A little colored boy in Africa wanted so much to go to the gospel hall and hear about the Lord Jesus, but his father had forbidden it. One day Thomas could resist no longer, and so he went secretly. He was overwhelmed with what he heard of the great love of the Lord who even died for him. Coming home he found his father waiting for him with a stick, and he gave him a cruel beating on his bare back for having gone to listen to the foreign doctrine.
When the next Sunday came around, Thomas could not bear to stay away from the meeting of the Christians. He went again. Again the father gave him a cruel flogging. Thomas quietly endured it all. It is worth while, he said to himself, for all the joy and happiness which the Lord Jesus has put into my heart.
On the third Sunday, early in the morning, Thomas went to his father and said: “Father, I am going to the meeting of the Christians. Please, give me the flogging now, so that I don’t have to think of it during the service.” The father said: “Today I will not beat you, but will go with you to the service to hear what is said there, because this foreign doctrine has changed you into a better boy.” Thomas went into the bush and thanked the Lord on his knees for His marvelous help. With radiant face he went to the meeting with his father, whose heart was also touched by the message of God’s love revealed in His Son. Thomas was allowed to ask for baptism, being the first one in his family to be saved.
ML 03/14/1954