February 6, 2026

Today's Reading: Job 3:11-26

Daily Lectionary: John 1:35-51

“I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.” (Job 3:26)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Everyone has a bad day. Some days are worse than others. In fact, some are downright terrible. Job had one of these terrible times. He was robbed of his children, his possessions, even his health. The book of Job is often hard to read. He is utterly miserable, even longing for death. This is not easy stuff for us to hear or think about. And while preachers and teachers often hold up Job as a model of steadfast faith amid hardship, we should not overlook the depth of his despair.

Statistically speaking, many today feel just like Job. Anxiety and depression, even to the point of wishing for death, are increasingly common. Chances are, everyone reading this either knows someone who suffers from these afflictions or has struggled with them personally. What makes this kind of suffering so difficult is that it is not visible like a physical wound. There is no easy bandage or quick remedy for the grief of the heart and the anguish of the soul.

But the book of Job does not leave him wallowing in the dust. His friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar came to sit with him. They did not get everything right; they even made some things worse with their advice. But they came. They showed up. They sat in silence for seven days. And even in their imperfection, they remind us what Christian compassion can look like. We may not be able to fix a given situation or explain it, but we can show up.

Most importantly, God did not abandon Job. Though Job struggled, he never cursed God, because he knew, somehow, that God was still his Redeemer. And Job was right. In chapter 19, Job makes a bold confession: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.” He believed in the resurrection. He trusted in a Deliverer.

God does not promise us a life without suffering. In fact, He prepares us to expect it. But He does give us something even greater: Jesus Christ, who suffered in our place, endured the cross, and rose again. He meets us in our darkest days and leads us through death and despair to resurrection and life everlasting.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

When in the hour of deepest need we know not where to look for aid; when days and nights of anxious thought no help or counsel yet have brought, then is our comfort this alone that we may meet before Your throne; to You, O faithful God, we cry for rescue in our misery. For You have promised, Lord, to heed Your children’s cries in time of need through Him whose name alone is great, our Savior and our advocate. Amen. (LSB 615:1-3)

Rev. Christopher Brademeyer, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

February 5, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: Fourth Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Job 2:1-3:10; John 1:19-34

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Honor your father and your mother.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

The Fourth Commandment is simple to understand. Even small children know they should listen to their parents. The issue is not understanding, but rather obeying.

This should not be difficult. After all, this command includes a promise: a long and peaceful life in the land the Lord gives. And this truth is not hidden from our everyday experience. Where there is order, peace, and respect for authority, communities thrive. Where there is disobedience, rebellion, and lawlessness, there is often pain, instability, and ruin.

God has structured His creation with relationships of authority and submission, such as parents and children, teachers and students, employers and workers, and governments and citizens. We may try to flatten these differences in the name of equality, but the reality remains that we live in a world of hierarchy. This is by God’s design, and that design is good.

This is not to say every authority is perfect. No parent, pastor, teacher, or governor rules without flaw. Yet Scripture teaches that all legitimate authority is given by God to preserve order and serve the good of others. So, the Fourth Commandment does not only speak to children and citizens. It also calls those in authority to act with fairness, humility, and care for those under their authority. Leadership is not a license to dominate; it is a God-given duty to serve.

When authority works as God intends, it is a Gift. It brings stability, direction, and peace. Obedience to this commandment honors God because it reflects trust in the order He has established for our good.

Still, we must admit that we have not kept this commandment. We have rebelled against parents, scoffed at teachers, and disrespected officials. But where we fail, Christ does not. He submitted perfectly to His earthly parents and to His heavenly Father, even to death on a cross.

Because of Jesus, our disobedience is forgiven. In Baptism, we are raised to new life. God’s grace not only forgives our failures, but it also gives us the eyes to see that structure and authority are good Gifts given for our benefit and the benefit of those around us.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, as you honored your mother, Mary, and earthly father Joseph, help me to likewise honor, obey, love, and respect my father and mother. Teach me to love them as You have loved me and grant each of us to grow in faith and the knowledge of Your wholesome Word. Amen.

Rev. Christopher Brademeyer, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

February 4, 2026

Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5

Daily Lectionary: Job 1:1-22; John 1:1-18

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Christian life is a life of discipline. We do not let the passions of the flesh, our bodily desires and appetites, rule over us. We do not indulge every fancy or feeling we have. We certainly do not assume that whatever our inner selves want is automatically good and right. As Jesus says, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11).

St. Paul warns us here of the real spiritual danger in allowing our sinful desires to go unchecked. We must discipline ourselves. We must struggle daily against sin. We must drown the Old Adam, our sinful nature, in the waters of our Baptism every single day. And this is no mere lifestyle management. As Paul goes on to note, if we allow ourselves to grow complacent and let down our guard, we may find ourselves drifting away from the faith and forfeiting the promises given in Christ, just as not everyone who crossed the Red Sea entered the Promised Land.

