I’m reading Ernie Gruen’s book, The Giver and His Gifts. I went to the church he founded and pastored for 13 years – a great teacher and I’m really enjoying the book. He passed away June 1, 2009 and at his memorial service his family let each person have one of his books. I’d read the rest of his earlier books, but not this one.
In Chapter 4 he speaks of a new road and mentions the Damascus gate in Jerusalem, how it leads to Damascus. We go through the gate to get somewhere; we don’t stay at the gate. Matthew 7:13-14 says to “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.” We must chose daily on our walk with Christ to follow Him in thought, word and actions, becoming more mature as we journey along.
I have 3 pictures of the Damascus Gate the free day in Jerusalem my husband and I explored the Kidron Valley and other places.
Actually, this last picture is a different gate – I think it is the gate going into Bethesda and St. Ann’s church, where you pay to see it, which we did and was worth it.
