Reflections

September 11, 2025Today's Reading: Catechism: Daily Prayers: Morning & Evening PrayerDaily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 29:1-24; Philippians 3:1-21“For into Your hands I commend my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.” (Luther's Morning & Evening Prayers)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.If you are not familiar with Luther's morning and evening prayers, I recommend you check them out and say them often. They are good prayers, and praying is good. You won't get extra piety points for praying them, but they offer a simple and clear message about who you are (God's child through Baptism), where you land in the grand scheme of the cosmos (redeemed sinner, whose sins were paid for by Christ Jesus' death and resurrection), and give a good opening and closing line to your day (beginning and ending with asking for deliverance from evil and forgiveness of sins). It's all familiar enough language to us, but it is the endings of these two prayers I want to focus on.Both prayers end with the same two sentences, and if you can't learn the whole of the two prayers, I encourage you to memorize this. “For into Your hands I commend my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me.” These two lines hold great weight. We often think of short little prayers like these as simple prayers for little kids, but pay attention to the words. Commending means to entrust someone with something, knowing they will care for it appropriately. We commend ourselves and everything (not just the things that affect us directly, but everything) to God. And then we ask that the evil foe may have no power over us. To tackle this, I have another “little kid prayer” to talk about. “Now I Lay Me Down,” a common kid's prayer, ends with, “If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” At first, the two lines seem at odds. One prays that the evil foe may have no power over us. The other, apparently admitting defeat, at least asks that God take our souls to heaven when death does catch up to us. Luther's ending lines are a profession that even in death, the evil foe has no power over you. Because rather than die eternally, you have been given life forever in Christ. Even when the evening of our life comes, we know we will wake on a new and brighter morning. So we pray these prayers (daily), knowing that we belong to God, Who has conquered the evil foe. You are commended to God, go forth in joy, knowing your sins are forgiven and you will not die eternally.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Guard us waking, guard us sleeping, and when we die, may we in Your mighty keeping all peaceful lie. When the last dread call shall wake us, then O Lord, do not forsake us, but to reign in glory take us with You on high. (LSB 877:3)Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you'll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.

September 10, 2025Today's Reading: Philippians 2:12-30Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 9:1-13; 10:18-29; 2 Kings 13:1-18:8; Philippians 2:12-30“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Good works get a bad rap in the Lutheran church. We proudly confess that we are saved by grace and not by good works. And that's correct; I'm not about to undo 500+ years of good Lutheran teaching. However, we can't just throw good works out entirely, and St. Paul's writing to the Philippians says as much. He charges the church to continue obeying God's will and Paul's teaching. He explains that God works through them to accomplish good works according to His will. Paul wants the Philippians to live out their Christian lives faithfully, which means being obedient to the Lord. In saying, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Paul does not mean for the people to work hard enough with enough reverence to earn salvation. For one thing, that opposes what he teaches and what Christ teaches, and for another thing, it's impossible for us to accomplish, hence the need for Jesus in the first place. To work out your own salvation really means to work outwardly from your salvation towards others. It is a command to do good works, not because that is how you earn salvation, but because it is by those works that God's will is done among us. And as baptized children of God, having been made new, from the inside out, we are now to live as Christians. Paul is not giving the Philippians a mandate to earn their salvation. He is encouraging them and reminding them of what Christians do: good works for the sake of others. God worked the ultimate good through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross, by Whose death and resurrection we are made right with God Almighty, and the benefits thereof are given freely to you in the waters of Baptism, the Body and Blood of Communion, and the words of Absolution. Your good works do not and cannot gain you salvation. Salvation is the free Gift of God. Rather, the good works you do flow outwardly from the salvation you have been given. So go forth, good and faithful servant, knowing that God has prepared work for you so that you might bless others because of the love of Christ Jesus.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O Spirit, who didst once restore thy Church that it might be again the bringer of good news to men, breathe on thy cloven church once more, that in these grey and latter days there may be those whose life is praise, each life a high doxology to Father, Son, and unto Thee. (LSB 834:4)Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you'll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.

September 9, 2025Today's Reading: Philemon 1-21Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23; 2 Kings 6:24-8:29; Philippians 1:21-2:11“That you might have him back forever, no longer as a bonderservant, but more than a bonderservant, as a beloved brother” (Philemon 16)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Philemon is a short book and can seem an odd inclusion to the New Testament. It seems more like a private letter Paul is sending rather than something millions of people would read for centuries after it was written. The contents of the letter are this: Onesimus, a slave, runs away from his master, Philemon, to Paul. Paul, after catechizing Onesimus, decides to send him back to Philemon. Paul also sends Onesimus with a note, asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not as a slave but as a brother in Christ. Paul's request of Philemon is not a small one. As a slave, Onesimus had no rights, no legal recourse, and could've been killed for running away from his master. Paul is asking for Onesimus' life to be spared and that Philemon treat him as an equal—as brothers, coheirs, in Christ. This was likely difficult for Philemon. Onesimus had wronged him, run away from him, broken both the legal Roman laws and the Law of God (honor authority and whatnot). Instead, Paul charges Philemon to forgive him and treat him as he would treat Paul. Paul is saying, “Do not look upon Onesimus according to the world but according to Christ Jesus.” These words are also a charge and conviction to us. How many of us would like to treat those who sin against us according to the law? How many times has a sister gotten back at her brother for breaking her toys, or a brother taken revenge on his sister for stealing his money? The same can be asked of full-grown adults, who “know better.” It is easy to get revenge. It is harder to forgive. Paul is asking Philemon to do the harder thing for the sake of Christ. It is because of Christ that Philemon can look in love upon his former slave and forgive him. It is because of Christ that Paul can sit in prison and yet remain faithful. It is because of Christ that you and I can look upon others as someone for whom Christ died. Not only that, God looks upon us as someone redeemed by the blood of His only Son. When God looked upon Onesimus and Philemon, He saw His Jesus. When God looks upon you, He sees Jesus. When we look at one another, we ought to see Jesus. Paul's charge is to forgive as we have been forgiven. Go forth, forgiven child of God, knowing that where there were once enemies, there are now brothers and sisters in Christ.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus sinners doth received; also I have been forgiven; and when I earth must leave, I shall find an open heaven. Dying still to him I cleave; Jesus sinners doth receive. (LSB 609:7)Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you'll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.

September 8, 2025 Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 5:9-27; Philippians 1:1-20“loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:20)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.God keeps His promises. He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give them the Promised Land, and now, the Israelites are about to cross the Jordan River into that land. God keeps His promises. God promised Israel He would be their God and they would be His people. And because of that promise, they are given this hard word to remind them they are set apart from other peoples with other gods. The Lord has made them His own. The Lord took on Himself the burden of keeping the covenant in the stead of Abraham because He knew Abraham couldn't, and neither would his descendants. And in spite of the Israelites, the covenant remained because it was contingent on the Lord, not the actions of sinful man. God keeps His promises. God kept the greater promise of a savior. God made Abraham the father of many nations by sending Jesus Christ to save sinners. Jesus kept the law of God and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to cover the sins of the people. Even while we were still sinners, wandering after other gods, Christ died for us. Now, having been washed in the waters of Baptism, we are made God's holy people, and because His words have claimed us as His own, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life are yours. He promises where the Word is, there He is also, in, with, and under the bread and wine of His Holy Supper. God promises to be your life and length of days, that you may dwell in His presence eternally, not on the condition that you keep His command, but because Christ Jesus has clothed you in righteousness. God keeps His promises to you and for you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The God of Abraham praise, Whose all sufficient grace shall guide me all my pilgrim days in all my ways. He deigns to call me friend; He calls Himself my God. And He shall save me to the end through Jesus' blood. (LSB 798:3)Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you'll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.

September 7, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 14:25-35Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:38-5:8; Ephesians 6:1-24“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus gives examples of people who measured the cost of their goal and ultimately stepped away from it. A man would not build a tower if he could not pay for it. A king would not go to war if he knew he would lose. Neither man followed through. Jesus says anyone who does not hate his father and mother cannot be his disciple. At first glance, this is against what Jesus teaches at other times: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” but if we take it in the context of the later verses, what is Jesus saying? A man building a tower who runs out of money not even halfway through loses quite a lot: financial stability and his reputation. A king going to war against a stronger army loses even more: his kingdom and his life. What does a disciple of Jesus stand to lose? What is the cost of discipleship?The answer is everything.. Jesus says anyone who will not take up his own cross and follow Christ cannot be a disciple. Anyone who is not willing to leave family, fame, fortune, or anything else is not a faithful follower. By this word, we are convicted. In our sin, we cannot follow God's law perfectly. We are unable and unwilling. We cannot afford to be a disciple of Christ and gain eternal life. The cost is too high because the cost is total obedience to God, and we, fallen sinners, are not capable of such a thing. Immediately following this passage in Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the good shepherd, in which the shepherd leaves everything behind to find the lost sheep, risking his life—risking everything. This shepherd finds the lost sheep and returns to the fold, having successfully fulfilled his goal, unlike the men from before. The good shepherd decided the reward was worth whatever the cost may be. Of course, the good shepherd in the parable is our Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus. God measured the cost of reconciling humanity to Himself and saving us from sin, death, and the devil. He knew that it was a high price to pay: the death of His only Son. The Son took on human flesh, lived, suffered, and died because, though the cost was high, He was the only one Who could pay it. In His death and resurrection, Jesus paid the price for the redemption of the world. Rather than having to earn our place as His disciples, His children, He gives it freely to us, in the Word and Sacraments. The cost of discipleship is high, but it has been paid, and the benefits are yours.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O merciful Lord, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all. Grant us courage and strength to take up the cross and follow Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you'll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.

