Obedience or Sacrifice?

“I wish I had lived in those times,” exclaimed Henry Sharp, a rather enthusiastic boy, as he finished reading the account of the death of Latimer and Ridley.

“Why?” inquired Mr. Severn, his tutor.

“Because I should like to have been a martyr,” replied Henry slowly; “it seems such a glorious thing to die for what you believe to be right.”

The opinion did not seem to be in the least shared by his school fellows, who showed their astonishment and dissent by various gestures; some were ready to laugh, and looked towards the master, with faces expressive of their ideas of their own superior wisdom, and anticipating the rebuke that was to fall upon their comrade.

But Mr. Severn was not a man to judge things hastily, or to pronounce a remark silly, so he said quietly: “Do you really think so, Henry? Do you believe that you would have courage and firmness to submit to the severe and often lingering agonies which those persecuted men endured?”

“Of course I can’t be sure that I should, sir,” replied Henry; “but it seems to me that the thought of gaining heaven must be enough to sustain anyone in ever so much pain.”

“I can sympathize with your feelings,” continued Mr. Severn, “for I remember that as a boy I, too, had the same idea; but as I grew older and was able to better understand the state of my own heart, I came to the conclusion that I was deceiving myself.

“I found out, in examining myself, that in longing for martyrdom as a means of gaining heaven, I was unconsciously looking upon that pain and suffering as more easy to bear than the yoke which Christ has laid upon us. Or to express myself more simply, I was really thinking that I would rather submit to a cruel death than struggle daily and hourly to live as Jesus would have me live. While I was wishing to give the strongest proof of my love to God, I was really shrinking from the service He had appointed to me, and trying to find an easier way for myself.

“I cannot of course tell what you feel,” continued Mr. Severn; “I only give you my own experience to guide you; but I must add further caution—martyrdom is not a certain means of entering heaven.”

“Not certain!” exclaimed several of his hearers, and Henry looked particularly astonished.

“I admit,” answered Mr. Severn, “that it is difficult to imagine a man, who did not have a firm and saving faith in his Saviour, would be willing to die for his religion; but we have Paul’s own testimony to guide us: ‘Though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.’ ”

“Many have tried to find out paths that please them better than God’s narrow way. You remember the history of Naaman the Syrian. He went to Elisha to be cured of his leprosy, and was willing, as subsequent events proved, to do a great deal to be cured of his fearful and loathsome malady; but when the prophet sent out the message to him to go and dip seven times in the river Jordan, the very simplicity of the means to be employed offended him. If he had been told to undertake some weary pilgrimage, to go through some painful sufferings, no doubt he would have submitted cheerfully; but his pride rebelled against washing in the river Jordan. Nay, even if he must be cured by washing, why not let it be the mightier streams of his own land, Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus! Thus he argued; anything rather than what God’s prophet appointed. And we are very much like Naaman. Sin is like leprosy, and when we ask to be cured of it, we are told that there is but one means—to wash in the fountain that is opened for all sin and for all uncleanness, to rely for cleansing upon the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Human pride revolts against this, and would prefer a salvation which left man to ‘do some great thing’ for himself, and did not merely place him in the purifying stream humbly and confidingly like a little child.

“We must not deceive ourselves but try and forget such fancies for doing some great thing, and endeavor instead to do the everyday duties that are before us. So many more are called upon to perform such deeds, than to do great things, that I believe they are fully pleasing in the sight of God, when done from a simple desire to His glory. We do His will in striving to perform our daily duties, however trivial and simple, as He would have them done; and in believing that, let them be what they will, it is noble work, because it is what He has given us to do. In the Bible, how many instances we have of those who have employed their talents well, receiving more; of men called to greater honors, or more extensive labor, when they were simply employed in attending to their everyday concerns.

“A shepherd guarding his father-in-law’s flock upon Mount Horeb; a voice comes to him, and he is called to confront a powerful king—to free, by signs and wonders, an enslaved people from his unwillingly relaxed grasp—to become the leader and lawgiver of this rescued nation, and to be a favored servant of God.

“Another youth, also employed in keeping sheep; the prophet sent to his father’s house, sees all his brothers, but does not find among them the chosen of the Lord. This youngest is then sent for from his humble occupation, and upon his head is poured the anointing oil, and into his heart the sanctifying grace, which gains for him that glorious title, ‘The man after God’s own heart.’

“Another man plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; Israel’s great prophet passes by and casts his mantle upon him, calling him to be his successor; yes, even to receive a double portion of the Spirit which rested upon him, and he had stood fearless and alone on the side of God among the multitudes of Baal’s prophets and the prophets of the groves.

