THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: SUNDAY 15 APRIL, 2018
TOPIC: JESUS IS THE “DOOR” (EASTER 2)
TEXT: JOHN 10: 7-16
7. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11.“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
14. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16. And other sheeps I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one Shepherd.
MESSAGE
A door is an entrance through which one enters or leaves a building. Twice in this parable Jesus said, “I am the door”. He is the door of the sheep fold and makes it possible for the sheep to enter the fold (the church). He is the Protector and Provider of the sheep. Jesus is also the only gate of our salvation – the sole Way to God. Through His death and resurrection we are admitted into the flock of God. As the door, Jesus delivers sinners from bondage and leads them into freedom. Any religious leader who offers salvation other than Himself is a “thief” and a “robber” (c.f. Ezek. 34;2). A False shepherd is a thief (v10). His mission is to exploit and abuse the sheep. They steal from Christ the hearts and affection of His flock then kill and destroy them spiritually. They are deceivers and murderers of souls. The beggar was a good example of what the “thieves” and “robbers” could do (Jn 9:34). But Christ came to put life in the flock (His church), more life than we can expect (eternal life).
Jesus is committed to love and lay down His life for us. False prophets do not have this commitment. To go into the fold, we must go through Him. To go out to pasture, we must go through Him. In His arms, we are safe.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for being the door through which I am saved.
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