September 6, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 13 - Psalm 119:28-32; antiphon: Psalm 119:27Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:8-22, 32-37; Ephesians 5:15-33“I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!” (Psalm 119:31)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Psalm 119 is the big one. This long psalm is the longest chapter in Scripture at a whopping 176 verses. Arranged in sections based on the Hebrew alphabet, there are recurring themes that run through it. Like a friend who can talk about a single subject and everything that touches upon it for hours, so Psalm 119 keeps coming back to the same topics. The Law. Sin. Salvation. Hope. Sorrow. The desire to do good works. It's like the psalmist put a short album on continuous repeat.So it is in this section. It begins with sorrow and a fervent prayer to learn God's law. Though the writer has announced that he has set God's way of faithfulness before him, yet he still fears being put to shame and needs God to work on his heart before he can live according to God's Commandments. You get the sense that the writer is writing this not long after falling into sin. He is struck by the terrors of God's perfect Law in his conscience. He desires to keep the Law, setting it before his eyes, but the intensity of it sounds as if the writer was a devastated child who was caught after disobeying his parents on something big.Where is help to be found, for the psalmist and for you? When your conscience attacks you, run to the testimonies of the Gospel. Run to the accounts where the Holy Spirit testifies of God's love for you in Christ. Set Jesus' compassionate miracles in front of you, where He helps those who cannot help themselves. Read again how forgiveness is given, though no one deserves it. Hear how God's own blood shed on a cross was enough to stave off God's anger at you. See how Jesus restores Peter after he denied Jesus. Marvel at how Jesus appeared to Paul and saw him not for his past sins, but instead showed him mercy. Reflect on this Son made man, who quenched the Father's anger in His wounds. And don't forget to go to your pastor, as well! Your pastor is given to teach these testimonies of grace to you and to apply them. Listen to your pastor's sermons with greater interest, for though he is sent to preach the Law that exposes your sins, yet he also is sent to preach the Gospel and unburden your conscience. With Jesus set before you, you can cling to God's testimonies of grace and never be put to shame.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The Law reveals the guilt of sin And makes us conscience stricken; But then the Gospel enters in The sinful soul to quicken. Come to the cross, trust Christ, and live; The Law no peace can ever give, No comfort and no blessing. (LSB 555:8)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 5, 2025Today's Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:14Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:25-5:14 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.There is a false teaching that says that no one could be lost if they have ever come to saving faith. Popularly going by the slogan, “Once saved, always saved,” this is a horrible false teaching. One reason this is so horrible is that it leads people to think that it does not matter if they lead a sinful life or not, because they're automatically in, no matter what. But that's not what our Scripture reading says.Today, Paul warns the Ephesians to “not grieve the Holy Spirit.” Grieving the Holy Spirit is when a believing Christian nevertheless turns to a life of intentional, willful sin against the Ten Commandments. We see this with King David, who lost the Holy Spirit for many months after he slept with Uriah's wife. There are various other Scriptural and life examples as well where someone had the faith and lost it. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, He flees the person's heart and takes saving faith with Him, too. This is one reason why sexual sin is especially dangerous. It is a faith killer.Once saved, always saved? No. But what we can say, and are glad to say, is that even the lost can be found. Even when Christians fall into sin, God calls them to renewed repentance for all their sins. No one living is hopeless. No one living is outside of God's desire to redeem. God wants all to be saved, to repent and believe in the Gospel. Our sins abound. We would be lost without the mercy of Jesus. But He is merciful. He gave His life for sinners. He died for all sins - even future sins that haven't been done. He defeated death for us by His glorious resurrection. Now He sends His Holy Spirit by His Word, even when people have turned away. By that Word, the Holy Spirit comes. He brings the unrepentant to repent, and the repentant to faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit can restore faith to those who have fallen away - He did with King David, after all. He sent Nathan the prophet, whose words of the Law broke David's hardness of heart, and whose words of the Gospel restored David to saving faith. Then, as a fruit of saving faith, the Holy Spirit restores the forgiven believer to holiness of living.The Holy Spirit has sealed you for the day of redemption. He did not come to sanctify sin, but He did come to sanctify you. And through faith in Christ alone, you remain God's temple, and the Holy Spirit dwells in you. Continue in this faith and in a God-pleasing life!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Let me be Thine forever, My faithful God and Lord; Let me forsake Thee never Nor wander from Thy Word. Lord, do not let me waver, But give me steadfastness, And for such grace forever Thy holy name I'll bless. (LSB 689:1)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 4, 2025Today's Reading: Catechism: Who Receives This Sacrament Worthily?Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-24Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.'  But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words ‘for you' require all hearts to believe. (Small Catechism part 6, “Who receives this Sacrament worthily?”)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The Lord's Supper can be confusing, especially when it comes to church fellowship. The issue of closed Communion has been tough to understand, let alone explain to friends and family of other churches not in fellowship with your church. But the issue all comes back to what Holy Scripture says about worthiness. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 is the place to find this. Go read it.Worthy eating of the Lord's Supper does not mean “better than you” eating. Worthy eating is based on faith in these words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Those who confess this Christian faith in the same way are welcome to take, eat, and drink. Since the Sacrament harms people who eat it unworthily, closed Communion protects them. If someone does not believe this bread IS Jesus' body and the wine IS His blood, if they disagree about the Gospel or original sin, they do not have the same confession of the faith. And the Sacrament would harm them, even while it helped you.It's like prescription medicines. Prescription medicines help the people for whom they are prescribed, but they harm people for whom they are not prescribed. So it is with the Lord's Supper, the medicine of immortality. Those who share the same faith in Christ and His Words, and confess this faith the same are like those who have the same sickness and are prescribed the same medicine. They can safely take the Sacrament together. But loved ones, friends, and neighbors who do not believe this nor confess this the same should wait until they come to the same faith and the same confession. For Scripture says, unworthy eating harms them. This is why closed Communion matters.But closed Communion does not mean lovelessness, either. We want people to be worthy. We want family who don't agree with us, or friends of a church not in fellowship with us, to be able to take Communion. We also just want them to take it safely. So perhaps the best approach is to say, “Let's make that happen. Let's go, ask the pastor to teach us. I'll be your sponsor and sit in your classes with you.” Then, you both may be able to safely take the Sacrament together in the only worthy way. God grant His Word and Spirit to bring unity where there is division.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.At Your feet I cry, my maker, Let me be a fit partaker Of this blessed food from heaven, For our good, Your glory, given. (LSB 636:6)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 3, 2025Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-21Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:1-21; 1 Kings 20:1-22:53; Ephesians 3:1-21“And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched [Elijah] and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.'” (1 Kings 19:7)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.On the run from the enraged Queen Jezebel, Elijah went as far as he could go. But it wasn't far enough. Exhausted in the wilderness, alone and having no food, that was the least of the prophet's problems. For if Queen Jezebel's army caught up to him, Elijah was a dead man. And his own power and strength could not save him.This is your problem, too. In the wilderness of this life, you also cannot go the whole way by your own power and strength. Relying on your own abilities gets you into the middle of a wilderness, exhausted and all alone. Do not think too highly of your strength. See how little ability you have to keep God's Commandments perfectly. To make things worse, the threat of certain death for your sins looms over you as well. You cannot overcome your own mortality. Your own power and strength cannot save you.Elijah was spared when God sent an angelic messenger with a word of grace. That word was, “Arise and eat.” This is truly a word of God's grace, because it promised and gave to Elijah what he had not deserved. This Word brought Elijah a heaven-sent food. It was bread from heaven, a new manna for a new wilderness journey. Elijah ate, not just once but twice. In other words, God gave Elijah this word of grace and this heavenly bread, again and again, because it gave him strength, hope, and life that he did not have.You also are like Elijah. All you can rely on is God's Word of grace in Christ Jesus. His cross has won salvation for all sinners. His empty tomb has defeated your death. Now, His gracious Word carries to you the life and salvation His cross won. Here is life for you! You are not alone anymore, because through faith, God mystically joins you to Him. You no longer have to rely on your own power and strength, for you have God's gracious promise in Jesus. Even better, God's Word of grace directs you to arise and eat a new food from heaven in the Sacrament of the Altar. Arise and eat, again and again. In the Body and Blood of Jesus, there is strength, hope, and life for you. The journey is too great for you, but not if you go by the strength of this new heavenly manna.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.My Lord, You here have led me To this most holy place And with Yourself have fed me The treasures of Your grace; For You have freely given What earth could never buy, The bread of life from heaven That now I shall not die. (LSB 642:2)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 2, 2025Today's Reading: Hebrews 13:1-17Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:20-40; Ephesians 2:1-22“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The Lord helps you. And not because of anything you have done to merit this gracious favor. And also not because of who you are, who you are related to, or how much you have. Instead, God gives divine help to you simply out of grace, giving you better than you have deserved.For you are a sinner who should be judged by God. You have not always loved God above all things. You likewise have not shown brotherly love at all times to your neighbor. You have acted selfishly. You have spoken what you should not have said. Your thoughts have been tainted with sinful desires like lust or revenge. What is worse, you are unable to help yourself when it comes to making God pleased with you. You cannot charm God, wrapping Him around your little finger to get special treatment.So why would the Lord ever want to be your helper? On account of Jesus' perfect life in your place, His sacrificial death, and His blood shed to cover your sins. “He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, death and the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” (Explanation to the 2nd Article of the Creed, the Small Catechism). There is nothing in you that merits God's divine help, but there is everything in Jesus' death in your place that merits this.And He gives this great salvation to you freely. Free gift! No strings attached! No conditions put upon receiving it! It is for you. God loved us when we were His enemies. So for this reason alone, He helps. And the help God gives is 100% done by Him. He does everything for you and your salvation. You simply receive. That's what faith in Christ does. Faith holds to Jesus and His promises made in Holy Scripture, which cannot be broken. Therefore, you can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Since Christ has full atonement made And brought to us salvation, Each Christian therefore may be glad And build on this foundation. Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead, Your death is now my life indeed, For You have paid my ransom. (LSB 555:6)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

