Whenever I think of the term mother-in-law, I can see Ray’s mom on Everybody Loves Raymond saying patronizing things like, “Now Debra . . . ” or “Debra dear . . . ” You might have your own classic version of the Hollywood mother-in-law in your mind, but most of us probably have some version.

Today’s devotional reading focuses on the Epistle and comes from Saved by Grace: A Study of Christian Doctrine—Student Book.

I recently removed several unused books from one of the shelves in my office at church, and as I looked at some of them, I realized I should never have bought them. Some of the other books I removed had found their way into my possession because I claimed them off of some freebie table. I should have let those books remain as orphans on that freebie table. There are other books that I bought thinking they would become long-term resources for my ministry, but trends change.

Our devotional reading this Sunday focuses on the Gospel text and comes from Concordia Commentary: John 1:1–7:1.

My friend bought an old, but low mileage, cute Volkswagen Bug. But this car had sat immobile for too long. Almost immediately, the car’s fuel pump failed. Next, the water pump failed. Soon, the belts failed. And so on. Our bodies are very much like that little Bug. If we don’t use them, we lose them, so to speak. They do not function at their best. “Fearfully and wonderfully” God designed our bodies (Psalm 139). And when we use them by moving (exercising) them, the way God designed, our bodies are amazing. However, if we sit, just like this poor car sat, they fail to be all they can be.

Our devotional reading this Sunday focuses on the Epistle and comes from Commentary on Romans: Second English Edition.

For Ash Wednesday, our devotion comes from Gathered Guests: A Guide to Worship in the Lutheran Church, Second Edition.

As we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord today, we read an excerpt from The Big Book of New Testament Questions and Answers.

On the feast of St. Matthias, we read a brief biographical devotion about him taken from Treasury of Daily Prayer.

For today’s commemoration, we read a short biography of Polycarp taken from One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism: Christians Through the Centuries.