FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING – IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? (Insights From Leviticus)

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

LEVITICUS 14:12, 14: “The priest will take one of the male lambs and the olive oil and present them as a guilt offering, lifting them up as a special offering before the Lord…The priest will then take some of the blood of the guilt offering and apply it to the lobe of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot of the person being purified.” NLT

OBSERVATION: Is there a difference between forgiveness and cleansing? I have often pondered this question, especially when I have read John’s first epistle.

1 John 1:7-9: “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” NLT

John proclaims Jesus’ promise to the one who confesses their sins. Jesus will not only forgive their sin, but will also cleanse them from all unrighteousness. These two things are promised to the truly penitent heart. The question to understand is, what is the difference between forgiveness and cleansing?

Leviticus 14 records Moses’ instructions for those who had a skin disease, were healed, and wanted to be declared clean once again. Skin diseases, like leprosy, made a person unclean and separated them from the community. Their relationships were broken, and they were declared unclean. This forced them to live outside of the community. Like a skin disease, sin breaks our fellowship with God and with others. When we sin, we need to be both forgiven and cleansed.

The ceremony and sacrifices involved in the cleansing for one healed of a skin disease are quite interesting. While we do not follow the Old Testament Law, we must remember that these sacrifices were a picture of the final and complete sacrifice by Jesus Christ on the cross. To be healed of one’s skin disease would be the equivalent of being forgiven for one’s sins. We were guilty and separated from God, but now we have been forgiven, and our sins are remembered no more!

Yet, like the person in Leviticus 14, we also need to be cleansed. This does not mean God’s forgiveness is inadequate. It simply means that forgiveness must be followed by a change of direction and a restoration of fellowship. The person with the skin disease was declared healed, but was only declared clean once they completed the sacrifices.

There were three sacrifices involved in cleansing the person with a skin disease. They were:

  • The Guilt Offering
  • The Sin Offering
  • The Burnt Offering

The first sacrifice to be offered was the guilt offering. The guilt offering was an offering for intentional sins. This was the sin of commission. The person knew what they were doing when they sinned against God’s commandments. The offering that was given for forgiveness and cleansing was the guilt offering. When the person with the skin disease offered their guilt offering, the priest did something quite unusual.

Leviticus 14:14-17: “The priest will then take some of the blood of the guilt offering and apply it to the lobe of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot of the person being purified. “Then the priest will pour some of the olive oil into the palm of his own left hand. He will dip his right finger into the oil in his palm and sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the Lord. The priest will then apply some of the oil in his palm over the blood from the guilt offering that is on the lobe of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot of the person being purified.” NLT

First, the cleansing of the person with a skin disease involved sanctification (setting the person apart) through blood that was applied to the right ear, thumb of the right hand, and big toe of the right foot. Through the blood of the sacrfice the person was forgiven and set apart regarding what they heard (right ear), what they did (thumb of the right hand), and where they went (big toe on the right foot). Yet, it did not stop there.

Second, the cleansing of the person with a skin disease was not complete without consecration through the anointing of God’s presence in their lives. This is symbolized by the placement of the anointing oil, mingling with the blood already applied, that was placed on the right ear (to anoint what they heard), the thumb on the right hand (to anoint what they did), and the big toe on the right foot (to anoint where they would go).

Finally, their acceptance as one cleansed and restored to full fellowship with the community was symbolized when the priest anointed the head of the one who had been healed.

Leviticus 14:18: “The priest will apply the oil remaining in his hand to the head of the person being purified. Through this process, the priest will purify the person before the Lord.” NLT

Once this was complete, the priest would offer the sin offering and finally the burnt offering for the one being cleansed. The sin offering was the offering for unintentional sins. In this way, it differed from the guilt offering. The burnt offering was the offering of the covenant. It symbolized God’s faithfulness and covenant with the one who was offering the sacrifice to the Lord. It was only when all of this was done that we read,

Leviticus 14:20: “…Through this process, the priest will purify the person who was healed, and the person will be ceremonially clean.” NLT

How does this apply to the New Testament believer? We are saved by grace through faith in the complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of our sins, we become sons and daughters of God, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit of promise. Yet, we are still sinners. We are forgiven, but we all still sin, whether intentionally, unintentionally, or by omission. Whatever the case, sin breaks our fellowship with God. It does not break our relationship after we are saved, but sin does break our fellowship with God.

We are like the person with the skin disease whose fellowship with the community was broken because of their uncleanness. We must come to Jesus and repent of our sin, just like we did when we came to Him for salvation. The Good News is that He is always faithful and just to forgive our sins. Yet, Jesus does not stop there. Jesus also wants to cleanse us from our unrighteousness.

