Daily Lesson for Sunday 15th of March 2026

Several sets of instructions for Christian homes are included in the New Testament (see Ephesians 5:21-33; Ephesians 6:1-9, Colossians 3:18-25; Colossians 4:1, Titus 2:1-10, 1 Peter 2:18-25; 1 Peter 3:1-7). Notably, these “household codes,” as they are called, are not completely hierarchical but include elements to make the relationships more reciprocal and mutually edifying.

Image © Sally Weimer at Goodsalt.com

Some men quote, “Wives, submit to your husbands” (Colossians 3:18, ESV) and stop there, but notice the important qualifier Paul adds: “as is fitting in the Lord.” Nowhere does the New Testament teach that women are to submit to all men; nor that wives are subservient or subjugated; nor that they are to blindly submit to their husbands’ every whim or desire. Paul’s point is that the wife’s loyalty is to the Lord first and to her husband second. The wife’s individuality must not be swallowed up by her husband, nor can he act as her conscience.

Christ’s love for the church in giving Himself up for her illustrates how husbands should love their wives (Ephesians 5:25). They will be faithful regardless of the cost. They will make decisions that are in the best interests of the wife, though normally these interests should be aligned. Love like this makes it easier for the wife to obey God’s command to respect her husband (Ephesians 5:33).

A healthy Christian marriage is characterized by mutuality—­consulting each other, thinking things through together, and making decisions as a couple. Sometimes, when making decisions that have serious implications for the whole family, it may be appropriate to include children in these discussions, but never should parents quarrel in front of them. After such a process, if the husband and wife are unable to come to an agreement, the biblical path to peace is for the wife to acquiesce to her husband’s judgment, provided it does not violate the Word of God. By the same token, most, if not all, husbands can recall times they were happy that they listened to their wives and took their advice. The more the husband and wife work together as a team, the happier the marriage will be.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-12-husbands-and-wives/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-12-husbands-and-wives

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 14th of March 2026

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study

Colossians 3:18-25; Colossians 4:1-6; Ephesians 5:22-25,33; Proverbs 22:6,15; 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Memory Text:

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6, NKJV).

When people live and work in close proximity, they meet a va­riety of challenges. Differences of opinion may cause tensions; arguments may ensue. The closer the relationship, the more important it is for everyone in that relationship to get along.

The closest relationships are, of course, within the family. The home has sometimes been called “the family firm.” It’s an interesting way to describe how the home operates. There are definite similarities between running a business and running a household. There should be general agreement on values, goals, and objectives. Everyone should get along with each other and do their part well for things to run smoothly. The same principles apply to the church, which is essentially a large family.

In our passage for this week, Paul provides some vital principles for how a Christian family functions best. Because the Christian home should be governed by biblical principles, it necessarily functions somewhat differently from the typical Roman household. Paul also gives other valuable principles that are helpful for a variety of social relations, both inside and outside the home.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 21.

Sunday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-12-living-with-each-other/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-12-living-with-each-other

Inside Story for Friday 13th of March 2026

Rene Tucaldo is chief financial officer of the 1000 Missionary Movement, whose headquarters in Silang, Philippines, were constructed with the help of a 1996 Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Read the rest of the story next week.

On the Sabbath that Rene chose to go to church rather than to the office, he returned after sundown to the building where he lived and worked. A coworker handed him a letter from the boss. He had been fired.

Image © Pacific Press

Rene was shocked. He didn’t know what would happen next. As a foreigner working in a country hostile to Christianity, he wondered if he could stand firm for God if he were sent to prison or faced death.

He prayed, “Lord, is this the time for me to go home to the Philippines? If You want me to die here, it’s fine with me. Many people know I’m fighting for my faith.”

Early the next morning, he went to the office and emailed his boss. “I respect you,” he wrote. “You are my friend and big brother. I know we need to discuss the problems that I have caused when you come to the office.”

That night, his boss came to work. He seemed upset. Rene prayed, “Please help. Let my boss calm down. But if it’s Your will that I die, I accept it.”

Then the boss summoned Rene. Rene tried to stand up but couldn’t. His knees wouldn’t support him. He felt like he was dying.

