December 15, 2025

Today's Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:27-31:9; Revelation 3:1-22

"A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain." (Isaiah 40:3-4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

When John the Baptizer was asked who he was, he pointed to this verse from Isaiah. So, how did he change the landscape? By preaching repentance.

Turns out people aren't generally keen on confessing their sins. The world is not a very forgiving place. We ourselves have been trained from the earliest ages to find reasons why our wrongs were actually rights. A child who is confronted with knocking over a lamp might blame a stuffed animal. That doesn't work, but our reasoning gets more sophisticated as we grow. It was a sibling's fault. It was a parent's fault for putting the lamp so close to the edge. It was an emergency, so haste was more important than the lamp. Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter. So long as someone believes it, we show ourselves to be right.

We live in a world that demands self-righteousness. If you cannot justify yourself, you will be blamed. However, when people without faith sin in such a way that they cannot justify themselves, it breaks them. Guilt overwhelms them. All that self-justification was actually protection. And without it, people lose their minds, which is why confession and absolution in the Church is so weird to people. Why would anyone willingly put themselves through such guilt and shame? However, the repentance of a Christian has two parts. First is sorrow over our sin. That is the same as anyone else. It's the second part that is different. The second part is hope. A sure and certain hope that all our sin is forgiven. The guilt is made Christ's. The shame hangs on His shoulders. His blood pays for it. And His life is given for our salvation.

Without Christ, we would make mountains to hide our sin behind. We would bury in whatever valley we could. But the way of the Lord leaves nowhere for our sin to hide. All our hiding places are made an open field, so the sin can all be seen. And so that Jesus can take it all away. That is why we are so willing to turn in repentance. That is why we willingly confess our sins. Because we know the one who takes them and makes them His. And they're ours no longer.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Make ye straight what long was crooked; Make the rougher places plain. Let your hearts be true and humble, As befits His holy reign. For the glory of the Lord Now o'er earth is shed abroad, and all flesh shall see the token That His Word is never broken. (LSB 347:4)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

December 14, 2025

Today's Reading: Matthew 11:2-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:15-26; Revelation 2:1-29

"Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

John the Baptizer has been faithful since before he was born. John leapt in his mother Elizabeth's womb in greeting when Jesus visited inside Mary before He was born. He proclaimed a baptism of repentance while dressed in camel's hair and eating locusts. He stood against Herod marrying his brother's wife, which is why he was in prison. But such faithfulness doesn't make doubt impossible, especially when things don't work out the way you hoped they would.

We, too, might be faithful in much of what God gives to us. We have confessed Christ when it cost us. We have shared the Gospel with those who needed it, even if they didn't want it. We have called upon Him in times of great need. But what happens when things don't turn out the way we planned? That prayer didn't receive the answer we wanted? That friend betrayed us? A loved one dies? In those moments, we want Christ to answer us: Are you the right one? Or is it someone else?

Jesus answers John, John's disciples, and us in the same way, by actually doing the things that He promised. And every promise finds its yes in Jesus' death and resurrection. Because Jesus died for you. Those things that didn't go according to our plan? Remember that God's plan included a cross for Christ to die on. Prayer didn't get the answer we wanted? Jesus prayed for the cup to pass from Him, though not if it was against the Father's will. And the Father's will was for us to be saved from our sin. That friend who betrayed us? By Jesus' betrayal, the price for sin was paid forever on our behalf. A loved one dies? By the death of Jesus, death itself is destroyed.

It may have seemed like things were not working throughout Jesus' passion and death. But as Easter morning dawned, sin was forgiven, paid in blood. Death was conquered, as Jesus rose as the firstborn from the dead. The devil had no more claim on anyone, as Christ kicked down the gates of Hell itself in victory.

Yes, those moments of doubt come. But all God's promises are answered with “yes” at His cross. Look there, and see what our Lord thinks of you. You are worth God giving up His own life to save. And what can matter more than that?

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

December 13, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 3 - Psalm 85:1-2, 6, 8; antiphon: Phil. 4:4-5

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:15-30:14; Revelation 1:1-20

"You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin." (Psalm 85:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Introit for tomorrow comes from Psalm 85, but there's a part of many psalms that we don't bother with very often. If you open up your Bible to Psalm 85, you will see at or maybe even before verse 1 these words: "To The Choirmaster. A Psalm Of The Sons Of Korah." Who is Korah, and who are his sons? For that answer, we start at Numbers 16.

Korah rebelled against Moses during the 40 years in the wilderness. He thought He should lead God's people, and talked a number of them into staging a coup against Moses and Aaron. He refused to meet with Moses, lest Moses kill him and call it judgment from God. Well, the rebellion ended with the ground opening up before the people and swallowing Korah and his closest followers before closing over the top of them. A plague then hit the rest. There was no mistaking God's action. Moses didn't do a thing.

But not everyone in Korah's family died. His sons lived (Numbers 26:11). We have their genealogy in 1 Chronicles 6. One of Korah's descendants was a man named Samuel, son of Elkanah, who was the prophet who anointed David to be king. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren went on to be musicians at the temple. The Holy Spirit inspired them to write eleven of the 150 Psalms.

They used to rebel against God. And the Lord turned them to be speakers of His Word. He did the same with a Pharisee named Saul, who we now know as St. Paul. And He continues to call us out of our sin, and speak His Word to us, and through us to our neighbors. He does this because God forgives sin. He covers iniquity. And He did that through Jesus. That is why Advent prepares the way for Jesus to come to us. As a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. As a Savior wrapped in burial cloths and laid in a tomb. The death of Jesus pays for all sins, whether Korah's, or Paul's, or ours. His blood covers them all. And we stand forgiven in Him.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Hark, the herald's voice is crying In the desert far and near, Calling sinners to repentance, Since the kingdom now is here. O that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way; Let the valley rise to meet Him And the hills bow down to greet Him. (LSB 347:3)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

December 12, 2025

Today's Reading: Jude 1-25

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:1-14; Jude 1-25

"I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3b)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The letter from St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, to the Church is short. But in it, the apostle sees that false teachers are twisting God's Word, and people are following after them. He reminds the Church that this is not the first time this has happened. In fact, it has been happening throughout the history of God's people.

From Cain, who killed his brother, to Balaam, who had to be repeatedly warned not to go beyond God's Word, no matter what earthly gain he got from it, to Korah, who rebelled against God and Moses (and whom we will see more of in tomorrow's devotion). We have always needed to be on the lookout for those who say things we want to hear. For the desires of our hearts are only evil continuously (Genesis 6:5).

As we saw a couple of days ago, false prophets don't come with warning labels. However, the Lord has let us know that they will be here. And that means we can watch for them. We test everything we hear against the Word of God. Even what you read here, even what you hear from your own pastor. And if there's something that doesn't seem to fit, ask. The misunderstanding may be with you, and he can help. Or the misunderstanding is with him, and you have been a help. For we're all to have mercy on those who doubt, according to St. Jude.

Hold tightly to God's Word. For in it we're given Christ. His work of the cross is delivered to us, faith is created in us by the Holy Spirit relaying this Word. God's Word comes to our ears as we hear it read, and as we hear sermons rooted in what God reveals in that Word. God's Word comes to us as Absolution, Christ forgiving our sins directly. God's Word is connected to water in Baptism, where we are buried with Christ in death in order that we can rise with Him in the resurrection. Where we are washed and made clean from all our sin. God's Word says of bread, "This is My body, given for you." The Word says of wine, "This is my blood, shed for your forgiveness." And we receive that word in our mouths.

The book of Jude has many other interesting details in it as well. Yet the central theme is to hold tight to that Word, no matter what the world wants you to hear. Because God gives His Gifts by His Word. And that Word is given to you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes, The Savior promised long; Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne And ev'ry voice a song (LSB 349:1)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

December 11, 2025

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

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 28:14-29; 1 John 5:1-21; 2 John 1-13; 3 John 1-15

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you" (1 Peter 5:5–6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

You will hear the word 'vocation' a lot in Lutheran circles. It means the place in which God put you, and the responsibilities that come with that. You will have many different vocations throughout your life. Right now, you are young. And with that comes the responsibility to defer to those with more experience, for experience comes with time. That's a difficult thing to do. Because you have ideas. You know how you want things to go. And you have a world that worships the young, pushing you from behind.

Our Lord calls for humility, but humbling oneself just makes everything take longer. But what is better, the Lord raising you up or you raising yourself up? Which one is even possible when we are dead in our own sins?

Yet the Lord doesn't call you to do any less than He has done Himself. Jesus is God, and yet when He was in the vocation of youth, He listened to the teachers in the temple—asking good questions, yes, but hearing their answers. Likewise, He was obedient to His earthly parents and humbled Himself to obey what they said.

In another vocation, Jesus humbled Himself to be tried before the Sanhedrin. They did not do the right thing, but by Jesus' humility, we were saved. Jesus humbled Himself before Pilate, a pagan who feared more for his own skin than for doing what was right. Pilate also failed, but by Jesus' humility, all our sins are forgiven. Jesus was placed under the authority of death. Not that death had a claim on Him, but by His humility, Jesus died on a cross and saved us from death forever.

God places people above us in authority for a reason. Those people might not always get it right, but our Lord does this for our good. When we fall short of what God expects, we humbly return to His grace and mercy, which He gives to us through Christ.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Oh blest that house; It prospers well, In peace and joy the parents dwell. And in their children's lives is shown How richly God can bless His own (LSB 862:4)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

December 10, 2025

Today's Reading: 1 John 4:1-21

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:20-27:13; 1 John 4:1-21

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

False prophets don't come with warning labels. They do not advertise that they are wolves dressed as sheep. They may not even intend to do harm, but that doesn't stop the harm they cause. There are a lot of things in this world called 'Christian.' And yet, they do damage to Christians and threaten to take away their hope found in Christ. If we are not careful, we may even find ourselves as one of the wolves.

This is why it is so important to be in God's Word regularly. Scripture is where God talks to us. He teaches us what is right, what is His. It's God's Word that tells us of our sin and fallen nature. It's God's Word that tells us how God made a plan to save us from the beginning through Jesus.

