at
the right hand of God, He acts the part of our advocate, and pleads for
us with God, urging that He Himself paid the debt, and, therefore, that
we have nothing to pay and nothing to do. God in His mercy has promised
a free and full pardon to all who trust to Him. `Pardon for sin is the
gift of God,' and the King who makes the present requires nothing in
return but gratitude and love and obedience."
"I think I understand," said Lisele. "If my father was to conquer
another tribe who had offended him, and, instead of putting them to
death, was to pardon them all, and to give them a country rich in
bread-fruit trees and taro grounds, they would be bound to love and
serve Him, and give Him the best produce of their lands."
"Exactly," said my mother. "But Jehovah does not require the fruits of
the earth, for `all things are His.' What He wants is the willing
obedience of His creatures. He wishes them to obey His laws, to be
kind, and merciful, and courteous, and pitiful, to all their fellows,
not returning evil for evil, but good for evil, and endeavouring to make
known His name and His power and goodness to all those who do not know
it. That we may know His will, when Jesus Christ came into the world to
die for man, He set us the example we are to follow. Then as our hearts
are prone to evil, and Satan is ever going about seeking to mislead us,
He has sent His Holy Spirit to instruct our minds, to support us and
help us to withstand the deceits of Satan."
"Then I think it must be Satan who makes my people fight with each
other, and do all sorts of things that you tell me God's Book says are
so wrong," exclaimed Lisele. "I must try and persuade my father to
worship Jehovah, and then, perhaps, the Holy Spirit you tell me of will
prevent him from spending his life in fighting and killing people. It
has always seemed to me a very bad thing to do, and that it would be
much better if people would live together in peace, and dance and sing
and amuse themselves without the constant fear of being attacked by
their enemies and killed."
"Undoubtedly, my dear girl, if anyone turns to Jehovah, trusting to
Jesus Christ, and seeks the aid of the Holy Spirit whom He has promised
to send, he will be enabled to do His will. God cannot lie. Everything
He has promised He will fulfil," answered my mother. "I pray that you
will be enabled to explain this matter to the chief, your father."
"Yes! yes! that I will," cried
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