Reflections

Today's Reading: Proverbs 9:1-10

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 15:1-29; John 15:12-27

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9:10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The time we live in is filled with many confused people who think they are wise, but are not. The prevailing wisdom of our age is to reject the clear teaching of the Bible about what is true and false, right and wrong. Those who have rejected God's Word and His ways cry aloud to people to follow after them on the path they have chosen. You can hear their siren call in the government, schools, and streets. It's in much of the media and all over the internet.

How can a young person today distinguish what is actually wise when there are so many voices shouting their own brand of "wisdom"? The book of Proverbs is a good place to start. It's filled with Holy Spirit-inspired wisdom regarding how to walk in a good way through this mixed up world.

In Proverbs 9:1-12, you hear Wisdom calling out to you to hear her teaching and fear the LORD. She tells you the good you will get from her: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it" (Proverbs 9:10-12).

In Proverbs 9:13-18 you hear a different voice: Folly calls out to you. She entices you to a life of sin that sounds sweet but leads to death. She calls you to forget God and come to her feast of pleasure. But the guests at her feast are already dead--they just don't know it yet.

Proverbs is an exceptionally good book to read regularly. It calls you to fear the LORD. To respect that He is God and He is a just judge. To trust that He is merciful to forgive all who repent and trust in Christ Jesus for forgiveness. Proverbs teaches you to reject the dangerous things of this world that lead to death, and to trust in God, who leads you to life everlasting. . In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Wisdom's highest, noblest treasure, Jesus, is revealed in You. Let me find in You my pleasure, and my wayward will subdue. Humility there and simplicity reigning, in paths of true wisdom my steps ever training. If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine, the blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine. ("One Thing's Needful" LSB 536, st.3)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Daily Lectionary: John 15:1-11

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me." And he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so." (2 Kings 2:9-10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In 2 Kings 2:1-14 we read how the LORD took the prophet Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, accompanied by a fiery chariot. Elisha had been his assistant for many years. Before Elijah was taken up, Elisha asked for a double portion of the Holy Spirit, who had been with Elijah during his ministry. God gave that to Elisha, and he went on to serve as a prophet for many years. The courage and wisdom he had to do the work God gave him to do was there because of the Spirit.

The blessing given to Elisha reminds us of Ascension Day, when the apostles watched Jesus ascend into heaven. Ten days later the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Church to empower the apostles to be witnesses for Christ. The Gospel was preached and faith was created. People were called to repentance and were reborn in Holy Baptism. The Spirit caused the Gospel to spread, and He is still doing that today through the same Word and Sacraments.

So as we hear about Elisha, and the strength the Spirit gave to him, we also thank God for the Spirit given to us in the Word and in Baptism. That same Spirit brought us to Christ and keeps us in Christ. He comforts us with the Gospel so that we learn what Christ taught and come to trust in Him. He strengthens us to serve others in the love of Christ, doing the vocations we are given in this world.

Thanks be to God for the work the Spirit did in and through the prophet Elisha. Thanks be to God for the gracious work the Spirit does to bring us to Christ and keep us in Him always. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord God, heavenly Father, through the prophet Elisha, You continued the prophetic pattern of teaching Your people the true faith and demonstrating through miracles Your presence in creation to heal it of its brokenness. Grant that Your Church may see in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the final end-times prophet whose teaching and miracles continue in Your Church through the healing medicine of the Gospel and the Sacraments; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Luke 14:15-24

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 13:1-25; John 14:18-31

When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" (Luke 14:15)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The LORD is our God who has created us. He provides all that we need to support this body and life--in the Lord's Prayer, we call this "our daily bread."

The LORD our God redeemed us from sin and death. Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" (John 6:51).

We need our daily bread in order to survive physically in this world. We need Christ, the Living Bread, to have peace with God in this world and eternal life in the next.

In the Lord's Supper, our daily bread and the Living Bread come to us at the same moment. Jesus gave us the Sacrament so that we eat and drink His Body and Blood under the bread and wine for the forgiveness of our sins.

