November 25, 2024

Today's Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 5:1-30; Daniel 7:1-8:27; Revelation 21:9-27

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. (Daniel 7:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The scriptures are the inspired and inerrant Word of God. They are infallible, meaning they cannot be wrong. They are the way in which God reveals Himself to us, as well as His redemption of our fallen world. Another thing, though, is this: the Bible is flat-out cool. The more you study the scriptures, the more I am convinced you would agree. Many people think about the Bible, and their opinion is that it’s an old book full of rules. Even many Christians rarely crack open their Bible that is collecting dust because the reality is they see it as too challenging, or even worse, boring. The Scriptures are anything but boring! They are a divine masterpiece. The Scriptures are cool.

Why use a word that is almost underwhelming? Because it’s true. The way the scriptures are constructed and written will never cease to amaze. An example is here in Daniel, where a prophecy is written. A prophecy which is written hundreds of years before Christ is born. A prophecy that doesn’t point to Christ’s birth, death, or even His resurrection, but a prophecy that points to His return. A prophecy that Christ speaks of before the Jews when He is arrested and a prophecy that He will one day fulfill. We have the privilege of reading the scriptures as people who live in the Last Days because we can be certain that the Bible is all about Jesus. Every page is dripping with Christ and His love for us—Old and New Testament.

The scriptures point to Christ and Him crucified. They reveal God’s love for you in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Let them become a part of you. Be diligent in reading them, not as a law or a way to become more Holy, but because they reveal Christ. They reveal that on account of Christ, you are holy and righteous in His sight. This has been God’s plan from the beginning. God created with the end in mind. There are no mistakes in these scriptures. Instead, they perfectly reveal Christ, who saves you, and that is cool.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Thy strong word did cleave the darkness; At Thy speaking it was done. For created light we thank Thee; While Thine ordered seasons run. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end! (LSB 578:1)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 24, 2024

Today's Reading: Mark 13:24-37

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 4:1-37; Revelation 21:1-8

Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. (Mark 13:35-36)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I was recently looking at my calendar. It is a busy time of year. I was looking at the weeks and months ahead as Advent approaches, then as Christmas comes, then the new year. There are a lot of things to do in the near future. Things are planned even months or years ahead. Vacations, life milestones, graduations, you name it. Here’s the thing: if you are like me, you are certain those days will come, that they will happen, and there is no doubt that tomorrow the sun will rise. We’ve gotten comfortable. It’s almost as if we as a church have fallen asleep or, at the very least, dozed off.

The hard truth is that for many, the imminent return of Christ is not prevalent in how life is lived. Most people do not think that Christ will return tomorrow or that Christ will return soon. Instead, it is some far-off event that will happen years after our lifetime. This is understandable—the church has been waiting for the return of Christ for nearly two thousand years. By our standards, that is a long time to stay watchful, to stay waiting, and to stay vigilant. It is easy to doze off into a slumber when boredom sets in. So, allow this to be a wake-up call. Stay awake.

The day is drawing near. Every time we wake up to a new day, we are one day closer to the Last Day when Christ will return, a day that is not to be feared but to be excited about. Instead of waiting in boredom, wait in anticipation, for the day Christ returns, all things will be made new. The day Christ returns, death will be swallowed up forever. The day when Christ returns, there will be no more sorrow but eternal joy. The day when Christ returns, all believers will be raised to Paradise. That sounds exciting, doesn’t it? It’s hard to sleep when you are excited. So, look to Christ’s return as something to look forward to, and that will make it hard to fall asleep.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, so govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 23, 2024

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 27 - Psalm 39:4-5a, 7-8, 12a; antiphon: 2 Peter 3:13b

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 3:1-30; Revelation 20:1-15

“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! (Psalm 39:4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

When my wife and I had our first child, we received all sorts of advice. Some advice we asked for, some we didn’t. People are funny that way. They like to give advice as if to bring meaning to their experiences, but I realize something now as my first child turns five and is preparing for kindergarten: they were right. The advice we often received was, “Don’t blink; they grow up fast,” and they were right. I wonder now if their desire to give advice came from a place of regret or grief. They blinked, and their children were grown, just like I blinked and my oldest prepares for Kindergarten. The psalmist gives words to this. God shows us in many ways how short our lives are, how quickly time passes, and how soon death approaches. One thing is certain: regardless of how old you are, dear reader, life is fleeting.

