Reflections

Today's Reading: Exodus 32:1-20

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 11:1-23; Matthew 24:1-28

“And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’  (Ex. 32:4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. A translation issue from the original Hebrew helps unlock this text, and an archaeological discovery helps too.  The translation issue is this – the Hebrew word for “God” is in the plural.  This means the Hebrew translator has to decide if the text is talking about God or false gods when he sees the same word (Elohim).  In Ex. 32:4, it should be, ‘This is your god.’  There was only one golden calf Aaron made, so how could he say that was multiple gods? That makes no linguistic sense at all.  Instead, Aaron built the calf and said this was Israel’s God.  It’s just that he was wrong.

An archaeological issue also unlocks Ex. 32.  Carvings have been discovered of ancient idols standing on the backs of animals, usually bulls or lions. Idolaters thought that their (false) gods had power over these creatures if they stood on their backs.  Notice, Aaron does not make a graven image standing on the calf.  There’s nothing but empty air there.  That’s because God commanded that He should not be made into idol form.  Aaron was careful to follow that word.  But Aaron also borrowed pagan religious practices for God’s worship.  Apparently, Aaron thought the substance of the true God’s worship would stay the same, even if the style changed to be more relevant to his day. But this blended worship angered God.

God’s worship should never be designed by popular opinion poll, or what we think relates to sinners best.  That’s because we are sinners in need of salvation we cannot come up with.  God alone has won salvation for us in His Son Jesus, by His death for our sins.  And God delivers this salvation by the Word of the Gospel and the sacraments.  Worship practices are to correspond to this. The historic liturgy does correspond to this.  The worship of the historical Lutheran church is based chiefly on what conforms to the Word of God and its doctrine best.  God is the God who justifies sinners freely on account of Jesus’ death.  In worship, we come on holy ground, and leave the infatuations of our pleasure-seeking world at the door.  Lutheran worship is not bound to this time. It is timeless. And that all makes it good.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, guide our worship that we do not anger You by conforming it to what this evil world thinks is best, and grant that we may be Christ-centered and counter-cultural in worship.  Amen.

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

Today's Reading: Matthew 24_15-28,  Introit:Ps. 130:1–2, 7–8; antiphon: Ps. 130:3–4

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 8:18-9:12; Matthew 23:13-39

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”  (Mt. 24:23-24)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This passage from Mt. 24 is often read as if Jesus was meaning it only for those of His time.  In the 1st century, when many Jews were expecting God’s Messiah (or Christ) to appear, some falsely proclaimed themselves as that promised savior.  And Jesus rightly warned His hearers to not follow those other guys, because they were frauds.  So this did apply then.

But Jesus also warns us today.  For there are false christs today too.  Today, false christs tend to go by the same name as the true Christ: Jesus.  One church proclaims Jesus as a social radical who now teaches that sin is no longer sinful.  One church preaches a Jesus who will make you financially wealthy if you believe enough.  One church proclaims Jesus as a cheerleader who gets you to do enough good works to enter heaven.  Still another church says that Jesus has done His part to save you, but the rest is up to you now.  All of these are false christs.  So if anyone says, “Look, Christ is here in this church,” but the pastor proclaims these false doctrines?  He is pointing you to a different guy than the savior we know, a false christ.  It’s just that their false savior also happens to have the same name as our true savior.

The true Christ is the One who saves sinners as a free gift.  The true Christ is the sacrifice whose gory bloodshed and disturbing death is your peace.  The true Christ is a physician for the afflicted and tormented soul, but He has nothing to give those who think they are already well without Him.  The true Christ is risen from the dead and sits at God’s right hand.  The true Christ washes sins away by the water of Baptism and adopts those baptized into God’s family.  The true Christ gives His body to eat in and under the consecrated bread, and His blood to drink in and under the consecrated wine.  The true Christ is the Shepherd of lost sheep.  God be praised.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, hear the devout prayers of Your Church, especially in times of persecution, and grant that what we ask in faith we may obtain; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

Today's Reading: Introit for the Third-Last Sunday of the Church Year

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

“If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” (Ps. 130:3-4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. A guilty conscience cannot hide.  Try as one might, God sees what is done in secret.  He knows the secrets of man’s heart.  He threatens a wrathful judgment against any who is charged with sin.  Adam and Eve in Gen. 3 could not hide from God.  They stood before Him ashamed as God cursed them for listening to the devil’s word.  Likewise, if you try to hide your sins from God, you cannot.  You will have to give an account of your sinful thoughts, words, actions, and the good that you failed to do.

But who then can stand before God’s awful throne of judgment?  No one.  Not you.  Not the most moral person you know.  Not even the psalmist who wrote Ps. 130.  While Adam and Eve did technically stand before God when He cursed them, it was more like cowering instead of actual standing.  To stand before God in Ps. 130 means to stand with boldness and confidence.

