The I AM sayings of Jesus

This devotional is written by Ayozie Pollendine. Is the mother of two wonderful girls. She also sings songs and paints pictures

The good shepherd and his sheep

10 'Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger's voice.' 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, 'Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jesus is the gate to a different life. A life that works according to his principles and His times and seasons. Where we see, not as the world sees, but with God's perspective. We hear and follow His voice. It's a challenge because the other stuff screams so loud. This reminds me of words from Mary Oliver's poem, 'The Journey.' "One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice..." There's a world out there that's full of stuff that's dangerous to our souls. The "strangers' voices" of criticism, comparison and judgement. A world that doesn't allow time for the seasons, that is home to the folly of yelling at a seedling that's just been planted for not producing fruit. Jesus instead invites us to a safe place in Him, a pasture enclosed and a life full of abundance. Jesus is the gateway to peace. With Him we have respite from the world. The voice of Jesus is gentle and kind. It speaks truth, but holds no record of wrong. We are called to know the voice of Jesus, and to run away from the voices we don't recognise as His. We need to return constantly to the ways of God's kingdom through Jesus the gateway, and cry out to Him for eyes to see, and for our ears to be opened so that we truly hear His voice, so that we are so familiar with His voice that the voices of the world become strange to us. What are the areas in your life where you may have strayed from the voice of Jesus? Ask Him to reassure you of His love and show you how you can return to Him.