While it seems like this is simply a reality you must face, it can serve a greater purpose in the life of the Christian. Allow it to be a call to you, a call to repent and to turn back to the Father who loves you. Why? Because all sinners have the propensity to get distracted and caught up in trivial things. Time is wasted on reading news articles about Fantasy Football, hours slip by while you scroll on your phone to look into people's lives whom you do not know, and days drift away while you attend your children’s tournaments that consume their entire childhood. The list goes on. We waste a lot of time on trivial things. There is this sense that there is time for the important things, but right now isn’t that time. There is time to hear God’s word, but it can wait for now. There is time to receive His Gifts, but it isn’t today. There is time to confess Jesus as Lord, but not until you're older and death is more real.

Don’t be a fool. Life is truly fleeting. Life is short. God is near. Do not waste time on trivial things. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying: it is okay to play some sports, enjoy some entertainment, and even play some Fantasy Football, but don’t let it consume you. Don’t let it become your god. Carve out time in your life for the more pressing things. Do not put God in the “to be done later” pile of things on your schedule. Honor the Sabbath by going to church to rest in His care and receive the Good News of Jesus dead, resurrected, and ascended for you. Rest in the presence of God and His mercy. Feed on his word day after day. A day will come (if it hasn’t already) when God will remind you that your life is truly fleeting, and on that day, you will cry out to the Lord, and He will answer. His answer is in Christ, the crucified one. He will hear you. And He will speak words of comfort and life to you. For in Him, life is not fleeting; it is everlasting.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Death's power holds us still in thrall And bears us toward the tomb. Death’s darkening cloud hangs like a pall That threatens earth with doom. But You have broken death’s embrace And torn away its sting. Restore to life our mortal race! Raise us, O Risen King! (LSB 552:4)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 22, 2024

Today's Reading: Daniel 2:24-49

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 2:24-49; Revelation 19:1-21

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever (Daniel 2:44)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

History reveals that even the mightiest nations, no matter how long they reign, no matter how much they prosper, rise and fall like waves raging in a sea. It seems that no kingdom is immune to one day crumbling. The great nations of history are proof of this. The Mongols, Romans, Ottomans, and Persians are all examples of this. There was a time when it was said that the sun didn’t set on the Roman empire, but eventually, it would. The once mighty Rome would crumble and become simply a footnote in the annals of history. This is how it goes with kingdoms made by the hands of men. Just like everything, sin infects and causes even the firmest of foundations to decay. Leaders become corrupt, those who serve to keep order abuse their authority, and greed gets a stranglehold on the best of us. Eventually, the infection kills.

Daniel speaks of such things in this dream that he interprets. While it talks about a specific group of nations, nothing has changed. But with this word of law comes a promise that in a world where nations rise and fall, where sinners rule and reign, there will come a kingdom that will conquer all. There will come a kingdom that is holy and righteous, and this kingdom will have no end but instead will endure forever. This kingdom is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom that Christ will bring with Him, the one that He begins to usher in at His incarnation, the kingdom which He fights for in His death, the kingdom He secures in His resurrection, and the kingdom He rules since His ascension.

