I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:9
"The second blessing for the flock is to come in and gout out and
find pasture, an image of security and nurture. The sheep are under
the shepherd's care and grow through nourishment by the food he
provides. We note that the security is provided by the proximity to the
shepherd, not by the walls of the enclosure."
Bruce Milne, John (Bible Speaks Today)
When raising children, it's easy to start thinking that the best way to ensure their long term safety and security is to shield them from exposure to the big wide world. If, as Bruce Milne suggests, security is actually found in proximity to the shepherd rather than the walls of the enclosure, that changes everything. The way to a fulfilled, secure life for my children is not by trying to keep the as far away from sin as possible (as if that is even possible!). It is to encourage them to be as close to Jesus as possible. That's were life is found.
