Higher Things Daily Reflections

June 20, 2013 - Thursday of the Third Week after Trinity

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: Luke 15:11-32

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 22:22-23:12; John 18:15-40

'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' (Luke 15:32)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The thing about the prodigal son is that he was always his father's son. When he pretended his father was dead and took his inheritance early, he was still the father's son. When he wasted all his money on a party life, he was still the father's son. Even when he was a pig herder, he was his father's son. And when he came home, the celebration was because he, his father's son, was back.

The story of the prodigal son reminds us that when you are baptized into Christ, you are a child of God. You might forget it. You might ignore it. You might live as if your heavenly Father is dead to you. But you are never dead to Him.

The Father's Son came in the flesh to save you from your sins. To rescue you from death. To die and rise for you. To make you a child of God. To make His Father your Father.

And even if you forget He is your father and live as if you aren't baptized, that doesn't change the fact that your heavenly Father is your heavenly Father. Even if you wander away and act like you have no God, that doesn't make Him any less your God. He will never demand that you be his servant because you are His Son.

When we forget that we are children of God and the Lord brings us to our senses, He never does it to teach us a lesson. He always does it to celebrate that we have been saved from our sins and brought back into His family. It's a big deal. Such a big deal He's going to throw a party like no other, that lasts forever because you were lost, but have been found. You were dead and now you're alive. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Neither life nor death shall ever From the Lord His children sever; Unto them His grace He showeth And their sorrows all He knoweth. (Children of the Heavenly Father, LSB 725:3)

June 19, 2013 - Wednesday of the Third Week after Trinity

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 22:1-21; John 18:1-14

But deliver us from evil. What does this mean? We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, gives us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to himself in heaven. (The Small Catechism: The Seventh Petition)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When we pray the Seventh Petition, we are praying to die in Christ. Maybe you don't think about death too much. The younger you are, the less it comes to mind. The older you are, the more you realize it's close. Of course, death can come at any time.

When it comes down to it, the Christian faith, above all else, prepares us for death. Death exists because of sin. So Jesus came to take it head on. He died. He took our sins and doing that killed Him. But on Easter, the third day, He was alive and still lives. He tossed aside death like it was so many grave clothes. And He did that because you are powerless over death.

You can't stop death. You might avoid it for a bit or perhaps even put it off awhile. But you can't stop it in the end. Death comes for everyone. Sometimes it is a long time coming. Sometimes it jumps on you and it's over quickly. But regardless of how and when death strikes, the Seventh Petition teaches us what Jesus does for us. Because He has conquered death, we can treat death like it is little and insignificant.

On the Last Day, Christ will raise you from the dead. Your baptism and His body and blood promise that is true. Therefore, He will deliver you from all evil and give you a blessed end and a death-free everlasting life. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Death, you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ! When I die, I leave all sadness To inherit paradise. Though I lie in dust and ashes Faith's assurance brightly flashes: Baptism has the strength divine to make life immortal mine. (God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It, LSB 594:4)

June 18, 2013 - Tuesday of the Third Week after Trinity

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 20:5-25; John 17:1-26

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Perhaps you've heard the saying, "Let go and let God." The sentiment is in the right place. The Lord has promised to carry your burdens, but we like to hang on to them, thinking we are strong enough to bear them ourselves. We're not--not the real burdens. This isn't a reference to the struggles of getting your homework done or trying to balance work and school. St. Peter here means the burdens of your sins.

You know those burdens. The mistakes you've made. The knowledge you should love God and His Word more but you don't. The things you've done to hurt others. The stuff you've said. The things you've thought. Your actions. They hurt others and they hurt you. You wish you hadn't done them and that you could stop doing them. That is the burden of sin.

And that is the burden Christ has borne for you. He's carried it. Whatever you've said or thought or done, that's been laid upon Jesus like a beast of burden and He dragged it all to Calvary along with His cross. He died for it there. He wiped it away by the blood that poured from His hands and feet and side. That burden has been lifted from you.

