Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
"What Do You Think of Jesus?"
April 30, 2020
So Jesus again said to them, "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 listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by 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 abundantly."
— John 10:7-10, ESV
Doors make a huge difference, don't they? They keep people safe behind them. They open to allow you to come in, and then they shut to keep out trouble. A good door is a blessing.
People who come in through doors are usually considered legitimate, especially if a doorkeeper waves them through. They are there for a proper reason. But that's not the case for people who climb over a wall or break through a window. We call the police as soon as we see that. They're clearly up to no good!
Jesus calls Himself a door in this passage. He is our Protector, and He is the One through whom we come into God's kingdom. While He is on duty, we don't need to be afraid. He gives us life, freedom, and safety.
But there are people out there who try to mislead us, often on purpose. They may be trying to sell us the latest-and-greatest philosophy for changing our lives. They may be trying to recruit us to "special" Bible studies or to attend a new church or lecture series. How can we tell if they are legitimate? Look at their attitude to the door—to Jesus.
Ask them: "What do you think of Jesus?" Their answer will tell you a lot about their hearts. If they say, "He is our Savior, and He died and rose again so we could be God's children," that's good! They are coming to you through the true door. But what if they say something like this? "Jesus is a great teacher, and we should all follow His rules and teachings." Or, "Jesus was a highly evolved soul, and we should follow His example to get to a higher plane of living." Or even, "Jesus is okay for those who want to follow Him, but we have something more important to share with you." Whoa! These are not good or safe people to be listening to. They are not entering through the true door: Jesus; they are climbing over the wall.
We know who Jesus is—not just a great teacher, like hundreds of other people. Not a highly evolved soul who serves as an example for us while we try to work our way to perfection. No, He is God Himself, born as a Man among us, born to rescue us from the powers of evil. He is the One who died on the cross to break the power of evil and then rose from the dead three days later—never to die again. He is the One who offers free, joyful, everlasting life to everyone who trusts in Him and belongs to Him. He is our door. He is our safety.
THE PRAYER: Lord, keep us safe in Your care. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. Which is your favorite door, and why?This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
2. Who has the key to the door of your home? Why did you trust them with it?
3. How has Jesus kept you safe in your life?
Which is your favorite door, and why?
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