Reflections

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 7:1-29; Matthew 23:1-12

"The greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matthew 23:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Yeah. How about, no. We don't do service, servitude. Sure, we know we're supposed to help others, but we don't really want to. We may chisel out time in our lives to do it, but it's not much. I have to care for myself, and the hour I put in volunteering or helping a classmate or doing my chores is enough. The only reason I do the little I do, is for that little bit of good feeling that powers me. Or I know that if I help a student in one class he can help me in another one I need help in or maybe even pay me a bit.

No matter which way you slice it, whether we're in it for the money, the praise, the good feeling. We're not in it for the sake of our neighbor, not all the time. Service is great, don't get me wrong, but service is greatest when it doesn't take much time and effort. Or maybe our time and effort are determined by who it is we're helping. The cute boy or girl, sure. But not the person we don't like, and certainly not our little brother!

Jesus is different for your sake, to save you. He's not primarily an example of servitude for you. More importantly, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many," FOR YOU. He gave up His life, shed His blood, to buy you back from your sin of selfishness. And Jesus is all about serving you His salvation. He doesn't place heavy burdens on you. His yoke is easy and His burden light. He gives you His Name, the Name above every Name, for you have been baptized into Him.

He gives you His service and new life. By the work of the Spirit, Jesus bears fruit in your life. "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" are what Jesus grows in you. "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in My and I in Him." And so His Supper strengthens you "in faith toward God and fervent love toward one another."

Our flesh only wants to help and serve when it gets something out of it. Acting that way isn't the way Christians act. "Whoever says he loves God but hates his brother is a liar." The solution isn't you. Christ has saved you from all that. In Him and through Him alone, you're eternally great--forgiven, saved, a baptized child of God. He does it, not you. He's also given you as a living sacrifice to those around you. He'll work through you to do it. "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Table of Duties, Husbands

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 5:1-19; Matthew 22:23-46

"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." (Small Catechism: Table of Duties, Husbands)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Does Peter know what he sounds like? What's this "weaker partner" business? This is 2020! We aren't in the Dark Ages when women were considered weaker than men anymore! Come on, Peter! Get with the program!

Yes, the apostle knows what he's talking about. "Weaker partner" in Greek is more accurately translated as "weaker vessel," as in a container or plate. Not like a flawed strong vessel that has been weakened somehow, but more like "fragile."

Still sounds bad, doesn't it? Well, hold up. You have delicate vessels in your house. Your parents probably got them when they got married--those wonderful dishes that are only used on the most special occasions! You know what these are called: fine china.

Now, we are starting to get what the apostle is telling us! It's not that women are weaker than men. It's that they are more precious and delicate than men! You don't break out the fine china for a hamburger. No, you treat the fine china like it's the most precious thing in your world!

Husbands are given to treat their wives like they are the most important things in their world. All the things that a man thinks are most important to him take second seat to his wife.

Look at Jesus! He gives His life for His Bride, the Church. He treats Her as if there were nothing more important to Him than saving Her. Jesus, the Bridegroom, dies for Her.

A young man then should ask himself whether or not he can be Christ for the girl he wants to marry. Is she the most important person in his world? Is he willing to die for her like Christ died for His Bride? And she should ask herself whether she trusts this man to be Christ for her--to love her and give his life for her. Will he treat her like the finest china? If so, they should get married. If not, it's not meant to be.

Yes, the apostle Peter knows what he's talking about--how a husband should love a wife and how a wife should love her husband. But it's also about Jesus for you and me. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Ephesians 6:10-17

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 23:21-40; Matthew 25:31-46

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. If there is a theme to this week's Reflections, it must be the Word of God. The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. Spiritus Gladius. That's Latin for "Sword of the Spirit." Why is the Word the Sword of the Spirit? The gladius was the standard Roman Army short sword. It was used for close-in fighting. It was best when used to get in close to the enemy and shove it up under his ribs. It was a deadly weapon.

Your enemies are the devil, the world, and your sinful nature. They fight dirty. They fight to kill. But the Spirit fights back. And He fights with the Word of God which pierces and defeats those enemies.

