The Alaska citizen., 1916-12-25

1 To understand all the meaning of the shepherd we do well to visit one of the flock of Palestine. From an enclosure built of gathered stone | the shepherd leads his flock out upon the hills. Slowly they wander | about, gathering here and there the succulent grass and nibbling off the 1 tender buds of the thicket The | shepherd knows their every need and leads them now here, now there With hunger appeased he guide. them beside the water. where thei
 thirst is assuaged as they lave tn
 cool drink from the alaridA stream
 Fully satisfied, they seek the shad,
 and lie down to rest But the shel herd is ever on the lookout Lurb
 ing in unsuspected places i~ a wilC 1 beast that would scatter the floc,
 as he destroyed the sheep, but tn i shepherd knows where danger dwell
 and is always prepared to risk his life for the sheep he protects. LooE i at hi. weapons a gun hanging frol
 his shoulder. a club in his hand with these he fears not the foe, fo l he knows how to wield them. Afte ! the sheep have rested and nigh
 draws on he calls them all by namt and leads them into the fold for tho
 night. Satan is bold in the darl: ness, and he stalks forth to stea | and de troy Night time Is the al
 pointed period for injury, so tn 1 shepherd leads his flock to place
 of shelter and homes of safety. Tn
 boy and girl at home under the guit
 ing care and tender love of fathc
 and mother need have no fear
 the future; it is only when the i come into temptation, more thG
 they can bear, that they are entiCC l and led astray. Let them grJ-
 strong under the teachings of loved
 ones before they dare brave the
 storms of life. ITO be tied to moth
 CTS apron string" is far better thai l to be handcuffed to a policeman, i to flee from justice a wanderer O
 the earth. You may flee for a timC
 but be sure your sin will find yo i out" Many man and woman i.
 going about today carrying in the. l bosoms an accusing conscience whic. l refuses to let them rest. God i'
 waiting and eager to become a shel ] herd to such
 To the true shepherd hiS floc' l are his friends The Oriental know l the names of all his sheep. He h2 , a kind word for them and calls thel
 to his side. The sheep have n
 fear the lambs like to scamper abou 1 his feet. He knows their needs il | the Gpring when the increase O
 the flock demands special attention
 Through the long, dry summer h. i does not forget to examine to tn
 hoors grown long, to extract tn
 briars that cling 10 the wool H
 clips the long, thick wool from aroun
 the eyes, and his quick eye see.
 their every need. In the autumn i he separates them into pens as the.
 require and throughout the cold win
 ter he feeds them as father would
 care for his own. He calls ther | by their names and they hear h.
 voice, but the voice of stranger:
 they will not hear So he lead:
 them through all the days. Wha
 better illustration than that of tn
 sheep could be used for all people They go astray and wander int
 danger and death because they vii
 not be controlled. They need con
 tant care and attention. which He gives them when they call. He sup
 plies all their needs. Our Great | Shepherd has a heart so pure anG tender, generous yet not too dear | He has an eye that sees all as il really is, therefore the sorrows anG temptations of the flock are known i and understood of Him. His faith fulne faileth never He does no, forsake His people. but leads the1
 all the way, desiring that He ma.
 be their Shepherd. He has strengtl and thus the sheep have confidenc, in His power to deliver. He has unbounded tenderness and no lamE of the flock need have fear. or be two small for his deepest attention no soul too faint to follow where He leads. Az a father pities. as moth CT loves, so He pities and loves those who put their trust in Him, When we have summed up all ou needs and enumerated them He Is more than all of them. "All we like sheep have gone astray and