Gate-Way

(John 10)
What's in a name? I don't know that our church (Gateway Baptist Church) has a church verse or verses, but if we did John 10: 7, 9-10 (NIV) would certainly be a candidate.

10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10:10 ... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Our goal is to point people to Jesus Christ - the Gate, the Way. First of all, there is only one way to restore our relationship with God -- through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the authority; he has authority. He bought us with his life and he rose again so that we would have life.

Secondly, as his sheep, Jesus wants his sheep to be focused on him. We are to be focused on where he leads and on his voice, not distracted by "strangers" that try to lead us astray. In this passage he cautions us against those who pose as sheep but are not. These people are focused on themselves interested in what they can obtain -- "stealing" from the church and causing disruption and disunity. Ironically, Satan most often uses those "within the camp" to cause disruption and disunity. Thus, Paul's urging throughout his epistles regarding unity in the church.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3 NIV)

Jesus himself declared that our unity would be a witness to the world. In one of his final prayers, he prayed for us to live in unity (John 17:23).

Know that Jesus loves us so much and he cares about the abundance of our life. He came so that we can experience life to the full. As his sheep, we will have a full and abundant life if we follow his voice and follow where he leads.