Today’s Reading: Small Catechism: Close of the Commandments

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 16:1-24; Luke 10:1-22

God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. (Small Catechism: Close of the Commandments)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Nothing starts the heart pumping harder than to see those flashing lights in the rearview mirror. The law is coming for us. We might not have done anything wrong, but just the mere sight of lights behind us that starts the mind racing. What could we have possibly done wrong to warrant this?

God’s Law convicts us. The Law reveals to us that we are unholy people before a holy, holy, holy God. The Law condemns us. On account of our sinfulness, we deserve nothing but punishment and eternal condemnation. However, God does not leave us to eternal death. He put in place a plan for our redemption. The First Commandment reminds us that we should have no other gods. The Close of the Commandments reminds us that there is a loving God who has given to us a Holy Law. His Holy Law reflects who He is as a Holy God.

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Our sinfulness reveals that we are in need. We are in need of a Savior. In Christ, the Holy Law of God is fulfilled on our behalf. It is Christ who has taken the punishment for our sins. We deserve the punishment that Christ received. In simple terms we say, “He got what we deserved.” Christ kept the commandments perfectly. He kept them not to demonstrate how we should live our lives, but to fulfill God’s Holy Law that we are completely incapable of keeping. Christ’s obedience is for me! Christ’s obedience is for you! In His perfect obedience is our redemption. As God looks down on you, He sees Christ’s perfection covering you. He sees the work of Christ in that robe of righteousness that has been placed over you in your Baptism. No longer are you under the threat of the Law, but rather, you are covered in the blood of the Lamb. His life and death are for you!

On account of Christ, you do not need to live in the fear of God’s punishment, because the punishment for your sins was taken to the Cross. You live now in the promises of your Baptism that connects you to the work of Christ. Your faith holds fast to the work of Christ. In Christ the Law is fulfilled for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

To Jesus we for refuge flee, Who from the curse has set us free, And humbly worship at His throne,

Saved by His grace through faith alone. (“The Law of God Is Good and Wise” LSB 579, st.6)

-Rev. Timothy Davis is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Over eight sessions, The Messiah: Revealing Jesus in the Old Testament will lead you through the entirety of the Old Testament with daily readings, questions, and discussion prompts. After a brief introduction that reviews Christ’s earthly ministry, you will dive into the heart of the Holy Books that have spiritually nourished God’s people from creation to today! Now available from Concordia Publishing House.