February 14, 2026

Today's Reading: Introit for Quinquagesima - Psalm 31:1, 5, 9, 16; antiphon: Psalm 31:2b-3

Daily Lectionary: Job 10:1-22; John 5:1-18

“In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;” (Psalm 31:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

One thing that we will all search for throughout our lifetime and never really seem to find is security. It could be financial security, security in our social status, job security, you name it, we long for it. But why strive for something, waste time and energy on something we will never attain? Ecclesiastes 2 says, “I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” Why strive and toil for nothing?  

What comfort is given to us in the Introit for tomorrow, Quinquagesima? Do you want security in life? You want comfort that everything is going to be okay? Then look to the words of David in Psalm 31!   

Know and believe that our status on earth, our favor in the sight of man, and what we accumulate for ourselves in this life is worthless. It is the vanity that Solomon writes of in Ecclesiastes. What matters is our standing in the sight of God.      

David writes: “In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness… Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.”

Psalm 31 perfectly sums up what we have been talking about all week. Our lives are not perfect, nor was David’s. We have no right to be brought into His presence nor to go before His throne asking for anything. And yet He urges us to treat Him as our Father. To call upon Him in all circumstances. To trust in Him at all times. To take refuge in Him in all circumstances.  

And so it is we speak and confess along with David, saying, “In you, LORD, I have taken refuge.”  What a true blessing it is to be able to commit ourselves to the Lord Most High, knowing that He has already acted on our behalf! Knowing that He has defeated the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. Knowing that we rest in his unfailing love. Knowing He has already spoken the words which deliver us and give us eternal life.  

Friends, the love and faithfulness of God is our safety and comfort in this life filled with vanity and striving after the wind, filled with sin and sadness. The Lord God has overcome them all for us.  

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, “Let your face shine on your servant;  save me in your unfailing love.”  Amen. (Psalm 31:16) 

Rev. Timothy Chase, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Truman, MN

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.