IN an old cabin on the side of a mountain, a boy lay very sick. It was such a poor home, his bed was only a heap of straw. His father brought a kind man to talk with him.
The man asked him how he got such a dreadful cough, and the boy told him this story: One stormy winter day he had gone to hunt a lost sheep. The snow covered the ground and the wind blew cold and the mountain paths drifted over.
“Did you find the sheep?” asked the man.
“O yes,” said the boy, “I kept on till I did, I was so anxious to find it.”
“And how did you get it home?”
“I just laid it on my shoulders and carried it home.”
“And were they glad to see you?”
“Sure enough they were, —father, mother, and the neighbors.”
Then the man told him his story was like one in the Bible of a man who hunted for a lost sheep, and carried it home on his shoulders. Then he told him that the
Lord Jesus came from heaven to save people who were lost through their sins, how He died because of our sins, and everyone who trusts Him He will take safe Home to Himself.
The boy had never learned to read, and did not know before of the Saviour’s love. He believed the words read him, and was happy for the Lord to take him Home. His last words were,
“Jesus, my Saviour and my Shepherd.”
The story read was Luke 15:4-84What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? (Luke 15:4‑8). You may have heard it often, but do you trust in the Good Shepherd’s love as this boy did?
“What man . . . , having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine . . . , and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:4-64What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. (Luke 15:4‑6).
ML 04/04/1937