O, you look at this little pony and cart, I expect you can but wish that they belonged to you. What a good time these two must be having in their drive together!
I wonder if this larger boy spent his morning helping mother and was promised this drive with little brother if he was faithful? It is such a happy thing to help mother and others around us. You know it makes them glad to give boys and girls good times when they are thus helpful. But even above what our parents and friends think of us, we want God’s approval of our doings, do we not? He has told us in His Word to bear one another’s burdens. So when we have work to do which may sometimes seem hard and distasteful to us, we must remember that even these things can be done in a happy spirit and, as unto the Lord. He says:
What a sad thing, though, for the boy or girl who does not know Jesus. Such have never been to Him for the forgiveness of their sins, and so cannot have the joy in their hearts of knowing that they please Him in their work and play.
How is it with you, reader, are you a stranger to Jesus? If so, remember, it is impossible for you to do anything that is pleasing to Him. What a solemn thought!
It makes no difference how many good things in the sight of men you may do, if you are not a saved soul, all your good deeds are but “filthy rags” before God. You must bow your knee to Jesus, His Son, before you are the least acceptable in His sight. When you do this, God will give His Spirit to dwell in you to lead you and enable you to live a life pleasing to Him.
ML 06/24/1917