Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Today's Reading: Romans 6:3-11 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 4:1-22; Acts 16:23-40 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you not know? Paul assumes that the baptized Christian faithful know what has happened to them. In Holy Baptism, you are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. They are literally given to you through water and Word. Cyril of Jerusalem preached a collection of sermons to the newly baptized in which he repeatedly told the people what had happened to them. Why? Because it is easy to forget! How quickly we forget what has happened at the font! Yet it is a reality which underpins our entire existence. You were crucified with Christ! You were put to death with Jesus! Gazing upon the crucifix, we behold not only our dying Lord, but our own death. Time folds in upon itself, and we are there with Him, and He is here with you. So then, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, i

Today's Reading: Exodus 20:1-17 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 3:1-21; Acts 16:1-22 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Exodus 20:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Ten Commandments are beautiful. They were given to the people of Israel, who had been liberated from slavery in Egypt and were being led through the wilderness into a land flowing with milk and honey, full of towns and habitations that they hadn't built but would be given. They were taken from nothing and were being given everything. They were taken out of death and put in to life. What does life look like for liberated slaves who are being given everything? The Lord knows what is best for them. When they come into the land that the Lord is giving them, this is what they should do and how they should live. In short, they should love God and love their neighbors, and everything will be beautiful and lovely. We sometimes trick ourselves into believing that things are accidentally bad, tha

Today's Reading: Matthew 5:17-26 Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 2:18-36; Acts 15:22-41 Everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, "You fool!" will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matthew 5:22) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It is a grave mistake to think that we can just do whatever we want because we'll be forgiven. Is there any serious Christian who actually thinks that they can give in to the passions and desires of their flesh and still claim citizenship in the kingdom of heaven? We are not antinomians, people who claim that the old laws no longer apply to Christians. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. The Law applies to you more than it ever did to anyone else. You thought it was enough just not to kill someone, but Jesus says that you have already murdered if you even insult someone! That seems a bit harsh doesn't it? Your mere words can be the same as murder! Perhaps you've been the subject of murderou

Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 6 (Psalm 28:1-2, 7; antiphon: v. 8-9) Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 1:21-2:17; Galatians 6:1-18 The LORD is my strength and my shield. (From the Introit for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Lord is everything. He is the strength of His people. He is our strength. He is our shield. The Lord is the source of our life and our defense against all that would harm us. David prays these things through Psalm 28 after having come close to death himself. It was not a rare thing for him to be near death! People were trying to kill David for much of his life. He knew that to be near death was to rely on nothing but the Lord's grace and mercy. There are times when we feel like we can't keep going. It is precisely in these times that we stop and pray that the Lord would listen. He has promised to hear the prayers of His people. We see the Lord's strength in our weakness. The ability to be brought low is a great skill which we learn throughout our lives (

Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 1:1-20; Galatians 5:1-26 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The opening chapter of Samuel belongs in a category all its own. It is nearly comedic. Hannah, who has not been able to bear children, is surrounded by men who can't understand her. She has rivals who irritate her because of her sad circumstances. She deals with these people year after year. Her husband doesn't understand her. Her priest doesn't understand her. The people who are supposed to be her friends do not understand her. The story would be cruel if the author did not know the ending. But he does, for Samuel himself seems to be the author of the first 25 chapters of this book. He is telling the story of his own birth, before which his mother was surrounded by fools who failed to understand her. She piously desired children, but no one offered any sympathy. This is the stuff of comedy, for it all ends well. Otherwise, it would just be another sad stor

Daily Lectionary: Judges 16:4-30; Galatians 4:12-31 Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The book of Ruth sits in between Judges and 1 Samuel as a wonderful little story about life during the time of the judges. Before Israel had a king, they had judges, people who were sent by the Lord every so often to restore them to faithfulness. The book of Judges has a poetic refrain: "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." The Lord had taken the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land. Yet they continually turned away from the Lord and towards the idols of the people in the surrounding countries. Who belongs to the Lord? Does it matter where you were born or who your parents are? What if you were born to a family who knows nothing of Jesus? The book of Ruth gives us these answers. The Lord brings His people to His truth, regardless of who they are. The people of Israel had a sort of dangerous security because of

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Lord's Prayer, Conclusion Daily Lectionary: Judges 15:1-16:3; Galatians 3:23-4:11 He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. (Small Catechism: The Lord's Prayer, Conclusion) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Prayer can be a strange thing. I don't know many Christians who are satisfied with their prayer lives. Either they pray and don't hear anything back, or they have trouble praying at all. It can be very difficult to pray if you're not sure that God will listen to you. So, we are tempted to neglect prayer. Why bother? We bother with prayer because Jesus has promised to hear us! He has even told us what to pray! Prayer from the heart, with words that you've come up with are good, but sometimes, we do not know what words to pray. The disciples also struggled with prayer. They noticed that Jesus was very good at it, so they asked Him to teach them (Luke 11:1). He responded by teaching them what we now know as the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's P

