Reflections

Today's Reading: Small Catechism, Sixth Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 37:1-36; Mark 10:1-12

You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in all we say and do, and that husband and wife love and honor each other. (Small Catechism: Sixth Commandment)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul writes, "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

Paul's words give us a good summary of Luther's explanation to the Sixth Commandment. Whether you are married, engaged, dating, or single, God calls you to be chaste--to honor our bodies in all stations of life. 

The Sixth Commandment isn't God's way of being a spoilsport. No, like all the other commandments, God gives this one for our good. In the Sixth Commandment God is protecting and preserving for us His gift of marriage and human sexuality. Sadly, like all of God's other gifts, sinful, fallen humanity has made a royal mess of this commandment and gift as well, through adultery, pornography, homosexuality--the list goes on. 

Scripture reveals the truth that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All of us have broken the Sixth Commandment. All of us have abused or misused or taken for granted God's gift of marriage and human sexuality. 

It might seem like the Sixth Commandment is the worst or biggest commandment we could break. And yet, even for our sins against this commandment, there is forgiveness. No matter how great our sins are against this or any other commandment, Christ's purity and holiness and faithfulness for you are far greater. Jesus led a pure and decent life in all He said and did for you. Jesus went to the Cross, revealing the depth of the Father's love and His compassion to save you. 

Indeed, you were bought with a price. In Jesus crucified, you are forgiven, redeemed, cleansed, and restored. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:1-9

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 35:1-29; Mark 9:33-50

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth). (Ephesians 5:8-9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Darkness in Scripture is always more than the physical absence of light. It is a spiritual darkness, too. The presence of disorder, chaos, and wanton evil. The darkness of sin. The shadow of death. The tenebrous shroud that overshadows God's creation which was once proclaimed, "very good." 

We live in darkness. A fallen world full of fallen men, who, Jesus declares, "love the darkness rather than the Light" (John 3:19). Humanity follows the broken compass of our fallen flesh, a needle constantly pointed inward, drawn by the gravity of our sinful, selfish desires. Such is the darkness of fallen mankind, a mind, will, and heart of darkness whose thoughts are continually evil. No wonder that C.S. Lewis, when writing his science-fiction space trilogy, called earth the "silent planet." Silent and dark.

Notice Paul's choice of verbs. Once you were darkness. Past tense. Now you are light in the Lord. Present, indicative tense. In Christ, who is the Light of the world, our past sin and darkness have been changed into an eternally present reality: You are light in the Lord Jesus.

Unlike our love that so often fades, God's brilliant love for us in Christ does not flicker. His grace and mercy to you cannot be snuffed out. Christ's peace is no rolling blackout whose light comes and goes. No. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the Light no darkness can overcome. In His birth for us, His life for us, His death and resurrection for us, we have received God's true, enduring, endless, and eternal Light.

In Jesus, you are a child of the light. You are a city set on a hill. Do not hide who you are, but "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Reflect the light of Christ as you share the Good News of Jesus, born for you, with your friends, coworkers, and neighbors. This, too, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Grant, most merciful Lord, 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 our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Exodus 8:16-24

Daily Lectionary:  Genesis 29:1-30; Mark 9:14-32

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said. (Exodus 8:19)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God's finger brought judgment upon Pharaoh and all his idols. Flies and lice soon gave way to darkness, and eventually death, save for those Israelites whose doorposts were covered by the blood of the Passover lamb.

Pharaoh, however, isn't the only one whose hands have wrought wickedness and sin. We may not worship Ra or Amun like the Egyptians did, but make no mistake, we have our own idols all the same. Who or what is it that we look to for all our good? Who or what is it that we fear, love, and trust in above all things? Because of all the sin our hands and fingers, and sinful hearts have worked, we, too, deserve the wrath of the finger of God.

But that's not what happened. Israel was saved from God's wrath by the blood of the passover lamb. You are saved by the One who is the Passover Lamb of God in human flesh: Jesus Christ. What's more, you are saved by the very same fingers of God that saved Israel in the Exodus.

That's right, in Jesus, the Son of God and son of Mary, God has ten human fingers that touched and healed the sick. Fingers that took bread and broke it and gave it to His disciples on the night in which He was betrayed. Fingers that writhed in pain as Jesus hung on the Cross to pay for all the sin our hands have wrought. 

