nome and those brave trappers realized what a terrible disease afflicted them and that death was before them. But do you realize the consequences of sin and what is before the sinner? “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Heb. 9:27.

No one in Nome refused the serum which had been brought to them through so many great dangers. Then why do you refuse God’s remedy for sin and the blessed Saviour who came the greatest journey of all in order to bring salvation and life eternal?

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

ML-07/03/1977

God Counts

Young Peter and his little sister, Lois, were playing in the dining room, when Mother came in and set a plate of doughnuts on the table.

“How nice they look!” whispered Peter, after his mother had gone out, and he reached out his hand to take one.

But Lois earnestly objected and drew back his hand, saying as she did so that Mother didn’t want them to touch them.

“She didn’t count them,” said Peter.

“But maybe God did,” answered the little girl.

Peter withdrew his hand, and sitting down, he meditated seriously.

“You are right, Lois,” he said at last. “God does count, for the Bible says that ‘The very hairs of your head are all numbered'.” (Luke 12:7.)

ML-07/03/1977

The Old Violin

A visitor to an old town once saw some boys playing in the street, as boys will. One of them was pushing along in front of him what looked like a queer kind of wheel barrow with no wheels, and only one handle. It had a kind of lid with two peculiar S-shaped slots in it, and the boy was pouring dust in through the slots; then trundling it along, he emptied the dust into a pile.

Can you guess what it was?... Yes, a violin; a violin without strings-battered, dusty and hardly recognizable, but still a violin.

The visitor asked the boy to let him see it, and he looked it over carefully. Then he offered the boy a sum equal to about a dollar and took the violin away. He cleaned it with loving care, made it a violin again—and sold it for several thousand dollars, for it was a “Strad” violin, made by the famous maker, Stradivarius.

Dear boys and girls, do not waste away your possibilities and all that God has given you like the little boy was doing with the old violin. The Lord Jesus, the blessed Master and Son of God, in a most wonderful way can lift people out of the dust and restore them to usefulness, those who have been wasting themselves like that. But He longs to save boys and girls who have their life before them, to redeem them, and to make them useful in His service, before their minds and bodies have been withered and abused by sin and the world.

But there is still another kind of waste which is just as bad. In the museum at Genoa there used to be, before World War II, a famous exhibit. In a great glass case, in a beautiful nest of dark velvet, lay a lovely violin. It had belonged to the world-famous violinist, Paganini, and it was left to the museum on condition that it was never played again.

So there it lay, the wonderful instrument which had brought matchless music to millions of people. It was perfectly safe in this glass case, free from all harm and abuse, but it was slowly deteriorating for want of being used. That is just as bad as turning a violin into a child’s wheelbarrow.

The talents and wonderful possibilities with which God has filled your life, if not used, will begin to waste away until perhaps one day you cannot use them.

The Lord Jesus can use you and your talents, but you must be saved first. Until you are saved, He cannot use you. Until you are redeemed by His precious blood, nothing that you might seek to do for Him will have any value in His sight. May we all learn the lesson of Romans 7:18: “For I know that in me... dwelleth no good thing.”

Turn to the Lord Jesus now, put your life into His hands, ask Him to tune you to His purpose and use you in His service. He wants you, and you need Him.

Just as I am, young, strong and free, To be the best that I can be For truth and righteousness and Thee, Lord of my life, I come.

“The Lord hath need of him.” (Mark 11:3.)

ML-07/03/1977

Joshua: The Fall of Jericho

Chapter 6:21-26

At last the solemn moment had arrived. It was the seventh day, the day appointed of the Lord. The people of Israel had risen up at dawn, and they had marched around the city seven times. Then at the command of Joshua, they gave a great shout, and the walls of the city fell down flat! The power of the enemy gave way completely before the invading hosts.

It was a triumphant moment for Israel! But it was surely a terrible time for those inside the city, for the people rushed in at every part, “every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city,... with the edge of the sword.... And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein.”

Only Rahab was saved. Her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall, (chap. 2:15). When the walls of Jericho fell down at the shout of triumph, her house remained intact, for the spies went into it and brought out into a place of safety all that were therein.

Rahab’s house, being on the wall, enabled the scarlet line to be seen more plainly by the invading conquerors. Her house being on the wall, but evidently standing alone in the midst of dreadful destruction, shows how God watched over her at that solemn moment and over all that were in that house. She found, and they found, that there was salvation and security from judgment for all who took shelter beneath that scarlet line. And each one now knows he is safe when he has trusted in the efficacy of the blood of Christ.

More often than not, when a city is captured, the conquerors flushed with victory, are not careful to discriminate between those who are to be spared and those who are not. Yet Rahab proved and all with her that there was salvation for them because the scarlet line was in the window. No one in that house had a hair of his head hurt, nor did Rahab lose one thing that she possessed. “They brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had.” The word of the spies was true. What a wonderful thing it is, dear Christian, to be in safety in the very place where judgment is being executed!

Rahab’s house did not stand because it was better built than the rest of Jericho’s walls, but only because of the scarlet line which was kept in the appointed place.

Judgment is coming on this unbelieving world, and God has appointed the day. We know who is to reign and to have everything put under His feet. The one who led in the great destruction of Jericho was the same one who told the spies to save Rahab and her household. And the One who, in the day that is drawing near, will judge the world in righteousness, is the same One who has revealed to us the way of salvation in the words addressed to the Philippian jailor: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31.

There is salvation and safety now for all who will avail themselves of it.

The world may not discern any impending catastrophe. Men say, “peace and safety,” but faith in a believer, like Rahab, will not be unprepared. Is every reader sheltered from judgment by the blood of Christ?

ML-07/03/1977

Grass Fires and Forest Fires

Memory Verse: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

With the heat of summer comes dangerous grass and forest fires. When a fire gets started, it often comes rushing along with such speed that sometimes whole barns and buildings, animals and birds are caught in the path of the flames.

Not too long ago some friends were telling me of a grass fire, where the flames were rushing up a hill with a sound like the roar of the sea. Halfway up the hill was a clump of bushes where a hen pheasant was sitting on a nest. No one could get near the bushes because of the heat of the approaching flames. But they did all they could to make the bird leave her nest. They shouted, they threw stones, they struck the bushes with long sticks, but all to no avail. The brave mother bird still sat on her precious eggs.

On swept the cruel flames and reached the bushes. Alas, poor bird but no!—just as the fire almost touched her, she flew up with a loud cry, and so escaped just in time! The nest and eggs were burned, but she was saved.

A few minutes later my friend saw a snake coiled round fast asleep just where the fire was coming. He tried to wake it so that it too might have a chance of escape, but in vain. It only just moved in a very sleepy way. It would not escape, and so perished.

There are ever so many people in the world like that poor snake. Their souls are fast asleep—perhaps having beautiful dreams—while ever nearer and nearer, like the grass fire, judgment is coming.

Oh, dear readers, don’t any of you be like that! Wake up! “Flee from the wrath to come!” Escape to the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, the sinner’s refuge, and you will be safe forever.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation.” Heb. 2:3.

ML-07/10/1977

He Died to Save Others

Colorado state patrolman, Hugh Purdy, lost his life trying to save others during the Big Thompson flash flood.

Hugh was in the canyon when the flooding started and felt a need to find out just where and how bad the flood crest was. He told headquarters: “It [the water] will be coming down here. I’ll try to pick it up as I go up—see if I can find out where it is.”

As Hugh worked his way up-river, the tidal wave was coming down rapidly toward him. His last radio message was, “I’m stuck. I’m right in the middle of it. I can’t get out about half mile east of Drake on the highway. Tell the cars to get out of that low area down below. As soon as the water starts picking up... (static).” The flood had caught him. His body was found eight miles downstream. His car was pounded into an unrecognizable mass.

Hugh wanted to save others and lost his life doing so. But how infinitely more wonderful the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save us! “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1 Pet. 2:24.) He is the alone worthy One, and the redeemed shall sing His praise throughout eternity.

Those in the “low area” below Hugh make us think of ourselves in our sins. If we are unsaved, we are in a “low area,” and we need to “get out.” The Lord warns us even now from heaven to “flee from the wrath to come.” (Matt. 3:7.)

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” (1 Tim. 1:15), and “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation.” (Heb. 2:3.)

“O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,

My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly:

So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine would I be;

Thou blest Rock of ages, I’m hiding in Thee.

ML-07/10/1977

"Inside Heart All Smooth"

An Indian guide was fatally wounded in the war. A Christian friend went to see him. “Do you know anything about Jesus Christ?” he asked.

“Oh, yes,” replied the Indian. “Me know much ‘bout Him. Long time ago—very young—me go see Indian missionary. In little log house, all alone, white man look sick—meet Indian—pray with him—make much prayer—talk out of Spirit Book. Many times he look on Indian and say, ‘poor friend,’ and his eyes all run down with tears.”

“Do you think you will meet him in heaven?” asked his friend.

“Oh yes,” was the answer. “Me certain Jesus Christ never forget poor Indian. Me never forget Him one day. Me hope to see Him before morning. Me no fear. Inside eyes all open. Inside heart all smooth.”

And so the dear Indian passed away to be with Christ.

“Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?” James 2:5.

ML-07/10/1977

The Woodchuck

The woodchuck is the same as the groundhog, and his home is a hole in the ground. When he comes out of his hole in Springtime, he is very thin. He has not eaten for a long time, so he gets busy eating and getting fat right away. He likes many different things—roots, twigs, grass, buds, berries, nuts, fruit and insects.

Some animals that rest during the winter store food away in their secret homes, but not the woodchuck. He stores food away inside himself to use in the winter. He eats and eats all summer. He gets fatter and fatter. When the cold weather comes, he feels lazy, and he gets sleepy. He goes into his hole deep in the ground, and goes to sleep.

The woodchuck sleeps for many weeks. He doesn’t know how cold it is. He cannot feel anything because his heart beats slowly, and he scarcely breathes. Nothing except the warmth of the sun can wake him up.

When Springtime comes and the ground starts to warm up, the woodchuck begins to breath deeply. His heart beats faster. His muscles are no longer stiff. Soon he wakes up. He wants to stretch and move around. He wants to see things so he comes out of his hole. He sits up on his hind legs and blinks at the light and wiggles his little black nose. When the woodchuck comes out of his hole to stay, we know spring is come.

God made the little woodchuck, and He loves all the little creatures that He has made. He provides for them, and though they suffer and die because of man’s sin, the day is coming when, because of the work of redemption the Lord Jesus wrought upon the cross, all creation will be set free and brought into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.

But most of all God loves boys and girls, and people; and Jesus died not only to redeem them, but to fit them for heaven. The little woodchuck will enjoy earthly blessing, but sinners saved by grace will be like Jesus and be with Him in heaven above forever.

ML-07/10/1977

Joshua: The Fall of Jericho

Chapter 6

The taking of Jericho is a figure of the Christian’s victory over the world.

God made the earth a beautiful place, but the world is that which man has made, and Satan is the prince of it. All this world’s thoughts and plans are all man’s; God’s thoughts and God’s ways are all forgotten in the world. Therefore there is enmity between the people of the world and the people of God, and Satan uses the world to keep God’s children from taking possession of the joys of heaven.

The Lord Jesus has overcome the world, and the Christian has to do so too. Now the Christian is not armed with a sword as the children of Israel were, but his sword is the Word of God, and his shield is the shield of faith. Truth and righteousness too are parts of the Christian’s armor.

When the priests blew the trumpets as they marched around the city walls, it was really calling upon God. They were prepared to fight, yet they called on God, and waited for Him to give them victory. They did not talk about it, they did not boast that the walls would soon fall down, but silently, patiently, round and around they went. There was nothing to be heard but the sound of the trumpets, and God was listening to that sound. No doubt the people inside heard it too, but to them, it was the sound of coming judgment.

They went round the city seven times on the last day to show that they were not getting tired or unbelieving about it; they had even more patience and determination at the end than at the beginning. The Scriptures tell us that “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.” Isa. 40:31.

A Christian overcomes the world by faith in the Son of God. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith,” 1 John 5:4, because faith believes that Jesus has overcome the world.

“Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:5. If a child of God has learned that Jesus is the SON OF God, then this world to him is like a great walled city full of enemies, but he knows that Jesus has gone up to God’s right hand in heaven, and this makes the Christian able to overcome, so that when he comes to the world like an armed man and like a priest, the walls are no walls at all, and the enemies are no more than dead people. They can do him no harm because if God is for him, who can be against him?

A Christian shows that he has overcome the world by keeping himself from the things that are in the world. And this was Joshua’s warning to the children of Israel. He said, “And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.” v. 18. They were not to take anything in Jericho for themselves.

Just so, God’s children now are told to “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world... is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15, 16.

There are two things that are competing for our hearts, dear young Christian—the love of the Father, and the love of the world. It is very sad when a child of God does not keep himself from the things of the world, because it shows that he loves the world better than he loves the Father. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

ML-07/10/1977

Are You Saved, Jimmie?

“Are you saved, Jimmie?”

“Yes, I’m quite sure now that Jesus died for me. I used to think I was all right because Daddy and Mother were saved, but I have found out that I was all wrong. Now I know for sure that Jesus has borne all my sins.”

“Tell me, Jimmie, why doesn’t the Lord Jesus take us to heaven as soon as we are saved?”

“Oh, because He wants us to tell others of His love. He doesn’t want us to keep it to ourselves.”

The Lord Jesus never turns anyone away, but receives all who come and trust Him as Saviour. Come to Him just as you are, and He will save you. No one is too great a sinner for Jesus to save.

“This is a faithful saying... that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

ML-07/10/1977

A Fight With Wolves

Memory Verse: “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Sport was a big powerful dog who belonged to Andre Minnett, a woodsman who lived at Seguin Falls in Ontario years ago. Minnett’s home was in a clearing in the woods. Sport used to go with his master on trapping trips through the forest, and at night he would stand guard by the campfire while his master slept.

Sport was a born wolf-fighter. Not only did he possess size and strength, but he was clever and fearless as well. More than once he had whipped a wolf that prowled too close to camp, though ordinarily a timber wolf would be more than a match for a dog of his size.

However, Sport knew he could not defend himself if he ventured far into the forest alone and there encountered a pack of wolves, so he wisely kept close to his master on his camping trips.

Then one day a little baby boy was born into the Minnett household. Jean, the little newcomer, captured Sport’s affections and became his idol almost as soon as he arrived. The dog would lie by the hour beside the baby’s crib or carriage. Hanging onto the great dog’s fur, little Jean took his first tottering steps. He could maul Sport around without the slightest resentment from the dog, and his mother felt her baby was entirely safe while Sport was on guard.

One day, Minnett went to the top of a hill not far away to cut logs. Mrs. Minnett had put little Jean in his carriage out in the yard in the sunshine, and leaving the kitchen door open, she went back to her housework. Sport stretched out on the ground beside the carriage.

Looking up from his work, Minnett caught sight of three large hungry-looking wolves slinking down the hillside toward the clearing. Supposing that his little son was safe indoors with his mother, and that Sport was around too, he was not really concerned. Still he watched to see what induced them to come so close to human habitation in broad daylight.

Dozing in the sunlight, the hated wolf scent roused Sport, and springing to his feet he saw the three wolves enter the clearing. Sport knew well that he could not handle three timber wolves alone. Behind him was the open doorway into which he could have run for shelter, but this would mean leaving little Jean, whom he loved more than life, at the mercy of the three savage marauders.

There was only one thing to do. Sport ran out to meet the invading enemies. He maneuvered around always keeping his own body between them and little Jean. Sparring like a prizefighter with his snarling enemies, he finally got the wolves with their backs to the baby, while he himself was edging off into the woods. It seemed that both sides were afraid to make the first attack. Then suddenly, as if terrified, Sport turned and dashed off into the woods, the three wolves following hard at his heels.

Brave Sport did what he set out to do. The gallant dog made that heroic sacrifice to save the life of his little charge. It was his last fight. He never returned.

Some part of the bright character of God, the Creator, is stamped upon all the creatures He has made. How often in a dog is seen a love and devotion that fills the heart with wonder and admiration. But the love and devotion of the Creator Himself transcends all His works. The devotion of Christ to God His Father and His love to poor sinners whom He came to save, was “even unto death, and that the death of the cross.” There in those dark hours He stood between us and the enemy — “our sins in all their terror there, God’s wrath and Satan’s power.” Not one stroke of that fearful judgment against sin could ever touch the weakest child that trusts Him as his Saviour. He has borne it all.

May the story of a gallant dog’s faithfulness only lead our thoughts to the far more wonderful story of Jesus and His love, and occupy our minds with Him who when we were yet sinners died for us, but who now lives again in the glory of God.

Dear reader, if you do not know this precious Saviour, oh that you might receive Him by faith into your heart now, and enjoy His love and companionship, His guidance and protection all the way from earth to heaven!

“The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

’Tis wonderful to me

That I am loved by Thee.

“Thy love to me was wonderful.” 2 Sam. 1:26.

ML-07/17/1977

Lost Wally

In a city where I once visited, there is a street called the Broadway and another called the Highway. I was walking along Broadway when I met a little boy crying bitterly. Wally had lost his way. He wanted to go home, but instead of going along the Highway, he had turned onto Broadway by mistake.

I listened to his story, and taking his hand, I was leading him home, when his poor mother came up all breathless and excited. Seeing her lost little boy, she caught him up in her arms and hugged him and carried him safely home.

Wally reminds me of other little boys and girls who are also on the wrong road. They want to go to heaven some day, but instead of taking the “high way,” they have chosen the “broad way” that leads to destruction.

Now there is One who has come from heaven to seek and to save lost ones, even Jesus the Saviour. He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” and if you will but trust in Him, He will take you up in His arms and carry you safe home to heaven.

“He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” Isa. 40:11.

ML-07/17/1977

A True Friend

Little Joe was just a poor boy whose early years were spent for the most part on the streets of one of our big cities. Where his father and mother were, if he had either, he did not know. But better times came for Joe when a kind friend got him into a boy’s home. There he had nice clothes to wear and plenty to eat. There too he went to school.

One day in one of the classes, the teacher asked Joe to spell the word “friend.” Little Joe stood up and the letters came slowly-“F-R-I-E-N-D.”

“That’s right, Joe,” said the teacher; “and now tell us what is a friend?”

Little Joe studied for a moment trying to find a way to express his thoughts. At last it came.

“Oh,” he said, “he’s a feller that knows all about ya an’ likes ya just the same.”

That was the highest thing in friendship that Joe’s brief life had taught him. Little Joe hardly realized it then, but in those few words he spelled out the sweetest truth ever made known in heaven or in earth, in time or eternity, for there is no friend to whom these words better apply than Jesus-the Friend and Saviour of sinners.

In that past eternity, before we were born, he saw us in our sin and wretchedness and ruin—and He loved us just the same.

He came to earth to make that love known, to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, so that poor sinners might share His joys in that bright home above.

The psalmist could say, He knows my downsitting and mine uprising. Psa. 139:2. Again in John 10:27 we read, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them...” He knows all my weaknesses and those too-often failures, yet He loves me just the same.

“There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Prov. 18:24.

There’s a Friend for little children

Above the bright blue sky;

A Friend who never changes,

Whose love can never die.

Do you know this Friend, dear young reader? He is “the chiefest among ten thousand.... He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend.” Song of Sol. 5:10, 16.

ML-07/17/1977

Joshua

Chapter 6:26-7:2

Joshua pronounced a curse from God upon any one who should rebuild Jericho. He should pay for his sin in the deaths of his firstborn and youngest son. Years later, in an evil day, during the reign of the wicked king Ahab, His, a native of Bethel, dared to rebuild Jericho, only to have the curse fulfilled which God pronounced by Joshua long before.

But there is a solemn word for us in this. May we not be found building again those things which by the grace of God we have destroyed (Gal. 2:18). The cross is that by which we have been crucified to the world and the world to us. May we seek grace to go on with the Lord and not turn again to things of the flesh and of the world from which He died to deliver us.

“So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.” God is here looking through Joshua on to Christ-the true Joshua. Because of His perfect obedience and mighty victory at the cross “God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9); and in a soon-coming day all heaven and earth will be filled with His glory.

We now come to a very solemn and humbling lesson to be learned in Israel’s humiliating defeat at Ai. The taking of Jericho was the key to the whole land of Canaan. Implicit obedience to the Lord’s command was called for if Israel was to triumph over and drive out their enemies.

God had said just before Jericho fell, “Keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.” The silver and the gold were to be put into the treasury of the Lord, but Israel were to take none for themselves. However, a man named Achan, a prince in Israel, in direct disobedience to the express command of the Lord, saw “a goodly Babylonish garment and a wedge of gold,” and took them and hid them in his tent.

“And the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel,” for all Israel were charged with the “trespass in the accursed thing.” They were flushed with the pride of their success at Jericho, and had already declined spiritually before the Lord. Their pride hindered the discovery of the sin. Achan, the troubler, was representative of the people, for the sin of one was the sin of all. God could not go with them as long as sin remained unaccounted for in the camp and what Israel could not spiritually discern, God must bring to light through chastening by means of a most humiliating defeat at the hands of their enemies.

“And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai,... saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed AL” It does not appear that they sought the Lord first in the matter. They seemed to forget that He was Captain of His host, and they did not ask Him what they should do. They did not wait for Him to tell them how to conquer Ai.

The result was that Israel’s self-confidence ended in a disastrous defeat at Ai, “wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” May we learn from this not to trust in ourselves, but to seek the Lord’s help and guidance in all things, the little as well as the great, for we have no might of our own. If we go in our own strength, the enemy always proves too strong for us.

ML-07/17/1977

The Father's Kiss

Memory Verse: “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

Two little boys were fishing by the river bank, when accidentally they both fell into the water. They would have drowned had it not been for the efforts of a young man who was also fishing nearby and plunged in after them. He was not a very good swimmer, but he managed to bring both the little fellows to the bank safely.

Then he found himself in difficulty. Weakened by his previous efforts, and weighted down with water-soaked clothing, he found the steep slippery bank of the river too much for him. Soon he was drawn under by the current and drowned.

When the sad news reached his father and mother, they, of course, were greatly grieved. His young brother too was in deep sorrow until he heard that the little boys, his own playmates, were safe. Then he was comforted in the loss of his brother.

Several days later the two little boys followed close behind the coffin as it was borne to the cemetery. After the funeral, the father of the brave lad whose body had just been lowered into the grave, came up to the two sorrowing little fellows. Bending down he gave each one a kiss and prayed God’s blessing on them.

There was present a young Christian who that evening was to preach the gospel in a nearby hall. He went as planned, and standing before his hearers, he said: “I saw today something I have never seen before. A father kissed two boys who had been the cause of the death of his son.”

He then told them about the funeral. “And,” he said, “that is what God in His great love is doing now—kissing any who come to Him believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, notwithstanding the fact that they were the cause of the death of His Son.”

It made a strong impression on his hearers. One man in the audience, who was judged to be one of the worst characters in that district, came up to the young preacher after the meeting, and said, “Does God kiss all who repent like that?”

“Yes,” the preacher replied, “if they come to Him in faith believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, they will receive pardon, peace and eternal blessing.”

“Then,” he replied, “I will come to Him right now!” And he did come to the Saviour.

May God grant that your decision, dear unsaved reader, may be the same. As the result, you will know forgiveness of your sins, and learn the joy of the Father’s kiss.

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20.

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10.

ML-07/24/1977

"I Never Heard Such Words Before"

Sundar was an Indian boy just 14 years old and attended a missionary school. He went to visit his friends in another village one day, and in the afternoon he went into one of the native temples. There he saw a feeble old man passing from idol to idol, praying and offering incense sticks as he went around.

Sundar was a happy Christian, having believed the gospel when he was just a child, and his heart was touched at the sight of the old man. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Summoning up courage, he went up to him and said, “Would you mind a boy speaking to you? I am young; you are old.”

The old man was not offended, and after some talk together, Sundar told him the story of the love of God in sending His dear Son into this world to die for sinners. The old man’s heart was melted as he listened.

“My boy,” he said, “I have never heard such words before.” He persuaded Sundar to go home with him so that his wife might hear the wonderful story. And so these two aged natives were led to the Saviour before they ever saw or heard a missionary.

“As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom. 10:15.

ML-07/24/1977

"It's Me, Jesus! It's Me!"

“Mr. Jones,” said little Mary to an old Christian one day, “will you pray for me at the prayer meeting tonight?” Then, being a timid little girl, she added, “But don’t say my name. I don’t want anyone to know.”

