Tag: Bible Commentary

April 6, 2026

April 6th, 2026

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 14

Highlight Verse:

“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The irony of this verse is it seems to suggest that the reason you should be humble is so you can be exalted.

That’s not the point.

Jesus comes out against the narcissist who would elevate themselves above everyone else.

Inevitably, that person will be brought down, if not in this life, certainly in the next.

The falsely humble person who chooses humility to gain recognition may get that recognition in this world, but God, who sees through to the heart, will only recognize true humility in the next life.

The truly humble will not seek recognition of any sort, in this life or the next.

Those are the ones whom God can trust to lead in the next life.

While trust in Jesus and repentance is what opens the door to eternal life, humility will earn the humble a place of honor and trust.

What is your take on humility?
Do you think that the truly humble can seek a reward of honor? Or is that reward simply a consequence of humility?
Sunday – Poetry

April 5th, 2026

Reading – Proverbs 20

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did Jesus know everything that was going to happen to Him?

His prayer in the garden the night of His arrest suggests that He knew some but not all.

What He knew was not going to be easy.

But He chose to trust His Father.

Today (Easter) we celebrate the results of that trust.

He chose to walk in the steps directed by God.

They led to death on a cross.

Without that death there would be no resurrection for Him or for us.

Because of His death on the cross, we have new life.

Sometimes the steps before us are painful and uncertain.

But if they are directed by the Lord, they will always lead to life.

As we celebrate the resurrection, remember the difficult steps that Jesus took to get there.

Then go forth in the steps God has placed before us.

Have you taken some difficult steps that led to new life? Share your stories.
What next steps has God placed before you? Are they tough?
April 4, 2026

April 4th, 2026
Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Matthew 27:45-28:15

Highlight Verses:

“The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭62‬-‭63‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you ever notice how surprised Jesus’ disciples were when He rose from the dead?

You know who wasn’t surprised?

The leading priests and Pharisees. They wanted the tomb sealed and guards posted to keep Him in there.

I can’t say that I ever noticed that little irony.

To be honest, I didn’t this time either but the Sunday school curriculum I’m about to teach from tomorrow pointed it out.

Allow me to boggle your mind a little further.

The one who believes in God more than anyone else this side of heaven…

Is Satan.

He believes so strongly in God’s ability to send him to the lake of fire that he is pulling out all the stops to try to keep people from believing.

We who believe are not impervious to his attacks. He’ll do everything he can to sow doubt into our minds.

He has a whole army assigned to discourage us.

We are powerless to stop him …

Without Jesus.
- With Jesus, that punk doesn’t have a prayer – literally.
- With Jesus, we can defeat all the plans of the evil one.
- With Jesus, we can roll away the stones that hold us down.
- With Jesus, the curtain that separated us from God is torn aside and we can walk right in.
- With Jesus we can walk in true resurrection life!
If you don’t fully understand the significance of Resurrection Sunday, come to church tomorrow (Easter).

If you’re not sure where to go, message me and I’ll help you find a good church.

If you’re in the Denver metro area, join me at Pillar Church, 88th and Telluride (Capstone Academy) in Commerce City at 10 am.

Is your faith stronger than Satan’s?
How do you enlist God’s help to defeat Satan?
April 3, 2026

April 3rd, 2026

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Daniel 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Daniel was as righteous as they come.

His faithfulness in the face of opposition puts my meager faith to shame.

But when it comes to pleading for mercy for his nation, he lumps himself right in with the worst sinners in Israel.

Was his self image really that low?

I don’t think so.

I believe he recognized that, if he was to plead for the nation, he had to identify with the nation.

He so closely identified with the nation of Israel that he took on the shame of Israel as he laid his nation’s soul bare before the Lord.

And God listened.

From the moment he started praying, he started the wheels in motion to restore the nation of Israel.

As people seeking to live righteous lives before God, it is easy to become judgmental of those who bring down the level of purity in our nation.

I daresay that is one of the reasons our nation is so sharply divided right now.

What would happen if we all humbled ourselves before God, confessing the sin of the nation as our own?

Restoration!

Can you join me today in praying for the restoration of our nation (or your nation if you are outside the US)?
April 2, 2026

April 2nd, 2026

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 13

Highlight Verses:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The denomination I spent most of my adult life in had Hebrews 13:8 posted in every church.

