Árdís - 01.01.1953, Blaðsíða 44

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ÁRDÍ S
Can you imagine the joy when Lazarus was returned to them
alive, back from beyond the grave! What an answer to a prayer!
The remaining years of the family from Bethany were spent in
serving the Lord by serving others.
The Widow of Nain. Her frail young husband died and left
her with a sickly son whom she idolized. Her fear of losing him
blighted her life, and caused her to coddle and pamper him with
the result that he grew ever more delicate. Then one day her
greatest fear became a reality. Her son died and her grief knew
no bounds. Her faith in God was all but shattered and she was
completely broken. Came the day of the burial with its accustomed
weeping, wailing and mourning. Then as the bier was being carried
out of the city gates, a Stranger stopped them. The indignation of
the sorrowing mother was turned to overwhelming joy when the
young man rose from the bier—alive! It seemed unbelievable but it
was true. From the moment the mother fell weeping at Jesus’
feet, until her death, she never ceased serving Him. Wherever
there was death, illness, or need, thither she went carrying her
wonderous message “There is no death”. Had she not had proof!
The Woman from Canaan whose daughter was vexed with
a devil. Years of caring for her child, the humiliation she must
have suffered because of the child, not to mention the disappoint-
ment over the existing conditions, made her almost desperate.
Her need for help was indeed so great that the fact of Christ
not answering her immediately did not deter her. She asked
again, and He continuing to test her faith, parried her question.
Nothing daunted she answered to the satisfaction of the Saviour,
and her prayer was granted. What blessed joy to have a normal
healthy daughter who could take her place among the others!
Do you wonder that this Canaanite woman spent the remainder
of her life bringing others to believe in Him.
Mary Magdeline, one of the most maligned of women. Not
a woman of easy virtue, but one tortured by a devil. She suffered
years of being different. What a change in her life was brought
about, when Jesus cured her and she could go about among her
neighbours, head high, sure in the knowledge of Christ’s might.
No more self-effacing missionary was ever born. For she could
speak from personal experience of the miracle wrought in her,
by Jesus. Small wonder that she considered it a privilege to