It was a cold December day, but not too cold for Nancy and her parents to enjoy a walk in the woods. But how foolish Nancy’s parents were when they let her walk on the ice of a small lake that they were passing. But God was watching over Nancy, even though she may not have known it.
In the same woods an off-duty policeman, named John, was walking his dog. He happened to see Nancy standing on the ice. While watching her, the ice suddenly broke under her. What a shock it must have been for Nancy to suddenly find herself sinking in icy water!
John was quick to act. In telling about it later he said, “I threw off my jacket and boots and ran onto the ice to help her. I broke through the ice too, but I reached her and started pushing her toward shore. We couldn’t touch the bottom, and she kept trying to grab my face.”
John was finally able to push Nancy up onto the shore where her parents were anxiously waiting. Then John had a difficult time getting out of the icy water himself. “I was so cold I couldn’t feel anything, and when I got out my clothes froze.”
How thankful Nancy and her parents should have been to John for risking his life to save Nancy’s. But, sad to say, there was no mention of anyone thanking John. How often we are just like this! The Lord Jesus Christ did not just risk His life for us, He died on Calvary’s cross to save those of us who trust in Him. Do we remember to thank Him?
In Luke 17:11-1911And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (Luke 17:11‑19) we are told of the Lord Jesus healing ten men from the disease of leprosy, and only one of them came back to thank Him. How much happier we will be if we are like that one thankful leper, for he “glorified God...giving Him thanks.”
Can a little child like me
Thank the Saviour fittingly?
Yes, O yes, He loves to hear
Praises from the children dear.
I can thank Him o’er and o’er
For my load of sins He bore.
ML-12/12/1982