THE HAMMOND family lived in South Carolina. There were seven boys and girls and each week they would all troop into Mr. Craw-ford’s store to buy candy.
“Good morning, Mr. Crawford. We’d like some candy, please. Every one has five cents.” For a long time the children would scan the rows of candy inside the glass case — jelly beans, gum drops, chocolates, licorice and all kinds of goodies. Mr. Crawford was always very patient but finally the last little buyer was satisfied.
“Thanks, Mr. Crawford,” the children would say as they trooped out the door. “We’ll see you next week.”
But the Hammond children saw Mr. Crawford earlier than the next week — at a place they never expected to see him — at the gospel meeting. The Hammond children were Christians, and they always attended the gospel meetings and Sunday school on Lord’s Day. Their father often preached the gospel at the hall on Sunday nights.
On this particular night when Mr. Hammond closed the meeting with prayer, he asked if there were any in the audience who would like to be saved. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford immediately made it known that they would like to accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Along with others they knelt down that night and trusted in the Lord.
After meeting the Hammond children crowded around Mr. and Mrs. Crawford. There was a buzz and excitement, and it seemed as if all the children wanted to talk all at once.
“Mother, this is the man we buy candy from....” they said.
How glad the children were that Mr. and Mrs. Crawford had both come to Jesus.
“But what made you first think about coming to the gospel meeting?” asked Mr. Hammond.
In reply Mr. Crawford pointed to the Hammond children milling around him. “It was these children,” he said. “They were so sweet and kind to each other, and they seemed to love me. I figured that if these kind of children attended the gospel hall, then I needed to come too.”
Though they didn’t realize it, the Hammond children were showing by their lives that they belonged to the Lord Jesus.
Dear young friends, isn’t it wonderful that Christian boys and girls can be bright lights for the Lord Jesus in this dark world of sin. There are those who are watching you all the time. Perhaps someone who needs the Saviour, but doesn’t know how to find Him, may be watching you. In Isaiah 11:66The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:6) it says, “and a little child shall lead them.” And again in Proverbs 20:1111Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. (Proverbs 20:11) we read “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”
And for you who know not this blessed Saviour yet, why not come to Him today, confess that you are a poor lost sinner and want to have Him as your Saviour. He’ll not turn you away but will speak words of peace: “thy sins are forgiven thee. Go in peace.” Then He will give you the power to live and shine for Him in the darkness of this world.
ML-03/18/1973