The Good Shepherd

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

– Exodus 20:12-17

If you’re one of the millions of Americans these days who are seeking employment or considering a career change, how about becoming a shepherd?

The number of job openings for shepherds has dropped over the years, but good help is still hard to find. In fact, it’s common for ranchers, farmers, and landowners to import experienced shepherds from other nations where sheep-and-goat management is vital. If you think you’re up to the challenge, understand that shepherds are responsible for protecting their flock against vicious predators including coyotes, wolves, mountain lions, bears, and even domestic dogs. They must also monitor their sheep for illness. What’s more, an experienced shepherd is expected to shear up to 125 ewes a day without nicking or cutting the animal’s skin.

Ensuring the flock’s safety and welfare is the shepherd’s primary responsibility. And since so much can happen to the animals under their watch, shepherds must always expect the unexpected, be courageous, and do the right thing. 

Doing the right thing isn't just the right thing for shepherds to do, it's also a biblical principle for every Christ-follower. As the apostle Paul wrote in James 4:17, "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." And it’s in Isaiah 1:17 that we read:

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”

Doing the right thing also calls for bravery. While we may never face a powerful army on the battlefield, we might have to combat figurative opponents like injustice, crime, or discrimination. We have no hope of defeating them on our own. But let’s be encouraged that God specializes in empowering average Joes and Janes like you and me to do the extraordinary against overwhelming odds.

Ultimately, doing the right thing calls us to live in love and justice with one another, and all while honoring the image of God in others. We’re not expected to solve all the world’s problems. However, through our faith in Jesus — The Good Shepherd — we can still make a world of difference.

Identity Theft

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.

– Exodus 19:4-6

Identity theft is a crime where fraud or deception is used to obtain a victim’s personal or sensitive information — such as their name or credit card number. So far in 2025, the Federal Trade Commission has reported 1.4 million complaints. And even more eye-opening is that fraud and identity theft cases have nearly tripled over the last decade, with the estimated global cost now exceeding $50 billion. 

The damage to a victim's credit report can take years to repair. But there’s another kind of identity theft that doesn’t involve money, and it’s much more serious. It’s the one that robs Christ-followers of the abundant life their Creator intends for them.

How does this happen?

The Bible reveals that we become a new creation when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Unfortunately, far too many people have unknowingly assumed a false identity through the negative messages they received early in life. A common example is a parent, who constantly tells their child that they’ll "never amount to anything,” they’re “not smart enough,” or they “don’t have what it takes to make it.”

Repeated early and often enough, these fictions can become reality. Moreover, they gradually become embedded in our thinking, only to blind us to the reality of our true worth and potential through Jesus. The result can be years of frustration trying to be someone (or something) God never intended us to be.

How can we take back our rightful identities?

It starts with a spiritual reality check. First, let's review our past and identify the negative messages we received early in life. Then, consider their sources. Can we honestly say that those painful words were true, or is it more the case that we have God-given talents and abilities? If fed a constant diet of half-truths, distortions, and falsehoods, even a PhD with an excellent academic record might perceive their impressive accomplishments as mediocre at best.

God, however, doesn’t look at Believers through such clouded, distorted lenses. He knew us before we were born and knows the plans he has for us. And even better — with our eternal inheritance assured, our real identity emerges: We're adopted sons and daughters of the King! As the apostle Paul assures us in 1 Corinthians:

“But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived’ — God has prepared these things for those who love him.”

Our Creator has given every Believer a new identity and way of life. And with that comes the true freedom from a relationship with him under his loving rule.

It’s the Real Thing

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

– Exodus 14:13-14

One of the world’s most-recognized products, Coca-Cola traces its roots back to 1886, when the first glass of the refreshing beverage was served in an Atlanta pharmacy. The drink grew in popularity — and it wasn’t without imitators. Pepsi arrived in 1893, followed by Royal Crown (“RC”), Shasta, and a host of others. In the late 1960s to help differentiate Coke from the competition, company executives chose the familiar It’s the Real Thing slogan in response to research that revealed “… young people seek the real, the original, and the natural as an escape from phoniness.”

Now fast-forward nearly 60 years, and people of all ages still seek authenticity — especially when it comes to matters of faith and religion. There’s no shortage of options. And furthering the confusion is the common notion that whichever one we choose, it really doesn't matter, just so long as we’re sincere and it makes us happy. After all, everyone is entitled to their own truth. It's all relative. And we're all worshiping the same god. Right?

