short of the glory of God”—and that “ all” included you and me. In Isaiah 53:6 we also read: “ All we like sheep have gone astray.” Yes, we were once as wandering sheep, far away from God, but the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, sough t us out and fou nd us. He came into the world to seek and to save the lost (Lk. 19:10). Tenderly and lovingly, He placed His shepherd arms about us and drew us into His safe fold. We have been bou gh t, too— a price has been paid for us. No, we were not purchased with “ silver and gold” as the fountain pen was, but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus (1 Pet. 1:18,19). Christ died on the cross to red eem or purchase us. WThat a great price He paid for us! Those of us who have received Him as Saviour can truly say we have been bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20). We now belong to the One who paid so great a price for us, even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. But the pen had to be filled by its owner to be of any use to him, didn’t it? So we, too, were meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18 we read: “ Be filled with the Spirit.” As we yield—give our lives over—to our O w n er, the Lord Jesus, He fills us with Himself and fits us for His service. As a pen is only an instrument in the hands of its owner, so the Lord Jesus wants us to be so yielded to Him that He can guide us and use us “ to the praise of his glory,” as day by day we serve Him at home, at school, or wherever we are. The fountain pen is k ep t by its owner close to his heart; just so, we are kept “ by the power of God” close to His heart of love. Our Owner says in His Word that He is able to keep us from falling (Jude 24). Because of His words in Psalm 121:5, each of us can truly say, “ The Lord is my Keeper.” We are so dear to Him, boys and girls, that He will never let us go. In John 10:28 Jesus says of us: “ They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Not only has He made provision for us in this earth life, but after our days of service are over, He will take us to the beautiful home He has gone to prepare. And throughout the eternal ages He will ch erish us and “ show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us” (Eph. 2:7). Ours is a blessed story, isn’t it? Though our story is very much like that of the fountain pen, it is indeed far more wonderful and glorious, be cause our Owner is the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The Story of the Fountain Pen
by Martha S. Hooker
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o u n t a i n pens are so very useful that many of us feel we could scarcely do without them. If you boys and girls do not own one now, I am sure you will be having one when you are older. Last summer I heard a lovely story about a fountain pen. It was such an excellent story that I wanted to share it with you boys and girls. If the fountain pen could talk, I am sure it would tell its life story something like this: “ I was not always as you see me now, boys and girls—bright and shin ing green. I was once only pieces of rubber and metal. But one day, some one saw that those pieces of rubber and metal—even though they were small and scattered about— could be made into a fine fountain pen. “Having been fou nd , I was taken to a great building called a factory. There I was m ade, or fashioned, until I became a pretty pen, as you see me now. I was then taken to a large store and displayed in a beautiful window along with other pens. For a while I semed of no use at all, until one day some one came into the store and bou gh t me. A price was paid for me, and from that day on, I have been ow n ed or possessed. My owner is very fond of me and guards me carefully day by day. “ After I was bought, my owner took me to his office. But I was of no use to him until he filled me with some
thing called ink. He said I was made to be filled. Having filled me with ink, he said I was ready to be of serv ice to him. He began to write with me; and many, many letters I have written for my owner. I enjoy being of service to him. He h olds me in his hand and guides me gently and surely over the paper. My owner keeps me in a special place near his heart. He says he will always k eep me, and even when I am worn out, will always ch erish and love me. I am so glad I belong to such a kind owner. This is my life story. Is the story of your life anything like mine?” Do you not believe that the life story of every boy and girl is like that of the fountain pen—only far more wonderful and marvelous? God’s Word says in Ephesians 1:4, that we were “ ch osen ” to be His very own, before He laid the foundations of this great wonderful world •—■before the stars ever twinkled in the blue sky! He loved us even then, so long ago. What a precious fact! It is hard to realize, isn’t it? But it is true, never theless. Then there came a time when we were m ade. It was God’s hand that fashioned us. In Psalm 139:14 we read: “ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” But even from our birth, we were sinners. You will remember that one of your memory verses, Romans 3:23, said: “ For all have sinned, and come
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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