Freedom Worth Celebrating

Posted on July 5, 2026 by rgpriest

Happy 250th Independence Day!

Here in Pennsylvania, there is much to celebrate. Fireworks, parades, family gatherings, the FIFA World Cup, and even Union Pacific Big Boy have made this a memorable summer.

As grateful as I am for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, Independence Day also reminds me of a much deeper freedom.

Long before the Declaration of Independence was signed, long before the American Revolution, and even before the ideas of Greek democracy, humanity longed to be free.

That desire was not an accident. God placed it within us.

The question has always been: Where is true freedom found?

The Apostle Paul answers that question in Galatians 5:1 (ESV):

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Paul is not speaking primarily about political freedom. He is speaking about something much greater.

He is speaking about the slavery of trying to earn God’s acceptance.

Every religion built on human effort asks the same question: Have I done enough?

Have I obeyed enough?

Have I been good enough?

Have I earned God’s favor?

The gospel gives a radically different answer.

Christ has already done what we never could.

As Paul continues in Galatians 5:13 (ESV):

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Christian freedom is not permission to ignore God’s Word or redefine His truth.

Rather, it is freedom from the impossible burden of trying to save ourselves.

God’s law is good because it reflects His holy character. Jesus did not abolish it; He fulfilled it perfectly.

The law was designed to show us how to live together in a community.

The law teaches us what pleases God, but it cannot forgive sin. Just read the 10 commandments. Not once does it say do this to be saved, or be forging, or go to heaven.

Forgiveness requires payment. All the OT sacrifices were God’s way of dealing with our sin until the ultimate payment in Christ would be made

Every one of us has accumulated a debt we could never repay.

That is why the cross is such glorious news.

Paul writes in Colossians 2:13–14 (ESV):

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

Because Christ has paid our debt, those who belong to Him no longer have to live asking:

  • Have I disappointed God beyond His grace?
  • Have I done enough to earn His love?
  • Have I somehow lost His favor?

The answer is found at the cross.

Christ has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation.

That does not produce careless living. Rather, it produces grateful obedience.

As 1 John 5:3–5 (ESV) reminds us:

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

That is freedom.

Freedom to rest in Christ’s finished work.

Freedom from striving to earn what has already been given by grace.

Freedom to joyfully love God, obey His Word, and serve others through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we celebrate America’s Independence Day, may we also rejoice in the greater freedom that belongs to every believer:

“For freedom Christ has set us free.”

The audio and song can be found at https://youtu.be/STAUUYJJ99Q

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Freedom, Responsibility, and the Gift of Liberty

Posted on June 28, 2026 by rgpriest

This is a big week here in the United States. On July 4, 2026, our nation marks its 250th anniversary, and the celebration will stretch far beyond a single day.

Hi, my name is Bob, and this is Common Man Guitar, where I share my faith through music and a few honest reflections along the way. Today’s post is about political freedom. Next time, Lord willing, we’ll look more closely at spiritual freedom—the freedom we have in and because of Christ.

The song I’m sharing today is called Freedom.

Freedom is one of the core values of the United States, but it is also one of the deepest longings of the human heart. People everywhere desire freedom—not only as a political ideal, but as part of what it means to live with dignity.

But what is freedom? Is it merely something a government grants, or is it something deeper—something given by God? The Declaration of Independence says that human beings are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” and then names “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Liberty, in that sense, is not presented as a gift from rulers. It is presented as something rooted in our Creator.

That matters, because if freedom is only given by government, then freedom can also be taken away by government—or by any other powerful institution.

I want to talk about that God-given aspect in a moment. But first, we need to remember something important: freedom is not the same thing as license. I’m afraid many of us have come to think freedom means, “I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, without consequences and without concern for anyone else.”

Freedom does not mean I have to accept, condone, and celebrate everything someone does even if it offends my conscience. Freedom does not mean anything goes. Even in a free country somethings are still wrong. Especially when it comes to truth, biblical truth. God has not changed his mind. Sin is still sin. Freedom and liberty do not negate that.

You can see it in small, ordinary places—like the sample tables at Costco. People will nearly block an aisle push you aside to get half a meatball, with very little regard for the people around them.

Or think about the grocery aisle: “I need my gallon of milk now, so everyone else needs to get out of my way.”

Or the group catching up in front of the bread while someone else is trying to reach the shelf. We may laugh at these examples, but they reveal something about the human heart.

We see the same thing in traffic. “Where I’m going matters more than where you’re going. If I can get one car ahead, ignore the merge sign, and force my way in, then that’s what I’ll do.”

Yes, in one sense, I may be free to make choices. I can drive too fast. I can ignore the rules. But freedom does not remove consequences.

And that is true not only in traffic or grocery stores. It is true morally, spiritually, and culturally. When we disregard God’s design for human life, family, community, and truth, there are consequences—whether we see them immediately or not.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am deeply grateful for the freedoms I enjoy. I do not know how I would handle living in a place where those freedoms were far more limited.

And while I may not like every restriction a government imposes, I also recognize that I live in a community. The exercise of my freedom requires me to consider my neighbor, my responsibilities, and the consequences of my actions.

According to Scripture, governing authorities have a God-given role: to preserve order, promote what is good, and restrain evil for the good of the community.

In Romans 13, Paul writes, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

Now, the question of exactly what rights we do or do not have is a larger conversation. But this much is clear: liberty does not mean we are free to do whatever we want without consequence.

Biblically, freedom is the ability to live according to what God has designed and called us to. I Do not get to make up a God in my own image who does whatever I want.

Government, at its best, protects the wellbeing, safety, and flourishing of the community so people can live responsibly before God and one another.

It is a God given institution.

Freedom is God’s gift, and government is meant to protect that gift—not replace God as the source of it.

But if God gives freedom, then God also defines both our rights and our responsibilities.

So much of the Old Testament shows us God forming a people and teaching them how to live. The Ten Commandments give us a helpful summary: the first four focus on our relationship with God, and the remaining six focus on our relationship with one another.

God places us in community, and then He gives us ways to live together in a healthy and flourishing society.

That touches everything: how we worship, how we conduct our business, how we care for our families, and how we treat our neighbors.

God also established structures of authority—families, local communities, elders, judges, kings, and governments—to help maintain order and protect liberty.

At the same time, just as individuals do not have unrestricted freedom to do whatever they want, governments do not have unrestricted authority to command whatever they want.

America’s founders understood that no human being is fit to exercise total authority. We are fallen and fallible, so power needs checks, balances, guidelines, and restraints.

And when a government permits, requires, or pressures people to violate God’s clear commands, Christians must obey God rather than man—and be willing to accept the consequences.

That distinction matters. If I drive as fast as I want, I cannot complain when I get a ticket or lose my license. Consequences are part of moral order.

When Nebuchadnezzar demanded worship, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused—and they accepted the the fiery furnace.

When Daniel was told it was illegal to pray, he prayed anyway—and accepted the the Lion’s Den.

Neither had any guarantees God would intervene as He did. They went in accepting the consequences of their actions

When the apostles were told to stop preaching, they kept preaching—and accepted the consequences. At one point they were delivered. But they all lost their lives obeying God over man.

Even Paul, when arrested, appealed to his rights as a citizen and took his case through the proper authorities. He obeyed the governing authorities where he could. When obedience to man conflicted with obedience to God, he followed God and accepted what came with it.