“Where was Matthew when Jesus called him? At the receipt of custom. Where were Peter, James, and John? Fishing. Where was Gideon when he was called to be a judge of Israel? Threshing wheat. But I need not repeat any more examples; those I have quoted are sufficient to point out what I mean.”

“I suppose my wish was a very foolish one,” said Henry, “and I

have been deceiving myself as you suspected. I have not looked at things in the light you represent them. The view you have would make us more contented with our lot, however humble. It certainly would cause us to feel more interest in our daily duties to think that they are a part of God’s work upon earth.”

“It does indeed” answered Mr. Severn. “Omitting the obvious duties we have been given to do, in the hope of being given a grander duty is a poor way of showing obedience to God. You might think it a greater merit, but it would not be what He has given you to do. The continual sense of our being about God’s work, and of His eye seeing us, gives importance and worth to all we have to do.”

Do you feel, like Henry, that it would be a more glorious thing to make some great sacrifice, rather than to yield your will in very trivial matters, or to submit to the discipline of parents and teachers? Do not forget that “to obey is better than sacrifice.”

Source: Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle, Vol. 1, ©1877, 239–245.

Story – Timour and the Ant

Timour was a famous chief in Asia. His enemies were on his track. If they caught him, they were going to kill him. To save his life, he hid in a lonely building in the wilderness. He was sad and discouraged. It seemed to him that his load was heavier than he could bear. He did not know what to do. He felt like giving up in despair.

As he sat in the rude hut looking at the bare walls, he saw a little ant trying to carry a grain of wheat up the wall. The wheat was larger than the ant. It seemed too heavy for the tiny insect to pull up the steep wall.

Timour watched the little worker. Up the wall it slowly struggled with its heavy load. It had not gone far when the grain of wheat fell to the floor. Quickly the little ant came down the wall. It seized the wheat and started up again. But the load was too heavy, and again it dropped back to the floor.

Was the ant discouraged? Oh, no! Down it came again for its prize. Time after time the load proved too much for the little creature. Sixty-nine times he watched the determined little ant return to its task. But the seventieth time it carried its load successfully!

“I was in despair,” said the chief, “but the plucky little ant gave me new courage, and I have never forgotten the noble lesson it taught me.”

The Bible says, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise.”

True Education Series, Book 3, ©1930, 131, 132.

Story – A Boy Who Was Wanted

“Well, I found out one thing,” said Jack, as he came to his mother. He was hot, tired, and dusty.

“What is that?” she asked.

“That there are a great many boys in the world.”

“Didn’t you know that before?”

“Partly; but I didn’t know there were so many more boys than are wanted.”

“Why do you think there are more than are wanted?”

“Because I have been ’round and ’round till I am worn out, trying to find a place to work. Wherever I go, there are more boys than places. Doesn’t that show that there are too many boys?”

“Not exactly,” said his mother, with a smile. “It depends entirely on the kind of boy. An honest, dependable boy is always wanted somewhere.”

“Well, if I am that boy, I wish that I knew that I was wanted.”

“Patience, patience, my boy. In such a great world as this is, with so many places and so many boys, it is no wonder some of them do not find their places at once. But be sure, dear,” as she laid her hand on his arm, “that every boy who wants a chance to do fair, honest work will find it.”

“That’s the kind of work I want to do,” said Jack. “I don’t want anybody’s money for nothing. Let me see, what have I to offer? All the schooling and all the wits I have been able to get up in thirteen years; good, stout hands, and a civil tongue.”

“And a mind and heart set on doing faithful duty,” suggested his mother.

“I hope so,” said Jack. “I remember Father used to say: ‘Just as soon as you undertake to work for anyone, you must bear in mind that you have sold yourself for the given time. Your time, your strength, your energy, are his, and your best efforts to seek his interests in every way are his due.’ ”

The earnest tone in which the boy spoke seemed to give assurance that he would pay good heed to the words of the father whose counsel could no more reach him.

For two or three days longer Jack had reason to hold his opinion that there were more boys than the world wanted, at the end of which time he met a businessman who, questioning him closely, said, “There are a great many applications for the place, but a large number of the boys come and stay a short time, and then leave if they think they can do a little better. When a boy gets used to our route and customers, we want him to stay. If you will agree to stay at least three years, we will agree to pay you three dollars a week as errand boy.”

“That is just what I wanted to do, sir,” said Jack, eagerly. So he was installed, and proud enough he was to bring his wages home every week, and realize that, small as they were, the regular help was of great value to his mother.