Now Mr. Jones was a wise old man, and so that night in the little cottage prayer meeting where a few were gathered for prayer, he prayed something like this: “Lord Jesus, there’s a little girl here who wants to be saved. But she doesn’t want me to tell her name ... ”

Before he had finished the words, those who knelt in the prayer meeting were surprised to hear a small voice, and a titter went round as that voice proclaimed: “It’s me, Jesus! It’s me!”

Now we are sure the Lord Jesus heard that little voice, for He knew already what was in little Mary’s heart. He knew she was in earnest. He showed her that though she was a sinner, He had died to put her sins away, and the knowledge of this brought peace to her troubled heart.

I hope you will be in earnest about your sins, too, dear unsaved reader. If you come to the Lord Jesus, He’ll not turn you away. Tell Him you are a sinner, that you want to be saved, that you deserve only judgment, but you believe He died in your place. He will hear your prayer and His precious blood will wash away those deep dark stains of sin. Has He not said: “Come now... though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow"? Isa. 1:18.

ML-07/24/1977

"Tell Me Something About Jesus"

It was in a prayer meeting in Boston when a man rose to his feet and told this story. Said he: “Until a short time ago I was a careless and unrepentant sinner. I will tell you how it came about that I’m now saved and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“One Sunday evening I was sitting on the sofa in the parlor. My wife had gone out, and no one was with me but my little six-year-old niece, Shirley, who was visiting us at that time. For a while she sat by the table amusing herself looking at pictures. After a bit she got tired of them, and climbing up on the sofa, she began putting her arms around me in her childlike way.

" ‘Uncle Bill,’ she said, putting her little hand in mine, ‘tell me something about Jesus. Mommy always does Sunday nights.’

“I was struck by her request and quite embarrassed. I evaded it and began talking of something else. But the little girl would not be put off. Again and again she came back to the same request: ‘Uncle Bill, tell me something about Jesus.’

“As I did not reply, she said at last, opening her wide blue eyes, ‘Why, you know about Jesus, don’t you?’

“That question awakened thoughts and feelings in me I had never had before. I am afraid I had to disappoint my little niece that evening. But that night I could not sleep; the dear child’s wondering words, ‘you know about Jesus, don’t you?’ haunted me all through the long silent hours. I felt I did not know about Jesus; I had not wished to know about Him, and a sense of my ignorance and guilt lay heavily upon my soul.

“I was distressed for days. I read my Bible with an inquiring, anxious heart till at length I found the blessed Saviour, and could say in humility and faith, ‘now I not only know about Jesus, but I know Him, that precious Saviour, about whom little Shirley so eagerly wished to hear.”

Oh, the power of the name of Jesus—uttered by his little niece in her sweet childlike simplicity, applied by the Spirit of God to a hardened conscience! It wrought a mighty change in the life of Uncle Bill. It charmed his soul and captured his heart.

Has the name of Jesus charmed your soul, dear reader? Or, do you still spurn that love and travel with the crowd down the broad road that leads to destruction.

ML-07/24/1977

Joshua

Chapter 7:3-12

After gazing up at the mighty walls of Jericho, Israel looked at Ai as a contemptible little place. Its name means “a heap of ruins,” and from this it would seem that it was not a mighty and fortified city like Jericho. If it had been, perhaps Israel would have sought God about its overthrow.

But as it was, when the men sent by Joshua to view the place returned, they said, “Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.” The very language of these men indicates confidence in their own strength instead of trusting in God for Ai’s destruction. Alas, so little an enemy administered so great a defeat to Israel. Still flushed with the pride of their victory over Jericho the three thousand men fled before the men of Ai who chased them and smote them: “wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.”

God hates pride, and those that walk in pride He is able to abase. His great Name requires humility in man. Pride is the cause of many a defeat in the lives of Christians, whereas to walk humbly with God will bring many a victory.

Plunged into grief Joshua rent his clothes and fell on his face before the ark of God, where he remained until evening. Both he and the elders put dust on their heads. This was well, but then Joshua seems to give way to despair, so unbecoming to one who was leader and captain of the Lord’s host. And he said, in the bitterness of his soul, “Alas, oh Lord God, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!”

Joshua, like natural man, almost blames God for their overthrow. The shame and disappointment of their defeat seems to fill his soul, not the reason for it. Is it not so that we are prone to look any where else but in our own state of soul for the reason for our loss and defeat.

Joshua complained to the Lord that the Canaanites will “cut off our name from the earth": then he adds, “and what wilt Thou do unto Thy great Name?” When, at the end of the day, he brought in the Lord’s great name, the Lord revealed the secret of Israel’s trouble.

“Get thee up,” the Lord told him; “wherefore liest thou upon thy face? Israel hath sinned,... they have taken of the accursed thing,.. Therefore Israel could not stand before their enemies... neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

God was acting according to His great Name. It might have appeared that Israel’s defeat was a dishonor to His Name, but Israel had sinned, and they must deal themselves with the sin and put it away in order that His name might be cleared of the dishonor.

There is a time for the believer to lie upon his face before God, but to lie there, not in self-judgment but blaming God, is neither faith nor humility. God used the Amorite to bring home to His people their sin and departure, and sometimes He uses the power of Satan to chasten us, to bring us into His presence that we might act in judging any evil in our lives or in the assembly of His people.

ML-07/24/1977

How Tom Was Saved

Memory Verse: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36

Tom was a young farmer, and one day in an open air meeting he stood up to speak. The story of his conversion can best be told in his own words.

“I’m just a poor farmhand,” said he, “and never been no scholar; so you’ll excuse my simple way, and let me tell you how the Lord saved my soul.

“I was plowing in a field, and had stopped and was sitting down by the fence to eat my lunch, when I see a gentleman leaning over the gate. Presently he spies me, and comes over to where I was sitting. He said it was a fine day, and I said it was so, with the blessing of God, as we always says down in them parts, not thinking nothing about God all the time. However, he pulls me up sharp, though in a kindly voice and says, ‘Do you know the blessing of God in saving your soul?’

“It took me by surprise, and I says, ‘We all wants to be saved and hopes we shall afore we comes to die.’ Then he spoke a great deal to me, as I never heard the likes in my life; about being ‘born again,’ and all to that away.

“Before he goes, he takes out a book and says, ‘I should like to give you this, and would you read this chapter where I turn the leaf down?’

“I thanked him, but told him I was no scholar, never having had no book learnin'.

" ‘Well,’ says he, ‘never mind that; you get the first person you see that can read, to read this chapter to you.’

“So he left the book, and I never seen him from that time.

“After a bit, I hears a boy coming along home from school, whistling a tune. Thinks I, ‘He’ll do!’ So I calls, ‘Hey boy! come here!’

“He comes over. So I tells him to sit down just there beside me, and read me out of a book a gentleman gave me. I asked, Tan you read?’

" ‘Sure I can, and write my own name too.’

“He reads away, and I sits listenin’ with all my might. He reads about a man what came to Jesus by night, and I never knew anything take such hold on me as them words did. I had often heard sermons with fine big words, but these came right home to me; and I was real perplexed when he read about being ‘born again,’ for that was what the gentleman was saying to me before. ‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’

“Now I wanted to go to heaven, and I always thought if a man did the best he could, and paid his way, and loved his neighbor, what more could he do? And he would surely go to heaven at the end; but this floored me — this being ‘born again.’ I was sure I wasn’t this. Though I didn’t know what it meant, I knew I ought to be different to what I was; but this seemed beyond me, and didn’t mean my being different in myself, but out of myself altogether, something straight from heaven.

“I kept thinking of these thoughts, and wondering, when I again caught up with the boy reading, and the words he read so made my heart jump with a strange feeling that I had got it at last, and yet hadn’t got it, and was frightened of losing it. I called out to him, ‘Stop, and read that last over again.’ As he read what he told me was verse 16, the light began to shine in on my heart, and I thought, ‘This is what being born again means — this explains it.’ I know now it was the Holy Spirit of God, through them words.

" ‘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.’

“I couldn’t half think it was for me, and there was one word that I couldn’t understand so I asked the boy, ‘Can you tell me what that there word whosoever means?’ But he didn’t seem to know any more than I did and says, ‘I can’t for the life of me tell you what it means.’

“But I wasn’t to be put off — I was too anxious, so I urged him to think again. I said, ‘You’re such a good scholar and can write your own name, surely you know what this word means!’

" ‘No,’ he says, ‘I don’t know what it means, unless it means you, me, or anybody else.’

" ‘Well,’ says I, ‘why didn’t you say that at first? I can understand that easy enough. Now read that verse over again, please, and put them words in instead of the long one.’ So he read over again, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that you, me, or anybody else, believing in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“I lifted up my heart and thanked God there and then for such mercy to a sinner like me. His love was so wonderful, and those words made it all plain that it was for me.

“I got the boy to say the verse over and over again, until I knew them myself as well. The rest of that afternoon my heart was singing for joy; and as I went up and down the field plowing, I kept repeating the words over to myself, getting fresh understanding of them every time.

“Then when I went home at night the first thing I says to my wife was, ‘Jeannie, my fortune’s made! With this day I have received everlasting life.’

“She said, ‘Thank God then! my prayers are answered.’ She had been a Christian for some time and often I had given her sorrow through my ways.

" ‘But how did you come by it?’ she asked. Then I read to her or rather said it to her, though I opened the book, John 3, verse 16.

(To be continued)

ML-07/31/1977

False Hopes

The water in the Big Thompson River was running high. Stannis and Debra, teenage waitresses at the Covered Wagon Restaurant, were worried. Martin and Francis, the restaurant operators, called them saying everyone would be safe from high water in their house beside the restaurant. Debra’s parents phoned the girls telling them it would be safer to wait there until the water went down.

But all these were false hopes, for at that very time a tremendous flash flood of tidal wave proportions was building up on the river above the restaurant. In a last-minute phone call, Stannis told a friend that the flood was already washing propane tanks and cars past them. Then the river got so high it surrounded the restaurant.

Guests in the Palisades Motel across the river were eye witnesses of the tragedy. They saw the tidal wave water pick up the doomed restaurant and hurl it into the blackness of pounding water. Screams of those doomed inside could be heard even above the roar of the flood.

All seven in the restaurant lost their lives in that catastrophe. They thought they were safe, but it was a false hope. How many people today have “false hopes” about salvation and going to heaven! Some trust in their own good works—they think they can gain merit by trying to be good and doing good deeds, and that these when put into the scale will outweigh the bad things they have done. Others think they are safe because God is a loving God and would never send anyone to hell.

Some trust the salvation of their soul to the minister or to the priest. Some children think they are safe because their parents are Christians. But all of these are false hopes. These things will never take a person to heaven nor save him from hell.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the sinner’s only hope. To trust in Him for salvation is the only way to be saved. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12.

ML-07/31/1977

Smokey the Cat

A lady in Worcestershire, England, had a cat named Smokey. One day in 1965 Smokey disappeared, and the lady gave him up for lost.

Then one day in March, 1971, who should show up on the lady’s doorstep but old Smokey! He gladly drank a dish of milk, and then curled up on his favorite chair as if nothing had happened. Six years had gone by, but there was Smokey — home again!

What a long time for a cat to stray away! Yet how often young folks, and grown up folks too, wander away from Jesus the Good Shepherd and are gone for years sometimes. Perhaps they didn’t like the restraint of a Christian home, they wanted a taste of the world, or perhaps if they were never saved, they did not want the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. But the Good Shepherd follows each lost one, and how wonderful it is when He finds that lost sheep or lamb and brings it back to Himself.

Have you strayed away from the Lord, dear young reader? He is seeking you and longing to bring you home to Himself. May He be able to say of you, “Rejoice with Me; for I have found My sheep which was lost.”

ML-07/31/1977

Abraham

Genesis 12:1-13:4

After the flood, when idolatry began to spread over the earth, God called one man, Abram, to be a witness to Himself as the one true God. Abram lived in Shinar, but God called him to leave his country and all his people, to go to another land he had never seen before. There God said He would bless him and make him father of a great nation, and in him should all the families of the earth be blessed.

Abram obeyed God and left his country with his wife, Sarah; his nephew, Lot, went along with him, and they came into the land of Canaan. There Abram built an altar and worshipped God. Now the Canaanites dwelt in the land, and they were very wicked. Abram did not build a house there, but lived in a tent; he was a pilgrim and a stranger all his life.

But Abram’s faith was tried, for soon a famine came. Abram seemed to forget that God would feed and take care of him, for he went down into Egypt.

Now God had not told Abram to go down to Egypt, and after he had been there some time, He caused Abram to be very humbled and ashamed for what he had done. Abram left Egypt and returned to the very spot where he had first set up his tent and altar. Then he was happy in the Lord again.

Egypt, to us, is a picture of the world. As long as a Christian goes on with the Lord, He will keep him happy. But if he goes into the world, he will be miserable and unhappy, for God cannot bless him there. Not until he repents and returns to the Lord will he be happy again.

ML-07/31/1977

Saved in a Communist Hospital

Memory Verse: “Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:11

Harry was a young American boy who, in this land of Bibles and religious liberties, had the privilege of attending Sunday School. There he learned the story of God’s love to man, made known in the gift of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus, who came into the world to save sinners.

But though Harry knew he was a sinner and needed a Saviour, yet he never decided for Christ. As he grew older he turned away from God, went into the world, and became hardened against the gospel.

Then the Korean War came and Harry was drafted. In the army he became more hardened than ever. In the solemn scenes of war, there face to face with death, God spoke to him again and again, but it did not awaken him to his need of salvation. “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” Job 33:14. Many of his comrades were killed in action, but still Harry seemed deaf to the pleading of the voice of the Spirit, calling him to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then Harry’s turn came. He was wounded and taken prisoner by the Communists. For many days he lay in a North Korean Army hospital and there he had lots of time to reflect. Still his close call with death and the mercy of God to him didn’t seem to soften his heart.

Then a young doctor in that Communist hospital spoke to Harry and asked him many questions. To his great surprise he found that the young Korean was a Christian, and he urged Harry to read his Bible. The doctor had to be very careful and not say too much, lest he be found out. But it was the beginning of a work of grace in Harry’s heart. He thought to himself, “Here am I brought up in a Christian land, went to Sunday School and read the Bible, yet I am not a Christian. And now who should be urging me to become one but this young faithful disciple of Christ up here in the Communist army.”

For the first time in his life Harry was humbled before God, ashamed to think he had despised and rejected for so long the Saviour who loved Him, who only sought his good and blessing, and had followed him all the way to North Korea to bring him that eternal salvation He had died to secure. Those claims of love were too much for Harry, and He surrendered willingly, happily and thankfully to that blessed and only Saviour.

And if you, like Harry, dear reader, have not yet surrendered to Him who is “the chiefest among ten thousand,” “the altogether lovely One,” may you seek grace to do so without delay. He is so worthy! and your need of Him is so great!

“God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

ML-08/07/1977

Little May and the Infidel

May was just a little girl, but she had learned that the Lord Jesus loved her and she had learned to love Him too. Then one day she was told that a man who often passed their house was an infidel.

“What is an infidel?” inquired May. She was told that an infidel was one who did not believe in God nor the Bible. The little girl was very much surprised.

A few days later when that same man was walking past her house, she came up to him and said, “Why don’t you love Jesus?”

Angrily he pushed her away, but she repeated the question again and again, and then he saw that there were tears in her eyes. That question began to trouble him. He could not get rid of it day or night. It kept coming up to him from the sidewalk, from the letters on his desk, from the voices of his children at play, and even the pillow seemed to whisper it to him after he went to bed.

At last he got up saying, “I will go and get a Bible and find some place where Christ has contradicted Himself, and that will be a good reason why I should not love Him.”

So he took the Book and opened it at the gospel of John. But he had opened at the wrong place, for if anyone wants to find reasons for not loving Christ, he had better not go to that book. As he read, he found out reasons for loving the Son of God instead of hating Him, and before the sun was up, he had begun to seek the Lord with all His heart. Very soon he was converted.

“The love of Christ constraineth us.” 2 Cor. 5:14.

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.

ML-08/07/1977

How Tom Was Saved: Continued

“I was so full of my newfound happiness that as soon as I had my supper, I felt I must go down and tell my mates the good news, thinking, of course, they’d be glad to hear it. We used to meet in the village tavern, called ‘The Fleece,’ and I think now it is a good name for such a place, for it is just there a fellow does get properly fleeced, as I proved manys a time. We used to talk all the gossip of the country, and it was a regular scandal shop. So I goes down this night with my Testament in my pocket.

“When I get there, my mates and the landlord especially, begin to cry out how late I am, that I must have something very good to tell, and so on. And when they are quiet, I tells them what I telled my wife, and pulls out my Testament and says the verse to them: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (that means you, me, or anybody else) believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“Well, they stared at me, but hadn’t a word to say. At last the landlord spoke up. ‘I ‘spoke he saw that if all came to this way of thinking, that would be an end to his trade; so he says, " ‘Come, we don’t want any of that sort of stuff here; we have enough preaching on Sundays by learned men, without your setting up to be so good.’

“I answered him, ‘Is that the way it is, Joe? Well, it opens my eyes plain, what the friendship of the world’s worth. I could come here and talk all manner of stuff about anyone, and anything, no matter how low, and drink till I was scarce able to find my way home, and I was welcome; but now that my soul is saved, I musn’t speak about that, nor about my Saviour. Then I can’t come here anymore indeed. Here’s the 75c I owe you, and good-bye. Old mates, I would to God that you would take the word of Jesus, and thank Him for it.”

“But the most of them laughed at me; only two that I know of (and thank God for them!), gave any heed. One of them was a young fellow who had been converted before, and me and my mates had dragged him back among us; he followed me out with tears in his eyes, and said, " ‘Oh, pray for me! I have dishonored my Saviour; I’ve left Him; will He receive me back?’

“And He did, as He ever will. That young man is rejoicing again in Christ. It was not that day only, but every day after, I spoke to my neighbors and friends, wherever I could get them, of Jesus — ‘that whosoever (you, me or anybody else, I told them) believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ "

ML-08/07/1977

Abraham

Genesis 13:5-14

When Abram and Lot came back from Egypt, they were both very rich, for they had silver and gold and cattle in abundance. There wasn’t room in the land for them to dwell together. As a result the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot got to fighting each other.

So Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between thee and me.... for we be brethren.” He suggested to Lot that he should separate, and though he was the older of the two, he let his nephew have the first choice of the land. If Lot went one way, he would go the other.

Abram’s spirit here is very lovely to see. He had been low down before the Lord after his failure in Egypt, and now he would not stand up for his rights, even though God had called him and had promised him the land.

When Lot saw the well-watered plains of Jordan, he chose to dwell there; it seemed they reminded him of Egypt. Alas, he pitched his tent toward Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked bore the Lord.

But Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan. If he had lost anything in letting Lot have the first choice, it was only Sodom and Gomorrah, those wicked cities of the plain which God was soon to destroy.

As it was, Abram had the Lord, and after he had separated from Lot, God told him He would give all the land to him and to his children forever. They would be as the dust of the earth for multitude. After that Abram went to Hebron and built another altar where he worshiped the Lord.

Poor Lot had made a bad choice, for in a war between the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and the kings from the East, Lot was carried away captive. When Abram heard the news, he immediately armed his servants, and going out by night, he pursued after the enemies. He smote them and rescued Lot and all his people.

The king of Sodom then went out to meet Abram returning from the battle. However, before he got there, Melchizedek, that wonderful person who was both king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, had already met Abram and blessed him. Melchizedek, type of the Lord Jesus Christ, brought forth bread and wine-the bread to stay and the wine to cheer. And Abram paid him tithes.

Melchizedek disappears from the scene, but after that wonderful interview Abram was so refreshed and lifted up, that when the king of Sodom came and offered him the spoils of victory, he would not take from him a thread even to a shoe latchet.

What a happy thing it is for a Christian to be so in the Lord’s company that when the world comes with its tempting offers, he refuses. Abraham is called “the friend of God.” If we separate ourselves unto the Lord, we will enjoy His company, and He will give us blessings far above and beyond anything this world has to offer.

ML-08/07/1977

Manuel Learns the Way

Memory Verse: “God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3,4

Manuel was a little Indian boy who lived on the banks of the great Amazon River. His father was chief of the tribe. Their home was a hut built high on stilts with a roof made of palm leaves, and they had a little farm back in the jungle.

One day Manuel sat on a big log on the bank, dreamily looking out over the broad river. Grandmother had taken the canoe and gone across the water to visit a friend. Father and Mother were at work on the farm.

Manuel was too young yet to have many worries, but one thing did make him afraid at times. He would hear his people talk about the “river spirits.” They did not know much about them, but it was commonly believed they captured people and made them their slaves.

This morning as Manuel sat and dreamed, he became aware of a rumbling and a great movement beneath him. The log began to move toward the river. It was a small landslide, and before Manuel could flee to the safety of the bank, he found himself carried swiftly into the great stream.

Terrified, the poor boy clung to the log and screamed and cried for help. All the while the powerful current was carrying him swiftly downstream. Fish nibbled at his toes, submerged branches struck him as he was swept along, till he was sure the “river spirits” were trying to get him. As he clung to his strange boat, many thoughts went through his mind and he asked himself where would his soul go if the “river spirits” captured him. In his terror he held on more desperately, and two hours went by.

In the meantime Manuel’s father, hearing the boy’s cries, had rushed to a neighbor’s farm and borrowed his boat. Heading downstream he paled as fast as he could, hoping to find his boy still alive. By and by he thought he could see a speck on the river far on ahead which might be his son, and he paddled on with renewed energy and hope. Several hours later he caught up with the swift moving log to which Manuel was still clinging bravely.

Oh how great was their joy as he pulled alongside and lifted Manuel into the boat, safe at last! Then they headed home.

“Tell me, Father,” said Manuel, “where would my soul have been if the ‘river spirits’ had got me?”

“I do not know, my son,” was the only reply.

Manuel asked many people that question during the next three years, but no one could tell. “Then one day some strange people came to visit their tribe. They were not dark-skinned as the Indians were, but white. Manuel’s people learned that they were missionaries, and soon they began to teach them some strange and wonderful things out of a black book they carried. They spoke about God who lived in heaven, and about His wonderful Son who came down into this world and died for all men everywhere — even Indians. Manuel wondered if that Book might have the answer to his long unanswered question — Where would he be if the “river spirits” had got him?

The missionaries invited all who would come to the Sunday school to learn from the great and wonderful Book. Manuel went and thought how marvelous it would be to possess that Book for himself. Then he was thrilled one day when the missionary offered a Bible to any one who could recite the 66 books of the Bible by heart. The missionary thought this would take the Indian children a long time, but what was his surprise the very next Sunday to hear Manuel say them off perfectly. To be sure he got a copy of the Book and then he set about to learn how to read it. All the while the boy listened carefully to everything the missionaries said and searched his own Bible for himself.

Soon Manuel found that there were two places his soul would have gone had the “river spirits” taken him to heaven or to hell. Then as he realized what a dreadful place hell is, he began to be concerned about his sins. As the months went by, Manuel longed to have his sins forgiven and to be sure he would go to heaven.

He asked the missionaries, and how glad they were to tell him that the Lord Jesus had died to put his sins away upon the cross, that He had borne the punishment they deserved, and now God forgives every one that believes in Jesus. The Book said, “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:12.

That same night Manuel opened his Bible and read: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

In the night Manuel went to his father and woke him up. “Father,” he said, “I have found the answer to my question. I would have gone to hell if I had drowned, but Jesus died that I might go to heaven. May I take Him as my Saviour?”

Startled at so strange a request in the dead of the night, his father listened to all his boy had to say. He remembered his own fears for his son the day he was swept away down the river.

“Yes, you may, son,” was his reply.

With a heart overflowing with joy and thanksgiving, Manuel opened his heart and received the Lord Jesus as his Saviour that night. A wonderful peace filled his soul.

Some time after, both his father and mother, his grandmother and his sister, all were saved, and great was the rejoicing in that happy family.

Today Manuel preaches to his own people the wonderful news of a Saviour who died for sinners everywhere, who now lives in heaven and cares for His own, and who is coming soon to take them to be with Himself above.

—Missionary Stories

ML-08/14/1977

She Wanted to Be Ready

One morning while I was visiting in Shirley’s home, I found this golden-haired little girl busily working in her bedroom. She was putting everything in order for the day. I said to her, “Oh, Shirley, how nice and neat your room looks with everything put in order!”

“Yes,” she said, “I am putting it in order because Jesus might come today.”