God has given all people dignity, life, and the need for protection. IT is part of being made in the image of God. I am grateful to live in a country where many of those rights have been preserved, even though the times are changing.

So I must exercise my rights with responsibility—to my community, to my neighbors, and to the governing authorities God has placed over me.

Where I can obey, I must obey. Where a law is unjust or unbiblical, I must resist faithfully, humbly, and courageously.

And in either case, I must be willing to accept the consequences.

I may not always like or agree with my leaders.

I may not always like or agree with their laws.

But I am not free from the responsibility to honor and obey those whom God has placed in positions of authority, insofar as I can do so without disobeying Him.

And I also have a responsibility to work for laws and leaders that are just, wise, and aligned with what is good.

I also do not want to forget the debt of honor we owe to those who have served, fought, and even died to help secure and preserve the freedoms we enjoy.

And we should remember those who, even today, put themselves on the line for the benefit, safety, and security of our communities.

So as we celebrate freedom, let’s do it with gratitude, humility, and responsibility. Let’s give thanks for political liberty, but let’s not confuse it with ultimate freedom.

Next time, we’ll take a further look at the freedom we have in Christ. Until then, may we use our liberty not simply for ourselves, but in love for God and neighbor.

And part of that freedom is to Create, Not Copy

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Behold I am Coming Back

Posted on June 14, 2026 by rgpriest

Promises Kept Revelation 22:7

Everything is moving toward completion. History is not a random collection of events. God is directing all things toward a specific end according to His sovereign purpose.

In the last post, we looked at God’s promise to make all things new. That naturally leads to another question: When will that work be completed?

Jesus answered this in another statement of Jesus I am quotes, describing what He is doing

Jesus answers that question in Revelation 22:7:

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7, ESV)

These words come immediately after John’s vision of the paradise God is preparing for His people. They remind us that God has a purpose in all He is doing and a destination toward which history is moving.

This world is not random, chance or fate. That would make life miserable if everything we went through had no purpose. That we live life with joy and sorrow and then become worm food. If the difficulties had no purpose. If the joys had no meaning.

What is the point?

But if there is a purpose, and reason, a destination then it is worth it.

I am not going to try to explain every purpose for the joys or sorrows we face. That is way beyond my ability. But God does understand it all. And everything is going according to his plan, purpose, and result.

And regardless of if we will ever understand it all, it will be worth it, for those who believe. One way Paul puts it in Romans is the glory will outweigh the pain

Christ’s return means the fulfillment of God’s promises:

  • To complete what He has started.
  • To make all things new.
  • To reward the faithful.
  • To establish perfect justice.

The Old Testament contains hundreds of promises concerning the coming Messiah. God promised a Savior who would be born of a virgin, come from David’s line, where He would be born and accomplish His redemptive work. More than 300 Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ’s first coming were fulfilled exactly as God declared.

Likewise, many Old Testament and New Testament passages point to Christ’s return.

Before going further, let me be clear: I am not going to focus on prophetic timelines or secondary debates about the details of the end times. I want to focus on the one certainty that all faithful Christians affirm:

Jesus is coming back.

God has appointed the time. Just as Christ’s first coming occurred exactly when and how God ordained, so His second coming will occur according to God’s perfect plan.

I am reminded of Acts 1:9-11:

“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'” (Acts 1:9-11, ESV)

The disciples wanted to know whether the kingdom would be consummated at that time. The angels essentially told them to stop staring into the sky and get to work. Their calling was not to calculate dates but to faithfully carry out the mission Christ had given them.

The same is true for us.

Our responsibility is not to predict the timing. Our responsibility is to be faithful.

Jesus will return, and when He does, the work of making all things new will be complete.

This promise echoes Christ’s words in John 14:

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3, ESV)

The return of Christ is not merely a doctrine to be studied. It is a promise to be treasured.

The Final Act of Justice

Christ’s return will also bring the final establishment of justice.

Matthew 24-25 and Revelation 20 speak of the separation of the sheep and the goats, the righteous and the unrighteous, those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and those whose names are not. Resurrection to eternal life with Christ or eternal separation in torment.

One of humanity’s enduring questions is why evil people often seem to prosper while faithful people suffer.

The first thing we must remember is that there are no truly good people. We are all sinners. Sin has affected every person and every part of creation. Any good we have or do is because of God’s grace.

Yet we still struggle when we see wickedness rewarded and righteousness opposed.

Scripture repeatedly tells us not to lose heart.

In other posts I referenced Psalm 37:4 which says Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37 begins:

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” (Psalm 37:1-2, ESV)

Later, David writes:

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.” (Psalm 37:7-9, ESV)

We should absolutely work for the good of our communities. We should seek justice, love mercy, and walk faithfully before God.

We should also see those who do wrong held accountable.

God gave the state, the governing authorities the responsibility to protect the community and punish the criminal.

But ultimately, final justice belongs to Him.

God sees. God knows. God will judge rightly.

God will mete our final justice and make all things right. That is part of making new.

Christ Comes With His Reward

Revelation 22 also reminds us that Christ returns with His reward.

He comes to reward faith and faithfulness—not because believers have earned salvation, but because God graciously rewards the works that His Spirit produces in His people. The faithfulness of people who respond to God’s gift of salvation.

Some passages speak of crowns that believers will receive. Yet even those crowns will ultimately be laid at Christ’s feet, for everything we have done has been accomplished only through His grace.

Revelation 22:12-13 says:

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13, ESV)

The word recompense refers to repayment, reward, or judgment.

Jesus is coming back to execute perfect, righteous justice.

History began with God speaking the world into existence. And man failing to be faithful.

History continues through God’s great rescue mission as He calls sinners to Himself through Christ.

And history will conclude when Christ returns, bringing His reward and judgment with Him.

He is the Alpha and the Omega.

The Beginning and the End.

The First and the Last.

Every promise concerning Christ’s first coming was fulfilled exactly as God declared.

And every promise concerning His return will likewise be fulfilled—in His perfect time and according to His perfect plan.

So until that day, let us not be consumed with speculation.

Let us be faithful.

Let us keep the words of this prophecy.

And let us live in joyful expectation of the day when the King returns.

Even so, Come Lord Jesus.

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The Ultimate Upgrade

Posted on June 9, 2026 by rgpriest

Jesus is Making all Thins New Revelation 21:5

“Better. Life‑changing. You need this.” That’s the message behind every ad you’ve ever seen. What you have is fine… but something better is out there.

We’re always chasing the next version. 1.2 → 2.0 → 2.5 → “New and Improved.” Sometimes it’s a tiny tweak. Sometimes it’s a total overhaul. But it’s always the same promise: newer is better.

And then Jesus steps in with a claim no marketing team can touch. In Revelation 21:5, He doesn’t say, “I’m upgrading a few things.” He says: “I am making all things new.”

Not just the processor. Not just the camera. Not just the detergent formula.

All things. Cosmic‑scale renewal. A new creation, not a new version.

This isn’t an update. It’s restoration. It’s the world — and you and I— remade from the ground up.

It is what we were meant to be.

It’s what you’ve been looking for all along.

I have just done a series of posts on Jesus as the I Am, starting with the Exodus 3 declaration of God identifying Himself as I Am. And then Jesus took that phrase and 7 times Jesus used that designation to describe Himself, and claim to be God, to be the one and the same God of Exodus 3. His hearers understood what Jesus claimed which was their accusation and grounds for crucifixion

The next two posts I will take two I am statements where Jesus describes what He is doing not who He is. There are more than 2 but that is where I will wrap up this series.

