Arkansas State press., 1947-02-21

An open door! How inviting, Jesus
had Just been talking to the man
Once blind tJohn o. who had seen
ehe temple donr closed against him.
II shut him out from all the sacred
traditions of his people. but II turned
him to Jesus, who presents himself
n U lesson as the door Of the
sheep"
1. The Door Of the sheep wv. 7.
~
The preceding verses Of chapter
10 are important. for they identity
Jesus as the true Shepherd He
speaks of his people as his sheep
Flocks were sometimes kept in
ehe field at night. as vas the case
on the night when Jesus was born
n Bethlehem But ordinarily they
were broupht into a sheepfold,
where many nocks gathered for pro-
eection A shepherd was o guard ut
ohe door. Thieves would climb the
wall to steal sheep. but the true shep-
Aerds. when they came in the morn
ing TO lead forth their flocks, en-.
tered by the door. They called out
their own flock by name.
II is said hat only sick sheep will
follow a stranger. which may ex
plain why so many false isms of our
day appeal to the sick and lead them
away from the Cord Shepherd
Do you know his blessed voice?
Have you responded to his call9
Will you follow him. Decide now.
Consider the beautiful figure of the
shepherd as the door of the sheep
fold When the sheep enter the fold
70 rest. he is the door. When they
are ready to go out to feed in green
pastures apain, he is the door.
Note that they go in and out, Be-
longing to Christ Is not bondage.
II any man enter In by Christ, the
Door. he Is free to 60 In n out,
- find pasture. TO live for and 10
serve him.
"The Door"-what n str King hg-
urei II is a means OF entry, the
only way in. Every door has two
sides and the side we ase on =.
termines ahcthcr we ar 'nside or
outsids saved or lost. { drew Oft
- sine.
4 zone Door and only one,
asa ri II J les re two
inside and outsid =:
On which sirf ere y ="
Then repeating Use tw,, trst tlts
comes the direct tessir my nc
Questoc,
am on tie hrs Se;
u which size are your
n. Ths Keeper Of the ssseY wv.
1f-t0.
We q sh NJ Het suliy
y. linz on the hiltsiCe-rr ,uyllic
y, IRE in the summer SUE Inc 1T
there -e O. sers u Z sc =
-. vii. Lnris.'s , y 20. $40 t..
~ IS thei4 rssDA M Ths y'o've-
come ~ as ~ llows gather
They cor)e 70 III md - scatter,
Inerc tleU IL shepnerd2 If he
A. col, g ~ Ing. serving fer VIA
~ 'hs - n Tor h's,. he viii dee.
IOw ,sf'e lily ti.is rictu ~s relig.
49, lea ers, who. N spite Of thel'
swelling worGs and infI atiatine
manners. desert the flock e, AZ ton
q adversely. Fair-weftr~ lj>'J.
ere they, who disappear when iark.
aess and DANGER appear.
In the darkest rour Jesus Is rear
est 1T hand He ',;yor fails n
has 10 lear, for mas he not tastes
0he bitter cca'h Of Cavalry ire,
6sr you ard us7 re is the Coos
Shepherd, lie 4 a his life for III,
sheep. Those ThS have put thcii
trust in him shall never be pul tc
shame.
III. The Saviour Of the Sheep wv
1919.
He laid down his liza for he sheer.
An. yes. IL Is all too true hat owl
men laid wicked hands on him and
crucifed him. Their guilt Is awful
But II is clear from Scripture that
until the hour had come for Jesus
70 be made sin for the redemption
Of man. they could not touch him
(see Luke 4:29, 30: John 8: 5oD.
When the time came, Christ laid
DOWN his life in accord with ''the de
terminate counsel and foreknowl.
edge Of God Acts 2:23). He died
for US, no, as a martyr 10 a cause.
q the victim Of an accident or mis-.
carriage Of justice. but willingly.
and for the glory OF God.
Yes. he died for US. but he also
-Ased for every lost soul ", y win
hear his voice. There are "Jther
sheep about whom the Lord is deep
b concerned. Are wei
He must bring them-bu re.
member, God works through Yielded
eelkevers-through men and wo- ea
We ought to be eager instruments In
HE hands to reach thee other
sheep, whatever their race, q ead
~ condition.
Do not miss the note OF unity IN
verse Is There shah be one told "
sometimes n wonders as Chris.
uans fight one another how they win
we be brought into the unity "a. Jn,
Ioid Only the Lord can do 1t
must bring" us togethcr-.btt lei