The Door

“Then Jesus said unto them again, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.’” (John 10:7)

Once Scout was accustomed to our home after rescuing him from the animal shelter, he could go outside without supervision. Periodically one door is left slightly ajar so he can “come and go” as he pleases. In no time, he learned to nudge his nose exactly right to open the door. Other times that door is completely closed and for a good reason: too hot; rainy or stormy weather, possible threats to his safety, or it is time to rest. To go out the closed door, he must "ask permission" by ringing the bells that hang from the door handle. A “doggie door” was out of the question since we live in an area where critters of all kinds would welcome such an easy entrance into our home.

As I thought of a flapped door for pets to exit and reenter at will, my thoughts drifted to life doors we face each day. Although God gave us free will to “come and go” as we please, He desires we wisely choose the doors we enter—those where we will walk in righteousness, and bring honor to His Father and kingdom work. As a believer, when you choose to walk through doors contrary to the Word of God and no consequences follow right away, do not think for a minute it was unnoticed—it was not. Consequences for wrong or poor choices will follow. If you are walking according to His Word and find a door that is shut, it is always closed for your good. Asking or pleading with God to open a closed door outside of His perfect plan will surely cause grief.

In early biblical times, a shepherd worthy of his hire would lay across the entrance to the sheepfold, guarding the sheep entrusted to him with his life. No predators could reach the sheep under his watch without going through him (the door). Jesus said He is the door of the sheep, the Good Shepherd (vs. 11), and the only way to the Father (John 14:6). He is the only way to enter God’s sheepfold and live eternally with Him. 

Jesus voluntarily and physically laid His life down for us and resurrected so we could enter the family of God. Surrender your life to the Good Shepherd and trust Him. Under His watchful care, you will find comfort, safety, pasture, and rest.