But what about when you can't let it go? What about when you still feel its weight? Jesus has something for you there. Your baptism. Your pastor absolving you. Jesus' body and blood. All of those gifts cry out: "You've forgotten! Your burdens seem heavy but they are not yours to carry. Jesus has already borne them. You are free."

To humble yourself doesn't mean to somehow get the right attitude. Rather, it's to joyfully confess that you aren't able to carry your burdens of sin but that Jesus has done that for you. He cares for you. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

From me this is not hidden, Yet I am not afraid; I leave my cares, as bidden, To whom my vows were paid. Though life from me be taken And ev'rything I own, I trust in You unshaken And cleave to You alone. (If God Himself Be for Me, LSB 724:7)

June 17, 2013 - Monday of the Third Week after Trinity

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: Micah 7:18-20

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 17:1-28; John 16:17-33

Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. (Micah 7:18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Who is a God like the Lord? What's His deal? What's He all about? Above everything else, He's all about having mercy--about pardoning sinners. Consider this: Every other god and prophet of every other religion demands something from you. Your works. Your commitment. Your finding enlightenment. Not the Lord. He doesn't require anything. Instead, He gives you something: salvation. Forgiveness of sins. Eternal life.

Jesus is the God who saves sinners. He comes for sinners. He finds sinners. He lives for sinners. He dies for sinners. He rises for sinners. Everything Jesus is about is passing over the transgressions of sinners. This doesn't mean you get a free pass for no cost. But it's no cost to you. It costs Jesus dearly. But He obeys the Father and pays the price: His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death.

The problem is that even though Jesus came to be the Savior, people make Him into something He's not. A judge who's big deal is to look over your shoulder. A friend who doesn't care what you do as long as you're happy. A personal trainer whose work is to motivate you to try harder.

No, this is the Jesus who saves sinners. Sinners who can't save themselves--sinners like you. This Jesus comes and does what He does, asking nothing in return. No strings attached. He does the work. He gives you the benefit: the water and Word and body and blood to bestow His pardon upon you and to remind you it's all yours for nothing. Nope. There is definitely no other God like that. No other God like Jesus. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Paschal Lamb, Your off'ring finished Once for all when You were slain, In its fullness undiminished Shall forever more remain, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Cleansing souls from ev'ry stain; Cleansing souls from ev'ry stain. (Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor, LSB 534:3)

June 16, 2013 - The Third Sunday after Trinity

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: Luke 15:1-10

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 16:1-24; John 16:1-16

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What does it mean to repent? According to Jesus' parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, it means that Jesus finds you. What do sheep do? They wander off. What did the coin do? If anything, it just rolled off the counter and under the cabinet. The shepherd went and found that sheep; the woman swept and found that coin. And that being found, says Jesus, is what repentance is. When Jesus comes and dies for your sin, rises from the dead, and makes you His own in the waters of Holy Baptism, you are a sheep and a coin, a sinner who was lost and has been found by Jesus.

Our Old Adam, who hates the whole idea, is always trying to get a hold of repentance and turn it into something we do. Most churches teach that "repentance is all about you turning away from your sins and making a conscious decision to believe in and follow Jesus. It's like the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus' death is information presented and then it's up to you to repent and accept it.

You are a sinner. You are a sheep that has wandered off. A coin that has disappeared. So now what? The only thing that can save you is if you are found. Here comes Jesus, born in the flesh, to carry your sins, go searching for you high and slow, sweep and scour until He finds you. He spares no expense but suffers everything, even crucifixion and death, to rescue you from your being lost--to rescue you from your sin.

