Thief or Savior?

Daily Reading: John 10

Scripture Focus: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10.10)

Devotional Thought: The difference is stark.

The thief...

• Steals.  He stole Adam and Eve’s innocence in the Garden of Eden.  When they sinned, they “realized they were naked before God”, and in shame attempted to cover themselves.  Sin promises to wrap you in a beautiful cloak of pleasure, but it actually steals your true identity as a child of God.

• Kills.  Adam and Eve died spiritually in the moment they sinned.  Then their sin brought more death:  A sacrifice was needed to cover their nakedness and thus came the first physical death.  Death was also passed down to the next generation as sin reared its ugly head and provoked Cain to murder Abel.

• Destroys.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they did incredible harm to creation.  Animals became their enemy.  The ground would not freely produce.  Disease came upon humanity.  Division became a way of life.  Murder was repeated.  Jealousy reigned in hearts.  It was ugly.  “All creation has been groaning” since then (Romans 8).

The Savior...

• Returns what the enemy has stolen.  Not only are we forgiven and restored to a state of innocence, we are given the abundance of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  God restores “the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2.25).

• Breathes life into us.  Once dead in trespasses and sins, we are made alive in Jesus!  Jesus defeated death in his own death and resurrection.  Sin no longer rules over us.  Jesus is our Master and in him is life!

• Makes all things new.  Old things – the ways of death and destruction – pass away, and all things become new!  In this new family we share peace, we share hope, we share love, we share life.

Prayer: Lord, when Satan lures me into temptation, help me to see the death and destruction that come with sin.  I choose life, abundant life, in you, Jesus!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 35.18-21

18 I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.

19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.

20 For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.

21 They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!"