1-18-2025

Good Morning All,

         John 10:9; “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” 

    The place you want is three doors down.  The door was locked so we came back later.  The door was stuck so I couldn’t get in.  The door was open, so we went in and made ourselves at home.  We use the word “door” often in our language.  We emphasize its importance.  When our children are young, we teach them that if the door is closed, they should knock and ask to go in.  We have doors that are solid while others we can see through.  Doors serve to protect us, to invite us, to keep us warm or to keep us hidden.  Doors are very important in our lives.

     When Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, he had these ideas in mind.  Jesus is the door in that he is how we enter the kingdom of heaven.  When Jesus carried out his earthly ministry, he performed two functions.  First, by his death, he defeated sin, death, and the devil.  His death was the final sacrifice which was accepted by the Father as payment for all sins.  By keeping the law perfectly, Jesus fulfilled the requirements for you and for me; thus, the devil had nothing left to control us with; we are free form the devil’s reign.

     By Jesus’ resurrection, he opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.  He ushered in the start of the new era, the time of grace when we live not under the law but under his love and mercy.  There is only one way into this kingdom and that is through Jesus; he is the door.  He is the door to God’s heavenly kingdom.

    In serving as the door, Jesus invites us into the kingdom.  He calls us daily by his Word to come to him.  He invites us with his gentle call of peace and hope; he beckons us to come in, to enter.

    In serving as the door, he protects us from the devil.  The devil cannot enter the door of Jesus.  His sin and refusal of Jesus keeps him locked out and we are protected from him and all his attacks.  We are free to enter in and out of the door in safety.  We are able to share in the lushness of the pastures like the sheep of the flock of the gentle Shepherd.  He protects us at every turn from the devil’s arrows of despair. 

     The devil continually seeks to harm us and destroy us.  Jesus continually protects us from the devil’s harm.  We are safe and secure behind this door; the door which leads into the heavenly kingdom.  The door for us is open and so we can and will follow the path that Jesus took.  That path is the path of the resurrection of the glorified perfect body.  That path is to eternal bliss and glory with him.  Jesus is the door to a whole renewed world to us.  The world where we are restored to God’s wonderful kingdom; the world of God’s everlasting mercy awaits us.  Jesus is our door to this kingdom.  By his resurrection we enter into it to share in his kingdom forever.

Father of all mercy, your blessings overflow us with your great love.  By your grace, you lead us into your eternal kingdom.  Keep us safe from the devil’s attacks.  Be with those who suffer in any way and give to them your holy comfort.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret