March 4 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 10:1-10:

¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
²But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
⁶This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
⁷Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Devotional

A door affords an entrance into a building or an enclosure. A door is the only lawful entrance. A door serves also to exclude everything that does not belong inside. A door shelters us against cold and storms, and protects us against thieves and enemies.

Jesus calls himself the door; not a door, but the door, the only one. Through him we gain entrance to the fold, that is, to the Church of Christ. Through him we approach the throne of grace. Through him we come unto the Father. Jesus says, "No man cometh to the Father but by me." All those that do not enter by the door, but seek entrance and access some other way, are thieves and robbers. But he that enters by the door shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture. He shall find all things needful for body and soul. But let us remember, it is only by him. By him we have access. By him we are saved. In him we have boldness. "For through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father." He is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him. "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." If we have entered by the door, all the riches of grace in Christ Jesus are ours, and no one shall take them from us.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee that we have free access unto Thy throne of grace through Jesus Christ. Thou wilt in no wise cast out those that come unto Thee in the name of Christ. May we then come unto Thee with a childlike confidence, believing Thy precious promises. May we believe that Thou art able to save to the uttermost them that come unto Thee by Jesus Christ, Thy Son. May we all be fully blest in him. We ask it for his sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: John 14:6; 10:9; Eph. 2:18; Heb. 7:25; Eph. 3:12.

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