Reflections

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 18:1-7, 20-19:8; Luke 11:1-13

 

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It is easy to fall into the trap, isn’t it? “I asked God for it, why didn’t He answer me? Why didn’t I get what I prayed for?!?” That’s what Jesus is saying here, right? Ask, seek, knock, and all your wildest desires will come true! Or will they?    It is easy to forget that there are three answers to prayer: yes, no, and wait. Sometimes, in His infinite wisdom, God the Father will make you wait a while for that which you ask.

So ask continuously, Jesus says. Seek persistently. Knock without ceasing. Come back to your Father in heaven again and again with your needs and desires. It isn’t an accident that just before these words Jesus tells His disciples to pray for daily bread. You need prayer like you need food every day. Prayer for the Christian is just as essential as the air you breathe.

The Lord your God will never fail to answer a prayer prayed in faith. He will never fail to grant those things He wants to give to you. The problem is, it takes a long time to turn the focus of prayer away from me, and what I want, and toward God and neighbor, and what they need. But your Lord is patient. He is always listening, always ready to hear your prayer. It doesn’t matter what your prayer is, He always hears those prayers prayed in faith. He’s always ready to answer.

Thanks be to God that He uses His Holy Word to shape you and teach you that for which you should pray and that which you truly need, which empties you of yourself and opens your hands to receive what He has to give, instead of grasping at what seems so close.

The blood of Jesus covers all of your sin. Your Baptism has washed you clean. The heavy lifting is done. Rest assured that God your Father hears you because of Jesus. He hears and answers you in His time with His grace and peace. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Duane Bamsch

Come, my soul, with ev’ry care, Jesus loves to answer prayer; He Himself has bid thee pray, Therefore will not turn away. (Come, My Soul, with Every Care, LSB 779:1)

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 17:1-16; Luke 10:23-42

 

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:13–15)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. C.F.W. Walther was sent to preach. He, along with a group of Lutherans, emigrated from Saxony to America to find a home for confessional Lutheranism in the New World. It wasn’t an easy journey, and nothing worked out as planned. Eventually Walther served several congregations in the St. Louis area before becoming the first president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and the first president of the newly formed Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He wrote numerous books and articles, as well as several hymns that American Lutherans still sing.

Through it all, Walther maintained his confession of faith, and saw it as instrumental in proclaiming the Gospel to Lutheran immigrants and to those already in America who would joint their ranks. The formation of Concordia Seminary was crucial, for it meant that pastors could be properly trained to preach, and the faithful could hear and believe in the Name of the Lord and be saved.

To this day, Walther’s legacy remains, in the continued training of pastors who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. His early tenacity in clinging to the confession of faith also remains in the catechesis of our congregations.

Jesus for you. That was Walther’s main concern. The Son of God made man for you and your salvation, the blood of Jesus covering your sin. The death of death in Jesus’s work for you. Your resurrection to life everlasting because of Jesus’ resurrection for you. You call on the Name of the Lord, because in Him you have life, and you have it abundantly, through the work of Jesus for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Duane Bamsch

He’s risen, He’s risen, Christ Jesus the Lord; He opened death’s prison, the incarnate, true Word. Break forth, hosts of heaven, in jubilant song And earth, sea, and mountain their praises prolong. (He’s Risen, He’s Risen, LSB 480:5)

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 16:1-24; Luke 10:1-22

 

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. (The Small Catechism: The Creed, Third Article)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I believe that I cannot believe. Wow. That’s a pretty strong statement. And a seemingly contradictory one, too. But completely true. You were dead in sin. You couldn’t do a single thing to make yourself alive, so why would you think that you could create faith within yourself?

If Jesus can create the universe, raise the dead, cast out demons, heal the blind, and make the lame to walk with His Word, why would you doubt that He can make you alive and create saving faith within you by the Holy Spirit’s calling through that same Gospel? It should be a no-brainer. It should be an easy call. Even so, the faithful still cry out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And He does. He sends the Holy Spirit to create faith by working behind the scenes, calling you to life and faith with that same ever-living and all-powerful Word of God that breathed life itself into existence.

He pours out His gifts upon you to strengthen that faith, and provides you a place before His altar to gather and receive those gifts, to be made holy, and to be kept safe in the never-failing arms of your Savior. Remember that. Your Lord always cares for you and gives you the faith to believe His promises. He gives you everything you need to trust in Him. He gives you the forgiveness and salvation that ushers you into the place He has prepared for you.

Satan will try everything to convince you that you are all alone. Don’t worry, your Lord and God has your back, because He bore a cross for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Duane Bamsch

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit Into ev’ry troubled breast; let us all in Thee inherit; Let us find Thy promised rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.  (Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, LSB 700:2)

Today’s Reading: 1 Peter 2:11-20

Daily Lectionary:  Leviticus 10:1-20; Luke 9:37-60

 

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:16–17)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Sojourners and exiles. Strangers and pilgrims, one of the older translations says. One thing is clear: this broken and dying earth is not your final destination. There is another home prepared for you that the Lord God has set aside for the baptized, you who are washed and sanctified through the blood of Jesus.

That being washed and being made holy has set you apart from the masses. It has re-made you into a person who looks at the world differently, as one who knows there is something bigger, better, and more transcendent behind the veil covering your eyes. But don’t let that go to your head. Don’t get a holier-than-thou attitude about the idea that Christ Himself has a whole New Creation waiting to break into this one and remake it, all for you.

Around you now, the presidential election cycle is in full swing. People are running to the political party of their choice and proclaiming that only their side can save the country! It is tempting to join in the fun. By all means, live out your vocation as a citizen. Be passionate and informed about your beliefs, but do so in love. Honor and respect those in office. Honor and respect those running for office. Speak the truth in love, in an honorable way, that God’s love for you and them in Christ may shine through.

That is what you are given to do as those who are free in the Gospel. You have a heritage of freedom. You are free to live in this world without fear, and that freedom gives you the tremendous ability to love those around you in ways they may never have known, because it is the love of Christ in you that shines like a beacon.

Rejoice in the freedom you have in Christ! Rejoice in the vocation in which He has placed you to love your neighbor. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Duane Bamsch

Heavenly Father, grant Your mercy and grace to Your people in their many and various callings. Give them patience, and strengthen them in their Christian vocation of witness to the world and of service to their neighbor in Christ’s name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Collect for Christian Vocation)

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 9:1-24; Luke 9:18-36

 

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Omnipotent. Immutable. Omnipresent. Eternal. Omniscient. Big ol’ catechism words that try to explain who your God is. They are nothing less than the words He uses to describe Himself through the prophet Isaiah.

“Comfort, comfort my people,” this chapter begins. Your almighty and ever-living God always approaches His children in love. Sure, that love sometimes looks like wrath and anger and discipline, but it is always love that is first in His mind when He thinks of you.

That’s why He says what He says to you today. God your Father reminds you who He is, so that you remember what He has done for you and your salvation. No matter how your day or week has been, no matter how worn out you are after homework, practice, cleaning your room, dealing with the people who don’t like you, and arguing with your parents that these clothes are not inappropriate, He does not grow weary. He is not clueless about how you feel.

This world does cause you to faint, to be tired of all the nonsense and hoop-jumping you have to do, and you just might be at your wit’s end. But not the LORD, not the everlasting God. He gives you a way to renew your strength, to mount up and soar in joy. Those ways aren’t flashy or cool, but they are powerful and living.

A Word proclaimed. A washing with water. Body and Blood that sustain you. Forgiveness itself spoken into your ears. And no matter how much strength He gives you in this life, just wait and see what He has prepared in the life of the world to come!

Until then, rest in the promises He gives to you and for you—promises of strength and protection, because when you are weak and weary and heavy laden, He is strong. He bears you up because He has made you His own in Jesus. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen –Rev. Duane Bamsch

Heavenly Father, God of all grace, govern our hearts that we may never forget Your blessings but steadfastly thank and praise You for all Your goodness in this life until, with all your saints, we praise You eternally in Your heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Collect for Thanksgiving to God)

Today’s Reading: John 16:16-22

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 8:1-13, 30-36; Luke 9:1-17

 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” (John 16:20)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus warns the disciples one last time. They should have known by now, of course, what was to come. But they were pretty oblivious to what was right in front of them. Sound familiar?

Three weeks on, it is easy to look back and see what Jesus was trying to tell them. It’s always easier to look back afterwards and have the light come on. “Of course He told us this would happen!” But in the moment, ignoring bad news is the easier route. Everything seemed to be going so well, though. There was a triumphal parade into Jerusalem, throngs of people gathering around. Until. Until it all went sideways with the foot washing and then the trip to the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Truly, Truly.” Amen, Amen. With the utmost certainty, I say to you that it’s going to look like the world has come to an end. That’s a familiar feeling, too. Disappointment, humiliation, tragedy. They all tear you up inside. They can destroy you to the point of wailing and weeping.