The finger of God brought wrath and judgment to Pharaoh and Egypt. But in Jesus, God's fingers have brought you life and salvation forever. God rescued His children of Israel, just as He promised, through the blood on the doorposts, and the water of the Exodus. Our Lord Jesus does the same for each of us as well. He paints the doorposts of our mouth with His Holy Body and Blood and He saves us from bondage to sin, death, and the devil through the Red Sea of your Baptism. 

So whenever you see the Scriptures, the font, and the altar, you, too, can say, "This is the finger of God come to save me." In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Look upon the heart-felt desires of your humble servants, Almighty God, and stretch forth the right hand of your majesty to be our defense against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Luke 11:14-28

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:30-45; 28:10-22; Mark 9:1-13

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when one stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils." (Luke 11:21-22)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. "He is possessed by Beelzebub and by the prince of demons he casts out demons" (Mark 3:22). It's the ultimate Old Testament insult: If you don't like what someone says, call ‘em the devil. In the Old Testament Beelzebub was a Caananite god, the lord of the flies, the god of dung. A crass euphemism for the ruler of death. Eventually it became another name for Satan. The Scribes are accusing Jesus of being in league with the devil, like in an old country song. Problem is, that's most illogical. Divided kingdoms don't stand. Divided houses fall. If Satan is actually opposed to himself, then his days are over.

Jesus didn't join the devil's ranks. He came to defeat the devil. And it's a good thing He did. Like Adam and Eve, we're guilty of treason. "Fast bound in Satan's chains we lay" ("Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice" LSB 556, st.2). That's why Jesus, the rightful King, lands in enemy occupied territory. Jesus comes for you. To your rescue. To save you. It's a great invasion, and Bethlehem is the beachhead. The wilderness temptation is a key battleground and skirmishes break out all over. Demons are cast out in Capernaum, Galilee, and Gerasene. Jesus is on the move, headed toward Jerusalem and the Cross, the last battle.

Jesus dies the same way He is born: in humility and utter helplessness. "He must be crazy. So weak. How foolish," the world cries out. But the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisest men. And the weakness of God is stronger than both men and the devil. So, this is Jesus' battle plan: "Bind the strong man" and plunder his goods. Jesus does what we are unable and unwilling to do. Jesus the Burglar comes in human flesh, ties up the devil, storms the dragon's lair and reclaims you, His rightful treasure. We're the plunder the Divine Thief carries off after He's tied up the strong man. We who were once dogs, rebels, and sinners are now Jesus' greatest treasure in the Cross. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; 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 Third Sunday in Lent)

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:1-29; Mark 8:22-38

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy him." (Matthew 2:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The last time an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, he was told not to be afraid. He was to take Mary as his wife. The child in her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. His Name is Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins, the angel told him. All was going according to God's plan of salvation. 

Now, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph again. This time Joseph is warned in a dream to take the Christ Child and Mary, flee to Egypt, and escape Herod's treacherous, murderous plot to kill Jesus, the one born King of the Jews. And just as he did before, Joseph listened to the angel's word. 

We don't often pay attention to Joseph. This, on the one hand, is good. Joseph isn't the center of the story, Jesus is. On the other hand, it is good to remember and give thanks to God for Joseph, guardian of Jesus. For God gave Joseph an important part to play in the story of our salvation.

It's quite the title, if you think about it: Guardian of Jesus. Wait, what? God Incarnate needs a guardian? Yes, He did. That's the joy and mystery of Christmas, but also of Lent and Easter. You see, God sent Joseph to be Mary's husband, and Jesus' guardian, so that when the time came to flee Egypt, he would be there to safeguard the Son of God and His mother. God sent Joseph to be Jesus' guardian so that in fleeing Herod's wrath, Jesus would one day grow up and go to the Cross to bear God's wrath for us. God sent Joseph to be Jesus' guardian so that Jesus would go to Jerusalem to be crucified under Pontius Pilate for you. God sent Joseph to be Jesus' guardian so that Jesus, the rightful King, would rule and reign from His crib to the Cross, and into all eternity, for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, from the house of Your servant David You raised up Joseph to be the guardian of Your incarnate Son and the husband of His mother, Mary. Grant us grace to follow the example of this faithful workman in heeding Your counsel and obeying Your commands; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:32-52, 61-67; Mark 8:1-21

"And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go, behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink."'"(Genesis 24:42-43)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There's something in the water when it comes to wells in the Bible. In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his servant to find a bride from among his kinsmen for his son Isaac. Eventually, the servant returned home to Isaac with his bride-to-be, Rebekah. Later on, in Genesis 29, Isaac's son, Jacob, meets his future wife, Rachel, at--you guessed it--the well. 

