I am from the rural parts of Texas. Now, where I am not a farmer or rancher, I did grow up around acreage and livestock. Where anyone can get into the land by simply hopping over or going through the fence, there is a difference when coming through the gate. The gate is where the provision comes.
“2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” – John 10:2-3 (ESV)
It is quite the thing to see when the farmer or rancher comes through the gate into the pasture land. The livestock immediately come around knowing that they will be fed or cared for. They will follow the truck of the farmer to the barn and wait patiently to be addressed by the farmer as they know he cares for them. They know sound of his truck. They know the blowing of the horn. They know it is time to be cared for.
Now, as for us kids, we could go through the fence to get to the pasture to play ball or fly kites or another other thing and we were not bothered by the livestock at all. We could be out there for hours without seeing a single animal, until the farmer, would come through the gate. The livestock know.
“7So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.’” – John 10:7-9 (ESV)
Jesus is our shepherd and we know Him. We come to Him when He calls. When He comes through the gate, we know He is there for us. We will follow. He provides for us and cares for us and feeds us. He gives just what we need and we know Him. We know that when we are with Jesus, we are in the good pasture and will find and have all we need.
There is only one way to find peace and care and comfort, through the LORD. When we find Him, we find all we need. The LORD does not just come through the gate and care for us, He is the gate to our safety and protection and provision. We will find it all when He comes for us and when we go to and through Him.
Where are you looking for provision? Are you running to the first to come near you? What if you were to look for the gate that is Jesus and know that where He is you will find provision?
