"Inasmuch"

A tale has been told about a cobbler who once lived in a Russian town. He had learnt to love the Lord Jesus Christ, and liked to read stories about His love and kindness in the New Testament, and had sometimes thought how much he would like Jesus to visit his home. One day, as he sat reading, he began to doze, and then fell fast asleep. In his dreams he thought that he heard Jesus say: "Martin, I am coming to your street tomorrow, look for Me."

The next day he went on with his cobbling as usual. After a while he remembered his dream, and went to the window and looked out into the street.

The snow had been falling heavily, and he saw a poor old man laboriously shoveling the snow from the paths before the houses. The old man was so very feeble and cold that he was compelled to frequently stop and rest on his shovel. Martin at once made some hot tea and took it out to him. With grateful thanks the old man drank the tea and went back to his work warmed and much refreshed.

Sometime later, on looking out of the window, Martin saw a beggar woman leaning against the railings trying to keep warm a baby she was carrying, by means of a very old and ragged shawl. Martin called her in and made her sit by a big roaring fire. He gave her a hot and refreshing drink, found a warm coat for the woman and something thick and "comfy" for the baby. On leaving, the woman said with tears in her eyes: "May God bless you, sir."

For the third time Martin went to the window, and this time saw an old woman with a basket of fruit, and he also noticed some boys who were trying to steal the fruit. Martin rushed out, chased the boys away, picked up the fruit that had been thrown out of the basket, and helped the old woman carry it to a safe and better position.

That night, as Martin was about to offer his evening prayer, he remembered his dream and the voice which seemed to say: "I am coming to your street tomorrow; look for Me." Later he went to bed wondering what the dream meant, for Christ had not come to his street that day. In his dreams that night he heard the same voice say: "Martin, you did not recognize Me today." "Who?" said Martin. "Me," answered the voice. "This was me," and then Martin saw the face of the snow shoveller. "And this was Me," then the faces of the beggar woman and her baby appeared and vanished. "This also was me," said the voice, and the face of the old fruit-seller appeared and likewise vanished. When Martin arose the next morning he turned to his favorite Book, and therein he read: "I was an hungered and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger and ye took Me in. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto these ye have done it unto Me." Christ had really come to Martin that day!

Boys and girls can do many things for others out of love for Jesus, deeds of kindness, love, and considerate sympathy. Let us always remember that all actions done, and words spoken, because we love the Lord Jesus Christ, and out of love for Him, are done unto Him. "Inasmuch."