October 9, 2025

Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties - Of Civil Government

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 8:1-20; Matthew 10:24-42

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrong-doer.” (Small Catechism- Of Civil Government) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

In all likelihood, if you’re listening to this, you’re probably not a criminal. But you’re still a sinner. And you still struggle with this, just like everyone else. Because you, like everyone else, are hardwired to absolutely. Despise. Authority. In all its forms. You can see this if you pop way back to Genesis. Our first parents were given a law: do not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the Garden. One rule. One law. Directly from the one authority, the Almighty LORD, who was in their midst. 

Broken, promptly. 

Ever since then, we have been hardwired to buck and kick against authority. All of creation has as well. Ever tried to ride a wild horse? Or get a donkey to go where he really doesn’t want to? You learn very quickly that authority does not come naturally to us. We hate it. We resist it. Because we have the same illness that Adam and Eve had. We want to be like God. Hence, Dr. Luther’s admonishment here in this table is for our good. Because, like he says, rulers are not a terror to good conduct, to the “good guys,” but to bad conduct. It is through the arm of civil government that God grants us peace in our days. 

Will there be bad government? Absolutely. History is rife with examples of not just bad, but downright evil governments. And we are citizens of this Kingdom here on this earth, good or bad, and we have to keep the Fourth Commandment, good or bad. So yes, there will be bad kingdoms. But God will sort them out. He always does. But as for you, dear saints in Christ, revel in the fact that you are ultimately a subject of the kingdom of heaven, and that supersedes anything on Earth.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O merciful Father in heaven, because You hold in Your hand all the might of man and because You have ordained, for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well, all the powers that exist in all the nations of the world, we humbly pray You graciously to regard Your servants, our President; the Congress of the United States; our Governor; and all those who make, administer, and judge our laws; that all who receive the sword as Your ministers may bear it according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Bidding Prayer)

Rev. Jonathan Lackey, Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

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

Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius’s life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.