There is joy in heaven! Not over something you've done. There is joy over what Jesus has done and accomplished: saving you and bringing you into His kingdom. We share in that joy as we are gathered to feast with Jesus and the angels, archangels and all the company of heaven. There, at His Supper, we don't celebrate our obedience but we receive His faithfulness and His work done to save us. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

O God, the Protector of all that trust in You, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Your mercy that, You being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Trinity 3)

June 15, 2013 - Saturday of the Second Week after Trinity

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 15:1-29; John 15:12-27

Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. (Psalm 25:16 from the Introit for Trinity 3)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. "I, a poor, miserable sinner..." "We confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean..." Lutherans are often accused of being "downers" when it comes to our faith. Too much focus on sin and not enough on our victory. But if you consider the words of our confession of sins, they're not really different than the ones in the psalms: "I am desolate and afflicted."

Tomorrow in the Divine Service, when we confess our sins, we're not doing it because we're gloomy and don't think we're good people. Rather, we're just agreeing with and repeating what God's Word already says is true: We're sinners.

But notice that no real confession goes without also including the cry for God's mercy. That's because if all we had was confessing our sins, that wouldn't save us. Just because we got something off our chests doesn't make it go away.

But the mercy of God does take away your sins. The mercy of God in Christ declares that, because of Jesus death for you and His resurrection three days later your sins are gone for good. The big deal is never our confession, but the absolution that delivers and bestows upon you the forgiveness of sins.

The prayer for God's mercy is always answered in Jesus. Jesus crucified for you. Jesus risen for you. Jesus washing you in your baptism. Jesus feeding you with His body and blood. Those are the acts of His mercy which turn you from being poor, miserable, unclean, desolate, and afflicted sinners into forgiven, holy, righteous, innocent, and pure children of God.

We live this life as both sinners and saints. At the same time miserable and rejoicing, poor and rich, desolate and comforted, afflicted and relieved. But it is always the good things of Christ which win out. We cry out for mercy. Our Savior answers us with exactly that: mercy! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Today your mercy calls us To wash away our sin. However great our trespass, Whatever we have been, However long from mercy Our hearts have turned away, Your precious blood can wash us And make us clean today. (Today Your Mercy Calls Us, LSB 915:1)

June 14, 2013 - Friday of the Second Week after Trinity

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: Ephesians 2:13-22

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 14:1-27; John 15:1-11

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Why were you far off from God? Sin. What brought you back to God? The blood of Christ. The gulf of sin that separates us from God isn't something that you can swim or cross by working hard or building a bridge. The fact is, sin means you've got nothing to commend you to God. In the Old Testament, the Law stood between you and God. Touch Mt. Sinai and you die. That's what sin gets.

But there is the blood of Christ. It brings us back to God because it removes the thing that separates us: sin. The blood of Jesus, shed as He hung on the cross, wipes out our sins. His life is given in exchange for yours. He dies for your sin so you don't. He is punished so you never are. He is forsaken by the Father so that you never will be. His blood shed for you brings you back.

But this isn't just some abstract notion of His blood. So many churches talk about the "blood of Jesus" but they don't know where it is. The blood of Christ which brings you back is actually given to you. It's sprinkled upon you through the waters of Holy Baptism. It's flung at you in the words of absolution and preaching. It's given you to drink in the cup of the Supper. There it is: the real blood of Jesus you can be sure takes away your sins.

Life has a way of making you think you're pretty far away from God or that He's pretty far away from you. The blood of Christ says, "No way! You're in. You're back! You're His!" And that's not just a vague promise. It's a reality demonstrated at the font and altar where His blood is given for your salvation in a real and certain way. His blood. His promises. He's brought you back. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

But Christ, the heav'nly Lamb, Takes all our sins away; A sacrifice of nobler name And richer blood than they. (Not All the Blood of Beasts, LSB 431:2)

June 13, 2013 - Thursday of the Second Week after Trinity

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: 1 John 3:13-18

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 13:1-25; John 14:18-31

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Really? Are you surprised the world hates you? You bear the name of Christ. How could the world hate you? Well, because it hates Him. But why? He died for the sins of the whole world. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He fed the hungry and preached good news to the poor. How could anyone hate Jesus?

