Reflections

Today's Reading: Philippians 4:4-7 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43:25-44:20; Revelation 11:1-19 The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5b-7)   In the Name + o...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism:  Table of Duties, To Children Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43:1-24; Revelation 9:13-10:11 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),"that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." (Ephesians 6:1-3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever thought a...

Today's Reading: John 20:24-29 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 42:1-25; Revelation 9:1-12 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:27-28)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It is a week after Jesus has risen from the dead and beaten our old evil foe of si...

Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 40:18-41:10; Revelation 8:1-13 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. (Deuteronomy 18:18)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If there was anyone who spoke the Law of God to His people, it was Moses. At God's command, Mo...

Today's Reading: John 1:19-28 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 40:1-17; Revelation 7:1-17 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"   He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." (John 1: 19-20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I love Advent. I love preaching about John the Baptizer preparing the way of the Lor...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Fourth Sunday in Advent (Psalm 19:1, 4-6; antiphon: Isaiah 45:8a) Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 34:1-2, 8-35:10; Revelation 6:1-17 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (From the Introit for the Fourth Sunday in Advent)   In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I live in an area that is not affected by light pollution. One of the great j...

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 33:1-24; Revelation 5:1-14 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or wors...

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 32:1-20; Revelation 4:1-11 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. (Revelation 4:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Can you imagine seeing what John saw?  In a divine vision John is brought into the holy throne room of God. The throne in the center is where Jesus sits. He has ascended from His work on earth. He is exa...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Table of Duties, To Parents Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:27-31:9; Revelation 3:1-22 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I remember the look well. I had said something to one of our kids that was insensitive and rooted in anger. I knew better,...

Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:15-26; Revelation 2:1-29 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever read your school's student handbook, or an employee handbook from work? They are no...

Today's Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:15-30:14; Revelation 1:1-20 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.   Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. . .    (Isaiah 40:1-3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It was the first week of school at Concordia...

Today's Reading: Matthew 11:2-11 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:1-14; Jude 1-25 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:   the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf h...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Third Sunday in Advent (Psalm 80:1, 3, 14, 17; antiphon: Isaiah 62:11b; 30:30, 29) Daily Lectionary:   Isaiah 28:14-29; 1 John 5:1-21 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! (From the Introit for the Third Sunday In Advent) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever restored anything, maybe an old car or a house or even a piece of furniture t...

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:20-27:13; 1 John 4:1-21 In this the love of God has made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the World, so that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The love of God is made known to us by the coming of Jesus. During the season of Advent, we prepare for the coming of the Messiah. In John's first epistle, we read about true...

Today's Reading:   Romans 15:4-13 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:1-19; 1 John 3:1-24  For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever wondered why the Old Testament was written? All those pages of names and actions of people who...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism : Table of Duties, to Wives Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24:14-25:12; 1 John 2:15-29   Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther continues to list out the duties that those who are in Christ are called by God to do. Under the category of wives, Luther simply points to Paul's lette...

Today's Reading:   Malachi 4:1-6 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24:1-13; 1 John 1:1-2:14 "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings." (Malachi 4:2a) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The prophet Malachi was told by God to proclaim the coming judgment of the Lord. On that day, the Lord would come with great glory and might, and the arrogant and all evil doers...

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 14:1-23; 2 Peter 3:1-18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If you were to look at the stories that surround the birth and life of Nicholas of Myra, you will very quickly begin to think, "What a great man!" If one can believe the...

Today's Reading: Luke 21:25-36 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 11:1-12:6; 2 Peter 2:1-22 "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As the Day of Judgment draws near, the world in which we live will become even more chaotic. There will be signs and wonders. We will have wars. There wi...

Today's Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday in Advent (Psalm 25:4–5, 21–22; antiphon: v.25:1–3a) Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 10:12-27, 33-34; 2 Peter 1:1-21 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. (From the Introit for the Second Sunday in Advent) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If you are out walking in the woods, you want to find a clear path. Without a path, the way can be treache...

Today's Reading: Romans 13:11-14 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 9:8-10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-14 For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Wake up! He is coming! He will be here soon! Get ready! The days of Advent pass quickly, and soon Jesus will be here. Christmas is in 21 days; will you be ready? The Church is always in a state of tension. Ea...

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 23:5-8 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 8:9-9:7; 1 Peter 4:1-19 The Lord is our righteousness. (Jeremiah 27:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord promises that He will raise up from the righteous branch of David a King who will reign with wisdom and justice. Unlike earthly kings who are selfish, fallible, and unjust, this King will be perfect. His kin...

Today's Reading: Small Catechism:  Table of Duties, To Husbands Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 7:10-8:8; 1 Peter 3:1-22 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:19) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther lays out Scripture passages that point out the duties Christians are to follow in their daily lives. This list has different categories for th...

Today's Reading: John 1:35-42a Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 6:1-7:9; 1 Peter 2:13-25 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" (John 1:35-36) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. John the Baptist's job was to point the way to Jesus, and he was good at his job. In John's Gospel we read about the calling of a disc...

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 5:1-25; 1 Peter 2:1-12 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever thought about how long it took Noah to build the ark? While we d...