August 18, 2024 

Today's Reading: John 6:51-69

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:16

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

These words speak of the reality that all Baptized Christians know all too well. In the Divine Service, we rejoice in the Words we receive. Our sins are forgiven. Jesus died and rose again for us. We eat Jesus’ Body and Blood for the forgiveness of all of our sins. We are redeemed and forgiven, mercied and loved. God’s Word gives life. It does what it says it will. The problem, though, is that we still have this flesh - and ‘it is no help at all.’ 

The battle of the sinner and the saint happens every morning. We wake up, by God’s Grace, and are given another day to live redeemed and love our neighbor. But the Old Adam drags itself along, needing to be daily drowned. We sin and are sinned against. We hurt our neighbors instead of helping them. We receive pain instead of help from our neighbors. It hurts living in and with this flesh. 

We have hope, though. We have The Word - Jesus Himself - as our Advocate, Savior, Friend, and Redeemer. We are not seen in our sin but are covered by our Lord. We cling to God’s Word that declares us His in our Baptism. We live another day Baptized– with the hope of the Resurrection as our reality. We remember that Jesus paid for our sins and the sins of our neighbor on the cross and defeated them by rising again. We remember that in the Divine Service, we eat and drink Jesus’ Body and Blood in the Lord’s Supper and truly are forgiven. 

Indeed, the flesh is no help at all. But, you are not defined by your flesh. The Spirit has given you life. Jesus’ Words hold and declare you loved, mercied, forgiven, and redeemed. You have life in Christ, your Savior, Who is with you now and always. You have the identity as a Baptized Child of God. You live in Christ, and even while you struggle in this flesh, you have the assurance of life everlasting. 

 In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life, grant us to know Your Son, Jesus, to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow His steps in the way that leads to life eternal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

-Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.

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

The Lutheran Confessions play a vital role in the church—both centuries ago, and today. But, do they apply to the daily life of a layperson? Pastor Andy Wright offers a resounding “yes” in his book, Faithfully Formed. He quotes, summarizes, and synthesizes key teachings from the Confessions, revealing their relevance in the daily lives of ordinary people.