November 21, 2024

The Gate for the Sheep

March 12, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I AM the Gate for the sheep.”
John 10:7

Sometimes I sit and wonder why a God as awesome as we serve would want to be in a relationship with me…. What did I do that I should I should be so privileged to have a relationship with the Lord?  Why me?  Why us?

The truth of it is that He chose us.  So, how then did we enter into our relationship with the Lord?  Well, if you want to be picky, we all have different stories.  I myself came defeated, reluctant, and skeptical.  I was all out of options.  You may have experienced the same, or your story may be different.  However, with that being said…really…we all came to relationship with the Lord the same way.

How could this be?!?!  Our stories are so different.  True, but there is something in common with all our stories—we all said ‘yes!’ to Jesus.

There is no other way.  So, before the yes, our stories are very different. After the yes, our stories are very different. It is even possible that during the yes, our stories are very different.  I, myself, experienced the most calming and thought-cleansing moment of my life!  Light shined into my world.  I did not know what would happen next, or what my life would look like, but somehow I knew I’d be okay.

The point is, Jesus said that He is the Gate for the sheep.  Well, sisters (and brothers) we all walked through that same Gate!  Saying this makes me want to high-five each and every one of you.  We are ‘in’ because of our Savior.  Yay for us! What an awesome feeling it is to have walked through the Gate.  Why not bring someone along?

Oh, and be careful though!  Jesus said in John 10:10, that “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

That which is of our Father gives life.
That which is of Satan brings destruction.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Lord, thank You for bring me to You. I am so grateful for Your provisions. Help us to be mindful of all that is around us and diligently be on the lookout for those that You would have us touch. Amen.

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Re-entering The Door

March 10, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

 So Jesus said to them again,“Truly, truly, I say to you,
I AM the Door of the sheep.
All who came before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not hear them.
I AM the Door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved,
and will go in and out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
John 10:7-10

For Lent this year, I gave up my tablet and the games on my phone.  I couldn’t give up the phone because I do have to stay connected for emergencies, and we don’t have a land-line phone.  I have found that I spend so much time playing on my tablet or phone that I have started neglecting various areas of my life.  I was neglecting my kids, my husband, and my time with God.  It was stealing my time.  I was letting the distractions become the thief in my life.

When distractions become too much, they become the thief of our attention in major ways.  Distractions take us away from work, family, and (most important of all) God.  We wander away from what should keep us whole and grounded into a world of chaos and discontentment. We walk out of the open Door back into what was keeping us from it in the first place when we let distractions overrun our lives.

However, we can easily reenter that Door when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Christ opened the door to redemption when He died on the Cross for our sins.  He reconciled us to God, so we may have eternal life. A s the children of God, we should pay attention to Jesus and being faithful to Him.  We should not listen to a world that has turned away from God.  If we turn away from God then we will die a certain death when Judgment Day arrives.  All we have to do is see Jesus’ open Door, give up the worldly distractions, and accept Jesus as our Savior.  When we cross over the threshold of that Door, we are no longer of this world.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for opening the Door for us to enter Your presence.  Jesus, Your wonderful sacrifice shows how much You love us.  We give our worldly distractions and walk through Your open door.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The Door Gives Access

March 9, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

 So Jesus said to them again,“Truly, truly, I say to you,
I AM the Door of the sheep.
All who came before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not hear them.
I AM the Door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved,
and will go in and out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
John 10:7-10

A door gives access to someone to go in and come out of any building, vehicle, etc.  This access helps you to benefit of what is inside the building or outside the building, for example.

Jesus said, “I AM The Door“…what does this imply?  He is giving us access to use Him because those who enter through Jesus will be saved—they will have abundant life (verse 10); they will have all they need to be delivered from sin, guilt, condemnation. He is the ONLY Door; none other exists.

Jesus answered, I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6

…through Whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand.
Romans 5:2

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Ephesians 2:18

In Him through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence…
Ephesians 3:12

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence
to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…
Hebrews:10:19

I know your deeds.
See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.
I know you have little strength
yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name…
Revelation 3:8

The above verses help us to understand what this Door can do and how it is going to help us.  Let us therefore choose deliberately to use this Door which will take us to the highest places.

The Israelites had much more limited access to God than we have today.  Christ, by giving His life as a perfect Sacrifice, has opened a way into God’s very presence and the throne of grace.  Therefore we, as believers, should gratefully and constantly draw near to God in prayer using this Door of access.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Lord, how wonderful and precious You are in all the earth.  There is no one who is like unto You.  Thank You, Lord, for giving us Christ the Savior to be our Door to salvation so that we can have life in abundance which means no more tears and sorrows.  Cause us, Lord, to continually and constantly draw near to You using this Door given to us.  We give You all the praise and honor in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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Savior, Like A Shepherd, Lead Us

March 8, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you,
that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.
All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them.
I AM the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live).
He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have and enjoy life,
and have it in abundance (to the full, till itoverflows).

John 10:7-10 AMP

 
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are

We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the Guardian of our way
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray

Thou hast promised to receive us
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Poor and sinful though we be
Thy grace will cleanse and set us free
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still

O won’t You love us still
O we need You
Won’t you hear us when we pray
To lead and guide us
Won’t You lead us on, Lord
You have promised to receive us
And mercy to relieve us

Composed by Dorothy Thrupp
Performed here by Janna Potter

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