We, too, need to be sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ and consecrated through the infilling of the Holy Spirit. God’s forgiveness is complete, but our fellowship needs to be restored through the Holy Spirit’s cleansing work. We need to be cleansed in what we hear (right ear), what we do (thumb on our right hand), and where we go (big toe on our right foot). True repentance will always be followed by the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit. God desires to restore our fellowship with Him and transform our lives into the image of His Son.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18: “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” NLT

The ceremony for the cleansing of a person with a skin disease is a beautiful picture of God’s forgiveness and the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are completely forgiven through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (justification). We are set apart for fellowship (sanctification) and anointed for service (consecration) through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. God always cleanses the one whom He forgives! The Holy Spirit is always working to transform our unrighteousness into His righteousness.

1 John 1:7-9: “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” NLT

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ and the transformational work of the Holy Spirit in my life. Forgive me for the sin that I have committed, was unaware that I had committed, or the good that I omitted to do. Cleanse me and set me apart today in what I hear, what I do, and where I go. Empower me by the Holy Spirit to walk in the pathway of Your righteousness as I leave my unrighteousness at the foot of the cross!

Psalms 23:3: “He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” NLT

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Leviticus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THE PATHWAY OF THANKFULNESS (Begins at the Cross!)

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

PSALMS 50:14-15: “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” NLT

OBSERVATION: Am I on the pathway of thankfulness? Is my heart filled with worship and praise for all God has done in my life? As I look over the pathway of my life, am I celebrating the hand of God’s mercy and grace? When I go to the house of worship, is it to bring the sacrifice of praise?

Let’s be honest. Thankfulness is not something that comes naturally. We are born into this world focused on our needs. As we go through life, it is easy to become filled with worry and anxiety as we look toward our future. Our prayers become more about what we need than about giving glory to the One who meets our needs.

Worship in today’s church has become a “me” centered event. It is all about what I get out of the sermon, whether I feel blessed by the music, whether someone is praying for my needs, and whether I am recognized for my service. The focus of our worship is not giving thanks to God; it is bringing our laundry list of needs to Him!

The Jews made their sacrifices the center of their worship. It was all about what they were bringing to God, what they were doing for God. Throughout the history of the Jewish people, we find them offering sacrifices while grumbling about their lives. They expected God’s favor and blessing based on their sacrifices while ignoring the condition of their heart. God made it very clear. He did not need their sacrifices.

Psalms 50:8-10: “I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.” NLT

God does not need what we do for Him. God desires us to honor who He is and to be thankful. When we approach the altar with the sacrifice of thankfulness, our hearts are focused on Jesus and all that He has done for us. When we look to the cross, we realize that there is nothing more that He needs to do. His work is complete, and everything we will ever need is found in Him!

Romans 8:31-32: “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” NLT

The cross is the source of my thankfulness. If the Father did not spare His only begotten Son, but gave Him up for our sins, then will He not also freely give us all things? The cross is where I meet Jesus for salvation. It is where the Holy Spirit works sanctification, making me more like Jesus. And it is where I will embrace my full redemption when I am clothed with a glorified body and enter into the fullness of eternal life!

This thankfulness causes me to look up to heaven. It lifts me from the mundanity of everyday life. It enables me to,

“…keep the vows you (I have) made to the Most High.” Psalms 50:14 NLT

The blessing of living a life of thankfulness flowing from the cross of Jesus Christ is the promise of God’s faithfulness in answered prayer.

“Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalms 50:15 NLT

Thankfulness keeps me on the pathway of Spirit-empowered obedience. Spirit-empowered obedience leads me to the fountain of God’s grace and mercy. God’s grace and mercy usher me into the fullness of Jesus Christ and the power of His cross!

Paul experienced the power of the cross as He gave thanks to God. As we look upon the cross of Jesus Christ, our focus is on Him and all that He has done for us. What can we do as we gaze upon His cross, remember His great sacrifice, look upon the empty tomb, and remember His promises?

We can offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, giving our lives as living sacrifices through Spirit-empowered obedience to His will! Paul’s exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 is a wonderful way to pray and commit our lives to this call to thankfulness.

Always be joyful.

Never stop praying.

Be thankful in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

Do not scoff at prophecies,

but test everything that is said.

Hold on to what is good.

Stay away from every kind of evil.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,

And may your whole spirit, soul, and body

be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Psalms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AM I SORRY…OR…AM I REPENTANT?

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

LUKE 3:7-8: “When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, ‘You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.”

OBSERVATION: Am I sorry or am I repentant? The answer to this question will determine whether I continue making the same mistakes or receive God’s grace to break the patterns of brokenness in my life. Is it possible that we have lost the concept of repentance in our message as the church?

As a child, I learned the difference between saying “I’m sorry” and repenting. Usually, when I said “I’m sorry,” I was not moved by the gravity of my actions. I was sad with the consequences surrounding my sin and being found out. As long as I was getting away with it, I was ok. When I got caught, I was sorry, sorry that I could no longer continue doing what I wanted to do, and for the punishment that I incurred.

However, repentance is something quite different. Like saying “I’m sorry,” there is a sense of sorrow for what I have done. Yet, the sorrow is not that I was caught. It is a godly sorrow. It is the understanding that what I have done has displeased God and broken His commands and will for my life. Godly sorrow leads to true repentance.

What is true repentance? It is the tangible expression of our godly sorrow manifested in outward actions that prove the sincerity of our words – with actions. John the Baptist was very straightforward and honest when asked what it meant to repent.

Luke 3:10-14: “The crowds asked, ‘What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.” “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” NLT

The word translated “repentance” from the Greek language means to make an about-face, a 180-degree turn. It is to turn from our sin and turn toward God. It is to turn from our wrong actions and begin to show our godly sorrow with new actions. We are unable to do this in our own strength. However, when we turn to the Lord, we are met with His grace. It is at the point of true repentance that we meet Jesus as our Savior and Lord. This is why John, Jesus, and the Apostles never invited people to simply “believe” in Jesus. They invited people to repent and believe!

Mark 1:14-15: “Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” NLT

Acts of the Apostles 2:37-38: “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” NLT

To pray to receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord without godly sorrow for our sins is like saying “I’m sorry” while continuing to walk and live the same way. The Rich Young Ruler is a good example of someone who wanted to follow Jesus but was not willing to repent. He was not even willing to admit that he wanted to repent, but was struggling with the first step. When faced with his covetousness and the call to repent, he left sorrowful. It was not sorrow for his sin but for what it would mean to give it up!

While it is not repentance that saves us, it is repentance that turns our hearts toward the grace of God that does. We are saved by grace through faith and not by our works. Yet, repentance is not a work. It is a choice. It is the hungry heart turning to God and calling out for forgiveness. It is the sinful heart running to the cross and laying down everything to gain Jesus Christ!

To receive the grace of God in our lives, we need to have empty hands and a contrite heart. We need repentance! To live in the grace of God as a believer, we need the same. Each day, we are faced with the choice. Will I come to God with a repentant heart, or will I hang on to the sin that so easily trips me up and causes me to live in my past? Repentance is the beginning step for every day. I come to the cross, I lay down my sin, my self, and my attempt to try and please God in my own strength, and I cling to Jesus!

I cannot cling to Jesus while holding on to the entrapments of this life. I can only receive His life and grace with empty hands and a contrite heart. This is how I need to live if I am going to be a fruitful and productive child of God. So, this morning…

Heavenly Father, I come to the cross. I come just as I am. I come to lay down my sins and every heavy burden I have picked up along the way. I come to embrace anew, Jesus Christ, as my personal Lord and Savior. Forgive me, cleanse me, fill me, and give me the grace to live in the power of Spirit-filled obedience to You and Your Word!

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Luke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WHEN ALL SEEMS DARK, REMEMBER…”IT IS FINISHED!”

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

MARK 15:33-34: “At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” NLT

OBSERVATION: What do I do when all hope seems to be lost? Where do I turn when all the doors seem to be closed? How do I respond to times when all seems dark?

I remember as a small boy, one of our annual trips from California to Michigan, to visit my grandmother. Each year, we would race to get to Michigan, but on the way back, we would take different routes to see the wonders of America.

I will never forget the time I was introduced to total darkness. I do not recall the caverns that we visited, but it was one of the famous ones. When we were in the depths of the cavern, we were all told to stand perfectly still. At that moment, all the lights were extinguished, and I experienced, for the first time in my life…

TOTAL DARKNESS!

The total darkness I experienced made an impression on my young mind. Yet, the lights were soon back on, and we walked back into the daylight once again. All the times of darkness we face in this life are temporary. We may be in the valley of darkness at the moment, but there is light at the end of the tunnel!

The darkness Jesus faced was much different. Although there was physical darkness that covered the land during the last three hours of His crucifixion, it was not this darkness that Jesus cried out in agony about. It was the total darkness of separation from the Father as He took upon Himself the sins of the world, and His eternal fellowship with the Father was broken for that moment in time.