All throughout Scripture the message is God is making all things new. So that begs the question, what needs to be made new and why? I will focus on a broad area and a specific area.

Before I address that we must ask, why does it need to be made new?
This is the common theme of the Bible. God created a perfect world with perfect humanity.

The first 2 humans, Adam and Eve, were deceived, exercised choice, deciding to ignore God’s specific instruction and ruined everything. Enter sin. Not that everything was totally ruined and useless, but every part of creation has been infected with sin, and it reveals itself in many ways.

And the Bible is the story of how God came to rescue us from our own sin and foolishness and renew us, renew everything.

That is the message from the book of Genesis, through the Psalms, Prophets, Gospels, Epistles, and Revelation, all of Scripture

God is renewing the created world. Romans 8

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now[1]

Yes, this world has much beauty to it, from an aurora borealis, the changing season, to a smoked brisket. But the world also groans.

Earthquakes, hurricanes, Ebola outbreaks, glasses, dentures and hearing aids. Cancer and Alzheimer’s. All evidence that there is something broken in the world.

While we have cured many diseases, and made incredible advances, one microscopic mutation in a single cell can change a life with cancer — or send the whole world into chaos like the plague or Covid.

And Romans 8 promises that while the world groans under this pain, God is restoring things, that all the advances we are making are evidence of God common grace. Still, every disease, every disaster is a reminder that the struggle isn’t over.

But the promise stands: One day every disease, every tear, every natural disaster will be gone.

Secondly, God is making us new. 2 Cor. 5

Romans 8 mentioned that we are awaiting the renewal. And 2 Corinthians 5 says

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [2]

Again, sin is affecting us in more ways then we will admit.

We’ve made progress in medicine, technology, and comfort — but deep down we all sense there must be something more.

This passage makes it clear as Romans did that those in Christ have this hope of renewal. That because of what Jesus did at Calvary He answered once and for all to renew what sin destroyed. As the Christmas carol said, as far as the curse is found.

That is how far Christ’s renewing extends.

Sin has a long, compounding effect. Look at sexuality. We went from two genders, monogamous heterosexual marriage to an ever-growing string of letters. We can’t even agree on how many genders there are or what constitutes a family. We used to be able to do so.

We went from defending life in all its phases, conception, old age, through disease and birth defects and now we are selecting who deserves to live or not based on our own ever-changing criteria.

And we used to be able to have a civil discussion about what we disagree over. Now we claim that if you disagree you must be a hateful, closed-minded bigot. WE demand people must celebrate a choice and never disagree.

Just look at how sports teams, county courthouses and employers demand compliance.

No, I do not have to agree with you and you don’t have to agree with me. Disagreement is not evil or hateful. You need to be willing to accept the consequences of your actions as do I.

It is all a sign that this world is broken and needs more than legislation and protests and special days on a calendar or theme nights at a hockey game.

Until Then

We have rebelled against God, thrown of His leading and gone our own way

And we are reaping the consequences.

And all Scripture is telling how God is restoring us. He is calling out a people of His own.

Part of that passage in 2 Cor 5 says God is using His people, His church to bring His influence into a world wandering away from HIm. That God is on a rescue mission and Christians are the messengers.

The ultimate consequence of this sin, outside of all the brokenness we see, is our separation from God, which leads us to separation from His ways and from each other

And one by one He is calling us to repentance. To restoration. To reconciliation.

And He is saying those who are in Him are new. Our sin is forgiven. Our relationship with Him is restored.

That means our desires are for Him and His ways. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart[3]

That means we can reconcile with one another. That we can relate to one another, respect one another, be honorable to one another.

Another passage (Ecclesiastes 3:11. Right after the time to . . passage. You know the song for every season turn, turn, turn. A time to to be born, a time to die, time to weep and time to laugh, a time to sow and a time to reap. You remember the song.

Right after that the Scripture says He has made everything beautiful in His time, and He has put eternity in our heart.

We are made by Him, in His image regardless if we are perfectly fit specimens of humanity or plagued by health issues.

Deep down we have a desire for something more. We are pursuing something more. The reason we keep looking for the newest upgrade or version is we are looking for what Gods put in our heart. We do not realize it, but all the things we are seeking for are found in the one who made us, and gave us those desires, and wants to meet those desires.

But right now sin has it all out of order.

Acceptance, contentment, fulfillment, purpose, relationship. All that is what God has put within us. And we will never be fully satisfied until we come to that realization that He gave us the desire and He is the way to satisfy that desire.

God is going to restore this world to its original intent.

He is preparing us now, restoring us as we walk with him.

Those in Christ will experience a complete renewal and restoration and we will experience eternal life in a perfectly renewed, restored world.

Where I will sing and play guitar in tune, on key, and in time

Where my golf shots will never land in a bunker or water.

Where my garden will have no weeds or thorns or invaders.

Where the storm center will not predict hurricane seasons.

Where the geological society will not need to warn us of earthquakes.

Where police and ambulance and hospitals will not be needed.

My relationships will never be broken

Where my body and mind will never fail me again.

God is making all things beautiful, in His time.

And He invites us into that beauty

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ro 8:19–22). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2 Co 5:17–19). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ps 37:4). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

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From Withered to Flourishing

Posted on June 1, 2026 by rgpriest

The True Vine

Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the right things but not making any progress? You’re busy, you’re trying, you’re working hard, but somehow you feel stuck. In John 15, Jesus gives an illustration that explains why some people flourish while others slowly wither—and it has nothing to do with trying harder.

I Am the True Vine (John 15)

In John 15, Jesus doesn’t tell us to try harder, work harder, or become better people. He tells us something far more important: “I am the true vine.” The Christian life isn’t about how hard you work or how much you do—it’s about abiding in Christ. It’s about who you are connected to. It is about what He has done, not what you do.

This is the last of the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John.

Like the previous statement, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” this is not a public declaration before the crowds. It takes place in the Upper Room, where Jesus and the Twelve have gathered to observe the Passover meal. Within hours, Jesus will be arrested, falsely accused, unjustly condemned, and crucified.

The disciples are stunned by what they are hearing. Their world is being turned upside down. Yet none of this catches Jesus by surprise. He knows exactly what is coming. He has been preparing for this moment from eternity past. He is going willingly to the cross to accomplish the mission the Father has given Him—to glorify the Father through the salvation of many people.

In these final hours, Jesus is preparing His disciples for life after His death, resurrection, and ascension. He is teaching them—and us—what a true disciple looks like.

John 14 closes with Jesus saying:

“You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”
— John 14:28-31 (ESV)

Then Jesus says:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”
— John 15:1 (ESV)

Notice the word true. If Jesus is the true vine, then there must be false vines as well. There are many things people attach themselves to in search of life, purpose, and fulfillment, but only Christ can connect us to God, save us, and produce genuine spiritual fruit.

Jesus’ hearers would have immediately understood this imagery. In Isaiah 5, Israel is described as God’s vineyard, planted and cultivated by Him with the expectation of fruit. Yet instead of producing good grapes, Israel produced wild grapes.

The imagery would have been familiar not only from Scripture but also from everyday life, as vineyards surrounded much of the countryside.

Understanding the Imagery

Jesus begins with a simple picture.

Branches do not produce life. The vine does.