In the Gospel of John, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman, an outsider, at, of all places, a well. Only this time, the Offspring of Abraham isn't at the well to find a bride, but to show this woman, and all who call on His Name, that He is our heavenly Bridegroom, come to save us all by His life, death, and resurrection. 

At the well in John 4, Jesus is fulfilling the promise God made to Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all believers of all time and place. Jesus is that Promised Seed, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Bridegroom who has come to save us, His lost, wayward, faithless Bride. Jesus sat next to that Samaritan woman at the well, not only for her sake, but for yours as well. 

"Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:13,14).

The well of Genesis 24 gives way to a far deeper well, where the water of life flows freely out of Jesus' wounded side on the Cross. Water and blood flows into the font and the chalice. And out of this wellspring of eternal life Jesus makes for Himself a Holy Bride: you, His baptized, beloved people. Indeed, there's something in the water of your Baptism: the Word and promise of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, you turned us from the old life of sin: Grant that we, being reborn to new life in him, may live in righteousness and holiness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 24:1-31; Mark 7:24-37

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers in his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." (Mark 7:33-34)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. "Ephphatha. Be opened." This is what happens when Jesus, the Word made flesh, speaks. Jesus' Word opens. A little water in the form of spit united with His creative, does-what-He-says Word, and, "Open sesame!" The deaf man could hear. The mute man spoke. Jesus opened this man's ears and loosed his tongue. Jesus' Word opens.

Today the Church remembers and gives thanks to God for St. Patrick, missionary to Ireland. The same Lord who opened the deaf-mute man's ears and mouth, also opened the mouth of St. Patrick to declare the praises and Good News of Christ crucified and risen to the Irish people. And there, too, God opened their hearts and minds by sending His Word and Spirit to create faith in Jesus.

Our Lord does the same thing for you as well. It doesn't matter if you're Irish or not, or whether or not you're wearing any green at all. Our Lord has worked his Ephphatha for you, too. Jesus' hands, feet, and side were opened on the Cross to save you from sin, death, and darkness. Jesus opened His grave on Easter Sunday so that your grave will one day be opened again when He returns in glory. Jesus opened heaven for you when you were baptized by water, Word, and the Spirit. There, just as He did for the deaf-mute man, Jesus opened heaven for you.

O Lord, open our lips to rejoice with St. Patrick: Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger. "I bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three" ("I Bind unto Myself Today" LSB 604, st.1). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, you chose your servant Patrick to be a missionary to the Irish people who were wandering in darkness and error. You bound unto them the trinitarian name through Baptism and faith that they might dwell in the light of Christ. Bind unto us this same strong name of the Trinity as we remember our Baptism and walk in His light, that we may come to dwell at last in the eternal light of the presence of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Fifth Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 22:1-19; Mark 7:1-23

You shall not murder. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need. (Small Catechism: Fifth Commandment)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Last week when we read about the Fourth Commandment, we reflected upon three questions: What does this commandment mean? What gift of God is He protecting and providing for us in this commandment? And, how does Jesus keep this commandment for us? The meaning of the Fifth Commandment goes deeper than we might expect. At first, we might think, "I've never murdered anyone! I'm good to go. Kept that commandment; now onto the next." Not so fast. The catechism helps us unpack the meaning of this commandment. It is not enough that we have refrained from murdering our neighbor. 

Jesus also teaches us that whoever hates his brother in his heart has broken this commandment as well. That is to say, there's an inward spiritual dimension to this commandment, not only an outward action. We easily break the Fifth Commandment without ever picking up a weapon to murder someone. Not only that, we fail to keep this commandment when we do not help and support our neighbor in their physical need.  And that's the answer to our second question. God gives the Fifth Commandment to protect and preserve His gift of our physical body and our bodily needs. This is what we pray for in the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer when we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."

