Some years ago a shepherd was driving a flock of lambs through a village. Just as he was passing the first cottage, a young woman crossed the street to get water from the spring nearby. As she stood at the well, she laughingly called to the shepherd,
“Would you not make me a present of one of these beautiful creatures? You have plenty of them.” The shepherd, who was a true Christian, replied,
“These lambs don’t belong to me; therefore, I cannot give you one. But there is a Lamb—the Lamb of God—and you can have Him free. John says,
“Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” He spoke and passed on.
Thank God, the words uttered were pressed right into the heart of the young woman, to perform a work for God, and the salvation of her never dying soul.
“There is a Saviour, and you can have Him free.”
What a word! Has it found its way into thy heart, my reader?
About a year after, our shepherd came with another flock of lambs on the same road. He had quite forgotten the short conversation with the young woman. When he reached the cottage, the young woman looked at him, immediately regnized him and stepped to the door.
“Here, man!” she cried, “that was a splendid word you gave me.”
“What word?” asked the shepherd.
“Do you not remember passing by about a year ago?” she asked.
“Surely, but I don’t remember speaking to you.”
“But I remember, and I thank God for it. I asked you if you would not give me one of these beautiful lambs. You said the lambs did not belong to you, but there was a Lamb—the Lamb of God—that I could have free. At that time I knew nothing about the Lamb of God; but now I know Him, and know that He has taken all my sins away.”
The shepherd now remembered the words he had spoken. His words proved themselves as,
“Words spoken in season,” and the Scripture says, “How good they are!”
With a joyful, thankful heart, he went his way, astonished at the wonderful ways of God’s grace. How insignificant are often the means that God uses. All must work out to the praise of His glory.
My reader, is God’s Lamb not enough for you? Could you wish more? God has provided Himself a Lamb and that Lamb has been slain in your stead. The offering has been presented and accepted, yes, thank God, the empty cross, the empty grave, and the throne occupied above—all witness in earnest, solemn manner that God, through the work of Christ on the Cross, has been glorified; that now every sinner can find peace and forgiveness through simple belief on Jesus Christ,—the Lamb of God. If you ask:
“What must I do?” my answer is
“Nothing!” Jesus has done everything.
Believe on Him and thank God for “His unspeakable gift.” And then go and let your life adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things! (Titus 2:10).
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 11:27-28.
ML 11/22/1942