Reflections

September 9, 2025

Today's Reading: Philemon 1-21

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23; 2 Kings 6:24-8:29; Philippians 1:21-2:11

“That you might have him back forever, no longer as a bonderservant, but more than a bonderservant, as a beloved brother” (Philemon 16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Philemon is a short book and can seem an odd inclusion to the New Testament. It seems more like a private letter Paul is sending rather than something millions of people would read for centuries after it was written. The contents of the letter are this: Onesimus, a slave, runs away from his master, Philemon, to Paul. Paul, after catechizing Onesimus, decides to send him back to Philemon. Paul also sends Onesimus with a note, asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not as a slave but as a brother in Christ. Paul’s request of Philemon is not a small one. As a slave, Onesimus had no rights, no legal recourse, and could’ve been killed for running away from his master. Paul is asking for Onesimus’ life to be spared and that Philemon treat him as an equal—as brothers, coheirs, in Christ. This was likely difficult for Philemon. Onesimus had wronged him, run away from him, broken both the legal Roman laws and the Law of God (honor authority and whatnot). Instead, Paul charges Philemon to forgive him and treat him as he would treat Paul. Paul is saying, “Do not look upon Onesimus according to the world but according to Christ Jesus.” These words are also a charge and conviction to us. 

How many of us would like to treat those who sin against us according to the law? How many times has a sister gotten back at her brother for breaking her toys, or a brother taken revenge on his sister for stealing his money? The same can be asked of full-grown adults, who “know better.” It is easy to get revenge. It is harder to forgive. Paul is asking Philemon to do the harder thing for the sake of Christ. It is because of Christ that Philemon can look in love upon his former slave and forgive him. It is because of Christ that Paul can sit in prison and yet remain faithful. It is because of Christ that you and I can look upon others as someone for whom Christ died. Not only that, God looks upon us as someone redeemed by the blood of His only Son. When God looked upon Onesimus and Philemon, He saw His Jesus. When God looks upon you, He sees Jesus. When we look at one another, we ought to see Jesus. Paul’s charge is to forgive as we have been forgiven. Go forth, forgiven child of God, knowing that where there were once enemies, there are now brothers and sisters in Christ.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus sinners doth received; also I have been forgiven; and when I earth must leave, I shall find an open heaven. Dying still to him I cleave; Jesus sinners doth receive. (LSB 609:7)

Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you’ll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.

September 8, 2025 

Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 5:9-27; Philippians 1:1-20

“loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:20)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

God keeps His promises. He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give them the Promised Land, and now, the Israelites are about to cross the Jordan River into that land. God keeps His promises. God promised Israel He would be their God and they would be His people. And because of that promise, they are given this hard word to remind them they are set apart from other peoples with other gods. The Lord has made them His own. The Lord took on Himself the burden of keeping the covenant in the stead of Abraham because He knew Abraham couldn’t, and neither would his descendants. And in spite of the Israelites, the covenant remained because it was contingent on the Lord, not the actions of sinful man. God keeps His promises. 

God kept the greater promise of a savior. God made Abraham the father of many nations by sending Jesus Christ to save sinners. Jesus kept the law of God and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to cover the sins of the people. Even while we were still sinners, wandering after other gods, Christ died for us. Now, having been washed in the waters of Baptism, we are made God’s holy people, and because His words have claimed us as His own, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life are yours. He promises where the Word is, there He is also, in, with, and under the bread and wine of His Holy Supper. God promises to be your life and length of days, that you may dwell in His presence eternally, not on the condition that you keep His command, but because Christ Jesus has clothed you in righteousness. God keeps His promises to you and for you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The God of Abraham praise, Whose all sufficient grace shall guide me all my pilgrim days in all my ways. He deigns to call me friend; He calls Himself my God. And He shall save me to the end through Jesus’ blood. (LSB 798:3)

Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you’ll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.

