Today's Reading: Introit for the 14th Sunday after Trinity

 (Psalm 84:1-2a, 4, 10b, 11b; antiphon: v.9-10a)

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 36:1-23; Colossians 4:1-18 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! (From the Introit for the 14th Sunday after Trinity) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Are you looking forward to tomorrow? Are you looking forward to entering the house of the Lord to receive His Gifts and sing His praise? Or is tomorrow just the end of the weekend? Is tomorrow the last day of freedom before going back to work or school on Monday morning, the end of something good? Are you looking forward to gathering with the Body of Christ to hear God's Word, or are you dreading how slowly that hour of worship goes by? Does it seem like church isn't the most exciting or entertaining thing or your pastor's sermons are a little long and dry and boring and you just don't seem to get anything out of them? Does it seem like sometimes you would rather be any place other than in the house of God? What do we do when we don't really feel like going to church?

Don't go. Well, don't go for you. Go for your neighbor. Go whether you feel like it or not because maybe your neighbor is struggling, and they need to see you there. Go and confess the faith because maybe your neighbor will be encouraged by hearing your confession. Go and sing the hymns because maybe your neighbor needs to hear your voice, whether it's on key or not. Go because maybe your pastor needs to see you and be encouraged that his preaching is not in vain even if it isn't the best preaching you've ever heard.

But more importantly, go because whether it feels like it or not, the Lord's house is a good place to be. It may not be the most exciting, entertaining, or your favorite place to be, but it is the place where God's Gifts are delivered. It is the place where God's blessings are delivered, His Word is preached, and His Sacraments are administered. It is the place where your sins are forgiven for the sake of the crucified and risen Christ. And just maybe it will be the place where you are encouraged because your neighbor showed up even when he didn't feel like it, confessed his faith for you to hear, and joined with you and the millions in heaven and on earth to sing to God and to the Lamb. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing; To God and to the Lamb I will sing; To God and to the Lamb, Who is the great I AM, While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, While millions join the theme, I will sing. ("What Wondrous Love Is This" LSB 543, st.3)

-Rev. Brett Simek is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hilbert, WI. He also serves as catechesis coordinator for Higher Things.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.