With God there is forgiveness.  For with God is His Son Jesus whom He sent to take your place.  Your iniquities and sins were not marked against you but against Him.  Jesus, God and Man, lived perfectly in your place, and gave His innocent life for your sins.  Whatever is deserving of condemnation in you, Jesus took as His own to give you a righteousness that was His own.  His blood was shed for you.  Jesus suffered God’s wrath so that you might stand before Him on the last day, and with a smile on your face.  Beaming, thankful, radiant because there is forgiveness with God for you on account of His Son.

Faith trusts this promise and breathes easier.  For your sins are blotted out, covered over, taken away from you.  You will not have to give an account for those covered sins, because there is nothing needing to account for.  In place of your sin and curse is Jesus’ free righteousness and blessing.  In place of terror is now joy.  In place of sorrow at what you have become is comfort because of what you will become in Christ.  True, Jesus is the only one who can stand before God the Father.  But through faith alone, you stand with Him and your sins are not charged to you.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Your deep love for me in Your Son, Jesus.  Grant me a strong faith that with all boldness and confidence, I may stand before You on the last day with joy.  Amen.

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21

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

“Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” (Eph. 5:18b-19)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christians are encouraged to learn psalms.  More than any other book of the Bible, the Psalms speak to every situation and every emotion a believer may ever face in his life.  The psalms speak both from our perspective to God in prayers, laments, thanksgivings and recounting of what God has done previously in Scripture.  But the Psalms also are God’s Word to us.  They give God’s voice to us addressing our sorrow, hope, trust, guilt, anger and more.  And the very words we say in the Psalms are given by God to us.  Yes, even those destructive and bloody psalms about bashing in heads with rocks or calling on God to break the teeth of enemies!  Even these are God’s Word, holy and sacred above the words of men!

The apostle Paul encourages us to address other believers (probably in church, but also in our families) with psalms.  There was a time, long before MP3s and playlists, when people were encouraged to learn psalms by heart.  In the early centuries of Christianity, believers were encouraged to sing psalms while they were working.  At a time when you didn’t have the background music of the radio or a playlist, singing the Psalms was a great way to be grounded in God’s Word.

Did you know that Jesus is in the Psalms?  Often, He is even the one speaking the psalms.  These poems point to the Savior of sinners, the Redeemer of man, the fulfiller of creation and the key to life.  Jesus and His death and resurrection for our salvation stand at the heart of the Psalms.  They must be, for the Holy Spirit who fills the hearts of psalm-singers also reveals our Lord and Savior to us.  Even here.  It is no surprise that any Word inspired by the Holy Spirit also proclaims the crucified and risen Jesus who forgives sinners freely. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We sing of mercy and judgment unto You, O Lord, our Savior and Judge; help us with the one, warn us with the other.  Grant us Your humble servants, O Lord, that a stubborn heart may depart from us, and that wicked things before our eyes may not allure us, but that walking in the simplicity of innocence, You may lead us on in Your pity and love, and absolve us as a truthful Judge; who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

Today's Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 3:6-4:2; Matthew 22:1-22

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way,
 and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
 and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isa. 55:6-7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Seek the Lord while He may be found.  For a time will come when people will seek Him, but won’t be able to find Him.  They will call on Him to save them, and He will not.  This will come on the Last Day, when the door is closed and many who were Christian in name only cry out to Jesus, “Lord, Lord,” as if that was the same thing as faith in Christ.  Before that day comes, seek the Lord.  Seek Jesus.  Pursue receiving the means of grace.  Prioritize it.  Drop everything else and come hear your pastor preach the Gospel at the times set for this.

For at this time, the Lord is near.  Now, the Son of God has come close to us, by taking on our human flesh.  Likewise, He has bridged the gap between fallen sinners and the righteous God by shedding His blood as the innocent Savior who dies in place of sinners.  The Lord is near now, but He won’t always be near.  So seek Him where He may be found, when He may be found, where He wants to be found.  That is, seek Him in the means of grace when they are offered.

“Seeking the Lord '' according to Isaiah means that the wicked person must forsake his way, and the unrighteous man must forsake his thoughts.  You cannot truly seek the Lord who rescues you from sin, if you want to remain in your sins.  Yet it is the work of the Holy Spirit alone who creates a clean heart in you.  He applies Jesus’ righteousness to you.  And the Holy Spirit guides you into the path of righteousness by leading you to faith in Christ.  From faith, comes both a converted will that wants to do works, and the strength to do good works that cooperates with the Holy Spirit to bear the fruits of faith.