It is not to be wondered at that the faithful carrying out of his father’s admonition after a while attracted the attention not only of his employers, but of others with whom he was brought in contact in the pursuit of his duties. One day he was asked into the office of Mr. Lang, a gentleman to whom he frequently carried parcels of value.

“Have you ever thought of changing your situation?” asked Mr. Lang.

“No, sir,” said Jack.

“Perhaps you could do better,” said the other. “I want a boy who is quick and intelligent, and who can be relied on; and, from what I see of you, I think you are that sort of boy. I want you to drive a delivery wagon, and will pay you five dollars a week.”

Jack’s eyes opened wide.

“It is wonderfully good pay for a boy like me, I am sure. But I promised to keep on with Mr. Hill for three years, and the second year is only just begun.”

“Well, have you signed a regular agreement with Mr. Hill?”

“No, sir; I told him I would stay.”

“You have a mother to assist, you told me. Could you not tell Mr. Hill that you feel obliged to do better, when you have a chance?”

“I don’t believe I could,” said Jack, looking with his straight, frank gaze into the gentleman’s face. “You see, sir, if I broke my word with him, I should not be the kind of boy to be relied on that you want.”

“I guess you are about right,” said Mr. Lang, with a sigh. “Come and see me when your time is out; I dare say I shall want you then.”

Jack went home very much stirred by what had been said to him.

After all, could it be wrong to go where he would do so much better? Was it not really his duty to accept the position? He could then drive the wagon instead of trudging wearily along the streets. They had never felt so hot and dusty as they did just now, when he might escape from the tiresome routine. Might, but how? —By the sacrifice of his pledged word; by selling his truth and his honor. So strongly did the reflection force itself upon him that when he told his mother of the offer he had received, he merely added, “It would be a grand good thing if I could take it, wouldn’t it, Mother?”

“Yes, it would. Some boys would change without thinking of letting a promise stand in their way, but that is the kind of boy who, sooner or later, is not wanted. It is because you have not been that sort of boy that you are wanted now.”

Jack worked away, doing such good work, as he became more and more accustomed to the situation, that his mother sometimes wondered that Mr. Hill, who seemed always kindly interested in him, never appeared to think of raising his pay. This, however, was not Mr. Hill’s way of doing things, even though he showed an increasing disposition to trust Jack with important business.

So the boy trudged through the three years, at the end of them having been trusted far more than is usually the case with errand boys. He had never forgotten the offer made by Mr. Lang, and one day, meeting that gentleman on the street, ventured to remind him that his present engagement was nearly out, adding, “You spoke to me about driving the wagon, sir.”

“Ah, so I did; but you are older now and worth more. Call around and see me.”

One evening, soon after, Jack lingered in Mr. Hill’s office after the other errand boys had been paid and had gone away.

“My three years are up tonight, sir,” he said.

“Yes, they are,” said Mr. Hill.

“Will you give me a recommendation to someone else, sir?”

“Well, I will, if you are sure that you want to leave me.”

“I did not know that you wanted me to stay, but”—he hesitated, and then went on— “my mother is a widow, and I feel as if I ought to do the best I can for her, and Mr. Lang told me to call on him.”

“Has Mr. Lang ever made you an offer?”

Jack told him what Mr. Lang had said nearly two years before.

“Why didn’t you go then?” asked Mr. Hill.

“Because I had promised to stay with you; but you wouldn’t blame me for trying to better myself now?”

“Not a bit of it. Are you tired of running errands?”

“I’d rather ride than walk,” said Jack with a smile.

“I think it is about time you were doing better than either. Perhaps you think that you have been doing this faithful work for me through these years for next to nothing; but if so, you are mistaken. You have been doing better work than merely running errands. You have been serving an apprenticeship to trust and honesty. I know you now to be a straightforward, reliable boy, and it takes time to learn that. It is your capital, and you ought to begin to realize it. You may talk to Mr. Lang if you wish, but I will give you a place in the office, with a salary of six hundred dollars for the first year, with the prospect of a raise after that.”

Jack did not go to see Mr. Lang, but straight to his mother, with a shout and a bound.

“You’re right, you’re right, Mother!” he cried. “No more hard work for you, Mother. I’m wanted, you see, wanted enough to get good pay! All the hardest part is over.”

Stories Worth Re-reading, RHPA, ©1913, 264–268

Dishonesty is Sin

Mr. Barnes was a very wealthy man who lived in the early days in the United States. It was one of his chief pleasures to walk through the countryside near his home, and as he walked he often noticed a particularly fine herd of cattle. One day he stopped to visit the rancher who owned the cattle and purchased a cow from him with the agreement that the cow would be delivered to his estate the following day.

The next day as Mr. Barnes was out for his morning walk he saw a young boy trying his hardest to lead the cow over to Mr. Barnes’ field. The boy, who did not know Mr. Barnes, called to him. “Please sir, would you come and help me with this cow? She is so stubborn!”

Mr. Barnes went over to help. As they walked along together, he asked the boy, “How much do you expect to get for delivering the cow?”

“I … I don’t know,” the boy stammered, “but I think I’ll get something because the people who are buying the cow live in that house, and those people are very kind to everyone.”

By now the stubborn cow was walking along nicely, so Mr. Barnes excused himself and took a path through a wooded area that led to his back door. As soon as he got into the house he gave one of his trusted workers a fifty-dollar bill and told him to give it to the boy who was delivering the cow. After the cow had been left at the estate and the boy was returning to the ranch, Mr. Barnes went out again and met the boy on the road.

“Well, how much did you get?” asked Mr. Barnes.

“Five dollars,” answered the boy.

“Only five dollars? You must have gotten more than that,” said Mr. Barnes.

“No,” answered the boy, “that’s what I was given, and that was plenty, don’t you think?”

“No,” said Mr. Barnes. “I’m surprised it wasn’t more. I know Mr. Barnes well, and I believe that if you come back with me, you’ll get more than five dollars.”

The boy agreed, and they walked back to the house together. When they went in Mr. Barnes called his hired workers and asked the boy to tell him who it was who had given him the five dollars.

“It was him,” he said, pointing to one of the workers.

When the man realized his dishonesty had been discovered, he admitted it and tried to excuse himself. But Mr. Barnes interrupted the man’s excuses and demanded that he give the fifty dollars to the boy immediately. And he said to the man, “Your dishonesty has cost you your job and your good name. I hope you soon learn that dishonesty is not only very foolish but a terrible sin as well.” And he fired him on the spot.

Just as the sin of that dishonest man was revealed, God will also one day reveal every sin, hidden or exposed, and judge every sinner for his or her sins. “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” Luke 12:2

But God has made a way of escape from the judgment for your sins. He will forgive you if you will come to Him now and confess that you are a sinner and accept the cleansing He freely offers you through the death of His beloved Son on Calvary’s cross. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Are your sins forgiven? or do you still face the punishment for them?

Source: WholesomeWords.org from Messages of God’s Love published by Bible Truth Publishers.

Story – How God Sent the Flour

It was time for worship. Mother’s dear friend Miss Clara was visiting with the family. Bobby proudly handed her his new Bible to use. After worship was over, Miss Clara said to Bobby, “What a beautiful copy of God’s word you have!”

“Yes,” answered Bobby. “It is the nicest Bible in the whole world, for God sent it right to me.” Then he told her of his answer to prayer for a Bible of his very own.

“God always does above all we can ask or think,” said Miss Clara. “He delights in ‘going over the top’ in good things.”

“Did He ever supply your needs for something, too?” asked Howard.

Miss Clara laughed and said, “That means you want a story.” When she had cuddled up the baby and gathered the boys around her, she went on. “I’m going to tell you a true story of how God sent us food. When I was a girl, my father was a minister. Once when he had to go to a meeting, he didn’t have even one cent to leave Mother with which to buy food while he was gone. The people had not paid what they had promised. Father had just enough money to buy his ticket. He told Mother he would not go and leave us without money, but Mother quoted that beautiful verse that you have learned, ‘My God shall supply all your need,’ and told Father he must go, that God would take care of us.

“We had some potatoes, a few cans of fruit, a little dried corn, and salt in the house, but the flour bin was empty. Mother did not believe in going in debt, and we bought only what we could pay for. Oh, yes, I forgot to say that we still had one loaf of bread when Father left. But when that was gone, there was no flour to make any more. Mother smiled and told us that God knew we needed flour, so we shouldn’t worry. She had us all kneel with her while she asked our heavenly Father to send us a sack of flour. When she arose, she made the rising for bread, just as if the flour bin were full. Then she said, ‘Now children, I’ve done all I can; God will do the rest.’ We all went to bed strong in faith that God would answer our prayers. I almost expected to wake up in the morning and find a sack of flour in the kitchen. When my brother came downstairs, the first thing he asked was, ‘Has God sent the flour yet?’

“Mother lifted the lid from the bread bowl and let us see how light and foamy the rising was. All it needed was the flour. We ate a scant breakfast of potatoes and salt, and then Mother knelt by the empty flour bin and praised God because He had said His children would never need to beg for bread.