With all his strength, he lifted himself out of his chair and walked awkwardly, hunched over, to his boss’s office. As he raised his hand to knock on the door, he heard a voice whisper, “Don’t be afraid. I am the true God. I am faithful to My promises.”

A moment later, he opened the door and saw his boss’s stern face. As he walked in, the voice whispered twice, “I am the true God. I am faithful to My promises.” With each repetition, the voice grew louder.

The boss handed two pieces of paper to Rene and said, “Choose one.” When Rene expressed bewilderment, the boss said, “One is a work contract. The other is a plane ticket.” Relieved, Rene prayed silently, “Thank You, Lord, it isn’t prison.” He chose the plane ticket.

But the boss said, “Read the contract first.”

Rene saw his pay would be doubled if he worked one hour on Saturdays. He chose the ticket again. As he wondered how he would pay for it, he heard the voice again, saying, “I am the true God. I am faithful to my promises.”

Rene returned home to the Philippines. On the plane, he prayed, “You say, ‘I am the true God. I am faithful to My promises.’ What is Your promise to me?” The voice whispered, “You won’t be able to use up all your money before you find a new job.”

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-11-inside-story-facing-an-ultimatum/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-11-inside-story-facing-an-ultimatum

Daily Lesson for Friday 13th of March 2026
Further Thought

“When the Spirit of God controls mind and heart, the converted soul breaks forth into a new song; for he realizes that in his experience the promise of God has been fulfilled, that his transgression has been forgiven, his sin covered.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

He has exercised repentance toward God for the violation of the divine law, and faith toward Christ, who died for man’s justification. ‘Being justified by faith,’ he has ‘peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Romans 5:1.

“But because this experience is his, the Christian is not therefore to fold his hands, content with that which has been accomplished for him. He who has determined to enter the spiritual kingdom will find that all the powers and passions of unregenerate nature, backed by the forces of the kingdom of darkness, are arrayed against him. Each day he must renew his consecration, each day do battle with evil. Old habits, hereditary tendencies to wrong, will strive for the mastery, and against these he is to be ever on guard, striving in Christ’s strength for victory. . . .

“The power of a higher, purer, nobler life is our great need. The world has too much of our thought, and the kingdom of heaven too little.

“In his efforts to reach God’s ideal for him, the Christian is to despair of nothing. Moral and spiritual perfection, through the grace and power of Christ, is promised to all. Jesus is the source of power, the fountain of life. . . . In our behalf He sets in operation the all-powerful agencies of heaven. At every step we touch His living power.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, Pages 476–478.

Discussion Questions

<–Thursday

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-11-further-thought-living-with-christ/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-11-further-thought-living-with-christ

Daily Lesson for Thursday 12th of March 2026

Paul’s concern for peace and harmony in the church appears clearly in the last verses of Colossians 3:1-25. We’ve already looked at God’s peace in some detail (see Lesson 7). Unlike the pax Romana, the pax Christi is not a peace imposed from the outside but is to “rule” us from within. That can happen only if Christ is in control.

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

The language is very descriptive. It pictures the word of Christ making its home in us. That happens when we read the Bible attentively in order to listen and learn from God’s wisdom. Apparently, though the Greek text is somewhat ambiguous, music plays an important role in “teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16).

But not just any music. Paul uses very specific terminology both here and in Ephesians 5:19: “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.”

Though we can’t be certain, it seems a distinction is made here between the existing Old Testament collection of psalms and a growing New Testament collection of hymns. “Spiritual songs” may be a more general term for any song of praise related to the spiritual life or the life of the church. The words of the songs are the means of teaching the truth and giving instruction on living the new life of a Christian. Many great hymns of the past few centuries have powerfully uplifting messages of hope and assurance, so needed in a world that so easily drags us all down.

Music’s influence is powerful. David’s playing of the harp had a soothing effect on King Saul (1 Samuel 16:23). But when David became his rival, Saul’s anger and resentment rose (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Calm classical music has been clinically shown to reduce anxiety, optimize brain function, increase relaxation, help with pain, and increase sociali­zation.

Who among us has not seen for themselves the powerful influence music, for good or bad, can have on our emotions and thoughts? Music—the right music—can be spiritually uplifting.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-11-living-the-new-life/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-11-living-the-new-life