A lady visiting among the sailors spoke to a mate on one of the vessels about his soul’s salvation. He did not seem to give much heed to her words, but just as she was leaving, he said,
“I must tell you of one thing that occurred on a recent voyage, that made an impression on me. When we were lying in port where no ship is allowed to show a light at night, I was walking on deck on my watch, when I saw a faint light forward. Presently it went out, and was followed by another. Fearing that something was wrong, I walked softly forward, and there, under the top-gallant forecastle, I saw a quiet boy, one of the crew, with a Testament on his knee with one of his fingers on the page to keep the place, and holding in his other hand a lighted match, by the light of which he was reading his Testament. I confess that the sight of the boy touched me, and I did not disturb him.”
Dear sailor boy. It was the only opportunity that he had, perhaps the only quiet moment he could secure, and there he was alone with his God, seeking to gather help and strength for his soul from the sacred page. No doubt, it was thus he was helped to bear the scorn of the uodly sailors around him, and to live sorly, righteously, and godly in their midst from day to day. You see how the Lord used the dear boy’s diligence to cause a careless sinner to think.
Do you seek in your spare moments, dear young believer, to thus search and meditate on the Word of God? or, do you fritter away your precious hours, neglecting to feed and sustain your soul?
ML 08/24/1941