A branch only bears fruit if it remains connected to the vine. The vine only flourishes because it is rooted and nourished.

When a vine is left sprawling along the ground, its branches become dirty, diseased, and unproductive. A good vinedresser removes dead branches and throws them away because they serve no purpose beyond firewood.

He also lifts healthy branches from the dirt and supports them with a trellis so they can grow and bear fruit. At times, he prunes away unnecessary shoots that consume resources but produce nothing. By cutting away what hinders growth, he directs the vine’s strength toward fruitful production.

Jesus then applies this imagery to His people.

Apart from Christ, There Is No Fruit

The first lesson is simple: disconnected branches bear no fruit.

A branch may look healthy for a time, but once severed from the vine, it begins to die. Every gardener knows this.

Jesus says:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
— John 15:5 (ESV)

Notice how absolute His statement is.

Not “you can do a little.”

Not “you can do less.”

“You can do nothing.”

Before we go further, we should ask: What fruit is Jesus talking about?

Paul gives us a helpful description in Galatians:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
— Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

We could also talk about reproducing more disciples, which again can only be done by being connected to the vine. But for this conversation I will stick to these types of fruit.

In John 15, Jesus repeatedly emphasizes love, obedience, and abiding in Him. To bear fruit is to love God, love others, obey Christ, and increasingly display the character that the Holy Spirit produces in believers.

Fruit is not merely activity. Fruit is transformed character flowing from a transformed heart.

Christ Produces the Fruit

Jesus makes it clear that fruit-bearing begins with Him.

He says the disciples are already clean because of the word He has spoken to them. Later, John writes:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

We do not clean ourselves up before coming to Christ.

A grapevine does not plant itself.

A dead person cannot perform CPR on himself.

Likewise, sinners cannot save themselves.

Christ cleanses us when we come to Him in repentance and faith. The work of salvation is His from beginning to end and settled a the cross, resurrection, ascension and eventual return.

What Does It Mean to Abide?

The key word throughout this passage is abide.

To abide means to remain, to stay, to dwell with someone.

Jesus says we abide in Him, and He abides in us.

He further explains that His words abide in us. This means that Scripture shapes our thinking, directs our decisions, convicts our sins, comforts our sorrows, and renews our minds.

Not the Bible as we wish it were.  A Pollyanna that only says nice things about us

Not the Bible edited to fit our preferences.

Not a collection of inspirational quotes.

The Word of God as God has given it.

If our connection to Christ is like a branch connected to a vine, then Scripture is like the life-giving flow that naturally accompanies that connection.

Jesus speaks to us through His Word.

We respond through prayer.

And we abide

The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word and reveals Christ to us. Through these ordinary means of grace, we abide in Him.

Jesus says:

“Abide in my love.”

And then He immediately explains what that means:

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.”
— John 15:10 (ESV)

Abiding is not sentimentality. It is obedience born out of love.

And we can’t know His commandments if we don’t know His word.

Verses 12-16 reinforce the truth that friendship with Christ expresses itself in submission to His Word.

Notice what Jesus never says.

He never says, “Try harder.”

He never says, “Do more.”

Instead, He continually points us back to relationship, trust, dependence, and communion with Him.

The Necessity of the Local Church

Healthy vines need support structures.

They need a trellis.

God has provided a support structure for believers as well: the local church.

Throughout the New Testament, believers are gathered into local congregations devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, prayer, worship, and shepherding by elders and deacons.

Grapes do not grow as isolated individuals. They grow in clusters.

The Christian life was never intended to be lived alone.

While we are connected to Christ, we are also connected to one another. We need a faithful, Bible-believing church that encourages us, corrects us, supports us, and receives our support in return.

The Painful Work of Pruning

None of this is painless.

The Christian life is not a perpetual field of sunshine and comfort.

There is pruning.

There is weeding.

There is cutting.

There is harvesting.

But none of it is without purpose.

The Father, the divine Vinedresser, uses every tool at His disposal to remove what hinders our growth so that we may bear greater fruit.

Sometimes we experience dry seasons.

Discouraging seasons.

Difficult seasons.

During those times it is worth asking:

Am I neglecting communion with Christ, the source of life?

Have I become entangled in the dirt of worldly distractions and sin?

Is the Father pruning away something that is hindering my growth?

Every believer experiences these seasons. Yet we endure them knowing that the Vinedresser is producing a harvest far greater than we can presently see.

The Fruit of Union with Christ

A disciple of Jesus bears fruit because it is the natural result of being united to Christ.

The life of the vine flows into the branches.

Break that connection, and the fruit withers.

The life of Christ flows through every believer.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing that pleases God.

Certainly, we can sing in the choir, give offerings, attend Bible studies, serve on committees, hand out bulletins, or participate in church programs.

But if those things are disconnected from Christ, they are merely acts of human effort.

They may impress people.

They do not impress God.

The fruit God desires is not self-righteous activity but Spirit-produced transformation.

Jesus is not merely a vine.

He is the Vine.

The one source of spiritual life.

Time does not allow us to explore the entire chapter, but John 15 also highlights several additional fruits of abiding in Christ:

  • Answered prayer
  • Full and lasting joy
  • Sacrificial love

If those realities are absent from our lives, perhaps we need to examine whether we are truly connected to the Vine or merely attached to a powerless substitute.

Conclusion

Let me close with this

“If you are connected to the vine, God is going to do whatever it takes to cause you to bear fruit. God will cut you and prune you and trim you and chop you. He is not content to let you stay on the vine bearing little fruit. God is ruthlessly determined to shape you into something much better and more beautiful than you are right now. He is determined to make you more like his Son Jesus. The only way that will happen is through cutting away the parts that are dying so you can grow more and more healthy. God’s commitment to your fruit bearing is greater than your commitment to comfort. God will do whatever it takes for you to bear fruit.”[1]

[1] Carter, M., & Wredberg, J. (2017). Exalting Jesus in John (p. 305). Holman Reference.

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The Way The Truth The Life

Posted on May 24, 2026 by rgpriest

Finding Clarity in an Age of Confusion

There is no shortage of advice in our world today. Open any social media app, watch a few videos, or browse through a bookstore, and you will quickly discover countless voices telling you how to live, what to believe, and where to find fulfillment.

But with so many competing messages, how do we discern what is good, true, and trustworthy?

In John 14, we encounter one of Christ’s great “I Am” statements. Earlier in John’s Gospel, these declarations were often made publicly before crowds. Here, however, Jesus speaks intimately to His disciples. His hour is drawing near. He has gathered with them in the upper room to celebrate the Passover. He has told them He is going away, and they cannot yet follow Him.

We also see how relevant this passage is for our current times

Into their confusion and sorrow, Jesus speaks these familiar and comforting words:

, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” [1]

There is much we could say here about Christ’s deity, His promise of His return, or the comfort of heaven. But I want to focus on Christ’s statement:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Thomas asks a deeply human question: How can we know the way?

It is a question we all ask at critical moments in life. How do I make wise decisions? How do I know what is right? Whom can I trust?

Christ’s answer confronts several popular but deeply misleading forms of advice that dominate our culture today.

Bad Advice #1: “Follow Your Heart”

This may be one of the most common slogans of our age. Follow your heart. Follow your passion. Do what makes you happy.

It sounds uplifting and freeing. Yet Scripture paints a far more sober picture of the human heart.