September 1, 2025Today's Reading: Proverbs 25:2-10Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:1-19; Ephesians 1:1-23“Do not reveal another's secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.” (Proverbs 25:9b-10)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Some words were never meant to be said. Proverbs teaches that the secrets of your neighbor are not to be shared. A secret is anything kept from general awareness that would bring shame if it were revealed. Whether it's a secret crush, a regrettable past incident, or a fear few others know, no one likes to have their secrets made public.Sometimes you have to speak, though. If the secret is dangerous to that person or to others, or to someone's property, this should not stay secret. Because this is no longer about covering shame. This is about protecting a person. If a friend tells you he is suicidal, you need to tell people in authority who can help. The friend might not want you to. They might say they won't trust you again if you do tell. But you need to help that person, and there are good ways to work through this situation. One good way is to encourage the other person that they should tell their harmful secret to people who love them. Parents, teachers, pastors, police officers, God gave us these authorities for such reasons. But promise to be with your friend the whole way and support them as they reveal their secret. It may be hard for them, but it is easier if you or another friend is with them.Where someone could be harmed, a secret must be told, and in the best situation, by the person who has that secret himself. But where it's a matter of covering someone's shameful and regretted words, actions, or thoughts, then secrets should be kept hidden. In Eden, God covered Adam and Eve's shame by clothing them with animal skins. God did not speak about how shameful they were. Instead, God shed blood - the first blood shed in Scripture - as a way to cover the shame of our first parents. Jesus likewise covers shame by His blood. Romans 10:11 says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” So Jesus takes our shame away as the pure Gospel that faith clings to is preached. The Lord's Supper likewise applies Jesus' blood on you. And shame is covered and removed.Proverbs directs us to speak like God. Since God does not uncover shame, let us not uncover our neighbor's shame. Let us speak the truth in love, having love so that our neighbor's personal shame is not revealed. In this way, we treat our neighbor the way that God has treated us.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Help us that we Thy saving Word In faithful hearts may treasure; Let e'er that Bread of Life afford New grace in richest measure. O make us die to every sin, Each day create new life within, That fruits of faith may flourish. (LSB 693:2)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 31, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 14:1-14Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 16:29-17:24; 2 Corinthians 10:1-13:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.It has been said that pride was the cause of the devil's fall from a good angel into an evil one. This view was held by some early Christians, and also by Martin Luther. About pride, Luther also said, “Whoever trusts and boasts that he possesses great skill, prudence, power, favor, friendship, and honor has also a god, but not this true and only God." (LC I:1.10). Pride is defined as the love of one's own excellence. But where one loves himself and his excellence above all things, he turns himself into his own false god.  Jesus, God's Son made man, knows pride is dangerous. So He teaches the wedding feast parable. Those taking the highest place at a wedding reception will be humbled and forced to sit lower. There is no higher place at a wedding reception than the seats where the bride and groom sit. Imagine the audacity of a guest kicking the groom out of his place of honor! But that's what pride does. Pride kicks Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church, out of His central place of honor.What is the lowest place at a wedding reception? Perhaps the lowest place I can think of is if the wedding is in the middle of winter, and they have valets parking the cars. A shivering valet sits, waiting for the next car, but is not welcome to eat or drink. This would definitely be the lowest place at a winter wedding. So it will be for those who upstage Christ. They will be taken from the banquet, forced to do uncomfortable labor, and unwelcome to eat at the heavenly feast.But those who take the lowest place will be raised. These are repentant Christians who look in faith to Jesus for their salvation. So you who tremble because of your sins and rejoice in the Gospel that frees you, will be raised to honor on the Last Day. Christ, who died and rose, is the bridegroom. The Church is His Bride. So the sinner who trusts this Gospel for his salvation is raised to the highest place, the place of the Bride, along with all believing Christians. A bride rejoices in the love of her bridegroom and the new union they have together. So it is for the Church who believes in the Gospel of Jesus' love, rejoices to hear it again, and is united even deeper in love and faithfulness together at the very end.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O Lord of grace and mercy, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility, that we may withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds avoid ungodly pride; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 30, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 12 - Psalm 75:1-2, 6, 9; antiphon: Psalm 75:7Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 12:20-13:5, 33-34; 1 Kings 14:1-16:28; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near.” (Psalm 75:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Tomorrow's introit reminds us of this blessed reality: the Name of the Lord is near. In fact, it is so near, it is upon you!These are some awesome and particularly appropriate words for an introit—psalm verses for entering our Lord's sanctuary and being brought into His presence.You were given the ability to call on our holy and Triune God at your Baptism, when the Lord used your pastor to speak and wash you into new birth from above. In those joyous moments, the Name of the Lord came near as He placed His name upon you! “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Now the name of the Lord is so near, it is on you. In you. At Baptism, you were blessed with the Gift of calling on Him in prayer. Praying, praising, and giving thanks. God brings you, His child, to talk with Him “as dear children ask their dear father.”The Word of the Lord continues bringing His name near. Your pastor preaches. In Bible Class, you are taught that Word, as His name comes near. The Word is spoken in conversations of encouragement among faithful family and friends, and that brings God's name near, too.Of course, the high point of every Lord's Day is when the Name of the Lord is near, coming with the holy and precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Here is the greatest moment of the presence of God. The clearest, most felt and experienced nearness of God and His Name. With His own flesh and blood, Jesus brings the name of God in, with, and under Him to permeate you, bless you, and nourish you with His forgiving and saving presence. Where His name is, there He is to make you His own.So here we are, entering the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity, with His name washed onto us from Baptism and repeatedly placed on us with Word and Sacrament. With that holy name upon us, Jesus, who makes His name near, makes us worthy to enter His church building and receive Him yet again in Word and Sacrament, and we respond with giving thanks.We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. (Psalm 75:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Baptized into Your name, most holy, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I claim a place, though weak and lowly, Among Your saints, Your chosen host. Buried with Christ and dead to sin, Your Spirit now shall live within. (LSB 590:1)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 29, 2025 Today's Reading: Mark 6:14-29Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:42-12:19; 2 Corinthians 7:1-16“Some said, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.'”  (Mark 6:14)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus has a “creepy” cousin. You know the one: the “wild man.” He hung out in the wilderness, ate bugs, and went off on the sins of Herod, knowing full well that it could get him arrested and imprisoned – or worse. But like St. Bartholomew, he also held nothing back and spoke the truth. The most infamous truth he preached was against the sham of a marriage that Herod had with his brother's ex-wife. He called Herod and his “wife” out on their adultery, and she was livid. She ended up forcing Herod's hand in having John thrown into prison. Then, in one of the cringiest moments in Scripture, Mrs. Herod's daughter (Herod's niece-turned-stepdaughter) dances seductively, and he promises her whatever she wants. Her mother manipulates her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. (The Herods are textbook examples of dysfunction and cruel behavior.)These events haunted Herod. He felt guilty and was superstitious that John might come back and torment him, or that God might punish him for this. Not only this unbelieving king, but the local people thought about all this, too. They were mesmerized by John and wondered if he was a prophet or even the Christ. And in the midst of the arrest, disappearance, and now beheading of John, “Some said, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead.'”Earlier, some were confused that John was the Christ. Now, some were confused that the Christ was John. People tend to misunderstand and become confused about a great many things when they try to understand God apart from His Word.Not so with you. The Lord delivers His Word to you. He has called you to faith in the true Christ, supported by the preaching and preparation of St. John the Baptist. He witnesses the truth of the Gospel through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, along with His many martyrs, including “Creepy John” – St. John the Baptist.John the Baptist has been raised from the dead? Soon. He has fallen asleep in Jesus, and is safe and blessed with the Lord, until the day when Christ Jesus will call him from his grave, join his head to his body, and glorify and resurrect John (and you and me) to live with him forever.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, You gave Your servant John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in both his preaching of repentance and his innocent death. Grant that we, who have died and risen with Christ in Holy Baptism, may daily repent of our sins, patiently suffer for the sake of the truth, and fearlessly bear witness to His victory over death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 28, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: How Can Bodily Eating and Drinking Do Such Great Things?Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 11:1-26; 2 Corinthians 6:1-18Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. (Small Catechism, SA)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Augustine had a lot to forgive. He was a wild child who knowingly avoided the Lord. His father was a pagan, but his mother was a Christian, so he was no stranger to the Church. Still, he was not a fan. This spiraled into one bad choice after another, so Augustine believed many false teachings and Manichean philosophies, lived in sin, fathered a child without marrying the mother, and still refused the biblical pleadings of his own mother.As a Manichean, he believed that the soul was good and the body was evil. Augustine would have a hard time wrapping his brain around a biblical unity of body and soul. This would carry over to the Lord's Supper. For Augustine, before coming to faith, the Eucharist would be extremely difficult to understand. How could the good and holy God take on flesh that would be evil? And how would He then take on flesh, in and with something earthly like bread? It's all so confusing; How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?It is not just the bodily eating and drinking that does these things. The Lord works a miracle with the Sacrament. Each and every time, the Word of God, along with the eating and drinking of that bread and wine, gives the real and true flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. And that flesh and blood is not evil or corrupt, like the early Manichean Augustine thought. It is Body and Blood that is good and perfect and holy, placing your God into you, so you taste and see that the Lord is good!In time, God rescued Augustine from his sin and brought him to faith. The extremely intelligent scholar and great speaker became a humble catechumen and member of the Church, and later, a great bishop and saint.Augustine had a lot to forgive. You do, too. That is precisely why our good and holy Lord took on flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary. That is also precisely why He gives us His holy and precious Body and Blood in the Eucharist. As the perfect and holy body of Jesus enters you, your corrupt body is sanctified from within. Forgiveness, life, and salvation are given through these words, Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins so that you may be strengthened and preserved in body and soul to life everlasting. Amen.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Thy body, giv'n for me, O Savior, Thy blood which Thou for me didst shed, These are my life and strength forever, By them my hungry soul is fed. Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood Be for my soul the highest good! (LSB 619:1)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 27, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 13:22-30Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 9:1-9; 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:1-21“Strive to enter through the narrow door… And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:24a, 29)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. St. Monica encouraged her son, Augustine, toward the narrow door. She lived out her faith as an example. She prayed for her son and sought advice from her pastor and bishop, St. Ambrose. Yet it felt like nothing she did could move her son to faith.Meanwhile, Augustine seemed to stray further from the narrow door of Christ and into the wide open perils of the day. His education introduced him to unbiblical and anti-Christ philosophies. In our times, we might say that he went off to school and partied, never checking out the campus ministry. He even fathered a baby outside of marriage.There was nothing Monica could do to make Augustine go to the narrow door. For that matter, nothing that Augustine could do or say or think would get him to that door either. But that's the point.The Holy Spirit is the One who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies. God answered Monica's countless prayers favorably and eventually brought Augustine to faith. He turned him around and crafted Augustine into one of the greatest pastors and teachers of the faith in the history of the Church. But all of that had nothing to do with Augustine's or Monica's choices. It was the work of God.The Spirit led Augustine, as He has led you, to the saving Gospel of Christ. The broad and easy road of this world is tempting and looks fun, but it only leads to death and destruction. Looking for other paths and entrances only leads to “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” It is the narrow door of Christ alone that brings you salvation.  Be comforted, dear friends in Christ! In this passage, Jesus tells you that you have already been called to faith. You don't need to look any further. The Holy Spirit has gathered you and multitudes from east and west, from north and south, to recline at table in the kingdom of God. As you receive the Holy Eucharist at His Table, He gives you the forgiveness and strength to continue the way to and through the narrow door of Jesus to be resurrected and live with Him eternally. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O God, who is the Comforter of those that mourn, and the Salvation of those that hope in You, who graciously regarded the tearful pleading of saint Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine: grant, we implore You, that we may truly lament our sins and be made worthy to obtain Your gracious pardon; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 26, 2025 Today's Reading: Hebrews 12:4-24 (25-29)Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 46-63; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Peace. In the news, we hear about working toward peace in places like Israel and its neighbors, Russia and Ukraine, China, North Korea, and many more. We can define this word regarding international politics as getting along with other nations and ending any conflict and violence. Yet so much more is packed into the word “peace.”Peace can describe the perfect relationship of God and humanity, of an individual with everyone else, and all creation. God created everything, relating to it all in His peace. On the other hand, Satan and his cronies despise God and His peace. They work at frustrating His peace among people and creation. Sadly, all too often, we are willing to jump on the bandwagon of working against God's peace by making everything about ourselves. “Me! Me! Me!” we cry, fixating on what makes me happy, even if it is not good or helpful or loving for others. Old Adam isn't very peaceful, is he?The Lord speaks through the author of Hebrews today, telling you to strive for peace and holiness. Your old sinful self could never do this. Christ Jesus, however, can and did. With His suffering, death, and resurrection, He restored our peace with God. This peace is now delivered by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has called you by the Gospel, enlightened you with His gifts, sanctified and kept you in the true faith. As He does this, He is drawing you back into a healed and restored relationship with God—that is His peace!That's right! As God's baptized child, you have received His peace. Now you live in faith, and God tells you here in Hebrews to continue in that peace. Strive for it. Work towards it. Be an instrument of God's peace with everyone. How? You strive for peace as you encourage others to hear His Word and receive His Sacraments. You strive for peace as you live out your faith by loving and serving your neighbor, placing them and their needs above your own. And the Spirit does exactly that, giving God's peace to you and through you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord be our light when worldly darkness veils us; Lord, be our shield when earthly armor fails us; And in the day when hell itself assails us, Grant us your peace Lord: Peace in our hearts, where sinful thoughts are raging, Peace in Your Church, our troubled souls assuaging, Peace when the world its endless war is waging, Peace in Your heaven. (LSB 659:3,4)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 25, 2025Today's Reading: Isaiah 66:18-23Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 7:51-8:21; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18“The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they shall come and shall see my glory.” (Isaiah 66:18b)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the Harry Potter Wizarding World, non-magical people are called “Muggles,” or for a more vulgar slur, “Mud Bloods.” The Israelites who first heard Isaiah preaching today's reading would have heard the Hebrew word “goi” (nations) and would have had very better-than-you, condescending attitudes. How dare Isaiah preach Law to them, and that God would gather these Mud Blood Gentiles to Himself?!The history of the world has taken a very different turn, and so many times the tables were turned, and Gentiles have persecuted the descendants of Israel with better-than-you, condescending views. Whether we have participated in or ignored this particular sin, we all fall into the trap of thinking too highly of ourselves, and join the ancient Israelites.Still, the Holy One of Israel brings you joy today as He proclaims that He gathers His Church not only from the Children of Israel, but from lowly goi like you!    The Lord gathered all to see His glory at the birth of Jesus. God demonstrated that Christ was for all when He announced the birth to humble Jewish shepherds in Bethlehem, senior citizens in the Temple like Simeon and Anna, and to the goi, with Wise Men traveling from other lands to see “He who has been born King of the Jews.”The Lord gathered all to see His glory at Calvary. At the moment when it seemed least likely and looked like a horrific defeat, God was displaying His perfect and holy glory. In the crucified Jesus, we see a perfect and loving God who gave His life for us all. This ultimate compassion has no equal and truly shows the glory of the Lord.The Lord gathered all to see His glory at the resurrection of Christ. First, He had angels announce it to women (turning upside down any cultural expectations). Then, He appeared to His apostles. And later, hundreds of others. In a little while, He called St. Paul to preach to the goi all over the Roman Empire, and the other apostles gradually expanded their mission through the known world.Someday, the Lord will gather all to see His glory at the Last Day. Every tribe, people, and language will see the coming of the Lord of the Nations and King of Creation. He will raise all the dead and give eternal life to you and all believers in Christ. The Holy One of Israel desires to gather all to see His glory, and in faith, live with Him forever.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We are called to stand together With the saints of ages past, With the patriarchs and prophets In the faith they once held fast; Promises and hopes they treasured Now we find fulfilled at last! (LSB 828:1) Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 24, 2025Today's Reading: John 1:43-51Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 5:1-18; 1 Kings 6:1-7:50; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17“Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, ‘Come and see'... Nathanael answered Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!'” (John 1:46, 49)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. For Nathanel, also known as Bartholomew, there was “no skin off my back” for telling the truth. He tells it like it is, even if the truth wouldn't be popular or well-received. “An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” (v. 47) Philip knows this. He knows that this man of truth needs to meet Jesus. Although he doesn't hold back his skepticism that anything good could come out of Nazareth, Christ has compassion and lets Bartholomew know. Whatever hurt, brokenness, or time of prayer he went through under that fig tree, Jesus saw him and knew him. Now, the Son of God and King of Israel was calling him to be His disciple.Are you one who tells the truth, even if it is not popular or well-received? Or is there deceit in your life—lies and cover-ups for your secrets and exaggerations? No matter what, Jesus comes to you. The Son of God has seen you under your “fig tree.” Just like He saw Adam and Eve under their fig leaves with all of their shame and brokenness, but He doesn't leave you there in despair, He brings comfort out of knowing He sees you. Jesus has compassion on our first parents, on Bartholomew, and on you. At the fig tree, it is not a sense of “Oh! I've been caught!” but a comfort that the Son of God and King of Israel cares for you and calls and gathers you to Himself!Bartholomew met a rather gruesome end in this earthly life. You see, Bartholomew was martyred for telling the truth of Christ in Armenia. Sadly, proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Son of God meant there was “skin off his back,” as St. Bartholomew was skinned alive and then killed. Yet we rejoice that this wasn't the end for Batholomew; this holy martyr is alive in Christ. This saint in whom there is no deceit is resting in perfect peace with the King of Israel right now, awaiting the Day of Resurrection, when his skin and his entire body will be resurrected and glorified, to live eternally with the Son of God whom he preached.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, chose Bartholomew to be an apostle to preach the blessed Gospel. Grant that Your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 23, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 11 - Psalm 117; antiphon: Psalm 96:6a; 115:18Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 3:1-15; 1 Kings 3:16-4:34; 2 Corinthians 1:1-22“The faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.”  (Psalm 117:2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.These words are easily said, but not so easily believed. God's faithfulness endures… forever? Forever is a long time. A lot can happen in that timespan. Whatever good things have happened and will happen, plus whatever bad things have happened and will happen, all that is included in “forever.” That's a lot of good and evil, a lot of laughter and a lot of tears, a lot of triumph and a lot of sickening loss. It is not easy to believe that God's faithfulness endures forever. Especially when you're on the receiving end of sorrow, grief, shame, hurt, addiction, loss, or any other affliction of body and soul, possessions, and reputation. Where is God's faithfulness then?But to be honest, faith in God's love and faithfulness to what He has promised in the Gospel is never easy. Instead, faith would be impossible if it were up to you. In good times, you would not think that you needed to trust in God's faithfulness. You would simply expect it, as you expect the light to turn on when you flick a switch. And in bad times, you would despair that God has forgotten to be faithful. You would hurt in your soul, thinking that God decided to forget you and leave you to figure your mess out for yourself. Neither attitude would foster saving faith in the heart.The good thing is, God's faithfulness endures forever for you, in Christ. In Jesus' cross, you see the epicenter of God's faithfulness for you, forever. In every time and circumstance, God's faithfulness in Jesus remains. What if you are smug and content, thinking little of Jesus' salvation and focused on other things more? Nonetheless, God's faithfulness remains in Christ. He calls you to repent, but His love for you remains. Jesus' blood redeems even those lost in apathy. And what if you despair of salvation? Even then, God's faithfulness remains in Christ. See the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And if He has taken away your sin by His death, there is nothing more that can condemn you.The Holy Spirit creates faith in Christ for you. This is not the believer's responsibility! This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Saving faith is what He does. We even know where the Holy Spirit works: the preaching of the pure Gospel, the Absolution, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, in the context of the liturgy. Since the Holy Spirit and not you is responsible for saving faith, it is much easier to believe in God's faithfulness, even when things are bad. Just be in the Word! The Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure By the cross are sanctified. Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide. (LSB 427:4)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 22, 2025Today's Reading: 1 Kings 2:1-27Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 2:1-27; 1 Corinthians 14:1-16:24; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13“Keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.” (1 Kings 2:3)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.1 Kings 2 is quite the bloody chapter. King Solomon's reign began with bloodshed. He put Adonijah, his older (half-)brother, to death. Isn't Solomon supposed to be a God-pleasing person? He just heard God's promise to sustain him if he remained faithful to God's Word and walked according to it. But then, Solomon goes out and executes his half-brother!We have to understand the situation and the vocation and calling Solomon had. First, the situation. Adonijah was covetous. He desired the throne while pretending to come in peace. But his words revealed the treachery of his heart. Adonijah asked to be wed to Abishag, who had been married to David. That's completely disgusting, but it was likely intended as a political marriage only, for Adonijah knew the people of his time well. He knew that if they saw anyone marry King David's widow, that man should be seen as equal to David in power. Adonijah hated that Solomon had been made king over Israel and not he himself, so Adonijah set off to gain public support, to win the hearts of the people over, that he might depose Solomon from the throne when he became strong enough. The political marriage to Abishag was the first step in his wicked plot.We also should remember that Solomon had the vocation of being a king. As king, Solomon had the responsibility to bear the sword against anyone who would overthrow the rightful ruler. God has established rightful government and commands rightful authorities to be honored (4th commandment). So a believing king would first humble himself and repent of his own sins, trust in God's Word, have faith in the coming Christ, and live according to God's Word. But as a king, this would also include the duties of executing certain enemies of the state.Solomon was not the only king whose reign was marked by bloodshed. Jesus also fits in this category. As our King of Kings, Jesus' reign is marked by His bloodshed. By the shedding of His blood for our sins, Jesus began His rule as the King of Kings. His crown is made of thorns, His throne is made of wood. His rule is not one of violence but of peace in the heart. He also defeated our enemies who wanted to unseat Him from being king—sin, death, and the devil. Since He conquered them for us, we are safe through faith in Him.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Gone the past, unknown the future—Grace supplies my daily breath; Strong in Christ through death's dark valley, Firm and faithful unto death. (LSB 753:3)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 21, 2025Today's Reading: Catechism: What is the Benefit of This Eating and Drinking?Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 1:1-4, 15-35; 1 Corinthians 12:14-31What is the benefit of such eating and drinking? These words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins;” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. (Small Catechism, 6th Chief Part)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Does your soul hunger for the Lord's Supper? It should. You should desire the Lord's Supper as one of the highest Gifts of God, for there are benefits, great Gifts, and advantages for taking this Sacrament as Christ instituted it.But what's that? You don't see the advantages? This doesn't look like a great Gift? You think the bread is weird and tastes nothing like normal bread? You think the wine is kind of funky, and you still question if you, as a minor, should be drinking alcohol? (Unless you are the kind that is already into drinking—in which case, you should look at what God says about honoring authority in the 4th commandment, repent, confess your sins, and receive the Gospel from your pastor).Despite what your reason and senses say, the words of Jesus speak much differently! (In Matthew 26:28, Jesus says that His blood is shed for the forgiveness of sins, and in Luke 22:19-20, Jesus says His Body and Blood are given for you in the Sacrament.) Trusting in your reason and senses is always a bad way to go when it comes to the things of God. Just as trusting in a deceitful person usually means that you are likely to be deceived. How deceitful are man's reason and senses, corrupted by our fallen nature!In the Sacrament, forgiveness, life, and salvation are yours. Whether or not you think you need forgiveness, life, and salvation, Jesus says you need this. Otherwise, He would not say, “Take, eat. Take, drink.” But He says these words. Therefore, He knows you need these Gifts. You need forgiveness because you are a sinner, and you need forgiveness in this Sacramental way, too. You need life—you need to eat this Sacramental fruit from the Tree of Life. And you need salvation, or you would be lost. With the faith that trusts these words “Given for you,” you have these three benefits. Forgiveness that takes the weight off your conscience. Life from the very veins of the Son of God. Salvation and rescue from your spiritual enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Who wouldn't hunger for such a great Sacrament?In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He who craves a precious treasure Neither cost nor pain will measure; But the priceless gifts of heaven God to us has freely given. Though the wealth of earth were proffered, None could buy the gifts here offered: Christ's true body, for you riven, And His blood, for you once given. Amen. (LSB 636:1)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 20, 2025Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 12:1-25; 2 Samuel 13:1-19:43; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.” (1 Corinthians 12:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.There are a bunch of strange, hare-brained ideas out there. This is especially clear when the topic of “spiritual gifts” comes up. Some churches think this means people in the Holy Spirit start speaking in gibberish, which they call ‘speaking in tongues.' Some throw their hands up, roll around, or bark like a dog because they feel that they're filled with the Holy Spirit. Good grief. That's not how the Holy Spirit works. Others think “spiritual gifts” refers to created abilities and skills, from understanding people to working with electrical outlets. But then, why would Scripture call these “gifts of the Holy Spirit” when they're more like gifts of creation? Spiritual gifts are more than just skills and abilities. Remember, the Holy Spirit's role is that He “calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the Holy Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith” (Small Catechism, Creed, 3rd article explanation). So the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith in people's hearts so that they believe in Jesus as their savior. He does this by the Word and sacraments. Therefore, it stands to reason that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit have something to do with edifying the faithful and assisting the Church on earth.Keep in mind the Holy Trinity when reading 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. Paul says, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” God, Lord, and Spirit refer to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father has various gifts of creation and vocational calling. He empowers these activities so that by doing your vocation, He is there enlisting you to help sustain His creation. The Lord Jesus has “varieties of service.” This especially refers to the Office of the Ministry that stands in the stead of Christ and by His Command. Yet in this one Office of the Ministry, there are different roles, from an assistant pastor to a professor to a missionary or a hospital chaplain.The Holy Spirit thus has a variety of gifts, too. He gave certain miraculous Gifts in the period right after the New Testament. But these are no more. Now, the Holy Spirit confines Himself to the normal churchly ways—by your pastor's preaching, baptizing, the Lord's Supper, your own study of God's Word, and devotional life. Here are the Spirit's primary Gifts today, not to mention faith in Christ and the love that comes from faith. God strengthen you in these true Gifts of the Spirit.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Heavenly Father, grant that we are not misled into strange teachings, but kept in the simple teaching of Scripture as we have come to know it by the Catechism. Amen.Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 19, 2025Today's Reading: Hebrews 11:17-31 (32-40); 12:1-3Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34“By faith…” (Heb.11:17a)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Hebrews 11 is called “the great chapter on faith,” and it's obvious why. Every Lutheran should cherish this chapter, because all over the place it says, “By faith.” That's a big part of the Lutheran, Biblical teaching. In this chapter, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and others are examples of saving faith in God's Word and promises. These were people like you and me who trusted in God's promises throughout their lives and situations. Those promises were all fulfilled in Jesus. So the Old Testament faithful looked ahead in faith to Jesus, the Messiah who was to come.But there's even more in this chapter. If you notice, only certain events are mentioned in Hebrews 11, and other significant events are not. For example, nothing is said about Isaac getting married to Rebekah. Nothing is mentioned about Jacob seeing the heavenly staircase with angels going up and down on it. Nothing is mentioned about Moses delivering God's sacrificial system of worship to the people, though all these things were also clearly acts of faith. Other noble and important acts did not make the list, either. Something else is going on here than just a list of mere examples to try to be like.The specific Old Testament events in Hebrews 11 all point to Jesus. Jesus certainly fulfills the entire Old Testament, as He says in Luke 24, John 5, and many other places. Old Testament people, places, and events prefigure and point to the greater fulfillment that Jesus gives. So Jesus is like Isaac, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1), who was also offered as a sacrifice according to God's will. Jesus is like Esau, who gives up His birthright and His blessing to God's sinful people who are more like Jacob. Thus, we get the full blessing of our heavenly Father simply by God's grace. Jesus' blessing is like Esau's in that He is assigned to serve us, which He does by the Word and the Sacraments in the context of the liturgy. Like Moses, Jesus would rather stand for God's Word and God's people, even if He would be mistreated by the world. Like Moses, Jesus endured even before Pontius Pilate because He was intent on following God's will and holding to God's invisible Word. And Jesus is our new Passover lamb, who died to save us from death and now gives His own body to eat in the Lord's Supper.Forgiveness, life, and salvation are for you. You do not earn these, nor do you merit getting them. But as free Gifts of God's love in Christ, they are promised and offered for you, too. Like the heroes of faith, may you also trust in your Savior in every situation and point others to Him as well.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Grant our hearts to remain ever faithful to Your Son, O Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ.Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 18, 2025Today's Reading: Jeremiah 23:16-29Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:16“[The Lord says] ‘I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.'” (Jeremiah 23:21)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.You cannot rightly judge a preacher based on his personality, his popularity, or his effectiveness. You cannot rightly judge a preacher based on how many or how few people come to hear him. You cannot rightly judge a preacher based on how you feel about him. God instead directs you to judge a preacher on how his preaching and teaching align with God's Word.Only Scripture is the fountain and source of our theology, our teaching, our practice, how we worship, how we live, and who we are. We must remember that, so the devil does not lead us astray. The devil has his own prophets, who preach according to whatever the modern sensibilities are at the time. We are caught up in the world, surrounded so much by the world's ideals that we are not even aware of them. This is the poisoned air we breathe, and we don't even realize how much the world has taught us to follow it.But a preacher who preaches the Word rightly is to be highly honored, for he teaches the Word that is always true and always constant, even when the world shifts on unstable footing. In season or out of season, when that Word is loved or if that Word is despised, yet he stays constant and true to God's Word. He proclaims the Law in its full strictness to self-righteous sinners are brought to repentance. And he proclaims the Gospel in its full sweetness to crushed sinners, so they are given the spiritual relief, comfort, and peace that God gives us in His Son.Jesus crucified, risen, and forgiving is the content of every true sermon. It doesn't matter if it's a regular Sunday, the first Sunday in Lent, or even on Christmas Day. Faithful pastors still proclaim Jesus, bloody but wonderful. They proclaim and apply this Word to you in all your situations in this life. And they proclaim Jesus much more than they proclaim themselves, their thoughts, their ideas, and their experiences. Pastors whom God has called and ordained to the office of the Holy Ministry who preach this have God's approval. Therefore, they have the approval of every true Christian as well. God grant you to learn His Word so you know even more where it is being proclaimed in its purity.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In these last days of great distress, Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness That we keep pure till life is spent Your holy Word and Sacrament. (LSB 585:2)Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 17, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 12:49-53 (54-56)Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22“[Jesus said,] ‘Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.'” (Luke 12:51)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.So much for that familiar Christmas hymn. So much for “peace on earth and mercy mild” (LSB 380:1). For Jesus says that He did not come to bring peace, but division! And not the kind you did in math classes when you were young. This is the kind where people are turned against each other, where families argue, or worse, when friends stop being friends.And we are stunned! How can this be? Isn't Jesus supposed to bring people together? Isn't it evil when people act stuck up, hateful, and unrepentant against each other? Absolutely, this is evil. This is all sinful, the result of self-righteous hearts that do not show mercy or love.  But Jesus is not saying He wants division! He is definitely not saying that He causes others to sin. As God's only Son, Jesus is sinless. God wants everyone to repent of their sins, hear the Gospel of Christ's merciful death for their sins and resurrection victory, and believe it. God wants all to be saved. Therefore, Jesus also does not want people to be divided.Yet that happens in this world where not all believe. Some hear the Gospel and reject it. The devil is hard at work. Others are led by the devil and their sinful nature to be merciless to others. So when Jesus says He came to bring division on earth and not peace, we must hear how He means it. He means that His Word of His forgiveness, mercy, and love is real for you. He means that His Word is truth in a deceived world. Jesus means that His baptizing applies precious promises to you that cannot be broken. Jesus means that His Body and Blood are put in your mouth to strengthen you in saving faith. And, He also means that the devil is against all of this, and riles up opposition. But what can the devil do? What harm can those who are against us do for whatever reason? If God is for us, and He is for us in Jesus, then no one can be against us. God in His wisdom even takes our hurts, emotional wounds, and hostilities against us and makes them work for our good. He even makes death and Satan work for our good. So in a divided world, we find all peace, hope, strength, and life in our Lord Jesus and His pure Word.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Merciful Lord, cleanse and defend Your Church by the sacrifice of Christ. United with Him in Holy Baptism, give us grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of His redeeming work and daily follow in His way; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 16, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 10 - Psalm 55:1, 12-14, 16; antiphon: Psalm 55:22Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 6:1-19; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23“Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!” (Psalm 55:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Isn't it a gift? In the lowest moments we have, the hardest experiences we struggle through, the long nights, and tear-stained memories - we get to cry out to God.I'll be honest, living through hurt, trauma, loss, brokenness, and betrayal are not situations I have usually considered ‘gifts' while going through them. Sin breaks all that God calls good. And yet, there is hope in those broken moments. Suffering is a mark of a Christian life. Struggling with sin, living life with and among sinners, and feeling wholly inadequate with your own shortcomings are daily difficulties; yet, suffering is a reality of life and a gift. You are never alone in those moments. In your Baptism, you are given the Holy Spirit, who creates faith in you to cling to the hope we have in Jesus. Indeed, Jesus became man and came into the mess and death of this sinful world and defeated our enemies for us. In the prayer that Jesus teaches us, we are taught to come to Him, to be reminded of all that God has done for us, and to ask for what we need—not because God isn't sure or doesn't remember, but so we can be refocused on the Giver of all that we need. Indeed, our lives are marred with sin, but we are not without hope. In moments of great pain and weakness, cry out to God. Ask for His attention and His mercy; be reminded and reassured that He is the One Who created you, redeemed you, sustains you, and is with you even now. Turn to God in the moments of disorder and pain; cling to and remember the promises that He has made. Go to the Divine Service, confess your sins and brokenness, and receive Absolution. Know that your guilt and shame are gone. Hear God's Word proclaimed and preached to you. Receive Jesus' Body and Blood in your mouth. Make the sign of the cross. Jesus' mercy is for you. He hears your cries, He counts your tears, He holds you within His hand. It is a gift to cry out for mercy and know that He Who is faithful will continue to give it. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Evening and morning, Sunset and dawning, Wealth, peace, and gladness, Comfort in sadness: These are Thy works; all the glory be Thine! Times without number, Awake or in slumber, Thine eye observes us, From danger preserves us, Causing Thy mercy upon us to shine. (LSB 726:1)Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 15, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 1:(39-45) 46-55Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 5:1-25; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:50)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Mary sings with hope. Over a short period of time, she has been visited by an angel, told she would carry a baby, told that this baby is the Son of God, trusted the announcement in faith, learned that her barren relative Elizabeth is also carrying a child, rushed to see her relative Elizabeth, and received a loving greeting to and about her and her child. This is a lot. And yet, when her next words are recorded, they are a song of praise and are steeped in trust and hope. I'm going to be honest. Had this same situation occurred to me, I can't be sure I would react the same. (Anxious? Me? Yep). It really seems like too much. An angel visits, and from Biblical descriptions, that is a terrifying sight. The message she receives does not seem reasonable. She's engaged and yet pregnant, but didn't break her promise to Joseph. This seems like an unmanageable situation. What will people think? How can I be the right person for this task? What do I know about being a mom? And yet, Mary responds in faith and trust. Mary gives all glory to God. She sings in faith and focuses on God's promises and mercy. She believes, even as she carries this little baby boy, that He will do as God's Word has promised. Mary was a sinner. We will see over the course of Jesus' life that she does not do motherhood perfectly. And yet, in faith, she clung to the promises that are for her, too. She is shown mercy. She is indeed blessed. We get to rejoice alongside Mary that God had a perfect plan and did indeed keep His promises. We get to be fellow redeemed sinners who sing about and cling to hope. Jesus, her Son and her Lord, is our Brother and Lord. We were indeed buried with Him in Death and raised with Him in His Resurrection; all that He accomplished, He gives to us. In our Baptism, we are connected to Jesus and are brought into God's family. We, generations after Mary, are indeed shown mercy. Thanks be to God for His perfect plan. Thanks be to God for using His people, including Mary, to fulfill His plan for the salvation of the whole world. Thanks be to God that He uses you to love and care for the neighbors you have. Cling to hope. Live in God's mercy for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Oh, how great is Your compassion, Faithful Father, God of grace, That with all our fallen race In our depth of degradation You had mercy so that we Might be saved eternally! (LSB 559:1) Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 14, 2025Today's Reading: Catechism: What is the Sacrament of the Altar?Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 1:1-27; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. (Catechism: What is the Sacrament of the Altar?) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Simple, plain, boring language. It's the best. There is nothing to worry about or misunderstand. It is the Body. It is the Blood. It is given by Jesus. It is for us. This is amazing! This is a miracle, given to us every week. And yet, why do we so often disparage it? Why do we complicate it or get it mixed up? The short answer? Sin. Sin breaks the beautifully simple and makes it jaggedly complicated. Do Jesus' words really mean what He said? Should the wine be red in color? Does the bread have to be a certain shape? Or worse - ‘oh man, it's Communion…church is going to be soooo long.' More hymns? More prayers? Lord, have mercy. We sinners have a tendency to take what is simple and make it complicated. We tend to make it about us instead of Jesus. And yet the Truth is that Jesus gives us His Body and His Blood in the Lord's Supper. He delivers forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in, with, and under the Bread and Wine. He has done the work; we get to joyfully receive. In fact, in your Baptism, you are given the Holy Spirit Who creates the faith that clings to these Gifts from Jesus. This is so wonderfully simple—God saves you, washes you, claims you, forgives you, and continues to strengthen and sustain you in Him. When you are tempted to make The Lord's Supper complicated, or about you, repent. When you are tempted to despise the preaching of the Gospel and the giving of God's Gifts, repent. Allow God's amazingly simple Gift of Jesus' Death and Resurrection to be exactly as God has declared it: for you. It is done. It is finished. In the faith you have been given, you get to rejoice that these words and God's promises mean exactly as He has said them. The Truth is simple: Jesus for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Draw near and take the body of the Lord, And drink the holy blood for you outpoured; Offered was He for greatest and for least, Himself the victim and Himself the priest. (LSB 637:1)Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 13, 2025Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:1-24Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” (1 Corinthians 7:17a)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. These words are so great because they make me immediately bristle and feel defensive. In my Western-culture, independent, sinful mind, I want to immediately self-justify and argue. “The life that the Lord *assigned* and that ‘God has called him?' Nah. I worked for my life. I matter because of what I can do. I choose and decide what and who is included in my life.” Okay, perhaps it's true that God made me and, yes, He gifted me with talents and abilities…but my works still count…right? Ugh.  Independence is ugly. When we strive so hard to prove our own worth, value, relationship status, or self-defined identity through *our* works or choices, we are truly chasing after an unattainable goal. The reality is that no one is independent on their own; dead things can only be dead. No one has earned their worth before God. All fall short. All need to be rescued. In truth, these words, and this whole section in 1 Corinthians, are amazing. Paul speaks about vocational gifts and teaches us that within them, it is best to focus on the Giver of these gifts and the mercy through which He gives them. Are you married? Thanks be to God—love your spouse and care for them. Are you single? Thanks be to God—serve the neighbors you have been given. Rest in the gifts that God has blessed you with. Don't covet something different. Don't despair of your life; live it as the gift that it is. The Giver is the One Who sent His perfect Son to die on the cross in your place and give you forgiveness, life, and salvation. Does my independent sinner-self still want to cling to my works? Do I still think I want something different? Yeah. And yet, God in His mercy gifted me with Baptism. In my Baptism, I daily repent of my sin, drown the Old Adam, and live as the new creation God has made me. The Holy Spirit works in and through me to recognize the abundant Gifts that God has given me and also to look at the neighbors in my life as gifts. Has God assigned me a life and called me? Yep. It is beyond comprehension that He would care for, rescue, love, forgive, and redeem sinners. And yet, this is truly what has happened. We get to rejoice in our dependence and look to the Giver of our lives, gifts, neighbors, and vocations. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.By grace! None dare lay claim to merit Our works and conduct have no worth. God in His love sent our Redeemer, Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth; His death did for our sins atone, And we are saved by grace alone. (LSB 566:2)Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 12, 2025Today's Reading: Hebrews 11:1-16Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 28:3-25; 1 Samuel 29:1-30:31; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. These words are a great reminder. God is not impressed by works. We can't trick Him into being pleased with us by holding up shiny works that we ‘curated ourselves.' Nope. It is impossible to please Him…without faith.So what is this ‘so important' faith? And as a sinner, how can I get it alllll for myself? The first verse of this chapter gives us a definition of faith: “it is assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” This still seems fuzzy. I want faith to be something I can put in my pocket and look at, or hold up before God as proof. I want to measure it and control its enoughness. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. We know from other parts of Scripture, and as it is simply explained in the Small Catechism, that we cannot come to God on our own. We cannot have faith created out of our own reason, understanding, or strength. So, how can I get this necessary faith? How can I please God? How can I get rewards? This verse points to the multitude of Gifts that God gives to His people. It is God Who creates and sustains faith in His people. In Baptism, He drowns the hard-hearted, dead sinner, and creates a New Man who then receives the Holy Spirit. It is God Who, before the foundation of the world, had a plan for the world's salvation in and through Jesus' Death and Resurrection. The faith given in your Baptism is what clings to the promises of God and is what receives the overflowing Gifts and rewards that He gives. We don't work to please God to “get rewards.” Instead, we receive faith, God is pleased with us, and He gives all that we need. Indeed, without faith, we cannot come before God and please Him. And yet, God had a plan. God saved you in the waters of your Baptism. The Holy Spirit within you clings to Jesus' Death and Resurrection for you. In the words of Absolution, Jesus' Body and Blood in the Lord's Supper, and through the proclamation of the Gospel, you receive the rewards that God gives to those who have faith. He lovingly created you, redeemed you, gives you faith, and feeds and sustains you. God be praised for His perfect plan for our salvation, redemption, and the faithful hope you have unto eternal life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Firmly to our soul's salvation Witnesses Your Spirit, Lord, In Your Sacraments and Word. There He sends true consolation, Giving us the gift of faith That we fear not hell nor death. (LSB 559:3) Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 11, 2025Today's Reading: Genesis 15:1-6Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 26:1-25; 1 Samuel 27:1-28:2; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13“But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?'” (Genesis 15:2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. These verses in Genesis are amazing promises that God gives to Abram: “I am your shield; your reward shall be very great; number the stars…so shall your offspring be.” This is miraculous! The old, barren couple will indeed have a child and will have an abundance of offspring! And yet, Abram can't help but be skeptical. “But God….”Can you see yourself in this skeptical response? I can. Here's the thing about sinners—we like fast results and we like control. We want what we want when we want it, and that's it. I don't want to wait. I don't want to trust. I want to control the timeline, the process, and the outcome. Lord, forgive me, a sinner. Incredibly, God is more patient than we are impatient. God is more merciful, gracious, loving, and forgiving than we can even fathom. In this exchange with Abram, God hears Abram's concerns and meets them with promises. God assures Abram that He will take care of Abram and his family. God has a plan, and it will come to fruition. In the same way, He hears our prayers. We come to Him, forgetting all that He has done, and protest about waiting or about not getting what we want. We come to Him with our sins and burdens, our complaints and our hurts, and He hears us. He WANTS to hear from us. Amazing. He answers us with mercy and grace. He reminds us that in Christ, all that we need has been fulfilled and provided. In Baptism, He took a dead, sinful thing and made it alive and new. In the Lord's Supper, He gives us the Body and Blood of His Holy and Precious Son for our nourishment and forgiveness. In the Divine Service, He gives us Absolution and His Word—His promises of salvation, grace, and love. And, just like Abram, who “believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness,” we, too, are credited with the faith that believes. The Holy Spirit works in and through us, and yet God is delighted with us! Repent of your skepticism and cling to the promises of God. He loves you, forgives you, mercies you, and meets your every need. He has paid for your sins by Jesus' Death and Resurrection; you get to rest in hope and His perfect care of you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Amen, that is, so shall it be. Make strong our faith in You, that we May doubt not but with trust believe That what we ask we shall receive. Thus in Your name and at Your Word We say, “Amen, O hear us, Lord!” (LSB 766:9) Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 10, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 12:22-34 (35-40)Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 25:23-44; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. These verses speak about anxiety. Yikes. Guilty—party of one. And often, when I read them, I immediately become anxious about how anxious I am and how I am not trusting…because I am anxious. Lord, forgive me, a sinner. Look at these words, though: “fear not…it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Fear not; deep breath. In my anxiety, I am afraid. I'm afraid to fail, afraid to be hurt, afraid I'm not enough, afraid that I don't have control…afraid. And yet, Jesus tells us to fear not. And here's the thing—Jesus is trustworthy. He can and does back up that directive. He has the answers to all my fears. Failure, hurt, enoughness, control…all of these flow out of my sinful, selfish nature. The Law shows me that I am a failure, hurtful, inadequate, out-of-control sinner. And yet, Jesus can and does tell me not to fear because He has paid for all of that; He has covered my shame and guilt. It is His now, and He has left it in the tomb—forever gone and buried. Fear not. And now, I can joyfully receive the Father's good pleasure! I can receive His Kingdom with peace and certainty! In my Baptism, Jesus takes my anxiety and gives me peace. It is through His work that I am right before God and safely found within His Father's House. Perhaps you, too, struggle with anxiety. Perhaps you, too, know that you are a sinner and worry about it. Make the sign of the cross, dear Baptized child of God. Remember that it is Jesus Who takes your sin and shame, and it is Jesus Who defeated it for you. Go to the Divine Service and hear the words of Absolution announced to you. Take Jesus' Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins. Hear God's Word and be strengthened by His promises. You may still struggle with anxiety, but it does not define you. You are Baptized; you are named as one who belongs to Christ, and you can truly fear not. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty and merciful God, it is by Your grace that we live as Your people who offer acceptable service. Grant that we may walk by faith, and not by sight, in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen (LSB, Collect of the Day)Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

