October 16, 2026

Romans 14: 13-22 (NIV)

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.  Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. . . . If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. . . . So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

In our world today, there are plenty of people trying to seize the authority of God Himself, and make the rules by which men should live.*

In my opinion, there is such a thing as inappropriate attire for church. I say inappropriate because I don’t have exact criteria for what constitutes appropriate, only the opposite of it. I say it’s my opinion because God doesn’t really address a church attendance dress code. I believe that whatever fashion guidelines we might find in the Bible, they refer to what’s proper and improper no matter where you are.

The big controversial issue that Paul is tackling here has to do with clean versus unclean food. That’s not a subject we tend to get riled up about, but we could apply his admonitions to any other matter of opinion among church members. (I did a paper in college in which I substituted rock music for the food controversy.) As Christians, we follow Christ, who is the only way to salvation. Perhaps our “rightness” about the truth has precipitated our slide into self-righteousness about our opinions. Whatever the cause, it’s not pretty!

I used to be more passionate in my views on appropriate church attire – especially for those who are up front leading in worship. It wasn’t quite interfering with my ability to worship . . . but, two things happened to change my attitude. First was a video shown one Sunday morning before the sermon. It depicted a group of people who were meeting secretly, outside, in the woods, because their lives were at risk if they got caught worshipping. What difference does it make what they are wearing? I thought suddenly. They just want to worship. The second thing that happened was that I started praying about my opinion and my attitude. As I was writing this, it occurred to me that I didn’t even notice what the praise team was wearing last Sunday!

There is much more that could be said here if we had the space. So, read Romans chapter 14 for yourself. Read it prayerfully. Ask God to show you clearly the differences between matters of opinion and matters of salvation. As Paul said, blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves – and, we might add, who does not condemn others by what he disapproves!

I don’t care what lost people wear to church. All I care about is that they are wearing righteousness when they leave.*

October 15, 2026

Romans 10: 17 (NIV)

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Faith is more than conviction of the reality of the facts that God has unveiled. Faith also exists as response to those facts.*

There are many things that can enhance your faith: seeing God’s hand at work in nature; having your prayers answered; experiencing God’s provision for your daily life. But these are not where faith comes from. It is safe to say that faith will only and always be “preceded by hearing the word of Christ.”* There is no other circumstance by which faith can occur - not even by “touching the heart.”*

What is the “word of Christ”? Of course, it’s the gospel – his life, ministry, death, resurrection. We (you and I) access the word easily. We have multiple copies of the Bible in our homes. We can click on Biblegateway.com or download an electronic version of the scripture on our computers and phones and tablets. We are like the Jews about whom Paul asked (and answered) in the very next verse: “Did they not hear? Of course they did.”

Sad to say, though, that while hearing the word is a necessary condition for faith, it is not a sufficient one. Hearing is not the same as believing; it doesn’t automatically result in saving faith.* Saving faith is the result of the personal, individual decision we make upon our exposure to the message of the gospel. Many, many people hear the gospel and reject its saving message – either deliberately or by simply ignoring it.

One of the components of the message of Christ is his command to go, disciple, baptize, and teach (Matthew 28: 19, 20). There is no loophole that says, “If they are rejecting the message, you can stop preaching it.” Faith comes by hearing, yes, but some people need to hear it over and over. Keep spreading the news! The world needs to hear it.

If God by a miracle wrought faith in the heart, he could dispense with the preacher.*

October 14, 2026

Acts 16: 14 (NIV)

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

I don’t believe I’m personally responsible for the salvation of every lost person with whom I come into contact. God is big enough not to need me.*

My parents worked for a couple of years with a mission church in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. One day my dad went to call on an elderly Choctaw man. When he arrived, the man was sitting on his front porch as if waiting for my dad to arrive. Before my dad could begin to talk to him, the man told him that he knew about the Lord; he had just been waiting for someone to come along and baptize him. Someone had planted and perhaps even watered so that all my dad had to do was pluck the fruit.

The same seems to have been true in the case of Lydia. While Paul was no doubt a dynamic and effective preacher, it really wasn’t his message that moved Lydia to respond. She already knew and worshipped God – the seed had been planted. Paul’s sermon was like a gentle spring rain, causing the seed to sprout and open up to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Her response was to be baptized – as if she was just waiting for the final piece of the puzzle. Just like the old Choctaw man. As someone has said, “The Holy Spirit will convict men of the truth; one does not have to be hit over the head with it.”*

  

We can’t tell when or if the seed that we plant is going to take root; we don’t know if we are overwatering or underwatering; we can’t see if the seed is germinating. It’s easy to become discouraged when we don’t see the results of our diligent gardening efforts but we must trust the Holy Spirit to work on the hearts of our little sprouts and reap the harvest. That is his job, not ours.

Paul didn’t preach to win arguments. He preached to win souls. He viewed conversion not as his work, but as the work of the Holy Spirit. So rather than depend on his persuasive powers, Paul depended on the Spirit’s power to bring people to Christ.*

October 13, 2026

John 19: 10 (NIV)

“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

He was no passive victim of circumstances.*

Pilate might have felt that he had the power of life and death over Jesus but he was so wrong. What was he expecting from Jesus in response? Did he think Jesus was going to beg for mercy? Offer him a bribe? Curse him, perhaps? Instead, Jesus calmly put Pilate in his place. “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above,” he said (verse 11).

Jesus did not deny that Pilate had earthly authority over him. He could set Jesus free or he could order him to be crucified. Because it was necessary to fulfill God’s plan, Pilate was allowed to exercise his authority over Jesus’ life and death. The same power that permitted Pilate to act is the same power that could have swooped in and rescued Jesus from the ordeal ahead.

Sometimes we are overpowered by circumstances or authorities. Can we meet them with the same calmness and assurance that Jesus did? Are we willing to endure whatever we must in order to bring glory to God? Do we know, without a doubt, that God is standing trial with us; that he could deliver us if it fulfilled his plan; and that he will empower us to stand firm in the face of our adversity? Jesus showed us how it was done when he did it for us.

God overrules in the affairs of ordinary men and women as He works out His eternal purposes in the redemption of mankind.*

October 12, 2026

Psalm 18: 17 (NIV)

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

Our strength does not lie in our own ability but in God’s supernatural ability.*

I’m happy for David. God rescued him from his enemies more than once. I have never had to deal with enemies so I can’t relate to the sentiments of this psalm. Sure, there are people who don’t like me. I’m certain that I sometimes make others angry as I go on my merry way. But enemies?

Do enemies have to be human? Could not our most powerful foes be our circumstances? Do we not struggle with temptation daily? Doesn’t Satan know our weaknesses – and doesn’t he exploit them with extreme precision? Ah, yes. Now I can sing along with David!

Off the top of my head, I can recall two times in my life when God rescued me – not from my weakness or circumstances but from stupidity. That may not be the kind of situation that inspires poetry and song but it inspires gratitude. And awe. Awe that the most powerful force in the universe would stoop to protect me from the consequences of deliberate folly.

So, my enemies – listen up! God is my hero. He will come to my rescue when I am tempted, attacked, or a victim of my own poor choices. You can knock me down but I won’t stay down because I am equipped with superhuman strength.

Are you plagued by enemies? Are the circumstances of life too strong for you? Call on the Lord. Wait on the Lord. Rely on the Lord. He works in all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8: 28).

Worship-less people have no power greater than themselves to call on.*

October 11, 2026

John 13: 4, 5, 21 (NIV)

He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. . . After this . . . Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

Human nature easily deceives itself into thinking it has gotten away with something.*

When my husband and I were working with the children’s ministry at our church, we conducted a foot-washing ceremony with them. Because it had no cultural connotations for us (or them), it wasn’t as symbolic an experience as it should have been. While some of the kids had smelly feet and some had slightly dirty feet, and some of the children were less likable than others, it was nothing like the gesture made by Jesus, who not only lowered himself to the status of the least servant to wash some very dusty feet, but who treated his betrayer with the same humility as he did everyone else.

Many times in my career in the elections office, I was compelled to assist city commissioner candidates whose entire campaign platform was to fire the city manager – my husband. Because my husband and I didn’t have the same last name, some of those candidates didn’t learn until later who I was married to, and were surprised to have been treated with the same courtesy as everyone else. I'm sure I didn't have a servant's heart for them – I was just doing my job – but I can relate to the human struggle Jesus must have had when Judas’ nasty feet were next.

You know, the fact is, we all have nasty feet like Judas. We may not have sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver – but sometimes we deny him for less. Because we can’t name the specific sin we are committing, it doesn’t feel like betrayal. We indulge in behavior that expresses our preference for worldly interests; that reveals that we place greater value on earthly things; that demonstrates that we prefer human approval over God’s.* And still, Jesus faithfully and humbly washes our feet.

If this causes you shame and regret, you can choose your next move. You can choose despair, such as Judas did; or you can choose repentance, forgiveness, and renewed zeal for the kingdom like Peter did following his denial. Choose wisely.

The call to repent is a call to action.*

October 10, 2026

John 8: 11 (NIV)

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Mercy stands higher than the law as the guiding principle of God's relationship with men.*

Jesus was all about change. The status quo was persona non grata. From calling his disciples to leave their lives behind; to his new way of looking at the law; to the Sermon on the Mount where he introduced a radical new worldview, Jesus changed the world. The woman caught in adultery – a pawn in the Pharisees’ attempt to trick Jesus – was told to leave her life of sin.

The world is not just quick to condemn Christians for being judgmental, they seem to take joy in finding us being intolerant. Well, good for them. I am intolerant of sin because Jesus is. Judgmental? It’s an overused, misused, and abused word. The woman was caught in the act of adultery (assuming her accusers aren’t being caught in the act of lying) – what’s to judge? Maybe you think there’s nothing wrong with adultery. Isn’t that a judgment?

Read the whole passage concerning this poor woman’s mock trial, in verses 3-11. Listen to what Jesus did and didn’t say.

• He didn’t say that what she did was not sin. 
• He didn’t say what an awful person she was. 
• He did say, in the absence of accusers, that he didn’t condemn her either. 
• He did say to leave her life of sin.

If we regard sinners the way Jesus does, the world will still criticize and accuse. But when Jesus says, “I don’t condemn you; leave your life of sin,” he’s talking to me, too. And I’m okay with that. Go ahead and call me judgmental.

You want to shine light in their life, but you don’t want to stick a flashlight in their eyes. I don’t see that Jesus forced himself on people. He just gave them truth.*