I AM: Discovering the Nature of Jesus!
Thursday, March 11, 2004
My Prayer Today
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ your Son. I did not earn or deserve salvation, but you loved me anyway. You have given me this gift and I praise you that my name is written in the Book of Life. I want to live my life so that others may too find salvation through You. Help me today to share the new life of Christ with the world, one person at a time. Give me opportunities this day to show others the door to salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God's Word Today
John 10:1-10
"I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! For a shepherd enters through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice." They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't recognize his voice." Those who head Jesus use this illustration didn't understand what he meant, so he explained it to them. 'I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep,' he said. 'All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
Reflecting on God's Word
When Jesus says "I am the gate" (or the "door"), what does this mean?
According to verse 9, who will be saved?
How do we "come through" the door?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
If Jesus is only the "door" to salvation, what is the devil's desire for us?
What kind of things prevent people from accepting Jesus as their Savior?
Understanding God's Purpose
Are there any other religions in the world today that claim to be the "door" to God?
Why are these religions false doors?
How can we tell the difference between the True door and false doors?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
Do you have any friends or family members who have entered "false doors" attempting to find God? List names.
Take a moment today and pray for each of the names listed. Make an attempt to contact at least one of these names and ask about their day. Continue to build your relationship in hopes to share your faith with them.
Thoughts
There are many religions in the world today. If you pass through any secular bookstore with a religion section, it is not to difficult to find numbers of books on New Age philosophy, Astrology, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Science, the Unification Church, and countless numbers of other religions. Each of these religions claims to be the "true" doorway to God (or at least provide some sense of balance and peace). They all hope to display to people the way in which one can be "saved" or "escape" from the condition that they are in. Usually this is done through doing "good" things (works), self-reflection, meditation, or worshipping many gods. But the truth is, they are all false doors. There is only one true door -- Jesus Christ.
In John 10:9 Jesus said, "I am the Door." He is the ONLY way to be saved and come to God. In the Old Testament one approached God through the sacrifice of an animal. Once every year the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for all the sins of Israel. But Jesus Christ became the once-and-for-all sacrifice on the cross that makes atonement for all of our sins. We cannot earn salvation by our good works, nor do we deserve salvation because we are good people. Salvation is a gift, and it only comes as we enter the door to eternal life. There are not many ways to God, there is just one -- Jesus Christ.
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