Reflections

December 4, 2024

Today's Reading: 2 Peter 1:1-21

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 10:12-27a, 33-34; 2 Peter 1:1-21 

“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Do you like The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia? These classic 20th-century books were both written by devout Christian men in the style of a grand epic or myth set in a fantasy world. While these inspiring stories are not based in reality, they do teach us a lot about things that are very real, for example: evil, courage, hope, and perseverance. 

In St. Peter’s day and for centuries before, “cleverly devised myths” were the only religion some people knew. The gods of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Persians were nothing more than elaborate legends of how the gods interacted with men. They were artful tales trying to explain why the world is the way it is.

Christianity is not that kind of religion. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just a moving (but untrue) story meant to inspire good behavior. The four gospels are not four versions of an inspiring (but made-up) hero’s life. On the contrary, the books written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record the testimony of eyewitnesses concerning the amazing life of Jesus. St. Peter makes this clear: miraculous things happened around the person of Jesus Christ, and Peter and others were ‘eyewitnesses of His majesty.’ 

The Good News of Jesus Christ told by St. Peter and others, is the very real story of the one and only true God interacting with man in real time (for example, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea) and in real places (like Bethlehem, Galilee and Jerusalem.) The story revealed in the Holy Scriptures is the only story that truly explains why the world is the way it is (namely, man fell into sin), and most importantly, the Scriptures tell us that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to pay for sin and defeat death. Through Jesus, we are forgiven, restored, and found in God’s Kingdom.

The one true God is still interacting with people to save them, not in the physical presence of the incarnate Jesus, but through His living and active Word, “to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” God’s Word is truth and it is able to make you wise unto salvation. We don’t read the Scriptures to escape reality like we might with a novel or a myth, rather we read them to reveal to us the ultimate reality and to lead us to the one true God.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of Thy Holy Word we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life which Thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

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

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

December 3, 2024

Today's Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 9:8-10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-14

…May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Advent has been called a season dedicated to waiting. We wait to celebrate the humble birth of Christ at Bethlehem, and we wait to experience Christ’s glorious return at the Last Day. With a dual focus on Christ’s first coming and His second, we devote this time of the year to waiting. Waiting reminds us that there is nothing we can do to hasten Christ’s second coming, just as men did nothing to hasten His first. We can only do what the people of old did before Christ was born at Bethlehem; we can simply wait for Him to arrive.

The Thessalonians had to experience waiting. Paul and Silas started the congregation but were soon forced to leave. (See Acts 17.) The people were without a pastor and had only briefly heard the Gospel of Jesus proclaimed. So, Paul was eager to get back to them and “supply what is lacking in [their] faith,” namely, more instruction in the Word.

The Thessalonians were waiting for Paul and Silas to return to their city, and, like all Christians, they were waiting for Jesus to return to His earth. That they might be ready for Christ’s return, Saint Paul wrote to them about some specific things they ought to do as they waited.

“… may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all … so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” Waiting is not simply sitting back and doing nothing. No, in this case, waiting means we prepare for the coming of the One who loves us by loving others. First, our fellow Christians, but also everyone else. Just as Christ’s love extends to all, so too for the Christian. This is preparation for the coming of Jesus, which is to say, we prepare for the coming of the Holy One by being holy.

Notice that St. Paul prays for the Thessalonians not that they will do something in order to be ready but rather that God will do something to them to make them ready. It is God who increases our faith, God who builds us up, God who makes us blameless and holy and ready. Therefore, as we eagerly await His return, we should seek Him where He has promised to come to us in the meantime: in His Word and in His sacraments. There, He is at work forgiving our sins, building us up, and increasing His love in us so that we might in turn increase our love toward others. There, He is making us holy and preparing us to receive Him when He returns. 

It is good to remember each year that as Christ came in humility, He will come again in glory. Advent reminds us that that same Jesus who was born at Bethlehem will return as the Lord of Lords. Together, let us join with so many others in waiting.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, Free them from Satan’s tyranny, That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, And give them vict’ry o’er the grave. (LSB 357:4)

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

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

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

December 2, 2024

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 8:9-9:7; 1 Peter 4:1-19

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made… (Jeremiah 33:14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Every single one of us needs encouragement, especially when things aren’t going well. When life is tough, it’s easy to fall into despair and anxiety, as though all is lost and there is no hope. Sadly, this is part of the human condition: instead of trusting in God’s providence, we worry. That’s how things were for God’s people in the days of Jeremiah. 

The once great nation of Israel was struggling through dark days. The rulers were corrupt, the nation was weak, and the Babylonians were threatening. God’s people were on the cusp of catastrophe, and before Jeremiah’s life ended, the nation fell, and many were forced into exile. Understandably, some wondered whether the Lord had abandoned them.

Jeremiah’s words were spoken to encourage people in dark times. The Lord wanted His people to know that He had not forgotten them. These words not only helped the faithful remnant of Jeremiah’s day, but they have continued to encourage the faithful to this very day. What’s so encouraging about these words?

Jeremiah’s God-given words remind us that God keeps His promises. If God says He will do something, then it is as good as done. The promise Jeremiah wanted the people to recall was God’s promise to send a Messiah from the line of David. Jeremiah tells them this “righteous branch” would “execute justice and righteousness in the land,” and the result would be salvation and security.

Jeremiah pointed ahead to Christ. Several centuries after this prophecy, God indeed sent His Son, the promised Righteous Branch, the Son of David. Christ executed justice and righteousness by being righteous for us. Jesus kept Himself from all sin and then reconciled sinful mankind to our Heavenly Father by dying for our sins on the cross and rising again in victory over the grave. Today, we can look back and see how God kept His promise and how Jeremiah’s words were fulfilled. 

In the same way, when life is overwhelming us with frustrations, failures, and loss, we don’t have to despair because we know God keeps His promises. We can see that looking back in history, but like the faithful in Jeremiah’s day, we can also look ahead to what’s to come. Jesus also spoke encouraging promises of what He will do: He will rescue us from death and raise us on the Last Day. He assures us that because He lives, we, too, will live. And even now, Jesus promises He will give rest from burdens and true joy to all who follow Him. So take heart and be of good cheer because when Jesus promises something, it’s as good as done!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord God, I know you keep your promises. Forgive me for my doubts and worries, and help me to trust. By the power of the Holy Spirit, fix my eyes on the glories of heaven, which You have promised through Jesus, and guide me all my days on earth. Amen.

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

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

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

December 1, 2024

Today's Reading: Luke 19:28-40 

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 7:10-8:8; 1 Peter 3:1-22

“...Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! (Luke 19:38a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Advent = “The coming or arrival of something or someone that is important or worthy of note.”

 (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition)

If you were in charge of preparing a celebration for the grand arrival of a VIP, that is, “someone that is important or worthy of note,” how would you do it? Would you go for classy or flashy? Would it be tuxedos and gowns with symphonic music or a DJ with heavy thumping bass, flashing lights, and smoke machines? Depending on the celebrity and the occasion, I guess you could make the case for either one. But isn’t it interesting that when Jesus, the Son of God, shows up to Jerusalem and makes His grand entrance, it was nothing like either of those things? In fact, it isn’t what you would expect at all.

Jesus rode into town on a colt, the foal of a donkey. His disciples spread their cloaks on the ground before Him, and some waved palm branches. Then, some cried out the words of a familiar hymn (Psalm 118:26). This is neither classy nor flashy. This doesn’t project power or grandeur. By the world’s standards, this is just plain and unimpressive. Yet this in itself says something about Jesus.

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is almighty and one with the Father. He has all power and is worthy of all glory. When He arrived on earth in His first advent, He did not come with power and glory. He came in humility. He came as a servant. When people tried to make Him a king, He refused. He didn’t come to rule. He came to love and to give, to heal and redeem. He came to give life to a world overcome with death. He came for all people: the high and the low, the influencers and people everyone is talking about, as well as the ones who think no one knows they exist. Jesus knows and loves us all and came in all humility for us and for our salvation. 

Our Lord’s coming into Jerusalem is like His advent to the world itself. Christ’s poor little parade into Jerusalem sets the tone for the entire story of this great Savior who humbled Himself for our salvation. No, these are not the ways or ideas of men, but it is the way that God has dealt with us in Christ. From a position of all glory and honor, He humbled Himself to be nothing more than a servant so that those faithful servants who humbly trust in Him may one day partake in His glory.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Stir up Your power, Or Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

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

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 30, 2024

Today's Reading: John 1:35-42a

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 6:1-7:9; 1 Peter 2:13-25

He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. (John 1:41-42a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

 Have you ever seen something so exciting that you had to tell someone about it as soon as possible? Maybe you saw a meteor dart across the sky or the northern lights for the first time, or maybe it was simply seeing someone you have been waiting for, like a child waiting for dad to come home from work. The first thing the child does when they see their dad drive up the driveway is run to the others and yell out, “Dad’s home!” This is good news, so it is news that must be shared. 

 Upon hearing that Jesus had come, Andrew couldn’t help but tell others about what he had seen and heard. This is the proper response to following Jesus, the Messiah. It is such good news that Jesus has come that it must be shared. Others must know. This is how the church works. Jesus sends His disciples to tell others about what they have seen and heard, and then those who hear tell others, and then those who hear tell others. There is a good chance that you are reading this because someone at some point in your life told you about Jesus. Maybe they invited you to church to see and hear. Maybe they simply told you of Jesus’ love for you. This is the most effective evangelism program ever, telling people about Jesus. 

