June 30, 2023

Today's Reading: 

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 10:1-23, John 14:1-17

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You would think that in a day and age where multiple navigation apps are available for your phone that it would be hard to get lost. You should always know where you are, and even better you should always know how to get where you are going. If you have ever used any of the navigation tools available, you know that they are sometimes better in theory than in practice. There have been multiple reports of people getting lost or led on routes that included roads that were undrivable because they followed their navigation app without questioning it. Even the show The Office has an episode where manager extraordinaire Michael Scott drives his car into a lake because his navigation unit told him to. He sees the water ahead of him and drives in anyway because, “the machine knows.” 

The irony here is that the Christian life oftentimes should be more like this episode of The Office. The way that Jesus is, is the way of the cross and it leads us to places that look impassable. When this happens we should be more like Micheal Scott and proceed forward in faith because the Savior knows. Instead we trust our senses instead of our Lord and look for another, easier way. What looks to us like an easier route takes us off the way of Jesus and leaves us stranded on the shores of unbelief. When it comes to the Christian life the way of Jesus is the only way. 

When Luther wrote about these words of Jesus he used Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea as an example.  God led His people into the parted waters and from their viewpoint things might have looked perilous indeed. They were surrounded by walls of water on each side with Pharaoh's army behind them. There was no other way for them to go but forward to the other side. This is the way of Jesus. Sometimes you are being led through things where it appears that it would be easier to go around. In those times always remember that you are not alone. Jesus who is the way and life is with you and will lead you in the way you need to go. You can proceed into what looks impassable because Jesus knows.   In  the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Christ the unfading Light Of everlasting day, Our Morning Star in splendor bright, The Life, the Truth, the Way; That light of truth You give To servants as to friends, Your way to walk, Your life to live, Till earth’s brief journey ends. (Christ the Eternal Lord, LSB 829:4)

-Pastor Grant Knepper is Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Modesto, California.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.