It was the last day of the year, and a big pile of new almanacs lay on the kitchen table, ready to be given to the neighbors. Little Nelly came running into the kitchen, and at once her attention was caught by the big text in the center of the sheet. Nelly was five years old, and had just learned to read, so she was eager to show off her knowledge to the cook.
“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.
Slowly and emphatically she read the big, clear words. Now Nelly had heard that beautiful verse over and over again. This time she not only read the words with her lips, and understood them with her mind—she believed them in her heart. She saw for the first time that God really loved her, little Nelly, and she, little Nelly, now had everlasting life. And so the verse seemed quite new to her.
“That is the most beautiful verse I ever heard,” she said. Then, turning to the cook, she added, “I must have one of those papers on the wall in my bedroom.”
“Oh, no,” said the cook, laughing, “you do not need one.”
“Yes, I do,” said the child, “and I know my daddy would give me one.”
“But there is no room on the wall for you to put it up,” said the cook.
“Oh, yes, there is lots of room. Come upstairs with me and I’ll show you—right over my bed.”
She went up readily enough, for she knew something Nelly did not know. When they looked into the bedroom, there, right over Nelly’s bed was the beautiful text. Her mother had already fastened the almanac there!
All the year long Nellie slept under that wonderful assuring verse, which told her that she would not perish but that she had everlasting life— all because of God’s great love.
Nelly used to delight to say, “God so loved Nelly, that Nelly need not perish,”
Can you put your name into the empty places in the text? God is waiting for you to make it your very own.
“GOD SO LOVED——, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT IF—— BELIEVES IN HIM——WILL NOT PERISH, BUT—— HATH EVERLASTING LIFE.”
ML 04/09/1950