August 9, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 9 - Psalm 147:8-11; antiphon: Psalm 147:7Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 25:1-22; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23“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.” (Psalm 147:10-11)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Racing fans delight in the fastest car and the winning driver. Hockey fans delight in the forward with the best plays, most goals, and fastest time down the ice. Baseball fans delight in the swiftness of a base runner rounding third and heading for home plate. Now, when it comes to God, we expect him to play by our rules of the game. Only, he doesn't. God doesn't take a page out of our playbook. No. He writes a completely new book with completely different rules, ones based not on our righteousness and strength, but on his. Life is lived not on our goodness and power, but in his grace and mercy.What brings God joy and delight? Psalm 147 reminds us that it's not our strength, not our wisdom, not our goodness—not our anything—that causes God to delight in us. No. What brings God delight is when we hope—not in ourselves—but in his steadfast love. What brings the Lord pleasure is when we see that of ourselves we have no strength, but that all our strength is in the steadfast love of Jesus, crucified and risen. What brings the Lord great joy is when we delight in his work for us, not our own work for him. What puts a big smile across God's face is when we look to him for righteousness instead of relying on our own self-righteousness. This is what it means to fear the Lord. Not that God is going to dive out from behind the bushes and jump scare us like some kind of cheap horror movie, but that he who could destroy us in our sin instead delivers us from sin. That we trust in him who chases us down like a sheepdog with his steadfast love, all the days of our lives. That he who could condemn us for our trespasses says in Christ, there is no condemnation. That he who could sentence us to eternal punishment takes all sin, all death, all punishment of the Law upon himself. In all of this, the Father delights in His Son, and through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, the Father delights in you as well.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty Father, in Your Son, You loved us when not yet begun Was this old earth's foundation! Your Son has ransomed us in love To live in Him here and above: This is Your great salvation. Alleluia! Christ the living, To us giving Life forever, Keeps us Yours and fails us never! (LSB 395:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

