“Mother! I won a prize!” exclaimed John as he ran in the door. He happily showed her his new Bible ... it had a black cover with gold-edged pages and inside the cover there was written:
John Harrison
A prize for good conduct
and attention to learning
From Langford Sunday School
John and his mother lived in England many years ago. John’s father had been a fisherman. He had died when John was very small, leaving John and his mother in their little home not far from the ocean. John and his mother were so poor that at the age of 12 John started looking for a job. He couldn’t find any work near home, so he decided to look for a job on a ship. His mother helped him pack his clothes in a bundle, and he put his Bible in his pocket. “Be sure to read a chapter every morning and night as you have always done with me,” his mother said. “Do not let your shipmates’ bad examples or mockery keep you from doing this. Good-bye and God bless you, my son.”
John promised his mother that he would do that, and after a prayer that God would guard him and help him keep his promise, he started on his 12-mile walk to the ocean.
John soon found work on a ship. He was a quick learner, and he worked hard. The ship had a kind captain, and he encouraged John to obey his mother’s request to read his Bible every morning and night.
But soon things were not so pleasant. Many of the other sailors made fun of him when they saw him reading his Bible and praying. James Evans, one of the sailors, did all he could to disturb John, and one day while John was busy working, James took John’s Bible and hid it. When John reached under his pillow for his Bible that night, it was gone.
When the captain heard about it, he said, “One of your mates has played a bad trick, but you shall not disobey your mother’s wishes. I have a Bible which my mother gave me when I first went out to sea, but, sadly, I was not like you. I put it aside and never read it. But now, by God’s blessing, I will change that. I want you to come down to my cabin every morning and every night and read a chapter to me.”
When the ship reached England again, John had a month at home before going back on board the ship. During that month the captain came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. One of the first things he said to John when he saw him again was, “My lad, we must still have our daily readings together. And what is more, I intend to have prayers morning and evening on board my ship!”
On this trip, the ship had not gone far when a violent storm came up, and James Evans was badly hurt by a falling mast. He slowly got worse, and finally, he called for the captain and John. James had an interesting confession to make. He said, “John, in trying to hurt you I have done myself good. Do you know what this is?” He pulled John’s treasured Bible out from under his pillow. James told John and the captain that one day, out of curiosity, he picked up the Bible to read it and it opened to Luke chapter 15, where he read the story of the prodigal son. It made him remember what his own mother had taught him as a boy and he realized what a sinner he had been. But he also read about God’s love and willingness to forgive sinners because of the Lord Jesus’ death on the cross. James believed what God said about forgiving sinners and got peace and joy. He asked John to forgive him for stealing the Bible, and he died thanking God for the gift of His Son.
John worked for his kind captain for many years, and when the captain retired, John became the captain of the ship. He always took his Bible with him and read it morning and night to his sailors. Only God knows how many more people were saved through John and his Bible.
Have you been saved by John’s Savior? The Lord Jesus is always ready to save anyone who knows that they are a sinner and need Him to save them from their sins. And if you already know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, do you read your Bible every day? The Bible is a special book, not like any other book, because it tells us about God and about things that will last forever. It is like a big treasure chest, with so many treasures in it that you will never discover all of them, no matter how many years you read it! Jeremiah said about God’s words: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:1616Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)). David said of God’s words: “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:1010More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10)). The Bible is more precious than gold, sweeter than honey, the joy of my heart. I hope you come to love the Word of God like David and Jeremiah did! And, like John, don’t be afraid to let others see that you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. You may help others come to know our wonderful Savior!
Messages of God’s Love 5/18/2025