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Life in the Holy Spirit An Empowerment Bible Study © 2003 by Terry A. Modica |
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Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Getting through the sheepgate
Are you at an impasse in your spiritual growth or emotional healing or a difficult relationship? Do you need a breakthrough? It's like a fence is keeping you on the outside of peace, joy, satisfaction, and healing. John 10:1-10 tells us that Jesus is the gate.
Acts 11:1-18 is an example of just such a breakthrough for the early Church. Since Christianity was the fulfillment of Judaism, it seemed logical that Jewish laws should be obeyed. To eat with Gentiles was a sin, according to Jewish law, because they dined on food forbidden by the Torah. Peter was now in trouble for breaking this law. He had also evangelized Gentiles without converting them to Judaism and getting them circumcised.
The resulting uproar sent him to Jerusalem to defend his actions. The council's disapproval created a major obstacle, not only to Peter's ministry, but to the whole idea of spreading Christianity beyond Jewish boundaries.
Peter went through Jesus to reach the hearts of the council members and open them to God's plan. The key that unlocked the gate was their trust in the Holy Spirit's power to give direction and guidance through supernatural gifts such as Peter's vision.
In facing trials before fellow Christians who misjudge us, we can get through it by trusting Jesus and relying on the gifts of His Holy Spirit. When our goals seem blocked, we can make significant progress by letting Jesus shepherd us through the obstacles.
If people shut a door on something that God wants us to do, Jesus leads us to a gate that He opens. If He's given you a passion for which there seems to be no outlet, look for a gate you don't expect to find. For example, over many years it felt like God was preparing me to give homilies, but I'm not an ordained priest and never will be. So I waited on Jesus to show me what to do with this gift. I didn't try to force the gate open. I didn't tell my pastor to give me a turn at preaching during Mass. I followed Jesus like a dumb sheep.
Then one day, a couple of friends and I began to email each other our thoughts about the daily Mass readings. As I wrote my reflections on the scriptures, I realized that others might also want to read them. That was in November of 1999. Today, I'm writing to 3,900 around the world! Add to that the countless others who are forwarded these reflections by subscribers. Plus some of you are priests who use my reflections in actual homilies at Mass!
Because I let Jesus shepherd me, I'm using the gifts of the Spirit in a way that's beyond anything I could ever have dreamed. God is awesome! Wait for Him to open your gate. Follow Him like a dumb sheep and you will greatly enjoy where He leads you!
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