August 8, 2025Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 24:1-22; 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:16“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Remember Gideon? God sends him to deliver Israel from the Midianites. He tells twenty-two thousand Israelites to take a hike back home, leaving only ten thousand. Still too many. God tells Gideon's men to go down to the creek for a drink. The ones who drink like dogs, lapping the water—those are the ones who are staying. All three hundred of them matched up against the hordes of Midianites. And if that isn't wild enough, they head out to battle with torches and clay jars and not a sword in sight. How weak. How foolish. And yet, the Lord brings victory and delivers Israel. God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.Remember Elijah? God sends him up to the top of Mt. Carmel to engage in a little prophetic duel with the prophets of Baal. Once again, God's people are in a jam. Wicked Ahab and the infamous Jezebel are making an idolatrous mess of Israel. So, God does what he does best: he delivers his people, but he does it in a rather strange way. Elijah digs trenches. Baptizes the entire place, soaks the whole thing. Not once. Not twice. Three times. You can imagine the prophets of Baal having a good laugh. Look at Elijah. So weak. Such a fool. And yet, Yahweh sent fire down on the altar, and the prophets of Baal came to a brutal end. And once again, God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. Remember Jesus' life? God chooses what is foolish in the world—an unwed, Virgin, a backwater little town, a lowly manger, a life of itinerant preaching, and a ragtag bunch of fishermen, a zealot, and a tax collector—to deliver and declare his salvation. And then, in the greatest of all displays of weakness and foolishness, God in the flesh goes and suffers a shameful death on the cursed tree of the cross. Once again, God delivers, rescues, and saves in the most unlikely way. God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. Why does God work this way? So that our hope and confidence rest in his outrageous grace and not in our own strength or wisdom. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Here we have a firm foundation, Here the refuge of the lost: Christ, the Rock of our salvation, Is the name by which we boast; Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, Sacrifice to cancel guilt! None shall ever be confounded Who on Him their hope have built. (LSB 451:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

August 7, 2025Today's Reading: Catechism: What Sins Should We Confess?Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 20:24-42; 1 Samuel 21:1-23:29; 1 Corinthians 1:1-25Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord's Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts. (Explanation of What Sins Should We Confess?, Luther's Small Catechism)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. There's an old expression used when someone gets stuck on the same topic and says the same thing over and over again; they're a broken record, we say. This is a perfect picture—or should we say, soundtrack—of Christ's Church. God calls his church to be a broken record. Not the kind that blasts an annoying earworm of a song into your head, but a blessed broken record playing the same thing over and over again. And what is that theme song? The record the church is called to keep spinning is the constant refrain of God's steadfast love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.This is why Martin Luther once called the Church a mouth-house of forgiveness. The Church is a megaphone of God's grace and mercy. The Church stands in the wasteland of this fallen world like John the Baptist stood in the Jordan River announcing the Good News: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)This is why Christ builds his Church. You can find entertainment anywhere in the world. You can find social clubs and hobby groups all over social media. There are many good gifts God gives outside of his church, but the one thing we cannot find anywhere else is God's word and sacraments, his Gifts of forgiveness for you. For this reason, Christ built his Church and founded it on forgiveness. For you! His forgiveness won for you on the cross and given to you in Baptism, Absolution, the Gospel, and the Supper. After all, there are only two places where our sin can rest: on our shoulders or on Jesus'. And this is why he came, so that all our sin would rest on his shoulders on the cross. This is also why he gives us his Gifts of confession and forgiveness, and why the Church is a broken record, announcing God's forgiveness on repeat until Jesus returns. In the meantime, Jesus sends pastors to hear our confession and forgive our sin, every Sunday in Divine Service, and privately when guilt gnaws at you, or a particular sin sticks with you like that annoying pebble stuck in your shoe. And when we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Forgive our sins, Lord, we implore, That they may trouble us no more; We, too, will gladly those forgive Who hurt us by the way they live. Help us in our community To serve each other willingly. (LSB 766:6)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

