Lord’s Day, Vol. 6 No. 45

Enter and Find Pasture

 John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (Jn. 10:9 KJV)

Jesus said, “I am the door”, by which a man, entering in, is saved. Not only will Jesus save his soul, but he finds pasture – nourishment for his soul. The Apostle Paul who was gloriously saved when He met Jesus by a bright light from heaven on the Damascus road testified that more than temporal physical blessings (Matt. 6:33), the man who is reconciled with God through Jesus Christ, experienced the desire to live a life that is right in the sight of God and finding peace and joy in the heart.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

He testified how the repentant sinner can be saved in Romans 10:9-10.

⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Finding the pasture that was promised by Jesus began with a change in the Apostle Paul’s value system after he entered the door to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. A value system that is not earth-bound but heavenward.

Therefore, he exhorts believers toward renewing their mind, to have a pilgrim mindset, to realize that this world is not our permanent home. And we are to live with eternity in view – Colossians 3:1-3If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Col. 3:1-4 KJV)

He seeks to be approved of God and awaits the spiritual rewards to come by walking with God. His life is Godward in devotion, worship, prayer through the study of God’s Word and in sharing the fruit of that blessed life of righteousness, peace and joy with others.

Another related thought from the context, Jesus described Himself as the good shepherd – ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.(Jn. 10:11 KJV) Indeed, Jesus died on the cross to saved sinners. This is the picture of the true Shepherd.

JC Ryle observed well the context, “The chapter we have now begun is closely connected with the preceding one. The parable before us was spoken with direct reference to the blind teachers of the Jewish Church. The Scribes and Pharisees were the persons our Lord had in view, when He described the false shepherd. The very men who had just said “We see,” were denounced with holy boldness, as “thieves and robbers.”

We have, for one thing, in these verses, a vivid picture of a false teacher of religion. Our Lord says that he is one who “enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way”… The true shepherd of souls is he who enters the ministry with a single eye to Christ, desiring to glorify Christ, doing all in the strength of Christ, preaching Christ’s doctrine, walking in Christ’s steps, and labouring to bring men and women to Christ.”

The Apostle Paul testified that it was by the great mercy of God that he was turned around to acknowledge his Creator, Sustainer and Saviour. Therefore, it is only reasonable that he will serve his Lord.

 ¹¹According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. ¹²And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; ¹³Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ¹⁶Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Tim. 1:11-16 KJV)

May the Lord nourish and strengthen His people. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee