| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 14 |
Page 6 |
A young man who had been long in the English army became a minister. When preaching in the city of his birth, he sought out his aged mother, whom he had not seen for many years. She did not recognize him; but it had happened that one day, when he was a child, she had accidentally wounded the boy’s wrist with a knife. To comfort him she cried, “Never mind, my bonnie bairn, you mither will ken you by that when you are a man.” So now, when the old woman could not believe that this grave, fine looking minister was her own son, he drew up his sleeve, and said, “Mither, mither, dinna ye ken that?” In a moment the old mother had her boy in her arms. She knew him by the scar.
So Christ recognizes His own by their wounds – wounds made sometimes by His own chastening. In the pearl oyster a tiny grain of sand makes a wound, which causes the little creature much suffering. But by and by a beautiful pearl comes from the wound. Thus it is in the true Christian life – the wounds of chastening, of sorrow, of trial, of conflict, through the power of Divine grace, become rich pearls in the character, true marks of Jesus.
“Ask ye how such from others may be known?
Mark those whose look is calm, their brow serene,
Gentle their words, love breathing in each tone,
Scattering rich blessing all around unseen.”
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