 But Andrew didn’t stop there; he then brought them to Jesus. So, we continue this tradition of telling people about the Messiah, about Jesus who died for the sin of the world, for your sin and mine. This is remarkable news, and it must be shared. So, as people who believe in what we have heard, we, too, go and tell people, just as Andrew told Peter, but we do not simply stop there. We bring people to Jesus, to where He has promised to meet us, to His church, where He meets all of us in the preaching of His Word, in Holy Absolution, in Baptism, and in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus died for you. Isn’t that Good News? Go and tell it. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, You have called Your Church to witness that in Christ You have reconciled us to Yourself. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the Good News of Your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the Gift of salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

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

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 29, 2024

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 1 - Psalm 89:6, 14-16, 18; antiphon: Zechariah 9:9b, alt.

Daily Lectionary:Isaiah 5:1-25; Amos 1:1-9:15; 1 Peter 2:1-12

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

 As Advent approaches, the introit brings us to a strange place. It doesn’t bring us to the manger, or to the stable, or any place of the sort. Instead, it brings us to Jerusalem, to Palm Sunday of all places. Usually, the celebration is at the beginning of Holy Week. Yet, there is something I love about this— beginning the church year with the end in mind. That is what Advent is; it is the beginning of the end. In Advent, we prepare for Christ’s coming at the incarnation of Christmas, but not only that, we prepare for Christ’s second coming when He will bring the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God and bring about the new creation. 

 Jesus brings the kingdom of heaven down. He comes to us. He doesn’t demand that we climb the ladder of righteousness, bringing our good works as an offering to Him, no. He humbles Himself; our king comes to become one of us. A king who comes to conquer, riding in just as King Solomon rode into Jerusalem many years ago. Jesus comes as the one they have been waiting for, the one for whom we have waited. We begin Advent with the end in mind, knowing that this Jesus who came to us as a baby will also come again. When He comes again, He will come in glory, power, and might. He will come on the clouds of heaven, and He will come to swallow up death forever. 

 As we begin Advent, let us remember that we are Advent people. We live our lives with the end in mind, and we wait for Christ our King to triumphantly return at the end of all things. That end will bring about the beginning, the new. That end will usher in the new kingdom, the kingdom of God, the new creation. We wait for that day, we pray for that day, and we long for that day. So, live in the reality of Christ and live in the reality of the end in mind. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here your home! Marvel now, O heaven and earth, That the Lord chose such a birth. (LSB 332:1)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

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

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House. 

November 28, 2024

Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-19

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 2:1-22; Isaiah 3:1-4:6; 1 Peter 1:13-25

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. (Luke 17:15-16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

This reading comes up for Thanksgiving services every single year. There have been numerous sermons preached on this text, and while I haven’t listened to all of them, I can imagine that many of you have heard a similar sermon that can be summarized like this: “Be more thankful…,” or something along those lines. For some reason, it seems the preaching of giving thanks has transformed into a demand of the law. But if thanksgiving is demanded, then is it truly thankful? Recognize that the men who didn’t give thanks were still healed. What is going on here? Why did the one leper turn back?

Imagine you were in that situation. You had an incurable disease that would make you unclean, and because you are unclean, you would be isolated from your community. You would not be allowed to enter the temple where sin was forgiven. Then, you meet a man named Jesus, and in an instant, as you are on your way, you are healed. You are restored! You are free from the oppression of this affliction! What would your response be? 

The one leper returns, and what he does is beautiful. He falls to his knees before Jesus, he takes a posture of worship. This is what Thanksgiving is for the Christian. It is yet another opportunity to sit in the presence of God and His abundant mercies. Notice what Jesus gives to the man who returns in worship; He continues to give him more. “Your faith has saved you,” He says. In worship and thanksgiving, Jesus continues to give his Gifts to us. So, would you return? Would you give thanks? Who wouldn’t take another opportunity to be in the presence of Jesus? Giving thanks is yet another opportunity to receive from Christ, who is good and merciful. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, God of all grace, govern our hearts that we may never forget your blessings but steadfastly thank and praise You for all Your goodness in this life until, with all Your saints, we praise You eternal in Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

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

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 27, 2024

Today's Reading: Isaiah 1:1-28

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 1:1-28; 1 Peter 1:1-12

…Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

 I live in Minnesota. The parish in which I serve is less than three hours from Canada. We know a few things about snow. At the time that this is published, there is a good chance there will be some covering the ground. Fall is one of my favorite times of year in the Northland. The humidity and heat of August give way to the mild temperatures of fall. Sweaters, flannels, and mittens become a fashion staple. As the season changes from summer to Autumn, things begin to die. The leaves change color, and what was once green turns to vibrant red, yellows, and oranges, which bring about the greatest of sights. But those brilliant colors only remain for a few weeks before death takes over, and what’s left is bare trees and brown leaves scattered upon the ground. Another season and the effects of sin win again as creation groans. 

 Yet, something happens around November and December; all that dirt, brown, dead foliage that is unpleasant to look at gets covered. Over time, what was once a dreadful sight slowly becomes white—radiant white covering every inch of the ground and even the limbs of the dead trees. There is something peaceful about it. The way the snow muffles the sounds of nature so it is tranquil and calm. Heavenly peace, is the way “Silent Night” describes it. It makes sense, really, because that is what Christ does for us. He covers us up all the muck, the grime, and the dirt. Apart from Christ, we really are a dreadful sight. Yet, in holy Baptism, we put on Christ, and He covers us in His righteousness. It is no coincidence that baptismal candidates are traditionally clothed in a white garment. This isn’t simply a symbol; it is representative of what is actually happening. Although you are a dreadful sight, Christ makes you white as snow. He purifies you from all sin. 

 But Jesus doesn’t stop there. Just as the winter snow persists, eventually, it melts away, and what follows is something beautiful. From that purifying snow, the earth gives way to spring, and spring brings with it new life. Plants that were once dead rise again from the ground. From death comes life; not only the earth, but we celebrate the feast of the Resurrection, which points us to our own Resurrection. For our sins were once like scarlet, or brown, in this case, but Christ has made them white as snow. With that, we have heavenly peace. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

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

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 26, 2024

Today's Reading: Revelation 1:4b-8

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 6:1-28; Daniel 9:1-27; Revelation 22:1-21

 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

We live in an extremely individualistic world, a world where the individual is at the heart of personal decision-making. We do not often consider others' happiness or safety when making decisions. Instead, it is about my happiness and success. It is about what keeps me safe and brings me joy. Love and care for our neighbor are usually secondary to loving and caring for ourselves. Self-care can be good, but it is seemingly abused for the selfish purpose of simply doing what you want to do. 

At its core, this is simply just an idolatry problem. This is what sin does. Science would tell us that the earth revolves around the sun. Sin says no, the earth revolves around you. Even more so, sin tells you that you are not just the center of the universe; you are god over your own life. What you say goes, what you want happens, and what makes you happy is most important. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or says because it’s all about you all the time—except for a few problems. You are not God. The earth does not revolve around you. You will die. 

One of the most helpful things I came to terms with when I began seminary was this: God is God, you are not. This is Good News. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. God is the creator of all things, perfectly righteous, who is, who was, and who is to come. He laid the foundations of the earth, He put the stars in place, and the God who did all of that created you. The God who did all of that loves you. The God who did all that took on flesh and died for you. The God who did all of that forgives you. So, no, you aren’t the center of the universe. You aren’t God. But that’s Good News.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We praise You and acknowledge you, O God to be the Lord, The Father Everlasting, By all the earth adored. To you all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing, The cherubim and seraphim their praises to You bring: “O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth; Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth!” (LSB 941:1)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

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

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 25, 2024

Today's Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 5:1-30; Daniel 7:1-8:27; Revelation 21:9-27

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. (Daniel 7:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

 The scriptures are the inspired and inerrant Word of God. They are infallible, meaning they cannot be wrong. They are the way in which God reveals Himself to us, as well as His redemption of our fallen world. Another thing, though, is this: the Bible is flat-out cool. The more you study the scriptures, the more I am convinced you would agree. Many people think about the Bible, and their opinion is that it’s an old book full of rules. Even many Christians rarely crack open their Bible that is collecting dust because the reality is they see it as too challenging, or even worse, boring. The Scriptures are anything but boring! They are a divine masterpiece. The Scriptures are cool. 

 Why use a word that is almost underwhelming? Because it’s true. The way the scriptures are constructed and written will never cease to amaze. An example is here in Daniel, where a prophecy is written. A prophecy which is written hundreds of years before Christ is born. A prophecy that doesn’t point to Christ’s birth, death, or even His resurrection, but a prophecy that points to His return. A prophecy that Christ speaks of before the Jews when He is arrested and a prophecy that He will one day fulfill. We have the privilege of reading the scriptures as people who live in the Last Days because we can be certain that the Bible is all about Jesus. Every page is dripping with Christ and His love for us—Old and New Testament. 

 The scriptures point to Christ and Him crucified. They reveal God’s love for you in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Let them become a part of you. Be diligent in reading them, not as a law or a way to become more Holy, but because they reveal Christ. They reveal that on account of Christ, you are holy and righteous in His sight. This has been God’s plan from the beginning. God created with the end in mind. There are no mistakes in these scriptures. Instead, they perfectly reveal Christ, who saves you, and that is cool. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Thy strong word did cleave the darkness; At Thy speaking it was done. For created light we thank Thee; While Thine ordered seasons run. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end! (LSB 578:1)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

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

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.