God's Word shows us the world that we really see. Things are difficult here. Things hurt here. There are crosses here, especially when we confess Christ. Anything that tells us these things will not bother you if you have enough faith, does not come from God. Our hope comes from something far better. Our hope is found in Jesus.

There is sin in the world. We have sin ourselves. But Jesus bears it in our place. Dies for it on His cross. You know what God thinks of you by looking at what He did on Good Friday for you. He takes your sin away. He forgives you. He saves you. He makes you part of His family. He feeds you. He washes you. He is present even now with you. Now might not be without pain, but with Christ, there is more hope than all the world's comfort apart from Him. Included in this hope is resurrection for you. Eternal life for you. A world without sin for you, those you love in the faith, all believers, and God Almighty Himself. These are all promised in that Word.

False prophets, even unwitting ones, put those things in doubt, take those things away. But Christ has given you His Word to test these things by. Be in His Word often. For He is with you always.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

"Comfort, comfort ye My people, Speak ye peace," thus saith our God; "Comfort those who sit in darkness, Mourning 'neath their sorrow's load. Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them; Tell her that her sins I cover And her warfare now is over." (LSB 347:1)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

December 9, 2025

Today's Reading: Romans 15:4-13

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 26:1-19; 1 John 3:1-24

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I've sometimes heard people say they like Jesus pretty well, but that Old Testament God sure sounds mean. As tempting as it is to point out that Jesus isn't always smiles and sunshine (Hello, cleansing of the temple!), it's better to find out why. If not, we won't understand why He tells His people to conquer a land and get rid of the people who were in it before. Not understanding that when God's people fall into the same idolatry as those before, the Lord has many harsh things to say and do to them, too.

Why is God angry? Because they hurt those whom God loves. They weren't just going about their own business, and then one day got smited by the Lord out of the blue. The Canaanites were offering their own daughters as prostitutes for their idols. They slaughtered their own sons for a mute statue's favor. Wouldn't you get angry if the people around you demanded the most vile things imaginable from your own family members in order to get an inanimate object to love them? Or worse, so they could prove to themselves how good they were?

Sin isn't just the breaking of arbitrary rules. Sin hurts those whom God loves. Sin hurts your neighbors, your relationships, your self, your own body, your own soul. Wouldn't you expect the Lord to get angry over such things? And yet, what do we do when that sin is ours? What do we do when God has every right to be angry with us?

We give those sins to Him. The Lord's anger isn't like ours. It's not like anything else in this world. God's anger is focused into action. Focused on righting the wrong, healing the wounds, making whole what is broken, taking our sin away. And that doesn't mean that our sin gets ignored, as if it weren't real. It is carried by Christ. Christ, our ram caught in the thicket, who dies instead of us on God's altar. Christ, our brother, who goes ahead of us into death in order that we might live, fed by His Body and Blood. Christ, who parts the sea of sin and death that we may cross over by the Baptism He gives us into a new kingdom. Christ the suffering servant, who bears the sins of the world, including all yours and mine. All the anger over sin has been poured out upon Jesus at the cross for your sake. And He did it for you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Once He came in blessing, All our sins redressing; Came in likeness lowly, Son of God most holy; Bore the cross to save us; Hope and freedom gave us (LSB 333:1)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

December 8, 2025

Today's Reading: Malachi 4:1-6

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 24:14-25:12; Obadiah 1-21; 1 John 2:15-29

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes." (Malachi 4:5)

"On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true." (End of the Explanation of the Third Article)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We look forward to the coming of the Day of the Lord. A day when all evil will end. A day when those arrogant, who are sure they know better than to believe in God, will come face to face with Him. A day of fire for the sinful world. So that sin, death, and the devil have roots to take hold any longer. On that day, we will go out leaping with joy at the resurrection, the forgiveness of sins, our salvation, and eternal life with God. And all that's left which is wicked will be ash under our feet.

We are ready for the Last Day, to be sure. But there is another day that has already happened. A day where evil ended, because it was conquered. A day when the arrogant, who were sure they knew better than God, saw God face to face. A day of fire, as the wrath of God over the world's sin burned brightly. And by this day, by the death of God on this day, sin, death, and the devil have no way for roots to take hold any longer.

On that day, that great and awesome day of the Lord, Jesus Christ died on His cross. We call that day Good. What Jesus won for us on that day causes us to go out leaping with joy. Joy over the forgiveness of all our sins. Joy that He has saved us. Joy that eternal life has been made ours. Joy, because resurrection is coming. All promises made by the God who keeps His every promise. Elijah was indeed sent before that day. Jesus Himself will show us that John the Baptizer is the Elijah who was to come. And that same John the Baptizer has likewise made the way ready for Jesus to come to us.

From God's perspective, these two are the same day. And we can see them that way as well. We look forward to the coming Day of the Lord. We look back at the already arrived Day of the Lord. And on both days, we rejoice that Jesus Christ has paid for our sin, conquered our death, defeated that devil, and saved us forever.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Behold the Lamb of God That bears the world's transgression, Whose sacrifice removes The devil's dread oppression. Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away our sin, Who for peace and joy Will full atonement win. (LSB 346:3)

Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.

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

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.