I LOVE my Saviour, my precious Saviour,

Who died on Calvary’s cross for me;

And now He’s risen, gone back to heaven,

Some day He’s coming back for me.

And while I’m waiting, I’ll try to please Him

In everything I do and say;

And when I see Him, oh how I’ll praise Him,

For washing all my sins away.

ML-08/14/1977

Fido's Gratitude

One day Fido came limping down the country road and stopped at the door of a farmhouse. There he stood and barked until someone came out to see what was wrong. Soon the farmer appeared and the dog simply held up one paw.

The farmer saw at once there was a large splinter under the skin. Very carefully he opened up the skin with a penknife, drew out the splinter, and then bound up the wounded paw. The dog wagged his tail for a moment and then trotted away.

A few days later the farmer heard a loud barking at his front door. This time what do you think he found? Guess!

A bone? Yes, there was a big bone on the front step, and there was the dog trotting away down the road. This was the noble fellow’s way of saying, “Thank you!”

Have you ever thanked God for His wonderful Gift and for what He has done for you and me? “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.

ML-08/14/1977

Joshua

Chapter 7:13-21

Joshua was lying on his face before the Lord, but God told him to get up. It was no use for him to lie there and cry to Him. Israel had sinned, and God said He would not be with them any more until they had destroyed the accursed thing from among them.

Joshua must arise and put away the evil thing. Furthermore, Israel’s own hands must cast out the sin from their midst, before they could wield the sword in power again. Holiness was necessary for victory.

Joshua did not yet know who the guilty one was, but God has ways of bringing to light the secret sins of those who appear to be for Him down here. Our secret sins are all bare in the light of His countenance. “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Heb. 4:13.

Wherever sin lies unconfessed, God is afar off in our thoughts. He cannot use a defiled people for His work. But where there is an honest desire in souls to clear themselves from iniquity, God will enable them to sift things out until the very seeds of the sin are discovered.

Joshua rose up early in the morning. This showed his earnestness of heart for the Lord’s honor; and so the sifting began. First, all the tribes of Israel were brought, and the tribe of Judah was taken. Next, all the families were taken, then each household man by man, and at last Achan was taken.

Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give, I pray you, glory to the God of Israel and make confession to Him and tell me what you have done.” And Achan confessed his sin and told all.

“I have sinned against the Lord,” he said, “for I saw a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold, and I took them, and they are hid in the earth, in the midst of my tent.”

Poor unhappy man! He did not think that the holy God was looking at him as he hid it there. He did not feel what it was to belong to such a holy God, or he could not have hidden a forbidden unholy thing with his own goods. He touched what was forbidden and accursed, and he made himself accursed for it.

But this is just like what the children of God have done since the Lord Jesus went back to heaven. They have not kept themselves from the things in the world, and they have grieved God’s Holy Spirit by having unholy things mixed up with their own. If we mix with the world or bring the world into our homes, God cannot honor us as He honored His servants like Paul, and Peter and John, who faithfully kept themselves unspotted from the world in those early days of the Church.

ML-08/14/1977

Helpless Horror

Memory Verse: “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Psalm 40:2

Walter Skowron lived in a cabin on higher ground near the Big Thompson River. When the terrible flash flood surged down the canyon on that fateful night of July 31, 1976, Walter and his family were safe in their cabin; but he tells of the horrors of the flood: “The electricity went out at approximately 8:45 p.m. The rain continued. By this time it was a torrential downpour, and we could only see a few feet in front of us.

“We had no idea what was happening — no battery-powered radio. Jerry, a friend, had a CB radio in his ‘Scout,’ so we tried to get news about the storm on the CB emergency band. All we heard were stress and panic calls-calls from people camped along the river. Since CB reception is limited in the mountains, we knew those calling out were close by. ‘I’m trapped in my van with my wife and two children,’ said one. ‘Help us! Oh, ... ' And then, silence. Calls of terror, calls of panic, calls of pain.

“I’ve never been so close to death before—and it’s something you don’t easily forget. I still wake up in the middle of the night and think about what happened. I only pray no one ever has to go through anything like that again.”

Terrible as was that great flood that surged down the Big Thompson Canyon, infinitely more fearful will be the judgment of God against sin, judgment that will sweep over this whole world. Man put to death the Son of God, and this world is stained with His blood. God holds this world guilty for the death of His Son. And yet God in grace, which no one can measure, has used the death of Christ to bring salvation to man. “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.

Walter Skowron could only listen in helpless horror to the cries of terror of those caught in the flood. And this reminds us of the impossibility of helping those who wait too long in their sins, who never come to Christ for salvation until it is too late.

In the gospels the Lord has told us of those who are unrepentant, who never turn to Him to receive forgivess of their sins; in the judgment day they will be cast into outer darkness, where there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

They will stand before God, the judge of all the earth, unsaved and in their sins in that terrible day.

“Flee from the wrath to come.” Matt. 3:7.

Walter Skowron and his family were safe on the higher ground. Oh, that more would seek the “higher ground” of God’s salvation in Christ.

“On Christ salvation rests secure,

The rock of ages must endure,

Nor can that faith be overthrown

Which rests upon the Living Stone.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML-08/21/1977

"Old John Is Dead - I Am New John"

Old John was a peddler. He was such a bad character in the village that he was known as “Drunken John.”

One night old John went to a gospel meeting, and he took Christ as his Saviour. The news soon spread among the village that John was saved. Many people came around him in the street, just to see what he was like.

“Sure enough, there is a great change in him,” said one.

“He’s not drunk, and not swearing as he used to,” said another.

There was old John, his face shining with joy, selling his fish and quoting John 3:16. “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.

“Old John is dead — I am new John,” he would sometimes tell his friends. How true that is, for anyone who comes to Christ receives a new life, and he is a new creature.

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17.

ML-08/21/1977

A Little Pig That Needed a Saviour

Years ago I was visiting on a farm in Ontario. After breakfast one morning I went out to the barnyard to have a look around. I heard a lot of squealing, and it sounded to me as though something was wrong. The farmer was busy in the field, so I went to see where the noise was coming from. I soon discovered what had happened.

The farmer had built a concrete pit which he used for cooling milk. The pit was kept full of water, and a young pig had fallen in. He was doing all the squealing, and the mother pig was all excited too, for she could not get her baby out of the water. The little one was paddling around as best he could, but if he were not rescued soon, he would tire himself out and drown.

I could save the little pig, so I got down on the edge of the pit, took him by the ears and quickly had him out on the dry ground. Away Piggie ran with his mother.

A long time ago, the Lord Jesus looked down from heaven and saw poor, lost sinners who could never, never save themselves from sin and Satan and hell. Then the Lord Jesus came to earth; He was born in Bethlehem, grew up as a boy and became a man. He went about doing good, and then He went to Calvary’s hill, near Jerusalem, where wicked men nailed Him to a cross. There the Lord Jesus died for sinners. God said that because the Lord Jesus died to put away sin, if anyone simply believed in Him and confessed in words something like these, ‘I deserved to die for my sin, but Jesus died for me,’ then that one need not perish but would have everlasting life. There is no other way to be saved. Sinners can’t save themselves, and even angels can’t save them.

Working for salvation won’t do it; waiting won’t do; wishing, hoping, crying over your sins — nothing will save you except faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners.

ML-08/21/1977

True Happiness

“Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Prov. 16:20.

“Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.” Psa. 144:15.

“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help.” Psa. 146:5.

“If ye be reproached for the name of CHRIST, happy are ye.” 1 Pet. 4:14.

Are you happy? “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:17.

ML-08/21/1977

"They Love a Fella Over There"

Tom was just a poor boy, but he used to walk many blocks on a Sunday morning on his way to a certain Sunday school.

“Why do you go so far to that Sunday school?” someone asked him. “Why don’t you go to one of those Sunday services that are nearer?”

“Oh,” the little fellow replied, “I like to go to that Sunday school, ‘cause they love a fella over there.”

How many lonely hearts there are around us, hearts longing for someone to love them, and whose feet could be guided into that good way that leadeth unto life. And we who know the Saviour, know His love in our hearts, have the wonderful privilege of showing and telling out that love to others.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10.

“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.

ML-08/21/1977

Joshua

Chapter 7:22-26

As soon as Achan confessed his sin, the messengers ran to his tent, dug up the accursed thing, and laid it all out in broad daylight before the Lord.

We can see that at the very moment of the display of God’s power and grace to Israel, Achan’s heart had turned away from the Lord. He had opened his heart to the world. And, dear young Christian, if our hearts are not ready for Christ, they are ready for the world.

That “goodly Babylonish garment” appealed to “the pride of life” in Achan; with the silver and the gold he could satisfy his every lust and it would gain him position and power in the world. Alas, they proved to be but Satan’s snare to lead him to his ruin. Satan ever seeks to link the world to the natural heart of man and by these means keep him under his power. Even a Christian can fall into his snare if not “kept by the power of God.”

God used the sin of one man to bring to light the state of Israel, for they had let the Word of God slip and had got careless because the way seemed easy. In God’s sight all Israel were involved in the dishonor done to His name by Achan, their prince, and so all must join hands in clearing the camp of the sin.

And Joshua said, “Why hast thou troubled us? The Lord shall trouble thee this day.” Then “All Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire.” It was a solemn, sorrowful act, but God’s law was broken and there was no help for man under law: he must die. What was unclean must be destroyed. Scripture tells us, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim. 2:19. Thus Israel approved themselves to be clear in this matter (2 Cor. 7:11).

But how different now for us under grace! All is changed, for “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). It is not that sin is any less serious now than in Achan’s day, in fact it is more so, for one who sins today in Christendom sins against greater light and is therefore more responsible. However, if a Christian fails and must be disciplined, discipline is carried out with a view to his restoration.

How wonderful that in God’s gracious ways with Israel the Valley of Achor (or “trouble") will become a door of hope to His poor guilty people in the coming day. When as a nation they judge their sin and put away the evil from among them, when they remember that it was there His judgment began to fall on them, their self-judgment will be followed by the blessing of the millennial kingdom.

But the Valley of Achor is the door of hope for God’s people still today. If we have failed, or have to put away sin from our midst, to be humbled before the Lord about it, to weep over our pride and to confess the shame and dishonor done to His name will bring down God’s restoring grace. Blessing, rest and hope are sure to follow and He will lead us on to fresh triumphs. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

Sin allowed is always a hindrance to blessing, but sin judged opens the door of hope from the One who ever delights to bless His own.

“Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” 1 Thess. 1:9

ML-08/21/1977

Saved While Drunk

Memory Verse: Jesus ... “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25

A missionary was walking down the street in a town in Arizona one day, when a Mexican passing by suddenly turned to gaze at him. Then suddenly putting his arms around the missionary and hugging him, the man exclaimed: “Oh brother! I’m glad to see you!”

“I like this,” returned the missionary, “but who are you?”

“Don’t you remember,” he said, “how 25 years ago you used to give out tracts on the streets in Mexico. Then if you were welcomed into a home, you would preach the gospel there that night?”

“Yes, I remember that. One time

they burned the house down where we had a meeting.”

“Well,” the man went on, “don’t you remember one night when you were preaching, a shoemaker came in drunk and stayed to listen? He was quiet; and after the service when you asked if any would like to be saved, he wanted to make a confession. But he was drunk and you did not believe him.”

“Yes, I remember that night.”

“Well, I am that drunken shoemaker.”

But he was certainly not drunk now. Instead he was well-dressed, and then he told of how he was a servant of the Lord and preaching the gospel.

“I want you to meet my wife,” he said. “She is coming now. Then around the corner came a well-dressed attractive lady, who, when she saw the missionary, ran and embraced him.

“You don’t remember me,” she said, “but I’m Ninfa. When I was just a little girl, you visited our home, and taking me up on your lap, you told me about Jesus. That was the first time anyone ever talked to me about being saved.” She was now a happy Christian, a nurse, and faithful wife of the evangelist.

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days... In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccl. 11:1, 6.

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isa. 55:6.

ML-08/28/1977

The Squirrel's Bridge

An artist was one day sketching beside a little stream in a lovely cool spot in the woods. Near him frisked and chattered a mother squirrel and her baby, playing tag as they scampered along the ground and leaped from tree to tree.

Suddenly the mother squirrel jumped across the stream to the other bank, and then turned to wait for her baby to cross behind her. But the little fellow was afraid to take the long leap. In spite of all her coaxing, he would not jump across.

Then suddenly the mother thought of a way. Catching hold of a loose branch nearby she dragged and shoved it across the water until it touched the other side. In a moment the baby squirrel had crossed on the branch, and the two disappeared into the woods.

The artist thought of another bridge—the bridge between heaven and earth, between sinful man and a holy God. No child of fallen Man could cross that gulf and there was no bridge until Jesus the Son of God came and died for sinners upon the cross. His work of redemption has bridged that gap, and that bridge will stand forever. God has come in all His grace to man, and man can now go into His presence through the blood of Jesus.

Thousands have crossed this bridge and are safe home in the glory land. That gate is still open. Dear unsaved reader, enter now while you may!

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML-08/28/1977

Resurrection

A young student in chemistry was doing an experiment in the lab. Accidently he dropped his silver ring into a jar of acid. Great was his dismay when he saw it dissolve before his eyes. He valued that ring very highly and told his professor about his loss.

“You shall have that ring again,” said his teacher. Taking down a bottle of chemical from a shelf, he poured some of it into the jar. Presently, to the astonishment of the student, the dissolved silver resolved itself into a mass at the bottom of the jar. Afterward the silver was removed, recast and rechased, and formed into a ring of surpassing beauty.

Here we have the simple illustration of death and resurrection. “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” said Paul to Agrippa. Acts 26:8.

“We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Cor. 5:2. So the Christian can sing,

Our earthen vessels break,

The world itself grows old;

But Christ our precious dust will take

And freshly mold.

He’ll give these bodies vile

A fashion like His own;

He’ll bid the whole creation smile

And hush its groan.

ML-08/28/1977

No Verse Like That in the Bible

Dr. Wilson was going to a funeral. He had permission to ride to the cemetery with the undertaker. As they went along, he said to the driver, a young man of thirty years, “What do you suppose the Bible means by saying, ‘Let the dead bury their dead'?”

The young man replied, “There isn’t a verse like that in the Bible.”

The doctor assured him that there was. Then the young man said, “It must be a wrong translation. How could a dead person bury a dead person?”

The doctor then explained the verse, pointing it out to him in these words: “If you were a dead undertaker in front of the hearse, driving it out to bury the dead friend at the back of the hearse, that person is dead to her family, and you are dead to God.” And he quoted him John 10:10: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly;” also, 1 John 5:12: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

The conversation resulted in the conversion of the young undertaker as he received eternal life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

“Come... and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Isa. 2:5

ML-08/28/1977

Joshua

Chapter 9:1-27

At Jericho when the Lord fought for His people and the walls fell down flat, we do not hear of Israel losing a man; but at Ai, when they went up in their own strength, they were defeated by their enemies and some of them were killed.

Now that they had been humbled before the Lord, and had cleared themselves of the sin of Achan, God showed them His favor again, though He would not put honor upon them as He had when they first went forth in His power. Still His grace to Joshua is very beautiful. The Lord encouraged Him as at the beginning, saying, “Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.”

Then God told Joshua how to take Ai, but how differently was the battle to be fought from the way in which Israel at first went up. Two or three thousand, they thought then, was enough, but now the Lord said, “Take all the people of war.” Every Christian soldier needs to remember that he cannot make light of even the smallest of foes, for the Lord alone is our strength and courage.

So Joshua went up to Ai, and some of his men were sent by night to form an ambush and hide behind the city. Then in the morning Joshua and his men made an attack before the city.

When the king of Ai saw them, he and all his people came out to fight against Israel. He saw no change in Israel. To him they were the same people who had fled from him only a day or so before. But what he did not see was that the Lord was among them. God had wrought a hidden work in the hearts of His people, and this the world does not see. It was now a chastened humble Israel that came up against Ai, and God was with them.

When the men of Ai came out to fight, Joshua and his men pretended to flee before them as they had done previously, so their enemies pursued after them. Pretending to flee was not so grand as seeing the walls fall down before them, but God made His people victorious through humiliation.

And the Lord Jesus bowed to the power of death, but in so doing He overcame and triumphed gloriously over the great enemy.

By weakness and defeat

He won the mead and crown;

Trod all our foes beneath His feet,

By being trodden down.

Little did the king of Ai dream of what was the result of God’s secret work in the hearts of His people. Having drawn the enemy away from the city, Joshua turned and raised his spear. When the men behind the city saw Joshua’s raised spear, they came from their hiding place, rushed into the open city and set it on fire.

When the men of Ai turned and saw their city in flames, and themselves caught between the armies of Israel, they knew not which way to flee. And so they were all destroyed. God gave His people a great victory that day. It was altogether of Him.

“THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ENCAMPETH ROUND ABOUT THEM THAT FEAR HIM, AND DELIVERETH THEM.” Psa. 34:7

ML-08/28/1977

Ching, the Blind Boy

Memory Verse: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

At one time there were about a million blind people in China and very little was done to help them.

One evening Ching, a blind boy came to the gospel meeting for poor children. His lot in life was a very sad one. His own mother commented about him: “He is no good and will never bring much into the family. He only eats the family rice!”

Ching behaved very badly and continually disturbed the little weekly meetings. If it had not been for the fact that he was blind, he would have been refused on account of his behavior. But little did the missionaries imagine that God was speaking to Ching’s heart. As he listened to the simple story of God’s love, of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross for sinners, poor blind Ching yielded his heart to the Lord.

The day came when his mother arranged for her son to go to the heathen temple to be taught fortune-telling. But soon after reaching the temple, Ching decided that it was no place for him, for he now belonged to the Lord Jesus. At the first opportunity he returned home.

When his mother discovered why he had left the temple, she shut the door of the little home in his face saying, “If that is the way you are going to behave, you shall never come into this house again.”

But a loving God and Father in heaven was caring for His poor homeless child, for the Bible says, “When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Psa. 27:10.

A missionary sent Ching a Chinese braille primer, and slowly he learned to read. The time came when he would sit by the side of a busy street reading the Scriptures to all who would stop and listen. Only the power of Jesus Christ could bring such a change into a poor blind boy’s life.

It costs something to stand up for Jesus, but it counts. The power of His love which Ching had received into his heart by faith had changed everything for him. And this is what everyone needs—every boy and girl, every man and woman—to be changed! And this is the work of Christ in the soul.

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.... For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21.

ML-09/04/1977

A Little Indian Girl

Wild Flower, the little Shawnee maiden, was very sick. One day she asked her father, Tall Pine, to take her to the brook once more. He did so and sat down in the shade where his little girl could see the water.

Turning away her wasted face she said earnestly, “Pray, Daddy!”

“Oh, I can’t pray, my dear,” he replied.

“Daddy,” she said, “I am going to heaven soon; and I want to tell Jesus that my father prays.”

The strong man’s head was bowed; and there went up such a prayer of repentance and confession as must have thrilled the courts of heaven with joy.

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10

ML-09/04/1977

No Sorrow There

A scoffer, an infidel, was hurrying along to catch a street car when his attention was arrested by a little boy who was sitting on a door step singing,

“There’ll be no sorrow there

There’ll be no sorrow there.”

“Where?” inquired the skeptic, who was impressed by the words. “Where is it that there will be no sorrow?” The little boy answered in the lines of the little hymn:

“In heaven above

Where all is love,

There’ll be no sorrow there.”

The man climbed on the car, but the simple words of that chorus had found a lodging in his mind. He could not drive them from his thoughts; they were fixed. He had known much sorrow in his life, and a world where there is no sorrow! — this was the great idea that filled his mind.

He dwelt upon it and went over and over in his thoughts till a longing to know about that place took possession of him. This was used by the Spirit of God to lead him to the Saviour who died for the lost, the guilty, the ruined, whose precious blood cleanses from every stain of sin, and fits them for that world where sin and suffering are unknown.

Will you be there, dear friend? Not unless you come to that Saviour whom the infidel found ready and willing to receive him. Would you like to have such a prospect before you when you leave this world of sin, sorrow, suffering and death? Well, it may be yours as you read this. In one moment you may pass from death to life, from Satan’s power, which has held you captive, to belong to the Lord Jesus who died to redeem you, and wants to bless you.

ML-09/04/1977

Lord, I Own Thy Right

My gracious Lord, I own Thy right

To every service I can pay,

And call it my supreme delight

To hear Thy dictates, and obey.

What is my being but for Thee—

Its sure support, its noblest end?

Thy ever-smiling face to see,

And serve the cause of such a Friend.

I would not breathe for worldly joy,

Or to increase my worldly good;

Nor future days or powers employ

To spread a sounding name abroad.

‘Tis to Thee, Saviour, I would live,

To Thee who for my ransom died;

Nor could untainted Eden give

Such bliss as blossoms at Thy side.

Philip Doddridge. 1701-1751

ML-09/04/1977

Joshua

Chanter 9:28-35

“And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation unto this day. And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raised thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.”

In their taking down the body of the king of Ai from the tree at sunset, Israel now humbled and restored, showed their zeal for the word of God, for they remembered that in the book of the law God had said that the body of one who was hanged should not remain all night upon the tree (Deut. 21:23). The land which God had given them must not be defiled.

It also showed that Joshua felt it was God’s land, when he forbade the body to be left there all night.

“Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal,... and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.” Thus in the midst of the scenes of destruction and judgment we have the worship of the Lord established in the law.

Here we have a picture of “things which must shortly come to pass.” Both Jericho and Ai represent the world. Their conquest by Joshua is but a foreshadowing of the glorious victory of Christ who will judge this world in righteousness, the overthrow of their kings tells of the complete overthrow of the power of Satan, and then we have Christ’s glorious reign when the worship of the Lord and His rule will be established in the earth. Lord, haste that day!

Moses had instructed Joshua to set up that altar the day they went over Jordan, but apparently Joshua had not done so at once.

Then according to Deuteronomy 27 they “plastered the stones with plaster,” and wrote upon them the words of the law; and dividing into two companies, half stood upon Mount Gerizim to bless, and half stood upon Mount Ebal to curse.

With loud voice the Levites read out the curses, and the hundreds of thousands of voices from those on Mount Ebal answered “Amen!” But when the blessings were read we do not hear of one “Amen!” from those assembled on Mount Gerizim.

Alas, no blessing could be earned by obedience from poor fallen man. Israel were a people under law, and “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.” Gal. 3:10; “for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

But how blessed since Jesus has died to be under grace and not under law! For “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Gal. 3:13. And now every possible blessing is ours in Him. Blessed be His glorious name forever!

Free from the law

O wondrous condition!

Jesus has died

And there is remission;

Cursed by the law

And bruised by the fall

Grace hath redeemed us

Once for all!

ML-09/04/1977

"Compel Them to Come in"

Memory Verse: “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

It was during a gospel mission in Mexico. There seemed to be very little interest and few came out to hear the good news. The preacher was getting after the faithful for not bringing more out to hear the gospel.

“How many here will pledge themselves to bring a new person to the meeting tomorrow night?” he asked. Then to give force to his words, he added, “I do not say to ask them, but to bring them.” Several raised their hands.

The next night one brother brought two visitors, but when they got to the door, they took fright and turned back. The poor brother sat down feeling very sad. He had promised to bring someone, but had failed.

However, rising up, he went out and down the dark narrow street until he met another man. “Amigo,” he said, “I want you to come in and listen to a gospel sermon.”

But the man refused. He had been told the people at that gospel hall did terrible things to visitors, and that sometimes they even ate them. Not to be refused this time, the brother picked up the man bodily, and carried him struggling and kicking into the hall. Setting him down on a bench at the back, he sat beside him to prevent his escape.

Terror-stricken, the man sat and looked around. The gospel service began. The man calmed down and gradually became interested. At the close of the service he was told he could go home.

“What?” he exclaimed. “Aren’t you going to eat me?”

“No,” said his captor, “I just wanted you to hear the gospel.”

The next night the man came back to hear more, and shortly after he accepted Christ as his Saviour and Lord. He is now a close friend of the one who had carried him captive into the gospel hall—a willing captive now of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners.

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isa. 55:7.

ML-09/11/1977

A Sailor's Conversion

“In a thunderstorm far out to sea, I was struck by lightning and taken up for dead. As they were carrying me along the deck, I heard the mate say, ‘Poor fellow; he’s gone.’ But I was conscious, and knew all that was said and done. I said to myself, ‘Where will I go to?’ In a moment it seemed as if all the acts of my sinful life passed before my eyes. It was an awful sight. I thought hell was not far off; then I must go there. They revived me; but I had been too near eternity to be any longer indifferent. I fled for refuge to Christ. He saved me. That was five years ago. I have sought to stand for Jesus ever since, both on land and on sea.”

