JESUS SAID, "I AM"
The Good Shepherd and the Door
Day 17 Tuesday
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EXPLORE THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
For us there is one God, the Father,
from whom are all things and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8: 6).
PSALM 23: 1-3
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
JOHN 10: 7-15
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. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
CONSIDER
If Jesus is the door, where does entering through him lead?
What can happen if you try to get in some place without using the door?
Go back through the three verses from Psalm 23 and describe how Jesus fulfills each of the shepherding functions.
In John 10, what qualities of being a good shepherd does Jesus give?
What does it mean to you that Jesus your shepherd knows your name?
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PRAY THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
Begin with the Jesus Prayer. Pray it reflectively several times, for yourself or on behalf of another.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Then pray the day’s prayer slowly and repeatedly for at least a minute (that’s about seven times). Allow the prayer to take you into the meaning of the day’s facet of Jesus’ name. Pray it for yourself and/or on behalf of another. Take your time and trust this process!
Lord Jesus Christ, Shepherd of the Sheep, call me by name and tell me again that I am your own. Lead me through the Door of life.
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LIVE INTO THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
He has granted to us his precious and very great promises,
so that through them you might become partakers of his divine
nature . . . For this very reason, supplement your faith with
virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness,
brotherly affection and love (2 Peter 1: 4-7).
1 PETER 2: 24-25
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
MATTHEW 7: 12-13
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”
CONSIDER
Recall times when you felt as if you were straying like a lost sheep. Recall how Jesus your Shepherd brought you home. From what far pastures might you need to return today?
The paths of sheep on hillsides are quite narrow: describe a narrow way you are called to walk amidst the broad ways of this present culture.
Close by singing these two verses from the hymn:
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feeds us, for our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou has bought us, thine we are.
We are thine, do thou befriend us, be the Guardian of our way;
Keep thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear, O hear us when we pray.
Dorothy Ann Thrupp. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us. 1836.
LISTEN TO TODAY'S HYMN
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