Today's thought:

John 10:7-10: “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it to the full."

There is a small metal door painted white in the side of a tiny mission church in Johannesburg South Africa. This door is changing lives. On it are painted the words “door of hope.” That is exactly what it is for various babies within the city. On average some forty to fifty babies were being abandoned on the streets to die of exposure or starvation a month. That was before the mission installed their door to a baby bin allowing mothers to anonymously deposit their unwanted babies and have someone love them and care for them. Now the mission is saving over 100 babies a year. What an incredible door.

Here Jesus says, “I am the door.” Many preachers and teachers like to point to the abundant life that Jesus provides but the emphasis in this passage is not on the abundant life that is afforded but the contrast between the thieves, who only wish to steal and destroy, and Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who has come to save and bring life. The point is that Jesus is a passageway to God. The emphasis here is on Jesus the door. Understand that the abundant life is a result. The important fact resides in the cause not the effect.

Jesus the door does some rather important things for us. First, the door is access; access to salvation (John 10:9), freedom (John 8:34, 36) and satisfaction (note the word “pastures” and compare with Jeremiah 50:19). Also, the door provides assessment. We get the picture of Jesus standing at the gate of the pen and as each sheep passes into the fold his hands are surveying their bodies. Is there an injury or issue that needs addressed? As the door Jesus assesses us, not for judgement, but to ensure we are healthy so we can enjoy the abundant life. Jesus says in Revelation 3:19, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” Lastly, the door is protection. While we mill about, gobble some grass and rest (do sheep count sheep or humans) Jesus stands guard. He is the last Shepherd you’d want to go up against if you were a hungry wolf.

Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) He is the door. As the door he saves, brings hope and imparts to us the abundant life. To receive these blessings as sheep we must enter through him. Have you done that? There is no other way to the Father but by him.

PRAYER: Father, we come to You in the name of Jesus. We recognize that there is no other name by which we must be saved. It is by the grace afforded to us through Jesus that we come boldly before you and ask for your healing grace, your abundant life and your protection. We seek You through the door of Christ. Help us to enter and dwell with You for all our days. In Jesus name we pray--Amen.