MANY years ago a traveler in Syria came across an old shepherd out on the mountains with his flock. The traveler had a little talk with the shepherd about the sheep, and he asked him how he managed to keep them safe at night in such a desolate spot. Was he not afraid of finding some missing in the morning? "No," said the shepherd, "for there is the fold, they all go in there at night," and he pointed to a portion of ground that was penned in. “Once inside that fold they are perfectly safe," he continued. "And where is the door?” said the traveler, noticing that there was a small space left, but that no door was fitted. "Ah," replied the old shepherd, "I am the door. I lie down across that space when night comes, and no animal or enemy of any kind can get in to destroy the sheep unless they kill me first."
Dear young friends, when I was told this story, I thought what a touching little picture it was of the good Shepherd—the Lord Jesus Christ—who gave His life for the sheep. He went into death that all those who come to Him and believe in Him might be saved. He is the Door of the sheep; all who go through that wondrous Door can never perish and no one can pluck them out of His hand. The Good Shepherd is calling to the sheep and to the lambs to-day to come to Him for salvation, for forgiveness and for safety.
When the Lord Jesus was on earth He gathered the lambs—the children—in His arms and said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me," and we are told that He blessed them abundantly.
M. T.