Today's Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-15 Daily Lectionary: Judges 14:1-20; Galatians 3:1-22 Always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christians can be weird. We've always been like this. From the very beginning, people noticed that we are different. Tertullian, a Christian living in the second and third centuries, wrote to the Roman authorities, defending Christians. He says that people used to insult Christians, saying, "See how they love one another." We gathered money for the weak and poor. We adopted children who had been abandoned. We opened hospitals to care for the sick. We weren't looking for personal wealth or great fame. People noticed that Christians looked out for the weakest people, and cared little about their own comfort. Many of the earliest Christian writers after the New Testament era sent letters to suspicious governmental authorities. People like Justin Martyr and Augustine of Hippo enga

Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19:11-21 Daily Lectionary: Judges 13:1-25; Galatians 2:1-21 After the earthquake, a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (1 Kings 19:12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How often do we look or wait for some obvious and huge sign from God? Wouldn't it be easier if we just had some loud and significant indication that the Lord was real? You've heard people say things like, "I just need a sign, and then I'll believe!" The Lord did many great works through the prophet Elijah. Elijah had witnessed amazing thing after amazing thing: miracles, endless supplies of oil and flour, resurrection, even fire called down from heaven consuming massive piles of sacrificial animals! He saw it all! Yet he runs and is afraid for his life. The Lord had shown Elijah great wonders demonstrating His power and might, but he was afraid of mere humans who wanted his death. How is it possible that someone who had seen these great signs would still flee and co

Today's Reading: Luke 5:1-11 Daily Lectionary: Judges 7:1-23; Galatians 1:1-24 We toiled all night and took nothing. (Luke 5:5) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Fishing techniques have changed little over the centuries. Peter, James, and John worked all night long and had nothing to show for it. Anyone who has fished knows exactly what that means! Your hard work does not necessarily correspond with any sort of result. The hardest physical work I've ever done was on a fishing boat. Whether I worked hard or took a nap mattered little to the fish in the sea. They either swam into the net or didn't. My work had little to do with that. They were either there or they weren't. This is exactly how it goes in the Kingdom of God. Have you toiled all night, all day, or for your whole life, and feel like you've got nothing to show for it? Your friends and family see your work, and still don't care about Jesus? Worse yet, do you feel that perhaps you aren't as solid in your faith as you'd like to be? Are you worried about

Today's Reading: Introit for Fifth Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 27:1a, 11-12, 14; antiphon: v. 7, 9b) Daily Lectionary: Judges 6:25-40; Acts 15:6-21 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (From the Introit for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This Introit encourages us to wait for the Lord. When the wicked are causing mischief, don't punish them yourself. Wait for the Lord. When you see sickness and suffering, and when you feel death looming near, don't despair. Wait for the Lord. Whatever the problem is, wait for the Lord. Waiting can be difficult. The wait is not fun. One of the reasons we struggle with waiting is that we lack faith. When the Introit tells us to wait on the Lord, it is inviting us to trust God, to believe that He will show up and help us. But that's just the problem. I find myself doubting God's promises – I doubt that He will answer my prayers, that He will provide for me, and that He will rescue me. Jesus had to w

Daily Lectionary: Judges 6:1-24; Acts 14:19-15:4 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Many today think that having a pastor is optional. Some even think that it isn't even a very good option. I mean, I can pray and read my Bible without someone fresh out of seminary poking his nose into my business, and those pastors are such a strain on the budget anyway. The apostles didn't think pastors were optional or that they were a burden. After Paul and his fellow missionaries established a congregation, they appointed elders or presbyters. That's what they called pastors back then, and this wasn't just an idea the apostles came up with. According to Paul, Jesus gave pastors to His Church (Ephesians 4:11). Jesus trained the very first pastors – the Twelve. Your pastor is a gift. Yes, you have a Bible, but your pastor can help you interpret it. He can warn you about

Daily Lectionary: Judges 4:1-24; Acts 14:1-18 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:17) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Bible tells us that God reveals Himself to all humans through nature. For example, God testifies to His existence and power through the existence of the universe and the complexity of all things. God testifies to His goodness by giving people rain and good harvests. This natural revelation is good, but sinful hearts are not. Natural revelation makes us inclined to acknowledge something transcendent and to worship. What do sinners do with such revelation? They worship idols. God testifies to His goodness through His temporal gifts, but Adam's sin brought sickness, natural disasters, and death into the world. Sinful hearts are always skeptical about God. Sinners conclude that God is good to some people, but cruel to others. You'd better get on God's good

