August 20, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: What sins should we confess?

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 12:1-25; 2 Samuel 13:1-19:43; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13

“Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’” (2 Samuel 12:7a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Put yourself in Nathan’s shoes. How’d you like it if God sent you to confront the most powerful man in the nation to call him out for a sin –a man who was a warrior who killed thousands of his enemies and had recently been involved in a murder? Nathan had tremendous courage, but also wisdom from on high.

Nathan’s approach to David offers a master class in how to rebuke sinners. He tells David a story about a rich man and a poor man and gets David angry to the point he exclaims that the rich man is guilty and deserves to die for stealing the poor man’s beloved little lamb. Nathan has him right where he wants him, then he springs the trap: “You are the man!” and he unloads on David for his great sins.

Nathan not only reveals all the evil David tried to cover up, he also begins to pronounce the punishment that God told him would ensue. Because he used the Ammonites to kill Uriah, they would never cease attacking him. The Lord would also raise up discord in David’s own house, and his wives would cheat on him, and it would be widely known.

As far as we know, this is the first time anyone tried to confront David for his sin. What would David do? Would he respond in rage and lash out at Nathan? David is an exceptional man in that, even though he had been deluded and engaged in so much evil, he also can now clearly see his sin and is ready to be done with it. Many people will double down and deny and retaliate when confronted, but to his credit, David humbles himself and confesses. And Nathan responds right away: “The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

God sent Nathan to David, not to put him down, but to save him. David was stuck in sin and living in unrepentance. That is the way that leads to death and damnation. God used Nathan to humble David and lead him to confess. Confession and humility is the way that leads to life. “But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Sinners who turn from their sins and seek help from God will receive forgiveness, and because of Jesus, we will live even though we die. But take note: forgiveness and eternal salvation does not mean we suffer no consequences for our actions in this life. God punished David severely for his actions. We, too, must face the consequences of our sins in this life, but Christ promises a day when we will be free from even this, when we will be like the angels in their innocence, and He will wipe every tear from our eyes.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Amen.

Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

August 19, 2026

Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

“But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” (2 Samuel 11:27b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

How could this happen? God said that David was a man after His own heart: David trusted God and was a model of faithfulness, honoring God in both word and deed. But in our passage today, we read how this same great king slept with the wife of one of his trusted warriors, impregnated her, and tried to cover it up with lies. Then, when deception wouldn’t work, he turned to murder. So, again: How could this happen?

The same way it almost always does. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15) It started with just one look. He saw a beautiful woman naked, and instead of looking away, he kept looking and started thinking. He started to wonder about and delight in the idea of something wicked. At some point, he also came up with a justification for himself. I imagine it went like this: I am the king. I should get to have any woman I want. I deserve this! And at that point, he said to his servant, Bring her to me.

David had several wives and concubines. He wasn’t starved for sexual attention. Though it may have started as lust, the real sin is greed (failing to be content with what you have been given). If he justified his actions the way I think he did, then it was ultimately driven by pride, accompanied by a sense of entitlement.

As we will see tomorrow, the consequences of David’s sins were enormous. So learn from his downfall. Don’t excuse small sins. Look away from those images on the screen. Do not delight in wicked things. Be content with what you have and do not think you are entitled to more. You, too, are capable of great evil if you let sin go unchecked. For King David, what started with one look later grew into murder. So, take heed lest you stumble. (1 Cor. 10:12)

The story of David’s fall is an important warning, but here’s something much more comforting: Christ Himself was tempted in every way as we are, yet was without sin. (Heb. 4:15) Where we and so many others have failed and given in to desire, Christ stood strong. He kept Himself holy and pure so He could offer Himself up as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. And that perfect sacrifice on the cross covers all sins -big and small- for those who trust in Him.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Should some lust or sharp temptation Fascinate my sinful mind, Draw me to Your cross and passion, And new courage I shall find. Or should Satan press me hard, Let me then be on my guard, ‘Saying Christ for me was wounded,’ That the tempter flee confounded. (LSB 421:2)

Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

August 18, 2026

Today's Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10 or 1 Corinthians 15:1-10

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:16

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lutherans love to say we are saved by grace through faith. But, as Luther would ask in his catechism, What does this mean? No text explains this better than Ephesians 2.

