Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11); He is also the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29) and even the Sheepgate. Don't marry anyone who tries to enter your life apart from Jesus through mere friendship or sexual attraction. Don't let people into your life just because of business or money. TV personalities, athletes, and entertainers have a major influence in millions of people's lives, but have they entered through the Sheepgate, Jesus? "Whoever does not enter the sheepfold through the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a marauder" (Jn 10:1).
Not only are others trying to enter our lives, but we are entering their lives and worlds. Jesus promises: "I am the Gate. Whoever enters through Me will be safe. He will go in and out, and find pasture" (Jn 10:9). Whatever you get into, make sure it's Jesus' idea. Live in, with, and through Jesus. Then you will be safe rather than hurt, fed rather than drained. If we enter things through our pride, desires, intellect, or selfishness, we will be ripped off, slaughtered, and destroyed (Jn 10:10). If we make Jesus our only Gate, our only Way (Jn 14:6), we will have the fullness of life (Jn 10:10). Jesus is the Through-Way.
| PRAYER: | Father, draw me so close to Your Son Jesus that nothing I desire would ever distract me from His love. |
| PROMISE: | "God has granted life-giving repentance even to the Gentiles." –Acts 11:18 |
| PRAISE: | Every day, Rosemary prays that someone in her family will be called to the religious life. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College