A WIDOW woman was mourning over a son who had enlisted for a soldier. One day another young man from the same town was going to join the army, so he called on the widow and asked her if she had any message he could take to her son.
She replied that she was very poor, and had no money to send but that she would send him a Bible. She also added,
“Give my love to him, and tell him it is my earnest wish that he would read this book, and, beginning at Matthew, read one chapter every day.”
The young man took the Bible, and after joining the army found out his friend, who asked him,
“Well, have you seen my old mother, and how is she?”
“She is well,” he replied, “and has sent you this Bible with the request, which may perhaps be her last, that you would read a chapter of it every day.”
“Well,” said he, “I will do so if you will join with me in reading it.”
The agreement was made, and they started reading chapter by chapter till they reached the third chapter of John’s gospel, which seemed somehow to strike them both. A Christian soldier explained that chapter to them, and God by His Spirit blessed it so that they both had the joy of knowing their sins were forgiven. The peace of God filled their hearts.
Soon after this they were called into battle, and the son of the widow was wounded and carried to the field hospital.
At night his friend went to look for his comrade, and found him with the same Bible open, as if he had been reading it, but his spirit had gone to be with Jesus.” “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.” Psa. 19:77The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7).
ML 07/09/1922