Good Shepherd
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calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice
with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
So when the lost sinner is found by the Good Shepherd, heaven
and earth unite in rejoicing and thanksgiving. For “joy shall be in
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons, which need no repentance.” [
Luke 5:6, 7
.]
The great Shepherd has under-shepherds, to whom He delegates
the care of His sheep and lambs. The first work that Christ entrusted
to Peter, on restoring him to the ministry, was to feed the lambs. [See
John 21:15
.] This was a work in which Peter had had little experi-
ence. It would require great care and tenderness, much patience and
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perseverance. It called him to minister to the children and youth, and
to those young in the faith, to teach the ignorant, to open the Scrip-
tures to them, and to educate them for usefulness in Christ’s service.
Heretofore Peter had not been fitted to do this, or even to understand
its importance.
The question that Christ put to Peter was significant. He mentioned
only one condition of discipleship and service. “Lovest thou Me?” He
said. This is the essential qualification. Though Peter might possess
every other, without the love of Christ he could not be a faithful
shepherd over the Lord’s flock. Knowledge, benevolence, eloquence,
gratitude, and zeal are all aids in the good work; but without the love
of Jesus in the heart, the work of the Christian minister will prove a
failure.
The lesson which Christ taught him by the Sea of Galilee, Peter
carried with him throughout his life. Writing by the Holy Spirit to the
churches, he said:
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder,
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the
glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among
you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly;
not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over
God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief
Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth
not away.” [
1 Peter 5:1-4
.]
The sheep that has strayed from the fold is the most helpless of
all creatures. It must be sought for; for it cannot find its way back.
So with the soul that has wandered away from God; he is as helpless
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