1. Rightly distinguishing between law and gospel, as Paul helps us see in 2 Corinthians 3, is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.
  2. The sign of the cross, according to the earliest centuries of Christians, is “the sign of the Lord,” and every baptized Christian was “marked” with it.
  3. The law had to have its way with the expert to bring him around (and back) to Abraham's response.
  4. Maybe, just maybe, our goal for 2023 should not be to live more but to die more.
  5. Rejoice with Mary as she would rejoice with you. Be blessed, like her, with humility from God, so that you may serve joyfully and willingly wherever and in whatever role God has placed you.
  6. We live again, not so that we will now pay our debt, but to proclaim that we live because our debt was paid!
  7. You are a child of God. You’re blameless, holy, perfect, and righteous. Don’t feel that way? Too bad. God is greater than your heart.
  8. The good news is that with our God there is always more: more than we deserve, dare, ask, or expect, more than we can see, hear, feel, or think.
  9. The reason that God’s commandments are not burdensome is that Jesus has fulfilled them.
  10. Both now and forever, the bruised and crucified Lord nailed to a cross is our assurance of deliverance.
  11. Righteousness before God is possessed only by grace and that through the currency of faith.