June 5, 2023

Today’s Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

Daily Lectionary:  Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7, John 5:1-18

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Ever wondered where in the Old Testament you hear about the Holy Trinity? Just two verses into the book of Genesis and God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are already at work. God the Father is there creating, as we confess in the Apostles’ Creed. “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” Moses also tells us that the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, was there in the beginning as well. But what about the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity? Where’s Jesus? Don’t worry. He’s there too. 

Fast forward from Genesis 1:1 to John 1:1 and we hear these familiar words. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”

John is telling us that all the way back in Genesis, the Word of God, the second person of the Trinity, was there too. In the New Testament this second person of the Trinity is Jesus. In the Old Testament He is named the Word, the one through whom all creation was made. This is a great and gracious mystery. Just as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were present in the beginning of creation and active in the work of creation, so too, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are active in the work of your salvation.

In creation, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created out of nothing. God said, “Let there be light,” and it was so. God’s Word creates faith in your heart the same way, out of the nothingness of sin, God speaks, “Let there be faith and life” and it is so. When God speaks, whether it’s in creation or salvation, His Word does what He says and gives what He promises. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Gracious Lord, You brought all creation into being out of nothing by Your grace, loving kindness, and Your creative, life-giving Word. By Your Son, Jesus the Word made flesh you redeemed and saved all creation by Your grace. Help us, as Your baptized children, to live by Your grace and mercy in our daily lives and vocations as we continue to live daily by Your grace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. 

-Pastor Samuel Schuldheisz is Pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA

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.