The Door of the Sheep

[Jesus teaching in Jerusalem] “’Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

“’When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.’

“This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.  Jesus therefore said to them again, ‘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 hear them. 

“’I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life; and might have it abundantly.’” John 10:1-10 (if you have time read up to verse 21, too)

As we walk these final weeks with Jesus as He heads to the cross, He has been teaching in the temple in Jerusalem.  He has now moved into Judea.  His teaching begins to take on a new gentleness.  He knows there are only a couple of weeks left until He will face His death for those He loves and seeks to save. 

What a Saviour we have!  So much love He has for each one of us.  He promises you and me abundant life.  All He had to do was to pay the price of our sin.

Take care with love, especially His!  Your servant and friend in Christ, who still prays for you each morning.  Darlene

PS: Please send me prayer updates.  Find my statement of faith by clicking or cut and paste this link into your Web browser:  https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com   You can find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for “WeakDay Devotion.”  (Also, there is a “Google Blogger” App you can download to read them on your phone.)

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

·        Thank yo,u Lord, for the precious rain and cooler weather for those in drought areas, working to save their animals and crops, especially Ken and Heather D.

·        Elea.  Please pray for Elea, the wife of Claudio, who recently passed away from liver cancer.  She loved him through this horrible experience and had so little time with him.  Pray the Lord will shine through the sadness of her loss and that she finds His comfort surrounding her now.

·        Kevin and Sandy Currell (in Melbourne) need your prayers for safety and time for refreshment and focus as they lead a teaching trip through the Holy Lands. 

·        UPDATE - Sue Furbee and husband, Sam – They both thank you for your faithful prayers.  They remain hopeful since the stem-cell procedure (for cancer complications) and were told it could take up to six months.  Sue needs prayer for her patience during recovery and comfort with the pain.  Pray also for Sam’s strength as he goes through this with his beloved.  To learn mores and how you could help them with the high costs, visit their GoFundMe page at:  https://www.gofundme.com/sue-furbee

·        USA – that the Lord would demonstrate His power in an unexpected and uniting way during these times of unrest and confusion.  Help hearts settle and rest in You alone.

·        Jenny S –Bible teacher preparing for a week in Canberra.  Pray for traveling mercies, wisdom and time for reflection.

·        Sergio – lost his job and now looking again.  He was recently diagnosed with adult-onset diabetes.  Was living with his brother, but has been asked to move out, leaving him homeless.  

·        Toron – finishing his high school studies and needing strength, focus and confidence, especially with maths.