Paul explains to his readers that before coming to Christ, spiritually, they were dead. Not neutral or pretty good, or able to help themselves if they tried harder or anything like that. No. Spiritually, they were dead, and they were damned. Like the rest of mankind, they were following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air- that spirit now at work in the sons of disobedience, and carrying out the desires of the flesh. (v. 2-3) These are the three great enemies of God: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The world is the pressure we feel from outside of ourselves, coming from our friends or what is advertised to us as a good time. We want to fit in and be accepted, so we listen to these voices instead of listening to God. The flesh is our own personal weaknesses. We all have temptations to which we are prone, but they aren’t all the same. Some people are particularly tempted by pride, while others are driven by envy, and still others by lust, and so on. Lastly, there is “the prince of the power of the air,” or as he is better known, the devil. He is real, and as Luther said somewhere, he never takes a vacation. He’s like a roaring lion prowling around, waiting to devour you. (1 Peter 5:8) He suggests evil thoughts to you, like he did to Adam and Eve, and like he did to Jesus. And except for Jesus, he has a perfect record of getting people to sin!

The world, the flesh, and the devil have made us, along with the rest of mankind, objects of God’s wrath. With these things stacked against us, constantly leading us to sin, we are dead. What chance does anyone have given this situation?

“But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved…” (4-5) Why are some going to make it to heaven? Not because they were good enough. Not because they didn’t sin, but because God is merciful and Christ our substitute was good enough. Amazingly, God loves sinners in spite of their sins. What’s more, even though sinners are dead in their trespasses, He made some alive in Christ. That’s what the Bible calls grace –God’s undeserved kindness, His Gift of new life given to people who deserve to be dead.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying; In Jesus’ promise I rejoice; For though I know my heart’s condition, I also know my Savior’s voice. My heart is glad, all grief has flown Since I am saved by grace alone. (LSB 566:2)

Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

August 17, 2026

Today's Reading: Genesis 4:1-15

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22

“sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Cain and Abel both presented offerings to the LORD. Abel brought his best; Cain did not. The LORD regarded Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Cain was shown up by his little brother! “So Cain was very angry…”

It’s not wrong to get angry. Even Jesus got angry with moneychangers. But when Jesus was angry, He never acted inappropriately. That wasn’t the case for Cain, and it often isn’t the case with us. When someone else gets the recognition we wanted or thought we deserved, envy and anger are stirred up in us like they were with Cain. Pay attention, therefore, to what God says to him: “Why are you angry? If you do well, will you not be accepted?”

The LORD encourages Cain by saying he can improve his situation. It isn’t over for him; he can do better next time. So can we. When things don’t go our way, we don’t have to get angry; often, there’s a way to fix the problem. Unfortunately, rage clouds our judgment, and we can’t see it. Neither could Cain.

The LORD explains that Cain is in a dangerous position: “If you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Like a predator waiting to pounce, sin wants to devour him. The LORD commands him to rule over it. Sadly, that command was ignored, and Cain murdered his brother.

“What have you done?” said the LORD, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.” And from there, he cursed Cain and condemned him to be a fugitive. God could have killed Cain. Instead, He exiled him. But Cain thought it was a trap: that he was being set up, “Whoever finds me will kill me!” he cried. But it wasn’t a trap. God is really that forgiving. He proved it by putting a mark of protection on Cain to spare his life.

I hope your anger never causes you to sin like Cain, and that the Holy Spirit will instead work in you the strength to overcome it. But when you do sin, know this: you also have a mark of protection on you. In Holy Baptism, you have been marked as God’s own child. He will not abandon you or forsake you, even if the consequences of your sin cause you to suffer for a while. There’s no sin you have committed that will cut you off from God. In the book of Hebrews, the author reminds us that in coming to Christ, we come, “to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (12:24) Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance. But the precious blood of Jesus declares grace and full forgiveness to all who trust in Him.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Abel’s blood for vengeance Pleaded to the skies; But the blood of Jesus For our pardon cries. (LSB 433:4)

Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

August 16, 2026

Today's Reading: Luke 18:9-14

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 6:1-19; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

One of the many problems with being a sinner is that we are turned in on ourselves, or self-centered. We tend to talk too much about ourselves and only think of our own problems and desires. As religiously serious people, we may even become impressed with ourselves and compare ourselves to others. The Pharisee in our text is an example of this.

