Doors (Thought-Provoking Thursday)
Photo Credit: Alex Gonzalez, via SXC
My husband and I have a tradition. After Christmas, we drive around the neighborhood to see which neighbor is the last to take down the Christmas lights. We head up the street and around the bend and back on the other side carefully inspecting each house. After five years of taking the same route, I’ve come to learn the layout.
There is the house with the orange door. The house with the stone donkey in the yard. The red and black feng shui house. The people with the air boat. The double garage house (my husband’s favorite). The dudes with the 70’s garage band on Wednesday nights. The sad-looking “beach shack” with a sandy yard instead of green grass. And, the festive place with the Christmas display that stays lighted through April.
Each house tells a story.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the doors. We’ve had some break-ins in the neighborhood. So now, as we drive around the block, and I will sometimes say, “Nice door. Robber could put a big brick through that pretty window though.”
Doors invite you in, but they also keep out the riffraff. I like a nice locked door. Behind it, I feel safe.
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Last night, I sat up in bed reading as my husband snored peacefully beside me. I like to read a book on the life of Christ each year before Easter. Similar to my drive around the neighborhood, I am on a journey. I take it in slowly each year — following the road the Jesus walked. Remembering. Noting the details. The cup filled with wrath. The tears that turned to blood. The road that my Savior walked alone for me.
Wiersbe’s Jesus in the Present Tense reminded me that Jesus is The Door. I’d always thought of this Door as open, inviting me in to safe pasture. But now I remember. I remember that the Shepherd literally laid His body down in the entryway to the pasture each night to serve as a door — a door that protected the sheep from harm.
The wolves might stand outside and huff and puff, but they are not going to knock The Door down.
So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am The Door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:7-10, NASB).
Something to think about…
Wow – What an amazing illustration!!! I hate my present doors (very functional)…I have always wanted a nice bright, shiny red one. 🙂 I love how you connected this with Jesus the door – the shepherd. It gave me goosebumps.
Thanks, Rosalind. It’s so comforting to know that I am in a safe pasture.
I love an open door; it is always so inviting and feels like a welcome pathway into someone’s home and heart. God has that same wonderful open door policy! ♥ He knocks at the door of our heart because He wants us to share everything with Him us and have fellowship with us.
Blessings and hugs Lyli; have a joyful weekend! ♥
Denise
I love that verse in Revelation 3 where it says He knocks at the door of our heart. Thanks for pointing me to that verse, Denise. 🙂
Love these new insights you’re giving me, Lyli. I’ve always thought of Jesus as the open welcoming door too, but yes, he’s also a door of safety, keeping us safe inside and the wolves away. Blessings to you, friend!
I am so thankful! 🙂
Good deep thoughts here this morning, Lyli. I’m savoring, my friend …
I love Wiersbe — he’s one of my favorite authors. I hadn’t picked up that book since lat year around Easter. It was a timely read for me this week. I needed to hear this message.
I love the thought of Jesus as being the door. It reminds me of what it means to put on the belt of truth. The word truth in that verse is the same word truth in the verse where Jesus says I am the way, the truth, and the life. So essentially, we are putting on Jesus when we put on the belt of truth. If I imagine Him standing in front of me, He could also be envisioned as a door — only letting things in that He wants to go to my heart.
Yes, that’s an awesome connection, Jen. Thanks for sharing it. I find myself praying through those verses in Ephesians 6 about the armor almost daily right now.
I have tears over this post and John 10 was in my Bible study this morning so chills, too. I just love when God does that. It prompts me to pay special attention to what He is speaking through His word.
I love it when He does that! Yay! 🙂
My heart just warms at what you wrote here. I enjoy doors- and the stories they tell. I didn’t realize the shepherd slept across the entry to the pasture – and that captures my heart! Thank you for sharing your heart today!
Maryleigh, isn’t that a great visual picture? He laid down His life for us and continues to do so daily. Amazing!
Lyli,
What a comforting image of our Shepherd protecting us…like a door…Thank you 🙂
We are safe — what a blessing!
This blessed me so much!
That makes my heart very happy. xoxo
This is so good and truly “thought-provoking,” Lyli. I have always been drawn to Jesus as the Shepherd and love the connection you drew to the doorways in your neighborhood and Jesus as the door for His sheep. He truly does guard us from the wolves, if would only listen for His voice all of the time!
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Yes, I need to remember that following leads me to safe pasture.
Wow! Goosebumps! Thoughtful, indeed!
Oh Lyli – I loved this post! It gave me a renewed visual picture of Jesus literally laying down at the gate. I could almost hear Him murmuring to the flock, “Be not afraid. It is I. I am here.”
Such a soothing post to read. Thank you for this.
GOD BLESS!
(And for the record, I am also a diligently-locked-door kind of girl!)
Sharon, so glad you were encouraged! Big hugs