WHAT is that bright red banner stretched across the road? It says, “Come to the Children’s Service every evening this week at half-past six.” Why, it is nearly that time now, and see, the children are going into the Hall. Bright, happy children they seem to be; are they thinking of the solemnity of listening to the gospel message once again? Will they accept the Saviour’s loving offer of salvation, or will they refuse it?
Two little girls, about twelve years of age, are sitting with a lady who knows them well, and who longs to feel sure that Christ is their Saviour. That they are great friends, one would easily find out. When the earnest address is ended, Miss M — asks them if they will stay to the after-meeting; but Norah, with a would-be careless expression on her face, hurries out, not waiting to see what her friend will do.
“Will you stay, Maggie?”
“I’ve no one to stay with,” is the answer.
“I will stay with you, dear,” says Miss M—.
The appeal from the speaker is earnest and loving, following up the words which have just been spoken.
“Is thy heart right?” has been the question put that evening, and the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus is shown as the only thing which can cleanse and make us “right” in God’s sight. Maggie is touched; she knows that her heart is not right, but she is willing, she says, to give up her own way, and to trust Jesus as her Saviour.
Miss M― prays with her, and presently says:
“You will go home and tell mother, won’t you, Maggie?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“And will you tell Norah too?”
No answer, for this is a harder matter; Maggie could not stand being laughed at.
“Maggie, you don’t know what a blessing it might be to Norah if you were to tell her that you had come to Jesus; would you not ask God for strength to do it if you thought that?”
“Yes, Miss,” very low.
Two days later the two girls were together once again at the children’s service. Maggie had confessed Christ to her friend, and brought her with her to the meeting. Once more the gospel message is proclaimed; once more the Saviour’s loving invitation is repeated.
At the close there is a sound of sobbing. Poor Norah’s heart is too sorrowful to heed those around her; she has seen her sinfulness, the burden of sin is terrible, her heart seems breaking. “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” At such sorrow surely the Saviour rejoices, for He has caused the tears to come, and He will Himself turn the sorrow into joy. Miss M — draws the weeping child into another room, where they can talk undisturbed, and there the seeking soul and the seeking Saviour find one another, and “there is joy in the presence of the angels.”
“Norah, how long have you really wanted to come to Jesus?” Miss M — asks her presently. “Since Maggie came,” is the answer.
Faithful Maggie, she has spoken a word for Jesus, and He has honored her testimony; she has helped to lead her friend to Christ.
For three short weeks Norah lived for Jesus. There was much to overcome — a hasty temper and a quick tongue. “It is hard, Miss,” was her confession once. But the Lord was helping His feeble disciple, and it could be seen that her life was changed. Her mother’s testimony was very definite. “She is much sweeter and quieter at home,” she said. To her friend Maggie she confided that she was “so happy now.” And others, too, heard of her new-found joy. “She wasn’t ashamed to own it,” was the testimony of the most careless girl in her Sunday school class.
Three weeks — and then, “the Lord had need” of her. Only a few days’ illness, and she is safe at Home, safe with Jesus, seeing Him “face to face.” One June afternoon the children gather under the trees around her grave, and sing:
“Around the throne of God in heaven
Thousands of children stand,
Children whose sins are all forgiven,
A holy, happy Band....
On earth they sought the Saviour’s grace,
On earth they loved His name;
So now they see Him face to face,
And stand before the Lamb.”
Yes, thank God that on earth Norah did seek the Saviour’s grace. Happy Maggie! You are sorrowful now, for Jesus has taken your playmate to Himself; and yet you can rejoice to think that through your words she first longed to come to Jesus, and coming, was made fit for the bright Home above.
Dear Christian children, think of your friends and schoolfellows, your brothers and sisters. Have you told them of the Saviour you have found? Have you told them that He is willing to save them too? God has given you wonderful opportunities and influence; they will listen to what you say more readily perhaps than to anyone else. Would it not be a joy too great for words if you could lead them to Jesus? Will you not ask the Lord to use you to be His messenger to others, that someday they may shine as jewels in the Saviour’s crown?
M. H. S.