The Bible tells us:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
— Jeremiah 17:9

And Proverbs exhorts us to:

“Keep your heart with all vigilance.”
— Proverbs 4:23

Why would Scripture command us to guard our hearts if our hearts were naturally trustworthy? The answer is simple: because our hearts can be misled, manipulated, and corrupted by sin.

It is unpopular to say this but because of original sin, because of sin, we cannot trust our hearts

Because of original sin, the human heart is not a flawless compass. At times our desires are selfish, impulsive, or short-sighted. Many disastrous decisions have been justified simply because someone “felt” it was right.

People plunge into crushing debt chasing dreams they never carefully counted the cost for. Relationships collapse because someone believed in their heart they could change another person. Others abandon responsibilities because their heart tells them they need something different, even when there is no plan, no safeguard. Where wisdom would say stay.

Our hearts make poor gods.

Jesus does not tell Thomas to look inward for the answer. He points him to Himself.

“I am the way.”

Christ does not merely give directions; He Himself is the path. He leads us to the Father. He shepherds His people in truth and righteousness.

Scripture also teaches that the Holy Spirit guides believers through the Word of God. The Christian life is not about blindly following feelings but learning to submit our desires to Christ.

Psalm 37:4 is often quoted:

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

But notice the order. The promise is not that God exists to fulfill every earthly desire we already possess. Rather, as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He reshapes our desires to align with His will.

When Christ becomes our treasure, our hearts begin to desire what He desires.

Jesus does not say follow your heart, but follow Him, be led by the Holy Spirit.

Bad Advice #2: “Live Your Truth”

Another common phrase today is: “Speak your truth.” The idea sounds compassionate and liberating, but beneath it lies a dangerous assumption — that truth is subjective and personal.

But truth cannot simply be whatever each person wants it to be.

Gravity does not cease to exist because someone rejects it. Financial realities do not change because someone dislikes mathematics. Moral truth does not disappear because society grows uncomfortable with it.

If truth is entirely personal, then what happens when truths collide?

One person’s “truth” may justify hatred, exploitation, or injustice. Another’s may contradict it completely. Without an objective standard outside ourselves, truth becomes nothing more than power, preference or opinion.

Scripture presents a radically different foundation.

Jesus does not say He speaks a truth. He says:

“I am the truth.”

Truth is grounded in the very character of God Himself. His Word is unchanging, eternal, and trustworthy.

This is why societies flourish when built upon moral truths that reflect God’s law: do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, love your neighbor, pursue justice.

Our culture often celebrates self-definition while simultaneously contradicting itself. We are told that people are “born this way” in one moment, while in the next we are told human nature itself is entirely fluid and self-determined.

One minute we are born this way and you must accept and affirm me and at the same time I am born this way, I don’t like it, you have to accept and affirm my choice to change how I was born

Again, we go from born this way I can’t change to born this way let me change.

Which is it?

What if I am a deviant and I can’t help myself. I am born this way? Am I left alone or am I to seek treatment and rehabilitation?

Such confusion reveals what happens when truth is disconnected from God.

It is shaky ground when we look inward to define reality. We must look outside of ourselves, upward to the One who created reality.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

So are there God given rights that every human has, or are they given to use by our government or community which means they can be taken away

And if your government says its ok to marry children but mine says it is not. Who is right?

We do not need our truth, but the truth.

Bad Advice #3: “It’s My Life”

Modern culture prizes autonomy above nearly everything else. We are told our lives belong entirely to us and that we alone determine their purpose and value.

But Scripture asks a deeper question:

Who gave us life in the first place?

If God is the Creator, then life is not ultimately ours to define or discard at will. Human dignity does not come from accomplishments, productivity, intelligence, independence, or usefulness. It comes from being made in the image of God.

This truth has profound implications.

A child with severe disabilities possesses the same God-given dignity as a successful businessman. The elderly person suffering with illness is no less valuable than the young and healthy. The unborn child is not a “potential” human life but a human life with potential. It has all the genetics and DNA of a human and is deserving of human, God given rights,

Who gets to decide whose life is worth preserving? And why them and not someone else.

Why not a committee of doctors, or lawyers or philosophers?

Once society begins defining which lives are valuable and which are not, we enter dangerous territory. History repeatedly shows us where that path leads.

Christians affirm the sanctity of life because life belongs to God.

Jesus says:

“I am the life.”

Life is not merely biological existence. True life is found in Him. He is both the author of life and the giver of eternal life.

I recently heard a challenge to turning back immigrants saying we could be turning away the doctor who could cure cancer. We could say the same thing when it comes to abortion or assisted suicide.

The Scriptures tell us our times are in His hands. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing falls outside His sovereign care. He knows the beginning from the end.

Psalm 139 goes to lengths to say God knows my comings and goings, words I speak all about me. Then in verse 6 says For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. [2]

And remarkably, Christ does not simply offer advice for living, reaching your potential, living your best life now.

He offers Himself.

Christ Is Better Than Cultural Slogans

The world offers shallow slogans that sound comforting but cannot bear the weight of real life.

Follow your heart.
Live your truth.
It’s your life.

Yet each one ultimately turns us inward, making self the center.

Jesus redirects us away from ourselves and toward Him.

He is:

  • The Way — the One who reconciles sinners to the Father and guides His people in righteousness. Who shows us how to get to the Father
  • The Truth — the unchanging standard in a world of confusion.
  • The Life — the source of both physical life and eternal life.

This does not mean Christ tells us every small detail of our future. He may not tell you what house to buy, what town to live in, or which career to pursue. But He does teach you how to live faithfully wherever He places you.

The Christian life is ultimately simple, though not easy:

To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

When we trust in Christ, delight in Him, and walk in His ways, we begin to see life rightly. Our desires are reshaped. Our understanding becomes clearer. Our lives begin to reflect His goodness.

Not because we found ourselves.

But because we found Him.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Jn 14:1–7). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ps 139:13–14). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

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Not Too Late: Meeting the God Who Raises the Dead

Posted on May 17, 2026 by rgpriest

“I am the Resurrection and the Life” Jesus Christ

John 11 is a familiar story. Jesus receives word that His friend Lazarus is sick. But instead of rushing to his side, Jesus waits. He tells His disciples, “This illness does not lead to death.”

Two days later, the announcement comes: Lazarus has died. What is happening here?

Mary and Martha likely never heard Jesus’ earlier statement, but the disciples did. They must have wondered, “How can You say this won’t end in death… and now he’s dead?”

Then Jesus decides to go to Bethany, to the home of Mary and Martha. The disciples are concerned—Jerusalem’s authorities are looking for Jesus, and returning puts them all at risk. Jesus tells them, “Lazarus has fallen asleep, and I am going to wake him.”

The disciples misunderstand: “If he’s asleep, he’ll recover. Why risk danger?” So Jesus speaks plainly: “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.”

When Jesus arrives, Mary and Martha are understandably heartbroken and confused. Martha meets Him first: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”

Jesus replies, “Your brother will rise again.” As faithful Jews, they believed in the future resurrection at the end of the age. But Jesus says something far more personal and astonishing:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Martha answers with a confession that echoes Peter’s in Matthew 16: “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Mary comes next, with the same grief, the same question, and Jesus weeps with her. Then He goes to the tomb. Most assume He is there to mourn. But Jesus reminds Martha: “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

Here it is—the very thing He told His disciples, the truth He is revealing to Mary and Martha:

I am not late. This is not the end of the story. This is not a hopeless situation.

This moment is another demonstration that Jesus is the great “I AM,” the living God in the flesh. Nothing is too hard for Him.

He calls Lazarus by name. The stone is rolled away. And Lazarus walks out alive.

I wonder if this is why Jesus waited four days. If He had come sooner, people might have claimed Lazarus was unconscious or in a coma. But four days meant the community had declared him dead, wrapped him in grave clothes, and sealed him in the tomb. There was no doubt. Death had done its work.

So what is going on here? A few things to notice:

1. Jesus delays not out of indifference, but purpose.

He knew exactly what was happening. He knew what He would do. And He knew this miracle would validate His claims as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

2. Jesus is the life.

He is the source of life—from the womb to the tomb. Every human life is an act of God. To take innocent life is to rebel against the Creator and to harm an image‑bearer of God. (Here we are not discussing self‑defense, just war, or capital punishment—only the willful taking of innocent life.)

All life is in God’s hands. For the womb to the tomb life is the work of God and a gift of God.

3. What is resurrection?

I want to speak of resurrection in two ways.

A. The final resurrection.

At the end of the age, all humanity will be raised—some to everlasting life, others to everlasting judgment. On that day, God will not ask how many good deeds you did, how moral you were compared to your neighbor, or whether you were baptized, confirmed, or catechized. Those things matter, but they do not save.

The only question is this: Is your name written in the Book of Life? Have you been born again?

B. The spiritual resurrection.

Ephesians 2 says:

Ephesians 2 says And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind[1]

I was dead. You were dead. Maybe you still are. Like the rest of all mankind, we are all born in sin and the language the bible uses is dead. Not sick, not weak, not broken. You are, I was dead.

You don’t need to reform your ways, adopt a resolution or intention or adopt some new moral behavior.

Not sick. Not weak. Not morally struggling. You are not broken. You are Dead. That is the language God uses to describe us.

Dead people do not revive themselves. They need someone from outside to intervene and give life.

No dead person ever performed CPR on themselves. Their only hope was an outside agency intervened. And for the spiritually dead we do not revive ourselves. We need someone from outside of ourself that can give life.

You may not feel dead. You woke up, you went about your day, maybe even went to church. But a corpse doesn’t feel the weight of 200 pounds placed on it. It feels nothing—because it is dead.

Spiritually, apart from Christ, we are the same. We do not feel the weight of our sin because we are spiritually lifeless.

But then come two of the most hope‑filled words in all of Scripture:

“But God…”

Lazarus is dead—but God. You were dead—but God.

You are dead, but God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast[2]

Did you hear that? When you were dead, God made you alive. He raised you up. He seated you with Christ. He considers you already home.

This is the gospel. This is the message of the Bible.

We enter the world spiritually dead, separated from God. Every day He gives us is an act of mercy—a chance to taste His goodness, to receive His grace, to be made alive.

4. God’s immeasurable grace.

What is this grace?

You were dead in sin. You rebelled against Him. You ignored Him. And He alone can make you alive.

Politics cannot do that. Money cannot do that. Education, science, and medicine—good as they are—cannot create life or resurrect the dead.

Only God can. And He is willing. And He is able.

Jesus is the resurrection. He has conquered death. He is life—the very source of our life.

I do not know why God seems to delay. But His delays are only delays from our perspective, not His. He knows the end from the beginning and every moment in between.

And He is the One who shows up at the right time—every time—to reveal Himself as the source of life and the Lord of resurrection.

The Bible describes our condition with three devastating words: “You were dead.”
But then come two of the most hope‑filled words in all of Scripture:
“But God…”

But God, rich in mercy.
But God, great in love.
But God, making the dead alive.

You cannot save yourself. Your works cannot save you. Your goodness cannot save you. Only Christ can. And He offers Himself freely—His life for your death, His righteousness for your sin, His resurrection for your grave.

If today you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Turn to Him. Trust Him. Rest in Him.
He is the resurrection and the life—and He delights to save.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Eph 2:1–3). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Eph 2:4–9). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

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The Good Shepherd

Posted on May 10, 2026 by rgpriest

Getting His Sheep Home Safely

In these last few posts I’ve been spending time in Jesus’ “I Am” statements recorded in the Gospel of John.

I started in Exodus 3, where God reveals himself to Moses as “I AM.” The God who is—who depends on no one, and who keeps his promises. And then, in the Gospel of John, Jesus uses that name to describe Himself that is both personal and unmistakably divine.

His hearers knew what He was claiming. And I want to continue with the next I am statement.

We began with, “I am the bread of life.”

And what I’ve noticed is that the next few I am statements don’t just sit side-by-side—they build on each other.

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” And you remember what happens there: a man who was born blind receives his sight. The leaders of his synagogue then question him about it.  But instead of rejoicing, they question if he was every really blind. Then they throw him out for speaking up about Jesus.

That’s where I said light does at least two things. It illuminates—because when God gives someone eyes to see, they’re drawn to Christ. And it exposes. And when light exposes what’s hidden, it can stir up resistance in people who don’t want their deeds brought into the open.

Then we looked at Jesus’ words, “I am the door.” And again, there are a couple of layers.

First, Jesus is the only entrance into the flock of God. There isn’t another door. There isn’t a side entrance. We don’t climb in by our own effort. If we come to God at all, we come through Christ.

Second, he’s the rightful gatekeeper—the one who admits true shepherds and exposes impostors. So the “light” and the “door” go together. Jesus is saying, in effect, “These leaders aren’t shepherding God’s people in God’s way.” The light exposed their own blindness. And now Jesus says you were never really true shepherds.

Now, that’s not just an issue back then. It’s an issue now.

There are many faithful men today who truly shepherd Christ’s people in humility, sacrifice and faithfulness,  And we should thank God for them.

But there are also false shepherds. Some are blatant—lying, manipulating, using Scripture like a tool to get what they want. They twist the Word, distort it, and sometimes deny it outright. Much like Satan in the wilderness the actually question did God really say that while offering their own spin.

And sometimes it’s less obvious. There can be kind, sincere people who carry the title “shepherd,” but they were never called, and they don’t meet the biblical qualifications for the pastoral office. And I want to say this carefully: sincerity isn’t the test. Effort isn’t the test. Even gifting isn’t the final test. The question is, “Has Christ called this man to this office, and does his life meet the requirements God gives?” You can have shepherd like gifts, but that does not mean you are called to the office or position.

Scripture puts guardrails around the pastorate. The pastoral office is received, not seized. The Good Shepherd calls and sets apart under-shepherds, and he does it with clear qualifications—read 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

And that sets us up for the next “I Am.” Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” And then He gives a mark that no pretender can fake: “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

False shepherds take from the flock. They use the sheep. They harm the sheep. Some even “protect” their system by throwing out the person who simply tells the truth about Jesus.

But the Good Shepherd does the opposite. He gives Himself for the flock.

Now, when you hear “shepherd,” where does your mind go? For a lot of us it’s either the Christmas story—or Psalm 23.

Shepherding in the ancient world had a rhythm. In the morning the shepherd would call, and the flock would follow. During the day he watched them as they grazed, keeping an eye out for strays. He led them to water. And at night he brought them back in and counted them as they entered.

It was hard work. Heat and cold. Long days. Limited food. Predators. Robbers. That’s why shepherds carried a rod and a staff—tools for protection and for guidance.

And a good shepherd had to know the land—where the safe paths were, where the danger was, where the still water and green pastures were. Shepherding wasn’t only physical strength; it was wisdom.

And it required tenderness too, especially with the young and the weak.

Psalm 23 and John 10

Psalm 23 starts like this: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” In other words, “Because He’s my Shepherd, I won’t lack what I truly need.” And in John 10, Jesus says the shepherd leads his sheep in and out. He knows them—and they know his voice.

“He restores my soul… for his name’s sake.” Here’s a simple way to think about that: the shepherd’s name is tied to the sheep’s condition. If the flock is neglected, everybody knows it. So the shepherd acts—for their good, and for his name, his reputation.

Then comes that line we all know: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” Notice—Psalm 23 doesn’t pretend the valleys aren’t real. And Jesus doesn’t pretend either. In John 10 he talks about thieves and robbers, about danger at the edges, even danger that tries to slip into the flock.

So yes—it’s dangerous out there. But here’s the comfort: Jesus says He goes before us. He’s with us in the difficulty. And He is committed to bringing His sheep all the way home.

“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Those are tools of guidance and discipline. Because sheep wander. And honestly—so do we. Thieves and robbers aren’t our only threat. Our own selfishness and sinful desires and temptations are always close. We drift. We stumble. We fall.

So the shepherd uses the rod not only to fight off an enemy, but also to correct and recover the sheep. Sometimes correction feels severe—but it’s mercy. It’s the Shepherd refusing to let his sheep destroy themselves. And he doesn’t discipline from a distance. He stays near. He tends. He restores.

It is said that a shepherd if he has a stubborn sheep that keeps straying, will use the rod to break it’s leg. But he does not leave the sheep to suffer the consequences. He then carries the sheep until it is strengthened and has learned its lesson

The rod could also be used to part the wool and inspect for injury or infestation—careful attention the sheep can’t give itself.

Psalm 23 says, “You anoint my head with oil.” Picture the Shepherd applying what heals and soothes—like balm for irritated skin under dirty, matted wool.

And the staff wasn’t just a walking stick. It could pull a sheep back from a ledge, guide it back onto the path, or lift it out when it had fallen.

That’s the Shepherd’s care: protecting, correcting, watching over, and providing—often in the very places where danger is real.

Jesus says the one who follows Him “will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture”… and then he says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”[1]

And, “You prepare a table before me.” Even with enemies nearby—threats at the edges—the Shepherd is present. And He provides. He does not run off and leave us to fend for ourselves.

So when Psalm 23 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” it’s not wishful thinking. It’s the promise that the Shepherd’s care doesn’t run out.

“Goodness” means God is working for our good—our real wellbeing.

And “mercy” is his covenant kindness—steadfast love, faithfulness, the kind of love that doesn’t quit.

Now, here’s the heart of it. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, gives His life to protect His sheep—from sin, from judgment, and from death. He didn’t die only to show us what love looks like. He died because the danger is real, and because God is holy.

Sin separates us from the Holy God. And we don’t come through the Door on our own merit or qualifications. We need a Shepherd who comes after us—who finds us, guides us, and when we’re too weak, carries us. And the Door He opens is the Door He is.

He was willing and able to lay down his life for the sheep—and to take it up again. He rose from the dead. And right now, he is leading his people home: to the house of the Lord, where we will dwell forever.

He died in our place. And by his death, we are saved.[2]

So if Jesus is the Good Shepherd, what do you do? It’s wonderfully simple: follow him. Don’t go looking for another shepherd. Don’t wander off into the dark, thinking you’ll find better pasture somewhere else. In him you have what you truly need.

When you’re tired, he brings you to rest. When you’re thirsty, he leads you to living water. When you’re unsure, he guides you in paths of righteousness. When you’re afraid, he doesn’t shout from far away—he is with you. Follow the Good Shepherd. And as you follow him, goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. And in his time, he will bring you to his house, where you will dwell with him forever.[3]

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The Door is Open

Posted on May 3, 2026 by rgpriest

Remember Monty Hall and Let’s Make a Deal—now hosted by Wayne Brady. In the end, after all the wheeling and dealing, the contestant was given one final choice: three doors. Behind one of them might be something better, even life-changing. You had a 33% chance of something better and a 66% chance of losing out

But what if I told you there is a door you may enter that leads to abundant life, and it requires no bargaining, no gambling, and no negotiation at all? It is a 100% guarantees for anyone who enters this door

In John 10 Jesus calls Himself the door. Just before John 10, in John 9, a group of religious leaders cast out a man from their assembly—effectively excommunicating him. Why? Because the man who had once been blind now could see, and he gave Jesus the credit. The leaders would not tolerate that testimony. They claimed to be shepherds of God’s people, but in truth they were failing the flock.

That is the backdrop for Jesus’ words in John 10. He is exposing false shepherds—those who appear to care for the sheep but who, in reality, are false shepherds. Like the leaders who drove out the man healed by Christ, they show themselves to be hostile to the very work of God.

Jesus says that true shepherds are those who come through the door by His calling. Some who claim to be shepherds are not entering rightly. They are thieves and robbers, coming by another way. They have not been called by Christ, but have instead taken a place that was never theirs.

Now I know there are many men who are faithful pastors and elders who are serving Christ’s church with humility, integrity, and sincerity. The Lord has truly called and blessed them in their work. But there are also many who stand in pulpits without having been called by Christ in the manner His Word requires. Some have misunderstood the qualifications for pastoral office. Others have set those qualifications aside to fit the spirit of the age or their own personal preference.

And while God may still bless His Word when it is preached, that does not mean a person is free to claim a role Christ never gave him. A person may see fruit in ministry and yet still act outside the bounds of God’s calling. It is a solemn thing to serve in a way that seems fruitful, yet is not obedient.

There is an account as Moses lead the people to the promised land where the people complain they are thirsty. God tells Moses to speak to the rock and water will come forth. Moses, for whatever reason, strikes the rock. Now water did come out, but Moses would forfeit the blessing of entering the promised land with the people he was leading.

You see, God still blessed as He said He would. But Moses, because he chose to do it his way and not God’s forfeited a blessing.

Someone can be in a pulpit, teaching accurately the word of God. So God will bless His word and the hearer, but not the preacher.

There may be many people who think they are doing right, in their own opinion, but if it does not align with God’s word there is a forfeited blessing.

In the end God can bless His word, because that is where the power is, His Word and His Spirit even while withholding a blessing for the speaker

Jesus then presents Himself not only as the One who protects the sheep, but as the door of the sheep. That is the point I want to focus on now: “I am the door.”

A typical sheepfold in the countryside was a simple structure, often just a rough wall of stones forming a pen with one opening. At night, the shepherd would lie across that opening, becoming the gate himself. In that way, he protected the sheep from wild animals and from thieves. The sheep were safe because the shepherd stood watch.

What do we learn about Jesus when He calls Himself The Door?

First, there is only one door. That means there is only one way to God, and that way is Jesus Christ. The sheepfold had one entrance, not many. The same is true for salvation. Christ does not present Himself as one option among several. He is the only way.

Those who enter this door will be saved and come in and out and find pasture

How can Jesus make such a claim? If He were merely a man, the claim would indeed be absurd. But if He is who He said He is—the eternal Son of God, incarnate for our salvation—then His words are not arrogance; they are truth.