On the contrary! The Bible reveals that Jesus made startling claims that clearly contradict today’s anything-goes take on faith … and he also backed them up. For example, Scripture accurately predicted Christ’s birth — even the name of the tiny village where it would happen — centuries before the fact. And in Jesus’ brief time on earth, he proved himself as the Son of God by curing the sick, raising the dead, and forgiving sins. Then, he sacrificed himself to pay the enormous price for the sins of the world. His resurrection from the grave (also as he predicted) proved his power over death. And 2,000 years later, Jesus' words continue to change lives and make an eternal difference:

"I am the vine; you are the branches," we read in John's gospel. "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Many people — even those who aren't Christ-followers — say that Jesus was a good man and a wise teacher. But is he the ONLY WAY to God? The short answer is … YES! Jesus declares that no one can come to the Father (God) except through him. However, that's a claim that makes people uncomfortable. It's an assertion of exclusivity. And many call it intolerant.

But maybe it's not so exclusive after all. Jesus' death and resurrection make it possible for anyone to have eternal life, and no one who wants a new beginning through the Savior is turned away. And unlike manmade religions, the real way to God isn't about keeping certain rules, saying special prayers, or eating (or not eating) particular foods. Instead, being a Christ-follower is about putting our faith in him, accepting his free gift of salvation, and letting him live through us. We’re powerless to save ourselves, but God made a way when there is no way!

"It is finished!" Jesus proclaimed as he hung from the cross to save you and me. And ultimately, that’s The Real Thing.

American Idol

“And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”

– Exodus 7:5

There are no atheists in foxholes. 

There’s a grain of truth in this old saying — and maybe a whole lot more. After all, is there really such a thing as a full-fledged atheist — someone who doesn’t worship any god? The fact is that we all worship someone or something in one way or another. 

Christ-followers worship the true God revealed through the Bible. On the other hand, manmade religions promote false gods, ancestor worship, and even the reverence of living things or nature (worshiping the creation rather than the Creator). And then there are today’s popular teachings such as New Age, Scientology, and Kabbalah. It’s a very long list.

Even those who claim to be strict atheists are in fact active worshipers. True, they’re not devout churchgoers who proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But they — like everyone — bow down to their favorite idols and false gods. Some venerate money, luxury, and pleasure while others emulate intellect and higher learning. And still others kneel at the altar of more-negative gods such as alcohol, drugs, and illicit relationships. 

While there are no atheists on the battlefield, there is a war that rages each day within everyone: the One true God versus the false gods and idols of this world. It’s our hearts and souls that are the prize of this eternal conflict.

Maybe you and I don’t literally kneel and worship before an idol in some exotic, faraway temple. But let’s recognize that we secretly (or maybe not-so-secretly) cherish our own personal false gods. Think about the things that cause you to worry or spend your time and money. What are the issues that make you angry? What brings you the most joy? And here’s a revealing question: Whose attention and applause do you crave most?

If your answers don’t involve God, you’re likely worshiping an idol. And idols can be difficult to recognize because they’re experts at camouflage. Sometimes that idol can be as close as the bathroom mirror. And even apparently good things (like a career or even your children) can evolve into negative god things.

It’s particularly important for Christ-followers to remember that the real God — the “Abba” proclaimed by Jesus — refuses to share his glory with false gods and cheap idols. As we read in Deuteronomy 27:15:

“Cursed is anyone who makes an idol — a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands — and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Ours is a God with a jealous love for each one of us. In fact, he loves us so much that he let his own Son suffer the death penalty in our place so that we could become his children and heirs. So, with all this in mind, let’s take our Creator’s admonition in Leviticus 19:4 to heart: 

“Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.”

Unchained

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey — the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.”

– Exodus 3:7-8

The fifth chapter of Mark’s gospel begins with the story of a man who faced some serious problems. Or maybe a legion of problems best describes his plight.

This tormented soul had been exiled from the community to live out his days in a cemetery near Lake Galilee. The man was literally overcome by demons. And so total was his possession that he could use extraordinary strength to repeatedly break the chains and smash the leg irons that confined him.

“No one could control him,” Mark wrote. “Night and day he was in the graveyard or on the hills, yelling and cutting himself with stones.”

And that could have been the end of the man’s bizarre narrative. But then along came Jesus and his disciples from their voyage across the lake. Recognizing that Christ was God in the flesh, the demons that possessed the man begged to postpone their own eternal fate in favor of inhabiting a vast herd of pigs that roamed the hillside. When Jesus agreed, the demons fled from their victim, who was immediately delivered from his affliction.

Let's now fast-forward to 21st century America. When a celebrity, sports star, or Average Joe faces the consequences of alcohol, drugs, anger-management issues — or some other destructive force — we can count on their loved ones to explain that they struggled with their demons. Sometimes that’s a figure of speech. But literal demons really can torment people, and they do their best to make their victims’ lives a living hell.   

