I Am Because You Are September 21, 2025 Devotional

JOHN 10:7 | ⁷ So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”

I am the door (or gate) of the sheep. This metaphor has roots in the pastoral practices of Judean shepherds. They would graze their flocks on common or shared land, moving from pasture to pasture. Dotted around the fields were stone circles, constructed from rocks found in the immediate area. These pens had no gates.

Shepherds would herd their sheep into the pens before dark and then lie down in the open entrance to rest themselves. Any intruder or animal who wanted to harm the flock would have to go through the shepherd. Jesus lays down His life to protect the sheep.

In your life, who have you protected? Who has protected you?

Gracious God,

Thank You for Your protection. Thank You for knowing my name, my circumstances, and my challenges. Thank You for laying down Your life for me.

Amen.