“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.”
John 10:9 (NLT)
Jesus calls Himself the Gate—the only way into the safety of His flock and the only way out into the rich pastures He provides. When we enter through Him, we are saved, protected, and led. The picture becomes even clearer when you compare John 10 with Psalm 23. When the Lord becomes our Shepherd, we truly “have all that we need.”
Sheep don’t hunt for their own food or water. They are led. That’s the heart of Psalm 23: green meadows, peaceful streams, and rest are found only by following a Shepherd. Jesus is both the way into salvation and the One who leads us out into abundance.
But before pasture comes the pen. We can’t come and go freely until we first surrender, submit, and become part of the flock. Christianity isn’t a solo expedition. Jesus said there will be one flock and one Shepherd. Freedom in Christ always involves belonging—and sometimes accepting limitations that lead to deeper life.
So we wait for His voice. We move when He moves. We follow where He leads. That’s what abiding looks like: drawing near to your Shepherd in the Word, being still long enough to hear His guidance, and learning to recognize His voice over the noise of the world.
You don’t have to fear missing the meadow or the stream. Just stay close to the Shepherd today.