August 6, 2025 Today's Reading: Acts 28:16-31Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 20:1-23; Acts 28:16-31“From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” (Acts 28:23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Martin Luther once said, “Anywhere you cut the pages of Scripture it bleeds the blood of Christ.” That means when we open up the Old Testament, we don't have to search for Jesus like one of those “Where's Waldo” books or strain our eyes to see him like looking at some kind of optical illusion. It's not just that the Old Testament tells us about Jesus here and there, as if Jesus is a marmot or a prairie dog, poking his head up now and then. Jesus isn't just in the Old Testament. Jesus is the Old Testament. Luther is simply echoing what Jesus says in Luke 24:44.“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”When the apostles teach and preach the gospel in the book of Acts, they turn to the Old Testament to show how the same Lord who appeared in many and various ways throughout the Torah of Moses and the prophets has now appeared in the flesh. This is Paul's strategy as he catechizes the Jews in Rome as well. Being a good apologist, and knowing his audience, Paul goes to the Old Testament to argue, persuade, and convince his Jewish hearers that Jesus is the Christ. When Paul says, like he does in Romans, that Jesus is Lord, he's saying that the Lord of the Old Testament is the same Lord who became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. The same Lord who met Abraham under the oaks of Mamre is the same Lord who was born under the Law to redeem us under the Law and to become the curse for us by dying on the tree. The same Lord who met Moses in the burning bush now meets us by becoming one with us, Immanuel, God with us. The same Lord who appeared and spoke to the prophets has now appeared as the Word made flesh. And this same Lord who is present in the books of Moses and the prophets is now the same Lord present for you in all the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. And the prophets, apostles, and evangelists continue to bear witness to Christ crucified and risen for you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.If Christ had not been raised from death Our faith would be in vain, Our preaching but a waste of breath, Our sin and guilt remain. But now the Lord is ris'n indeed; He rules in earth and heav'n: His gospel meets a world of need– In Christ we are forgiv'n. (LSB 486:3)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

August 5, 2025 Today's Reading: Colossians 3:1-11Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 19:1-24; Acts 28:1-15“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:3-4)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Springtime rolls around on the calendar, and you take a handful of pumpkin seeds, dig a hole in the garden, drop the seeds in the earth, and bury them. It's a funeral of sorts. The seed dies in the earth, but there's life hidden in the seed as well. Before long, the seed sprouts, vines grow, leaves burst out, and that first orange pumpkin appears.This annual gardening pattern is a picture of what Paul teaches us in Colossians. Being the Master Gardener that he is, God likes to hide things as well, burying them in the ordinary things of life. On Sunday morning your pastor—and fellow sinner/saint—stands before the congregation uses ordinary human words, sentences, and grammar, and yet hidden in those words is a gracious declaration of Good News: “In the stead and by the command of my Lord I forgive you all your sin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Later on in the Divine Service, you approach the altar, kneel, open your mouth, and reach out your hand to receive a plain, ordinary wafer of bread, and you drink from a cup full of wine. And yet, hidden in these earthly things is more than meets the eye: Jesus' Body and Blood and his promise of forgiveness. The same is true in Holy Baptism. The pastor takes good old H2O from a faucet, pours it in a bowl, splashes and empties it over your head. And hidden in and with the water is God's promise, pardon, and peace. Through these gifts of words, water, bread, and wine, God is hiding his goodness and grace for you in the ordinary gifts of creation, and in turn, he ensures that your life is like that pumpkin seed you plant in the garden. Your life is hidden with Christ. In Holy Baptism, he buries you with Christ and raises you to new life in Christ, so that one day, when the Gardener returns on the Last Day, he'll do for you what he did in his own resurrection on the third day. Like the seed that is tossed in the earth and later gives life, when Christ our Lord returns, he who is the firstfruits and the firstborn from the dead will return to bring you new life and bring you into the new creation.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Death has lost its old dominion, Let the world rejoice and shout! Christ, the firstborn of the living, Gives us life and leads us out. Let us thank our God, who causes Hope to spring up from the ground; Christ is risen, Christ is giving Life eternal, life profound. (LSB 479:3)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

August 4, 2025Today's Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 18:10-30; Acts 27:27-44“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.C.S. Lewis once said, “God likes matter; he invented it.” And once you open up the Bible, it doesn't take you long to discover exactly how true that is. God is a God of means. God gave Adam and Eve every tree of the garden to eat, except for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Even in their sin, guilt, and shame, God used something else of his creation—the skin of a sacrificed animal—to clothe them. God sent the animals two by two to Noah, who built an ark. God fed manna and quail to Israel in the wilderness. God gave atonement and forgiveness through the flesh and blood and sacrifices of the tabernacle and temple. God is a God of means who loves to use the matter he created to bless and serve his creatures with his good Gifts.Solomon knows that God is a God of means. Although God is heavenly, high, and holy, he also loves his creation, comes down to his creatures, and uses the stuff of his creation to bless his people in body and soul. Food. Drink. Rest. These simple, ordinary, daily things are gifts from God's hand. This is what we pray for in the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer: give us this day our daily bread. So, when you eat breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this is from the hand of God. When you put on your socks or sport mode your Crocs, this is from the hand of God. But that's not all that comes from God's hand. God is a God of means at his table as well. God takes his extraordinary grace and mercy and gives it to us in the ordinariness of water, human speech, a piece of bread, and a cup of wine. God still likes matter, and he uses it to bring you the Gifts that matter the most: forgiveness, grace, mercy, peace, and joy. The water poured over your head at Baptism was from the hand of God. The words of Good News given to you in Scripture and Absolution are from the hand of God. The bread and cup placed in your hand, Jesus declares is his Body and Blood for you; this, too, is from the hand of God. After all of that, what else is there to do but to eat, drink, and rejoice in the labors of Christ for you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In what You give us, Lord, to do, Together or alone, In old routines or ventures new, May we not cease to look to You, The cross You hung upon– All you endeavored done. (LSB 853:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

August 3, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 12:13-21Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:48-18:9; Acts 27:9-26“And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.” (1 Samuel 17:49)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When we picture God going into his armory to find the right weapons to fight for and rescue his people, we might picture something like John Wick's request for guns…lots and lots of guns—or Iron Man climbing into the Hulkbuster or Batman going into the Batcave and hopping into the Batwing. But God's weaponry quite often looks different than how we would imagine it, and his way of fighting his enemies is even more unexpected.The story of David is a classic example. Saul's men try to outfit him with the latest armor, sword, and shield like he's gearing up to play Call of Duty. But God has something better in mind. Rocks. That's right. David takes five smooth stones and his sling onto the battlefield where Goliath rages, taunts, and defies God. But no sooner does Goliath, the enemy of God's people, issue a challenge than God throws down a gauntlet of his own, launched straight from the arm of his servant, David. That's one small stone for David, one giant slayed by a stone to the noggin. This isn't the last time God would defeat his enemies with unlikely weaponry, nor is it the last time God would use a rock to hurl defeat at his enemies. David's Son and David's Lord, Jesus, works with the same battle tactic in the New Testament as he did in the Old. He wraps himself not in the finest bronze armor, but in human flesh. He wields the sword of his word against Satan in the wilderness. Then, in the climactic battle on Golgotha, he slays the dragon, not with five stones, but with wood and nail and blood and death. Jesus overcomes death by death, letting death overcome him. Jesus battles and wins the victory over our sin by becoming sin for us. Jesus, the Son of David, slays Goliath by hurling the stone of his empty tomb wide open in resurrected victory three days later.But the Lord doesn't stop there. He marches straight into this fallen world to arm you for your daily battle against the devil, the world, and your sinful flesh. And once again, he equips you with the most unlikely, yet the most powerful of weapons, his word, his robe of righteousness, his forgiveness, Baptism, and Body and Blood. And in these Gifts, given to you by our Lord and Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly armies, you stand firm and victorious.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer; Great Captain now Thine arm make bare, Fight for us once again! So shall Thy saints and martyrs raise A mighty chorus to Thy praise Forevermore Amen. (LSB 666:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