This is also why we pray, "Forgive us our trespasses." For we have failed to keep this commandment as well. In thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and what we have left undone, we have broken the Fifth Commandment. What we deserve is the death sentence for our sins. Only that's not what we receive. Remember that important third question: How does Jesus keep this commandment for me? Jesus keeps both sides of this commandment, the inward and the outward parts. By His every thought, word, and deed, Jesus kept the Fifth Commandment for you. And on the Cross, He left nothing undone to save you, body and soul. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, you know that we have no power to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 21:1-21; Mark 6:35-56

For this is the will of God, your sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 4:3a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Sanctification is the word of the day from Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. Sanctification means "to make holy." If you look at church history, you'll notice that a lot of ink has been spilled about the Scripture's teaching on sanctification, and the Christian life of good works. Some say that good works are required for salvation, like paying for tickets to ride a rollercoaster at the fair. Some say that good works are harmful to our salvation, because we might be tempted to use them like a crutch. Notice the problem in both errors about sanctification and good works: They both focus the Christian inwardly, back to our navel-gazing ways.

Paul, however, points us to the work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our sanctification. It is the will of God, he writes. That's the way it is with anything that is called holy. It all comes from, is supported by, and happens through the work of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God's Word is holy, for it comes from Him who is holy. God's gifts of Absolution, Baptism, and the Supper are holy because they are filled with His Holy Word, promise, and life. 

Anything that is holy comes from God. The same is true of our sanctification, or our life of good works. We are God's holy people because we have been declared and made holy in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy One of Israel.

When we look in the mirror, we see an unholy mess. Sexual immorality, lust, unbelief, stealing from others, and the list of our uncleanliness goes on, Paul writes.

Thankfully, that list is wiped clean, and you are made holy by the blood of Jesus crucified. God gave His Son to live a holy, sanctified life for you. Jesus died an unholy death to clothe you in His holiness. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son to work faith in your heart, and holiness in your life. Rejoice, for your salvation and your sanctification are the will and work of God. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, strong and mighty, Lord of Hosts and King of glory: Cleanse our hearts from sin, keep our hand pure, and turn our minds from what is passing away; so that at the last we may stand in your holy place and receive your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Today's Reading: Genesis 32:22-32

Daily Lectionary: Genesis 18:1-15; Mark 6:14-34

And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." (Genesis 32:28)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. No one likes losing. It doesn't matter if it's a job, a ballgame, a barroom brawl or Monopoly. You see, we follow the principle that if you're not first, you're last. Those are the ways of man.

But those are not the ways of God. When it comes to fighting with and for His people, God is the biggest and the happiest loser. For when God loses, we win; and when we win, God wins. 

This is what happened back in Genesis 32. On the banks of the Jabbok Jacob wrestled with God. God got in the ring with Joseph and went all ten rounds. And to our surprise, Jacob won. God lost. 

The remarkable thing is not that God appeared as a man, not that He picked a fight with Jacob, but that God lost. And here is the even more remarkable thing: God delighted in losing. 

When God loses we win. That's the way it was for Jacob. "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have fought with God and have prevailed." Jacob is given a new name: Israel, the God-fighter. He saw God face to face and lived. God works the same for you. When God loses, you win. Look no further than the Cross where Christ, who is first, became last for our sakes.

Jesus turns the world upside down. No Cross, no glory. No death, no resurrection. Good Friday must come before Easter. And if you try to save your life on your own terms you'll lose it forever. If you lose your life for Jesus' sake you'll find it. That's the paradox of the Gospel. The Cross is Christ's glory and yours. Losing is living. Dying is life.

Christ comes ready to fight for our very lives. Jesus is not content until He has wrestled away every last sin from you and given you every last blessing of His. For when Jesus loses His life for you on the Cross, you gain everything in Him. And when He rises victoriously from the grave, death loses once again. And in Jesus you are alive. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, you so loved the world that you gave your only begotten Son to reconcile earth with heaven; Grant that we, loving you above all things, may love our friends in you, and our enemies for your sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Learn more about your favorite hymns and find the deeper meaning behind the text with Eternal Anthems: The Story Behind Your Favorite Hymns. The book includes devotional commentary and historical facts from forty different contributing authors on fifty different hymns. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.