John 10:6-10 New Living Translation
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Identity theft is a growing threat today. High tech scammers anonymously try to steal our personal information and gain access to our financial accounts.
In the spirit world, another identity thief lurks as well. The master deceiver, Satan, tries to rob believers of the assurance of their new identity in Christ.
He continuously tries to sow seeds of doubt, despair, confusion, and insecurity within us. If he cannot possess us, the devil wants at least to wear us down and make us feel defeated, and weak, limiting our service for God and his kingdom.
Make no bones about it; Satan is our most vicious adversary whose mode of operandi is to seek and to destroy.
If he cannot keep us from being saved, he strives to keep us from being used.
Satan is forever seeking opportunities for his savage attacks therefore we are to not be fearful rather on our guard. While Satan is most definitely far out of our league in power, he is certainly not out of God’s authority– Hallelujah for that!
But we are not alone.
We have the presence of God in our hearts, and we have God’s Word to assure us and strengthen us with the truth.
Jesus promises that we will have life to the full, and no one can snatch us out of his hand (John 10:28-30).
28 And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. 29 [a]My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”
The Lord and his Word remain our best protection, affirming that we are not defined by past successes or failures but only by our union with Christ.
Through faith, we receive his righteousness and become the children of God.
We are forgiven, cleansed, commissioned to be his representatives in the world.
As God’s handiwork, as God’s masterpiece, we are expertly woven together, created to do good works that honor the Lord and bring blessing to others.
As God reassures us through his Spirit and his Word, we are redeemed, beloved, and empowered to live out his purposes with confidence and grace each day.
How do I apply John 10:10 to my life?
To abundantly live the John 10:10 life is to live a life committed to Christ. It takes deliberate discipline, continual conversion, and a life thoroughly rooted in Scripture and the sacraments. When we choose this life and ignore the many thieves surrounding us, we’re sure to have a life of abundance, hope, and peace.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Praying …
Psalm 23 The Message
23 1-3 God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 