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform,” so wrote the poet.

The Bible tells us that it is God who makes “a way for the lightning of the thunder.”

And unto man He says, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:26, 28.

ML-09/11/1977

The Wrong Remedy

“You have a very sick little girl!” the Doctor said, shaking his head.

Taking a bottle of medicine from his bag he placed it in the mother’s hand. “This medicine is the only remedy that will help your daughter. You must give it to her during the night exactly as I direct!” Giving the mother very careful directions, the Doctor left with the promise to call the first thing the next morning and see how his little patient was.

The next morning as the Doctor knocked upon the door, he was expecting to see the little girl much improved. To his surprise the mother opened the door, sobbing so hard that she could not speak. Without a word she turned and led the way to the little girl’s room.

There upon the bed lay a motionless figure, and the Doctor immediately knew that the girl had died.

For a few moments the Doctor stood with a bowed head. Finally he said to the weeping mother, “I cannot tell you how sorry I am! I was SURE that that medicine would help her, and I fully expected to see her well on the road to recovery this morning. I just cannot understand what happened!”

Dropping his gaze to the stand beside the bed he started as though he could not believe what he saw! There stood his bottle of medicine — UNTOUCHED!

“Oh! Didn’t you understand? Didn’t I make it clear to you that you must give this medicine to your daughter exactly as I told you? That medicine would have saved her life!”

Finally the weeping mother said, “Just after you left yesterday my neighbor came in. She told me her daughter had had the very illness mine seemed to have, and she had found a remedy that had helped wonderfully. So she gave me her medicine, and I have been giving that to my daughter instead of yours all night!”

The Doctor left the house with a heavy heart, for there was nothing that he could say. His remedy had not been taken!

There is a Remedy offered for sin. The Great Physician offers today, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Satan would offer many substitutes for God’s remedy, but no substitute will do. Those who take his substitute will find that sin leads to eternal death!

Take God’s Remedy—and LIVE!

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

ML-09/11/1977

Safety, Certainty and Enjoyment

Mr. Wilson had been a pleasure-loving careless sinner, and was leaving for the city when someone handed him a copy of a little gospel booklet, “Safety, Certainty, and Enjoyment.” Stuffing it into his pocket, he forgot all about it until all had settled down for the night.

Sitting down himself in the quiet, he wanted something to read. Nothing else was available; then he remembered the booklet. He read it, believed the glad message of salvation that it brought, and that night he was a saved soul, from henceforth to be a bright testimony for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Since then he has been blessed to the conversion of many others.

ML-09/11/1977

Joshua

Chapter 9:1-15

“And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; “That they gathered themselves tether, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.”

Here we have a great gathering together of kings and peoples to fight against Joshua and Israel. These nations might war among themselves, but Satan unites the world to fight against the Lord and His people. They had seen Israel beaten in the first battle against Ai, and although the Israelites had triumphed in the end, still they calculated that Israel was not invincible. So by a sheer display of power they hoped to crush the invaders of their land.

But Satan is a crafty foe; he hides himself, and though he be so little seen, he is there nevertheless, working unceasingly to overthrow the Christian’s testimony and to corrupt and destroy the truth of God. While some of his servants resort to the sword, others have deceit and lying as their weapons of warfare. Satan first raises up this tremendous power to terrify Israel, while at the same time his ambassadors are on the way to suggest the Israelites make a league with them. Thus the men of Gibeon “did work wilily.”

These inhabitants of Gibeon thought to try and make friends with Israel, and this they did in a very cunning way. They took old sacks and wine bottles, they put on old worn-out shoes and ragged clothes, and they took old mouldy bread. And they came to Joshua pretending they had come from afar.

When asked who they were and where they came from, they replied: “From a far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard of the fame of Him and all that He did in Egypt, and all that He did to the two kings... Sihon... and Og.... This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry and mouldy; and these bottles of wine, which we filled were new; and behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.”

Alas, their soft words and flattery overcame the princes of Israel. Even Joshua was deceived, for he made peace with them; he made a league with the very people whom God had told them to separate from and destroy. But these Hivites were skillful men, and they gained the day.

It says the men of Israel “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.” Scripture says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Prov. 3:5. The sorrowful results of that failure continued in Israel for centuries.

How many of us can look back upon a failure in our lives which brought a sorrow which we feel even today! But may we not be discouraged and give up. God’s grace is greater than all our failure, so while owning it, let us not “fail of the grace of God.” Heb. 12:15.

ML-09/11/1977

A Story From Mexico

Memory Verse: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10

The missionary and two native brothers were traveling by horseback through the mountains of Southern Mexico. They stopped at a little village for two nights and preached the gospel there. During the day the missionary sat near the door of the little house and answered questions and talked to those who came to see him.

One morning a young fellow came up, and looking the missionary over, he said, “I am come to argue with you. I don’t believe like you do.”

Not wishing to get into an argument, the missionary handed him a Bible instead, saying, “This is God’s Word. Read it and argue with IT if you wish.” Very surprised, the young fellow took the Bible, and sitting down in the shade of a tree, he began to read.

All day he read, and then stayed for the gospel preaching that night. The next day when the missionary moved on to the next town, the young man went with them. The following morning he gave back the Bible saying, “That is a good Book. I can’t find anything in it to argue about.”

One of the brothers gave him another Bible saying, “You seem to like the Bible. I give you this one to keep.”

The missionary heard no more from the young man. Then twenty years later, when visiting again in that district, he was holding some more gospel meetings. One night part of the service was set aside for testimonies.

The first man to get up grinned at the missionary and told the little audience how that many years ago he had come to argue, and remained to find the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

He had read the Bible given to him, and later he had been baptized by an evangelist. He himself was now preaching the gospel of the grace of God in that same district.

How wonderful are the ways of God in grace!

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (See Eph. 2:4-9.)

ML-09/18/1977

"Mommie, Are You a Christian?"

Mrs. Jackson was the wife of a prominent lawyer. For some days she had been under deep searchings of soul, but then the light of God shone into her darkened heart, showed her how great was her sin and need of salvation, showed her too how that Christ had died to put that sin away. To some Christian friends she told the account of her conversion.

“Last evening my little girl came to me and asked: ‘Mommie, are you a Christian?’ ‘No, Susie, I am not,’ I replied reluctantly.

“She turned and went away, and as she walked off I heard her say, ‘Well, if Mommie isn’t a Christian, I don’t want to be one.’

“And I tell you, my dear friends, it went right to my heart. I couldn’t rest until I had given myself up to the Lord Jesus.”

Father or mother, will you delay your decision for Christ when you know that some little boy or girl is following your footsteps leading down the broad road to destruction instead of on the narrow way to life and peace? Oh turn to the Saviour now and point those little ones to that blessed and only Saviour.

Jesus said: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.” Mark 9:14

ML-09/18/1977

A Young Soldier Saved

“You ask, Was I a Christian? Not me!” replied a young Canadian soldier in answer to a query. “I was wild and going to hell. But one night I was wounded and lay in a deserted shell hole, shot through the leg, and unable to move for fifteen hours. I was feeling about in my pocket for something to ease the pain, and all I could find was a little pocket Testament. Someone had given it to me, but I had never read it. I managed to get it out, and thinking it might be my last hour, and that I might never be found, I started to read and to try and forget my pain. I read Matthew 27, and Sir, the reading of that little Book brought such a change in my life. I have read a chapter every day since then. I came to realize what a great sinner I was, but I found Christ as my Saviour, as I read the story of His crucifixion.

“I was picked up by the infantry and carried to a hospital. One night when I could not sleep for pain, the nurse asked me if she could do anything for me. I asked her to read the Bible to me. She said she had never read it in her life, and I told her it was about time she did, if that was so. After she began reading, she said it helped her too.

“Yes, I say my prayers on my knees in the tent now. Another boy has joined me this week; and the language in the tent is getting better. Now I am no longer alone there on the field, for He is with me. It’s different now.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17.

ML-09/18/1977

Converted Young, or Never: A Plea for the Children

Are you a saved father, mother or guardian? If so, it may startle you, perhaps, and make you a little incredulous, when I say that if the little ones committed to your care are not converted in youth, it is most probable that they never will be converted at all.

At a meeting more than 1300 Christians were recently asked as to the period of their conversion. 1100 indicated that they were converted under 20 years of age; 180 were converted between 20 and 30; 35 between 30 and 40; 14 between 40 and 50; 8 between 50 and 60; over 60 only 2.

On another occasion, at a great convention of Christians in this country, one of the large audiences was tested. It was found that more than 2000 were converted under 20 years of age; 105 between 20 and 25; 41 between 25 and 30; 23 between 30 and 40; 2 between 40 and 50; and over 50 years old, 2. Only 171 were over 20 years of age at conversion out of at least 2200 Christians! Mothers and fathers, think of that!

Such facts teach their solemn lessons to all parents, teachers and Christian workers. The great harvest is to be gained among the young; and with multitudes it is “be converted young or never!”

ML-09/18/1977

Joshua

Chapter 9:16-22

The “dry and mouldy” bread with which the ambassadors of Gibeon deceived Joshua and the princes of Israel speak to us now of beliefs and religious forms and ceremonies in the church which, because of their antiquity, are looked upon as sacred. How seldom is the question asked, Are these things true according to the word of God? Instead, the fact that they are old is enough for many.

The “old garments” the Gibeonites wore carry this same thought of antiquity. Garments speak of our walk and ways, and how many live and do things in a religious way because their parents and generations before them did so, without inquiring of the Lord if this is the way He would have them to walk in.

But it is not God’s way to provide His children with stale bread. On the contrary He feeds our souls with that same Bread which He Himself enjoys. “My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” The Lord Jesus is “the bread of life"; and He has said, “He that cometh to Me shall never hunger.” John 6:32, 33, 35. The manna fell faithfully every morning along the wilderness march. Christ is the true Manna for us, And new supplies each hour we meet While traveling home to God.

Wine speaks of joy, and “wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up” tell of joys long departed, but the outward form of things kept up. Now the Christian is told to “Rejoice in the Lord alway,” and this is a joy that does not run out as long as we are going on with Him.

The princes of Israel had respect to the “old sacks, the old wine bottles, the old garments and shoes, and the dry mouldy bread,” and they made a league with the Gibeonites. Thus the enemy gained a foothold in the very camp of Israel.

In the history of the church, we can see how Satan has led men to adopt “the traditions of men” and things of antiquity to set aside the truth of God. He is a master in deceit, and we too can fail if we are like these men of Israel who “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.” May we be much in prayer and humbly following God’s word so that we may be kept from failing.

Three days later Israel found out that these Gibeonites were their neighbors. The people were very angry with the princes and wanted to destroy the Gibeonites. But the princes said, We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel, so therefore we may not touch them. Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the people. And so they did, but they only proved a great sorrow and disgrace to Israel.

When Satan cannot overcome the people of God, it is often his way to try and deceive them. He likes to get God’s children to keep company with the world, because then he can make them forget God and be content to go on as the world.

God has said, Every foot where your feet shall tread shall be yours, but Israel lost the cities of the Gibeonites. Their feet did not tread there. God allowed them to feel what they had lost by their unfaithfulness.

ML-09/18/1977

The Dam That Would Not Hold

Memory Verse: “Be it known unto you therefore ... that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” Acts 13:38

The Teton Dam in Eastern Idaho stood taller than a 30-story building. It was three fifths of a mile long, spanning the deep canyon of the Teton River with its enormous walls of broken volcanic rock. Millions of tons of clay, sand, silt, gravel and rock were used in the construction of the dam, and though some had strongly argued against building it, concerned that it might not hold up, nevertheless the dam was built and declared to be entirely safe.

The first hint of disaster came on June 5, 1976 when at 7 o’clock in the morning one of the workers at the dam site noticed two small leaks of water coming out of the canyon wall near the edge of the dam. This did not look too serious, but by 10:30 the second leak was spilling onto the dam itself and began to erode a good-sized hole in the edge of the dam. It was then that Mr. Robertson, the chief engineer, began to be concerned that the dam might break.

Mr. Robertson ordered the construction crew to bring in two huge bulldozers and try to push great boulders into the hole on the face of the dam. However, the bulldozers sank into the sand and mud, and the drivers barely escaped with their lives.

By 11 o’clock it was clear that the dam was doomed. Another leak could be seen on the far side near the base. Mr. Robertson telephoned a short message to the sheriffs of the towns below: “Believe that the Teton Dam may break. Notify people below the dam of possibility.”

The local radio stations were informed of the danger, and though the warning messages went out, no one realized how quickly the collapse would actually come.

Don Ellis, owner of a radio station, casually decided to visit the dam and just see how bad the situation really was. What he saw was horrifying, and he broadcasted a description of the disaster on the radio so that many were able to escape the terrible deluge. The edge of the dam eroded away from bottom to top, and Don Ellis watched in horror as the whole side of the dam collapsed. A 40-foot wall of water plunged down the canyon, sloshing from side to side, but behind it came a roaring flood that crested to 100 feet high, sweeping everything before it. Down the canyon and into the Snake River Valley poured the mighty waters carrying with them people, animals, automobiles, houses, barns, trees and bridges in their path. Eleven persons and thousands of cattle perished in the overwhelming tide. Men had trusted in a dam that simply couldn’t hold!

The Teton Dam disaster reminds us of a worse flood that is coming, when the judgment of God comes on this sinful world. Nothing will stem the awful tide in that day, and it will be too late to seek a place of refuge. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Rom. 1:18.

There is a place of refuge from the coming wrath NOW, however, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour whom God Himself has sent into this world to save sinners. “For when we were yet without strength [unable to help ourselves] Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:6. Christ is the sure refuge and only hope of the sinner. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under ‘heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. All who put their trust in Jesus now will be safe in that day; but all others will be cut off in those terrible waters of eternal judgment.

How many trust in their good character, their good deeds or their religion for their soul’s salvation, but these things, like the Teton Dam, will all prove to be unsafe and useless in the day of judgment. What are you trusting in, dear reader?

Do not put off the salvation of your soul until it is too late. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2. “Flee from the wrath to come.” Luke 3:7. “Trust in the Lord", the Rock of Ages, and be safe forever.

ML-09/25/1977

Friend of the Red-Legged Partridges

Breaking through the soft earth of a newly-sown field of grain, a native was seen to climb slowly and painfully out of his grave. He had been seized and stowed away as dead in the larder or cupboard of a crocodile—a cave in the river bank. This is the story as told by Mr. Clark of the Congo.

Mr. Clark had just purchased and handed to his cook a partridge which looked like good eating. Minutes later he saw a native coming up the path on the run. Out of breath the man said, “Bwana, have you just bought a red-legged partridge?”

“Yes,” said the missionary, “what about it?”

“I want to redeem it.”

“You’re too late; the cook has just killed it.”

The man was quite distressed, and the missionary got this story from him.

Some years before the African had been taken by a crocodile which had carried him off onto the river bank, and placed him, apparently drowned, with a badly torn leg on a ledge where the water was only a few inches deep. (The crocodile is said to like its meat “high” and always has a larder somewhere handy.) Waking up very sick and in great pain, the terrified prisoner got rid of most of the water he had swallowed, and began to take note of his surroundings. The cave floor was under water and the air was very stuffy. The roof was of earth.

As he lay there, he heard something tapping overhead. He decided that he must be under a garden which came to the river’s edge. The tapping was made by the red-legged partridges which were picking up the seeds that had fallen on the hard ground on the river bank. So the roof could not be very thick. He managed to scrape a hole through and was rescued.

“Bwana,” said he, “I’m known as ‘the friend of the red-legged partridges.’ They saved my life, and whenever I can I buy them and set them free.”

We are sure that the missionary did not lose the opportunity to tell him of One who had done more than red-legged partridges for us all. It cost the birds nothing, but the man was grateful. It cost the Son of God, that blessed Saviour of sinners, His life to redeem us that we might have eternal life and escape the due reward of our deeds.

“Christ died for the ungodly... Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:6, 8.

ML-09/25/1977

Joshua

Chapter 10:1-13

Israel had failed when they made peace with the Gibeonites, and God let them feel what they lost by want of faithfulness to Him. Nevertheless, they were earnest and true, so He went on with them still and fought for them.

However, they were soon made to feel the sad results of their league with the Gibeonites, for instead of the Gibeonites helping them in battle, Israel had to help defend their allies.

The kings and nations who were united against Israel in the 9th chapter when they found that the Gibeonites had made terms with Israel, joined forces, the five kings and their armies, to fight against Gibeon.

Then the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at Gilgal saying, “Slack not thy hand from thy servant; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal and all the men of war with him.

This time, however, it was not without a word from the Lord, for the Lord said to him, “Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.” Israel had profited by the humbling defeat at Ai and from their failure with the Gibeonites, and furthermore, they had returned to Gilgal, where pride and the flesh are humbled. Now the Lord was for them, and not against them. So they could go up with confidence being assured of victory.

How marvelously the Lord undertook for Israel in this battle. “And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Betoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.”

It was the Lord’s battle and He rained great hailstones from heaven upon the enemy, so that there were more killed by the hailstones than were slain by the Israelites. The mighty intervention of God in casting down those great hailstones from heaven reminds us of the time when “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” 2 Thess. 1:7-9.

Israel wielded the sword of the Lord, while He Himself in the great stones He cast down upon the enemy displayed His anger from heaven against the Canaanites, those worshipers of demons and their wicked ways.

Furthermore, something happened that day that had never taken place before nor since, for Joshua addressed the Lord—(how wonderful!) and said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies... So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down about a whole day.” The most high God, possessor of heaven and earth (Gen. 14:19) wrought that day in a most marvelous way for Israel. Both sun and moon obeyed the bidding of His servant, until the sinners of Canaan were destroyed.

ML-09/25/1977

Little Elder Sister

Memory Verse: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47

She was a little Chinese girl who lived in Malaya, and she was known as Elder Sister. Her father and mother were very fond of her, and she was a good help in caring for Younger Sister and her small brothers as well.

But now Elder Sister was sad at heart. Her father was in debt, and if he did not pay back the money he owed to the money lender, he would be in great trouble. Elder Sister’s grandfather had once said that long ago in China parents used to sell their daughters to people who wanted servants. Sometimes they sold them for keeps, sometimes just for a few years. “Much money was paid for a strong, hard-working girl,” the old man had said.

This set little Elder Sister to thinking. Poor little pagan girl, brought up among people who had so many gods; she never heard of that salvation which could be had “without money and without price.”

In the city where they lived were many white people. White people had more money than the Chinese and Malayas; they paid good wages to their servants. But Elder Sister made up her mind to sell herself outright and pay off her father’s debt at once.

Putting on her nicest clothes and combing her black hair, she made her way to a house of her choice and timidly tapped on the door. A little fair-haired, blue-eyed English girl appeared, and smiling at the little visitor she said, “Good morning, do you want to see Mother?”

Surely it was God’s guiding hand which led little Elder Sister to that door, because people in that house were true followers of the Lord Jesus. They had gone to that land to preach His gospel of redeeming love.

“Yes, please,” replied Elder Sister.

Just then a white lady appeared, and with a kindly smile she asked, “How can I help you, little Sister?”

“Would you buy me for eighty dollars?” she asked.

She then told about her father being in debt, and they had no money, and tears rolled down the little girl’s cheeks as she spoke.

Then the white man appeared, and after talking together with him the lady said, “Little Sister, we could not buy you. But we can help you like this. Would you like to come and work here to help me in the house and to be a playmate to my little daughter. We would lend you that eighty dollars and you could work without pay until you earned it.”

Elder Sister raised her shining eyes; it sounded too good to be true.

“But you must first get permission from your parents,” said the lady. “Go home now and tell them, and tomorrow I will come and see them myself.”

Little Elder Sister ran home and told her parents her story. They listened and then they talked things over with Grandfather. “Let the child go,” he said. “The Christians are good people-she will learn only good from them.”

Elder Sister went back to the white people and did indeed “learn only good.” She learned of the Saviour who bought with His own precious blood men and women and children, Chinese as well as white.

When she came home in the evenings, Elder Sister had much to tell her family. Little by little the Chinese girl came to know the love of Christ and His salvation—of a God who cares for the children and longs to have them for His own.

Quick to learn, before her debt was paid off, she could read a little. They gave her a little copy of the gospel of John in Chinese, and she took this home and spelled out its blessed message to her family.

The time came when Elder Sister told her parents she wanted to be baptized, but they raised no objections. The little girl’s heart was full of joy. She felt the day would come when others in that household would find the joy that she had found and know the Lord Jesus and accept His gift... given “without money and without price.”

ML-10/02/1977

Albert Lunde

A young Norwegian farm boy stood gazing wistfully down the long fjord out into the misty North Sea. Every time he looked out over the sea, it seemed to beckon him to leave his little farm and to venture out into the great world beyond. A few years later he sailed for the USA where he joined the Navy.

“Peter began to sink!” These strange words he overheard one day from a Christian preacher, and from that moment Albert began to think of eternal things. He felt he was not right with God, and knew not how he could get rid of his sins and find peace for his burdened conscience. He gave up going with his sinful companions and instead went to hear the gospel preached. Then one evening sitting at home he read in his Bible Romans 8:32, and noticed the two “alls"; as he grasped their meaning, everything became clear.

“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us ALL, how shall He not with Him also freely give us ALL things.” These were wonderful words indeed, and they proved to Albert without a doubt that God had made a full provision for all who dared to trust the Son of God as Saviour. God in infinite righteousness had dealt with his sins when Jesus died. God had spared him from the judgment due to his sins, because his blessed Substitute had answered for them; he was free and God was satisfied.

The first “all” assured him that Christ had cleared him forever from all guilt and judgment and had brought peace, for his sins were gone. But now the second “all” took all his fear away. God was now his Father, and would supply his every need. It was the golden key to his future and like a door opening to his new path of life.

For a time Albert worked among the Norwegian farmers in North Dakota, giving them the gospel, and then he returned to Norway where he traveled preaching the same glad tidings.

ML-10/02/1977

An Earthquake

One Sunday southern Norway was violently shaken by an earthquake which caused great excitement in the country. That evening people rushed to the building where young Albert Lunde was to preach the gospel. A revival broke out which continued for several years, and crowds filled the largest halls in the country.

Once when a big crowd waited outside a large music hall in Oslo, a business man, having completed his work, decided to attend a place of amusement. Seeing the large music hall crowd, he joined in and found himself inside where the building was packed. After some singing and prayer, he at last realized his error, but he could not get out, so he listened to Albert Lunde. That night the business man was converted and became an active Christian worker in the town where he lived.

Albert Lunde was used in the salvation of many, including one of the presidents of Finland.

When Albert died, a very large company attended his funeral. There were no flowers on his coffin, but instead his Bible was opened at Romans 8:32—“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us ALL, how shall He not with Him also freely give us ALL things?”

ML-10/02/1977

The Snake and the Bird

A man once traveling through Ceylon was greatly charmed with the beautiful birds and their wonderful plumage. Suddenly his eye caught sight of a poor frightened bird on a tree. He stole nearer and watched. There on the ground with coiled body and raised head was a cobra. Its tongue darted in and out, its dazzling eyes and rapid movements had fascinated and held captive the lovely little victim. Nearer and nearer it fluttered. It was being drawn to destruction.

The traveler could stand it no longer. So lifting a big stone, he hurled it at the head of the snake. The spell was broken. With a scream the bird flew away, delivered just in time.

If you are unsaved, dear reader, may God open your eyes to see the awful power of Satan, the dreadfulness of sin, and its terrible end if unforgiven. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

Like the helpless little bird, you too can be delivered out of the clutches of Satan and from the power of sin.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,

He sets the prisoner free,

His blood can make the foulest clean,

His blood availed for me.

Do not delay, but trust the Saviour now and know the liberty that is in Christ Jesus.

“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD: THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.” John 10:11

ML-10/02/1977

Joshua

Joshua 10:14-21

“And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.” The sun shone brightly all day upon Gibeon, and the moon shed its light over Ajalon, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. For the Lord fought for Israel.

Then Joshua returned and all Israel with him to the camp to Gilgal. We might wonder why they would keep returning to Gilgal after each victory. Why would they not push on ahead and pitch their camp somewhere else?

