August 26, 2021

Thursday

Provision and Protection

Acts 4:12

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

John 10:9

In biblical times, sheep and goats were a primary source of wealth, food, and trade. The owner of a small flock counted his sheep, searched for any that were missing, and protected them at night in a corral or enclosure. Such an enclosure had a gate, or doorway, through which the flock would enter in the evening and go out in the morning. Pasture during the day and protection during the night—made possible by passing through the gate.

Jesus took advantage of that common cultural image by describing Himself as the “door” or “gate.” Through Him would His sheep, His followers, find abundant pastoral provision, and through Him, they would be protected. There had been gateways before Him, Jesus said. But they were “thieves and robbers” (John 10:8) who left them spiritually hungry and unprotected. While the thief comes “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy,” Jesus came that His sheep “may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (verse 10).

Jesus’ sheep have provision and protection through Him. He, and only He (Acts 4:12), is the doorway to both. Beware of open doors and false promises.

A point to ponder…

A redeemed flock should live in redemption’s pastures. 
Henry Law

Read the Bible through in a year

Jeremiah 49-50

I love you!!!

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