An interesting and touching incident is recorded in the life of Dr. John G. Paton, the famous missionary who labored for God in the Islands of the South Seas. He had been speaking on behalf of his work at a meeting in L., and said, in the course of his address,
“How precious is the knowledge that we have the everlasting arms of Jesus round us to keep and comfort us in all our difficulties through life.”
A little girl who heard these words was much impressed, and could not get them off her mind. That evening, when sitting on her father’s knee, she gave utterance to her thoughts.
“Papa, wouldn’t you like to feel the everlasting arms of Jesus round you to keep you safe and happy?”
The father was somewhat taken aback for he knew nothing of spiritual experience.
“Why, darling, what do you mean?” he asked.
“Well, papa,” said the little girl, “I heard the missionary say how happy he and all of us might be, by having the everlasting arms of Jesus round us, and I felt sure you and I would like to have them round us, wouldn’t you now?”
The Holy Spirit used that young child for her simple, but pointed question was the means of her father entering into a definite experience of salvation. Father and daughter became conscious that the everlasting arms were ever around them.
What of you, dear reader? Are you yet unmindful of the loving arms of Jesus?
ML 09/04/1938