This kingdom has yet to be fulfilled. It will come to completion when Christ returns on the Last Day. This kingdom will be a kingdom where there is no more death, pain, or tears. It will be glorious. Until that day, though, the kingdom of God is established through Christ’s church. It rules with the Gospel, the preaching and teaching of Jesus, who died and was resurrected. It wars against sin, death, and the devil through Word and Sacrament. Christ’s church brings about this kingdom one Baptism at a time. One day, Christ will return, and all who believe will dwell in His kingdom forever.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O sweet and blessed country, The home of God’s elect! O sweet and blessed country That faithful hearts expect! In mercy, Jesus, bring us To that eternal rest With You and God the Father And Spirit, ever blest. (LSB 672:4)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 21, 2024

Today's Reading: Catechism - Table of duties: To Youth

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 2:1-23; Revelation 18:1-24

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you (1 Peter 5:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

When you are a “youth,” it can be a difficult time of life. There is a lot going on in your world. You strive to navigate the ever-changing world. You go through changes emotionally and physically. You try to navigate the halls of schools, the social scene, and then, of course, the sort of coming of age in finding yourself, whatever that means. The world will heap expectations on you and upon your shoulders. You will carry the weight of the future with you every step of the way, and it can be a heavy load to bear. There are a lot of expectations for the youth of every generation. There can also be a lot of arrogance.

Generational conversations often look like this: the older generations tell the younger generations how wrong and lazy they are, and the younger generations tell the older generations how they screwed up the world they are entering into. It is easy to think that as a youth, you know better than your elders; after all, you understand the latest trends, you understand technology and its advances, and you understand the new lingo that is being used in conversation. You feel like you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, and once you are in charge when you’re older, the world will finally be the way it ought to be.

This isn’t everyone's experience, but there is a warning. It can be easy to fall into arrogance when you are young. You may not think you need the words of those who are older than you and who have lived life longer than you. You might not think you need God’s word, that you will be just fine on your own. My dear brothers and sisters who read this do not believe this lie. Instead, humble yourselves before God, to His Word of law and instruction, and the word of his freeing Gospel. Find yourselves in Him, in who He has declared you to be, His child. Walk in His ways and learn the scriptures. Instead of following your heart, follow Jesus because when you follow Jesus, it leads to eternal life and eternal joy. When you follow the ways of the world, it leads to death and torment. So, humble yourselves before God, and he will lift you up.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Law of God is good and wise And sets His will before our eyes, Shows us the way of righteousness, And dooms to death when we transgress. (LSB 579:1)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 20, 2024

Today's Reading: Matthew 28:1-20

Daily Lectionary: Daniel 1:1-21; Matthew 28:1-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It’s only been a few weeks since the election. This is being written months before it ever takes place, but that doesn’t change the message. Elections always end up the same way: there is a winner and a loser. There will be people who rejoice and people who are angry, sad, and maybe even afraid. There will be people who will think their savior has come and those who think doom has come. Maybe you don’t pay too close attention to elections, maybe you do, maybe they bring you anxiety and fear, or maybe you feel uncertain about the future. Well, if so, Jesus brings you Good News. Regardless of which nations rise and which nations fall, Jesus Christ is the King on the throne.

Christ has all authority not only in heaven but on earth as well. Christ has made the world his footstool, and He is the Lord over all things. But unlike the leaders of this world, elected or not, He is not a greedy ruler. He is not cruel, He is not selfish, He is not corrupt, and He does not fall in any other way to sin that affects those who hold the office or those who rule. Instead, Jesus is gracious. He is merciful, He is just, He is gentle, He is perfect, He is eternal. To confess that Christ is king is a confession of confidence and hope. Jesus is the Lord over your life, and He is a good and gracious Lord.

One can imagine the disciples were rather anxious about going out into the world after Jesus ascended into heaven. Their teacher, master, and Lord left them alone on that hilltop following the great commission. Yet, they would go into the world clinging to the promise He gave them. They would go on teaching and preaching the Good News of Jesus before hostile rulers, councils, emperors, and more. They would go on confessing Jesus Christ and Him crucified, holding to the promise that He made them. They would know that Christ the King would be with them always, to the end of the age, because He promised them. This is who Christ is: He is the Lord of all, the Lord who keeps his promises. To all people, and Christ keeps his promises to you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Christ be my leader by night as by day; Safe through the darkness for He is the way. Gladly I follow, my future his care, Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there. (LSB 861:1)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 19, 2024