Even when he “prays” in the temple, all he really does is talk about himself to God. If you can believe it, he lets the Almighty know how great he is! And if you are honest, I bet you can believe it because you’ve probably done the same thing. We all have. If we aren’t careful, our prayers can also become self-centered attempts to justify ourselves, rather than humbly thanking and praising our Maker and our Savior.

The main underlying problem with the Pharisee is the sin of pride. He is so proud that he cannot do anything but brag about how great he is and condemn those whom he thinks are beneath him. He thanks God that he is not like them!

Contrast this with the tax collector. That man cannot even raise his head. He has sinned terribly, and he knows it. When praying to God, he is full of anguish and shame. He beats his chest. He doesn’t brag about how good he is. Instead, he goes before the Lord and barely spits out the only prayer appropriate: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

What a contrast: a pious, upstanding religious Pharisee, and a filthy, broken tax collector. If we had seen them that day, we would have certainly thought the one who had it all together, the polished, conservative religious man, was the kind of man God would approve of. But Jesus tells us otherwise. That man was too proud to receive God’s grace or mercy. He thought those things unnecessary since he was so convinced of his own goodness. But not so the Tax Collector.

Although his sin was great, Jesus tells us that the one who is truly humble, broken, and relies on God was the one who went home justified. Learn from this man whom our Lord praises and learn from him to look to God to have mercy on you and forgive you all your sins for Jesus’ sake.

Further, ask yourself: How do I pray? With humility or pride? In your conversations with others, how often do you talk about yourself versus listening and learning from others? How might you, as a fellow broken and humble sinner, let others know about the mercy of God in Jesus?

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I lay my sins on Jesus, The spotless Lamb of God; He bears them all and frees us From the accursed load. I bring my guilt to Jesus, To wash my crimson stains Clean in His blood most precious Till not a spot remains. (LSB 606:1)

Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

August 15, 2026.

Today's Reading: Luke 1:(39-45) 46-55

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 5:1-25; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lutherans honor Mary—not because she rules in heaven or manages our prayers—but because of what God did through her. Jesus’ humanity is real—He took flesh from Mary. Second, all but two recorded humans die. If Mary had been taken bodily, assumed into heaven, Scripture would clearly say that — as it does about Enoch in Genesis 5:24 and Elijah in 2 Kings 2:11. Scripture is silent on what happened with Mary later in her life; what we do know is that the Bible never implies that Mary was sinless or deserving of our worship. Instead, Holy Scripture presents her as a faithful servant, uniquely chosen, and consistently points to God’s saving work in Christ.

We honor Mary because she herself said, and Scripture records, “All generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). She’s the Mother of our Lord, the one who heard the word of God from Gabriel and believed it. We honor Mary because God honored her—but we do so in the way she teaches us: not by magnifying her, but by magnifying the Lord.

God chose an ordinary, humble woman to bear His Son. Jesus grew like we do, lived in the world we live in, suffered in all the ways we do, was tempted as we are, yet without sin, and He did so as a man. This perfect and sinless body He offered on the cross for our salvation. This is the “great thing” God did to Mary—and the great thing He did to and for us. Mary’s greatness is not in or of herself. Her greatness is that she received everything from her Savior. She says she’s “lowly,” not special or powerful, and so, her humility is part of the miracle. (Luke 1:29)

This is our story. God has done great things to and for us. In Baptism, He claimed us as His children. In the Lord’s Supper, He feeds us with His Body and Blood, giving forgiveness, life, and salvation. He puts Himself into us—just as He once put Himself into Mary (Luke 1:35). Our response, like Mary’s, is awe: “He has done great things to me.” (v.49)

We rejoice with Mary—not in Mary. We rejoice in the Lord who became flesh for us, who poured out His blood to forgive us, who keeps His promises, and who loves us by His death that gives us life.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We pray: Almighty God, You chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of Your only Son. Grant that we, who are redeemed by His blood, may share with her in the glory of Your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Adam DeGroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM.

