The children were playing at the fountain, when a flock of sheep came along. Evidently, they had been driven for some distance over the hot, dusty roads of the country, or the hard stones of the city streets for one of them had lain down in the street, “weak, and helpless, and ready to die.”
A little boy, seeing the poor animal tried to quench its thirst by carrying water from the fountain. He carried the water in his hat, but it must have been a very old one, for most of what he carried ran out at the holes. The poor sheep could never get a really good drink in that way. How much it would like to have been in the beautiful green pastures and beside the still waters, but it would never be there anymore. Soon the butcher would come back looking for it, and then there would be, not a refreshing drink, but—death.
Don’t you wish that some kind man had bought the poor creature, and put it in a nice field where it could eat, and drink, and play as long as it lives, without having to fear being taken to the slaughterhouse at last. I think that the boy would have done this if he had had enough money, hut a sheep costs quite a lot, and he was very poor.
Some children are like this poor sheep —all weary of sin, and knowing that soon Satan will come to take them away with him, they are unhappy all the day. Kind friends try to amuse and satisfy them with nice things, but, like the few drops of water in the hat, these things cannot quench the thirst for forgiveness of sins, and peace with God.
Are you one of these children? If so, see who it is that comes to you. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He looks at you with deep pity, and says,
“Come unto Me, poor, and heavy-laden child, and I will give you rest. I have paid down the price—My own precious Blood—for you, and I want to give you pleasure for evermore. Will you have Me for your own Saviour and Shepherd; or will you reject Me, and let Satan take you to endless woe?”
What shall the answer be? Choose this moment: Christ or Satan—which? Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour, drink of the Water of Life now, and you will be satisfied for evermore. And do this now before it is too late.
ML 01/07/1940