One day a traveler in the East met a shepherd with his flock, all of which knew his voice. You must remember, dear young friends, in Palestine the sheep know the voice of the shepherd, and he calls them by name. Well, this traveler wanted to try whether the sheep would come when he called them, so he asked the shepherd to exchange his clothes and he would put on the shepherd’s. When this was done the traveler called the sheep, but they would not come, and took no notice; then the shepherd, although in different clothes, called, and they came immediately.
You see, dear young friends, they knew not the voice of a stranger. So Jesus knows His own, and whenever or wherever He calls them, they follow Him. But a stranger who may call them to do many things which is questionable they will not obey.
When a boy was asked to slide on the ice one Sunday, he refused because he had learned about Jesus, how He obeyed His mother at their home in Nazareth. Jesus the good Shepherd knows His sheep (John 10:14-27); He calls them (John 10:3); He gathers them (Isa. 40:11; John 10:16); He guides (Psa. 23:3); He feeds theni (Psa. 23:1,2); He protects them and preserves them (Jer. 31:1,10; John 10:28).
But above all, dear young friends, He laid down His life for us (Zech. 13:7; Matt. 26:31; John 10:17).
What a friend you may have both in life and death, and He will give you a place in His beautiful home in heaven.
“In that beautiful home He has gone to prepare,
For all who are washed and forgiven.”
Will you flee to Jesus now? He will save you; He is calling you, saying, “COME.”
ML 11/26/1944