“Still no flour came. Mother and I washed the dishes, and Mother started to sing the old song, ‘Oh for a faith that will not shrink.’ My little brother, who was looking out of the window, said, ‘Somebody is tying a horse to our fence.’ We children all hurried to look out, fully expecting to see the woman carry in some flour. To our great disappointment she came up the path empty handed.

“Mother invited her in, and she sat down, acting rather embarrassed and strange. She was not a Christian and never had been to church, but her daughter had been converted during the revival Father had held; and I knew Father and Mother had been praying that she and her husband might know Jesus, too.

“She talked about the weather, and kept twisting her scarf. Finally she said, ‘I want to tell you a strange thing that happened to me this morning. As I was getting breakfast, I heard a voice say, “Take Brother Hayden some flour.” I knew no one was in the kitchen but me, and I got scared. Then I heard it again. “Go take Brother Hayden some flour.” I suppose I’m a fool, but do you need flour?’

“By this time Mother was crying, and saying, ‘Praise the Lord.’ She told the woman of our prayers for flour, showed her the empty bin, and the crock of rising. The woman too then began to cry, and going to her buggy, she gave my brother a sack of flour, handed me a basket of potatoes, while the younger brother and sister carried in a jar of milk and a bucket of butter. ‘I just thought if God was telling me to take you flour, like as not you needed the butter too, so I brought it along,’ she told Mother.

“Mother kissed her, and said, ‘You look like an angel to us.’ Then she mixed her bread, put it to rise, and we held a real thanksgiving prayer meeting. Seeing how God had led her to help us so touched the woman that she gave her heart to Him that day in our house.

“She seemed to know Father had not been paid, so before he got home from the meeting, people came from all parts of his parish and paid Mother both in food and money a great deal more than they owed.”

“Was that good bread?” asked Bobby as Miss Clara finished the story.

“Indeed it was,” said Miss Clara, “it was like heavenly manna.”

My Favorite Prayer Stories, Joe L. Wheeler, ©2015, 65–67

Story – Parrot Preachers

Grandma Maria lived in a big house in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The house was always a bustle of activity. In the basement, Grandpa operated a furniture factory. Every day you could hear the sounds of saws, hammers, machines, spray painting guns, and workmen shouting above the noise as they made all the beds, dressers, cabinets, tables, and chairs. The smell of wood shavings and spray lacquer blended together with the heat and humidity of the tropics.

Upstairs, life was very busy too. Several of Grandma’s children were now grownups and lived in the house. They had their children, which of course were Grandma’s grandchildren. And then there were all the neighborhood children who would come and visit. The delicious smells from the kitchen were always an attraction for those who passed by the big house, and Grandma was always there to invite them in for a glass of water or a meal. Grandpa would often be seen loading the factory truck with furniture to be delivered to the various stores in town.

Grandma was the only Adventist Christian in the family. That was not easy. When family worship time came, she always invited the members of the household to join her for singing, Bible reading, and prayer. Sometimes there were those who would join her, but most of the time Grandma found herself alone on the back porch with God and her two parrots, Pepe and Suzie. How she enjoyed having family worship! She would sing songs and read the Bible aloud, and sometimes would even preach to her parrots when there was no one else around for her to talk with.

Soon Pepe and Suzie began to learn to sing some of Grandma’s favorite hymns. Her favorite hymn was Santo, Santo, Santo … (Holy, Holy, Holy …). Every time Grandma would start to sing that hymn, Pepe and Suzie would begin to sway back and forth with their necks stretched out, singing the song with all their might. Grandma also repeated certain words and phrases from sermons she had heard. Her parrots learned those too. It wasn’t long before one or the other of the parrots would shout, “Preparate pecador, que Cristo viene!” (“Prepare sinner, the Lord is coming!”).

Pepe and Suzie were kept in a cage at the top of the steps that came up from the basement to Grandma’s back porch. In Grandpa’s basement furniture factory, there was a worker named Carlos, who was very lazy. Carlos would saw a board and then he would rest for a while. Every time Carlos’ corner of the factory got quiet, Pepe and Suzie would call out his name, “Carlos!” Then they would add, “Travaja!” (“Get to work!”) in a screechy voice. This would make Carlos very upset. He got so upset that one evening, as he climbed the stairs from the factory, he opened the latch of the parrot cage and left it open.