This is a hard but necessary Word from God, spoken through the Apostle Paul. We are encouraged to fight the good fight, run the race faithfully, and remain diligent and watchful against sin and every form of evil in our own persons. We must resist the popular idea that doctrine is unimportant, that all religions are equally true, or that all our inborn desires are good and wholesome.

In a world that tells us to follow our hearts and trust our feelings, St. Paul reminds us that the Christian life is not about comfort, but cross-bearing. Discipline is not about self-perfection; it is about staying close to Jesus. And what is the reward of this disciplined life? The very salvation won for us by Christ. Not because our efforts earn this great gift, but because such discipline keeps our eyes fixed on the prize. It keeps us oriented away from this world and its countless distractions and our attention fixed on our Savior. We do not run aimlessly. We do not live without purpose. Our goal is Christ, the One who gave Himself for us and our forgiveness.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Let no false doctrine me beguile; Let Satan not my soul defile. Give strength and patience unto me to bear my cross and follow Thee. Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord, in death Thy comfort still afford. Amen. (LSB 708:2)

Rev. Christopher Brademeyer, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

February 3, 2026

Today's Reading: Exodus 17:1-7

Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 14:1-21; Titus 2:7-3:15

“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.’ And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.” (Exodus 17:6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It often seems that the more we have, the more we complain. Think of a child who gets everything he or she wants and still throws a fit in the toy store. We chuckle or roll our eyes at such a child, but if we are honest, we have all acted like that. Perhaps it was not in the toy aisle, but in our hearts, our homes, and even our prayers.

In modern life, especially in the United States, we are constantly surrounded by abundance. The average American household ranks among the top 1% of global income earners. We have homes, cars, phones, entertainment, food, and medicine in abundance. These gifts are things that previous generations could not even have seen in their sweetest of dreams. And yet we still find things to be dissatisfied about. Whether coveting a better job, a newer phone, more vacation time, or different people in our lives, we grumble, even when our lives are overflowing with gifts.

Spiritually speaking, this grumbling is not a small thing. It reveals that we are often ungrateful toward God. The Lord teaches us to pray for daily bread, and He provides it, but instead of giving thanks, we often complain that it is not the kind of bread we wanted. This is the sin of Israel in the wilderness. God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. He parted the Red Sea, fed them with manna from heaven, and led them by a pillar of cloud and fire. Yet they grumbled: “Why did you bring us out here to die? We miss Egypt!”

But God did something remarkable. He did not destroy His people. He did not send them back to Egypt. Instead, He gave them water from a rock, a miraculous sign of His grace and provision. And that rock, says St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:4, was Christ. He is the Rock from whom living water flows. He is the One who hears our complaints, bears our sins, and still gives us grace. Even for ungrateful people like us, He offers forgiveness and life. So repent of your grumbling. Return thanks to God. And drink deeply of the mercy that flows from Christ your Rock.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O my God, my rock and tower, grant that in Your death I trust, knowing death has lost its power since You crushed it in the dust. Amen. (LSB 421:6)

Rev. Christopher Brademeyer, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

February 2, 2026

Today's Reading: Luke 2:22-32 (33-40)

Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 12:1-13:9; Titus 1:1-2:6

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word” (Luke 2:29)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus’ earthly parents were devout, church-going people. Because they cared about God and His commands, they brought Jesus to the Temple to offer the sacrifice commanded in Leviticus 12:1-8. It seems that Joseph and Mary were not well off; Leviticus 12:8 says that two turtledoves or pigeons could be offered by those who cannot afford to offer a lamb. But this historical fact is not merely due to financial circumstances. Jesus does not need a lamb given for Him because He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

That is to say, Jesus Himself will be the great and final sacrifice to take away sin, undo the rule of the Devil, and overthrow death. None of this is by accident. God first promised this shortly after Adam and Eve sinned and were given the pronouncement of the curse. A Son of woman will come to crush the serpent, God said in Genesis 3:15. And this Son would do so by being struck by the powers of evil and their king, Satan. But they would not overcome Him.

And this was not a secret. Even though it seems like many people at the time missed this, the main purpose of Jesus’ ministry on earth, there were still those who heard this often-repeated promise in the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament: God will send a Man to save His people from sin and death.

This is why Simeon, when he recognized Jesus by the Holy Spirit, sang out that He is now able to depart in peace. The salvation, the long-hoped-for restoration and redemption of Israel, was now there in his arms in the Person of Jesus. And this Baby was no mere religious teacher or prophet; He is God in the flesh. In Christ, God Himself has come to us to save us by His death. For this reason, each of us Christians may depart in peace, the very peace of Christ.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty and ever-living God, as Your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, grant that we may be presented to You with pure and clean hearts; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Christopher Brademeyer, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

February 1, 2026

Today's Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 11:4-17; 2 Timothy 4:1-18

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

There are situations and things in life that force us to confront issues of fairness. Group projects are a common, though often unwelcome, example of this. It seems like there is always one person who does not do his or her fair share of the work and somehow gets the same grades as all of those who do put in the work. In a fair, just world, this would not happen. Each of us would be justly, fairly given what we earned. The hard workers would get better grades than the lazy ones who do not contribute much. In everyday life, this certainly seems like a fair way to do things.

But this is exactly the opposite of what Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of God. If we paid for our labor for God, what would we deserve? If we are being honest, we wouldn’t want what we deserve. After all, even our best works are still mixed in with our sinful condition. And while it is most certainly a great joy to do things that God wants us to do, we do not do them to get a greater reward from Him. Those who come into the Kingdom of God as little infants receive the same reward as those who come to faith in their last moments of life. And both receive the same wage: forgiveness of sins, salvation, and everlasting life through Jesus Christ the Savior.

This is unfair, but thanks be to God that it is! If we were given the just wage for our works, we would be given nothing except death and torment in Hell. But in Christ, we are not given what we deserve; we are given what He deserves. And, by faith, it is given to us. So we all, each of us, are given this great treasure of salvation, no matter how long or short our time as Christians is on this earth. And all of this, Jesus says, is not due to something in us or due to our efforts in the vineyard but is due solely because of our Father in heaven’s generosity. God wants you to have this great treasure and, because of Jesus, it is made available to all of us by His Word.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Christopher Brademeyer, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

January 31, 2026

Today's Reading: Introit for Septuagesima - Psalm 18:1-2a, 27, 32, 49; antiphon: Psalm 18:5-6a

Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 10:1-11:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-17

“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.” (Psalm 18:1-2a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

David had once soothed Saul’s troubled soul with his music (1 Samuel 16:23). Soon, though, Saul became suspicious of David and jealous of his successes. Jealousy soon turned to hatred, and Saul attempted to kill David on multiple occasions. But the Lord was with David and delivered him from Saul as he had delivered him from the lion, the bear, and the giant Goliath.

His response is a love Psalm. “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.” These words begin a litany of praise for God’s mighty works. The Psalm concludes, “For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name. Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever” (Psalm 18:49-50).

It’s such an important Psalm that Scripture records it twice: first, in the 18th entry of the book of Psalms, and second in 2 Samuel 22. Why the repetition? This Psalm, as with every other Psalm, is only secondarily a Psalm of David (or of any other author). The Psalms are primarily the songs of Jesus. He is the author by His Holy Spirit, and He has only lent these words to His forefathers in the flesh until the time that He takes them upon His lips.

Psalm 18 is important because it also speaks of the mightiest act of God: “the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears” (Psalm 18:5b-6). Psalm 18 sings of the resurrection. Where David only came near death, Jesus was ensnared by it. But as Jesus prayed Psalm 18, His Father, the Lord God Almighty, heard His voice, and He delivered Him from the grave on the third day.

There is no greater love than someone laying down His life for His friends. The Lord has laid down His life for you. He is the Rock who emerged from the tomb cut in the rock. He is the mighty fortress that stands strong against all foes. He is the deliverer from death and the grave.

I love You, O Lord.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Thee will I love, my strength, my tower; Thee will I love, my hope, my joy. Thee will I love with all my power, With ardor time shall ne’er destroy. Thee will I love, O Light divine, So long as life is mine. (LSB 694:1)

Author: Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

January 30, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: Third Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 9:1-17; 2 Timothy 2:1-26

“But what is meant by keeping it holy?” “Nothing else than to be occupied with holy words, works, and life.” (Large Catechism I 87)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The first holy day was the seventh day of creation. “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation” (Genesis 2:3). It was a holy day not because it was more special than the days that had preceded it. In fact, each of the first six days could be considered more special because of God’s wonderful creations on each day. The seventh day was distinct not because of the work God accomplished, but because of the Word He spoke. His blessing blessed His day of rest.

Whether it’s a day of rest or a day of work, a day is holy because it “is a day the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24) and a day in which God speaks and blesses. The government or other earthly institutions may declare some days to be holidays, but a true holiday (holy day) is the one that is made holy by God’s Word, whether the world recognizes it or not.

God makes a day a holy day, but we are commanded to keep it holy. The Large Catechism gives three ways that we keep the day holy.

First, we should be occupied with holy words. This begins with God’s Word. A day of rest isn’t purely to pursue leisure, but to clear room to attend the Divine Service, where God speaks publicly through the ministry of the church. And having received God’s holy Word, we then speak holy words. First in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to God for His great works. For when we rest, God goes to work in us to make us holy by His Word. And having been sanctified, we commit to sanctified speech with one another.

Second, we should be occupied with holy works. Holy works are not distinct from other works because of their quality, but because they are works performed by holy people. God sanctifies us by His Word, which also extends to our works. Yes, we still sin on account of the weakness of our flesh, but God continues to sanctify us and the things that we do by His mercy, forgiveness, and the gifts of His grace.

Finally, we should be occupied with a holy life. Holy words and works should not be sequestered to the time of worship—the holiness of God, which He imparts to us, should pervade our lives. We should be occupied by holy words and works every day. Thus, every day becomes a Sabbath Day made holy by God’s Word and blessing.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“You shall observe the worship day That peace may fill your home, and pray, And put aside the work you do, So that God may work in you.”Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:4)

Author: Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.