“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:3)
Doesn’t it catch your attention when you hear your name? Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, calls His own sheep by name. We, the sheep, are to hear His voice and follow Him. Do we recognize His voice, His truths, and know His words? Are we sensitive to His calling and do we listen to His voice and follow Him?
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (Jhn 15:16)
Jesus wants us to bear much fruit, by which our heavenly Father might be glorified (John 15:8). Abiding in Christ is the key to all fruitfulness. We must remain in the Lord to be fruitful. Abiding in Christ involves letting His words abide in us. Bearing fruit means loving other people. If we bear fruit, we love people and win people to Christ. When we give to others out of love, it shows that we have embraced the gospel of Christ and lived out its message.
“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” (Mt 24:42)
We are facing an unprecedented worldwide pandemic. Many countries have issued strong measures and advisories to combat the spread of the virus. We are advised to maintain high vigilance, exercise caution, practice good hygiene, and use social distancing as preventative measures to help prevent the spread of the virus. Many people heed the warnings and adhere to CDC guidelines. In times like this, we also ought to pay attention to Christ’s warnings about the end time.
“because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Heb 12:6 NIV)
Each Christian is enlisted in God’s training program. God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. Out of His love, God chastens us as parents discipline children for their own good. God has His purpose in chastising us. Therefore, we ought to endure hardship and suffering as discipline.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
In the book of John, Jesus claims to be the door of the sheep (10:7) and later on, the good shepherd (10:11). Jesus uses the metaphor of the door of the sheepfold to convey that He is the only door by which we may enter into God’s sanctuary and be saved. Once we believe in Jesus Christ, we enter the door of salvation and embark on a journey of faith. For the rest of our lives, we live with the hope that when we come to the end, we shall enter heaven to be with God forever. Jesus is the one and only door. The “only” door means we can receive eternal life through Jesus Christ and Him alone.
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