Simple. Jesus says, "Don't trust in yourself. Trust in Me. Don't think you can overcome your sins. That's my job." And when it comes down to it, people don't want to be saved. They want to save themselves. If Jesus is the Savior, it means that we are so bad, so sinful, that we needed God Himself to come and save us. We don' t believe our sin is that bad!

The amazing thing about the death of Jesus was that those who killed Him thought they were doing God a favor! That's how sick and twisted our sin makes us. But that's how the world thinks.

Everything is fine as along as you keep your religion to yourself. Go ahead and think you're rotten; just don't think other people are. Go ahead and pretend you need a Savior; just don't assume everyone else does. But to live as a Christian is to live believing and confessing the Good News that Jesus has saved not just us sinners but all sinners. And if that is your hope, the world will spot it and make a target out of you.

But Jesus laid down His life for others. And by your Baptism and His body and blood, He lives in you and He will teach you to lay down your life for others as well. That means loving and forgiving them even when they hate you and want you dead. And that's not something we want to do or even can do. It's something Christ does in us.

No, don't be surprised that the world hates you. It pretends Jesus is a nice guy but it really hates Him. So it hates you, too, because you are His. But His love has overcome this world. His death and resurrection have made plain God's love for you. And that's what saves you. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Why should cross and trial grieve me? Christ is near With His cheer; Never will He leave me. Who can rob me of the heaven That God's Son For me won When His life was given? (Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me, LSB 756:1)

June 12, 2013 - Wednesday of the Second Week after Trinity

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 10:1-23; John 14:1-17

And lead us not into temptation. What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory. (The Small Catechism: The Sixth Petition)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Devil. World. Flesh. False belief. Despair. Shame and vice. The deck is stacked against you. It's bad enough the devil and the world are out to get you, but your own sinful flesh wants to join in, too. Forget Jesus. Dive into whatever you want. Dive into death!

Such temptations would overwhelm you. They often do. You give in. You thought you were going to improve – do better next time. Then, bam! Sin sweeps over you. What happened? Did God lead you into temptation? No, you let yourself go with it. So what hope is there for you?

Just this: Christ was led into temptation for you. It was the Spirit who cast Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days and nights. It was the Father whose will it was that Jesus drink that cup of wrath and sin on the cross. Remember Jesus praying to do His Father's will? Remember the drops of bloody sweat? All that was for you, not just because of you, but for you.

Where you fail in resisting temptation, Christ holds fast. Where you would gladly go along with sin, Jesus takes that and dies for it. Sheds His blood. Rises again.

Now, baptized into Christ, absolved and filled with His body and blood, you can tell those enemies off. Tell them to take a hike. Your Lord has saved you. He has rescued you from sin and death. He was led into temptation for you so that you will not perish, but have everlasting life. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Ev'ry wound that pains or grieves me By Your wounds, Lord, is made whole; When I'm faint, Your cross revives me, Granting new life to my soul. Yes, Your comfort renders sweet Ev'ry bitter cup I meet; For Your all atoning passion Has procured my soul's salvation. (Jesus, Grant That Balm and Healing, LSB 421:4)

June 11, 2013 - St. Barnabas

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 9:1-18; John 13:21-28

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Barnabas. Ordained for the work of the Holy Spirit. And what is that? Recall the Catechism: "The Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel." The Gospel is the Good News that we have the forgiveness of sins for Jesus' sake. How does the Holy Spirit call us through that Gospel? He sends preachers to preach it. As Paul himself said in the book of Romans, "Faith comes by hearing." (Romans 10:17).

St. Barnabas was called by the Holy Spirit through the church to be a preacher. In particular, he was sent with Paul to be a missionary, that is, a preacher to those who haven't heard the Gospel. And off went Paul and Barnabas to carry the Gospel "to the ends of the earth."

Jesus' death and resurrection are for all people. And so He makes sure that the Good News of what He accomplished gets preached to all people. For that purpose He sends preachers. So, St. Barnabas was sent. Many people have the idea that preachers aren't so important. They are just like other Christians. But the Lord has set it up such that there are those who hear the message and those who preach it so we can hear it.