Surely God has a lesson here for us for whom these things were written. Gilgal was the place of circumcision, and typically this speaks of the judgment of our fallen nature in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well for us if we keep going back to the cross and see all that we are as men in the flesh was judged there—self gone in the death of Christ.

Furthermore, none but circumcised people—that is, those who had God’s mark on them, could be His soldiers. True soldiers are those who have no will of their own; they have only to obey the word of command. They are also those who have given up their selfishness, whose fears have been all lost in the Jordan. They do not think of suffering or of danger; they know that God has all power, and they go straight on where His word tells them to go.

After every victory Israel went back to Gilgal, and there they saw the twelve stones which they had taken out of Jordan. There they were reminded of how Joshua, their captain, was magnified to them on the day when they knew that the living God was among them.

The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus is our Gilgal. When we really learn what that is, we give up our own will, and in His death, we get cut off from our selfishness and pride, and we bear the mark of it; that is, we show in our ways that our evil will is gone and all our pride and boasting. If the children of Israel had stayed at Gibeon, they might have said, “We have had a great victory today,” and they might have felt proud of it; but when they got back to Gilgal and saw the twelve stones there where God had wiped away the reproach of Egypt, they could not have any proud feelings. They must have felt that God had done wonderful things; they would be glad and rejoice in it. Gilgal is also a place of praise.

While the children of Israel were chasing their enemies, the five kings were hid in a cave. When Joshua heard of it, he told the people to roll great stones to the mouth of the cave and to continue the pursuit of the enemy until they were defeated.

It is a great thing to continue in conflict until there is victory. Perhaps there is a tendency to stop short in our efforts as soon as we begin to see some results, but let us not forget the exhortation, “Continue thou.” 2 Tim. 3:14. An old Christian used to often say, “It is a great thing to go on!”

“IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN.”

Psa. 118:8.

ML-10/02/1977

Safe Inside the Circle

Memory Verse: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25

It was Larry’s job to look after the cows. Often he had to go into the woods to look for them. How he wished he had a dog to help him, but Larry didn’t have a dog.

One evening when he went to look for the cows, he couldn’t find them anywhere. He went into the woods to see if they were there. Sure enough, among the trees, he caught sight of them. What a strange sight he saw!

The cows were all standing in a circle with their heads to the outside. They were looking very fierce. Larry was afraid. He ran home as fast as he could and told his father.

“Some wild animal must be near,” said his father, and he went to get his rifle. Larry ran to the neighbor who also came with his rifle and big dog, Rover. Together they all went back into the woods. The cows were still standing in the circle.

Rover sniffed the air, then he ran to a big tree and began to bark furiously. Looking up, Father and the neighbor saw a large wild animal-a panther, stretched out on one of the lower branches.

“Bang! Bang!” went both their rifles. The panther fell dead.

As they began to drive the cows home, what do you think they found inside the circle? They found the little calves there. Not one of them had been hurt! The faithful mothers had protected their little ones.

This story makes me think of how all those who trust in the Lord Jesus are kept safe inside of a circle too. He puts a circle of protection around each and all His own. Psalm 34:7 tells us that: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Again in Psalm 125:2 we read: “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever.”

How good it is to be safe inside of God’s circle! There the Lord Jesus keeps His own safe from the enemy day by day. M.D.J.

ML-10/09/1977

An Unsafe Refuge

David and Daryl had a favorite fishing spot, a small island in the Teton River in Idaho. Though they had to wade waist-deep through the water to get there, still it was a place they especially loved, and the willow trees at one end of the island made it more interesting.

On July 5, 1976, the morning the Teton Dam broke, the two boys had gone on a little fishing trip on the island. Daryl carried Gus, the pup, across to the island where they arrived about 10:30, and for an hour and a half the boys had a great time fishing.

In the meantime just six miles upstream, the Teton Dam had sprung a bad leak. In an amazingly short time one whole side of the dam collapsed, and a huge wall of water 100 feet high, thundered down the canyon and into the valley toward the unsuspecting boys. Lewis Hart, a local pilot, heard news of the disaster and took off immediately in his plane to alert anyone who might be in danger. From 15 miles away Lewis could see the floods surging down the canyon. Flying low over the island, he saw the two boys fishing, unconcerned.

Lewis flew over low again and again waving at them and yelling at the top of his voice. Then he waggled his wings, but the boys kept on fishing, unimpressed. They thought he was just showing off.

But the fatal waters were coming. The boys ignored the warning, even though in ignorance. And this makes us think of many today who ignore the warnings of coming judgment. Some are willingly ignorant and so let the warnings of the Word of God go unheeded. But the judgment of God against sin is surely coming regardless of whether men heed the warning message or not.

One minute the little island was dry; the next it was unexplainably under water. The boys climbed into the willow trees. Then Daryl turned and saw a 20-foot wall of mud and water, thick with logs and uprooted trees surging towards them at about 20 miles per hour. Realizing that the willows were no safe place, he yelled to David, “Jump in". Daryl plunged into the river, but David thought the willows were safer and just clung more tightly to his tree. Over them both went the wall of water. Daryl was crushed between the logs, and somehow he made his way to the surface, and catching hold of a cottonwood tree, he climbed into the fork, and a few hours later he was rescued.

David, however, could not be found. He thought he was safe in the willow tree, but it was no place of safety. The next day they found his body, still in the same clump of willows. They had proved to be an unsafe refuge.

How many boys and girls, and older folks too, are like David. They hope they have found a safe refuge for their souls, but they are trusting in their own thoughts and good deeds, their acts of charity and other things. Some think the church will save them at the end; some think because their parents are Christians that they are safe. But none of these are a safe refuge for the soul. Scripture says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12.

There is no salvation apart from that which God Himself has prided. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour, who died upon the cross for sinners is God’s way to be saved. We must be saved God’s way, or not saved at all.

“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.”

ML-10/09/1977

100 Years Too Late

Some time ago a newspaper firm celebrated their hundredth anniversary. To commemorate the printing of their first newspaper, they reprinted thousands of copies of their first issue and distributed them to all the houses in their district.

Mrs. Jones found a newspaper pushed through her letter box that day, and not noticing the date, she began to read the ads. By and by her eyes lighted on these words! “Wanted—woman to clean office daily! Apply Morning Messenger!”

“Just the job for me,” murmured Mrs. Jones. “I want work and I’ll be the first to apply for the job.” Putting on her hat and coat she hastened to the newspaper office. The clerk who interviewed her looked puled: “We are not hiring anyone to clean our offices,” he said; “You must have been misinformed.”

“Oh no!” she protested; “there’s no mistake — I saw the ad in today’s Morning Messenger — see, here it is.”

Producing the paper she had found in her letter box, she pointed to the ad. The clerk smiled: “You are just 100 years too late,” he remarked as he pointed her to the date on the front page. “This paper is a copy of our first issue. The opening you applied for has long been filled. You are a hundred years too late.”

One day soon the Lord Jesus will come and take all those who have trusted Him as their Saviour home to heaven. No doubt many will read the way of salvation in that day and will come and seek to enter in, but they will be forever too late. The door will be shut. Come to the Saviour now while it is the day of grace.

Only a step to Jesus!

O why not come and say,

Gladly to Thee, my Saviour,

I give myself today.

ML-10/09/1977

Joshua

Chapter 10:20-43

After the great victory at Gibeon all the people returned in peace to Joshua at Makkedah. Then Joshua told them to bring out the five kings who had hid in the cave. When they had done so he told the captains of the men of war to put their feet on the necks of those kings to show that they had conquered them. It was an expression of the complete overthrow of all the power of Canaan by the Lord’s army. These Canaanitish kings had to bow to Israel and this act was meant to impress the people with this fact.

But it is well to remember that the power that overcame the Canaanites was the power of God. Were it not for that, no proud Amorite head would have bowed to Israel. May we not forget that only by the power of God, and when walking in obedience, can we as Christians expect to overcome the world and Satan.

Then Joshua repeated again the same words which at the beginning had stirred and encouraged them in the conflict. “Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of a good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”

Afterward Joshua slew those kings and hanged them on five trees until the evening. Then at sundown he commanded them to be taken down and cast into the cave. And they covered up the mouth of the cave with great stones “which remain until this very day.”

Those five kings represent the power of the world of which Satan is prince. Our Joshua is Christ Jesus Himself, the risen Man in the heavenly places. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Rom. 8:37), “because, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The complete conquest of Satan is near at hand for “the God of peace shall bruise [tread] Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rom. 16:20.)

After those five kings had been conquered and slain, Israel marched triumphantly through the land. One city after another fell before Joshua and his armies—Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, Debir—for “the Lord delivered them” into Israel’s hands, and so they took possession of the whole of the south country, with its hills, its valleys and its springs. Joshua smote all their kings;” he left none remaining but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.” “And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God fought for Israel.”

The secret of Joshua’s success was that he acted in implicit obedience to God— “as the Lord God of Israel commanded.” Thus God was with him and used him mightily. It was a very great conquest “at one time,” and surely this ought to stir us as soldiers of Jesus Christ to more faith and devotedness, to act in simple obedience to Him.

After the campaign was over, Joshua and all Israel returned to Gilgal, the place of circumcision. Gilgal for us is the cross of Christ, where self, the flesh, is put in the place of death. Perhaps there is no time more dangerous than after a victory, for if we are not watchful and humble, the flesh in us will begin to take pride in our success and glory in the triumphs of grace. Let us not forget to get “back to Gilgal” after each victory, and then the Lord can continue to use us for His glory, not for our own, as He used Joshua and Israel in the next chapter.

ML-10/09/1977

Ben Ladda

Memory Verse: “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Proverbs 8:17

Ben lived in one of the loveliest, loneliest spots on the wild sea coast. The boom of the great waves dashing against the cliffs sounded in his ears continually.

It was winter time, and this evening people were coming from miles around, crowding into a little hall in a quaint village by the seaside. Ben went, first of all, because it was something to do after dark, and partly because his parents had brought him up to go with them to Sunday school.

But there was still another reason. There was a lot of talk about a young fellow, scarcely older than Ben himself, who had come to the village and had been telling the old, old story of Jesus and His love. God was using him mightily. Ben wanted to see him—to hear for himself what it was all about.

So Ben went, and a surprise awaited him. There was really nothing new—nothing the least bit sensational. Only the old, old story of God’s love to a lost world—a story which after all is ever new. The uplifting on the cross of One who said, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me.” His power still waits to bring men and women to see themselves as sinners in God’s sight, and by repentance and faith in His precious blood shed on the cross of Calvary, to know forgiveness of sins and peace with Him.

As Ben listened he realized that this was just the message of God for His own heart. He had known it in his head since childhood! Tonight he came face to face with the question: “Is there any reason why you should not accept the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour?” There was no reason and Ben knew it! That night with tears of real repentance, he came boldly out for Christ and yielded himself unreservedly to God.

What gladness there was in Ben’s heart and in his home that night! How little did his father and mother and those who knew and loved Ben guess that he had accepted Christ’s salvation—just in time!

Soon after this Ben went into the machine shed to help get the farm implements ready for Spring. There was one large engine with a huge flywheel, and in some unknown way Ben’s overalls got caught in the belt. Poor Ben was picked up and whirled around by the flying wheel, flung to the ground, torn, mangled, unconscious! He never recovered, and the Lord took him to be with Himself.

There was the deepest sorrow in Ben’s home, but “Oh!” said his mother through her tears, “how different it would have been if Ben had not yielded himself to God—just in time.”

Dear reader, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

ML-10/16/1977

Saved by a Sheep

A big warship was lying off the coast of Portsmouth, when a very loud noise was heard. As the people on shore looked to see what it was, the big ship burst into flames.

A father and mother of their little boy were on the burning ship. The father took one of the biggest sheep on board, tied his little son to its back, and dropped them both into the sea. The sheep swam to the land, and the dear little boy was saved.

Could the tiny boy do anything to save himself?

No, he could do nothing but lie still.

And you, dear little boy or girl, need to be saved, too. All you can do is to trust yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. He loves little children, and died for them. It was—He who said, “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14.

When He did all this for you, ought not you to trust Him, and to love Him in return?

ML-10/16/1977

Who Was He?

He killed a lion and a bear,

But Scripture does not tell us where.

You’ll find this story in 1 Samuel 17

ML-10/16/1977

What Is It?

First in LANDS but not in SEA,

Next in BOUND but not in FREE.

Third in MOON but not in SUN,

Fourth in WALK not in RUN.

Fifth in ICE but not in SNOW,

Six in PLANT but not in GROW.

In STRENGTH and also MIGHT,

Next not in DARKNESS not in LIGHT

Not in POMP but found in GLORY

Next in TALE but not in STORY,

Next in NOISE but not in THUNDER,

Last in SIGN but not in WONDER.

ML-10/16/1977

A Squirrel's Hiding Place

For the third time Mr. Jenkins had to do a repair job on that piece of cement. The first time a lady stepped right into it. The second time some children had scraped some of the soft concrete into their little buckets.

Now it was all messed up again! Mr. Squirrel had decided to bury his acorns beneath the soft cement.

Mr. Jenkins chased Squirrel away, and threw out the acorns. “Three times and out!” said Mr. Jenkins, as he smoothed out the cement with his trowel. But he was thinking what would have happened if the acorns had remained there. Squirrel would have returned later, perhaps late in the year, and would have found that he could no longer dig up his acorns. The soft cement would, be as hard as a rock.

Squirrel thought he had found a good hiding place for his nuts, but he was mistaken! He had put his treasure where he would never see it again!

The Lord Jesus tells those who trust in Him, to lay up treasure in heaven, not on the earth. On earth thieves can break in and steal, and other things can come in and spoil. But in heaven all is safe.

He is our treasure in heaven now, and we can lay up treasure there. Everything done for Him, any little service for His own or to others in love to Him, even every thought of Him, He puts to our account up there. No one can take it from us; it is all in His safekeeping. What a wonderful Saviour and Friend Jesus is!

ML-10/16/1977

Who Was She?

A girl who was so very glad,

Some people thought she must be mad?

Read about her in Acts 12.

ML-10/16/1977

The Old Blind Beggar

In the province of Shunan, China, some missionaries used to hold a service for poor beggars from time to time. At the close each one who attended was presented at the door with a gift.

At the end of one of these services, and almost the last to leave, stood an aged and totally blind man. It was pathetic to see his vacant stare as he held out his empty hands for the gift. At first he stretched out his hands to one and another of the missionaries at the front of the room, but they themselves did not have the gift to give him. The gifts were being handed out by one at the door. Perceiving the old man’s plight, a young Christian lady laid a gentle hand on the old man’s arm and led him to the one who was distributing the gifts. She took the hand of the blind seeker and put it into the hand that gave. At once the old man got the gift and went on his way pleased and contented.

Until we come to the Saviour, we too are blind spiritually, and not until the Lord Jesus opens our eyes can we see. Perhaps someone is seeking to lead you to the Hand that gives—that gives light, and life, and peace. All these and more the Lord Jesus gives to those that seek Him.

“I give unto them eternal life.” John 10:28.

“The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

“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.”

ML-10/16/1977

News From Chile

A colporteur sold books to a man down in Chile. “I was a very bad man,” says Roberto, “and cared for nothing but sin and pleasure. I bought a little Book from a traveler one day, not knowing what it contained. A neighbor said it was a bad book, so I quit reading it and began using it as wadding for my gun. One day I took out of my pocket a leaf of the Book and began reading it. God in His goodness opened my eyes to behold the truth. I vowed I would use no more of the little Book for my gun. I pasted a back on what was left of it and began to read it, and in a short time God revealed His truth to my poor soul.”

ML-10/16/1977

Joshua

Chapter 11:1-14

After Joshua’s successful campaign that gained for Israel the south country, we next hear of a great confederacy of kings and peoples in the north. Unable to defeat Israel by subtlety, the enemy would now try by a massive display of force to swamp Israel. Under the leadership of Jabin, king of Hazor, they come down “even as the sand that is upon the seashore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.”

Alas, for them; it was all the easier to crush them when they were all gathered together. God let them come against Israel in order that He might destroy them all. He told Joshua: “Be not afraid because of them: for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel.”

At the bidding of the Lord, Israel came suddenly upon them, hamstrung and destroyed their horses, burnt their chariots, smote their armies, and left none remaining. In Psalm 20:7 the psalmist says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” The peoples of Canaan trusted in their horses and chariots. Therefore, they were to be destroyed lest Israel should imitate them, and, trusting in such power forsake their confidence in the Lord.

How often has God been pleased to work deliverance for His people by means which do not glorify man! David’s stone and sling, Samson’s jawbone of an ass, Gideon’s pitchers and trumpets, witness to the way God has wrought deliverance in times past. “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.... that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Cor. 1:27, 29. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord.” Zech. 4:6.

“And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword.” Hazor, that city of strength, was the fortress and head of those kingdoms; Jabin had ruled from there. But now this center of government was burnt with fire and totally destroyed; not a soul was left to breathe.

Perhaps it might be asked, Why not save the city to be a center and capital for Israel? But God would have none of it. He will have His own center. Jerusalem was to be the capital of Jehovah’s land, the City of the great King. For us, God’s center is the New Man, the Lord Jesus, not the old man rebuilt or altered to suit us.

The burning of Hazor reminds us that we are not to imitate the world, or copy its greatness. “In Christ... all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17. In this new creation “all things are of God” who is “all in all.”

ML-10/16/1977

Not yet

Not yet the battle won,

Not yet the trials through,

Not yet the race of patience run,

Not yet the end in view:

But still our course we steer

Impelled by sacred love,

Our hands engaged in service here

Our hearts on things above.

ML-10/16/1977

A Mother's Love

Memory Verse: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Mr. and Mrs. Warner and their six-year-old son and daughter lived deep in N.W. Queensland, Australia, 84 miles away from the railway. Mr. Warner and little Anne had to go to town for provisions. While they were gone Peter became ill, so ill that Mother decided to get him to the doctor. The nearest doctor was 200 miles away, and there was no telephone or telegraph nearer than the railway.

Mrs. Warner packed up some food, saddled her horse, and together they started out. Heavy rains made the journey a nightmare. She put Peter on the front of the saddle. On the way she had to pass over mountains and deep valleys. One night they took shelter in a cave in the mountain side. Peter moaned all night in agony. The next day about sundown they came to a swollen stream and found shelter in an old deserted shack.

Next morning at dawn she swam her horse across the creek, and after another day of slow travel they came to a bank of another swollen stream. They took shelter under a big gum tree. Then, making poor Peter as comfortable as possible, she sat down and waited for daylight. Morning saw her pushing her horse through the flooded creek. Then at last she arrived at the railway station about noon. The horse was exhausted and she was practically unconscious through want of sleep and lack of food.

Peter was put on the train which had been delayed by the floods, and brought to town where on arrival he was hurriedly operated on. The operation was successful and Peter was spared.

Here is another example of a mother’s love which would not let her boy go into death without straining every nerve to save him. Love held on, worked on, suffered on till it won.

This is a faint picture of Another’s greater love. He saw that the sentence of death was upon us, due to our sins. Our plight was desperate, hopeless and helpless of ourselves, and God, who is Love, “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.

The blessed Saviour sought until He found us. Love would not let us go into death, and no effort was too great and no sacrifice too costly for Him to accomplish this.

Blessed be His Name. Don’t you love Him, dear reader, because He first loved you?

O love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in Thee,

I give Thee back the life I owe,

That in Thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

ML-10/23/1977

How Grace Won in Mexico

In a small town in Mexico there was a violent outbreak against the little band of Christians living there. An angry mob, mostly women, went through the town killing and beating the followers of Jesus, and setting fire to their homes, including the little stone chapel.

Soldiers were sent to restore order, and the chapel was rebuilt. Two months later a visiting evangelist came and held meetings there again. Before each service they had special prayer. One little native girl said, “Oh Lord, don’t let them come and kill us tonight!”

After one meeting a man came in and told the evangelist he had been standing outside the door in the dark listening. He told of how he had been one of the mob that killed some of the Christians that terrible night. One of the slain young ladies, Sister Mary they called her, left an unforgettable impression on his memory. As they tormented and tortured her, they offered to spare her life if she would give up her faith and worship an idol they carried. He could never forget her reply.

“Twenty years I have served Jesus,” she said; “He has never been unfaithful to me. Then why should I deny Him now?”

For this she was brutally slain, carried outside of the town and left in an open field for the vultures.

He could never forget her faithful testimony, and knowing there was a gospel meeting that night, he had come to hear more of Jesus. The blessed Spirit of God was at work in that poor repentant sinner’s soul. He could not rest until he accepted Christ as his Saviour, and He who never turns any one away spoke peace to his troubled soul. The last word we had of him was that he was now one with the little band of believers he had once persecuted, and living for Jesus.

ML-10/23/1977

Ina Mfumu

King Mushidi was an old tyrant who reigned over a large stretch of Africa in the days when Mr. Arnot lived and labored in his country. Although kind to Mr. Arnot, he was very cruel to his countrymen. The stockade, inside which was his royal residence, had a human skull on each post.

However, the good news preached by Mr. Arnot and those who followed him found a lodging place in many hearts, including some of Mushidi’s own family. The old chief’s own wife was saved by the grace of God, and for years she was in happy fellowship with the believers in that district.

She suffered many hardships. Her hard life probably did not fit her for the nicely furnished homes in our civilized lands, but by grace, through that blessed work of redemption wrought by the Lord Jesus for her upon the cross of Calvary, she was fitted for the heavenly mansions above.

“In My Father’s house are many mansions:... I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2, 3.

ML-10/23/1977

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

An African boy asked a missionary, “What do you put on the faces of the Christian children to make them shine so much?”

“Nothing,” answered the missionary. “It is the light shining out from inside.”

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,

To shine for Him each day;

In everything try to please Him,

At home, at school, at play.

ML-10/23/1977

The Gospel Sound

Free as the air and sunshine is the gospel sound,

Telling of salvation unto all around,

Making known God’s mercy and His wondrous grace,

To the lost and guilty men of Adam’s race.

Chorus:

’Tis the gospel—sounded plain and clear;

’Tis the gospel—tell it far and near;

’Tis the gospel—so you need not fear,

You may have salvation now—just while you’re here.

Peace it brings, and pardon, for the soul distrest,

All who will believe it are forever blest:

Hope it gives of glory and eternal joy,

And in praise and worship does our lips employ.

Soon the door of mercy will have closed for aye;

Soon the day of favor will have passed away;

Soon some present with us will be here no more—

In eternal darkness or on heaven’s bright shore.

A.H.L.

ML-10/23/1977

A Cricketer Won for Christ

C.T. Studd was a great cricketer; his success and popularity were increasing. He planned to devote his life to that sport. However, he met the Lord Jesus Christ one day and bowed to Him as his Lord and Saviour. This changed his whole life’s plans. How could he give his life to sport, he asked himself, when there were millions who never heard the story of Jesus and His love?

And so for him the change eventually meant going to the heart of Africa where for many years he had the joy of leading numbers of natives to the Saviour.

If Christ has won your heart, He may not lead you to go to Africa, or to some foreign field; perhaps He wants you to stay right at home and there live and witness for Him.

“Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” Luke 8:39.

ML-10/23/1977

Jenny Lind's Confession

Jenny Lind, the wonderful soprano singer, was born in Sweden in 1820. She was able to sing as soon as she could walk. Jenny Lind moved to England and America by the beauty of her voice, and was called the Swedish Nightingale.

Once when at the height of her popularity in America, she was asked to write a few lines in an album. She wrote:

In vain I seek for rest,

In all created good;

It leaves me still unblest,

And makes me cry for God;

And sure at rest I ne’er can be,

Until my soul finds rest in Thee.

What was true of Jenny Lind is true of each one of us. Have you found the rest which only Christ can give? How many throughout the world today crave rest and peace! Real lasting peace can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “Peace I give unto you.” John 14:27.

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

“Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1.

ML-10/23/1977

Faithful Unto Death

Memory Verse: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

An evangelist was once staying at a farm for a few days. Just before breakfast one morning the farmer came into the house and asked his guest to follow him.

“Come and see this!” he said, and led the way across the barnyard to some outer buildings. There was a mother hen sitting on a nest with her brood of little chicks peeking out from under her wings. What a lovely sight it was!

The farmer told his friend to touch her. “She’s stone dead!” he exclaimed. “Look at that wound in her head!” The evangelist was mystified until the farmer exclaimed: “A weasel must have attacked her during the night, and sucked all the blood out of her body. But she never moved, afraid lest the enemy would discover her chicks and destroy them too.”

