Not long ago, I watched a documentary on the transformation that takes place inside a cocoon. With less than scientific language, let me explain it: a caterpillar is enveloped by a cocoon. While in that state, the caterpillar literally dissolves into a pile of goo, then miraculously is rebuilt into a lifeform utterly different from what it was. It goes in as an ugly little worm and comes out as a beautiful flying butterfly. The scientist’s explanation was longer, but not clearer. Quite simply,

Adoption is something that is common. Families adopt children every day. What is unique is that these families share a bond of love as strong as that of families who have not adopted children. God’s love is like that. It is strong enough to love adopted children as much as natural children.

In our text (Romans 11:17-32), Paul is addressing

There is nothing like knowing you have a home. Many are familiar with the Christmas song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” I was a young soldier in the army as Desert Storm began in 1991. As the prospect of war became real and our training began to reveal the dangers we would face, thoughts of home and the knowledge that I had a place to return to one day gave me both courage and hope. No matter where you are or what you are going through, knowing you have a home waiting for you

“It’s just too good to be true. And besides, I was always told that if something is too good to be true, then it must not be true.” I understand. We live in a world filled with uncertainty and hopelessness. Indeed, as I write this, the COVID-19 virus is wreaking havoc around the world. Many are filled with fear. Just yesterday (March 17), I made the painful decision to cancel all church activities and services due to the virus. In fact, in the minds of many, the only things certain in this life are death and taxes. Our current circumstances do not offer encouragement.

But …

“So, I’m saved. Now what? I was told that if I confess my sin and call on Jesus, I am saved by faith. Further, I was told that because of what Jesus did on the cross, I am justified before God, have peace with God, and am declared righteous. But I don’t feel righteous. I still struggle with sinful thoughts and impulses. I feel old urges coming to the surface. Preacher, was I

As I reached for the remote to turn off the TV, a commercial featuring a famed chef caught my eye. He was holding up a cooking utensil and began telling how it changed his life. A cooking utensil changed his life? I chuckled as I turned the TV off. I wondered how many sales that would generate.

As I walked upstairs, I thought about something that changed my life. The gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ came into my life in August of 1994, and I have never been the same. Our lesson comes from Romans 1:1-17, where the apostle Paul introduces himself to the church at Rome. What immediately stands out is that Paul had a great desire

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5).

There are many things that can be said about these verses, but I want to point out one area that we sometimes overlook. These verses, in a roundabout way, speak to the reality of God’s grace that sinners receive when they come to Christ. We are not to stand in judgment of others lest we forget that we, too, are sinners who are guilty of sin. Not judging others does not mean we suspend our spiritual discernment or ignore sin, but it does mean we recognize that we are no better than others. Only a hypocrite can pass judgment on another without