seed. I think sometimes of how, if the Lord had preached to men who were mostly farmers instead of shepherds, He would have made them another parable. Instead of the lost sheep on the mountains, He would have told of the lost seed on the barn floor. Instead of the love that sought the wanderer and brought it to the fold, He would have wonderfully pictured the love that found the trampled grain, with all its power of life, and buried it in the rich ground. "How many loaves have you?" It is the Lord's first question; and the hands of those who really want His help, search their robes to see what they have hid- den there. One brings his joy; another brings his pain; another brings his helpless desire; another brings his poor resolution; another has nothing to bring ex- cept just his sorrow that he has nothing. It is a poor collection; only seven loaves, and a few little fishes; but it is enough. His blessing falls upon them, and they come back to the souls which gave them up to Him, multiplied into the means of healthy, holy, happy life. May God help us all, every day of our lives, to come to Christ just as we are, that He may make us more and more just what we ought to be. -146- |