How this reminds us of the faithful love of the Lord Jesus! As He hung upon the cross, men reproached and ridiculed Him, saying, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.”

How gloriously true this is! He took our place in judgment and death; He bore what we deserved. All the suffering of the cross He endured in our stead, so that we might live.

Had He saved Himself, we could never be saved, but would be lost forever in the woes of an endless hell.

Have you, dear reader, turned to the Lord Jesus for salvation? Are you sheltered under His wings? He is the only refuge for the sinner. Only there are we safe from the enemy of our souls, Satan the Destroyer; and only there are we safe from the judgment of our sins.

He was “delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Rom. 4:25.

ML-10/30/1977

The Gospel in Mexico

Manuel Gonzalez received some tracts. Not only was he led to the Saviour, but he led quite a number of others to Him too. He wrote: “My first little effort at tract distribution was at Zacualpan. One of these precious seeds reached the town of Tezizapan and fell into the hands of Nestor Sagel, an ardent idolater, and director of a yearly religious festival. Nestor was addicted to drinking and gambling. A tract entitled “The Two Ways” touched his heart, roused his conscience and led to a new manner of life.

“More tracts were obtained, these being the only means by which he could learn of Christ. During the closing days of his life, he expressed a desire for a Bible, but none of his friends could get one for him. When his end came he was enabled to die trusting wholly in Christ as his all-sufficient Saviour. All this made such an impression on his family that they wanted to know what had wrought such a change in him. His aged mother was the first to attend the gospel meeting. Then others came. Today the word of God is preached in that house. There is a happy company of believers there, and one soul in heaven by the grace of God by means of a tract.”

ML-10/30/1977

The Bible in India

An English officer once had charge of a government station up in the mountains in India. Then he had to return to England and be absent a long while from his post. Who could he trust to take charge when he was gone?

There was only one man that he could think of, and that was a Hindu who lived in the neighborhood. So he made a bargain with this native Indian to take care of the station while he was away. One of the last things he did before he left was to give this native a New Testament. Then he went away.

More than a year passed before the officer could return. It was Saturday evening when he got back to the station, and when Sunday morning came, no one outside of his own house knew he had returned. Looking out of his window as soon as he got up in the morning, he was delighted to see how nice everything looked. He felt sure that the man who had been left in charge had taken good care of things.

About ten o’clock he again looked out of the window and saw a number of workmen and some of the natives who lived in the neighborhood, gathering inside a schoolhouse nearby. After a while he heard them sing a hymn. He called one of the servants and asked what they were doing in the schoolhouse. The servant said they had been there every Sunday.

“Has any missionary been here since I have been away?”

“No sir.”

“Then who started these meetings, and what do they do?”

“They sing and pray, and then the Sahab (Indian name for master) reads to them out of the Bible and talks to them about Jesus.

This was all very wonderful to the officer. When he went away, the Sahab was an unbeliever; he hated and despised the name of Jesus. And what had made this great change in him in a little more than a year? It was the New Testament which the officer had given him before he left. That New Testament was full of the truth of God and of the living bread which he had been feasting upon. God’s Word says, “The bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” John 6:33.

ML-10/30/1977

The Prodigal's Return

Brought from Ireland by Mr. Tom McMillan. Irish boys loved to sing this song years ago.

In the Bible we read, you all know,

Of a prodigal saved here below.

If you open your Book at the Gospel by Luke,

The 15th chapter will show

How they brought forth the robe and the ring,

Made merry, did shout and did sing,

Did dance and did laugh round the fatted calf,

While the father himself he would sing:

Chorus:

Glory to God! He’s come home;

Glory to God! He’s come home.

From guilt and from crime

And from feeding the swine,

Glory to God, He’s come home.

How bright were his hopes on that day,

When the prodigal turned away,

From home and from rest, and from all that was best;

He would not restraint nor delay.

But he quickly forgot of his home,

And turned his footsteps to roam,

Till friendless he stood without clothing or food,

Then he said, “I’ll arise and go home.”

The elder brother drew near

Where the music and singing went on;

For a servant he sent, and asked what it meant.

He told them his brother had come.

He was angry and would not go in,

So his father came outside to him,

And said, “Don’t be sad, we’re all merry and glad,”

While down in his heart he would sing:

Now if there’s a prodigal here,

Come now to the Father; draw near.

He’ll freely forgive and take you to live

With Himself—you’ll have nothing to fear:

And the bells of heaven will ring

At the birth of a child to a king,

And you’ll be so glad they’ll think you’ve gone mad,

You will cause such a stir when you sing:

Glory to God! I’ve come home,

Glory to God! I’ve come home;

From guilt and from crime

And from feeding the swine,

Glory to God! I’ve come home!

ML-10/30/1977

Saved Through a Tract

A young Christian went around to a few houses with tracts—a fine work for young believers. At one door he knocked and received no answer; so he knocked again, and again.

Presently he heard someone coming, and the door opened; but only a very little way. He at once presented his tract, and it was at once grabbed, drawn in, and the door closed. He saw that just through the opening was a man, and that was all.

Not a very encouraging opening; but the distributor believed, (did I not say he was a young believer?) and believing he called again the following Sunday. He did not have to knock twice, for the door flew open as if by magic.

“Come in,” said the man, the same, yet not the same: and shutting the door behind his guest, he led the way upstairs. There appeared to be no third person in the house.

“Are you afraid?” asked the mysterious man.

“No,” replied the young believer. He needed to be a very firm believer just then, for his guide was evidently bent on getting as far from the ground as possible. Up, up, up and up to an attic room they went.

Opening a door, he led his visitor into a scene that might have made the stoutest quail. From a beam hung a rope, on the rope was a noose, and beneath the noose stood a box.

“Are you afraid?”

“No,” said the child of God, feeling that he was in the presence of his Father even then.

“Then let me tell you that when you knocked last Sunday night, my feet were upon that box, and my head in that noose. I made up my mind not to answer you; when you kept on knocking, I thought I would see who it was before I hung myself. I came down, took your tract, turned here and read it. It was so blessed to me, that I am here alive.”

“Fear not, neither be discouraged,” is a word from God to every tract distributor (Deut. 1:21.)

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation; that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

ML-10/30/1977

Not Here Long!

A mailman, when making his rounds one day, noticed on a letter he delivered the words, “Not Here Long!” From the return address on the envelope, he judged it to be from a son in the armed forces, intimating that he would soon be moved to another camp.

As he continued his rounds, the mailman thought of those words "Not Here Long!” They could be written on every letter, he said to himself.

Each one of us, old and young, could truthfully say, “Not Here Long!” Soon time will change for eternity.

Fairest flowers soon decay;

Youth and beauty pass away.

Oh! you have not long to stay

Be in time!

Time is gliding swiftly by;

Death and judgment both draw nigh,

To the arms of Jesus fly,

Be in time!

ML-10/30/1977

Too Cheap!

Memory Verse: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

Mr. Berney’s gardener, John, was busy planting sweet peas when his employer sauntered up and smilingly said, “John, you look mighty pleased about something. Have you come into a fortune?”

“I came into a fortune years ago, sir,” replied John.

“Really! and still gardening?” “Yes, sir, still gardening.”

Mr. Berney laughed and slapping the old man on the shoulder, he added, “You are surely the most transparent of souls, John. But I can see what you’re getting at. You would like to get me converted, wouldn’t you?”

John’s honest eyes looked straight into the handsome, though dissatisfied face of his employer.

“Sir,” he answered earnestly, “It would be one of the happiest moments of my life.”

“I’m afraid you will not have that joy, John,” Mr. Berney said still smiling. Your religion is too cheap for me.”

A look of real pain came into the old man’s eyes. “Cheap, sir! But I beg your pardon, would you call it cheap if you were called on to part with your little Elsie? The Lord of glory gave His only Son to die to save you and me from death and eternal loss. It was a vast cost—a very vast cost. Seems to me there was nothing cheap about that sacrifice, sir. But again, no offense meant.”

“I know you too well for that, John, but I’m afraid we must agree to differ, that’s all.” And so the conversation was changed.

Not long after when Stephen Berney was sitting by the fire reading, little motherless Elsie, his only child, peeped around the door. Stephen started up as she ran to him.

“Why aren’t you in bed, Elsie darling? You’ll get an awful cold!”

“I’ve got a sore throat, Daddy. It hurts like everything.”

He caught her up in his arms. “Sore throat, my sweetheart! Surely not!”

“Yes, Daddy,” answered the little one speaking huskily.

An awful fear tugged at the father’s heart. There was an epidemic going about, and was it possible that his precious child had contracted the disease?

Alas, yes she had. Before twelve hours had passed, little Elsie had been taken to the hospital, and was fighting the grim disease with every fiber of her little being. Outside the door her father waited in agony.

“Would you call it cheap, sir, if you were called on to part with little Elsie?” The words came back relentlessly and persistently.

“Oh, God,” he muttered hoarsely, “forgive me, and save my child.”

It was some weeks later and the sweet peas were all up. Old John was working in the garden. “I remember the day I sowed ’em,” he was thinking, “and the little word I was permitted to speak for my Master.”

Not long after a tall familiar figure came hurrying across to where he was working. “We’re only just back, John,” he cried, “but I had to see you before I did anything. I’ve come into my fortune!”

He grasped the old man’s hand and pumped it up and down delightedly; but the old gardener seemed too overcome to speak. He continued to gaze into that handsome face whose expression was now so changed, and Stephen Berney saw the tears gently stealing down his furrowed cheek.

“John, dear old fellow,” he cried.

Then John found his voice. “I knew my prayers would be answered, Sir,” he murmured chokingly. I knew it. And—the little girl?”

“Quite her old self again. Fancy me not telling you that!”

“I think I can understand. God bless and keep you both, now and always.”

“Amen!” whispered Steven reverently.

“There is no difference... for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:12, 13.

ML-11/06/1977

Try It!

A booklet put in a letter, folded with thoughtful care

And sealed with earnest longing, and a short, heart-spoken prayer;

Commended to the Saviour, and sent forth on its way,

His changeless loving kindness, His faithfulness to say:

Not much to give to Jesus, easy this work for Him,

But the world is growing older, and faith oft groweth dim:

And the time is passing quickly, and it needs that some should stand

And do small things for Jesus, with free unsparing hand.

ML-11/06/1977

Kitty's Mistake

Joe and his father and mother were on vacation and had taken a cabin on the shore of a beautiful lake. Joe liked to fish, though he had only a line and a hook on the end of a pole.

One night he woke up at the sound of something crying. He slipped out of bed, got his flashlight, and peeked outside the door. What a strange sight he saw! His pole was leaning against the side of the cabin and there was his little kitten, caught by the hook at the end of the line. She was pawing at her mouth as she tried to pull away from the hook.

Kneeling beside her, Joe carefully removed the hook from her mouth. Then Kitty crept away and curled up into a little ball in the corner of the room to nurse her sore mouth. Why should that nice-smelling fish at the end of the line have hurt her mouth so? Puss had not seen the hook hidden in the bait.

Do you know, dear reader, that Satan too has baits which he uses to catch boys and girls? Some of his baits are “Don’t be in a hurry to get saved. Have some fun first...It’s only a little sin, and you won’t do it again... Everybody does it. All can’t be wrong... There’s no harm in it;” and so on.

These and many other things Satan whispers into the ears of young folks and older ones too, but they are his baits to catch and trap people. And just as the little kitten could not free herself from the dread hook, neither can we free ourselves from Satan’s snares when once caught. Only the Lord Jesus, the true Saviour of sinners, can set us free from sin and Satan’s power.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

Little Puss was set entirely free from the dread hook, but the “hurt” remained for a long time. And so it is when we fall into sin. The Lord Jesus can and will deliver from sin and Satan’s power, but the “hurt” remains for a long time after, sometimes for the rest of our lives, though the Lord Jesus can comfort and keep us happy in spite of past failure.

However, when the Lord Jesus comes to take all His own home to heaven, the “hurt”—the sorrows and the pain of this life-will be left behind forever, and it will be all cloudless joy and peace in His presence.

All taint of sin shall be removed

All evil done away;

And we shall dwell with God’s Beloved

Through God’s eternal day.

ML-11/06/1977

Where Jesus Slept

During one of the uprisings in China, a missionary and his family were forced to spend the night on the stone floor of the stage of a Chinese theater. It was open in the front, and a customary sleeping ground of tramps, outcasts and professional beggars.

In the morning as the missionary looked about on his surroundings and his family, hungry, footsore and ragged, their bed the hard, cold stone of the stage floor, their bedding the dirt and filth, his little son said, “Daddy!”

“What is it, my dear Jimmy?”

“I think Jesus must have slept in a place like this when He had nowhere to go,” replied the little fellow.

“Yes, my boy, very likely.”

“Then,” added the dear child, “we ought to be glad we are like Jesus, oughtn’t we?”

“Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise.” Psa. 8:2.

ML-11/06/1977

Unseen Protection

Mrs. Lane was wakened one morning by a strange pecking at her window. Getting up she saw a butterfly flying backwards and forwards inside the window in a great fright. Outside was a sparrow flying at the glass and trying to reach the butterfly. The butterfly did not see the glass, but it saw the sparrow, and evidently expected every moment to be caught. Neither did the sparrow see the glass, but it saw the butterfly and was sure he would catch him. Yet all the while, because of that thin, invisible sheet of glass, the butterfly was as safe as if it had been miles away from the sparrow.

How often we, who have trusted the Lord as our Saviour, forget He is our Protector, and our hearts fail us. We read of how Elisha’s servant was in great fear when he awoke in the morning and saw the city surrounded with horses and chariots and a great host. But when his eyes were opened at the prayer of the prophet, his fears vanished, for he beheld the mountains full of horses and chariots of fire.

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psa. 34:7.

“As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever.” Psa. 125:2.

Not many lives, but only one have we—

Frail, fleeting man!

How sacred should that one life ever be—

That narrow span.

Day after day filled up with blessed toil;

Hour after hour still bringing in new spoil.

H. Bonar

ML-11/06/1977

Solomon's Quarries

Underneath the city of Jerusalem are vast underground caverns known as Solomon’s Quarries. It is thought that Solomon here obtained the stone to build the temple. The quarry was discovered in 1852 by an Englishman, Mr. Barklay, who was out with his dog. Through the old walls of Jerusalem, by the Damascus gate, the dog disappeared, and was found to have fallen down a crevice. After it had been rescued, the crevice was examined, and it was found that it led into a great cave. Further examination revealed the quarry.

Some of those great stones were giant cubes, 12 and 15 feet each way, and they weighed about 250 tons each. There was one stone which measured 30 by 13 by 71/2 feet. How Solomon and his men got those great stones out of that pit still remains a mystery.

Certainly those stones did not climb out themselves. Someone had to go down and bring them out. Neither can a dead sinner get out of the pit of sin by his own efforts. Someone must go down and lift him out. That Someone is the Son of God, who went down into the pit of sin and death where we were, and by divine power lifted us up and set us upon a Rock.

The Lord Jesus said, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44.

“And they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.” 1 Kings 5:17.

It took Solomon years to build that temple, but finally the last stone was set in its place, and the temple was finished.

God is building a house now, a temple to His praise made up of sinners saved by grace. Believers are “great stones and costly,” when we think of what it cost God and His dear Son to redeem us.

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,... but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

For a long time now God has been building His house, and it is nearing completion. Perhaps any day, any moment now, the last stone will be set in its place, the last believer gathered in. Then the Lord will come and take His people home to heaven, and the great work of God which has been going on throughout these long years will be displayed in glory with Christ, perfect in every way.

Down in those quarries they have found great stones, half cut, never finished. They were never taken out of the pit. When the Lord Jesus comes with that assembling shout, dear reader, may you be one of those who has already been “drawn out” to be with Him forever, and not one left behind in the pit to be lost forever.

“He brought me up also out of a horrible pit... and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.” Psa. 40:2, 3.

ML-11/06/1977

What Are They?

Christ took them;

He healed them;

His heart they now touch;

His Spirit now helpeth

Saints burdened with such.

(See Matt. 8:17; Luke 7:21; Rom. 8:26; Heb. 4:15.)

ML-11/06/1977

The Contrary Wind

Memory Verse: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13

The missionary had been traveling for years in Egypt, Syria and Eastern lands. Now he was making a tour in a small boat with a load of Bibles in Arabic. He wished to distribute among the people living in the villages scattered here and there along the banks of the Nile. He knew there was a village on the opposite bank where the people were not Moslems, but professed the Christian faith, and he was sure they would be willing to hear him talk to them about the Lord and to receive his Bibles.

“I will cross over,” he said, “and spend Sunday there.”

But the wind was contrary, and after trying several times to bring the little boat round, the captain said, “It’s no use; we must stay here.”

“This is very disappointing,” said the missionary. But then he remembered that he was the Lord’s servant, and nothing could happen to him by chance or without any reason for it. “What if there should be people here,” he thought.

But no; the shore as far as his eye could reach was as bare and desolate as a desert.

“Surely no one lives here,” he said. “Still I will go a little way inland and look around.”

Taking one of his large Bibles in his hand, he began to scramble over the rocky ground. After walking for about half an hour, he saw a little village far away.

You could imagine what joy it gave him to find in that lonely village one of His Master’s sheep—one who had heard the voice of the Good Shepherd, and was following Him, and wishing to know more of Him.

After they had talked a little while, the missionary discovered that there was one thing which his newfound friend greatly desired. “If only I had a Bible!” he said earnestly.

“Our Lord sent you one; see, this Book is for you,” the missionary said as he showed him the Bible he had brought.

Imagine with what thankfulness the gift was received, and what a glad surprise it was for this lonely child of God to have the Book which he had so longed for thus brought to his very door!

A little more talk, and the missionary took his way back to the boat, his heart light and glad, and full of praise to God for allowing him thus to be His messenger.

But a fresh surprise was awaiting him. “I have been watching for you,” said the Captain. “We can sail now, for the wind has changed.”

As the missionary crossed to the opposite shore in the little boat, he thought, “How good God has been to me! Now I can see why the wind was contrary two hours ago. Once God used His mighty angels to bring words of comfort to His children. Now He is pleased to use men and has graciously used me this day as His messenger.”

“He causeth His wind to blow.”

Psa. 147:18

ML-11/13/1977

A General's Two Books

The mother of General Montgomery, commander of the British forces in Africa in World War II, said to some soldiers in Ireland at that time: “In the desert my son has two books—the Bible and the Pilgrim’s Progress. I know he reads his Bible every day, and he encourages his officers to do the same. He prays before he makes any new decision, and he relies upon the help of God.”

She also told of when General Montgomery had command in Palestine: “He was so interested in places with a history that went back to Bible times, that he wandered through the country with the Bible in his hand.”

May it be our desire, like the general, to read the Holy Scriptures daily, and not only to read the Word, but also to receive it and seek grace to walk in the path marked out for faith in it.

May the word spoken by another follower of the Lord be also true to each and every reader: “That from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15.

ML-11/13/1977

Tell the Truth

There was a loud crash, and the sound of falling glass. Poor Freddie! He had been bouncing his new tennis ball against the wall of his home, and all at once, instead of hitting the wall, it went right through the back window.

Sitting down on a big stone, Freddie thought: “Aunt Mary is busy upstairs; and besides, she is so deaf I’m sure she couldn’t have heard the crash. Mother is away and I don’t think anybody saw what happened. If I am asked who did it, I won’t tell a lie. But if no one asks me, there is no need for me to say anything about it.”

“Daddy will be angry, I know, and perhaps I might have to pay for the new glass with my own money. I think I shall just act as though I don’t know anything about it.”

But then there came into Freddie’s mind that verse which says, “Thou God seest me.” He could almost hear his Sunday School teacher telling the boys that God hates lies whether we tell them or just act them. He also remembered him saying that when tempted to act or tell a lie, turn to the Lord Jesus and ask Him for courage and strength to tell the truth.

Soon after, Freddie’s father appeared and he ran down the lane to meet him. As he ran, he asked the Lord for courage to confess what had happened.

“You’re quite out of breath, Freddie,” said his father.

“Yes, Daddy, I’m very sorry, but I was hitting my new tennis ball against the wall and it went right through the window.”

“I’m glad you have come and told me, my boy,” said his father. I would rather have every window in the house broken than that my Freddie should tell a lie, or act a lie to save himself from blame.”

“Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” Psa. 120:2.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Prov. 28:13.

ML-11/13/1977

Semu, the Leper Boy

Semu was a little African boy who had been stricken with leprosy. A missionary wrote saying, “Our special boy has now finished his teacher’s training course, and he has passed his final test very well. He will start teaching in the Leper School soon-teaching in the place where he first came as a little leper boy, almost without hope; teaching the gospel of Jesus where he first heard of Him as the Friend of little children. He will also be teaching little sufferers of the same disease from which he, through the love and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, has been delivered.

Semu’s father was a leper, and he had brought his son to the missionary nine years before. Semu is an outstanding example of what early treatment can mean to those infected with leprosy.

We read in the gospels of how the Lord Jesus healed a whole company of lepers at one time.

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving Him thanks:... and He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Luke 17:11-19.

ML-11/13/1977

Christ on the Bus

An evangelist once stopped to chat with a news agent who was well known as a good churchman.

While they were discussing church matters, the driver of the local bus which traveled between the small towns came in. Overhearing the conversation, he said: “Is that you fellows, discussing church? Come and see what they have done to my bus.”

Going outside to inspect his bus, they saw on the one side the name clearly painted in script, “Christ.”

The name on the other side of the bus was fully written out, “Christenson.”

The driver had had an accident some time before, and the panel on the one side was damaged and had been replaced. He had not had time to have it painted and the rest of the name put on, with the result that only the name “Christ” appeared on one panel.

“Look at that,” said the driver. “I must have that painted. I am being laughed at about it right and left wherever I go.”

By this time the passengers inside the bus and a small crowd that had gathered were interested and some were making comments. Here the evangelist addressed the driver loud enough so that all could hear: “Why, man, what could be better than to have Christ on the bus? You are a very privileged man indeed to have Christ on the bus traveling with you. In fact, you could not have a better companion, and better still, you could have Christ in your heart. Why not? You should be delighted, for you are certainly honored to have such wonderful company, and so are all those passengers. And then to have the privilege of driving that bus along the road from town to town! You are witnessing for Him, the Christ of God, and I am sure many people may be led to think of Christ who died to take away their sins. I hope you will not be perplexed, but proud of such a wonderful opportunity.”

Then with the crowd still standing, the evangelist witnessed for his Lord and Master and gave his testimony. May many who saw the bus, and who still see the picture, be led to accept Christ as their precious Saviour and Friend.

ML-11/13/1977

A Poison Tree

We read recently of a tree which bears the name of the “Judas tree.” The blossoms appear before the leaves, and they are of brilliant crimson. The flaming beauty of the flowers attracts innumerable insects, and even the wandering bee is drawn to it to gather honey. But every bee that alights on the blossoms comes under the power of the fatal poison, and drops dead from among the crimson flowers to the earth. Beneath this enticing tree, the ground is strewn with the victims of its fatal fascinations. The alluring tree with its fatal decoy, is a vivid emblem of the deceitfulness of sin. There is only one remedy for the poison of sin’s sorcery, and that is the blood of Christ which was shed on Calvary.

“Redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.

Would you be free from the burden of sin?

There’s power in the blood;

Would you o’er evil a victory win?

There’s wonderful power in the blood.

ML-11/13/1977

St. Pierre's Only Survivor

Memory Verse: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3

The inhabitants of St. Pierre, on the island of Martinique in the West Indies, were considerably startled early in May, 1902, when the slumbering giant volcano, Mont Pelee, awoke and with deep roarings and rumblings began to shower upon the surrounding plantations large quantities of cinders.

For 50 years not a tremor had been felt, and the light-hearted islanders, with no thought of lurking tragedy, picnicked on the mountainside or bathed in the cool waters of the crater. But now as night approached, the fierce noise increased, and the long hours of darkness were lightened by the lurid flashes of flame which issued from the crater.

During those days of terror refugees streamed into the imagined safety of St. Pierre, so that by the seventh of May the number of men and women and children within the town amounted to almost 40,000. About 8 o’clock the next morning, with a frightful crash, the volcano spat out a cloud of what appeared to be dense smoke towards the heavens. For a few tense moments the air seemed dead. An unearthly hush fell on the city. In that cloud, what in reality was thousands of tons of molten lava, poured down Mont Pelee’s slopes, through the streets of St. Pierre, and in a very brief time had destroyed every living soul in the town—but one!

