I greet you in Jesus' precious name. It is Sunday morning, the 20th of August 2023, and this is your friend Angus Buchan with a thought for today. If we go to Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus says:

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it".

I've just been to the Lowveld Mighty Men Conference a couple of weeks ago, and a Gentleman by the name of Peter did of the most beautiful picture for me. It's done with charcoal, a picture of a rider and a horse standing together. But you must look at the picture carefully to see what's happening. You might think the rider is just gazing over a fence, and the horse is standing behind him. But it's not that at all. The rider is actually opening a gate, that's right, he's opening a wire gate, obviously to let his animals in or out. 

Now, Jesus Christ is 'the gate', 'the door'. He says that in John 10:11. He is the door for the sheep to go in and out. In the old days, they say that the Shepherd would sleep across the entrance of the sheep corral, where the sheep would sleep at night. He would sleep right across, so anything that went in and out had to cross over him. We're talking about wolves, jackals, and thieves, and they would have to cross over him to enter.

One of my spiritual sons sent me an article just last night. Archaeologists in Israel have discovered a gate in the Southern part of Israel that is 5500 years old. Can you believe it? But I want to tell you that Jesus, 'the gate', has always been there, and maybe today you are trying to find your way. He says in John 14:6,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me".

Today, enter the gate that will lead you to eternal life, young man and lady. It is difficult, steep and hard going, but I want to tell you, it is worthwhile. 

Jesus bless you and have a lovely day.
Goodbye