Early the next morning, while it was still dark, one of Grandma’s neighbors woke up to the sound of voices just outside her window. “Santo, Santo, Santo …” (“Holy, Holy, Holy …”). “Prepare sinner, the Lord is coming!” The neighbor lady ran to her window and peered out into the darkness. Again came the song and the warning cry, “Prepare sinner, the Lord is coming!” With that she hurried out to the street only to find others who were asking each other, “Did you hear what I heard?”

Grandma heard the commotion and joined the group. She happily announced that her parrots must be up in the trees.

Soon Pepe and Suzie were back in their cage, leaving Grandma to explain to her neighbors how it happened that her parrots learned to sing and preach! Some of Grandma’s neighbors said they wished they knew more about the Bible, so Grandma offered to give them Bible studies. Several of them gave their hearts to Jesus and were baptized.

We all know that Pepe and Suzie were just repeating words and sounds they had heard Grandma say in family worship. They didn’t really understand what it all meant. But we know about the love of Jesus from the Bible. Jesus is our friend, and we can tell others of His love. If Pepe and Suzie could witness for Jesus by just repeating sounds, how much more we could do by intelligently sharing our love for Jesus with others!

Adventist Family Ministries, Casper and Mary-Ellen Colon, 1993

Story – Tony’s Silver Dollar

Tony lived in the middle of a big city. His family was poor, but they were a happy family. They were happy because each one in the family, including Tony, had accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. Even though Tony was only eight years old, he knew he was a sinner and had asked the Lord Jesus to wash away his sins. Because he believed what the Bible says, he believed that he would be in heaven with the Lord Jesus someday. Anyone who knows this is happy.

One day Tony’s grandfather was visiting them and he gave Tony a silver dollar. Tony had never had a silver dollar before. He was so pleased with it that he kept looking at it, turning it over and over. He would put it in his pocket and then take it out to look at it again. How shiny and bright it was. He thought of many things he could buy with it.

Later that afternoon Tony reached into his pocket to take out his silver dollar again. It wasn’t there! Where did it go? He turned all four of his pockets inside out, but it wasn’t in any of them. He looked everywhere he remembered being that day, starting in the house. He even checked down in the basement. Then he ran outside where he had been playing games on the sidewalk, but he couldn’t find it. Tony felt so badly he began to cry.

When he still had not found it by evening, he was so downcast he just went to bed. He didn’t even take the time to pray.

As he tried to go to sleep, a small, still voice seemed to say, “Tony, you didn’t pray.” He would turn over and try to forget about it, but pretty soon the same small, still voice would remind him again.

Tony tossed and turned for quite a while. Each time he was about to fall asleep, he would hear the voice in his mind saying, “Tony, you haven’t prayed.”

Finally, he sat up in bed and said to himself, “Maybe I had better pray after all.”

Tony climbed out of bed and knelt down on the floor beside his bed. “Ouch! What’s that?” His knee was pressing down on something cold and hard.

It was his silver dollar!

Do you think that the Lord Jesus in heaven really listens to children’s prayers? Yes, He certainly does. Don’t be afraid or get discouraged when things seem to be going all wrong. Talk to the Lord Jesus about it, and ask Him for help. Tony would have found his silver dollar much sooner if he had knelt down to pray when he first went to bed. We will get help and guidance from the Lord much sooner if we take our trouble to Him right away.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

Copied with permission from WholesomeWords.org from Messages of God’s Love published by Bible Truth Publishers.

Story – Successful Successor

An emperor had no children. He decided to select a suitable successor to his throne from the boys of his empire. He proclaimed that the interested boys should assemble in the palace in the morning on a specified date. When the boys arrived, he said, “There is a simple test for you. I will give a seed to each of you. You must take it home and carefully plant it in a pot. Tend it giving all possible care and bring the pot to me at the same time next year. I will examine the pots and adopt the one I choose as my successor to the throne of this vast empire.”

The boys carried the seeds home and planted them. One of the boys found that his seed did not sprout even though he gave all possible care. He continued to tend the pot and water it daily, but could not get any result. The others tended their plantlets with the utmost care and grew beautiful and healthy plants in their pots.  Some of their plants developed buds and flowers.

After one year, all the boys reached the palace to proudly display the result of their sustained effort. The poor boy alone sat there without any plant to display. The emperor examined each pot and returned to his throne. He summoned the boy who could not grow the plant to come near him. The other boys laughed at the poor boy who was holding his barren pot. The king stood up and declared, “I had given each of you a seed after cooking it by prolonged and vigorous boiling in water to destroy its viability and to assure that it would not grow at all. But all of you, except this honest young man, have managed to raise plants using your own seeds to impress me and gain the throne by fraudulent means. Honesty, truthfulness, courage, and integrity are the qualities I expected in my successor. Only this boy has succeeded in the test. Hence, I proclaim that he shall be my successor.” The emperor embraced the boy. The other boys left the scene in shame.