August 14, 2026

Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 11 - Psalm 68:1, 3, 7a, 10b, 19; antiphon: Psalm 68:5b, 6a, 35b

Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 1:1-27; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

“The righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy.” (Introit for Trinity 11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

In A.D. 390, the Emperor of the Eastern Empire of Rome, Theodosius, ordered soldiers to massacre thousands in Thessalonica after a riot. The church historian Rufinus reports: “When Theodosius came to the church, Bishop Ambrose of Milan met him and said: ‘A man such as you, stained with blood, must not come to the Lord’s table.’ Theodosius wept and repented.” (Rufinus, Church History 11.18)

Our Introit comes during the long “green season” of the Church Year, where the Lord focuses us on the perpetual reality that the church is always alive… always growing. Ironic, especially when you consider this coming Sunday’s Gospel reading: the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9–14). The church is alive, always growing because God lifts up the humble and brings down the proud. “God defends the lowly, gives strength to the weak, and provides for those who cannot provide for themselves.”

Our brothers and sisters in the faith have heard for centuries: “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered,” and in the early days of the church, they saw Jesus’ resurrection. They saw His enemies of sin, death, and the Devil defeated. Those who trusted in and boasted of themselves, like the Pharisee in the temple, are scattered by, crushed by God’s holiness. Those who cannot hide, like the tax collector, stand, head bowed in reverent fear and shame, with no good thing in and of themselves; dead… crying out for mercy, and are given life.

“Let the righteous be glad.” Yes! And why shouldn’t we be overjoyed? Not only are we righteous on account of Jesus, but life is found only in Him. The tax collector was sent home “justified” precisely because He trusted that God alone who judged was the only One Who could save. Theodosius, the most powerful man in the world, was humbled before God by the word of God spoken by a measly little Pastor, Ambrose of Milan, with stunning and miraculous results.

God made Ambrose bold… God gave the good confession that God “went before His people.” He’s with us, even as He is ahead of us. He comes to us, in His Word, in the promises of Baptism; He dwells in us by the Lord’s Supper, and God gives us pastors to preach the word, and God gives faith to follow where Christ our leader has trod.

Finally, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up.” God doesn’t just bless us once and leave us to fend for ourselves. His mercies are new each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). He bestows forgiveness, comfort, His word, and strength for each new day.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We pray: In God my heart trusts and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him. Amen.

Rev. Adam DeGroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM.

August 13, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: What is Confession?

Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

“…Our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.” (Small Catechism- Confession)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Lutheran Service Book says on page 292 (in red ink): “If you are not burdened with particular sins, do not trouble yourself or search for or invent other sins, thereby turning confession into a torture. Instead, mention one or two sins that you know and let that be enough.”

We’re big fans of the healing Jesus, the feeding Jesus—and these are super neat things, for sure—but this same Jesus is the dying Jesus, the blood-shedding Jesus, the merciful, forgiving, life-bringing Jesus. When it comes to this Jesus, the forgiveness of sin… well… that’s a little harder. If you’re blind, everyone knows it; you don’t have to level your pride or have your ego crushed. Sinners are prone to hide stuff… to cover it up. And it’s that covering up that prevents us from hearing the Word of God: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” (Matthew 9:6)

We love the Jesus who feeds and heals, but when our Lord says that forgiveness is bestowed to us on account of Jesus through the pastor who gives the medicine of immortality—the forgiveness of sins that makes us alive again—that would mean admitting to another person that we’re not doing well, and it would mean that only Jesus can do something about what’s killing us.

We’re not perfect; we say THAT all the time. We haven’t kept the Ten Commandments, but it’s hard to say with St. Paul, “Wretched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24) We can confess sin—it’s that body-of-death part that’s true—but it’s the second part, receiving forgiveness, that’s so hard. Dead bodies must be given to; only God can do that. So we must ask: “What kind of God are we dealing with?” The God who’ll squash us like a bug? Or… is He the slow-to-anger and abounding-in-steadfast-love God? The God Who comes and dwells in the stinky mire of this fallen world to give us the cure for the sin that makes us blind, deaf, lame, and dead?” He’s exactly that God, as Luther writes: “Absolution is the Word of God spoken by the mouth of man. It is not the word of man, but of God Himself.” (AE 35:14)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen

We pray: Grant us, O Lord, we pray, to trust in Thee with all our heart; seeing that, as Thou dost always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so Thou dost not forsake those who make their boast in Thy mercy made known chiefly in the forgiveness of our sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Rev. Adam DeGroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM.