The Good Life
Everyone on earth is searching for a good and meaningful life. We all want our lives to be filled with purpose and fulfillment. We all want our lives to matter. But we often search for fulfillment and meaning through things that cannot fulfill us.
Many people try to find purpose in fame and admiration from people. Others try to find fulfillment through material possessions. Still others pursue a good life through working hard and building security through wealth.
The truth is, none of those methods will bring true happiness or fulfillment in life. There will come a time when fame and fortune fade, when material possessions lose their charm, and when our security is no longer there.
Jesus says that the enemy will always try to steal our attention away from what truly matters by distracting us with earthly things. But this way only ends in death and destruction. Jesus says there is another way to find a truly good life.
In John 10, Jesus compares Himself to a good shepherd who cares for and feeds the sheep in His pasture. Jesus says that He is the gate for the sheep to enter into the courtyard. While speaking in metaphors, Jesus is saying that anyone who wants to gain true access to salvation must come through Him.
Jesus also says that it is through Him that we will find true life. It is only through trusting in Jesus and following Him that we can experience life to the fullest. Fulfillment and doesn't come from possessions or wealth or status or security. It comes through following Jesus as our Shepherd.
Take some time to think about the way you’re searching for fulfillment, for meaning in your life. Are you finding it through things of this world? Or are you following Jesus and trusting in Him to produce meaning and purpose in your life?
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and He wants to lead you into a fulfilled, abundant life. So continue to trust in Him and follow Him. Life with Jesus is the good life.
The Great Connection
If you’ve ever been to a vineyard, you know they are not only beautiful, but also fascinating. Imagine rows and rows of grape-bearing vines, rooted on rolling hills—its produce harvested and distributed as table grapes, grape juice, wine, raisins, jellies, jams, and more.
Jesus often used real-life examples to explain spiritual truths and, in John 15, vineyards were at the center of His analogy…
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
John 15:4 NLT
In the surrounding passages, Jesus makes it clear that He, the Son, is the vine; His Father, God, is the gardener; and we, His people, are the branches—thriving or dying depending on our connection to the source.
You could also think about it this way:
Your phone won’t continue to function if it’s not charged. But when it’s plugged into a charger, which is connected to the ...