“I am the Gate.”
One cold evening in March, some of our sheep got out of the safety of their paddock and were left stranded outside the barn, away from food, water, and the rest of the flock. My ten-year-old daughter and I tromped through the snow and opened a gate to beckon them in. But they couldn’t find their way back until we shined the flashlight on the gate. All the ewes returned to the fold, but one sheep straggled behind. He chose not to follow the light through the gate and enter the pasture.
I felt frustrated. Why wouldn’t he come for warmth, safety, food, and water? Then I realized that I do the same thing when I fail to follow the light from God’s Word.
This Easter season, we are again reminded that the Lord laid the iniquity of us all on Him, the one perfect Lamb, the One who is also the Shepherd of our souls. Jesus called Himself the “gate for the sheep” (John 10:7). He said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture (John 10:9). Jesus must long for us to come through the gate. He supplies the light we need to enter the gate and to walk with Him. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Father, this Easter season we remember what You did for us by allowing Your Son, the perfect Lamb, to die for our sins. May we come to You, the gate to green pasture, and walk in the light of Your Word.
About Ann Stewart
Ann just won the Christy Award for Best Debut Novel of 2017 with Stars in the Grass, originated AMG’s Preparing My Heart series, and writes “Ann’s Lovin’ Ewe” for The Country Register. When she's not writing, she's waving her arms directing musicals, teaching middle schoolers, or watching UVA Basketball, This is Us, or Madam Secretary. In her free time she hangs out with her husband, raising two lovely daughters and a whole flock of fuzzy sheep on Skye Moor Farm, in Virginia--where unscripted drama provides plenty of entertaining material.
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