April 16, 2024 

Today's Reading: 1 John 3:1-7

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 34:1-28, Luke 7:18-35

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. One of the hardest things for us to understand is what the resurrected life will be like. When we get to the New Jerusalem, the New Creation, how will we live? What will we look like? How does all of this work? After all, I’m not sure I’ll ever learn to play the harp while floating on a cloud and trying to keep my halo on straight!

Faith. Trust. Promises. These are words our sinful flesh has a hard time grasping and holding onto. And the best part about that is that we don’t have to try and grasp those things, because our faith does the grasping and believing!

Every day, faithful Christians wonder if they are good enough for Jesus to “take them to heaven.” And every day, that same Jesus encourages them through His Word that that isn’t the right question. 

We are God’s children NOW, St. John says. Because of your faith, given to you in your Baptism, you are now God’s child. Right now. This very minute. And that faith that He’s given to you in your washing and recreating is what grasps the promise that you have a future with Him in eternity.

We still can’t fully understand what that will look like, but that’s OK, because we have His further promise that we will see that future when He comes again for us. On that Last Day, on the day of the resurrection of all the dead, we will see what we’ve been waiting for, and it’ll be better than the greatest unboxing video of all time.

We are God’s children now, indeed. Live every day in that promise. Trust that promise, given to you, and rely on it when times are good, and especially when it is hard to believe, because Jesus has redeemed you, bought you back, wrapped you in His arms, and holds you near in a way that will be made so perfectly clear when He comes again for you.

You are God’s child now. He’s not going to let you go. Hold Him to that promise, because He holds Himself to it, because He loves you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day; The saints triumphant rise in bright array; The King of Glory passes on His way. Alleluia! Alleluia! From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost: Alleluia! Alleluia! (LSB 677:7, 8)

- Pastor Duane Bamsch is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA.

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

A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols This collection of over 600 hand-drawn Christian symbols by artist and author Edward Riojas will teach you the extensive history of the imagery of the Church. Each symbol is a beautiful and historical connection to generations of Christians that have worshiped before you. A Complete Guide to Christian Symbols. Now available from Concordia Publishing House.