John 10:9

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be safe. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.  - John 10:9


Dear Jesus,

People misunderstand this passage because it is so close to the ones where you call us sheep and name yourself the Good Shepherd.  This passage is not talking about sheep but about those men and women who would call themselves shepherds for others.  If they do not come into our lives through you, the gate (you tell us) then they are not honest shepherds and they are not worthy of us following them out to pasture.  You are the litmus test of all true spiritual leaders.  Do they live by you and the grace you brought for all human kind or do they live for morality alone, or discipleship alone, or religious music alone, or for prayer alone, or for any other idea over the idea that you are our Savior of all people.  The rescue of humanity in Christ is the beating heart of all true shepherds.  So, dear Jesus, lead all pastors, parents, elders and Bible teachers to enter by you and your grace.  Make them Christ centered so that they find pasture for your sheep, so they give them good food for their souls, pasture that changes their lives not by law but by gospel, pasture that does not promise only temporal rewards but promises an inheritance that never spoils or fades, pasture that invites, encourages, lifts up, and changes the way people think deep in the core of their inner being.  Give us good shepherds under you, dear Jesus.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Jesus came to become the central figure in everyone's soul.  Don't accept anything less from him.