This was not like the darkness I experienced in the caverns, which was remedied with the flick of a light switch. This was the complete darkness of separation. Sin separates us from God, and Jesus became the totality of our sin for us, past, present, and future!

II Corinthians 5:21: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” NKJV

Think of the wonder of this event. Jesus experienced total darkness, complete separation from God, bearing our sins for us, past, present, and future, so that we would never have to experience total darkness ourselves! He became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him!

“My God, My God, why have you abandoned Me,” were not Jesus last words. Jesus last words were…

John 19:30: “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” NKJV

This was not a cry of defeat. This was a cry of VICTORY! Jesus had fully paid the penalty of sin for us. He experienced complete separation from God as He gave His own blood for our sins. And God accepted His sacrifice as payment in full. What happened next was wonderful!

1 Peter 3:18-19: “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison…” NLT

Ephesians 4:8-10: “…When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.” NLT

When Jesus experienced total darkness for us, He purchased total light for all who will believe. When He said, “It is finished!”, it was not the cry of defeat, but the cry of VICTORY. Jesus went to Hell for us, but not as one conquered by death. Jesus went to Hell as the conquering hero who led those waiting in Abraham’s bosom into Paradise with Him! Jesus reclaimed the keys to death and hell and arose on the Third Day – in complete victory!

Why is this so important? All the darkness we face in this life is temporary. Yet, the only darkness that can completely overcome us is the darkness of death. Without Jesus Christ, death is the final darkness of complete separation from God and anything good. Yet, Jesus stands before us as the Light of the World. When we place our faith in Him, we live this life with ultimate confidence. We, with the Apostle Paul, proclaim…

1 Corinthians 15:55-57: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” NLT

And, we face each period of temporary darkness in our lives with the confidence that the light of Jesus Christ will break through and lead us into victory!

Psalms 23:4-6: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” NLT

What a powerful promise! What blessed assurance! The darkness I may be experiencing at the moment will be transformed in the light of His faithfulness. He is always close beside me. He is always leading, guiding, and protecting. Jesus has been to Hell and back for you and me, and there is nothing that can separate us from His love!

Heavenly Father, in my moment of darkness, open my spiritual eyes to see Your marvelous light! Open my eyes to see Jesus and to hear His words of victory – “IT IS FINISHED!

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Mark | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HOW DID I GET HERE?

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

PSALMS 39:4-5: “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” NLT

OBSERVATION: How did I get here? Have you ever asked/ that question? One day, you wake up, look in the mirror, and the person you see on the inside looks completely different from the one who is staring back at you. It seems like we blink our eyes and decades fly by.

David has one of these moments when he is crying out to the Lord. He prays, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting life is.” We don’t know when David had these thoughts. I would guess it was later in his life. He remembered his time guiding sheep and worshipping God on his harp. Now, a lifetime has slipped by, and he asks…

“How did I get here?”

It is easy to focus on the brevity of life. We all face mortality when someone dear to us dies. A dear friend I worked with for over 35 years retired at 69 to enjoy his retirement. In less than a year, right before his 70th birthday, he was gone. These are the times that shake us and remind us that we are simply passing through. As believers, we know that our focus should not be on the temporal but the eternal. How do we do that?

Paul gives us the answer in his second letter to the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” NLT

While this life is but a vapor, we must remember that we are living for eternity! It is so easy to forget this as we struggle through life each day. The days either fly by or they seem like they will never end. If our focus is on the present troubles, then we will be troubled and unable to walk in confidence and peace. The tyranny of the urgent will rob us of our peace.

Yet, if we fix our gaze upon the eternal, we will find the confidence to face every mountain with courage and determination. We will cherish each day and opportunity and see them as God’s preparation for our eternal life in His presence. We will not lament the years gone by. We will focus on the eternity that is ahead. The life we have left will be lived with continual purpose as we anticipate the glory that we will one day receive.

Yet, it is hard to keep my focus on eternity when my feet are anchored in the daily grind of life. However, I must stop, lift up my eyes, and look heavenward. Paul reminds us not to look at the things we see, but to look, with eyes of faith, at the things that are eternal. The question is no longer, “How did I get here?” The question now becomes…

“Where am I going?”

God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die in our place. Through Jesus death for our sins and victorious resurrection from the dead, our eternal destiny has been changed, and our outlook has been transformed. We are now, right now, in this very moment, living in the reality of our eternal life! One day, we will say goodbye to this earthly tent we live in, but our life will continue. This is why Paul can declare,

2 Corinthians 4:16: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” NLT

Years ago, I wrote a song about this process. The chorus went,

You’re not getting older

Just wiser every day

You’re not getting older

For a spirit cannot age

Though wrinkles now line,

What was a baby’s face

The life now in your spirit

Grows younger every day!