These works do not save you.  Works never do.  Faith in Christ alone is what saves.  Therefore, seeking the Lord means repentance and faith in Christ.  It is by this that you find God’s compassion and abundant forgiveness as the prophet says today.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, guide our hearts to trust in Jesus Your Son for our justification, and guide our steps to forsake our sins and thoughts.  Through Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar, part 2

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 1:1-19; Matthew 21:23-46

Where is this written?  The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: "Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me." In the same way also he took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." (Small Catechism, 6th Chief part, section 2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God’s written Word, Holy Scripture, is the only fountain and source of what Christianity teaches, believes, and practices.  We see this especially with the Lord’s Supper.  Scripture alone tells us what the Lord’s Supper is, what it does, and why our communion service is how it is. We dare not rely on Scripture mixed with human reason, or Scripture mixed with sacred tradition, or Scripture mixed with our emotional reactions.  Or anything else for that matter.  God’s Word alone determines what is true, not the mind or emotions of man or even churches.

What is the Lord’s Supper?  It is Jesus’ true body and blood, in and under the consecrated bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and drink.  Man’s reason hates this.  Branches of Christianity that rely on Scripture plus reason object to the Biblical Lutheran teaching.  But Scripture plus reason always leads to reason outranking Scripture.  If you deny Jesus’ body and blood in the Supper based on Scripture plus reason, you really don’t have a logical reason to also believe in the resurrection of the dead, the forgiveness of sins, or the existence of God.  Reason denies all this.  And then you’d have no reason for hope, certainty of salvation, or lasting happiness, for that matter.

Holy Scripture alone is our foundation and source.  What Scripture teaches about the institution of the Lord’s Supper is clear.  Jesus’ body and blood are given to be eaten and drank.  Sinners who repent and confess the faith the same way eat and drink His body and His blood with their mouths, and they do this for the forgiveness of sins.  Though Jesus ascended into heaven, He is able to join His body and blood into the bread and wine on earth by His Word, that we might have these gifts of forgiveness and strength.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“O Jesus, blessed Lord, to Thee My heartfelt thanks forever be, Who hast so lovingly bestowed On me Thy body and Thy blood.” (LSB 632:1; public domain).

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

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.” (Mt. 5:3)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. All Saints’ Day is a day of backwards blessings. Our Lord sets it up this way, as He pronounces blessings upon people who don’t seem like they are blessed at all.  It’s backwards from what natural man’s reason and senses think it should be.  Instead of the popular, the talented, the good-looking or the rich having such blessings, it’s backwards.  Those who mourn, who are poor in spirit, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are pure when purity is mocked, even those persecuted for righteousness’ sake, Jesus says, “You are blessed.”

What nonsense is this?  For our fallen reason, this is backwards.  Jesus picks people who seem the least blessed by God, and says they are blessed.  But something very profound is going on here.  Jesus blesses people not because of their current situation.  He instead blesses people because of what their future will be.  He is speaking here to those who trust in Him, His invisible church of all believers.  It is as if Jesus is saying, “Because of what your future will be through faith in Me, you are blessed now.”

Because yours is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are the poor in spirit.  This is you if you know your sins, regret them, and want to be clean.  So trust in God, from whom all blessings flow.  Trust His Son, crucified for your sins and risen for your justification.  Trust that His forgiveness is for you.  Because you will be comforted with the blessings of everlasting salvation, blessed are you who mourn now.  In this life, the devil remains our enemy, and grieves us.  But by God’s blessing through faith in Christ, you overcome the devil, even if sometimes tears flow.  

While these may seem like backwards blessings, it is actually we who were turned around, and not these blessings.  We could not put them right. Now through faith in Christ and hearing His Word, we are set straight again to receive God’s blessings because of what Jesus will do for those who believe Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE,

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

Today's Reading: Romans 3:19-29

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

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it” (Rom. 3:21).

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. A young Martin Luther trembled at the fear that the all-knowing, wrathful Judge was watching his every move and weighing it on the cosmic scale of right and wrong. It was not the first time Luther trembled at the thought of being judged by Jesus. As a boy, the wrathful image of Jesus in the stained glass windows of his church in Mansfield brought him terrors. Every funeral he attended and every death he heard of drove home the fact that one day he would have to give an account of his own life before the all-righteous God.  And Luther knew he couldn’t do it.

Frankly, you can’t either. There is blood on your hands and sin on your account. God’s Law makes His perfect righteousness known – the impossible-to-keep Law that yet demands perfection from you in all things. That time you lied to your parents about where you had gone? Or the lustful desires for beautiful flesh? Or the fact that you think your life isn’t fair when you should be content with what God has given you? All of that stands against you, and the righteous God has more than enough to strike you down.

