June 28, 2023

Today's Reading: Table of Duties, Luther’s Small Catechism: First Article Part 3

Daily Lectionary: Proverb 8:22-36, John 13:1-20 

All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  When it comes to the doctrine of creation we spend so much time talking about when it happened and how long it took that questions about what it means to be a creature don’t get the treatment they deserve. When we confess our belief in God the Father Almighty,  Maker of heaven and earth we are confessing far more than a belief in what took place during God’s six days of creative work. We are also confessing that God continued to be involved with His creation even after He rested on the seventh day. We are confessing that God continues to be involved with us. The Creator God who made all things is concerned with you. 

He did not make you and then take a step back to see what you could do on your own. He did not wind up creation like a clock and then step back to let it run on its own, He remains active in HIs creation and He remains active in you. He does all this, not because of who you are but because of who He is. God did not have to make the universe but He did. God did not have to make you, but He did. God did all these things because he chose to. He is a God of love and mercy and He creates and sustains us because that is who He is and that is what He does.  He sent His own Son into creation to save it. The creator entered into His creation to save you. 

This means that God follows you (not in a social media kind of way)  and is involved with your day to day existence. He provides all that you need both spiritually and physically. He doesn’t do this because you live a particularly Instagram worthy life or because you are an influencer. He does this because He is the Creator God and you are one of His beloved creations. Confessing the creator God is confessing the God who is for you.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We all believe in one true God, Who created earth and heaven, The Father, who to us in love Has the right of children given. He in soul and body feeds us; All we need His hand provides us; Through all snares and perils leads us, Watching that no harm betide us. He cares for us by day and night; All things are governed by His might. (We All Believe in One True God, LSB 954:1) 

-Pastor Grant Knepper is Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Modesto, California.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.

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.