Then Jesus told His disciples, and He tells us too, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." For, said He, "every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." If we ask for those things that God sees to be good for us, we may certainly expect to receive them. Let us ask God to keep us every day; and to give us such things as He knows will be for our good.
A certain King took account of his servants and began to reckon what they owed him. And there was brought to him one that owed him nearly _ten million dollars_. But as he had not the money to pay, the King commanded that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and everything that he had, that payment might be made. Then the servant fell down before the King and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." Then the King had compassion on his servant, and loosed him, and forgave him his debt.
But when that servant had gone out from the presence of the King, he found a fellow-servant who owed him a little over _fifteen dollars_, and he laid hands on him and seized him by the throat, saying, "Pay me that which thou owest." And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet and implored him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." And he would not have patience, but cast his fellow-servant into prison till he should pay the debt.
When his other fellow-servants saw what had been done they were very sorry, and came to their King to tell him all about it. Then the King called the unmerciful servant to him, and said, "O thou wicked servant; I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?"
And the King was wroth, and delivered him up to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise, says Christ, shall our Heavenly Father do also unto us if from our hearts we forgive not every one that trespasses against us.
"Forgive us our trespasses, _as we forgive them that trespass against us_."
In one of His beautiful parables, Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd. "I am the good shepherd," says He, "the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." And Jesus tells how the hired servant who cares for nothing but his wages, runs away when the wolf comes; but how the faithful shepherd, when robbers threaten his flock, or wild beasts attack them, defends his sheep bravely, often laying down his life for their sake. Jesus also speaks of how the shepherd knows his sheep by name; and how, when he goes before them, they will follow him, because they know his voice, but that they will not follow strangers. And the Bible, speaking of Jesus Himself, says, "He shall carry the lambs in His bosom," or His arms, like the kind shepherd is doing in our picture.