It is a good rule that we should be faithful and truthful in every action—both big and small. A true Christian should not tell a lie even if telling the truth may cause loss, suffering, or pain. We should not tell a lie even if telling the lie may give us money, power, or pleasure. The apostle Paul advises, “Put away lying, and speak truthfully to your neighbor, because we are all members together in the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:25. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

The Bible reminds us, “The Lord sees everything you do, and He watches where you go.” Proverbs 5:21. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good.” Proverbs 15:3

Source: Christian.moral-stories.com

Story – God’s Rules

Johnny and his mother had been over to see Grandmother. As they walked down the street, they passed the beautiful new church with colored glass windows. The sun shone on the glass and made it sparkle like gems of many colors.

“Would you like to go in and see the new church?” Mother asked.

Of course, Johnny wanted to see inside the church, so they walked quietly through the front door and sat down in one of the pews.

“Johnny, can you see God’s ten commandments carved in white marble hanging on the wall in the front of the church?”

“Let’s go up closer,” Johnny whispered. They walked softly toward the front. “What are commandments, Mother?” he asked.

“God made some very wonderful rules a long time ago,” Mother explained. “He wrote them with His own finger on two tables of stone. They are called the ten commandments.”

“Did God write those on the wall with His finger?” wondered Johnny, pointing to the white marble slab.

“No, dear, this is a copy of the ones He wrote. You will find them in the Bible, for God wanted them to be kept where people could find them and read them. He wanted men to obey them.”

“Read God’s rules to me,” begged Johnny.

“All right, son, when we get home I’ll read them to you from the Bible.”

Johnny and his mother went out of the church and walked on toward home. “Johnny, you know rules are very important,” said Mother. “God made the world according to certain rules or laws. A farmer has seeds to plant, but until he puts the seeds in the ground they will not grow. It is a rule of nature that seeds must be put in the ground and given water and sunshine so that they will sprout and grow. If you plant wheat seed, what will come up?”

“Wheat,” replied Johnny.

“If you plant beans, what will come up?” his mother asked again.

“Beans!”

“That is another rule of nature. Seeds always grow to be like the plants from which they came,” Mother went on.

“God made rules so that this world would be a happy place in which to live. God does not make us obey His rules; He allows us to decide whether we will obey or not. If we love Him, we will want to obey Him. We are the happiest when we obey God’s rules.”

When Johnny and Mother got home, they sat down on the lounge together. Mother took her Bible and read the ten commandments from Exodus 20.

“I like to hear you read the commandments, Mother,” said Johnny as she finished reading. “Tell me some more about them.”

“All right, son,” Mother agreed. “God spoke the commandments from the top of a high mountain peak called Mount Sinai. Moses and the people of Israel heard the wonderful words. The people of Israel had camped at the foot of Mount Sinai on their journey from Egypt to their new home, which they called ‘the promised land.’ They had been slaves in Egypt, but now they were to be a free people.

“God told Moses, the leader, to climb to the top of Mount Sinai while the people waited below. The mountain peak was covered with clouds, and the people could not see Moses as he went up the steep path. When Moses got to the top, he heard the voice of God above the winds:

“ ‘I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.’

“Then God gave the ten commandments to Moses. God wrote them on two tables of stone which Moses had brought with him. The laws were for all the people of the world. God’s ten rules or commandments have lived for hundreds and hundreds of years, and they will continue to live forever. The ten commandments show all people how to love God and how to love others.

“Wouldn’t you like to learn God’s rules, Johnny?” Mother asked.

“Oh, yes,” he exclaimed; “please teach them to me.”

“I will help you learn the first one now,” Mother replied.

God’s Ten Rules, Ethel M. Neff, ©1948, 7–13

Story – His Way in the Fire

Feeling that it was her duty, because of the acute need for school teachers, Miss Haven responded to a call to finish out the year in a little rural school. She had had little or no experience with rural schools and felt great need of wisdom.

Each morning when she arrived to open the little schoolhouse, as she placed the key in the door, she whispered, “Dear God, another day lies before me, and I feel so much need for Your help. Please be with me and forbid that I should do anything to bring reproach to Thy name.”

Then entering the room with its four rows of marked and scarred desks, she attended to her blackboard work, tidied up her desk, and with a glance at the clock, thought, Just time enough for a little prayer before the first youngsters begin to arrive.

