Daily Devotions

Thursday, April 23, 2026

[Jesus said:] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:1-10)

It’s a good question. There are many people in the world who set up to be teachers and gurus, and they claim to have the secret of life. More than that, they claim they can teach you that secret, and show you how to become everything you were meant to be.

How can you judge these teachers, these people who claim to have insights you don’t have? How do you know who is true and who is simply trying to get your money—or your allegiance? Ask them what they think of Jesus. Because that will show what is really going on in their hearts.

Jesus says, “I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” This makes it easy for us, because anyone who refuses to go through Jesus to reach his or her goal is clearly not someone we want to be guiding us. Such a teacher is a false teacher—a person who has wandered away from the truth of God that we find in Jesus the Crucified. It is better for us to spend all our days protected by the One who loves us so much He gave His life for us—yes, and rose again, three days later. He will protect us, He will give us life, and He will keep us with Him forever. We need no one else.

WE PRAY: Lord, when I’m not sure about whether I should trust someone who is trying to teach me, help me keep my eyes on You. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. Why are spiritual teachers and gurus so popular today? Why do so many people follow them and try to learn their “secrets”?
2. What motivates false teachers to market themselves to us? What are they trying to get out of us?
3. Jesus claims to be the one and only door for His sheep—the One who protects them from harm and who also lets them go in and out to find good pasture. What do you see in His life that makes you believe Him—or not?

Today's Readings:

1 Samuel 1-3
Luke 17:20-37

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