We celebrate the Lord's call of St. Barnabas not because he is somehow better than other Christians, but because his call reminds us of how our Lord does things. He sends men to be the instruments by which that Good News is delivered to all people: to the whole world and to you.

Today, give thanks for the blessing of your pastor whom the Lord has called, like St. Barnabas, to give you good news: Your sins are forgiven for Jesus sake. By baptism and Christ's Word and Supper you have been separated to be His own. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

For Barnabas we praise You, Who kept Your law of love And, leaving earthly treasures, Sought riches from above. O Christ, our Lord and Savior, Let gifts of grace descend, That Your true consolation May through the world extend. (By All Your Saints in Warfare, LSB 518:17)

June 10, 2013 - Monday of the Second Week after Trinity

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: Proverbs 9:1-10

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 8:22-36; John 13:1-20

Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding. (Proverbs 9:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Well that'd make life real easy, wouldn't it? Just stop doing stupid stuff and walk in the path of common sense and good behavior! We don't often hear from the Book of Proverbs. Perhaps that's because it's classified as "Wisdom Literature" and that seems to mean it's all about living the right way instead of just believing in Jesus.

But if the whole Scriptures are about Jesus; if all of the Law, the Law and the Prophets are about Christ, then so is the Book of Proverbs. So these words above can't possibly just be some common sense advice along the same lines of some self-help guru or school counselor giving you some guidance.

Forsaking foolishness means we no longer try to save ourselves. We no longer try to live our lives in such a way that we try to impress God. True understanding is the understanding that in and of ourselves we are doomed. Or, to put it another way, true foolishness isn't the dumb choices we make. It's the rejection that Christ saves us when we cannot save ourselves.

Jesus says, "I am the Way..." Therefore the "way of understanding" can't be anything other than Jesus. His life. His death for sinners, for you. His resurrection. His saving you by water, word and body and blood. The holy gifts of His Word and sacraments are where life is lived and where the way of understanding rescues us from foolishness.

The way of understanding is Jesus. It is this Jesus who rescues us from our sins and drags us in to the feast of salvation that He has prepared. To forsake foolishness is to be saved by Jesus who delivers us from sin and gives us everlasting life. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, You have prepared this feast for our salvation; It is Your body and Your blood, And at Your invitation As weary souls, with sin oppressed, We come to You for needed rest, For comfort, and for pardon. (Lord Jesus Christ, You have Prepared, LSB 622:1)

June 9, 2013 - The Second Sunday after Trinity

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Today's Reading: Luke 14:15-24

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 8:1-21; John 12:36b-50

Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The kingdom of God doesn't work like any other society or organization. Those who are there didn't join up voluntarily. They didn't accept an invitation. They were dragged in. Maybe you were dragged in kicking and screaming, as a baby when you were baptized. Maybe you were older when you were baptized but you were still brought in not by your choice, but by the work of Jesus through the water and the Word.

Most people have a completely wrong notion of what the church is. They think it is a place where you belong if you want to belong, or deserve to belong. They think it's a place where the big deal is your response to God's call and your obedience to His commandments. You know, if you're a pretty good person and try hard to live a good life, church is the place for you.

But Jesus comes to collect the maimed and the lame and the blind. The servants are sent to bring them in. They don't even have invitations. They are just dragged in. How else could they get there? How can sinners who hate God and only love themselves get into God's kingdom? How can they be in Christ's church?

He brings them. He wipes out their sins by His death and resurrection, setting the stage for this great feast. Then He sends His pastors to baptize and teach sinners--folks who don't have their lives together but are a mess in God's sight. He sends those preachers to gather them in at the font and then feast with Him in the Supper of His body and blood. This party is a celebration. The Lord throws the party and He's got no time for those who don't want to come. But for those who can't even drag themselves in, He sends His servants to bring them in. To bring you in. Enjoy the feast! It's made for you by your Lord! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, who never fails to help and govern those whom You bring up in Your steadfast fear and love, make us to have a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Trinity 2)