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me to look up this morning. Although my earthly life is but a vapor, my eternal life is forever. This short journey that seems to pass by so quickly is but the preparation for my eternal life in Your presence. Grant me the grace to look heavenward, not at the things I see, or the things staring back at me in the mirror. Grant me the grace to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith, and to Your eternal promise of glory!

Psalms 39:12: Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest— a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me.” NLT

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Psalms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY?

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

EXODUS 20:4-6: “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” NLT

OBSERVATION: In the classic days of Saturday Night Live, when they were focused more on comedy than political ideology, there was a memorable character who made frequent appearances that was unforgettable. It was the comedian Don Novello, and the character was Father Guido Sarducci.

One bit I will never forget was the time Father Guido, upset that he had been passed over once again in becoming a bishop, decided he was going to teach the church a lesson. He would start his own church called the People’s Catholic Church and name himself the Pope.

To sell this new church, he began to list all the changes he would make. One unforgettable line was, “In the People’s Catholic Church, we don’t have the 10 Commandments, we have the 10 Suggestions.“ This line never left me. It made me laugh for sure, but the more I think about it, this is exactly what has happened with the 10 Commandments. Our present culture has disregarded these commands and, with them, has also thrown away personal responsibility.

The Children of Israel had just been rescued from slavery. In Egypt, they did not have the freedom to choose or do what they wanted to do. There was no liberty for a slave. Each day was lived under the iron fist of the Egyptian army who enforced the will of Pharaoh on their lives. When the government has this kind of power over one’s life, a person gives up and quickly becomes a puppet. We recently witnessed how easy it is to control an entire nation as we experienced the Covid 19 ordeal in 2020.

How would these newly freed slaves behave? What would they do with all this newfound freedom? The 10 Commandments were given, not as a means for God to control His people. The 10 Commandments were given to guide His people as they learned to exercise personal responsibility. No longer would they be ruled with a sword and a spear. God would guide them by His Word.

The Children of Israel were now being called to a life of worship and personal responsibility.

Personal responsibility has become a dirty word in our culture. We live with a victim mentality. It is always someone else’s fault for the ills we face. It is someone else or something else that is to blame. I really don’t have a choice. I am a victim of my circumstances and my environment. Personal responsibility is not mine. It has been taken away from me by others.

The truth is that we are responsible for our actions and our choices. The 10 Commandments do not begin with a focus on our horizontal responsibilities. They begin with our vertical responsibility. If we neglect our responsibility to worship the One true God, then we will also neglect all of our responsibilities within society.

Personal responsibility begins with worship!

God’s mighty judgments against Egypt were a judgment against all the false gods they served. It was as much a lesson for the Israelites as it was a judgment for the Egyptians. One by one, God judged the gods of the Egyptians, and probably many that the Israelites secretly served. When He brought Israel out of Egypt with His mighty hand, the very first thing He commanded them was to worship Him and Him alone!

Paul, in the first chapter of Romans, outlines what happens when we turn away from the one true God. When there is no fear of God, there is no respect for persons. When there is no respect for persons, there is no need for personal responsibility. It becomes my way or the highway. We lie, cheat, commit sexual immorality, steal, covet, show disrespect, and kill. And, all the while we are doing these things, we blame someone else.

As a culture, we have embraced Father Guido Sarducci’s 10 Suggestions!

There is a consequence when we ignore the 10 Commandments. God spells it out clearly before He even gets to our personal responsibility toward others. If we do not worship God as Creator and Lord, if we embrace other gods and follow our sinful desires, we will reap the benefits of these sins and pass this misery on to our families, even to the third and fourth generation!

“…I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.”

Yet, when we submit ourselves under the mighty hand of God, when we receive His free gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and when we are filled with the Holy Spirit of promise, we come under the blessings of His covenant, and the curse of our irresponsibility is broken!

“But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”

Personal responsibility is no longer something that we ignore or run from. Rather, it is the expression of a changed heart to a Holy God. Personal responsibility flows from a heart that is transformed by His unfailing love. The 10 Commandments are no longer a list of negatives that I can’t do. They become a list of expressions of how transforming love responds to others. I honor my parents because I am being transformed by God’s love. I protect my neighbor because it is the expression of God’s love working through me.

I embrace personal responsibility because I am embraced by the Love of God!

