Howdy,
The Biblical verse John 10:10 may be familiar, being popular I figure 10:10 rings out a bit. It’s about life — and it more abundant. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” Jesus said.
What hit me today was the verse that comes one before. It says: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
(I’m not trying to thump anyone over the head with the Bible here, but that’s what hit me, as I said. That’s what I read in my Reading Writing Living of today. Having Community Bible Study on Wednesdays will do that, I suppose.)
Also possibly familiar is the metaphor of Jesus as the door. Familiar and famous, but also extremely important, so don’t miss that point, but it was the end of the verse — 10:9 — that arrested me, got me thinking and the reason I’m writing about it.
How wonderful does the notion of passing through a door of salvation to a peaceful pasture sound? So restful and safe. Enter. Be saved. Go in and out. Find pasture. Pasture.
The “in and out” is noteworthy, too — maybe the hamburger chain that uses cups and containers with Scripture verses printed on them got it’s name from this verse? I don’t think so, figuring its more about the fast food service; though you never know, when it comes to fast food burgers In-N-Out is pretty much the Biblical place to go for a heavenly meal … — because, off the top of my head, it gives a feeling of freedom. We pass into a safe, plentiful place of redeemed life and peace, and we can come and go, roam around, graze, you might say. “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters” (Psalm 23:2).
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture … I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” — John 10:9-10
To answer my question about how wonderful?, laying down beside quiet waters — led there — sounds quite appealing. Just two days ago I wrote about being In search of rhythm, and stillness or a tranquil, slow-moving creek babbling as background soundtrack would be good rhythm.
The next verse in the all-famous 23rd Psalm? “He restores my soul …”
God gives rest, and peace, and life — life abundantly — when we go in through the door, restored, to find pasture.
—Billy
Reading. Writing. Living.
P.S. If you’re into the Biblical look at pasture, Ezekiel 34:14 is fantastic and refreshing as well: “I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed …”
Word Count: 51,718 / On Pace: 51,700 / Year’s Goal: 200,000
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