Open Gateway

John 15:24-25 “If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’”
  
OVER the past few days, we have looked at John 15:17-25. One surprising lesson from Jesus in these verses is to understand the world opposes – even hates Jesus. Why would the creation so forcefully reject its Creator? Did they not desire the full blessings of God’s ways? What good promises he offered to them with such words as John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life.” And in John 10:9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.” In truth, the Jews’ complacent minds then, and ours now do not perceive The Way is truly The Gate to a purposeful, joyful life in God’s
physical and spiritual blessings.
   When I was farming years ago, there was sometimes a surprising limiting behavior in cattle. Periodically, we needed to move the cattle from their used-up pasture to a green, lush pasture prepared for them. The animals had grazed and lay on the pasture until only dry, minimal grass remained. The good grass awaited the cattle. When we simply opened the gate, they could easily walk through. Surely, the cattle would see the open gate and run for the new pasture!
   But they did not. Instead, they refused to go. Their habit each day before that gate-opening day was to walk by the closed gate. They had no anticipation of ever going to the good pasture. When we opened the gate then, their habits, in effect, kept the gate closed. But we wanted to help them see the new way and enjoy the truth of the good pasture. We worked to coax them through the gate. Eventually, one or two found the way. When others saw one of their own find new pasture, they, too, began to go. Finally, the entire herd followed. Some of the last few even ran through the gate! We were pleased, and so were the cattle! What fun it was to watch them as they romped, kicked up their heels and feasted on the blessing of the grass.
   Do you know God wants you “romping” in his lush pasture? But the Jews in Jesus’ day were like the cattle, and so are we. We all too easily have a kind of closed view, an opposition for Jesus. We reject The Way because we become comfortable in the way of minimal faith and worldly comforts. Such habits limit our minds and souls. They keep us from seeing God’s lush blessings of kingdom living. Too quickly, we become satisfied in our own biases, even as they leave us dry and hungry for God’s promises. We walk by God’s kingdom gate because we don’t believe God has opened our lives to a delightful personal relationship with him. Yes, let’s lift our eyes to the Way, so we can walk through the Gate. Jesus is the life-giving Way to dwell in God’s blessings. In the kingdom of God, the grass truly is greener in his pasture. Enter to “taste and see that the Lord is good, for blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalms 34:8) In joy, remember Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.