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Some
years ago when attending to the work to which the Lord had
called me, in one of the sunny Southern States, it was my
happy privilege to enjoy for a few days the kind hospitality
of a generous Christian farmer.
One
balmy afternoon while walking over the pleasant fields of his
large farm, with my heart in sweet communion with God, I came
upon the most beautiful flock of sheep it had ever been my
privilege to behold. They were quietly grazing in
a rich green pasture, near by which silently flowed a deep,
broad river. To me it was a fair reminder of the
"still waters" the Good Shepherd gave promise to lead his
sheep beside, and the "green pastures" he promised
to
make them to "lie down in."
From
beholding this beautiful fleecy flock I learned a lesson which
I hope never to forget. The principal cause of
their well-developed frame and handsome appearance was, they
were well cared for when they were lambs. Since
then I have often remembered, and felt the import of, the
command the Savior so tenderly gave his shepherds..."Feed my
lambs." Over and over has it in all its strength
and beauty been breathed anew by the Spirit in my soul,
animating me to greater assiduity in caring for the precious
lambs of his fold. And, thus, I shall prove my
love to him by doing all I can in caring for his lambs.
Lambs need something more than feed; they must be
sheltered from the cold wind and cruel storm. Feed
them ever so well, but if you expose them to the wintry storm,
they will die. In John 21:15 the word feed is translated
from the same Greek term as is the word feed in the 17th
verse; but in the 16th verse the word feed is translated from
an entirely different Greek term. In this verse
the Greek does not mean simply to feed, but to protect, to
shelter, to tend.
The
shepherd’s duty is not only to feed the lambs, but also to
guard them
from
the wolves that are seeking to devour them.