1 John 2:4-6: “If someone claims, ‘I know God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” NLT

All great revivals in human history have been followed by a revival of personal responsibility. We no longer hide or justify our sin. We own it, confess it, and receive Jesus’ forgiveness and cleansing. The love of God is poured out upon us by the Holy Spirit, and our natural response to this is to obey God’s Word – out of love! This is why love is the greatest of all!

Only when we are captivated once again with the love of Jesus Christ will we rediscover and embrace our personal responsibility.

Heavenly Father, bring revival to your church once again! Set our hearts on fire to worship You and give You first place in our lives. Give us a heart for the lost and a desire to serve our neighbor through Your love. May we joyfully take on the mantel of personal responsibility so that we can give You glory and light the way for others who are lost in the darkness, leading them to the cross of Jesus Christ!

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Exodus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WHERE AM I GOING?

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

MARK 4:35-40: “As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly, the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” NLT

OBSERVATION: Where am I going? This is a question that we face over and over again throughout our lives. It is a question that changes throughout the seasons of life. When we are young, we wonder, “What will I do when I grow up?” When we are old, we wonder, “What will I do now that my career is over?” No matter what stage of life we find ourselves in, we wonder…

Where am I going?

The Christian life is a call to walk by faith and not by sight. It is a call to learn obedience even when the path is unclear. It is a call to trust the Lord in all situations. Many times, as we walk with the Lord, the road we find ourselves on is not the road we had imagined. There are twists and turns, obstacles, and the direction becomes unclear. The disciples had heard Jesus say, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake,” but now they were faced with a storm that threatened their lives. At this moment, they wondered…

Where are we going?

To make matters worse, Jesus was sound asleep at the back of the boat, resting with His head on a cushion. As the wind and waves rose around them, Jesus’ words were quickly forgotten. They did not remember His command. They only focused on the storm. Jesus knew where He was going, so He could rest in the full assurance of the Father’s protection. The disciples could only see the turn of events, and this literally rocked their world!

As I ponder this familiar account in the Gospel of Mark, I am reminded of a wonderful statement from David in the book of Psalms.

Psalms 37:23-25: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.” NLT

David, toward the end of his life, looks over all the paths that he has traveled. As he does, he recalls the faithfulness of God. The believer does not wander aimlessly through life. The Lord directs the believer’s very steps. The Lord is actively interested and involved in every detail of our lives. When you and I stumble along the way, the Lord sustains us; He holds us by the hand. In all the stages of life, He guides, He sustains, and He provides!

Jesus was confident in God’s promise that He was going to cross over to the other side. This is why Jesus could rest in the midst of the storm. The disciples (and we) struggle with what we see more than resting in what God has promised. We allow the tyranny of the immediate steal the peace of His promise. When we remember God’s faithfulness, when we focus on His promise, when we are anchored in His unfailing love, we hear the words…

“PEACE BE STILL!”

The wind and the waves we are facing are stilled. His presence fills our hearts with blessed hope and assurance. We may not know where we are going at the moment, but we know that He is guiding us and that He has not forgotten us. We too can rest in the storms of life as we walk in His peace that surpasses all human understanding.

This morning, I find myself in the boat, wondering where I am going. There are storms raging and temptations to focus on the uncertainty of this life. Yet, when I look closer, I see Jesus. In His eyes, I find the faith and strength to rest, trust, and sail on. He is charting the course of my life (and yours)! He knows exactly where He is leading me. His faithfulness will both sustain me and bring me to shore! The writer of Hebrews reminds me,

Hebrews 2:8-9: “You gave them authority over all things.” Now, when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who, for a little while, was given a position “a little lower than the angels,” and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.”

I may not always see or know the destination around the next turn in the journey of life. Yet there is one thing that is always sure…

“I SEE JESUS!”

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that You are guiding every step that I take. Your faithfulness, provision, and promise are guiding me through every season and storm of life. Open my eyes and fill my heart with faith. In every circumstance, around every turn, through every storm, help me to remember…

“I SEE JESUS!”

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Mark | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IS GOD STILL SPEAKING TODAY?

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

PSALMS 29:3-9: “The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty sea. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf; he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with bolts of lightning. The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple, everyone shouts, “Glory!” NLT

OBSERVATION: Is God still speaking today? Is He speaking to me? Is my heart open to hear His voice? Is He speaking every day, or is His voice only heard once in a great while? Am I hearing…

The Voice of the Lord?

I want to hear from God! I want to hear His voice! I want to know what God is calling me to do! Yet, many times, I am unaware of what He is saying. It does not seem like He is speaking, or at least, I do not hear Him. As I read Psalm 29, I am struck with this phrase…

The Voice of the Lord!

