Reflections

Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 9:22-38; 1 Timothy 6:3-21 They ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. (Nehemiah 9:25-26) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Nehemiah is a record of the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Israelites' exile to Babylon. They rebuild the city and her walls, but also restore f...

Today's Reading: Ephesians 3:13-21 Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 9:1-21; 1 Timothy 5:17-6:2 [Give] thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Well, that's a pretty big request, isn't it? We're really supposed to give thanks always and for everything? There's nothing that we shouldn't be giving thanks for? Thi...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Office of the Keys Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 7:1-4; 8:1-18; 1 Timothy 5:1-16 Confession has two parts. (Small Catechism: Office of the Keys) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The entirety of the Christian life, and life in general, is summed up in this little phrase: Confession has two parts. That's it! I bring my sins to Jesus and Jesus forgives me. I contribute not...

Today's Reading: Matthew 9:9-13 Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 5:1-16; 6:1-9, 15-16; 1 Timothy 4:1-16 "Follow me." (Matthew 9:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. "Follow me." Two words. That's all Jesus said to Matthew. There's no complicated plan. There aren't twelve steps or even six chief parts. I've seen some schemes for salvation that seem very difficult to even interpret, what with all of the steps...

Today's Reading: 1 Kings 17:17-24 Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 4:7-23; 1 Timothy 3:1-16 Then [Elijah] stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again." (1 Kings 17:21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Lord's business is resurrection. A prayer to the Lord for a resurrection is sure to be heard, for this is what He has show...

Today's Reading: Luke 7:11-17 Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 2:11-20; 4:1-6; 1 Timothy 2:1-15 And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." … And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." (Luke 7:13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. People sometimes say silly things at funerals. We don't often have the right words to say when someone dies. Death is too big of an eve...

Today's Reading: Introit for the 16th Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 86:1, 7, 12-13; antiphon: vs.3, 5) Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 1:1-2:10; 1 Timothy 1:1-20 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. (Psalm 86:12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When you imagine that the words of the psalms come out of Christ's mouth, you might hear the words in a d...

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 36:1-23; Colossians 4:1-18 That the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia. (2 Chronicles 36:22) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jerusalem is no more. God had tried to get through to His people. "But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, un...

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 35:1-7, 16-25; Colossians 3:1-25 Josiah died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. (2 Chronicles 35:24) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. O King Josiah, what have you done? You just displayed wonderful devotion to the God of Israel by reforming the religion of your people. But now you are like all the other sons of David...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Confession Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 34:1-4, 8-11, 14-33; Colossians 2:8-23 What is Confession? Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. (Small Catechism:...

Today's Reading: John 12:20-33 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25; Colossians 1:24-2:7 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." (John 12:27-28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus could ask th...

Today's Reading: Galatians 5:25-6:10 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 32:1-22; Colossians 1:1-23 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Bear one another's burdens? Carry someone else's overstuffed backpack? Listen to someone else's problems? Help somebody else with their problems? You've got enough to worry about with your own mix...

Today's Reading: Matthew 6:24-34 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 31:1-21; Philippians 4:1-23 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. (Matthew 6:25) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Right from the start, Jesus gets to the heart of our problems. It is a First Commandment issue: "You cannot serve God and money!" When greedy hearts try to prove Jesus wrong, they only deceive themselves. T...

Today's Reading: Introit for the 15th Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 86:4, 6, 15a, 16; antiphon: vs.1a, 2b, 3) Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 29:1-24; Philippians 3:1-21 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. (Psalm 86:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As the internet or TV might have already reminded you, today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11. When these horrific events happened...

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 9:1-13; 10:18-29; Philippians 2:12-30 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s always tempting to cherry pick....

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Philippians 1:21-2:11 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Martin Luther said, "The world is like a drunken peasant. If you lift him into the saddle on one side, he will fall off the other side." As Christians, we know that by nature we are selfish little monsters w...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Baptism, pt. 4 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 5:9-27; Philippians 1:1-20 What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. Where is this wri...

Today's Reading: Galatians 5:16-24 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:48-5:8; Ephesians 6:1-24 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Well at least you don't have to say, "The devil made me do it." No, Paul...

Today's Reading: Proverbs 4:10-23 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:8-22, 32-37; Ephesians 5:15-33 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (Proverbs 4:11-12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Having a holiday today (for most of us) is nice, but tomorrow we have to go back to the rout...

Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-19 Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:25-5:14 "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:18) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus DIDN'T say, "How come no one except the foreigner came back to say 'Thank you?'" This isn't about good manners, as if the Lord is offended because the other nine lepers didn'...

Today's Reading: Introit for the 14th Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 84:1-2a, 4, 10b, 11b; antiphon: vs.9-10a) Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-24 How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (From the Introit for the 14th Sunday after Trinity) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. D...

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:1-21; Ephesians 3:1-21 And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper....

Today's Reading: Galatians 3:15-22 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:20-40; Ephesians 2:1-22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You’re imprisoned under sin. That’s you in yourself. That’s every single man, woman, and child who's ever lived, is living, or will...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Baptism, pt. 3 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:1-19; Ephesians 1:1-23 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. (Acts 2:38-39) In th...

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 28:8-15 Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 16:29-17:24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, "Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you." (2 Chronicles 28:9, 11) In the Name + of Je...