What A Name We Have!

"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24; KJV).

During the American Civil War, a man had an only son who enlisted in the armies of the Union. The father was a banker who very reluctantly let his son go. He became deeply interested in the soldier boys, and whenever he saw a uniform, his heart went out as he thought of his own dear boy. He spent his time, neglected his business, gave his money to caring for the soldiers who came home invalid. His friends argued with him, saying he had no right to neglect his business and spend so much thought upon the soldiers, so he decided to give it all up.

But then there stepped into his bank one day a private soldier in a faded and worn uniform with signs of battled wounds. The poor fellow was fumbling in his pocket to get something or other, when the banker saw him and said to him: "My dear fellow, I cannot do anything for you today. I am extremely busy. You will have to go to your headquarters. The officers there will look after you."

Still the poor fellow stood, still he fumbled in his pockets and, by and by, drew out a scrap of dirty paper, on which there were a few lines written with a pencil, and laid this soiled sheet before the banker. On it were the words: "Dear Father: This is one of my comrades who was wounded in the last fight, and has been in the hospital. Please receive him as myself. --Charlie."

In a moment all the resolutions of indifference which this man made flew away. He took the boy to his palatial home, put him in Charlie's room, gave him Charlie's seat at the table, kept him until food and rest and love had brought him back to health, and then sent him back again to fight for the flag.

Dear brothers and sisters, how do you feel today? Let's remember that Jesus Christ has made a promise on his name so that we can be confident to make any supplication before our heavenly Father and be assured that it will be granted for our joy in the Lord.

(abridged from In His Name by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman)