A LITTLE boy named Willie H. used to pass by a lady's house every day as he drove a neighbor's cow to pasture and back again. Willie was a very bad boy; he used to swear dreadfully, and was very rude. The lady who lived there always called her children into the house, if they were playing on the sidewalk when Willie was going by. She didn't want them to hear the terrible oaths that he swore. One day this lady thought she would try to help this poor neglected boy. And I want you to notice what she did; how little it cost her, and yet how much good it led to.
As he was driving the cow past one morning she called him kindly to her, and said, "Willie, my boy, do you go to school?"
A gruff "No" was the only reply.
"Can you read?"
"Not much; and I don't want to."
The lady pitied the boy. He had no instruction, and no encouragement at home. His parents were not only poor, but wicked. He had no one to help him to do right.
"Will you stop here a minute on your way back, Willie?" asked the lady. "There is something I want to give you."
Willie nodded his head, with a look of wonder. He was not used to having anything given him but kicks, and knocks, and cross words. To be spoken to kindly, and have a present made to him, was something new. As soon as he was gone, the lady got a nice New Testament, and wrote his name in it. He called on his way back and got his Testament. The kindness of the lady and the interest she seemed to take in him had a great effect upon him. He promised the lady that he would try to spell out and read at least one verse every day in his Testament. He also promised her to come to Sunday school next Sunday. And he kept his promise.
A year passed away. A great change had taken place in Willie H. He had come to love the Lord Jesus. He was always in his place at Sunday school, and it was pleasant to see him sit there, with his eyes fastened on the teacher, as if he were afraid to lose a single word that he was saying. As often as Sunday came round Willie could be seen, with his little Testament in his hand, and his clothes brushed clean, on his way to Sunday school. His lesson was always well learned. And the rough, ragged, swearing boy, who was a plague to the village a year before, had become one of the nicest boys in the neighborhood.
How many there are who are quite ready to admit that a bad boy like Willie certainly needed salvation, but they do not feel themselves so bad as to be in need of God's mercy. They are much like those the Lord Jesus spoke of, "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, . . ." But the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner." We learn that it was not the Pharisee but the publican who went down to his house justified. (Luke 181 9-15.)
Dear young reader, you may be polite, respectable, well thought of by others; and perhaps you go to church or Sunday school regularly — all very well in themselves. But none of these things will fit you for the kingdom of God. The truth is that you need to be saved just as much as poor Willie; "for there is no difference: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). "Ye must be born again," (John 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)), for
Messages of the Love of God 7/20/1958