I Am The Door

Jesus states clearly, ” I am the door of the sheep.” Any who came before or who come disguised as the shepherd are thieves and robbers. The sheep did not recognize the voice of these imposter shepherds. Ancient Eastern shepherds stood guard of their sheep by the only door that allowed access. He often would put thorn bushes or brambles around the top wall to make it difficult for predators to enter from other than the door, to harm his sheep. It wasn’t unusual for robbers to attempt to climb over, cut the throat of the sheep and throw it back over the wall to a waiting conspirator to steal away. Jesus mentions the hireling shepherd. One hired to watch the sheep does not love and care for them like the shepherd they belong to. The deceivers of the world are like hireling shepherds…they deceive us into thinking they will protect us. That trust leads to peril.

There is only one way to enter the sheepfold and that is through the shepherd. Once we belong to Him he will protect us at all costs. He will keep us in the fold and the predators who would harm us or steal us, outside of our pasture. He will see to it that we are fed, that we are at peace, that we are calm even when turmoil is stirring around us. If we try to wander and go astray,  find ourselves on a ledge somewhere…He will lift us up, and carry us back to safety.

Thought For Today:

There is only one way to God and that is through the door where the Shepherd stands. To enter God’s pasture and  find protection from the wolves, robbers and thieves is through, Jesus. Often times we think that we can get in that protected pasture land by other means…money, greed, knowledge and the ways of the world. Or there might even be those who try to convince us that there are other ways to get to God, other doors. These are the deceivers of God’s beloved sheep. We must turn and follow the voice of the Shepherd that God has secured to bring us safely home. The world is getting out of control. We see even believers falling for things that are evil in God’s eyes. The world is telling us…times are different, a misinterpretation of the scripture, everyone else is doing it… any number of excuses for going the way of the world. Our Shepherd is singing and calling out to us, leading us to the door of safety. The assurance of eternal life makes it imperative that we seek out the Shepherd sent by God to stand in the door.

Scripture For Today:

John 10:7-10

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. (NKJV) 

John 10:11-14

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. (NKJV)

Prayer For Today:

Hello Father! Thank You for providing a Shepherd who loves and cares for us. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see what will harm us and try to steal us from Your fold. Give us discernment to recognize the hireling shepherds among us. Father, let us  stand with boldness and proclaim what is good and what is evil according to Your word. Our world is going the way of Canaan. Forgive us of our sin. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

© 2015 Kathy Ledbetter all rights reserved