March 13, 2026

Leviticus 4 (NIV)

“‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands - . . . If the anointed priest sins . . . If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally . . . When a leader sins unintentionally . . . If a member of the community sins unintentionally . . .’”

We are all sinners who sin. We are not sin.*

We Christians can be brutal with ourselves over sin. We wallow in our guilt and our shame because we have failed again – and again. We don’t meet our own expectations of the sanctified life therefore robbing ourselves of the joyous life we should be living. The thing is, God’s forgiveness is big enough to cover our failures. He knows that we aren’t perfect and he knows the difference between our human weaknesses and a sinful lifestyle.

What most of us deal with is the I didn’t mean to sin; however, “I didn’t mean to,” is not an excuse. When we say we didn’t mean to, what we mean is, “I didn’t plan to,” and “I wish I hadn’t.” No one makes us commit sin. According to James 1: 13-15, we are tempted and led into sin by our own evil desires. Satan takes advantage of our weakness but the devil doesn’t make us do it.

Under the law, even someone who sinned unintentionally was guilty and had to make restitution through the elaborate sin offering process. For our unintentional sin, that elaborate restitution process was performed by Jesus on the cross. Whenever we sin, intentionally or not, the price is paid in full. That payment covers not only our sin but our guilt as well. Repent and start fresh without the added burden of unnecessary guilt.

Some of us . . . hold ourselves hostage to our sins long after God has forgiven us.*

March 12, 2026

Hebrews 13: 2 (NIV)

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hospitality is inviting others to invade my comfort zone so they can be comforted. It’s sharing my space with a stranger.*

I did some research and I couldn’t find any consensus of opinion on whether the writer of Hebrews was referring to real angels or was merely speaking figuratively. There are a couple of stories in the Old Testament where the guests really were angels (Genesis 18 and 19); but I don’t know if we should expect that it could happen to us. I do know three things in regard to this verse: hospitality is our Christian duty; hospitality is to be offered to strangers, not just our friends and family; and even if we won’t be entertaining heavenly angels, Jesus said that whatever we do to the “least of these” we do to him (Matthew 25: 40), so we should treat our guests as if Jesus was among them.

Not everyone has the gift of hospitality. I don’t, but my mother did. When I was growing up, my dad encouraged my mom to exercise her gift freely. As a result, traveling evangelists, missionaries on furlough, Bible college students and professors, and people down on their luck passed through our house and blessed us on their way. To this day, whenever the name of some legendary preacher is mentioned, I often brag, “Oh, yes. He stayed at our house once.”

It is my Christian duty to be hospitable but it doesn’t come natural for me to practice it. The memories from my childhood motivate me to get out of my comfort zone occasionally. If hospitality isn’t your gift either, look for opportunities to invite angels over to your house!

The stranger at the door is the living symbol and memory that we are all strangers here.*

March 11, 2026

Hebrews 4: 12 (NIV)

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Spiritual standards do not change from generation to generation.*

I used to work for a government agency where every procedure had to be in compliance with state, federal, and local laws. Every year, following the state’s legislative session, we got handed new rules because somebody had changed a law or two or more. Man-made laws change in order to make accommodations for the inconsistency of humans. God’s law never changes and yet it is always applicable.

You might think I’m wrong. We are no longer bound by the Old Testament law, you remind me, so how can I say that God’s law never changes? Because Jesus fulfilled the law – he paid the penalty for all lawbreakers. Now we live under grace and we have God’s word to guide us in how we should live.

So what is the “word of God”? It is “what God speaks.”* God has spoken to us through his Son and we know what his Son has said because we read it in scripture; in fact, this passage could be speaking of both: God’s word “incarnate” (Jesus) and God’s word “inspired” (the Bible).* His word is not stagnant; it is alive and lively. The writer of Hebrews compares it to a sword that is sharp enough to sever your joints from the marrow of your bones – sharp enough, that is, to separate your spirit from your humanness. God’s word reveals our innermost thoughts and attitudes and shows us how they measure up to his standards.

God’s word judges us. No one else’s values apply to us. We can’t trust our own discernment of right and wrong unless it is based on the word of God. We know what truth is through the “Spirit’s leading and the Word’s revealing.”* And the rules never change.

The Word of God defines and reveals sin in our lives.*

March 10, 2026

Matthew 3: 13-15 (NIV)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

Christ’s baptism might create misunderstanding, just as His associating with publicans and sinners did. He was content to be misunderstood.*

According to the apostle John in chapter 1, verse 33 of his gospel, John the Baptist was not surprised to see Jesus coming to him for his services. So perhaps we shouldn’t read this as John the Baptist’s attempt to talk Jesus out of being baptized but as a sign of the man’s humility and his recognition that Jesus wasn’t just his cousin.

There is nothing in the New Testament to indicate any significance to the role of baptizer. Jesus could have quietly had his baptism conducted by one of his disciples but he needed to make a point and John provided a very public platform from which to deliver his message.

When we present ourselves to be baptized, we confess our sinfulness and repent from it. Jesus had no sin so he had no need for confession or repentance. We are baptized for the washing away of our sins; Jesus was already clean. But he submitted to baptism the same way he submitted to every command of his Father. 

As observed by another writer, Jesus’ purpose was to be the sacrifice for our sin, and not so much to be an example of how to live a sinless life - since we can't. There are “crucial aspects” of his life, this writer claims, that are "unique about him” and we cannot imitate them.* Jesus’ baptism is not one of those things that we are unable to imitate. He was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness.” If he had to do it, why shouldn’t I?

It is indeed correct to say that baptism is a washing away of sins, but the expression is too weak and mild to bring out the full significance of baptism which is rather a symbol of death and resurrection. For this reason I would have those who are to be baptized completely immersed in water as the Word says, and as the mystery indicates.*

March 9, 2026

II Corinthians 6: 1 (NIV)

As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

Paul understood the value of companions and teamwork.*

For most of you, the dreaded “being picked last” is your worst memory about growing up. Not me. When our PE teacher made us choose sides for basketball, I anxiously hoped for that moment when everyone else had been chosen and both teams were fully “womanned” and they didn’t need me. Being picked last didn’t hurt my feelings at all because 1) I would not have been an asset to the team so why would they pick me? 2) I hated playing basketball; 3) there were other types of teams for which I would have been chosen first so my self-esteem was intact.

Paul’s life provides plenty of examples of the value of teamwork – he seldom traveled alone. But God is the ultimate teammate. Paul claims to be God’s fellow worker and you know that whoever got to choose first would pick God to be on their team. Being God’s fellow workers means that we are on the same team - he works alongside us; we work beside him. We know that with him on our side, we are going to win the championship!

You will receive a lifelong blessing when you follow the instructions of the Lord and join Him at work in His favorite fields.*

March 8, 2026

Isaiah 29: 13 (NIV)

The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”

Some of the things we think are important are just part of a church culture we’ve constructed around the faith, similar to what the Pharisees did.*

Genuine worship comes in two styles: private and public. It is probably true that even the most judgmental among us have no problem worshipping God at home, in our own way, on our own schedule; but public, corporate worship seems to bring out the passive-aggressive in us!

●Ushers and servers must wear ties. ●Women can’t help take up the offering. ●Communion must be served before the sermon. ●Communion must be served after the sermon. ●You must sing an “Invitation Hymn” after every sermon.● No running in the church! ●You must sing, “Now I Belong to Jesus” after every baptism.

The people who live by these rules attend church services faithfully. They go through the motions of worship but they are robbed of their joy if any of their rules are broken. I shouldn’t sound so critical because I have my personal preferences, too, and when I don’t get my way, sometimes it interferes with my worship. We are a sad bunch of Christians if this is what we think worship is all about!

Read the gospels and see what Jesus said we should and shouldn’t do in a worship service. Having trouble finding it? Turn to the Book of Acts and read the list of rules that Peter proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost. . . Well, seriously, you should read the Book of Acts and what you will find are some suggested activities as practiced by the early church. You won’t find an “order of worship” as often seen in our Sunday bulletins. No mention of “Sunday School.” I don’t think you will read about pews or choir robes or that the sermon has to have three points. But you will read about sincere worship, unity, and joy.

Several statements found on his lips in the Gospels suggest that Jesus was most concerned about pure worship, not misguided tradition.*

March 7, 2026

Song of Solomon 5: 9 (NIV)

How is your beloved better than others?

When we love someone, we take the entire package.*

Ah! Young love! Who can explain it? What makes that particular person the object of your devotion? I tried to solve the mystery of love when one of my sons started dating the girl who eventually became his wife. I asked, “Why her? What made you decide she was so special?” His reply, “Because she thinks I’m the coolest.” I don’t know if that clears it up for the rest of you but it worked for them – they dated through his senior year in high school, through four years of college, and have been married for almost 17 years. They are still such a cute couple!

Falling in love and getting married has not always been the course of matrimony – and in some cultures it still is not the way things are done. Families arranged marriages for political, social, and financial reasons, and the happy couple had no say in the matter. And yet, written in a world that operated like that, the Bible still speaks of love between husbands and wives.

Perhaps there is some practical application of this verse for those of us living in enlightened times and a liberated society. Before you jump into marriage, ask yourself the question: How is my beloved better than others? Your answer should help you determine if you are making the right decision.

If your marriage is in trouble, try to remember how you would have answered the question when you first fell in love. Before you give up and abandon your marriage, try to recall what made your spouse special back then. What changed – you? Your spouse? Or are you just not willing to make the effort to deal with the inevitable changes that life brings? Is it easier just to blame your partner? If your spouse asked himself or herself the question about you – how are you better than others – how would you fare in the comparison?

No marriage can be dissolved without someone failing, either one party or both, to some degree.*