Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today as one of our readings, we look at John 10: 9-11:

9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Today’s passage is another of my absolute favorites. Yesterday we looked at a favorite Psalm, today is a favorite overall passage. We see a contrast in life today and what life can be.  

Today, Jesus tells us that the thief, i.e. the devil, comes to rob, to kill, and to destroy.  He (Jesus) has come to give us abundant life. That is the perfect contrast in what life can be. 

The devil wants to rob from us everything that gives life value. He wants to rob us of relationships, or purpose, of peace.  

The devil wants to kill us in this life. He literally wants to kill us in some way today.  He wants to end our lives.  

The devil wants to destroy us for all eternity by separating us from God in hell. 

He attacks us through temptations, through accusation, through every tool at his disposal.  He wants to destroy God’s most precious creation, us.  

Jesus came, though,  that we may truly live, live forgiven, free, with purpose, joy, and everything. This day, every day is a gift.  Today we get to know forgiveness, we get to know joy, we get to know service.  

Today, we have the chance to hear from God.  We have the chance to experience the love of God. We have the chance to share that love with someone.  We get the chance to truly understand the gift of this moment. 

Every moment we have been given is a gift.  Every moment is sacred.  Every moment we are here, breathing God’s air, is a miracle. 

We get to live today!  It’s a new day, a fresh start, a chance to understand the goodness, grace, kindness, and mercy of God.  Today, we can live abudnantly! 

Don’t listen to that voice of the devil today through temptation or whatever way that he comes.  His purpose for you is not good.  It is destruction in this moment and in every moment that is to come.  Jesus’ purpose for you, and for me, today and each day is life. 

Today, let’s live that abundant, amazing, miraculously life that Jesus has come to give us!  Let’s live abundantly through Jesus.  

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