That's because the Word is the Word of Absolution. The Word that preaches Jesus. That Word that IS Jesus, the Son of God, the Word-made-flesh. He is the Word that slays the sinful flesh, strikes down the power of the world, and brings crashing to nothing the kingdom of Satan.

Your weapon against your enemies isn't your own strength. It's not your willpower and determination. It's not your attempt to try to behave and live a good life. The only thing that will defeat your enemies is the Sword of the Spirit. The Word of Baptism, Absolution, and the Supper; the Word of preaching that delivers Christ and Him crucified for sinners--that Word is the Sword of the Spirit. It is an offensive weapon by which the Spirit takes down your enemies. For where that Word is, sin and death must yield, the devil must relinquish his claim on you, and the world cannot accuse you.

The Word does what it says. It speaks forgiveness and faith. It rescues from death and the devil. It is the Spiritus Gladius by which the Holy Spirit fights back and defeats all your enemies. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Thy strong Word did cleave the darkness; At Thy speaking it was done.

For created light we thank Thee, While Thine ordered seasons run.

Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light does send!

Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!

("Thy Strong Word" LSB 578, st. 1)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:3

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 23:1-20; Matthew 25:14-30

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Why did God make the Tree of Knowledge if He knew Adam and Eve would disobey Him and eat of its fruit? Why did God put that tree there at all? To test them? To trick them? Why? The answer lies in the Word that Jesus threw at the devil during His temptation in the wilderness: "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

Even before there was a fall into sin, Adam and Eve were given the gift of God's Word and were taught that it was their highest treasure. That Word would keep them from death and be life and be a blessing to them. If, however, they let go of God's Word and abandoned the hearing of it, they would perish in death.

The Word of God saves you. It keeps you from death. When you are born with the curse of sin upon you, His Word declares you forgiven and a child of God. That Word that Adam and Eve ignored at the Tree of Knowledge is made flesh to hang on a tree in the place of sinners. When Adam and Eve brought death into the Garden, Jesus took on death and died and rose, conquering death in a tomb in a garden.

You see, even when man refused the Lord's gift of His life-saving Word, the Lord still brought that Word to man and still brings it now. It is the Word of grace, mercy, forgiveness--all for the sake of the Word, that is, Jesus, born, died, and risen for sinners. The same God whose Word Adam and Eve despised, spoke His Word of the promise of a Savior. It is the same Word and promise that declares Jesus' death and resurrection are for you. It is the same Word and promise spoken with the water of the font and the bread and wine of the Supper--the Word and promise of life for those who were dead in sin. The Word and promise for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true;

Preserve our faith our whole life through--

Your Word alone our heart's defense,

The Church's glorious confidence.

("Lord Jesus, Christ, with Us Abide" LSB 585, st. 6)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Matthew 21:1-22

Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the eyes of the world, those who are seen as "saints" because of their "good" lives or "good works" are supposed to be worthy of whatever God gives them. Live a good life, do good things, and God will bless you and men will call you a "saint."

But Jesus says something else. He says the "poor in spirit" are the saints. They are "poor in spirit" not because they don't have money but because they don't have merit before God. They can't come before God and say, "Look at everything I did. I'm a good person. I should have earned some credit here."

No, true saints come before God with nothing of themselves but everything that belongs to Jesus. They say, "I have no good works; no merits; no claim on God. But I have Jesus. And He is enough. He is all that I need."

All Saints Day is a day to remember all the saints, not just well-known "saints" who did a lot of things in this life that were memorable. No, we remember ALL the saints--all those who were baptized into Jesus' death and resurrection and clothed with Christ, who lived mostly ordinary lives and died. But they were lives in which Christ lived. And the lives they lived they lived by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20).

The world always uses that word "saint" to mean "a really good person who did a lot of nice things for others or put up with a lot." God uses the word to mean all those who are washed and made holy by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

On All Saints Day we give thanks to Jesus for making saints. For dying and rising to forgive sins and for washing and feeding His people to make them His chosen, holy, precious saints, pure and spotless in Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Nothing in my hand I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling.

Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.

("Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me" LSB 761, st. 3)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Romans 3:19-29

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Matthew 20:17-34

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Pharisees of Jesus' day thought they were free, but they were actually slaves of sin. That's because they thought they could overcome their sins on their own by living a good life. In the Middle Ages the Church got sidetracked and taught much of that as well: that we have to save ourselves by being good enough. The Lutheran Reformation reminded the Church and the world that we are indeed free from sin but only because of Christ. That's true freedom from sin!

It's not just about particular times and places. Under the curse of sin, we always think that we can just work our way out of our sins by being good. We can always try to please God and He will accept our works as at least a good faith effort that He should reward. But the Gospel rescues us from that false religion!

The Good News that delivers Jesus declares that Jesus saves sinners by His death on the Cross and His resurrection on Easter. The true religion is that we don't deny or shy away from just how sinful we are: We are doomed! But that just means we have an even greater Savior: Jesus!

The Lutheran Reformation (and the Lutherans who were named for what Luther taught) was always about cutting the strings and removing the conditions men had placed upon God's grace and mercy. Jesus saves us with no strings attached. No conditions. No requirements. Everything God has for you is a gift. Jesus? Gift! Your Baptism? Gift! Absolution? Gift! Lord's Supper? Gift! Gifts are free. Gifts are given without your deserving them and without God's expecting anything in return. They are just given because, well, they're gifts.

We are always in danger of slipping back into the way of thinking which says, "I can earn God's forgiveness and love." The Reformation preaching is the Lord's way of rescuing us from that by saying, "You already have my forgiveness and love. It's my gift to you in Jesus Christ. No strings attached." In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Preserve Your Word and preaching, The truth that makes us whole,

The mirror of Your glory, The pow'r that saves the soul.

Oh, may this living water, This dew of heav'nly grace,

Sustain us while here living Until we see Your face.

("Preserve Your Word, O Savior" LSB 658, st. 4)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:27; Matthew 20:1-16

For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 31:29)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You almost have to laugh out loud at what Moses says about the people of God, the Children of Israel. "I've told you all this stuff God has done for you; I've told you everything God wants you to do and how He wants you to live. But you're just going to go off and do whatever you want after I'm gone anyway." Then Moses goes on to sing an epic song about how Yahweh has loved and put up with these sinners and made them His own people!

There is a great hope among Christians that once we are Christians we will act better. That we will improve. That we will get better and better. We should certainly strive to love God and serve our neighbor. But what happens when we don't? A pastor might be accused of not preaching God's Word enough if he just assumes people are going to sin. Sinners don't change much, though. The Children of Israel aren't different from God's people in the New Testament. God saves us. We still sin. That's the simul life you live as saint and sinner in one body in this life.

Our hope is not in our improvement. Our hope is in Christ. Our comfort is not in how much less we sin from one day to the next. Our comfort is in the declaration by God Himself that we are His beloved people and that He does not count our sins against us. Our peace is that when we forget His Word, He forgets our sins. Our joy and hope and certainty are in the fact that Jesus died and rose to save sinners. Our faith is that by Baptism and Absolution and Supper, God has forgiven us and overlooked the very sins for which He should condemn us forever.

What do those who wander off and do their own thing need to hear? What do you need to hear? Christ came into this world to save sinners—to save you. And He has done exactly that. He will deliver you safely to the Promised Land of Paradise and eternal life. In the Name +of Jesus. Amen.

O keep me watchful, then, and humble; Permit never more to stray. Uphold me when my feet would stumble, And keep me on the narrow way. Fill all my nature with Thy light, O Radiance strong and bright! ("Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower" LSB 694, st. 4)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 31:1-29; Matthew 19:16-30

"Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 19:16-19)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The beginning of our text in Matthew has always boggled my mind. I've never been sure why the rich young man would say that he had kept all of the commandments since his youth. On top of that, when Christ answers his question, "What good deed must I do to have eternal life?" Christ points His finger to the pulse of the most important thing to the rich young man: his riches. As the rich young man walks away, he doesn't realize that he has broken each of the commandments, including loving his neighbor as himself.

