The professional football season ended on Sunday, February 8, 2026. During the Super Bowl there were many types of warnings to the players, including the calling of fouls, penalty flags, and two-minute warnings.

What does the Bible say about God’s warnings? One specific verse is from Proverbs 11:19–21, NKJV: As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their ways are His delight. Though
they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
 

The Lord lays out his demands clearly. He expects us to be “blameless,” which brings His “delight.” But who can live up to this standard? Christ, and only Christ. The Father “delights” in Jesus. He did what we cannot do. He fulfilled the whole law. Jesus then takes our sins to the cross, and there the Father put them to death. And now, through faith in Jesus (created by the Holy Spirit), we are credited with the keeping of that law. And being found in Christ, we daily “arise to live before God in righteousness and purity” (Small Catechism, Baptism).

Jesus is the ultimate substitute player. He bore our penalty and gave us the victory.

Carol A. Miksad
LWML SELC District President