He is the Gate

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Day 20 Gatekeepers
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. (Joh 10:7-10 NIV)
Though I’ve always seen this verse as about Jesus I can’t help but think of myself as a shepherd but as I was reminded in class: it’s all about the sheep.
Jesus is the good shepherd. I am an under shepherd. A good under shepherd in a sense will be the "gate" insuring the sheep are not stollen. Maybe more like Day 21’s reflection on being a good sheep dog but Jesus is the one protecting even when I cannot protect. I need to pray more.

It was interesting that Laniak said many of the greatest thief "shepherds" were in fact "good shepherds" not good in nature but good in what they do: steal sheep. As a sheep dog I protect but not as a gate. I need to watch out that I don’t bark too much.

Jesus is the gate, gatekeeping what only truly matters. As a guardian I can gate keep anything but what is the point? I need to insure that I am keeping watch over what matters. The souls of every sheep is what matters.

I was challenged to be physically present more often so they can decern the voice of strangers because they have heard good teaching centered on the word. Am I teaching enough?