This feast lasts forever. Christ gives it to His Church, and by His grace we will partake with Him at the marriage feast of the Lamb, which will never end (Revelation 19:9). Who could possibly number the blessings God gives us in the Lord's Supper?

A person at the table in our reading today said, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" But Jesus responded with a warning we all need to hear. Most people in this world will reject the invitation to eat bread in the kingdom of God because they are too concerned about their lives in this world.

People give excuses why they won't come to church or partake of the Supper. The things that distract them aren't bad, but they have made them more important than God, and that is bad. They forfeit a relationship with God, the giver of all good things. They don't care about the Giver, but they only want the gifts. So many people leave the best gift God gives on the table.

Lord, keep us in your grace and call back to your feast those who have wandered. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Introit for the Second Sunday after Trinity

(Psalm 18:1-2a, 27, 30a, 49; antiphon: vs. 18b-19)

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 10:1-23; John 14:1-17

The Lord was my support in the day of my calamity. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. (From the Introit for the Second Sunday after Trinity)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our Introit for the Second Sunday after Trinity comes from Psalm 18. It is a long psalm, so the Introit makes it accessible for the worship service, but do yourself a favor and read the psalm in its entirety. David wrote most of the psalms. This psalm was so important to him that it is also found in 2 Samuel 22. David celebrates here that God rescued him from the hand of Saul and from all his enemies.

Over the years David had many enemies. Think about it this way: How many people in the world do you know who have been attacked by a bear? How about a lion? How about a 9-foot-tall highly trained, magnificently equipped, enraged warrior? How about an army of thousands of his friends? How about a king who is consumed with jealousy? And his whole army?

But David was safe through all these attacks and more. He says,"The Lord was my support in the day of my calamity. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me" (Psalm 18:18b-19).

This psalm is a beautiful one to read well and often because it gives you words to express thankfulness to God. You probably have never been attacked by a lion, a giant, or a king and his army. But this psalm still applies to you because it also speaks about Christ Jesus, and you are baptized into Him.

David was the King of Israel, but so is Jesus. Christ came as the descendant of David, and He is enthroned forever. He is the King of the Jews who was falsely accused by powerful enemies and then hung upon the Cross. He defeated one who is greater than Goliath, when He crushed the serpent's head upon the Cross. He burst out of the tomb on Easter, never to die again. And He brings us with Him from death to life.

In this psalm you join with David in praising the LORD as you thank Jesus for His victory that saves you. And you also thank Jesus, your Good Shepherd, that He protects you on the way through this hard world. Thanks be to God! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

In God, my faithful God, I trust when dark my road; Great woes may overtake me, yet He will not forsake me. My troubles He can alter; His hand lets nothing falter. ("In God, My Faithful God" LSB 745, st.1)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Mark 6:7-13

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 9:1-18; John 13:21-28

Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyrus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today we thank God for redeeming Barnabas by grace through faith in Christ! We praise God for all that He worked through Barnabas for the good of the Church. Barnabas teaches us to be strong in the Gospel and active in charity.

Barnabas trusted in Christ. The apostles gave him the name Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement." He was generous with his gifts and used them to encourage others, as he did here, selling his field and giving the money to the apostles to support the work of the Gospel.

Barnabas was bold. After Saul (also known as St. Paul) was converted to Christ, he came to Jerusalem to see the apostles. They refused to see him because they thought it might be a trap. But Barnabas brought Saul to them. and they learned they could trust Saul.

When the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles in Antioch, the Church chose to send Barnabas to build up the new believers in Christ. Barnabas was known to all as "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith." He exhorted the new believers to be faithful to the Lord Jesus and not to abandon their faith when things got hard.

Barnabas went to Tarsus so that he could bring Paul to Antioch, where they continued preaching and preparing for their missionary journeys (Acts 11:23-26). Think of how important it has been for the Church through the ages that Barnabas sought out Paul and supported him!