August 2, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 8 - Psalm 49:7-8, 13-14a, 15; antiphon: Psalm 49:1-2Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:20-47; Acts 26:24-27:8“But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” (Psalm 49:15)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In Perelandra, the second book in C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy, the main character is sent to the planet Perelandra (what we call Venus) to save that planet from the kind of temptation and Fall that happened on the silent planet (what we call Earth). As the story begins, the man is sealed into and later arrives on Perelandra in a coffin-like spacecraft. And who exactly is this character who flies through the celestial vault in a casket, only to arrive at an unfallen planet and rescue it? A most fitting name: Ransom. The story Lewis tells us of Ransom's cosmic adventure and rescue of Perelandra is a beautiful picture of the true story of ransom in our own world. What the Psalmist sings about in Psalm 49 is God's rescuing and redeeming work of ransom. If God were to come to earth, we might imagine that he would do so in some spectacular way, perhaps a spaceship that would put the Millennium Falcon or the U.S.S. Enterprise to shame. Perhaps God would come faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. But Look! Behold! Not up, but down. Our Ransom comes from above, but is found below. So don't look up at the stars through a telescope, but look through your ears to the manger. God, our Ransom, comes to save us, not in a spacecraft, but wrapped in swaddling cloths and cooing and wiggling in the arms of the Virgin Mary. His name is Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. His name is Ransom, for he will pay for your sins with every drop of his blood on the cross.What the Psalmist sings - God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol - takes place in the manger of Bethlehem and the cross outside Jerusalem. After all, God's work of Ransom doesn't happen once upon a time, or in a galaxy far, far away. But in the days of Caesar, when all the Roman world was taxed and when Quirinius was governor of Syria, and when Pilate washed his hands. And the good news is this: your ransom is no science fiction story; it's a fact. Under the darkness of a noonday night sky, Jesus gave his life as a ransom for you. And three days later, he walked out of the cold, dark expanse of the tomb to bring you new life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Since Christ has full atonement made And brought to us salvation Each Christian therefore may be glad And build on this foundation. Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead, Your death is now my life indeed, For You have paid my ransom. (LSB 555:6)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

August 1, 2025Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-19Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:1-19; Acts 26:1-23“David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul,but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.” (1 Samuel 17:14-15)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. God has a pattern of doing things in ways we least expect. Back in Genesis, who did God choose to be the bearer of the promise despite his not-so-brotherly love and deception? Not the older brother Esau, whom we'd expect, but instead, the younger, trickster brother, Jacob. And when it came time for Jacob to bless his twelve sons, who received the blessing that would carry on the promise of the coming Seed? Not the firstborn Reuben, like we would expect, but the fourth in line, Judah.Fast forward several hundred years later and a few more branches down the Messianic family tree, and you'll find God doing the same unexpected thing, choosing the same unlikely people to carry out his plan of salvation. This time, in 1 Samuel, it's David who was chosen by God, first to destroy Goliath, and then, later on, to become king. When God sent Samuel to anoint a new king, once again, he did something unexpected. God didn't choose the oldest son of Jesse, but the youngest. A shepherd boy. Taking no armor with him into battle - an unexpected military maneuver, and using a rather unlikely - but deadly - weapon, David struck down Goliath. And later on, this unlikely shepherd boy became the shepherd king of Israel. And yet, God's unexpected ways of accomplishing his salvation don't stop with David. David's Son and David's Lord carries on in the ancient tradition as God in the flesh continues to do unlikely things in unexpected ways, many of which mirror the first David. Jesus, the Son of David, is born in the city of David, Bethlehem. Jesus, like David, is anointed, not by Samuel, but by water and the appearance of the Holy Spirit, and the voice of the Father in the Jordan River. Jesus, like David says in Psalm 23, truly is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus, like David, slays his enemies in the most unlikely and unexpected way. Not with five smooth stones, but with four nails, a wooden cross, and one stone rolled away on the third day. Jesus, the Son of David, continues his unexpected ways of bringing salvation to you as well. He takes ordinary water and washes away sin. He speaks his word and forgiveness through fellow sinners. He puts his Body and Blood in bread and wine, where the cup of his grace overflows. God's pattern of doing things may be unexpected, but his ways are full of grace, mercy, and goodness which follow us all the days of our lives.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Hail! Hosanna, David's Son! Jesus, hear our supplication! Let Thy kingdom, scepter, crown, Bring us blessing and salvation, That forever we may sing; Hail! Hosanna to our King. (LSB 350:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

July 31, 2025 Today's Reading: Catechism: What is Confession?Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 16:1-23; Acts 25:13-27Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. (Explanation of What Is Confession, Luther's Small Catechism)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. One of the simplest ways that we learn to do things, for example, learn our ABCs and count our 123s, is when someone says them and then turns to us and says, "Now it's your turn. Repeat after me." Something like that happens when we come to God's gift of confessing our sins. When we open the Catechism and God's Word, one of the first things we learn is that there's a problem within each of us. We all have sin. Capital “S” sin. And we commit sins because of our sinful flesh - what Luther calls our Old Adam. So the Commandments teach us the truth, echoing God's word of law throughout the Scriptures. And what do they say? They say, “You are a sinner.” And what do we say back? Yes, you're right. I am a sinner. Lord, have mercy on me, a poor, sinful being. This is one of the things that happens whenever we confess our sins. We are simply saying back what God's Word says about our capital “S” sin and all our little (and not so little) sins we commit because of our sinful flesh. Thankfully, this isn't the only thing that happens when we confess our sins. As St. John reminds us, when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The same Lord who, by the working of the Holy Spirit, convicts us of our sin and moves us to confess that sin is the same Lord who, by his Son, Jesus, also forgives sin, both Capital S sin and all our sins. And because God is a gracious giver and an abundant forgiver, he gives His Gifts of forgiveness in more than one way. He washes away our sin in Baptism. He feeds us with forgiveness in the Lord's Supper. He speaks his forgiveness in his word. And he sends pastors as his messengers to deliver Good News: I forgive you all your sin. And that is the good news that Absolution brings: forgiveness of all your sin. And should you ever doubt God's forgiveness, or worry that your sin is too great, simply repeat the words your pastor says on Sunday, or ask him to repeat them for you: I forgive you all your sins, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord, on You I cast my burden - Sink it in the deepest sea! Let me know Your gracious pardon, Cleanse me from iniquity. Let Your Spirit leave me never; Make me only Yours forever. (LSB 608:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

July 30, 2025Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 15:10-35Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 15:10-35; Acts 24:24-25:12“Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.'” (1 Samuel 15:24-25)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Saul had sinned. He had failed to hear and heed the Lord's words when facing God's enemies. And Saul's sins had consequences. Because he rejected the Lord, the Lord would remove him from the throne, and eventually give the throne to David. When Saul sinned, God sent him a preacher to hold up the mirror of God's law and show Saul his sins. Samuel was the preacher God sent to Saul.God does the same for us, too. We sin. So often we fail to hear and heed God's word. So often we give in to God's enemies of sin, death, and the devil. Quite often, our sinful actions - though forgiven and absolved in Jesus and by your pastor - have consequences in this life too. God sends us preachers as well, to hold up the mirror of God's law and show us our sin - they're not Old Testament prophets like Samuel, but they do speak God's word like he did. God gives us pastors to preach God's word, to show us our sin, and to give us pardon.And that's one of the great differences between us and Saul. Saul was rejected from being king of Israel. But so that we would never be rejected, the true King of Israel, the Son of David, Jesus, was born, lived, suffered, died, and rose from the dead so that we would never be rejected. On the cross, he was forsaken and cut off so that in our sin we would never be forsaken or cut off from God's presence. He suffered his passion on the cross so that he would pardon our sin. For all the times we've failed to hear and heed God's word, Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father's will and did that for you. For all the times we've transgressed God's Commandments, Jesus kept every one of them for you. All God's commands are fulfilled in Jesus. He perfectly feared, loved, and trusted the Father, and he did that for you, too. All the punishment for sin, Jesus took on himself. Even sin itself, he bore for you on the throne of the cross, under the crown of thorns, all so that he could crown you with glory, grace, and goodness, now and forever.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord, may Your wounded hand impart Your healing to my broken heart; Your love alone can form in me A heart that serves You joyfully. (LSB 616:3)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

July 29, 2025 Today's Reading: Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19)Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 14:47-15:9; Acts 24:1-23“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As you approach the first drop-off on one of my favorite Disneyland rides, Pirates of the Caribbean, the animated skull and crossbones overhead roar out those famous, ominous words: “Dead men tell no tales.” According to St. Paul, there's something else dead men don't do - in fact, cannot do, and are unable and incapable of doing - and that's saving themselves. This is the reality of sin and our sinful flesh. Apart from Jesus, we're all the walking dead. We don't lie on the ground yelling out, “I'm not quite dead yet!” Not at all, says St. Paul. Apart from Jesus, we are dead in our trespasses. But did you notice what verb tense Paul uses to talk about our sin and death? Listen to it again. You who were dead. Past tense. It's true. Apart from Jesus, we were all dead men walking. But that's not the whole story. Something else happened in the past that changed our past, present, and future. It just so happens that God loves taking things that are lifeless and bringing them back to new, filling them with new life, and making them alive again. Remember the darkness and void of creation? God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. Remember Sarah and Hannah's barren wombs? God gave them both life where there was no life, and Isaac and Samuel were born. Remember Lazarus, dead in the tomb for four days? Jesus spoke the words: “Lazarus, arise!” And he walked out of his tomb. He was made alive again. So it is for us in our Baptism. We were all dead as a doornail in our trespasses and sin. But God made us alive together in Jesus. Want to guess how he did that? That's right, by going into death on the cross and entering the lifeless place of the tomb, and then, by rising again in resurrected new life on the third day. And in your Baptism, you are buried with Christ and raised with Christ. Apart from Jesus, we're dead, and we tell no tales. But in Jesus, we are made alive, and we sing for joy in Jesus, crucified and risen.After all, he's the one dead man - and risen from the dead man - who does tell tales. And the tale he tells is true. He is crucified and risen for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We thank You Christ; new life is ours, New light, new hope, new strength, new pow'rs. This grace our ev'ry way attend Until we reach our journey's end. (LSB 562:6)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.