“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”- 1 Peter 5:4   Jesus is called our Good Shepherd, our Great Shepherd, and our Chief Shepherd. Each of these titles reveals something powerful about Him. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. His death brought redemption and forgiveness. He’s the Great Shepherd who lives for His sheep, gu...  Read More

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” - Isaiah 26:3-4   Here’s the thing about trust: when it moves in, worry moves out. But when worry moves in, trust leaves. Worry is like a big flashing sign that says trust has taken a backseat. So, what is trust, really?  In the Bible, trust car...  Read More

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will.”- Hebrews 13:20-21   Worry has a way of creeping into your life, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s your health, your finances, your children, or even your future. What are you worried about today? It’s easy to...  Read More

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.’”- Isaiah 48:17    One of the most incredible things about Jesus as the Good Shepherd is how He guides you. God isn’t distant or uncaring. He’s actively involved in leading you through life. Isaiah 48:17 reminds us that God teaches you for your ben...  Read More

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”- John 10:28    One of the most comforting truths about Jesus is that He is fiercely protective of His flock. As the Good Shepherd, He doesn’t just lead you, He guards you. Imagine Him standing at the entrance of a cave, placing Himself in harm’s way to protect you from wandering off or from danger c...  Read More

“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.’” - Matthew 19:16-17    We often measure goodness by our actions. By what we do or don’t do. Maybe you’ve asked yourself a similar question: “What good must I do to be enough?” It’s easy to fall into the trap ...  Read More

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11   When you think of the word “good,” what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a movie you enjoyed or a meal you found satisfying. We use the word a lot in our everyday language, "good" often means something that’s okay, pleasant, or just acceptable. But when Jesus calls Himself the “Good Shepherd,” He means something ...  Read More

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” - James 1:2-4   Have you ever wondered how to become more like Christ, especially in the area of patience? It’s one thing to grow a little thro...  Read More

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” - 2 Corinthians 12:9   Patience isn’t exactly my strong suit. Can you relate? I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors, claiming to love fishing and hunting. But if I’m honest, it’s not the waiting that excites me, it’s the catching and shooting. Waiting is tough for me, whether it’s sitting in traffic or sta...  Read More

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” - Galatians 5:22-23    When I was a child, I found it odd that the Bible refers to the qualities produced by the Holy Spirit as “fruit.” But the choice of this metaphor makes perfect sense. Fruit has a unique way of revealing the truth about a tree, just as the fruit of the ...  Read More

“I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.” - Galatians 5:16   In Galatians chapter 5, Paul draws a sharp contrast between two kinds of lives—those driven by the works of the flesh and those characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. He’s not merely presenting two sets of behaviors, he’s describing two entirely different ways of living, each leadi...  Read More

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” - Matthew 25:40  On his first Sunday at a church of 10,000, a pastor decided to dress as a homeless man. His aim was to see how the congregation would respond to someone who appeared to be in need.  As he walked around the church’s perimeter, only three people out...  Read More