Sheep Gate

Scripture:

1 “I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 For a shepherd enters through the gate. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t recognize his voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them. “I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep,” he said. 8 “All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will leave the sheep because they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he is merely hired and has no real concern for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd. (John 10:1-16 NLT)

I remember several years ago while we were on a walk in the English countryside coming across a wall with a sheep gate in it. It was actually quite small. As we stood there with our friends looking at it, we talked about this scripture, and how the shepherd would need to be able to help the sheep go through the small gate. The sheep would have to know the shepherd’s voice, and trust him enough to follow him, and have him help them through the narrow gate. That’s the way it is for us with our shepherd, Jesus. He knows our name, and calls us by name, and leads us to safe, green pastures. I trust Him, and know that He will lead me in the best way to the right place for me.

Thank You, Lord, that You know my name, and call me by my name. I trust You to lead me into green pastures, and give me what is right for me. You are my God, and I love and trust You. AMEN

Father, I thank You, and ponder the amazing deeds that You do for me and mine. Your goodness and righteousness never fails. Psalm 111

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