September 7, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 14:25-35

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:38-5:8; Ephesians 6:1-24

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus gives examples of people who measured the cost of their goal and ultimately stepped away from it. A man would not build a tower if he could not pay for it. A king would not go to war if he knew he would lose. Neither man followed through. Jesus says anyone who does not hate his father and mother cannot be his disciple. At first glance, this is against what Jesus teaches at other times: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” but if we take it in the context of the later verses, what is Jesus saying? A man building a tower who runs out of money not even halfway through loses quite a lot: financial stability and his reputation. A king going to war against a stronger army loses even more: his kingdom and his life. What does a disciple of Jesus stand to lose? What is the cost of discipleship?

The answer is everything.. Jesus says anyone who will not take up his own cross and follow Christ cannot be a disciple. Anyone who is not willing to leave family, fame, fortune, or anything else is not a faithful follower. By this word, we are convicted. In our sin, we cannot follow God’s law perfectly. We are unable and unwilling. We cannot afford to be a disciple of Christ and gain eternal life. The cost is too high because the cost is total obedience to God, and we, fallen sinners, are not capable of such a thing. 

Immediately following this passage in Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the good shepherd, in which the shepherd leaves everything behind to find the lost sheep, risking his life—risking everything. This shepherd finds the lost sheep and returns to the fold, having successfully fulfilled his goal, unlike the men from before. The good shepherd decided the reward was worth whatever the cost may be. Of course, the good shepherd in the parable is our Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus. 

God measured the cost of reconciling humanity to Himself and saving us from sin, death, and the devil. He knew that it was a high price to pay: the death of His only Son. The Son took on human flesh, lived, suffered, and died because, though the cost was high, He was the only one Who could pay it. In His death and resurrection, Jesus paid the price for the redemption of the world. Rather than having to earn our place as His disciples, His children, He gives it freely to us, in the Word and Sacraments. The cost of discipleship is high, but it has been paid, and the benefits are yours.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O merciful Lord, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all. Grant us courage and strength to take up the cross and follow Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you’ll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.

September 6, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 13 - Psalm 119:28-32; antiphon: Psalm 119:27

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:8-22, 32-37; Ephesians 5:15-33

“I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!” (Psalm 119:31)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 119 is the big one. This long psalm is the longest chapter in Scripture at a whopping 176 verses. Arranged in sections based on the Hebrew alphabet, there are recurring themes that run through it. Like a friend who can talk about a single subject and everything that touches upon it for hours, so Psalm 119 keeps coming back to the same topics. The Law. Sin. Salvation. Hope. Sorrow. The desire to do good works. It’s like the psalmist put a short album on continuous repeat.

So it is in this section. It begins with sorrow and a fervent prayer to learn God’s law. Though the writer has announced that he has set God’s way of faithfulness before him, yet he still fears being put to shame and needs God to work on his heart before he can live according to God’s Commandments. You get the sense that the writer is writing this not long after falling into sin. He is struck by the terrors of God’s perfect Law in his conscience. He desires to keep the Law, setting it before his eyes, but the intensity of it sounds as if the writer was a devastated child who was caught after disobeying his parents on something big.

Where is help to be found, for the psalmist and for you? When your conscience attacks you, run to the testimonies of the Gospel. Run to the accounts where the Holy Spirit testifies of God’s love for you in Christ. Set Jesus’ compassionate miracles in front of you, where He helps those who cannot help themselves. Read again how forgiveness is given, though no one deserves it. Hear how God’s own blood shed on a cross was enough to stave off God’s anger at you. See how Jesus restores Peter after he denied Jesus. Marvel at how Jesus appeared to Paul and saw him not for his past sins, but instead showed him mercy. Reflect on this Son made man, who quenched the Father’s anger in His wounds. And don’t forget to go to your pastor, as well! Your pastor is given to teach these testimonies of grace to you and to apply them. Listen to your pastor’s sermons with greater interest, for though he is sent to preach the Law that exposes your sins, yet he also is sent to preach the Gospel and unburden your conscience. With Jesus set before you, you can cling to God’s testimonies of grace and never be put to shame.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Law reveals the guilt of sin And makes us conscience stricken; But then the Gospel enters in The sinful soul to quicken. Come to the cross, trust Christ, and live; The Law no peace can ever give, No comfort and no blessing. (LSB 555:8)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 5, 2025

Today's Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:14

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:25-5:14 

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

There is a false teaching that says that no one could be lost if they have ever come to saving faith. Popularly going by the slogan, “Once saved, always saved,” this is a horrible false teaching. One reason this is so horrible is that it leads people to think that it does not matter if they lead a sinful life or not, because they’re automatically in, no matter what. But that’s not what our Scripture reading says.

Today, Paul warns the Ephesians to “not grieve the Holy Spirit.” Grieving the Holy Spirit is when a believing Christian nevertheless turns to a life of intentional, willful sin against the Ten Commandments. We see this with King David, who lost the Holy Spirit for many months after he slept with Uriah’s wife. There are various other Scriptural and life examples as well where someone had the faith and lost it. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, He flees the person’s heart and takes saving faith with Him, too. This is one reason why sexual sin is especially dangerous. It is a faith killer.

Once saved, always saved? No. But what we can say, and are glad to say, is that even the lost can be found. Even when Christians fall into sin, God calls them to renewed repentance for all their sins. No one living is hopeless. No one living is outside of God’s desire to redeem. God wants all to be saved, to repent and believe in the Gospel. Our sins abound. We would be lost without the mercy of Jesus. But He is merciful. He gave His life for sinners. He died for all sins - even future sins that haven’t been done. He defeated death for us by His glorious resurrection. Now He sends His Holy Spirit by His Word, even when people have turned away. By that Word, the Holy Spirit comes. He brings the unrepentant to repent, and the repentant to faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit can restore faith to those who have fallen away - He did with King David, after all. He sent Nathan the prophet, whose words of the Law broke David’s hardness of heart, and whose words of the Gospel restored David to saving faith. Then, as a fruit of saving faith, the Holy Spirit restores the forgiven believer to holiness of living.

The Holy Spirit has sealed you for the day of redemption. He did not come to sanctify sin, but He did come to sanctify you. And through faith in Christ alone, you remain God’s temple, and the Holy Spirit dwells in you. Continue in this faith and in a God-pleasing life!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Let me be Thine forever, My faithful God and Lord; Let me forsake Thee never Nor wander from Thy Word. Lord, do not let me waver, But give me steadfastness, And for such grace forever Thy holy name I’ll bless. (LSB 689:1)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 4, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: Who Receives This Sacrament Worthily?

Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-24

Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.’  But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words ‘for you’ require all hearts to believe. (Small Catechism part 6, “Who receives this Sacrament worthily?”)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Lord’s Supper can be confusing, especially when it comes to church fellowship. The issue of closed Communion has been tough to understand, let alone explain to friends and family of other churches not in fellowship with your church. But the issue all comes back to what Holy Scripture says about worthiness. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 is the place to find this. Go read it.

Worthy eating of the Lord’s Supper does not mean “better than you” eating. Worthy eating is based on faith in these words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Those who confess this Christian faith in the same way are welcome to take, eat, and drink. Since the Sacrament harms people who eat it unworthily, closed Communion protects them. If someone does not believe this bread IS Jesus’ body and the wine IS His blood, if they disagree about the Gospel or original sin, they do not have the same confession of the faith. And the Sacrament would harm them, even while it helped you.

It’s like prescription medicines. Prescription medicines help the people for whom they are prescribed, but they harm people for whom they are not prescribed. So it is with the Lord’s Supper, the medicine of immortality. Those who share the same faith in Christ and His Words, and confess this faith the same are like those who have the same sickness and are prescribed the same medicine. They can safely take the Sacrament together. But loved ones, friends, and neighbors who do not believe this nor confess this the same should wait until they come to the same faith and the same confession. For Scripture says, unworthy eating harms them. This is why closed Communion matters.

But closed Communion does not mean lovelessness, either. We want people to be worthy. We want family who don’t agree with us, or friends of a church not in fellowship with us, to be able to take Communion. We also just want them to take it safely. So perhaps the best approach is to say, “Let’s make that happen. Let’s go, ask the pastor to teach us. I’ll be your sponsor and sit in your classes with you.” Then, you both may be able to safely take the Sacrament together in the only worthy way. God grant His Word and Spirit to bring unity where there is division.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

At Your feet I cry, my maker, Let me be a fit partaker Of this blessed food from heaven, For our good, Your glory, given. (LSB 636:6)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 3, 2025

Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-21

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:1-21; 1 Kings 20:1-22:53; Ephesians 3:1-21

“And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched [Elijah] and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’” (1 Kings 19:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

On the run from the enraged Queen Jezebel, Elijah went as far as he could go. But it wasn’t far enough. Exhausted in the wilderness, alone and having no food, that was the least of the prophet’s problems. For if Queen Jezebel’s army caught up to him, Elijah was a dead man. And his own power and strength could not save him.

This is your problem, too. In the wilderness of this life, you also cannot go the whole way by your own power and strength. Relying on your own abilities gets you into the middle of a wilderness, exhausted and all alone. Do not think too highly of your strength. See how little ability you have to keep God’s Commandments perfectly. To make things worse, the threat of certain death for your sins looms over you as well. You cannot overcome your own mortality. Your own power and strength cannot save you.

Elijah was spared when God sent an angelic messenger with a word of grace. That word was, “Arise and eat.” This is truly a word of God’s grace, because it promised and gave to Elijah what he had not deserved. This Word brought Elijah a heaven-sent food. It was bread from heaven, a new manna for a new wilderness journey. Elijah ate, not just once but twice. In other words, God gave Elijah this word of grace and this heavenly bread, again and again, because it gave him strength, hope, and life that he did not have.

You also are like Elijah. All you can rely on is God’s Word of grace in Christ Jesus. His cross has won salvation for all sinners. His empty tomb has defeated your death. Now, His gracious Word carries to you the life and salvation His cross won. Here is life for you! You are not alone anymore, because through faith, God mystically joins you to Him. You no longer have to rely on your own power and strength, for you have God’s gracious promise in Jesus. Even better, God’s Word of grace directs you to arise and eat a new food from heaven in the Sacrament of the Altar. Arise and eat, again and again. In the Body and Blood of Jesus, there is strength, hope, and life for you. The journey is too great for you, but not if you go by the strength of this new heavenly manna.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

My Lord, You here have led me To this most holy place And with Yourself have fed me The treasures of Your grace; For You have freely given What earth could never buy, The bread of life from heaven That now I shall not die. (LSB 642:2)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 2, 2025

Today's Reading: Hebrews 13:1-17

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:20-40; Ephesians 2:1-22

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Lord helps you. And not because of anything you have done to merit this gracious favor. And also not because of who you are, who you are related to, or how much you have. Instead, God gives divine help to you simply out of grace, giving you better than you have deserved.

For you are a sinner who should be judged by God. You have not always loved God above all things. You likewise have not shown brotherly love at all times to your neighbor. You have acted selfishly. You have spoken what you should not have said. Your thoughts have been tainted with sinful desires like lust or revenge. What is worse, you are unable to help yourself when it comes to making God pleased with you. You cannot charm God, wrapping Him around your little finger to get special treatment.

So why would the Lord ever want to be your helper? On account of Jesus’ perfect life in your place, His sacrificial death, and His blood shed to cover your sins. “He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, death and the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” (Explanation to the 2nd Article of the Creed, the Small Catechism). There is nothing in you that merits God’s divine help, but there is everything in Jesus’ death in your place that merits this.

And He gives this great salvation to you freely. Free gift! No strings attached! No conditions put upon receiving it! It is for you. God loved us when we were His enemies. So for this reason alone, He helps. And the help God gives is 100% done by Him. He does everything for you and your salvation. You simply receive. That’s what faith in Christ does. Faith holds to Jesus and His promises made in Holy Scripture, which cannot be broken. Therefore, you can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Since Christ has full atonement made And brought to us salvation, Each Christian therefore may be glad And build on this foundation. Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead, Your death is now my life indeed, For You have paid my ransom. (LSB 555:6)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 1, 2025

Today's Reading: Proverbs 25:2-10

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:1-19; Ephesians 1:1-23

“Do not reveal another's secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.” (Proverbs 25:9b-10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Some words were never meant to be said. Proverbs teaches that the secrets of your neighbor are not to be shared. A secret is anything kept from general awareness that would bring shame if it were revealed. Whether it’s a secret crush, a regrettable past incident, or a fear few others know, no one likes to have their secrets made public.

Sometimes you have to speak, though. If the secret is dangerous to that person or to others, or to someone’s property, this should not stay secret. Because this is no longer about covering shame. This is about protecting a person. If a friend tells you he is suicidal, you need to tell people in authority who can help. The friend might not want you to. They might say they won’t trust you again if you do tell. But you need to help that person, and there are good ways to work through this situation. One good way is to encourage the other person that they should tell their harmful secret to people who love them. Parents, teachers, pastors, police officers, God gave us these authorities for such reasons. But promise to be with your friend the whole way and support them as they reveal their secret. It may be hard for them, but it is easier if you or another friend is with them.

Where someone could be harmed, a secret must be told, and in the best situation, by the person who has that secret himself. But where it’s a matter of covering someone’s shameful and regretted words, actions, or thoughts, then secrets should be kept hidden. In Eden, God covered Adam and Eve’s shame by clothing them with animal skins. God did not speak about how shameful they were. Instead, God shed blood - the first blood shed in Scripture - as a way to cover the shame of our first parents. Jesus likewise covers shame by His blood. Romans 10:11 says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” So Jesus takes our shame away as the pure Gospel that faith clings to is preached. The Lord’s Supper likewise applies Jesus’ blood on you. And shame is covered and removed.

Proverbs directs us to speak like God. Since God does not uncover shame, let us not uncover our neighbor’s shame. Let us speak the truth in love, having love so that our neighbor’s personal shame is not revealed. In this way, we treat our neighbor the way that God has treated us.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Help us that we Thy saving Word In faithful hearts may treasure; Let e’er that Bread of Life afford New grace in richest measure. O make us die to every sin, Each day create new life within, That fruits of faith may flourish. (LSB 693:2)

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 31, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 14:1-14

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 16:29-17:24; 2 Corinthians 10:1-13:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It has been said that pride was the cause of the devil’s fall from a good angel into an evil one. This view was held by some early Christians, and also by Martin Luther. About pride, Luther also said, “Whoever trusts and boasts that he possesses great skill, prudence, power, favor, friendship, and honor has also a god, but not this true and only God." (LC I:1.10). Pride is defined as the love of one’s own excellence. But where one loves himself and his excellence above all things, he turns himself into his own false god.  

Jesus, God’s Son made man, knows pride is dangerous. So He teaches the wedding feast parable. Those taking the highest place at a wedding reception will be humbled and forced to sit lower. There is no higher place at a wedding reception than the seats where the bride and groom sit. Imagine the audacity of a guest kicking the groom out of his place of honor! But that’s what pride does. Pride kicks Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church, out of His central place of honor.

What is the lowest place at a wedding reception? Perhaps the lowest place I can think of is if the wedding is in the middle of winter, and they have valets parking the cars. A shivering valet sits, waiting for the next car, but is not welcome to eat or drink. This would definitely be the lowest place at a winter wedding. So it will be for those who upstage Christ. They will be taken from the banquet, forced to do uncomfortable labor, and unwelcome to eat at the heavenly feast.

But those who take the lowest place will be raised. These are repentant Christians who look in faith to Jesus for their salvation. So you who tremble because of your sins and rejoice in the Gospel that frees you, will be raised to honor on the Last Day. Christ, who died and rose, is the bridegroom. The Church is His Bride. So the sinner who trusts this Gospel for his salvation is raised to the highest place, the place of the Bride, along with all believing Christians. A bride rejoices in the love of her bridegroom and the new union they have together. So it is for the Church who believes in the Gospel of Jesus’ love, rejoices to hear it again, and is united even deeper in love and faithfulness together at the very end.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord of grace and mercy, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility, that we may withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds avoid ungodly pride; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.