That’s a very good thing.

We should be reminded that the Gospel is unchanging, that Jesus is just as powerful today as 2000 years ago.

But it doesn’t stop there.

In context, the writer of Hebrews is countering a trend to follow a kosher diet to remain in good standing with God.

That was never part of the Gospel.

While that specific issue is not much of a current topic today, the concept remains the same.

Verse 8 goes hand in hand with verse 9.

Culture changes.

The Gospel does not.

While the way we perceive the Gospel may change, the Truth remains – Salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus alone.

No special rules.

Just acknowledge your sin, and trust in Jesus by accepting His sacrifice to pay for that sin.

If you think more is required for salvation, think again.

No special diet, no ceremonies, no priests, just faith.

Are there any traditions or new ideas that you have felt were essential to salvation?
Are there any popular new ideas that you see as a threat to the message of salvation? Please explain.
April 1, 2026

April 1st, 2026

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Chronicles 1-3

Highlight Verse:

“These were the sons of David, not including his sons born to his concubines. Their sister was named Tamar.”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every family tree has some interesting branches.

My own grandmother was a servant in my grandfather’s parents’ household when they ran off to America together.

In the Bible there were many interesting characters and incidents.

Did you know that two of them were named Tamar?

They are both mentioned in today’s reading.

One was the widowed daughter-in-law of Judah.

Then there was David’s daughter who was a victim of her half brother Amnon.

I had to wonder if there was any significance to the name “Tamar.” Nope.

I looked it up. It means “date palm.”

While it was not a common name, it was not completely uncommon.

Its variants can still be found throughout the western world (Tamara, Tammy, etc.).

Then I wondered how similar their stories were.

Both were victims, but of very different wrongs.

David’s daughter lived out her life in presumed righteousness in another brother’s household.

Judah’s daughter-in-law fought back in a rather questionable way, tricking Judah into fathering her twin sons.

One of Tamar’s twins was an ancestor to King David and eventually Jesus.

God took that crazy messed up situation and turned it around for good.

He does that.

A lot.

Just look up the stories of Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba and many others.

If your family tree has some cracked branches or you feel like you are a sagging branch on your family tree, know that God has a habit of repairing branches, even grafting them into His own branch.

Will you let him repair your branches?

What is your favorite story of redemption in the Bible?
What is your story of redemption?
March 31, 2026

March 31st, 2026

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Leviticus 18-19

Highlight Verse:

“So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭18‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s be honest, I don’t like to write about sin all the time.

But that’s what today’s reading is about.

And nestled in the middle of it is another reason not to sin.

This one is not about pleasing God or not offending God, though those are good reasons not to sin.

This is about not defiling the land.

How would sinning defile the land?

The commentaries I read talk about bringing so much sin to a land that God brings His judgement and kicks the people out to bring in new people.

Others speak of making the land unworthy of God’s temple.

Those are valid ideas, but I think it goes further than that.

God designed us.

He created humankind and knew how human beings function best, physically, psychologically, and spiritually.

He even wrote the manual to help us understand ourselves and take care of ourselves and those around us the best possible way.

When we ignore those instructions, life doesn’t run very well.

When we ignore the instructions as a society, the whole community falls apart.

Take it far enough and the land falls into strife, war, poverty, and blight.

Let it go even further and God will bring in new governance, wiping away the old.

What is your take on what is meant by defiling the land?
What can we do to prevent defilement?
March 30, 2026

March 30th, 2026

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 13

Highlight Verses:

“When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How often do we see miracles like this?

How often do we expect to see them?

I’m guessing your answer is “seldom” to both questions.

No judgement here as that would be my answer too.

I have to wonder what would happen if we adjusted our beliefs to align with stories like this.

I will never be part of the “name it and claim it” or “blab it and grab it” crowd.

God is not a genie sent to grant our wishes.

But there is something to be said for praying and expecting to see a miracle.

Miracles do happen, even today.

I have seen it.

• I’ve seen asthma healed.
• I’ve seen cancer disappear.
• I’ve seen a child with severe head trauma walk out of the hospital the next day completely well.
• I’ve heard countless similar stories.

And yet I still find it hard to pray with unwavering faith.