He came into the world to seek and save the lost. And we are all lost. We deserve death for our sin, both physically and spiritually. We deserve separation from God. But Christ, though sinless, took our guilt upon Himself and died in our place. No one else could do this. No one else was qualified. No one else was needed. He alone is the door by which sinners come to the Father.

Second, Jesus teaches that we must enter in. This is personal. It is not enough to admire the door, talk about the door, or stand near the door. One must enter through it. In Scripture, this is the language of faith—coming to Christ, trusting Christ, believing on Christ. Salvation is not inherited, borrowed, or approximated. It is received personally by faith.

And what are the promises of entering this door?

First, Jesus says that whoever enters will be saved. That is a glorious promise. The Savior does not say the path will be easy, or that the sheep will never face danger. But He does promise salvation.

Second, His sheep are safe. They may still walk through valleys, but they do so under His watchful care. He provides for them. He guards them. He keeps them.

Third, His sheep are satisfied. They go in and out and find pasture. They find green grass and still waters. In Christ, the believer finds not only security, but rest for the soul.

This is why the door matters so much. It tells us how we enter God’s presence. Sin has separated us from God, but Christ has opened the way. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, He has made access possible. When Jesus died, the temple curtain was torn, showing that the barrier between God and man had been opened by divine grace. Christ has established that access Himself.

So there are two ideas in Jesus as the Door. He determines and calls those who will be shepherds according to His call, and He is the only way into this flock.

And notice the wording: Jesus does not say He is a door, but the door. That definite article matters. It excludes all alternatives. There are not many doors leading to God. There is one.

This is the invitation of the gospel. The door stands open, and by faith in the Son of God we enter in.

This door is not there to keep people out. The door is not there to separate us from God. It is open to receiving sinners. Yet one day it will be shut. But for now, the door remains open, and the call of Christ still goes out.

There may seem to be many ways into God’s favor, but Scripture is clear: there is one door. We do not choose from among three. We do not bargain our way in. We do not win access by cleverness, effort, or religious performance.

No deal must be struck. No costume must be worn to get the host’s attention. Jesus says, “Come to Me.” He is the door, and access to God is open to all who come in faith.

The only thing we have to offer in trade is our sin. That is the promise. When we bring our sin to the Savior, He paid the punishment for our sin and then escorts us through the door into the abundant life God promises.

More on the Shephard next time.

If you have been encouraged like, share and subscribe.

And leave a comment. Have you come through the door, and if not would you like to?

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The Power of Light

Posted on April 26, 2026 by rgpriest

The Power of Light

Light has many uses. In fact, one source of light can do many things at once. It can reveal what is hidden, even the things we would rather keep in the dark. It can illuminate a path so that we can see clearly. And some forms of light even have the power to cleanse and disinfect.

Jesus calls Himself the light of the world.

Lately, I’ve been walking through the “I am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. This time, I want to look at the places where Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” He uses that phrase in John 8 and John 9, and in both passages, we see something different about what He means. As a reminder, all of these “I am” statements point back to Exodus 3, where God reveals His name to Moses as “I AM.”

The people who heard Jesus did not miss what He was claiming, even if we sometimes do. They understood that He was speaking with divine authority, identifying Himself with the God of the Old Testament. In other words, Jesus was making Himself one with the Lord who had revealed Himself to Israel.

Jesus’ main claim is simple and profound: He is the light of the world, and those who follow Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. And while the light is with us, there is work to do.

Jesus also draws a sharp contrast between light and darkness. He shows us that those who walk in darkness or in light are not always who they appear to be. Even Satan and his servants can masquerade as angels of light. They do not appear as the evil, lying, murderous beings they truly are.

John 8 begins with the woman caught in adultery. Yet as Jesus exposes the darkness, what comes into view is not only her sin but the sin of her accusers.

As Jesus writes in the sand, the religious leaders—the supposedly righteous ones—leave one by one. We do not know what He wrote. Perhaps He listed their sins. Perhaps He exposed their hypocrisy. Whatever He wrote, the effect was unmistakable: light had entered the scene, and darkness could not endure it.

Light dispels darkness.

Darkness hates being exposed.

Here, the real issue was not only the woman’s sin, but the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and their refusal to recognize who Jesus is. Jesus did not condemn her, but He also did not condone her sin. He sent her away with these gracious words: “Go, and sin no more.”

So yes, several sins are exposed in this passage. One sinner came into the light and left restored by the Savior. Others left, still determined to destroy Him.

In fact, they would rather kill Jesus than surrender to the light. They wanted to extinguish the light so they could remain in darkness. That is the work of the enemy. He works to snuff out the light at any cost. And in that, it becomes clear that their father is not the Father of heaven, the Father of lights.

The Pharisees respond as though Jesus is speaking on His own and expecting them simply to take His word for it. But Jesus says, “My Father bears witness of Me.” In other words, everything they had seen in Him was already God’s testimony confirming who He is.

Jesus then says plainly that they do not know the Father. In fact, He tells them they will die in their sins because they have rejected the One the Father sent and affirmed.

The rest of the passage makes His claim even clearer. Jesus is the One sent by the Father, the promised descendant of Abraham. The Pharisees claimed Abraham as their father, but their deeds exposed the darkness they lived in.

“If God were your Father,” Jesus says, “you would love Me, for I came from Him and He sent Me.”

Then, in John 9, we meet a blind man. Once again, the religious leaders want to extinguish the light, so they ask, “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” They had a very rigid way of thinking: if someone was blind, then someone must have done something wrong. They could not imagine that God might be doing something far greater.

Jesus has just claimed divine identity. He has tied His authority to Abraham and beyond. And now He performs a miracle to confirm that claim.

The leaders also claimed descent from Abraham, but apart from physical lineage there was little in them that reflected Abraham’s faith. They had missed the point.

So first, the light causes the children of darkness to flee.

Then, in John 9, the light brings healing and sight.

Even when the Pharisees question the man, they refuse to acknowledge what Jesus has done. They insist that he must not really have been blind. They claim to be disciples of Moses, whose God spoke to him, yet when confronted with the work of Jesus, they say, “We do not know this Jesus.”

The blind man responds with striking clarity: why all the confusion? How can they deny what has happened? He knows he was blind, and now he sees. So instead of rejoicing, they call him a sinner, insist he was blind because he deserved it, and cast him out.

Again, as the light exposes their sin, they try to push the light away.

Jesus exposes sin in one group and brings sight to another.

The difference is this: what do we do with the light of the world? What do we do with the word of God revealed in Scripture?

Do we ignore  it and remain in darkness, or do we embrace it and receive sight?

Do we remain blind, or do we allow God to show us His way?

A quick caution: I am not talking about some mystical inner light, or some spiritual power we generate within ourselves. I am using the phrase the way Jesus uses it. Jesus Himself is the light who exposes, cleanses, and heals. This is not something we achieve from within. It is who He is and what He does.

Two challenges to Jesus. Two attempts to trip Him up or expose Him as a fraud. And two times Jesus calls Himself the light of the world—exposing sin and bringing healing, both spiritual and physical.

So here is the choice before us. God has revealed Himself in the past, and He has revealed Himself fully in Jesus Christ. And we still face that same choice today.

There are those who see the evidence and, when the light shines, allow it to expose them. They let that light bring healing and life.

And there are those who try to turn the light off, accuse it, or deny it, because they would rather remain in darkness than let the light of the world bring them life.

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