Christ's death and resurrection definitively answer the question of "doing" good deeds to enter heaven" once and for all. We cannot "do" enough "good deeds" in order to receive salvation. Salvation is through Christ alone. Of course the commandments from God are good and wise and we are to keep them. But we don't. The treasures we hold in our hearts are more valuable to us on earth than the treasure awaiting us in Jesus. So, what shall we do? Trust Jesus. He kept the commandments for you, living a perfect life in your place. Be subject to Him in all things. Love one another, and when you sin, repent, for in the Absolution is the kingdom of God. Rejoice in your Baptism, for through it you belong to God forever. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

To Jesus we for refuge flee,

Who from the curse has set us free,

And humbly worship at His throne,

Saved by His grace through faith alone.

("The Law of God is Good and Wise" LSB 579, st. 6)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: John 15:12-21

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 30:1-20; Matthew 19:1-15

"Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also." (John 15:20)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Why do we have a special day to remember St. Simon and St. Jude? Why do we set aside days to remember any of the apostles? Weren't they just men? Are they any better than any other Christian?

The apostles do hold a special place in the Church. They are the men who were eyewitnesses of Jesus' words and deeds and saw Him alive again after His resurrection. He called and ordained them to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins to the ends of the earth. And that's what they did, not even shrinking in the face of persecution and death. They gladly gave up their lives because they knew that if Jesus rose, they would rise, too.

We don't commemorate apostles for their own sake but to be reminded that Jesus called real men into the holy ministry to carry out the task of being His voice on the earth. Jesus is one man, but the apostles were twelve. After His Ascension there were twelve mouths to preach Jesus. And the apostles ordained pastors wherever they went, so the number of mouths grew.

Because of those preachers, the Good News that the sins of the world and death have been overcome by Jesus' death and resurrection is carried everywhere. The washing of regeneration takes place in Baptism; sinners are absolved; the Lord's Supper is given out. The apostolic ministry (the apostles and those after them who preach what they preached) ensures that Jesus will always be giving His Good News to the world and saving sinners just like you—even two thousand years later! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Praise, Lord, for Your apostles, Saint Simon and Saint Jude.

One love, one hope impelled them To tread the way, renewed.

May we with zeal as earnest The faith of Christ maintain,

Be bound in love together, And life eternal gain.

("By All Your Saints in Warfare" LSB 518, st. 28)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 29:1-29; Matthew 18:21-35

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Have you ever heard someone say, "Do you know what the Lord's will is for your life?" Maybe that comes up in discussions about what job to get or what classes to take or what college to attend. Should I date this person? What career do I want to shoot for? Well, what is the Lord's will in all of those things?

The Lord's will is this: that you be saved from your sins through faith in Christ Jesus, be raised from the dead and have eternal life. That's the Lord's will. He's accomplished that will for you in Jesus, who died for you and rose for you. He's brought that will to bear in your life by baptizing you and making you a part of His Church, feeding you with the Lord's Supper and putting His Word into your ears. His will is done when you hear and believe His Word.

The "unwise" part that Paul warns us about is living as if that will of God is something other than what it is. Maybe it's living as if God's will is that you "be happy" and therefore you should just do whatever you want, whatever makes you feel good. Maybe it's that God's will is to micromanage your every single decision, making you wonder and worry about whether or not you are doing the "right" thing by picking one choice of college or classes over another. Watch out! That sort of talk about God's will isn't really about Him. It's about you!

Christ has set you free! His will is that you live freely in Him. You might choose one college or another, drive a new or a used car, have an iPhone or an Android phone. But either way, you're a forgiven sinner in Christ. He didn't save you so that you are burdened by the guilt of trying to "discern God's will for your life." He is loud and clear about what His will is: that you be saved. And more than that, He is dedicated to making that will happen for you, so that you are indeed saved, forgiven, and have everlasting life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The will of God is always best And shall be done forever; And they who trust in Him are blest; He will forsake them never. He helps indeed In time of need; He chastens with forbearing. They who depend On God, their friend, Shall not be left despairing. ("The Will of God is Always Best" LSB 758, st. 1)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch