A Lad's Obedience

A Lad’s Obedience

Dr. Dales Ingles, in Sunday School Times

I don’t know how many of you have ever read the life of the Duke of Wellington, but I remember reading, on one occasion, in the life of that remarkable man, that the farmers were complaining of the huntsmen galloping over their fields, and they resolved to keep them out. They locked the gates, then posted men and boys at the gates. Up came a member of the Duke of Wellington’s hunting party. There stood the little farmer boy. The gentleman said, “Open that gate.”

“I must not,” replied the boy. By that time, up came the Duke himself. The gentleman said, “Your grace, that boy refuses to open the gate.” The Duke looked down, and said, “My boy, open it.”

“I must not.” The Duke said, “Do you know who I am?” The little fellow said nervously, “I believe you are Mr. Duke of Wellington.”

“Wont you open the gate for me?”

“My master told me to open it to nobody.” The Duke was so pleased with the boy’s implicit obedience that he handed him a sovereign, which is equivalent to a five-dollar bill. As the Duke rode away, the little fellow was overjoyed with his present, and sat on the top of the gate waving his cap. He had done what Napoleon and his army could not do; he had kept the Duke of Wellington out of the fields.

Printed in Knights Master Book of New Illustrations, 1956.

——————————————————————————-

We never know the impact of our obedience. We are assured by the Savior that we will suffer some persecution in following him, but we don’t know what blessings and honor might come our way when we leave an impression on others by our obedience to our Master.

I love You

Jonathan Long