“Jesus called a little child unto Him.” Matthew 18:2.
A Little Missionary
A LITTLE girl, when her father was sick, went to the post-office and said,
“Please give me my father’s letters,” with a sweet childish voice.
“Who is your father?” said the postmaster.
“Don’t you know my father?” she said with astonishment.
“Of course I don’t,” he answered; “why should I?”
“Everybody knows my father,” she answered.
“There is certainly one person that does not,” he replied.
“Don’t you go to meeting on Sunday?” she asked.
“No, I don’t go to meeting.”
“What! never go to meeting? That’s why you don’t know my father. He is the minister, and everybody knows him.”
“If you will tell me his name, I will see if there are any letters.”
She did so, and when he said there were none, she said,
“Did you say you never go to meeting?”
“That’s what I said,” he answered. turning away. He had become worse than careless about such things. The little girl walked away, looking sad.
Next day the postmaster told her there were no letters yet, and turned away.
But she was not to be foiled in her purpose, and said,
“You never saw my father, did, you?” “Not to know him,” he replied.
“Everybody likes him that knows him, and they say he is a nice preacher.”
The postmaster laughed, and said he did not doubt it.
“Don’t you ever go to meeting?”
“Not in these days.”
“You would like to hear my father. Everybody does.”
The questions became too close for him, and he turned away.
Next day he offered her a letter directed to her father, saying, “It has come at last.”
“He will be glad to have it,” she said, thanking him; then with earnestness, continued, “I wish you knew my father; you would like him.”
“I have no doubt I should if he is anything like his daughter.”
“I wish you would come next Sunday and hear him preach. I know you will be pleased.”
“I don’t know anyone there; I should feel a stranger.”
“You’ll know me, and I shall be so happy to see you. You can come to our seat.”
He objected again and again, but she persisted in her childish way until at last he promised to go. He did not look entirely pleased, but she ran off, pleased enough.
She was early in her seat, and turned nervously a great many times toward the door, and at last stood and beckoned with her little hand. A tall man came awkwardly forward, and sat beside her. She nestled up to his side and placed her hand in his.
She thought her father never preached better; God certainly helped him. She looked up into the gentleman’s face and saw tears starting from his eyes. He hurried out of the church, after thanking her for the seat.
The next week however, he came to see her father, and had a long talk with him. The door was shut, but there were sounds of a person in prayer. After the man went, the minister told her that she had brought a soul to Jesus, and that he had found rest and peace.
The postmaster never failed after that to be present at meeting; and how he thanked the little girl for persuading him to go there.
Any child can do this. We may not be able to teach and preach, but we can invite persons to the meetings, and assure them of a seat there, and tell them how good’ it is to go there.
What a great thing it is for us to lead one soul to Jesus, and to know that he is saved through our efforts!
Now, dear children, do you know my Father? Everyone who knows Him, loves Him. He is so very kind and loving, and has told us such wonderful things in His blessed Book. He loves us and wants to have us live with Him forever in His beautiful home, but we are such terrible sinners and He hates sin, and must punish it. Then how can we ever go to live with such a holy God!
Well, He Himself has provided the way for us. He sent His well-beloved Son. the Lord Jesus Christ, into this world to die for us, and bear all the punishment we deserved for our sins, and now He is inviting us to come to Him, through the Lord Jesus, our precious Saviour.
Do come to Him at once, dear children. You will find that all He says is true, and you will truly love Him when you find out how much He loves you.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.
ML 03/09/1924