Humbly she knelt before her chair, buried her face in her hands, and in the quietness of the room, with only the steady tick tock of the clock and the snapping of the fire in the background, she talked—really talked—with the Great Teacher.

But there was one late April morning that this regular program of devotions was interrupted. On her way to school, the teacher overtook some of her pupils who had decided to come to school a bit earlier than usual; so she stopped her car and asked them to ride along with her. As she chatted with them and placed the key in the door, her thoughts were not upon her great need. And as she went about her routine of board work, tidying her desk, and other little tasks, the children were sandwiching in conversation about a new baby that had been born in the little village, a new dress that Hazel had been given, and other such overnight news that means so much to school children. So it was that the little talk with God was crowded out entirely.

During the opening exercises, however, as the children repeated their Bible verses and said the Lord’s Prayer, Miss Haven remembered her neglect and said, “O dear God, forgive me. And please help me today.” Little did she know the experience in store for her.

Since it was such a warm day in April, a number of the neighbors were mowing their lawns and burning leaves. Adjacent to the school grounds and just over the fence from the play yard there was a grove where the school children had habitually thrown paper bags, wax paper, and other trash from their lunch boxes. This had become an eyesore, and during the three weeks that the new teacher had been at the school, she had been anxious to have it cleaned up. The children had assured her that it was all right to throw their trash out there, but on inquiring of the chairman of the school board, she had learned that he desired to have the practice stopped and the ground cleared.

The morning studies were over and the regular time for the Friday afternoon civic group meeting arrived. Miss Haven spoke to the children about the matter of cleaning up the grove. Gladly they responded, and bands were formed and set to work, so that in seemingly no time the waste material had been brought into the center of the schoolyard and piled for burning. Orders were given for two pails of water to be brought, brooms and sticks were sought out, and with six of the older boys on guard, the fire was set. Within a very short time the waste had become ashes, and water was poured over the remains. It was too early to dismiss school, so the children were summoned into the schoolroom to finish the afternoon with a program of songs and speaking. Two of the older boys volunteered to clean up the ashes that remained in the center of the yard and carry them away. In short order, they were back to join in the fun.

About a half hour later an agitated neighbor burst into the room and announced, “Do you know that the woods down the road are all afire, and there’s not a soul to help fight the blaze? Instantly, the teacher gave orders for the little folks to be taken care of while she, with a group of older boys and girls, armed themselves with brooms and sticks and hastened to the scene.

The dump where the boys had disposed of the ashes was at the edge of the woods. Undoubtedly, the ashes that had been disposed there had caused the outburst of flames that now was traveling in all directions and endangering the farmhouse across the field.

“Boys and girls, do your best—beat the flames with your brooms, and be careful not to get burned,” the anxious teacher shouted. Then she rushed away to see what other help could be found. However, there was a war at the time, and all the men were eight miles away, working in the shipyard. Realizing how helpless the situation was, she recalled that “man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” She rushed into the little schoolhouse, threw herself down before her swivel chair, and cried out in anguish, “O dear God, please send help. Please don’t let the fire get up to that farmhouse. I’ve made a terrible mistake, been so unwise. Please forgive me, and please, God, check this fire.”

Then she arose, looked out the window, and as though to defeat her courage, the flames seemed to be reaching higher and angrier than ever.

Again she sank to her knees and cried, “Dear Father, You are able to do what I have asked. Please grant my request in such a way that those boys and girls down there who are beating the flames will know it was You who put it out.”

This time as she looked out the window, she saw a man hastening down the road with a large hand pump and extinguisher. As she watched, she prayed. The efforts of one man and the small band of children seemed so feeble. The field was as dry as tinder and was rapidly burning!

Dear me, thought the teacher, can it be that God did not hear me, is not going to answer?

A third time she bowed in prayer, saying, “Dear Father, I leave it with You. I know nothing is too hard for You. And now, dear Father, if it be Thy will, let these children know that Thou art able to do great things.”

Was that the door opening? Yes, and in came her little band of boys and girls, smeared with smoke, flourishing their brooms (some of them by now mere broomsticks). They crowded around their teacher and shouted, “All out!”

“But,” added Charlie, “we never could have done it if we hadn’t known you were here praying. One of the boys peeked in the window to see why you weren’t down fighting the fire with us, and he came running back and told us you were fighting it on your knees. He told us, ‘Teacher’s up there praying so keep fighting.’ ”

Tears welled up in Miss Haven’s eyes as she bowed her head and said with a choking voice, “Thank you, dear God, for helping them.”

My Favorite Prayer Stories, Joe L. Wheeler, ©2015, 73–75