February 17, 2025 

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-8

Daily Lectionary: Job 13:1-12; John 6:1-21

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7–8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The prophet Jeremiah meditates on the state of the sinner and the saint. No, he doesn’t use those exact words, but that is certainly what he means in this passage.

In whom do you trust: man or the Lord? Are you trying to make it through life on your own power and strength, or do you rest in the Lord’s power and strength and let him guide you? Are you grasping at things to make your own way, or are you letting the Gifts the Lord gives to you inform your life?

The sinner, the one who trusts in his own way, is lost. He’s in the wilderness, withering away to nothing, using all his energy just to try and make it through each day. The saint, the one who trusts in the Lord, on the other hand, is sustained, strengthened, and borne up by the Lord’s power and Word.

You can almost see a baptismal reference here, that the one watered by the Lord has the strength to flourish, regardless of what comes his way. And really, that’s the point. You can try to work your way through life, and yes, there is hard work to be done. Studying, training, sports, vocational skills—they can all be tough, they can drive you to frustration. But they aren’t ends in themselves.

These are all means by which you love your neighbors and serve your Lord. Keeping in mind that you do these things because he has gifted you and has given you the ability to do so helps you remember that it isn’t all up to you.

So when life gets tough, when the blazing sun of hard times and frustration threaten to wear you down, stop for a moment. Take a deep breath and remember your Baptism. Remember that the Lord God himself has called you by name, that he has planted you where you are, and he waters you there through his Word and Sacraments.

He gives you everything you need to be successful in his eyes. He empowers you and strengthens you to bear fruit that grows into love for those around you. And he does it in his way, on his schedule. Trust that he has you in his hands. Hear his voice, and rest in his goodness.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord, when the tempest rages, I need not fear, For You the Rock of Ages, Are always near. Close by your side abiding, I fear no foe, For when Your hand is guiding, In peace I go. (LSB 722:2)

-Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.