If one were to ask David, ” Is God speaking?” David would reply, “God is speaking all the time!” The problem is not whether or not God is speaking. The problem lies with me. Am I listening? David hears God’s Voice in everything!

  • The Lord speaks through the thunder!
  • The Lord speaks through the lightning!
  • The Lord speaks through the majesty of nature!
  • The Lord speaks through the majesty of creation!
  • The Lord speaks through the earthquake!
  • The Lord speaks through the mighty wind!

THE LORD IS ALWAYS SPEAKING!

As I open God’s Word each morning, from my chair, I look out on the 14th fairway of the golf course we live on. Each morning, I take for granted the wonderful sights I see. There is the beautiful grass, palm trees reaching toward the sky, beautiful flowers on the deck outside my house, and a constant, wonderful array of wildlife that parade in front of our glass slider.

I can sit here, morning after morning, wondering – “Is God going to speak to me today?” And, all the while, He is speaking. The problem is that I take for granted the wonders in front of me, and I do not hear His voice. As I am typing these thoughts, a beautiful flock of Ibis just flew by my window. God is speaking! The sun is shining bright, and the grass is glimmering in the sunlight. God is speaking! I open His Word, and I read – “The Voice of the Lord…”

GOD IS SPEAKING!

There is an adage – “Take time to stop and smell the roses!” We can improve on this adage by saying, “Take time to stop and hear the Voice of the Lord!” Paul writes in the opening chapter of the book of Romans,

Romans 1:20: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” NLT

God speaks through His Word. God speaks through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. God speaks through other people. And, every day God is speaking through the wonders of His creation and all that is taking place in front of me. So many times, I am looking for a specific word, and I miss the majestic word that God is speaking all around me. It is not always a word that tells me what to do. Many times, it is just a reminder to give thanks and to worship the One who has created all things and holds all things in His hands!

Psalms 29:9-11: “…In his Temple everyone shouts, ‘Glory!” The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as king forever. The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me today that You are always speaking! I choose to pause, look at all the wonder Your voice proclaims, and shout – “Glory!” May my life continue to give You praise as You reign. Give Your people strength, and bless our lives with Your peace!

Can you hear it?

THE VOICE OF THE LORD!

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Psalms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

HOW CAN I DO THAT?

Posted on January 21, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

EXODUS 4:10: “But Moses pleaded with the Lord, ‘O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” NLT

OBSERVATION: Have you ever been asked to do something by the Lord and you wondered, “How can I do that? I am not qualified. I don’t have the skills. Many other people could do it better.” Yet, you know that God has called you, and you are faced with the question,

Will I trust God or succumb to my own fear?

When we think about the fathers of our faith, we forget that they were mere humans just like us. Have you ever read a biography and thought, “Wow, my life does not measure up to that!” Yet, the Bible does not only record the highlights of a person’s life. It also records their honest struggles, doubts, and mistakes. Such it is with the life of Moses.

Imagine for a moment that you were on a walk in the country, and you encountered a burning bush. Suddenly, God speaks to you from this bush and calls you to do something that was once in your heart but that you had failed to do out of fear. When God meets you, you have been in hiding for almost a lifetime. This is what happened to Moses as he met God at Mt. Sinai.

God not only met with Moses at the burning bush, but He also met Moses with His calling and His provision. Think about this.

  • The Lord revealed His covenant name to Moses.
  • The Lord turned Moses’s staff from a mere shepherd’s staff to the Rod of God.
  • The Lord gave Moses a total of three miraculous signs to prove to the nation of Israel that God had met him.
  • The Lord called Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that God’s people be allowed to go into the wilderness to worship Him and to offer sacrifices.

What more could Moses need? Moses, as a young man, had desired to come to the aid of his fellow Israelites. Yet, out of fear, after the event with the Egyptian, Moses fled to Midian, where he tended sheep for 40 years. All of his upbringing in Egypt, all of his dreams as a young man, had died in the wilderness. Now, God was resurrecting his dreams, calling him once again, confirming his call with miraculous signs, and how does Moses respond?

“…O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Exodus 4:10 NLT

How does God reply?

Exodus 4:11-12: “Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” NLT

It would be wonderful if the story took a turn there. However, Moses continues to doubt. He continues to ask God to use someone else. By now, if you are like me, you are thinking. “Wow, Moses! What is wrong with you anyway? What else do you need?”

The wonderful thing is God did not give up on Moses, and He does not give up on us. Someone has wisely said, “Where God guides, He provides.” God could have simply moved on from His call to Moses and chosen someone else. This is not what happened. God gave Moses his brother Aaron as his spokesman and helper. The Lord met Moses at the point of his weakness with the provision needed to fulfill His call for Moses’ life!

