JOAN often wondered how she could please the Lord Jesus, for she loved Him because He had made His love known to her. She could not help loving Him, for He had given Himself for her, forgiven her sins, and promised her a home above in His holy company when her life on earth should be ended. It would have been surprising if she had not loved, after knowing such gracious favor.
Joan often thought how nice it would be to be grown-up, when there would be so many more ways in which she could serve the Lord, but at twelve years old there did not seem to her to be many.
She knew that to obey her parents was pleasing to the Lord (Col. 3:2020Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20)), and she tried to do so, but she felt there must be many other things she could do to show how much she loved Him.
One day she read this verse: "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs." (Psa. 69:30, 3130I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. (Psalm 69:30‑31).)
Now Joan had found another way in which she could please the Lord, by praising and giving thanks. This was a new thought to her. But what could she sing? Her songs must be in harmony with the music of heaven if they were to please the Lord of heaven and earth.
Joan knew what they sang above. Listen! "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." (Rev. 5:11, 1211And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:11‑12).)
Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, was the subject of heavenly music. Joan knew this and found songs of the same kind to sing down here, and enjoyed knowing that she was pleasing to the Lord in doing so.
When older, she read an account of a village, a singing village, which interested her much. Mulheim, a little German village during the 18th century, now a large town, was a spot on earth in concert with heaven. Many of the inhabitants were partly French, having fled from persecution m their own country, and their hearts were so full of praise to God for His mercy and love to them, that they were always singing. Even the boys and girls, who went to care for the cows and sheep in the fields, took hymnbooks with them so that they could learn to sing more heavenly songs. The washerwomen sang over their tubs, the carpenters and joiners sang as they hammered and sawed, and the cobblers as they mended their shoes, not foolish songs, but hymns of praise to God.
Here are two verses, which have been translated:
Can a mother cease to care
For the little child she bare?
Faithful I will be.
Yea, Amen, My oath is given,
Nor can aught in hell or heaven,
Sever thee from Me.
Thee eternally I claim,
On My hands I find thy name,
I, who graved it there.
Ever in My thoughts thou art,
Evermore within My heart,
Evermore My care.
These people knew how God loved them and that nothing could separate them from His love, and like the Jews we read of in Nehemiah, "The wives also and the children rejoiced," as well as the men, " for God had made them rejoice with great joy." (Neh. 12:4343Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. (Nehemiah 12:43).)
Even a little child can bring glory to God in this way, and can pray as David and say: "Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise." (Psa. 51:1515O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. (Psalm 51:15).)
Will you pray this too? Then you will be able to join with all those who delight in Christ in singing:
And drawn to Thee in holy love,
A song of joy we raise,
In concert with the heavens above,
We crown Thee with our praise.