The only survivor of those 40,000 islanders was a man named Joseph Jean Marie who was serving a sentence in the jail. He had just ended his meal of bread and water, when the glimmer of light which entered the narrow slit that served as a window was suddenly shut out, and into his cell came the scalding mud, but not sufficient to kill him. Shortly afterward, a dead silence reigned, but the sun had risen and set three times before rescuers found, and were able to release the prisoner.

Gradually there came to his ears the steady tap-tap-tapping of a pick. As it came nearer and then seemed to grow distant again, feelings of hope and despair surged in the prisoner’s mind. But at last a tiny crack appeared in the wall. Slowly it widened until a gap of several feet was made. Then three members of the rescue party leaped into the cell and he was saved.

The awful destruction of St. Pierre and its pleasure-loving people was indeed a solemn judgment; but a more solemn judgment awaits this world which put to death the Son of God long ago, and still rejects Him today. The long-suffering and gracious God still bears with men’s folly, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Soon all warning will cease, and swift destruction will overtake sinners in their sins.

But it is yet the day of grace. Yield yourself to the Saviour, dear reader. Come now before this day of God’s mercy closes forever.

Turn and believe this very hour,

Trust in the Saviour’s love and power,

Then shall your final answer be,

Saved by grace for eternity.

“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.

ML-11/20/1977

A Safe Hiding Place

It was a hot day in Burma and the boys and girls at school were busy with their lessons. Just then a strange gentleman entered the room. He told the teacher he would like to give each boy and girl a text card. She was very pleased for she loved the Lord Jesus, and wanted all her pupils to come to know Him as their Saviour too. So they all went home happily that afternoon with a text.

Several days later one boy came to the teacher and said, “I took home the card and pinned it on our wall, but Mother told me to take it down. She doesn’t love Jesus, but worships an idol, and she didn’t like my text there. I’ve taken it down and hidden the card where she can’t find it, but I’ve got the verse in a safe place too it’s in my heart.”

“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psa. 119:11.

ML-11/20/1977

The Stolen Lunch

It was in India, and the mission staff were getting ready to reopen the hospital the next day. The lady doctor had suggested to her assistant that she prepare a lunch, so she baked some bread and made a meatloaf.

The next day, after working hard all morning, they went out on the porch to sit and eat their lunch. The assistant unpacked the meatloaf and went inside for a moment. While her back was turned, a large raven swooped down, snatched up the meatloaf and flew away with it!

The ladies thought that was the end of it, but three days later a poor Hindu woman came to the hospital and asked to see the doctor. She wanted to learn about the Christian’s God. She told her that three days before she and her children were starving. Not knowing what to do, she decided to call on the gods to help her, so she knelt down with her children and prayed to all the gods she knew, one after the other. After each prayer she waited to see if the food would come, but none came.

Then she remembered she had heard of One whom they called the Christian’s God. She knew nothing about him, but she thought she would make a prayer to Him anyway. Just then while she was praying, a large bird swooped down and dropped a meatloaf alongside of her! And it was to learn about this wonderful God she had come.

How thrilled the doctor was to tell of the God who fed Elijah the prophet, and who had sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. They were thrilled too, to learn why this loving God had allowed their lunch to disappear in such a disappointing way.

If you would like to read the story of how the ravens brought Elijah meat morning and evening, turn to 1 Kings, chapter 17.

ML-11/20/1977

Two Fares - Paid

Getting on a bus one afternoon, I glanced around casually to see if I recognized any of the passengers. I recognized one—my uncle! He had seen me get on, and seeing me looking in his direction, he nodded and smiled. I smiled in return.

When the conductor came around to collect the fares, I had my few coins ready, but I noticed my uncle was getting two tickets!

Passing one of the tickets to me, he said softly, “I’ve got yours, Willie.”

“Oh! Thank you, uncle,” I replied, taking the ticket; “that’s very kind of you.”

Presently the conductor came to me. “Fares, please!” he said. Apparently he had not noticed what went on between me and uncle. Holding up my ticket I said, “I’ve got mine, sir.” He looked a bit puzzled, but when I passed a knowing smile to Uncle, the good fellow understood. “Okay!” was all he said.

A Paid Fare! I thought of another “fare” that had been paid for me; of another kind Friend who had made a journey free and safe for me. The fare was important, and the journey “really necessary.”

My Friend was the blessed Lord Jesus. The price He paid was His own precious blood. The journey which I have now begun will end in heaven. And it was all for the taking! How kind of Him!

How did it happen? you ask. Well as a sinner, I had lost all claim on an entrance into heaven; in fact, I deserved to be banished to a lost eternity because of my sins.

But Jesus died on Calvary’s cross. He shed His precious blood. He was buried in a tomb. He rose from among the dead! Glad words! I trusted in Him and His finished work. I was forgiven, cleansed and made fit for glory. The “fare” that was paid in blood will carry me all the way to heaven and through eternity.

What will you do, then? Try to pay the fare yourself or accept God’s offered one? How good it would be if you could sing from your heart

"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain;
He washed it white as snow.

ML-11/20/1977

A Runaway Slave - What Was His Name?

A servant from his master went,

But was by God’s free grace restored;

Back to his master he was sent,

A joyful brother in the Lord,

In two epistles find his name,

As proof that back he really came.

(Read Philemon and Colossians 4)

ML-11/20/1977

Can You Name the Boys?

A boy another boy so mocked,

The latter’s mother was quite shocked.

(Read Genesis 21)

ML-11/20/1977

An African Disciple

When Robert Moffat and his companions were traveling in Africa, they came near to a native village on the banks of the river, Orange. They had traveled far and were suffering from thirst, hunger and weariness. They were afraid of the lions which were seen in that area, so they wished to remain in the village overnight. But the natives were rough and unkind and would not allow them to come in and even insisted that they camp some distance off.

They asked for water to drink, but that was denied them. So they had no prospect of anything better than to spend the night hungry and thirsty, though in sight of the village and of the river. Besides this, they were suspicious of the villagers themselves as they were most unfriendly.

But when it began to grow dark, a native woman came to them with a bundle of wood on her head and a bottle of milk in her hand. Without speaking she gave them the milk, laid down the wood, and went back to the village. A second time she came with a pot on her head-a leg of mutton in one hand and water in the other. Sitting down without saying a word, she prepared the fire, and put on the meat to cook. Again and again they asked who she was, but she remained silent until the work was done. Then again they entreated her to give a reason for such kindness to strangers.

Tears rolled down her dark cheeks as she replied, “I love Him whose servant you are, and feel it is my duty to give you a cup of cold water in His name. My heart is full. I cannot speak my joy to see you in this out-of-the-world place.”

That poor woman was a solitary light burning in that dark corner of the world. Sometime before she had been in the school of a missionary where she had learned to love the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. She now had a copy of the Dutch Testament given her by her teacher.

When they asked her how she kept the light of God in her soul, all alone without any Christian help or fellowship, she drew the much-prized Book from her breast saying, “There is the oil which makes my lamp burn! This is the fountain from which I drink!”

ML-11/20/1977

The Power of a Smile

Mrs. Jones was a happy Christian and always seemed to have a smile on her face. One day as she was walking up the station platform, she was stopped by an elderly gentleman who said: “Excuse me, lady, but I want to thank you for something.”

“Thank me?” exclaimed Mrs. Jones.

“Yes,” he replied. “I used to be the ticket agent here, and whenever you went by, you always gave me a cheerful smile and ‘good morning.’ You do not know what a difference it made to me. Wet or fine, it was always the same, and I thought to myself, ‘I wonder where she gets that smile. One cannot always be happy, yet she seems to be'; and I knew that smile came from inside.

Then one morning you came by with your little Bible in your hand. I said to myself, ‘Perhaps that is where she gets her smile.’ When I went home that night, I bought a Bible, and have been reading it ever since. I have found Christ; now I can smile too, and I want to thank you.”

“Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Prov. 16:20.

For Thou exceedest all the fame

Our ears have ever heard,

How happy we who know Thy name,

And trust Thy faithful word.

ML-11/20/1977

Kayumba

Memory Verse: “What must I do to be saved?... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:30,31

Kayumba was a little African boy in the country now called Zaire. His father was chief of the village.

All day Kayumba had watched the forest path waiting for the old crippled diviner who had made a trip to the next village, where the missionary and his wife had come to live.

At last, just at sundown, the old man came shuffling along. “There he is, he is coming,” shouted Kayumba, and soon every man and woman, boy and girl, crowded around the old diviner to hear his story.

And what a story he had to tell of the white missionaries! But it was the BOOK that really filled him with wonder. The white man had said that the Book was the Voice of God, and its words had pierced his heart. His face shone as he told all that he had been able to learn of the story of Jesus and His love for sinful men.

When Kayumba’s father, the chief, saw the people eagerly listening to the story of Jesus, he was very angry and shouted; “I shall kill with my own hands anyone who believes these words.”

That night the people sat around the fire and talked and talked. Never had anything like this been heard in all the history of their tribe.

Then suddenly Kayumba rose to his feet and slowly and deliberately said, “I believe these good words. I believe in Jesus.”

A great silence fell on all, and the stillness of the night was undisturbed till a wild shout rang out, and the chief came dashing down the village path, his war spear held high. “Where is this my son who believes these words?” he shouted. He lunged forward to thrust the spear into Kayumba’s breast, but even as he did so, the diviner tipped his arm, and the spear went wide.

The women and children fled to their huts while the men ran to get their war weapons. The village was in an uproar.

“Run!” said the diviner to Kamba. “Run to the white man; he will protect you!”

Out into the darkness of the tropical forest fled young Kayumba. Fearless of the lions and leopards, hyenas and snakes that abound among the trees and jungles, on and on he ran for seven miles till he reached the white man’s camp. There he was safe!

Many years passed before he could venture near his father’s village. He was an outcast and hated; but he grew up to be a true soldier of the Lord Jesus, and is spending his life telling African boys and girls of the wonderful Saviour who won his heart that dark night away back in his forest home.

Many of our readers have often heard the wonderful story of the Saviour’s dying love. Have you ever like Kayumba, sought courage from the Lord Jesus to stand up and publicly take Him as your Saviour? If you haven’t, there is no better time to do it than right now.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

ML-11/27/1977

A Chimney Sweep Saved in Prison

In a Portland prison, there was a convict who was such a desperate character, that when he went out to work with the gang, he wore a pair of chains suspended at the waist and locked at the ankles. He had been a chimney sweep before his conviction, and for years he had been treated as a man to be dreaded.

He was a terror to all the warders, but one; this man was placed over the very gang in which the incorrigible convict had to work. But one day this warder was soundly converted to God, and he was an entirely new creature in Christ Jesus. With him “old things had passed away, and behold, all things had become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17.) The very next day he approached the desperate convict and very quietly said to him, “If you will let me, I will treat you like a man from today. Be a good fellow.”

The warder’s heart yearned over this convict, and by his words and actions he sought to bring him to the Saviour who had set him free. So instead of the convict hearing the “Silence, there!” or “I’ll report you"; “Seven-days bread and water!” and the like, the convict heard nothing but kind words, and he was treated kindly. This completely subdued him, and so after a few days the chains were off, and the once-dreaded convict was indeed a changed character.

Then one day the cell doors were opened, and the convict stepped out into the corridor. In doing so he dropped a piece of paper which the warder picked up and placed in his pocket, intending after looking at it to put it back in the cell. What was his surprise when he read the poetry the convict had written. Here it is:

A chimney sweep, black on the skin,

But blacker far he was within;

This secret now the sweep doth know,

Though black as hell, he’s white as snow.

Water will wash and cleanse the skin,

But oh, His blood must cleanse within;

That blood which ran on Calvary’s tree,

Though but a sweep, ’twas shed for me.

In days gone by, with venom fowl,

I called damnation on my soul;

If ever one had cause to bless,

Sure, ’tis the sweep, through sovereign grace.

A chimney sweep of low degree,

Yet loved by all the sacred Three.

Electing love, what tongue can tell?

Though loved of God, deserving hell.

The gospel of Christ is still the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

ML-11/27/1977

Who Was He?

In KINGS and PRINCES first is there;

Next found in WISDOM; not in PRAYER;

The third in PRICELESS, not in THING;

From GOLD and OPHIR, fourth please bring;

In ALGUM, not in TREES fifth seek;

Then sixth in THRONE of which we speak;

The last in QUEEN who from far came

To see a king whom whole will name.

ML-11/27/1977

Jesus Has Got Me Now

At Sunday school a little girl, Anne, was listening eagerly to the words of the speaker, as he pressed upon the young hearers the need of accepting the Lord Jesus as their own Saviour. The child was deeply anxious, and when spoken to, she burst into tears.

“And are you trusting the Lord Jesus, Anne?” we asked her.

“Oh, yes,” she replied.

“Why, how long has that been?”

“Only just now, when you were telling us to trust Jesus, just where we were sitting, and I did.”

As they were about to say goodnight, the speaker put the following little test before her: “Now, Anne, when you came to the service this evening, you did not belong to the Lord Jesus, but you are going out of this place a believer in Him and belonging now to Him. But tomorrow, if Satan brings a doubt into your mind as to whether you are really saved, what will you tell him?”

A smile instantly lit up her happy and thoughtful face, and she replied in a simple, yet confident manner, “Oh, I shall tell him that Jesus has got me now!”

How good it is to have the assurance of God’s Word on which to rest our souls. It says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:27, 28.

ML-11/27/1977

Have You Counted the Cost?

Gary and Paul were talking seriously about salvation. Paul was a happy Christian, and he was telling his friend how much the Lord Jesus had done for him.

“I wish that you would come to Him and let Him save you too, Gary,” he said.

“I’m thinking about it, Paul,” returned Gary. “In fact I have often thought about it before now, but it means giving up quite a few things. Right now I am counting the cost of being a Christian.”

Just at that moment Harry joined the group and heard Gary’s last remark. Putting his hand on his shoulder, he said, “Gary, have you ever counted the cost of NOT taking Jesus as your Saviour?”

That was something Gary hadn’t thought about. Have you? What a dreadful thing it would be to pass out of this world unsaved, and into an eternity of endless woe! On the other hand how wonderful it will be when the time comes to go to be with Jesus, with all His redeemed to share with Him the joys of heaven through all eternity.

I am glad to say that Harry’s remark so disturbed Gary that he could not rest until he too, came and found Jesus as his Saviour and Lord.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

ML-11/27/1977

Set Free

Mr. Thorne was a well-known evangelist and was journeying home on the train one day. He became deeply interested in two young fellows who were being taken to prison. The younger of the two had been sentenced for stealing with the alternative of a fine. Both felt keenly the shame of their position.

When they arrived at the station, Mr. Thorne asked the young prisoner if he would like to be set free.

“I can’t pay the fine; and I don’t have a dime, nor do I know anyone who will lend it or get it for me,” was his sad reply.

“I did not ask that,” said Mr. Thorne; “I asked if you would like to be set free.”

Bursting into tears the young fellow exclaimed, “I would, sir.”

“Very well, then,” said Mr. Thorne, “I’ll be at the prison in half an hour and have you set free.”

The officer who was listening to the conversation was skeptical and remarked, “I have often heard of such a thing but never saw it done.”

Mr. Thorne went home and returned with the money. He then went to the prison and asked to see the governor. “I wish to see the prisoner who came here today,” he said.

The governor stated that he could not be seen by a stranger. Furthermore, no prisoner who was only there for a month was allowed to be visited.

“But I have come to set him free.”

“Then you must pay his fine.”

The fine was paid, the officer was dispatched to the cell, and when the prisoner appeared, the governor said to him: “Walk out, you are free!”

The joy of the prisoner at being released knew no bounds. Outside the prison he laughed, cried, and nearly jumped for joy.

“I was sent to prison for four weeks and was unable to pay the fine,” he exclaimed. “But this gentleman whom I never saw before has paid it, and I am free.”

This incident demonstrates God’s theme of redemption as unfolded in His Word. The sinner is guilty—no question about it! He cannot pay the mighty debt of his sins; he is condemned. But Christ Jesus, the heavenly Stranger, comes, meets him on the way, pays the mighty debt at Calvary’s cross, dies in his stead, sheds His precious blood to wash away sin’s stain, and the sinner goes free.

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

Great blessing resulted from that simple act at the prison. The jailor and five officers were spoken to about their soul’s salvation, and three out of the six, it is known, were definitely converted to God and were bright witnesses for the Lord in the prison for years afterward.

Himself He could not save;

Love’s stream too deeply flowed.

In love Himself He gave

To pay the debt we owed.

ML-11/27/1977

A Whole Family

Saved In Virginia once a Christian doctor gave a tract to a family numbering 14. That tract was the means of the conversion of the whole family.

ML-11/27/1977

Fatimah

Memory Verse: “And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 3:23

In a small village in Egypt lived a little Mohammedan girl named Fatimah. She was ill, and her relatives tried to make her better by giving her all kinds of horrible medicines. Fatimah had heard of the mission hospital in a town not far away and that the lady doctor there was both kind and skillful. She asked her father’s permission to go to the hospital, but at first he refused. At last he said she could go, but she must not listen to anything out of the Book called the Bible.

Fatimah set off to the town in search of the hospital, fearful because of the horrible things that had been told her by her friends. The nurse had difficulty in persuading the little girl to enter the hospital which seemed far too airy and clean. The thing she was afraid of most was the bed; at home she just slept on a mat on the floor. At first she walked around the bed full of suspicion, thinking it was a kind of trap. But the nurse calmed her fears, and soon she found it was a very comfortable trap.

Experiencing such kindness and comfort, Fatimah was almost dumb with amazement. She told the nurse that at home no one cared whether she lived or died. “And now,” she said, “I come into the hands of Christians, whom my people hate, and for the first time in my life, I am being treated kindly and lovingly. What does it mean?”

The nurse told her that behind it all was the love of Christ. “What’s that?” she asked. The nurse told her the “old old story of Jesus and His love.”

When the Bible woman came around to give the daily gospel message, remembering her father’s words, Fatimah buried her head beneath the blankets, determined not to listen. But the Bible woman’s voice was so powerful that she heard everything, and soon she was sitting up, eagerly drinking it all in. A day or two later she asked the nurse, “Was what I heard just a fairy tale, or is it really true that there is a Saviour even for us Egyptian women and girls?”

The nurse was glad to be able to tell her that it was really true, and that she herself knew Him as her own Saviour and Friend. Fatimah said that if that were so, she wanted Him to be her Saviour too. Then believing that He had taken her place in death, and borne her judgment, she just opened her heart to Jesus and accepted Him as her Saviour and Lord. A great joy swept through her soul and soon she was telling the other women and patients in the ward of her great experience. During her three weeks at the hospital, she was a real blessing to many. She changed her name, and they called her Lydia.

She wanted to stay and become a nurse, but her family made serious trouble. So she went back to her people, a new creature in Christ Jesus-bright, intelligent, and full of life, radiant and triumphant.

Because she had become a Christian, they received her with bitterness and scorn. They locked her up, half starved her, and beat her. But the worst thing of all to her was that they burned her Bible. Only a page was saved, and this she hid in a hole in the mattress and read it daily, praying that God would keep her true to her Saviour.

The page contained the 27th Psalm: “The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?... When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.”

So day by day she quietly and patiently bore her sufferings. All the while the Lord was working in the hearts of her mother, her sister and her brother, and the time came when she won them too for Christ. Lydia and her sister both became fully-trained nurses, and visitors to the hospital found them telling joyfully that there is a wonderful Saviour for all who will put their trust in Him.

ML-12/04/1977

What Was It?

My first in BOOKS, but not in READ;

My next in WRITE, to this take HEED;

In KINDNESS as we pass along;

Fourth, not in WEAK, but found in STRONG,

The fifth in MUST and TIME you’ll find;

In LEAF and TREE sixth bring to mind.

A seventh from ANSWER we must take;

The last in BRITTLE, never BREAK.

These letters joined will tell of one,

Who poured the whole on God’s dear Son.

(Read John 12.)

ML-12/04/1977

Rescue the Children

A Christian worker was visiting the jail one Sunday morning and found six men locked up under the charge, “Drunk and disorderly.” After speaking to them of the evils of drink and the need of salvation, the oldest man replied; “I say, Guv’nor, do you think it is any good talking to us old fellows: we have gone too far! You ought to go and talk to the children.”

“It is not the will of your Father, which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” Matt. 18:14.

ML-12/04/1977

Saved by a Tree

In the pretty little town of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, stood a fine old tree. For years it had been admired for its foliage, but now it showed signs of having passed through a fire.

One Sunday morning in early summer, fire broke out in a nearby house, and by sundown all that remained of the house was smoldering beams and blackened stones.

While the fire raged, a gale was blowing, and the flames menaced the house on the other side of the street. The men of the town fought gallantly to save the house, and their efforts were rewarded. However, it was evident that the big tree was really the salvation of the house across the street. Spreading its huge branches heavy with foliage between the two houses like a giant protector, it shielded the second house from flying sparks and cinders which must have proven sure destruction.

But what of the tree? Alas, it lost its glory, its beauty was gone, and whether it is alive today, we do not know. However, there were many that beautiful sunny afternoon who were thankful for the tree, for the flying embers might have set many other homes on fire in the town.

This reminds us of another tree, about which we read in the gospels. Nineteen hundred years ago, a man named Jesus was nailed to a tree on a hill called Calvary outside Jerusalem. An old hymn has put it this way:

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross, where the Dearest and Best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

The Apostle Peter tells us this in these precious words: “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Pet. 2:24.

Yes, thank God for Calvary’s tree, and so say thousands. The death of that blessed Man from heaven Jesus, God’s dear Son-has brought salvation from sin and its dread penalty in the lake of fire for eternity, to hosts of perishing sinners.

The Apostle Paul tells us “Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:6.

“Ungodly!” And who are they? It is thus God describes all who are not born again—unsaved. Furthermore He has declared, “The way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psa. 1:6.

But He loves the sinner, and to save him from eternal ruin, He gave His only Son to the shameful death of the cross. Listen to His word, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML-12/04/1977

Let Him Take the Care

Just to leave in His dear hands Little things—

All we cannot understand,

All that stings.

Just to let Him take the care

Sorely pressing;

Finding all we let Him bare

Changed to blessing.

F.R.H.

ML-12/04/1977

Arresting Rebels

John Welsh was one of the old Covenanters in Scotland in the days when people were persecuted and put to death for their faith in the Scriptures.

One day John was lost upon the mountains as he was going to conduct a conventicle—or meeting—among the hills the next day. Seeing a house in the distance, he hoped it was the house of a friend; but friend or foe, it was his only shelter.

When he got there, his host made no concealment of his hatred of the Covenanters, and especially of one, John Welsh, whom he longed to bring to justice.

Without blinking an eye, John Welsh looked over the table and said: “I am sent to arrest rebels. I know where he is to be found. Tomorrow if you will come with me, I will give him into your hands.”

His host was jubilant. The night passed; the morrow came, and they set out together. They soon came in sight of the conventicle, where a little company of faithful Christians were gathered. Judge of the host’s surprise when his guest of the night left his side and took his place at the front of the meeting, and began to preach—to preach with power sent down from heaven.

When the preaching was over, the host came to the speaker exclaiming: “You said last night that you had been sent to arrest rebels. I am a rebellious sinner and this day I have been arrested by the grace of God.”

ML-12/04/1977

Converted!

“Jose was a desperado but was converted by reading a gospel tract. His life is now beautiful, and he is consumed with a passion to distribute tracts and Bibles and do personal work.”

ML-12/04/1977

Linda's Golden Calf

Memory Verse: “I am the LORD: and beside Me, there is no Saviour.” Isaiah 43:11

Linda listened with wide opened eyes as Mr. Hill told the sad story of how the people of Israel turned their backs on God and worshiped the golden calf. In her mind she could picture that great calf of gold and the people bowing down before it.

The next day on her way to the store Linda was startled. Stopping suddenly in front of the dairy bar she stared in horror! There in the window stood a large glittering image of a calf advertising dairy products. Inside the dairy bar and behind the counter stood Mrs. Williams all unaware of the thoughts that were passing through the head of the small girl standing in front of her window.

Then the small girl with blazing eyes burst into the store and cried, “You mustn’t worship the golden calf!”

Mrs. Williams stood staring in amazement at the small girl, but Linda continued: “God wants you to love and worship Him! You mustn’t worship the golden calf! Honestly, you mustn’t!” Then suddenly Linda was overcome with shyness and shame and ran out the door and down the street.