This is the Gospel! This is the Good News! None of us was seeking God. None of us feels adequate to serve God. Yet, God reaches down to us with the gift of Jesus Christ for our salvation and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for our provision. God not only calls us, but He also saves us, equips us, empowers us, encourages us, and works through us!

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT

“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:12-13 NLT

Dear friend, what is God calling you to do? Whatever it is, He has already lined up all the provisions you need to fulfill this call. When God called Moses, He did not ask him to be something he was not. God simply said to Moses, “What is in your hand?” The Lord took what Moses already possessed and empowered it for the work He was calling him to do. And, whatever Moses lacked, God also provided.

The hardest part of obedience is the first step. Right now, the Holy Spirit is reminding you of a step the Lord is calling you to take. It is not an accident that you are reading this post. If God can use a fearful shepherd hiding in the wilderness of Midian, He can use you and me.

All we need to do is take the first step!

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.” Philippians 4:19-20 NLT

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Exodus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AM I READY FOR HEAVEN? (A Believer’s Checklist)

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Kirk's Devotional Journal

MATTHEW 25:22-23: “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” NLT

OBSERVATION: As a believer, how do I get ready for heaven? We don’t often think about this because we are so focused on living. To go to heaven means this life will have come to an end, or Jesus has returned. I am so focused on living that I don’t take the time to think about what happens after I die.

This year, my wife and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. How could this young couple, aged 20, be facing such a milestone in life? When someone older tells you to enjoy your life because the years will fly by, listen – they know what they are talking about. For our 50th, we want to take a special trip, a trip to remember! We are both of German descent, so we decided to take a trip to Germany.

I have been to Germany once on a business trip. That hardly qualifies me to plan a trip to Germany. So I started doing my research. I reviewed a myriad of travel options, including tours and cruises. I read countless reviews from those who have taken a trip to Germany. I want to be fully prepared for this once-in-a-lifetime trip! It would be foolish to pack our bags and go without the necessary preparation.

Yet, that is what so many do in this life. They live their lives for the moment without any consideration or preparation for the destination of a lifetime – Heaven! I am not talking about non-believers. I am talking about born-again believers! Our life might last for 80 years or more, but what is that when compared to eternity? If heaven will be our forever home, shouldn’t we be prepared before we go?

I have heard so many people say things like – “Oh, won’t it be great to get to heaven where we will worship around the throne forever and ever!” This is a pretty naive view of heaven. God is not preparing us for an eternity of standing before His throne singing. God created Adam and Eve to be productive. He is preparing us to be productive in our eternal life with Him! I don’t know what we will be doing in heaven, but I know it will not be singing for eternity.

Worship is so much more than that!

We worship God when we use the gifts that He has given us! This is the meaning of the parable of the talents. It is not how many talents we receive in this life. It is how we employ them. Are we so busy living our lives that we never use the talent or talents He has given us, thinking, “I’ll get to that someday!” Do we devalue our talents because the scope of our work is less than that of others, so why bother? Or, do we use our lives and talents to bring glory and honor to the Lord?

I was moved to reflect on the man with two talents. He did not neglect them because the other servant had five. He did not gloat because his fellow servant received only one. Rather, he engaged the talents he received for the glory and honor of his master. This is our call in life. It is not to have the biggest house or the most money. The one with the most toys at the end of their lives is not the winner. The one who lives for the glory and honor of the Lord and employs his or her talents for the Kingdom of God is the winner.

This is the one who is prepared to go to heaven!

You may have one talent, two talents, or more. Yet, regardless of what you have received, the call is the same. It is to use your talent(s), your life, and all that God has given you to bring glory and honor to His name and to proclaim the Kingdom of God. This is the only way I can be prepared for heaven. It is the only way I can be assured of hearing these words,

“Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” Matthew 25:23 NLT

Jesus does not say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant, you are done now, here is your resting place.” No! Jesus says, “You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities!” I don’t know what these responsibilities will be, but I want to be ready! Everything I have worked so hard for in this life will be someone else’s when I die. Only the investment I make in using the talents God has given me to love and serve others will prepare me for heaven!

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have looked at the gifts and opportunities You have given me and have been tempted to lay them aside because I felt they were insignificant or not needed. Grant me, Your grace, to see every opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ and use the gifts You have given, as both a privilege and Your preparation for my eternal destiny in heaven. Help me, at the end of my life, hear You say…

“Well done, my good and faithful servant…Let’s celebrate together!” Matthew 25:23 NLT

In Jesus’ Name!

Posted in Matthew | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment