A POOR shepherd who owned twenty sheep, found in the evening that one was missing. Suspicion rested on a farmer at some distance, who had a large flock, but this man denied the charge.
The shepherd, accompanied by a policeman, went across to the farm, and the farmer took them to see his flock, challenging them to show the sheep that he was accused of having stolen. This seemed a hopeless task, but the shepherd going forward a few steps, called three times,
“Nannie,” and out from the large flock came a ewe, rubbing her head against the shepherd’s knee, and bleating as if to show her gladness at her owner’s voice. This led to the thief’s conviction, and the restoration of the stolen sheep.
The Lord Jesus tells us in the 10th chapter of John, verse 14,
“I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.” Yes, He loved us so much that he gave His life for us, as he tells us in the 11Th verse of this same chapter. And in the 27th and 28th verses he says,
“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.”
No, never will anyone ever be able to steal one of the Lord’s sheep out of His hand, as the farmer did from the poor shepherd.
ML 09/05/1937