However, all of that sorrow is a passing gust of ill wind for you who are in Christ. For you who have passed through His death with Him in your Baptism. That sorrow will turn into joy on the Last Day as your Lord Christ calls you to Himself in the resurrection to life everlasting in the New Creation.

Until then, though? Does your sorrow weigh heavily on you? Can you not see the end of the trouble? Look to that same Jesus with whom you passed from death to life. Hear His Word proclaimed. Remember your Baptism. Taste and see that the Lord is good as His called and ordained servant places His Body and Blood upon your tongue. Weep and lament now, but trust that the one who promised speaks truth to you. Joy is yours in the Risen Christ. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Duane Bamsch

Almighty God, You show those in error the light of Your truth so that they may return to the way of righteousness. Grant faithfulness to all who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Church that they may avoid whatever is contrary to their confession and follow all things as are pleasing to You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter)

Today’s Reading: Introit for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Psalm 66:3, 5, 8-9; antiphon: v. 1-2)

Daily Lectionary:  Exodus 40:17-38; Luke 8:40-56

 

Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. (From the Introit for the Fourth Sunday of Easter)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Sometimes a passage from the Bible invites you to imagine that you were standing and watching a particular event that happened in the past. This can be helpful so you remember that it was not just for people long ago, but rather is still providing ongoing blessing for you in your day. This Introit is taken from Psalm 66, and in this psalm you are invited to remember when God delivered Israel from the Egyptians as they crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 14).

Israel passed through the sea on dry ground, but the Egyptian army that wanted to destroy them drowned and died as the waters fell in on them. As Israel stood free on the far banks of the sea, Moses and the people sang a song of praise to God for delivering them. Psalm 66 calls you to realize that you were delivered that day, too. The God who helped them is the same God who still helps you. As a believer in Christ, your songs of praise also ascend to God for delivering Israel that day.

We pray this psalm during Easter, which means we are praising God, not just for delivering Israel at the Red Sea, but even more for saving us when Jesus died and rose again to give us eternal life. Jesus “has kept us among the living and has not let our feet slip.” He died our death on the Cross and rose again so that we would stay among the living eternally. He has not let us slip away into death and hell. We live because He lives.

When you pray Psalm 66, your songs of praise are joyful because you know God has saved you, too—at the Red Sea, and even greater, at the Cross and the empty tomb. You praise God, because your fathers and mothers in faith were not drowned in the Sea, so you, too, escape. You praise God because Christ is risen, and you, too, shall rise. So join with all the earth and sing His praise, for God “is awesome in His deeds to the children of man” (Psalm 66:5). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Jeffrey Horn

Holy God, we praise Thy name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee. All on earth Thy scepter claim, all in heaven above adore Thee. Infinite Thy vast domain, everlasting is Thy reign. (Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, LSB 940:1)

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 23:14-33; Luke 4:31-44

And (the LORD) said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord

GOD, you know.” (Ezekiel 37:3)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When the LORD spoke to Ezekiel in this chapter, the Jews were in captivity in Babylon. They had no strength to go home or to defend themselves. They said about themselves, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.”

But God’s power is unlimited. He created life out of nothing. He can take the dead and raise them again. He could save Israel from captivity. Ezekiel sees a valley filled with dry bones. God asks, “Can these bones live?” Yes! Ezekiel preaches God’s Word to the bones, and they come together, rattling and connecting, sinews and skin covering them. They are whole again, but no breath is in them. Ezekiel preaches the Word of God to the breath and the breath of life comes into them and they rise on their feet, alive, a great army. Israel would come back to life and would go home.

But this vision refers to more than just Israel. Jesus Christ took on flesh in the womb of His mother Mary. He died on the Cross and was laid in the tomb. He rose on the Third Day. His body would not see corruption. He would not turn into dust, as Adam was cursed to do. On the Third Day, He breathed deep, His heart beat, He opened His eyes, stood on His feet and walked out of the tomb. He lives and will never die.

He sent out the apostles to be His witnesses. As they preached His Name, the Spirit worked through their words. Those who were dead in sin were brought to life! They were forgiven, and given new life in Christ. They came alive—a mighty army—not to fight with weapons but to walk in faith and serve in love. In Baptism, you, too, came to life and are part of this glorious band of believers, walking with Christ in faith.

On the Last Day Jesus will come again. He will call to us and we will hear His voice with our ears and rise from the dead. Our bones will be rejoined, our flesh resurrected and glorified: our hearts beating, our brains thinking, our voices praising Christ our Lord. And the Lord will bring us to the Promised Land of Heaven, and there we will be free, forever, in Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O, where is your sting, death? We fear you no more; Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden’s door. For all our transgressions His blood does atone; Redeemed and forgiven, we now are His own. (He’s Risen, He’s Risen LSB 480:4)

Today’s Reading: John 20:19-31

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 20:1-24; Luke 4:1-15

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Easter is a day of beautiful comfort. Jesus was dead and

is alive again! Death is defeated and all who believe in Jesus have eternal life! Christ is

our Good Shepherd who lives to watch over us and lead us to heaven!

For Thomas, the first Easter was very difficult. He wasn’t with the other disciples when

Jesus appeared to them that evening. Jesus spoke peace to them, showed them His

hands and side where the nails and spear had pierced Him, and He gave them the Holy

Spirit. The disciples rejoiced, where before they had been terrified and grief-stricken.

When Thomas came back to the room, he was still afraid and grieving. When he’d last

seen them, his fellow disciples were sad, too. Now they were celebrating. Thomas

would not believe that Jesus lived unless he saw Him with his eyes touched the wounds

on Jesus’ hands and side. Can you imagine how the rest of that week went for Thomas?The other disciples were trying to tell him the truth, yet he wouldn’t believe—their joy

was offending his grief. But no matter how hard that week was, when Jesus appeared

again, Thomas was there with the others. Despite his pain and sadness, he didn’t

wander away.

When faith is a struggle and despair is near, remember Thomas. Don’t give up coming

to church. Come and hear the Word and wait on Christ. He is faithful to you. Hear Him.

Let Him give you peace and forgive your sins. He’ll help you.

On the eighth day, Thomas was there when Jesus appeared. Thomas could touch and

see. He rejoiced that Jesus is his Lord and God. Jesus taught Thomas, and all of us,

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” You have not seen, but you have

heard the eyewitness testimony of those who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. By the

power of the Spirit, you believe that Jesus lives and your sins are forgiven. May Christ

comfort you in the peace of His resurrection and strengthen your faith, now and always.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your

grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same

Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday in Easter)

Today’s Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday of Easter (Psalm 81:1, 7a, 10, 16b; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2a)

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-25; Hebrews 13:1-21

 

Like newborn infants, Alleluia, long for the pure spiritual milk [of the Word.] Alleluia. (From the Introit for the Second Sunday of Easter)

In the Name of Jesus. Amen. At some point in your life, you have probably heard a hungry baby cry. Such strong cries from such a little one! And when a baby cries, you can be sure of two things: Parents will respond quickly to feed their child, and what the baby will eat is milk. When those hunger pangs are echoing around the room, loving parents don’t just sit there. They respond. And when they respond, they don’t put a plate of tacos in front of a newborn. They give him milk, because it does a baby good.

Notice that in this verse, you are not asked to put yourself in the place of the parent who feeds the baby. You ARE the baby. You are the one who hungers. You are the one who longs to be fed, but not with milk. As a dear child of God, you cry for His Word. You cry to have Him fill you with the sweet psalms, the hearty works of Moses, the delicious epistles of Paul. You cry to hear the words and works of Jesus, which He said and did for you. For when you have the Word of God, God gives you Himself in that Word. When He speaks of saving you, loving you, protecting you, it is not just words. He has done these things in Christ, and is giving them to you as He speaks of them to you in the Word.

His Word was in your baptismal water, and made you His own child. His Word is spoken over bread and wine, and so Jesus’ Body and Blood are present under it for you for the forgiveness of sins. His Word is in your ears in church, in your mouth as you pray and praise Him, and in your eyes as you read your devotions. His Word brings you cleansing from sin. His Word brings you the righteousness of Christ in which you are dressed. His Word lights your path in life and leads you home. His Word is alive because the Holy Spirit who inspired it, speaks through it, and He gives you Jesus.

Dear friend, be not too full for another meal. Know your hunger. Your Father in heaven is near to feed you with the pure milk of the Word. The Spirit will be there to strengthen your faith. Jesus is there to forgive you and give you life. He will give you Himself. God loves you and longs to feed you. So…cry like a baby. In the Name of Jesus. Amen. –Rev. Jeffrey Horn

You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat. (You Satisfy the Hungry Heart, LSB 641: refrain)