But there is a righteousness of God not connected with His Law. There is a being right-with-God aspect that is all a gift for you who cannot do it.  The innocent Son lives perfectly in your place. Jesus the perfect sacrifice on the cross is made a substitute for your faulty works. Now, His perfect righteousness of His life and won by His death is credited to you. Your debt is paid. Your account is clean. Not because of what you have done, but because of what Jesus has done for you. This is the righteousness of the Gospel that Martin Luther rediscovered. This is made known not by judgment against you, but the imparting of Jesus’ righteousness won for you. All Scripture bears witness to this Gospel for you. 

Your judge is merciful. You will have to give an account of your life after you die, sure. But for believers in Christ, this is a merciful thing! It’s an accounting where all your sins are covered and nothing stands against you. Believers are judged mercifully, for the death of Jesus is their judgment. Christ for you. This alone comforts your trembling heart, just as it comforted Luther’s. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“Lord, help us ever to retain The Catechism’s doctrine plain As Luther taught the Word of truth In simple style to tender youth.” (LSB 865:1; public domain).

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

Today's Reading: Matthew 22:1-14, Introit: Ps. 48:1, 9–11

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

“Everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” (Mt. 22:4c)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today the Lord bids you to feast at the house of the King!  You know the food will be good. The meals at regular wedding receptions are always tasty - with cake, too! How much better would the meal be at the wedding reception for the King’s Son?

But in the parable, the people who were invited won’t come. They make excuses why they’d rather not go. “Sorry, just got married, and we wanted to just watch TV tonight...”  “Sorry, can’t come. Cows matter but you don’t...”  How lame are these excuses!

God invites you to a different kind of wedding feast, the wedding feast of the Lamb and His Church. That will happen in heaven, surely.  But it also happens every Sunday where the Gospel is purely proclaimed and the Sacraments rightly administered according to God’s Word, in the liturgy.  The service of the Sacrament is rightly called “a foretaste of the feast to come,” that feast of forgiveness that will come eventually on the last day.  But today, God invites you to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word, and taste His body and drink His blood for the forgiveness of sins in the Lord’s Supper.  But do you make excuses to God why you can’t go?  (If you’re sick or something, that’s an ok time to stay home from church.  Just be in God’s Word if that happens).

In the parable, the king destroyed the murderers and everyone in their city, then he invited others who seemed to be less worthy. God’s Law thunders from heaven.  It silences every mouth by holding the whole world guilty.  But it also puts our sins to death as it leads us to repent and actively turn away from our sins. Then, for we who are unworthy guests who repent of our sins, God invites us to trust His love and forgiveness in Christ. This is the Gospel, the invite to this heavenly feast on earth as well as the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covers your sins. But are you worthy to go?  Not by your efforts or works. But always because of Christ! Trusting that his invite is for you is what makes you feast-worthy – therefore, come and receive. You are worthy in Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

-Pastor Robert Mayes is Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church in Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.

Today's Reading: Introit for the 20th Sunday after Trinity

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

Psalm 48:1 The Lord is righteous in all he has done to us, for we have not obeyed his commandments. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

The Lord is righteous in all he has done to us, for we have not obeyed his commandments. It’s not reassuring.  You deserve everything that you get.  The blame you sling at others. The excuses you craft for yourself.  It all melts away under the Lord’s justice.  He didn’t just see it. He acts righteously in response.  You deserve this. The sinner recoils.  We think we know what righteousness looks like.  But we can only seem to measure it in “better than us.”  The Lord won’t belittle the word righteousness to mean “didn’t mess up as bad as you.”  

Righteousness isn’t a state for Him.  It’s an action.  If you spend every moment flinching away from God out of fear of punishment, you’ll miss it too.  If the Lord was simply “fair” in what He has done to us, we’d be in hell.  All of us are doing way better than we deserve.  The Lord is righteous in all He has done to us.  He has redeemed us.  Righteousness was a verb.  He made you Righteous too. It fills the mouth of the psalmist.  Glorify Your name, O Lord; and deal with us according to Your great mercy.  We have not obeyed the Lord’s commandments, so He has crucified us with Jesus in our baptism. And He has raised us, free, forgiven, and holy.  It’s what righteousness looks like.  Not just better than someone else, but wholly without sin.  Jesus isn’t content being without sin Himself.  He wraps you up in the same.  So that righteousness isn’t an action for you. It’s a state.  You are baptized. You are righteous.  You are the one who has received mercy.  You don’t earn it. You don’t do it. You receive it. You are it.  You are righteous. Mercied. Forgiven.  Loved.  

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.  We can spend our days rejoicing in God’s steadfast love that takes action and shape.  It bears the cross for you, and makes you into one who doesn’t need to hide from God, but can rejoice in His judgments.  He has judged the Son that you would be judged righteous.  

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It brings the Savior’s righteousness To robe our souls in royal dress; From all our guilt it brings release And gives the troubled conscience peace. (The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace, LSB 580: 3)

-Pastor Harrison Goodman is Content Executive for Higher Things.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

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.