In many doorways of the Roman Empire there was a depiction of a god with two faces pointing in opposite directions. Janus was the god of transitions. He looked ahead and he looked behind–to the past and the future. He was a kind of doorkeeper, a minder of the gate. And so our calendar’s first month, January, is named after him. On January 1 of the new year we look behind, and we look ahead.
So what’s on the other side of the doorway you’re stepping through?
One day Jesus said: “I am the gate for the sheep…. whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10).
In Jesus’ day the shepherd tending a small flock would gather the sheep into a pen during the dangerous night hours and he himself would lay across the gate area, acting as a human door. And then the “door” would come open in the morning and the sheep could go out to pasture.
Here’s something I think we frequently miss. Jesus’ emphasis is not just on being a door that protects us from outside intruders, but a doorway designed to let us out into the wide world around us where the opportunities are. This is a good time for each of us to ponder: what steps might God be asking me to take this year?
What do you think?
To love and help people more and to find a Christian man for me to love for a companion.
To take my spiritual life more seriously.
Release fear, worry and doubt by giving complete trust in the Lord. All things will come in Gods timeline not mine.
In order to live in this world where self rules and money is god, we must resist the temptation to mount an activist campaign but instead, be patient, endure injustice, and pray urgently that our King Jesus will come soon. This requires our full attention in loving others extravagantly, forgiving freely, and giving resources generously. Then we will be known for what we are FOR not what we are against and our love for each other will prove our love for God.
Simple and yet so difficult for so many of us. I am always amazed at the hand of the Holy Spirit, this penning is no different. This was what He penned, I, merely the vessel:
It’s a New Year. Not sure if it is “Happy”, but then “Happy” is not what we are trying to achieve. Right?! After all happiness depends on our circumstances and what happens when our circumstances aren’t the way we had hoped for, planned for, worked all our lives for? Now what? Joy? Joy is possible in any circumstance, because it does not depend on circumstance. Joy is something we achieve in and through our developing relationship with the Holy God of our life. Don’t be fooled out of Joy, it is not always “Joyful” nor does it always feel “good”, it is rather that deep seeded knowledge/feeling/hope that is impossible to deplete, because He is impossible to deplete. You can however choose to ignore His “Joy”, falling into your own pit of sorrow and woes, but then what? How does that change anything? Or does it?
It is time warriors to go where God is—-an adventure!
Adventures are meant to be exciting, sometimes scary, uncertain, but depending on your guide you have nothing to fear! Enjoy the adventure we call “life”, He calls Redemption/Salvation/Eternal Glory/Life Everlasting.
Put your Armour on-get ready/be ready to rock and roll!!
As always and forever;
Walk with the King!!through me this morning, which still grabs my heart and soul, for I am ordinary and He is God!!
Well said!
I guess the sentences got a bit mixed up when sent–should be:
Simple and yet so difficult for so many of us. I am always amazed at the hand of the Holy Spirit, this penning is no different.This was what He penned through me this morning, which still grabs my heart and soul, for I am ordinary and He is God!!
It’s a New Year. Not sure if it is “Happy”, but then “Happy” is not what we are trying to achieve. Right?! After all happiness depends on our circumstances and what happens when our circumstances aren’t the way we had hoped for, planned for, worked all our lives for? Now what? Joy? Joy is possible in any circumstance, because it does not depend on circumstance. Joy is something we achieve in and through our developing relationship with the Holy God of our life. Don’t be fooled out of Joy, it is not always “Joyful” nor does it always feel “good”, it is rather that deep seeded knowledge/feeling/hope that is impossible to deplete, because He is impossible to deplete. You can however choose to ignore His “Joy”, falling into your own pit of sorrow and woes, but then what? How does that change anything? Or does it?
It is time warriors to go where God is—-an adventure!
Adventures are meant to be exciting, sometimes scary, uncertain, but depending on your guide you have nothing to fear! Enjoy the adventure we call “life”, He calls Redemption/Salvation/Eternal Glory/Life Everlasting.
Put your Armour on-get ready/be ready to rock and roll!!
As always and forever;
Walk with the King!!
You ask: So what’s on the other side of the doorway you’re stepping through?