I once knew an evangelist who ran crusades in the American South and in India. He would see the occasional miracle here in the states, but every crusade in India saw several healings and dozens if not hundreds of salvations.

The same God was behind each of those miracles.

But where need was great, faith was greater.

I’m not praying for need, but I do pray and long for greater faith.

While I will not share specific requests in this public forum, I will ask for God’s healing for me and family members.

If you would like prayer, just comment “me too” below and let’s join together today to pray for each other in faith.

May our faith rise up together to meet God’s abilities and plans.
March 29, 2026 – Palm Sunday

March 29th, 2026

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 19

Highlight Verse:

“Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When we bought our house, it had terrible green fake grass flooring in the sunroom.

I installed some really nice-looking flooring after fixing a sagging spot.

It looked great –

For maybe six months.

It buckled. It faded.

Eventually it sagged again.

My knowledge of flooring exposed to the weather was too limited.

I’ve since done more research and gotten more experience and will eventually fix it correctly.

For now, there’s a rug that covers the worst areas.

My enthusiasm outran my knowledge.

Today, Palm Sunday, we celebrate the triumphant entry. The people there were very enthusiastic.

But their knowledge was limited.

Don’t get me wrong. They had great reasons to celebrate.

But when Jesus didn’t conform to their preconceived expectations, they turned against Him with equal enthusiasm only days later.

I believe we should worship with great enthusiasm regardless of our level of knowledge about Jesus.

At the same time, we should seek greater knowledge about Jesus.

That way we can remain strong in our faith even when people try to turn us away from Him.

How do you seek knowledge of Jesus?
Are you prepared to worship enthusiastically today?
March 28, 2026

March 28th, 2026

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 19:28-48

Highlight Verses:

“But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; the day we celebrate the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

There are so many lessons we can learn from that moment in history.

No doubt you will hear some of those in tomorrow’s sermons.

The Triumphant Entry is recorded in each of the Gospels.

Each account seems to have a different perspective or emphasis.

Luke is the only one who includes the Pharisees’ complaint about the people’s praises.

Jesus’ reply is one of my favorite verses in the Bible.

I’ve always wanted to see rocks burst into praise.

It makes me think of Larry Norman and his song “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?”

Only, in that case, the Rock ‘n’ Roll burst into cheers for Jesus. (Sorry – I just had to go there).

The point I really want to make here is the coming of Jesus was such incredibly great news that there is no way to stop the celebration!

If you feel hesitant to sign out loud in praise, just think of Jesus’ words here.

Join the celebration in church tomorrow and don’t hold back your praises.

After all, if you hold back, Larry Norman might just out praise you.

Do you tend to hold back in singing praises? Why or why not?
What is your favorite song to praise God with?

Link to Larry Norman Song

Tag: Bible Commentary

The irony of this verse is it seems to suggest that the reason you should be humble is so you can be exalted.

The truly humble will not seek recognition of any sort, in this life or the next.

Those are the ones whom God can trust to lead in the next life.

Did Jesus know everything that was going to happen to Him?

Because of His death on the cross, we have new life.

Then go forth in the steps God has placed before us.

You know who wasn’t surprised?

Allow me to boggle your mind a little further.

Daniel was as righteous as they come.

Was his self image really that low?

What would happen if we all humbled ourselves before God, confessing the sin of the nation as our own?

Restoration!

We should be reminded that the Gospel is unchanging, that Jesus is just as powerful today as 2000 years ago.

Culture changes.

The Gospel does not.

Just acknowledge your sin, and trust in Jesus by accepting His sacrifice to pay for that sin.

Every family tree has some interesting branches.

Did you know that two of them were named Tamar?

He does that.

A lot.

But that’s what today’s reading is about.

How would sinning defile the land?

When we ignore those instructions, life doesn’t run very well.

How often do we expect to see them?

I have seen it.

If you would like prayer, just comment “me too” below and let’s join together today to pray for each other in faith.

May our faith rise up together to meet God’s abilities and plans.

My enthusiasm outran my knowledge.

But their knowledge was limited.

At the same time, we should seek greater knowledge about Jesus.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; the day we celebrate the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

I’ve always wanted to see rocks burst into praise.

Join the celebration in church tomorrow and don’t hold back your praises.