February 15, 2023

Today's Reading:Luther’s Small Catechism - Table of Duties To: Youth (1 Peter 5:5-6)

Daily Lectionary: Job 11:1-20, John 5:19-29

“‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It’s hard being a teenager.  You’ve come so far, and yet there’s still so much you aren’t allowed to do. Don’t you sometimes feel like it isn’t right? If you could be honest, you might say, “I can handle it! Leave me alone so I can shine!”  It’s true that experience has shown we do grow from having greater responsibility, even if it means we fail sometimes.

But what we need at every age is for God to keep our hearts humble.  We have a bent in our hearts toward thinking too much of ourselves.  Our self-appraisal is often more flawless than reality. Yes, even if you suffer from depression and sometimes tell yourself that you’re a worthless failure, that’s your broken mind thinking too much of your personal problems, magnifying your flaws and problems so they seem mightier than God.

When God humbles us, He teaches us once again to be receptive to learning. Most of all, we learn from Him through His Word, where He teaches us that, “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Ps. 147:10-11)

He also places His humbled children in the communion of saints, the Church. In this community, it is good for the young to learn from those more experienced. “Listen to your elders!” isn’t just something your grandma says because she’s cranky; it’s godly wisdom. In Titus 2, St. Paul shows how it is good for older men to be mentors, older women to be examples to the young. Even pastors learn from those more seasoned in the ministry.

With God’s gift of being humbled, we see that it’s not a bad thing to be a youth or inexperienced. It can be frustrating at times, and not everyone is automatically a good example. Yet, God does bless His children at every stage to receive His Word and grow in grace and holy lives in His Son. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

   Make ye straight what long was crooked;  Make the rougher places plain.  Let your hearts be true and humble,

   As befits His holy reign,  For the glory of the Lord,  Now o’er earth is shed abroad, And all flesh shall see the token

   That His Word is never broken. Amen. (LSB 347:4)

-Pastor Michael A. Miller is Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR.,

Audio Reflections Speaker: Patrick Sturdivant, Development and Marketing Executive at Higher Things.

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.