My temptation is to stand hesitantly in the doorway–do I want to enter into the room that is labeled 2013? We made it through 2012, but what lies ahead? With uncertainty on the job front, a dad and a mother-in-law dealing with major health issues, and a son in his third year on a journey with a rare and tenacious cancer and an uncertain future, I am a little tentative to move forward so hang tight to that door frame. Ah, but what joy to realize that the Lord is already in that room–He’s been there already, arranging the furniture, stocking the shelves, dusting and decorating, and filling the place with His glorious presence. How can I do anything except burst through that doorway to see what He has prepared for our lives. While only He knows the details of the days ahead, I can enter knowing He is good, and loving, and caring, and powerful, and…. Yes, the doorway is an opportunity. Lord use us as You would!
Thanks, Janet. I think a lot of us need to admit when we are dealing with hesitation about moving forward. That’s part of what I like about Jesus’ metaphor of the gate. He releases us from the safe place to go out into the world, but when darkness comes, the sheepfold is there. He gathers us and becomes the gate of protection.
Wow! love your thought – “the Lord is already in that room–He’s been there already, arranging the furniture,…” I pray for your peace, comfort, and direction in 2013.
Thank you for this reflection. I was truly blessed by it. The image of the door is a wonderful image not just to keep us locked in but to open us into the world. Sometimes fear can keep up locked in and we miss the gift that may be awaiting beyond the door. As we walk into this new year we do so with the promise of Jesus that we need not fear for He is with us. Blessings to you. May God continue to use you to inspire.
Thanks for your encouraging words, Pastor.
Good Message Mel! I had not thought of Jesus as a “door ” in the physical sense, or a gatekeeper of sheep in a pen (humanity). However, it gives new meaning to his declaration, “I have come to set you free.” In my quiet times recently He has told me I tend to stay within the “safe” areas of my life, and that I need to go “outside” the safety zones and to do that I need to exercise my faith and trust in depending on Him. I have some very serious family issues with my son at present, and it is to fearful for me that I feel paralyzed and desperate. It is a situation where I cannot do anything to help him, simply to pray and follow His leading. Please pray for my strength and wisdom as I walk through these terrifying days ahead. Thank you.
In Him
Thank you for letting us know your need, Donna, so that we can pray for you.
I think you are right! And I believe that when that shepherd blocks that door way, that sheep that is trying to stray, might stumble over the shepherd, but the shepherd still has the doorway blocked from evil. The shepherd keeps the evil out, but keeps His eye on that one sheep that He loves dearly, and allows the sheep to experience life, mess up, stumble again, move on, pressing forward, and all the while being guided and led by the love and patience of his Shepherd, waiting for His sheep to live life, and enjoy it, and because of the SHEPHERD, that sheep will continually grow in love, security, and stability with such a WONDERFUL, PROTECTIVE, LOVING, MERCIFUL AND FILLED WITH NEVERENDING GRACE FOR THAT SHEEP!
We have recently experienced a wave of tragedies driven by the most intense form of evil in the world. These acts have impacted my soul as an individual. We have also had a combined experienced through one of them as a Church, experienced the slaughter of innocents as citizens of this Nation, and have mutually wept as God’s Children.
John 10 speaks to me through an earlier verse in John that mentions another sheep gate. The Pool of Bethesda located by the Sheep Gate at the Temple in Jerusalem was a place where the sick gathered (John. 5:3 NIV) and many believed in the healing properties of the waters in that pool (some texts include that and Angel came to “trouble the waters” prior to the healing events taking place). Jesus healed a man there on the sabbath through that mans faith. That same Sheep Gate by the pool is where offerings and sacrifices were brought into the temple from the Migdal Eder, a place where the sheep and livestock were kept for this very purpose. The sacrifices at the temple that were brought trough this gate were part of a continuous offering to God, at that time, day and night.
I believe we are lead to do our part in our own litttle corners of ministry in the recovery from these overt acts of evil we have experienced through both sacrifice and healing. I belive the steps that God is asking me to take personally this year in this effort, is to search out that “troubling of the waters” at the Pool at Bethesda to heal and fortify up my Faith in that Righteousness in Christ will prevail in the world so I may continue to go out in confidence without any fear. To maintain my Faith in the Mission of the Church through the knowledge that there is the continual “sacrifice” in my life through the forgiveness given to me through the Blood of Christ, and atonement of sin in the world before the alter through Jesus Christ our Lord for those who hear His call.
In specific reference to the text in John 10, I need to prayerfully continue to be confident and trust in the Lord to go out and come in, knowing that HE is the Good Shephard and recognizes me as one of his own, and that I continue to hear the Shephards call of when to go out and be fed and when to come in that gate for protection. Amen.
Anthony – thanks for your thoughts on what it means to move forward in faith. I am encouraged by your comment: “I believe we are lead to do our part in our own litttle corners of ministry in the recovery from these overt acts of evil we have experienced through both sacrifice and healing.”
Incidentaly John 10 :10 is our main text for this Sunday’s sermon and in our preparations we have observed that Christian preaching in the greater Africa remains stuck at presenting Jesus as the door and it doesnt make much of an effort in showing people what is beyond the door.
Go for it, Richard!
“(the saved) will come in and go out, and find pasture”.
This is a wonderful illustration of the big picture! The new year is chance to look back and reflect in thanks upon the safety and comfort that has been provided by the “coming in” part — the bounty of God’s grace. In looking forward, make your resolutions about the “going out” part, stretching yourself to find pastures that need your love and God’s healing. We all love ourselves and our families. When was the last time you worried about the salvation of a complete stranger?
Before April of 2011, I was an enthusiastic Darwinist, and subscribed to a vague notion of ” The All That Is” or “Universe” as being a sort of entity that could be communicated with by means of meditation (= New Age philosophy). I did not believe in God, but knew that there were such beings as “helping spirits”, because I had asked for help and received it on many occasions. I began to realize, though, that my life was futile. What was the point of it? I decided that there was nothing better than to be a “helping spirit”, and I thought, “I will begin right now, right where I am, in my present form to devote my existance to helping others, and hopefully become a helping spirit in my next life. As I was meditating on this subject in April of 2011, the Lord spoke to me and told me who He was. He said “I made ‘all that is’, but Satan has slandered Me from the beginning. I sent My Son to earth to undo the works of Satan”. He caused me to understand what He said, and to immediately know that the Scriptures are true. I was born again that day. Many things about me had to change and adjust to who I now am. Also, it was heartbreaking to see myself in the light of His holiness and realizing that my sins were piled up to the sky! Today I know that I am forgiven and am safe with Him. Knowing that, I can move on now to really being able to be in His service entirely. I am in this world, but not of this world, and my job here is to serve and represent Him in every thing I do.
Ofcourse, this is impossible for me to do! This is the very best thing I could know, because Our Father is perfect and completely wise and loving, and He wants to give us the privilege of expressing all of who He is through our own unique personalities that He gave us. All I need to be is willing.
Thankyou for your devotion and hard work for the Lord. Your words really speak to me. You are obviously open to acquiring His wisdom and letting Him speak through you. I am looking forward this year to also becoming more and more useful to our Lord. Happy New Year, brother! : )
I hope to have a better year with his help. Will be looking for a job, takin classes online to better my education.
Mel, I think God not only uses the door to the world for us to seek opportunities, but also to expose us to the world so that we may resist the evils we see, which in turn builds us up with character and determination to trust and obey him, and find out for sure that doing so is the ONLY way for all those fruits of the spirit mentioned in Galations 5:23 to be his gift to us.
Mel,
You have given me another challenge to ponder and pray about as to where I can go and do for the sake of Jesus and His children. Your Brook letters are so insiteful and full of the Holy Spirits messages for us. Thank you for all you do for the Kingdom. Especially thanks for the copy of the sermon that Stuart preached at Jen Sebena’s funeral. I forwarded it to many seniors and printed out for those that do not have computers. Bless you for all that you do.
May 2013 be a very healthy, blessed new year for you and yours,
Joan
Just like Moses strongly requested of God[ Exodus 33:15] My prayer to The Lord this year is to have His Presence all the days of this year in Jesus name. Amen
God wants me to be closer to Him. I need to get in the Word each morning.