The Gate and the Good Shepherd

The story continues from The Next Day Part 3.  Also…be sure to check out the post De’Andre.  One of my kids needs some assistance!

As you know, Louis and I had only known each other about 5 weeks at this point.  I went from “not sure if I like him” to “when are you all getting married?” in a little over a month!  We went from seeing each other weekly to every day. I had prayed for the other ½ of my pair as told in Luke 10:1-7, and it looked like that God had just maybe provided that answer. But, we know that when you are walking in the will of God and He is using you mightily, Satan is not going to take kindly to that at all.

Word about what had happened and what we were doing was making its way through the Christian community in and around Metro Richmond.  Again, we are so thankful for the many, many prayers that those communications and emails brought our way.  It didn’t take long for Satan to raise his ugly head in the form of a character attack. For a short period of time, this attack distracted us from serving and loving on Frank and his family like we had been called to do and discouraged us a bit. But, Louis and I worked through that…through the grace of God, a lot of prayer and the love of some trusted friends.  We are better for having gone through that challenge.

Know that Satan and his army will go ALL OUT to tear us down and to keep us from walking in Truth.  Today, I was reading John 10:1-21 and was reminded that Jesus is the Gate and the Good Shepherd.  Satan may seek to steal, kill and destroy, but, my Jesus says…

9 “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 …My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.   11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”  He also says…18 “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

As I reflect, this Holy Week…on this Maundy Thursday (the day of Judas’ betrayal, the Last Supper and Jesus washing the feet of his disciples)…the day before Jesus was hung on that cross, that I am so thankful for His voluntary sacrifice.  But, as we approach resurrection, I have JOY!!!  JOY!!!  JOY!!! that He has the authority to lay down His life, but He also took it back up again!!!  He died for me…O’ wretched sinner that I am. So, that in his resurrection I can live a “rich and satisfying life” where I am alive, free, and forgiven.