May God bless the Church today with believers like Barnabas who encourage others in Christ, love the Word of God, and give charity to support the work of the Gospel! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, Your faithful servant Barnabas sought not his own renown but gave generously of his life and substance for the encouragement of the apostles and their ministry. Grant that we may follow his example in lives given to charity and the proclamation of the Gospel; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 8:22-36, John 13:1-20

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (John 13:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus was about to go out to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He would be arrested. Then He would be tortured, falsely tried, and crucified. But before He went out to be the sacrifice for our sins, He got up from His dinner and girded Himself to wash the disciples' feet. One by one He cleansed them and taught them that as He has served them, so they ought to serve one another.

Only the next day, Christ would be taken down from the Cross and prepared for burial. His body (and feet) were coated with the blood that poured from His many wounds. As His followers prepared His body with spices, they also gently would have cleansed away the blood that had caked around His feet. They washed the feet of the One who had washed them. From His nail-pierced feet, they tenderly cleansed away the very blood that cleanses us from our sins.

Christ doesn't kneel before us and wash our feet as He did that night, but we have been washed in the blood that poured from His wounds, dripped down His body, and dried on His skin. That blood has washed us in our Baptism. In those waters, the Spirit washed us in Christ, joined us to His death, and we now live in peace with the Father.

We bear the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are justified by His grace and adopted into His family, the Church. And in this holy Church, you turn to your neighbor. In your neighbor, you see someone else cleansed by Christ--another person loved by the same Savior who has loved you. You see your neighbor in need. In need of love and compassion and service in any of the thousands of ways that life brings.

And now you understand the point of Christ washing the disciple's feet. Jesus serves you. Jesus serves your neighbor. Jesus invites you to serve them along with Him. Don't consider it beneath you to serve your neighbor. Instead, treasure the incredible lifelong honor of serving alongside Christ. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus took the role of servant when upon that gruesome span, For all human sin He suffered as a vile and loathsome man; On the cross poured out like water to fulfill the Father's plan. ("Jesus, Greatest at the Table" LSB 446, st.3)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Apostles Creed, Third Article, part 2

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 8:1-21; John 12:36b-50

In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise up me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. (Small Catechism, Apostles Creed, Third Article)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. John 12 is a helpful reading for our devotion today as we look at the explanation of the Third Article of the Creed. Jesus is reaching the end of His public ministry. He's taught for three years, performing miracles and signs that clearly show He is the Messiah. The Spirit has worked through His teaching to draw many to faith.

Whenever the Gospel of Christ is proclaimed, the Holy Spirit accompanies it with power to draw people to faith in Christ and give them salvation. The Spirit calls people to faith, forgives their sins, enlightens them to understand the Gospel, and sanctifies them as they walk with Christ.

But whenever Jesus taught or did miracles, some people hardened their hearts and refused to believe in Him. The Spirit brought the light of Christ to them, but they loved the darkness, so they were left in their blindness. This is a good warning to us all. Let us not despise the gifts of Christ!

Thanks be to God that the gifts of Christ are still here for us all. The Word is here before you now. The Word will be proclaimed this Sunday. The forgiveness of sins is yours in Christ Jesus through the Means of Grace (the Word, Holy Baptism, and Holy Communion). You can trust that He saves you by His grace. The Spirit who has drawn you to faith keeps you in the faith and showers upon you the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ.

The Spirit does this all your life. He is faithful to keep you in faith until you are home in heaven. And on the Last Day, when Christ comes again, the Spirit who has given you life in Christ will raise you from the dead. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: Alleluia! Alleluia! ("For All the Saints" LSB 677, st.8)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: 1 John 4:16-21

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 5:1-23; John 12:20-36a

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Faith is not easy. It can be hard to believe that God loves us as much as He does, because we know all the ways that we have sinned against God, against other people, and even against ourselves. We know we deserve punishment from God, yet He comes to us in love and saves us.

1 John 4 is a beautiful chapter because it tells us how God gives us His love in Christ. "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:9-11).

Love starts with God because He is love. He made His love clearly manifest to you by sending His Son Jesus. He has brought you to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that you may have life in Him. Jesus is the propitiation for your sins. He is the sacrifice that takes your sins away, so you have peace with God.

It can be hard to believe that God loves you this much. But God is persistent! He strengthens you in faith through His Word, in your Baptism, and at the Supper. The Holy Spirit works through all these things to bring you the love the Father has given you in Christ Jesus.

This is why we love others. This is why hating someone is not an option. Christ loves you and He loves the person you hate. He wants them to repent and be saved. Would you dare ask Him to stop loving them and to join you in hating them? God is love. He won't do that. He won't join you in hate. Instead, He brings you into His love.

At times, it's hard to love others. Sometimes certain relationships aren't safe. Turn to Christ. He forgives you. Ask Him to help you forgive. He is the Lord of love. You can trust Him to help. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, grant us a steadfast love in Jesus Christ, a cheerful hope in Your mercy, and a sincere love for You and one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Genesis 15:1-6

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 4:1-27; John 12:1-19

And (the LORD) brought (Abram) outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:5,6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Abram was 75 and his wife Sarai was 65, the LORD spoke to him and said, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3).

Abram believed God told the truth and he obeyed. They left their home and settled in Canaan, waiting on the LORD to fulfill His promise. They waited. And waited. Abraham was 100 when Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Decades after the initial promise, God shows Abram the stars of heaven and says his descendants will outnumber them… and Abram still believed God.

Paul describes Abraham's faith in Romans 4: "In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ‘So shall your offspring be.' He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead… or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness'" (Romans 4:18-22).

Faith doesn't just save Abraham. It saves all who believe in Christ. Paul continues, "But the words ‘it was counted to him' were not written for Abraham's sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:23-25). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The whole triumphant host give thanks to God on high. "Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!" They ever cry. Hail Abraham's God and mine! I join the heavenly lays: All might and majesty are Thine and endless praise! ("The God of Abraham Praise" LSB 798, st.9)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Today's Reading: Luke 16:19-31

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 3:5-24; John 11:38-57

…"If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead." (Luke 16:31b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today, we meet Lazarus. He has the distinction of being the only character in Jesus' parables to be given a name. Lazarus means, "One whom God helps."

Every day, Lazarus' friends lay him outside the gate of a rich man so that he might receive scraps from the rich man's table. God intended to help Lazarus through the compassion of the rich man. The bounty given to the rich man should be shared in mercy with Lazarus, and God would bless both of them. But the rich man closed his heart toward Lazarus. Instead of helping him, he left Lazarus to suffer in hunger and illness, poverty and shame.

Soon, both die. God lives up to the promise in Lazarus' name. The angels carry Lazarus away from the sorrows of this world to the peace of eternal life. The rich man is sent to hell. His lack of faith in God and lack of repentance for his sins lead him to eternal punishment. Even in hell he still has no respect for Lazarus. He suggests that God send Lazarus down to the fires of hell for the miniscule comfort of a drop of water on his tongue.

God would have none of it. God gave these good things to Lazarus and they will never be taken away. The rich man begs God to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them that they, too, will be damned if they don't repent. But God has given them mercy already! Moses and the prophets call them to repent and believe. If they will not hear them, why would they believe if someone (Jesus!) were to rise from the dead?

In Baptism we are all Lazarus--one whom God helps! Jesus teaches us that the Church is a place of mercy. God has mercy on us in Christ Jesus. And because God has had mercy on us, we should show His love by serving our neighbor.

We gather together and hear Moses and the prophets, Jesus and His apostles. Through their words the Holy Spirit brings us to repent and believe so that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. All glory be to Him! Amen! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

"Come unto Me, ye weary, and I will give you rest." O blessed voice of Jesus, which comes to hearts oppressed! It tells of benediction, or pardon, grace and peace, Of joy that has no ending, or love that cannot cease. ("Come unto Me, Ye Weary" LSB 684, st.1)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch