Crossing the Atlantic on a large mail steamer a few years ago, was a little girl with her parents on a visit to Canada. Concerts were held among the passengers, and the pretty child was asked to sing. To this the parents would not give their consent, for they were Christians, and did not allow their little daughter to sing the world’s songs, or mingle in company where they were sung. One evening she disappeared, and much to her parents’ surprise she returned with the story that she had been invited by a lady to accompany her to the concert where she had sung. The parents at first were grieved, but when they learned that she had sung
“I am so glad that Jesus loves me,”
which was entirely new then, they thanked God for the courage given to their child, and prayed that He would bless the message to those who heard it, Imagine their surprise, when after the service held on deck the following Sunday, several ladies came along and asked the little singer to sing them “another sweet hymn,” to which she gladly consented, singing this time,
“Nothing either great or small,
Nothing sinner, no,
Jesus did it, did it all:
Long, long ago.”
Many of the passengers attracted by the sweet voice, gathered around, and before the hymn, so full of simple, precious Gospel truth was finished, many a handkerchief was used to wipe tears from the eyes of the wondering listeners, to some of whom at least, that was the first simple Gospel message that had ever come. Eternity will tell the full result, but it was known before the voyage ended, that one heart was won for the Saviour, one soul saved by the gald tidings thus simply set forth by that saved child.
The Gospel has a wondrous power, there is nothing in the whole world like it. It convicts of sin, it converts to God: it brings pardon to the guilty, peace to the troubled, joy to the sad. It tells of present salvation for the lost, and eternal glory for the saved. It brings the believing sier to God, to Christ, to be a son, a seant of God.
Have you been converted by its power, reader; if not, why not? You will never hear a better story, never know a grander theme. If you neglect or despise it, you will perish eternally, and your deepest lament will be your own folly in not bieving the Gospel of God. If you do believe it and have been saved by it, then “tell it out” to others as did that saved child on the deep sea long ago.
ML 03/16/1941