DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
MAY 16, 2026
READ: John 10 (Focus vs. 1-10)
MEMORY VERSE
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; [Jesus has] come that they may have life.” John 10:10
BACKGROUND
I opened my online banking app and discovered two withdrawals over $500 each, which I hadn’t made. Panicked, I called the bank and discovered my identity had been stolen.
With the bank’s help, I was able to reinstate my good standing, but the experience taught me to be alert to prevent such thefts in the future.
In John 10:10, Jesus warns that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”
Rebuking religious leaders who opposed Him for healing on the Sabbath (9:13-15), Jesus revealed their motive: to steal, kill, and destroy. Our spiritual enemy, Satan, plots to steal our understanding of God’s grace—and the freedom Jesus’ death provides for us.
Hope and help come earlier in the passage where Jesus described Himself as the good shepherd who calls His sheep by name (10:2-4). The good shepherd’s sheep “will run away from [a thief] because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (v. 5).
We sometimes find ourselves victimized by the evil in our world. But our loving God invites us into a practice of discernment where we learn to recognize and avoid the voice of our enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy.
As we tune our ears to the voice of our Good Shepherd, we can trust Him to lead us to life “to the full” (v. 10).
Elisa Morgan
INSIGHT
In John 10, Jesus exposed the agenda of Satan through those who should’ve been shepherding believers well. The endgame of false teachers is “to steal and kill and destroy,” while Christ came so we “may have life . . . to the full” (v. 10).
In Ephesians 4, Paul notes that Jesus gives the church leaders “to equip his people” (v. 12) and build them up through sound teaching so that they “will no longer be . . . blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (v. 14).
Today, as in Christ’s day, sincere seekers of truth aren’t exempt from the schemes of those who don’t have their best interest at heart. The Spirit will give us discernment to recognize the true voice of the Good Shepherd.
Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
Where in your life is “the thief” seeking to harm you? How will you listen for the voice of the Shepherd who longs to lead you to Himself and provide abundant life?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“We sometimes find ourselves victimized by the evil in our world. But our loving God invites us into a practice of discernment where we learn to recognize and avoid the voice of our enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy…”
PR’s TAKE*
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21
“Train your mind (and heart) to hear what God is whispering, not what the enemy is shouting.” Anonymous
PRAYER
“Dear God, please help me discern the voice of the thief and instead tune my ears to Your voice.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“Order My Steps…” GMWA Women of Worship
Order my steps in Your word dear Lord
Lead me, guide me everyday
Send Your anointing, Father I pray
Order my steps in Your word
Please, order my steps in Your word
Order my steps in Your word dear Lord
Lead me, guide me everyday
Send Your anointing, Father I pray
Order my steps in Your word
Please, order my steps in Your word
Humbly, I ask Thee to teach me Your will
While You are working, help me be still
Though satan is busy, God is real
Order my steps in Your word
Please, order my steps in Your word
Briddle my tongue, let my words edify
Let the words of my mouth
Be acceptable in Thy sight
Take charge of my thoughts both day and night
Please, order my steps in Your word
Please order my steps in Your word
Order my steps in Your word dear Lord
Lead me, guide me everyday
Send Your anointing, Father I pray…
I want to walk worthy
My calling to fulfill
Please order my steps Lord
And I’ll do Your blessed will
The world is ever changing
But Jesus, You always remain the same
But You are still the same
If You order my steps
I’ll praise Your name
I want to walk worthy
I want to walk worthy, Jesus
My calling to fulfill
Please order my steps Lord
And I’ll do Your blessed will
Order my steps in Your word
Order my tongue in Your word
Guide my feet in Your word
Wash my heart in Your word
Show me how to walk in Your word
Show me how to talk in Your word
When I need a brand new song to sing
Show me how to let Your praises ring
In Your word
In Your word
Please order my steps in Your word
Please order my steps in Your word
Order my steps in Your word