The fact is that everyone has their share of demons to one extent or another — even Christ-followers. And even though we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, asked him for forgiveness, and then received it, we still can slide back into those bad habits and behaviors that we thought we’d left far behind. And that tends to happen again and again.

Let’s consider the testimony of the apostle Paul — the unlikely Christ-follower who wrote much of the New Testament. In his 2,000-year-old lament that sounds so familiar to modern ears, Paul complains through 1 Timothy 1:15 that he continues to do the very things he despises. Yet at the same time, he fails to do the things he knows he should accomplish.

If this great Apostle to the Gentiles had so many problems with sin and temptation, what hope can we have of breaking free from our own chains? Well … quite a bit! As Christ-followers, we don’t have to accept sin’s dominance in our lives. It all comes down to our ultimate trust and dependence on a Deliverer, who long ago paid the exorbitant price of our many sins — past, present, and future.

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” asks Paul. “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Training Camp

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

– Proverbs 3:11-12

Be sure to mark your calendars for February 8, 2026. 

That’s the date of the next Super Bowl — one of the world’s most-watched sporting events. And what will it take for the players to get there? The 2025-26 NFL schedule covers 272 regular season games plus preseason matchups and the playoffs. And in addition to overcoming weeks of hard-hitting competition, a date to The Big Game calls for intense discipline featuring countless hours of on-field practice, classroom study, and game-tape review.

Tom Brady understands how discipline and perseverance make all the difference between a champion and a runner-up. Love him or loath him, Brady, who won a combined seven Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. And throughout his long career, he followed an intense, year-round training regimen involving diet and exercise, plus an ongoing focus on football fundamentals. Brady also took nothing for granted, and he conditioned himself to expect the unexpected on the field:

“You push your body to the limits, but you have to train your body to deal with the limits,” he once explained. “If you don't play to win, don't play at all.”

The Bible also endorses the value of discipline and training. For Christ-followers, that means developing and using our God-given gifts and talents to make a positive difference in our community and the world. For example, we’re called to explain the basis of our faith to anyone who asks us. But how can we answer questions from a neighbor or co-worker if we don’t set aside time each day to read and study the Scriptures to know what we’re talking about? The discipline of scriptural literacy is also a great way to grow closer to God by developing the ability to listen for His voice. And in turn, it helps us discern right from wrong when faced by those everyday scenarios that are so rarely black or white. 

Although football wasn’t around 2,000 years ago, the sport of long-distance running was popular back when the apostle Paul used it in 1 Corinthians to illustrate the value of spiritual discipline:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

It takes a disciplined regimen, and plenty of bruises along the way, to make it to the Super Bowl (and much more to win seven rings like Tom Brady). Likewise, it takes discipline and endurance for Christ-followers to become the faith-driven champions God wants us to be: 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship,” we read in Romans 12. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Soul Food

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 

– Acts 2:42

What’s your idea of a great meal?

For some folks, it’s a grilled steak, baked potato, and salad that hit the spot. Others love pizza, Vietnamese, or seafood. And let’s not forget those who crave vegetarian. 

Tastes and taste buds may vary widely, but it’s hunger that unites. However, there’s another kind of appetite that has nothing to do with cheeseburgers and ice cream. It’s the spiritual hunger that’s hard-coded into our DNA. Inside, everyone has a gnawing desire to fill a gaping

internal void. Some try in vain through negative pursuits such as drug use, alcohol, compulsive spending, or gambling. Others attempt to fill it by becoming workaholics or escaping reality through social media, video games, or even travel. But after the thrill is gone, the hunger always returns ... and they’re never satisfied. 

Jesus addressed this universal dilemma by proclaiming (and proving) himself to be the “food” that everyone craves. It’s in John 6:35 that he reveals:

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Of course, we all need an appetite — a certain level of intensity — to continue developing as Christ-followers. God has so many things for us to see, experience, and comprehend during our brief existence on Earth. That’s how we grow and mature into Jesus’ likeness. And how boring would it be if we knew all the answers to life from Day 1?

Unfortunately, too many Christ-followers experience spiritual malnourishment and stunted growth along their faith-journey. So, what’s the remedy? It’s to make the most of the people, places, and situations that God puts before us every day. Likewise, it’s also up to every Believer to continue developing through regular Bible study, prayer, worship, small group participation, and other scriptural habits. 

After all, there’s nothing like a good workout to whet one’s appetite — and then satisfy it with food for the soul.