The Question

By Calvary Women 

Read John 10:1–11

Is there more to life? This is a question that has run through the mind of every human being at one time or another. 2020 certainly begged the question as we carried the weight of a global pandemic, racial tension, a divisive election season in America, and much more. 

In the Bible, the apostle John documents a message that Jesus shared. In this particular passage, Jesus explains why these seemingly hard things happen. He shares that there is a force that is out to kill, steal, and destroy life. He paints the picture of a thief, whose purpose is to steal, an enemy of our souls whose sole purpose is our ruin.

In retrospect of the past year, we can each recognize areas in which death, loss, and destruction have felt personal in one way or another. Whether it was the loss of a job, a loved one, or simply the normality of life, the collective experience of loss is something we experienced on a much more acute level. You may feel like something has been stolen from you, like a year of your life was wasted. You may be single and wondering how you’ll ever find a husband while wearing a mask! You might be a young mom, balancing working from home and raising a family. You may have lost your job, and the dreams that you have feel crushed. 

Within the despairing moments of 2020, this passage in Scripture reminds us of one of the most important phrases that Jesus said: “I have come so that they can have life, and have it to the full.” 

In John 9–10, Jesus was having a conversation with a group of people named the Pharisees. This group was made up of pious, legalistic leaders who were influential in the government and among the Jewish people. Sadly, this group that could have been the torchbearers who would usher God’s people into a deeper relationship with Him were instead so committed to upholding the Jewish traditions (many of which they added onto the Scriptures) that they missed out on recognizing who Jesus was. 

Jesus explains to them that all other leaders before in the Jewish religion system were thieves and robbers. Counter to those who had done nothing but take and take and take from the people, Jesus came to give people life. In order for us to understand this, He used the example of a shepherd and his sheep. Pastor David Guzik notes, “Out in the pasturelands for sheep, pens were made with only one entrance. The door for those sheep pens was the shepherd himself. He laid his body across the entrance, to keep the sheep in and to keep out the wolves. The shepherd was in fact the door.”

Jesus refers to Himself as the gate (or “door” depending on your translation). Jesus came so that we could live. Like a good shepherd, He laid down His life for us so that we could experience life. Our job is to simply take the step and enter the door, and on the other side is where we experience life to the full! 

So, here’s the key to all this: God knew we would be asking the question, “Is there more to life?” The simple answer is YES! When we repent and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, not only does He give us eternal life in heaven, but He also gives us life to the fullest, life above and beyond, life in exceeding fullness . . .  life abundant! 

Over the journey of this three-day devotional, our hope is that God reveals the more that He has for your life. 

PAUSE: Reflect on this question . . . What is one step that I can take towards living the life that God has for me? 

PRACTICE: Write out John 10:10 on a notecard and put it somewhere you will look at it often!

PRAY: “God, help me to take one step towards living the life that You have for me. Thank You for giving me life to the full.”