When Mrs. Williams realized what the little girl had been thinking about, she had a hearty laugh, but owing to her busy life she soon forgot all about the incident.

Mrs. Williams was a clever business woman, and her dairy prospered. She became wealthy. She owned dairy bars in other nearby towns and “Countryside Dairies” became a well-known and respected firm in that part of the country. She sold her house in the town and bought a mansion in the country. She believed that money was the most important thing in the world; nevertheless she was a lonely woman. Her husband died, and then her days seemed more empty than ever.

Mrs. Williams never listened to sermons, but one specially lonely day she heard over the air a broadcast and the subject of the sermon was “The Golden Calf!”

Suddenly it came back to Mrs. Williams — slowly — dimly — then clearly — the funny little girl with the earnest face, bursting into the store that day so many years ago. She sat up and thought very deeply.

“What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” continued the preacher.

Mrs. Williams saw now the reason for her loneliness and disappointment in life, in spite of all her money. She had forgotten God! She had worshiped the golden calf of money and success!

God spoke to her lonely heart and this time she listened. Alone with Him, she humbly got down on her knees and trusted in Christ, the Saviour of sinners.

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

1 Pet. 1:18.

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

John 1:29.

ML-12/11/1977

What Was It?

He was a farmer King

Who reigned o’er Judah long,

And while he sought the Lord,

Ruled wisely and was strong;

But—oh, that little word,

It has a voice for all.

This word in Proverbs find,

Which caused this good king’s fall.

(Prov. 16; 2 Chron. 26)

ML-12/11/1977

On Their Way to the Promised Land

When the Lord redeemed His people out of Egypt, and set them free from their bondage, He promised them a home in the beautiful land of Canaan. But they had to go through a terrible wilderness to get there.

There were no roads, and they had not passed that way before, so only the Lord could bring them through safely. Forty long years they spent in that terrible wilderness, but God was true to His promise. They reached Canaan at last.

The Lord’s people now are those whom He has redeemed by His precious blood. He has promised us a home, not on earth but in heaven. But we have to pass through this wilderness world, so full of trials and temptations. There are many enemies too, for it is the place of Satan’s power. Only the Lord Jesus can bring us safely through; He is our Guide and we need to keep close to Him and follow Him each day. One of these days, perhaps today, the wilderness will be behind us forever, and we shall find ourselves with Jesus at home in the Father’s house forever.

ML-12/11/1977

The Divine Detective

They were all there. Fifty of them. We counted again to be sure. My father in Spanish, “Uno, dos, tres, cuatro...” and I in my English.

The sleepily murmuring hens had disappeared on Thursday and now on Sunday night they were all back in place. It had happened while we visited the nearby Bible conference. These meetings were a must with Papa. Even if something was ready for harvest we had to go to the spiritual “fiesta.” “God will take care of the farm if we put Him first,” said Papa.

So on Thursday afternoon we excitedly ate supper early, did the chores, and rode to the conference grove for the evening service. When we returned, an errand took me to the chicken shed. The door was open, and in consternation I found every chicken was gone.

As usual we gathered for family worship before bedtime, and we waited to hear what Papa would say. My brother predicted that Papa would pray the chickens would come home. I said, “No, it is too much for even him to ask.”

But our father was a man of faith. The prayer that night was warmhearted. Papa wasn’t upset. He prayed for the person who had taken the hens. He asked God to bless this person! He also asked the Lord to touch his heart and to make him feel so miserable that he would bring the chickens back.

While Papa was asking the Lord to do this, I groaned, “Oh, no, it is too much. Papa can’t believe this will happen.”

On Saturday afternoon we left for a camp meeting again. At the gathering next day my papa told about his chickens and that he was expecting them back.

I shall never forget how awestruck’ I was that Sunday night as my father, humble migrant turned American, small farmer and a man of faith, counted his chickens that had come home to roost. All the way to fifty. Every one of them was there.

But that wasn’t all. On Monday a neighbor pulled into our yard and confessed he was the thief. He said, “Mr. Garcia, you have been praying. Your God wouldn’t let me sleep until I returned every chicken.”

You perhaps, like Garcia’s neighbor, have some things to return. You have a life to give back. The prayers of dear ones have followed you across the country and possibly to distant nations. It is easy to run these days. The airlines and fast cars are everywhere and so convenient.

The eye of God follows us in our wanderings away from Him. The Divine Detective who ferreted out Mr. Garcia’s chicken thief knows every fact and fancy of our lives. “Thou God seest me.”

Listen to the psalmist as he exclaims about the eye of the Lord: “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there.

“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; “Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

“Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psa. 139:7-10, 12, 17, 23, 24

ML-12/11/1977

In a Brazilian Prison

A missionary once visited a prison in Brazil. There he found a group of six prisoners in one of the cells, all gathered in a bunch around one of their number. He had an old gospel hymn book in his hand, and they were singing aloud most heartily, with a real earnest look in all their eyes.

“Why, what’s this?” he said. “Are you men all believers?”

“No, Senhor,” said one. “We don’t know how, but we want to be.”

They had one old borrowed New Testament between them, and great was their delight when he gave each of them one of the beautiful little Testaments he carried.

ML-12/11/1977

Contented, but All Wrong

I met a young fellow once who appeared perfectly contented—but he was all wrong. It was in Detroit, and I had just boarded the train for Chicago. Across the aisle from me was this young man who settled himself down in the seat, leaned back against a comfortable pillow, and prepared for his journey. He was the picture of contentment. But then he found out something which upset him completely.

The train had been rolling along for some miles, and by and by the conductor came collecting tickets. It was then the young fellow found out that he was on the wrong train! He was going in the wrong direction.

Do you suppose he told the conductor, “Look, I was quite sincere when I boarded this train. Don’t upset me by telling me I’m on the wrong train.” Of course not. He was not long in getting off at the next station and taking an eastbound train.

Dear young reader, you too, may be quite unconcerned and comfortable in your circumstances; you may be at peace with yourself and with the world, and yet on the wrong road the broad road that leads down to destruction.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12.

If you do not have Christ as your Saviour, you are on that broad road. Conversion means to be turned completely around. You can be converted this moment by coming to Jesus and taking Him as your Saviour and Lord. Then instead of being all wrong, you will be truly happy, contented and ALL RIGHT.

The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

ML-12/11/1977

Old John's Cottage

Memory Verse: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5

On the outskirts of New York City stood a little old shack. The place was dilapidated due to sheer neglect. The windows were cracked, the shingles were rotting, and the garden was overgrown with weeds. However, there were some beautiful trees which shaded the house, and added a charm to the landscape. Old John, the owner, a withered and lonely character, never moved very far from his fireside, and his bent form could be seen in the garden.

In the big bustling city, Mr. Parker, a millionaire, was making plans to build a new home. As he drove around looking for a suitable location, he came to the very spot where Old John lived and was greatly charmed with the setting and cedar. The view was simply wonderful, and this at once settled his future doubts. He told his agent to make inquiry as to the possibility of purchasing the property.

This was indeed a happy surprise to old John, and not without some amusement to the agent. The old man chuckled to himself as he felt some measure of pride at the thought that a millionaire wanted his house. So for the next week or two John got very busy; from old cupboards in cellars, hammers, brushes, paints, etc, all appeared. Many of the broken windows were either replaced or patched, the holes in the roof he made water-tight, and many other repairs were put into effect.

But what was the bewilderment on his face when the agent again appeared on the scene, wondering if perhaps he had come to the wrong house. This pleased John immensely, who immediately proceeded to display something of his handywork done during the previous days. Putting his hand on John’s shoulder, the agent at last began to talk business.

“Mr. Brooks, I am afraid you have misunderstood me. You’ve been laboring under a false impression. Mr. Parker doesn’t want your old shack. Why, do you think he would live here? Never! What he wants is the ground.”

Yes, poor old John had been mistaken. He had labored sincerely but unsuccessfully because of a false idea. Have you, dear reader, been merely repairing and patching in vain delusion that God will accept that as a means of eternal blessing? Our salvation required a perfect work, and by grace God has provided it outside of all human aid. Listen to the Lord as He becomes the sinner’s surety and Saviour, and cries in triumph on that cross of shame: “It is finished!” John 19:30.

If He has died instead of the guilty, if He has borne your judgment and mine at the hands of a holy God, if He has finished all the work of salvation, what remains to be done? The only answer is, “Nothing!” To add to a finished work would only spoil it. On the cross the Lord Jesus cried triumphantly: “It is finished!” And all that you need to do by faith in Christ is to enter into the full enjoyment of the fruits of that completed work.

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:4, 5.

ML-12/18/1977

How Many Got to Land?

A larger “ship was on the sea

It was a pretty sight;

It sailed along so pleasantly,

And all was calm and bright.”

But soon the waves in might arrayed,

Filled many hearts with fear,

And all but one were sore afraid

When death appeared so near.

But God who rules the wind and sea,

Deliverance had planned;

How can you tell from searching

How many came to land? (Acts 27)

ML-12/18/1977

Old Shoes?

Where do we read of “old shoes,”

And shoes that ne’er wore out,

Although the people wore them

Just 40 years about.

(Josh. 9; Amos 2; Deut. 29.)

ML-12/18/1977

Little Mick

Little Mick suffered greatly in the hospital. A kind Christian lady took a great interest in the little fellow and brought him presents, flowers and nice things to eat. As the days went by she found him glad to listen as she told him of Jesus, the Saviour and the sinner’s Friend.

She pointed out to him his need of a Saviour and little Mick began to realize that he was a sinner and that he needed salvation. He would talk about religion but he would also speak of Jesus and His death on the cross. One day when the lady called, she noticed quite a change in him; his face fairly shone with an inner joy. When she asked him what made him so happy, he replied: “Oh I always knew that Jesus was necessary, but not until yesterday did I discover that He was enough.

Have you made this same wonderful discovery that little Mick made, dear young friends?

Jesus, Thou art enough,

The heart and mind to fill;

Thy patient life to calm the soul,

Thy love its fears dispel.

ML-12/18/1977

The Lantern

I have a lantern

Which some folks call “The Book,”

And when I cannot find my way,

I always take a look

Within its sacred pages,

There is a wondrous light,

Which keeps my feet from stumbling

Upon the darkest night.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105.

ML-12/18/1977

The Royal Oak

The life of one of the kings of England was once saved by hiding in a tree. He had been defeated in battle, and was obliged to flee for his life. With only a single officer, he was separated from all his friends. In their flight they plunged into a thick wood. Their enemy pursued after them. Selecting a large tree, with very thick foliage, they climbed up and hid themselves above in its branches. Their pursuers passed directly underneath them. The poor king and his companion saw them searching about for him, but they were hidden from view by the leaves of the tree. Thus the King of England found shelter in a tree. That tree stood for long years afterward, and was always called the Royal Oak.

There is another tree that has proved a shelter, not only to a king, but to countless thousands besides. It is the tree to which they nailed our blessed Lord Jesus, the Son of God. Peter liked to speak of that tree. He wrote, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Pet. 2:24.

O, cross of Christ! O, glorious tree!

What place can be compared to Thee,

Where God’s own Son was crucified

And for our sins a ransom died.

O, dear friends, that tree, the cross of Christ, will be your shelter from the judgment of God against your sins. It is a tree of life to all who trust themselves to its protection.

Come to the blood-stained tree;

The Victim bleeding lies;

God sets the sinner free

Since Christ a ransom dies:

The Spirit will apply

His blood to cleanse each stain,

O burdened soul, draw nigh

For none can come in vain—

Come, come, come.

“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him.” Deut 33:12.

ML-12/18/1977

Bulldog Tom

Tom was a poor drunken fellow who made a meager living selling things from door to door. Among his other vices, he was fond of dog fighting and he would generally be seen with some of his dogs at his heels. People called him Bulldog Tom, but one day he heard the gospel preached on the street corner.

Tom had by this time tasted some of the bitterness of sin, and he was very miserable. He heard this wonderful good news that the Son of God loved him and had died for him, and that He was willing to receive him and save him from his sins. It was indeed good news to Bulldog Tom. He believed it and obeyed it, and he cast himself at the feet of his Lord and received forgiveness of sins. He became a new man. He put away his old drunken ways, and among other things the dog-fighting went, and he began to adorn the doctrine of Christ his Saviour. He went on so well that other Christians said: “Look here, Tom, we’ve been Christians longer than you have, but you seem to have outstripped us. You got rid of your old ways. How have you done it?”

And this is what Tom said: “When I was training my dogs to fight, I did not allow them to have bones. Bones are not good for dogs in training. Sometimes when I was out with one of my dogs, he would see a bone on the road and would go for it. And I would say ‘No!’ and the dog would look up at me. Presently he would look down again at the bone, and again I would say, ‘No!’; and so long as I could keep that dog looking up at me, we got past all the bones in safety.

“It’s like that with me and my Lord,” said Tom. “There are old temptations and my old companions inviting me to come along and have a good time with them as before. But in my heart and conscience the Holy Spirit says, ‘No, Tom!’ Then I lift up my eyes to my Lord; and while my eyes are ever toward Him, I get past all the old temptation in safety.”

What a beautiful and simple manner of walk! “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5:16.

ML-12/18/1977

The Old Man and the Dates

An old man sat in his room one Lord’s day afternoon with his open Bible before him opened at the title page on which were written some of the dates of days and years. He was so interested in these that he did not observe the entrance of a neighbor who asked him, “Why are you so interested in just a few dates?”

The old man replied pointing with his finger to one after the other: “Here’s the day of my birth, my enlistment, my marriage, etc.” Then he came to the day of his conversion, since he had known himself to be a child of God. Then he sang with tears in his eyes in a trembling voice:

Could I a thousand voices raise

A thousand tongues employ,

My heart would pour itself in praise,

In thankfulness and joy:

And still its happy song should be,

Hear what the Lord has done for me.

ML-12/18/1977

Give Thanks

Let us give thanks and sing!

’Tis meet that we should praise

For that untiring care

That follows all our days.

For every gift that from above

Comes down from Thee.

Thou God of love.

ML-12/18/1977

The Japanese Barber

Memory Verse: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 44:22

When Dr. Wilson found that the train for Los Angeles was two hours late, he started walking up and down the street looking for a barber shop. At the same time he asked the Lord to guide and direct him. Entering a small shop two blocks away, he found the barber was a young Japanese man.

Seating himself in the chair, Mr. Wilson asked for a shave, and soon the barber had the warm lather on his face and covered with a hot towel.

“Do you know a Mr. Kamura, a well-known evangelist in Japan?” asked Mr. Wilson.

“Where is he from?”

“His home is in Kioto, but he preaches all over Japan.”

“Oh, I was born there. Is that the little man who builds big wooden meeting halls with sawdust on the ground?”

“Yes, that is the man.”

“I will never forget that little man. I went to one of his meetings and heard him preach. When he had finished, he came down from the platform, walked down the aisle, placed his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Young man, how are you going to get rid of your sins?’ "

“Have you found out how?”

“No, I wish I could. When you came in, I was walking up and down the back of the shop saying those words over and over again and wishing someone would tell me how I could get rid of my sins. Can you tell me how?”

“Yes I can,” said Mr. Wilson, and getting his Bible, he read to him the story of the Saviour’s love. Acts 10:43 impressed his heart very much. “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”

“Have you any sins?”

“Oh yes, lots of them.”

“Would you like to have them put away today?”

“If it could be so, I would get peace in my heart, for only trouble is there.”

“Well, Jesus came to blot out your sins for you. I will read it for you in Isaiah 44:22: ‘I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.”

These passages deeply affected the young barber, but he did not have peace. He sat meditating deeply as Dr. Wilson explained the Scriptures to him and told him more about the Saviour of sinners who came to save him. He then turned to 1 John 1:7: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

“Do you not see that the Lord Jesus was dying for you? He suffered on the cross the punishment that you should have had.”

These and other Scriptures brought light to the troubled soul of the young barber. Then the peace of God came into his heart. He confessed and believed in the work of Christ at Calvary and exclaimed, “Jesus put my sins away. The Bible says so. I believe God sent Jesus to save me and I take Him. He is mine.”

“Did none of your customers ever tell you of the Saviour?”

“No, they do not talk about Jesus to me. No one seemed to care whether I was saved or not. I went to churches, but they did not tell me that Jesus blotted out my sins for me and that I could have Him as my Saviour. I am so glad that you have come with your Bible and showed me how to get rid of my sins. Now they are gone. Jesus has put them away and I believe in Him.”

“I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 1 Tim. 1:12.

ML-12/25/1977

How Jack Found Peace

It was a terrible day on the battlefield. The boom of the cannon and the rattle of machine gun fire were deafening; dead and wounded lay all around.

Jack was badly wounded, and as he lay there in the mud, he thought of home and loved ones. He felt he was dying, and lying there he tried to think of something that would bring comfort to his soul. He knew he was a sinner and he was not ready to die.

Then he remembered that his old Christian grandfather often used to quote a verse from the Bible about the blood of Jesus. Earnestly he prayed to God asking Him to help him remember what his grandfather had said. God heard his prayer, and sure enough, above the noise of the cannon, Jack seemed to hear again the old man’s voice saying: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

The Spirit of God applied those precious words to Jack’s heart and conscience and believing he thanked God for such love. A wonderful peace crept over him. No longer was he afraid to die. He trusted in Jesus; His precious blood had cleansed him from oil sin.

ML-12/25/1977

Lightly and Tightly

Let me hold lightly

Things of this earth;

Transient treasures,

What are they worth?

Let me hold tightly

Things that are Thine –

Lord, Thou hast giv’n me

All that is Thine.

ML-12/25/1977

Alfred, the Great

Alfred the Great sat on the throne of England long ago. He was a Christian and a good king, yet he had a great deal of trouble. The Danes came in their ships and overran his kingdom. He had to flee for his life, and live in the forests in disguise.

One day when he and his queen were living in a cottage in the woods, a beggar came to his door and asked for bread. The Queen told Alfred that one loaf of bread was all they had and she had no idea when they would get any more.

“Give the poor man half the loaf,” said Alfred. “He who could feed five thousand with five loaves and two small fishes, can certainly make a loaf last for us until we get a fresh supply.” So the beggar got half the loaf.

And what did the great and good King Alfred get? His servants came in soon after with an abundant supply of bread, so the king was rewarded many times over for his kind act. He did it as unto the Lord, and the Lord honored him.

“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Cor. 9:6.

ML-12/25/1977

Jesus Is Mine

At the close of a gospel meeting I stayed to speak to some little girls who had waited to talk with me. There were six in all, and I sat down beside them and inquired if they knew Jesus as their Saviour. I looked into their faces for a reply, but all remained silent except one. To all outward appearance she was worse off than any of the rest, but the glad expression in her eyes told me almost before she spoke, that she had a treasure unseen by mortal eye.

“I know Him,” she said; “Jesus is mine.”

“Jesus is mine!”—it seemed as if the words had never sounded so sweet before. I had some conversation with her, and she told me all about it. She had been lead to realize herself as a sinner and to accept the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. so she could say:

“I am His, He is mine,

Forever and forever.”

I still seem to hear the echo of the answer of that little one safe in the arms of Jesus. Her knowledge of the Bible must have been very little, but what she did know was an eternity in itself. May each reader examine himself or herself as to whether they can truly say, “Jesus is mine.” If not, dear reader, you can know it now.

ML-12/25/1977

At the Fountain

A Christian named Mr. Gravet stopped at the courthouse square to take a drink at the fountain. Just then another man stepped up to take a drink and Mr. Gravet said, “God invites you to drink at the fountain of the water of life, for He says, ‘And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’ Rev. 22:17.”

“Does the Bible say that?” inquired the man.

“Yes, you may have the water of life as freely as this water, and it will mean eternal life to your soul!”

The man took a hasty drink, thanked Mr. Gravet, and they separated.

Some years later, Mr. Gravet was holding some meetings at Greeley. When he stopped at the post office to get his mail, the postmaster called him into his office and said he would like to talk to him.

“Do you remember,” said he, “the time when we both drank at the fountain at Denver?”

“Yes, I remember something about it, but it’s rather faint now.”

“Well, I want to tell you that that very hour I was on my way to commit suicide. I had the pills in my hand to swallow just before I took a drink of water. Then you came and I suggested that you drink first, and then you made the remark about the water of life which was as free as the water we were drinking. You also quoted the scripture, ‘And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’

“Then you suggested that I go to hear a well-known evangelist who was in town. I went to hear him and was converted to God. I wanted to thank you personally, for you were used of God to save me from suicide and eternal death. I do thank God that He has saved me.”

ML-12/25/1977

My Part

Dear Mel had gotten converted and, oh, he was a happy man!

Mel got up at a gospel meeting one evening, and he was telling what the Lord had done for him. It was Jesus first, and Jesus last, and Jesus all the way.

The man who was leading the meeting was in a different spirit, however. He held that one had to do something toward his salvation, and the Lord did the rest. So after Mel had set down, he got up and spoke: “Friends,” he said, “a brother has given us the Lord’s side in the work of salvation, but when I got converted, there was a whole lot I had to do first: I had to do my part before God did His. Brother, don’t you want to tell us about your part?”

Mel got up and said, “Brethren, I clean done forgot, didn’t I! I didn’t tell you of my part. I sure did my part. I did it well, running away from God as fast as my sins could carry me for over 30 years. That was my part. God took after me till He ran me down. That was His part.”

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8.

Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,

Flowers with fairer beauty shine,

Since I know, as now I know,

I am His and He is mine.

ML-12/25/1977

A Refuge

An American hunter was walking across his field one morning, when he heard the baying of hounds in the distance. As the dogs approached, he looked through a crack in a picket fence, and there saw a poor little fawn, wearied from the chase, its tongue hanging out, and its sides lathered with foam. The little thing had just strength enough to clear the fence, and stood there for a moment with its great liquid eyes gazing about in a most frightened manner.

Then it saw a hound leap over the fence not far away, and its first impulse was to take flight again. But instead of running away, it came and fell down in a heap at the man’s feet.

Our friend said: “I couldn’t stand there and see that poor little thing torn to pieces by the dogs—no, not after it had appealed to me for protection. As the hounds gathered around, I defended the little thing. I stood there and fought the dogs for half an hour. I just felt that all the dogs in the county could not capture that little fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength.”

Poor sinners who have now cast themselves upon the mercy of the Lord, find in Him a Saviour and a Defender. On the other hand, those who try to outrun sin, Satan and the judgment of God, will do so only to their own destruction and everlasting sorrow.

“Flee from the wrath to come.” Flee to the Lord Jesus, the only Refuge of the soul. A Saviour and Friend, He defends all those who put their trust in Him. At Calvary’s cross, He stood in the breach, bore the mighty strokes of God’s judgment against sin, in order that all who trust Him might be spared. “Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

In our weakness and need, we can never appeal to the Lord in vain. He says, “Whosoever will, may come;” and “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:28.

ML-09/04/1977

Messages of God's Love: 1977

Table of Contents

The Thirsty Actress

The Rainbow

Betty's Rescue

Try Christ

"Forgiven"

Rain!

The Tower of Babel

Lost Lucy

Faithful Oscar

A Wife Saved

The Little Gopher

"God Is Not Mocked"

Sandy's Rescue

Joshua

A Ferry Disaster

Lost Wimpy

A Chief Who Took Off His Hat

The Angel of the Lord

Job

Joshua

A Kindness Repaid

A Gift from the King

"Do You Ken Christ?"

Jane's Decision

A Baby for a Nickel

Joshua

"Lion, Go That Way!"

The Stolen Puppies

The Boy Who Could Make Coffee

Joshua

A Short Sermon

The Brave Sea Captain

How the Justice Got Saved

A Sheep Book

Baby Moses

Joshua

He's Mine

Saved By Indians

The Safe Compass

Why Does Mother Keep You?

Owls

Among Robbers

Joshua

In the Gypsy's Tent

Standing in God's Smile

The Great Fire of London

Joshua

An African Student

The Power of His Name

The Crooked Man

Saved on the Hay Rake

Joshua

A Converted Gambler

Chinese Bandits

Sally's Conversion as Told By Herself

Old Joe

Peggy's New Testament

Joshua

A Niagara Rescue

"Attention!"

Little "Nuisance"!

Joshua

The Bible in the Stool

How Grasshopper Was Set Free

The Tempter

The Sad Story of Jean

Joshua

The Stolen Flute

The Story of Pierre

Whiskers, the Prisoner

Joshua

What Jim Learned

Little Janet's Faithful Love

So Much to Thank God For

Rachel

Joshua

Humility

Better Than a Gun