Old City Gates
The Old City Gate was repaired by (them). They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. (Nehemiah 3:6 NLT)
In biblical times, gates were important for protection against enemies, the place for gatherings, making public announcements and conducting business. In the book of Nehemiah, when the people are repairing the broken walls of their city, it says they made sure that the “Old City Gate” was repaired.
I have to wonder; (maybe because I turned 64 years old this month), are the aging gates in my life starting to show wear and tear?
Protection: Am I allowing harmful or toxic things into my life?
Public interactions: Am I being careless in my words and actions, for example, what I post on social media? Are there any relationships that need repair?
Business: Are little (or big) dishonesties creeping into my job performance or in my finances? Am I making wise decisions?
My son built a gate on our porch. It keeps my dog, Odie, from escaping and getting into danger, and stops unwelcomed intruders, (skunks, unfriendly other dogs), from entering.
But, of course, when friends or family come for a visit, I open the gate to welcome them. And when the Fed Ex or Mail carrier arrives, I don’t want the gate to block them from delivering my packages.
These old gates, the ones around my heart, are they rusting shut from unuse? I find I isolate myself from other people too easily. I wonder, sometimes, if I can’t truly feel deeply anymore.
What gifts am I keeping from myself when I close off my heart? Fellowship? Laughter? Love? Unimagined blessings?
I know to bring my sheltered heart to God. He will gently pour the oil where needed and repair me with His Love.
Ah, I almost forgot this important thing about the gate,
I need to make sure that the door can open!
(Odie at the gate)
What about you? Can you see areas in your life that need to be more safely guarded or issues that need to be fixed?