Daily Lectionary: Judges 3:7-31; Acts 13:42-52 What does this mean? We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, gives us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven. (The Small Catechism: The Lord's Prayer, Seventh Petition) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Whenever I pray the Lord's Prayer and I come to this final petition, I always make the sign of the cross upon myself. I cross myself to remind myself and to confess to others how I can pray these words with such confidence. The Cross was the place where evil was depleted of its power. Sin lost its power over us. Yes, we sin and deserve punishment, but Jesus has already been punished in our place. Death has lost its power. Jesus died, but then He reversed it. The devil is bound and imprisoned. He can bark, but he has no teeth. He cannot accuse the forgiven and he cannot frighten th

Today's Reading: Romans 8:18-23 Daily Lectionary: Judges 2:6-23; Acts 13:13-41 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:20-21) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our God isn't merely interested in rescuing disembodied souls. God is determined to rescue bodies. Jesus was raised from the dead, in order to rescue you from death. That means that God will raise you from the dead on the Last Day. Disembodied souls can live in a non-material place, but bodies cannot. Bodies need earth beneath their feet. Your body is connected to this earth. Your body is made from earth and your purpose is to care for the earth. Reread the first chapters of Genesis. Where will God's people live after Judgment Day? Heaven is not your home, but the earth is. The Garden of Eden was a preview of God's original intention – merging heaven

Today's Reading: Genesis 50:15-21 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 24:1-31; Acts 13:1-12 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The book of Genesis records a lot of sins: Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, Abraham tried to create an heir through his slave girl, Jacob stole a blessing from his blind and dying father...the list goes on. None of these sins is excusable. Still, you could argue that while some of these people did the wrong things, it was with good intentions or worthy goals. You cannot say that about the sin of Jacob's sons, however. They sold Joseph into slavery and, as Joseph said, they intended evil. God took their evil and brought good out of it. Indeed, God took all the sins recorded in Genesis and brought about good. Human evil cannot prevent God from achieving His gracious plans. He will bless these sinners in spite of their sins. This God wh

Today's Reading: Luke 6:36-42 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 23:1-16; Acts 12:1-25 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The motto, "Deeds, not creeds," is not only utter nonsense (the motto itself is a creed, after all), but it is also utterly unchristian. The Christian faith is all about creeds. In Luke 9:20 Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" The world might admire Jesus and speak highly of Him, but true disciples confess the truth about Jesus. Indeed, the entire Bible is about what Jesus does: He became man for you, He obeyed the Law, He was crucified for your sins, and He was raised for your justification. That creed is the heart of Christianity. What makes the motto really silly is that it fails to see that creeds create deeds. What you believe affects what you do. Hence, Jesus tells His disciples to be merciful, but not simply to practice any kind of mercy. They are to practice the mercy of their heavenly Father! This presumes, of course

Today's Reading: Introit for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity (Psalm 27:3-4a, 5; antiphon: v. 1-2) Daily Lectionary: Joshua 10:1-25; Acts 11:19-30 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? (From the Introit for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In a sense, our problems are manifold. The devil tempts and accuses us. The world threatens us. We try to avoid pain, suffering, and death, but trouble has a way of finding us and death cannot be avoided forever. We are our own worst enemy. We have to struggle with our own depression, fears, anxieties, and guilt. All of that is true, but there is one problem that outweighs them all – the judgment of God. Think about it. If God is on your side and delights in you, then you have nothing to fear. The devil and the world are no match for the Almighty. God can resurrect the dead. He can forgive your sins and give you worth. On the other hand, if God is opposed to you, then you are doomed. God is a far greater enemy than the

Today's Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-11 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 8:1-28; Acts 11:1-18 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Christians should expect suffering in this life. The devil is prowling, seeking to devour God's people. The devil tries to destroy the faith of Christians by means of persecution. He increases the world's hostility against the Church. The world will punish Christians for their allegiance to Jesus. The Christian might lose respect and status, family and friends, money and possessions, his rights and freedom, and, in some cases, his life. The only way to escape this cross is to renounce Jesus and leave the Church. That's what the devil wants you to do. Peter encourages us to remain firm in the faith. He reminds us that we are not suffering alone. We are suffering along with the entire Body of Christ. Indeed, there are plenty of Christians around the wor

Today's Reading: Luke 1:39-56 Daily Lectionary: Joshua 7:1-26; Acts 10:34-48 "For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." (Luke 1:44) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Annunciation (March 25) is the day that the Christian Church celebrates Gabriel's visit to the Virgin Mary and the conception of Jesus in Mary's womb. The Visitation is the day on which the Church remembers when Mary visited her old and pregnant relative, Elizabeth, hence the name "Visitation." This is a unique event, in that this is the first time that John the Baptist and Jesus meet (albeit within the wombs of their respective mothers). Also, this is the first time John confesses that Jesus is the Messiah. He leaps with joy in Elizabeth's womb, having been filled with the Spirit. This is no clump of cells inside Elizabeth's womb. It is a baby, capable of leaping and feeling joy. It is a baby, capable of receiving God's Spirit. And in Mary's womb there is another baby – the Lord, who