Today's Reading: Hebrews 10:11-25

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 38:1-28; Jeremiah 39:1-44:30; Matthew 27:57-66

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Being a Christian is not as easy as some may think. The world rejects the Gospel of Jesus. In some places, it is outlawed; in others, it is frowned upon; in our own nation, it is no longer the cultural force it used to be. The church in America faces new challenges as it loses some of the privileges it once had. Yet, there is no reason to fear. Christ will sustain His church no matter what it looks like. He is Lord over all. Yet, as you go through life following Jesus, there is no doubt that fear, anxiety, and struggle will greet you. Satan will poke at your wounds, whisper poisonous lies in your ears, and remind you of old sins that have been forgiven. He will assault you relentlessly, especially those who follow Christ. This is all the more reason to heed the words of Hebrews, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

Christ has conquered all things. He has conquered the sin Satan throws in your face, He has conquered death that awaits you, and He has conquered the devil himself. He has kept His promises, of that you can be sure. Yet, if you find yourself doubting, go to church and, along with your fellow brothers and sisters, hear the promises of Jesus spoken and proclaimed. This church spurs one another along in love and good works, prays and cares for one another, and rejoices and weeps with one another. Do not try to stand against sin, death, and the power of the devil alone, but instead stand with Christ and all the faithful.

So, do not forsake the gathering together of the church. Do not forsake attending the Divine Service on Sundays. The less you go, the more weak spots you have, the more lies you’ll believe, and you’ll forget the forgiveness Christ has won for you. Instead, run to the house of the Lord as often as possible. Go and have your sins forgiven by your Pastor in Christ’s stead, receive Christ’s true Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Altar, and rest assured in the promises of Jesus. This world is rough, life is difficult, and the burdens can be heavy, but Jesus will lead you on. He will carry the load, and He will invite you to rest.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We share our mutual woes, We pour our ardent prayers; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. (LSB 649:3)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

November 18, 2024

Today's Reading: Daniel 12:1-3

Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 37:1-21; Revelation 17:1-18; Matthew 27:33-56

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Here, at the end of Daniel, we have yet another vision of what the end times will bring— something that tends to bring many people fear and trepidation. But for the Christian, there is a beautiful truth here in Daniel 12 of what awaits us. Now, I know there is a lot of preaching and teaching done proclaiming that the goal of the Christian life is to “die and go to heaven,” but this isn’t what Christ’s eventual return will bring. At least, not according to Daniel.

If we remember well enough, Daniel is filled with some of our favorite Bible stories. There is the account of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, who were thrown into the fiery furnace, only to be joined by a fourth person, and the fire left them miraculously unharmed. There is the account of Daniel praying, even though it was against the law and his punishment was to be thrown into a den filled with hungry lions, and God miraculously shut their mouths. But did you know that Daniel also has the account of Easter?

Of course, it isn’t the account of Jesus rising from the dead, but it points to the final Easter, the ultimate Resurrection when all who believe in Christ will be called out of their graves. This is the ultimate hope of the Christian life. To not only “die and go to heaven” but to be raised from the dead, body and soul reunited, being raised to new life wholly human. On Easter, Christ defeated death for all, and on the Last Day, death will be swallowed up forever. Only then will all creation be made new, and only then will every tongue confess, and every knee will bow. Daniel, so many years before Jesus is born, reveals to us the end, the goal. He reveals the Resurrection, your Resurrection. This is the end goal of the Christian life. In Baptism, we receive the Gift of heaven. When we die, we will rest in the arms of the Father, and on the Last Day, we will be raised from the dead in body and soul and will spend eternity in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

City of God, Easter forever, Golden Jerusalem, Jesus the Lamb, River of life, Saints and archangels, Sing with creation to God the I Am! Jesus is risen and we shall arise, Give God the glory! Alleluia! (LSB 474:5)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.