May 5, 2026

Today's Reading: James 1:16-21

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:1-22; Luke 12:13-34

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:16-17)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. The epistle of James does not mince words when it comes to the life of the Christian. James makes it abundantly clear that in our sanctified lives, we live as children of God. It is no surprise that many of the reformers reluctantly went to James. Even Luther struggled with James, but Luther also knew that God's word is unchangeable.

In Exodus, God gives the promise to Moses to share with the people, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” (Exodus 6:7) God declares that He is the one who is bringing them out of slavery in Egypt and into a land of freedom flowing with milk and honey. Later, when they are in the wilderness, God delivers the Decalogue and reminds them again that He is their God and they are His people. His people do not live like the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, or the Egyptians, but His people live like children of God. When the people of the Old Testament do not live like children of God, He says to them, “You are not people and I am not your God.” (Hosea 1:9)

In our sinfulness, we live like the world. We indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. We feed our minds with fantasies of immorality and ungodly conduct. We seek ways to massage God’s word so that we can justify our behavior or someone else’s behavior. In James, the mirror of the law exposes our sin and accuses us of not being God’s children. In that behavior, we are not His people, and He is not our God.

James does not leave us in despair. He reminds his hearers that all good things come from God. He writes in chapter 1:17, “....every perfect gift is from above,…” The perfect gift is a “complete” gift. The reader cannot help but connect what James writes here and what Christ says on the cross. It is “finished.” It is complete. The work is done, and it has come from above. Christ has fulfilled the law for us so that we are no longer slaves under the law. We are set free to live as children of God. He is our God, and we are His people. He gives to us His holy law, and we are free to live in His holy law without fear of the world’s condemnation.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

To Jesus we for refuge flee, Who from the curse has set us free, And humbly worship at His throne, Saved by His grace through faith alone. (LSB 579:3)

Rev. Timothy Davis

May 4, 2026

Today's Reading: Isaiah 12:1-6

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 21:1-24; Luke 12:1-12

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. The people of Judah were in a precarious position. They had watched the Northern Kingdom be completely destroyed by the Assyrian army. Families were separated. The places of worship had been desecrated with idols of false gods. The identity of the Northern Kingdom was gone. King Ahaz refused to listen to God through the prophet Isaiah. King Ahaz had his own plans to protect his people. Ahaz looked to the formidable army of Egypt for protection against Assyria. The very nation that God had freed His people from enslavement, Ahaz cut a deal with and went back to their historic slavemaster.

In the previous chapters, Isaiah reminds his hearers of God’s attitude towards arrogance and pride. God hates the prideful nature of man. He despises the arrogance of His people and the arrogance of the pagan nations around His people. In their idolatry, they have committed adultery against God. They have had affairs with other gods and lusted after their own hearts’ desires. In the worst of times, they still pursued their own hearts and their false gods.

In our sin, we fall into the trap of arrogance and pride. We see our accomplishments and what we are capable of achieving. Our electronic advancements and technological advancements give us every answer in the palm of our hands. We can find endless entertainment, both good and bad, with a few swipes of the finger. It can seem as if nothing is out of our reach.

Isaiah’s words in chapter 12 speak to the remnant that was left behind. The few that remained faithful to God. The epitome of that remnant is found in Jesus Christ. Christ is Israel reduced to one. The final sacrifice, the final King, the final prophet. Christ fulfills all aspects of God’s holy law. In faith, you hold fast to the promise that Christ has completed the work for your salvation. Sin, satan, and the world will work tirelessly to turn you away from the work of Christ and point you to your work. In faith, you are held fast to Christ’s work and His salvation for you. He has become your salvation. He has completed the work for you. He has paid the price for your sins. He has conquered death for you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Though Satan’s wrath Beset our path And worldly scorn assail us, While You are near, We shall not fear; Your strength will never fail us, Your rod and staff will keep us safe And guide our steps forever; Nor shades of death Nor hell beneath Our lives from You will sever. (LSB 714:2)

May 3, 2026

Today's Reading: John 16:5-15

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 20:1-16, 22-27; Luke 11:37-54

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. Jesus’ words to the disciples are incongruent with their thoughts about the role of the Messiah. In their minds, the Messiah was to come and free them from the bondage and rule of a tyrannical government. The children of God were to reclaim the glory days of David and Solomon. Now they hear these words of departure and preparation for the helper, the paraclete, to come. The words of Christ are not words of comfort in the ears of the disciples.

We are on a journey through the season of Easter, and as we traverse the Easter season, we are being made ready for the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The day of Pentecost is quickly approaching. The tongues of fire rest upon the disciples of Christ, and the Good News of salvation is spoken and heard in the native language of the hearers. The message of salvation for mankind is for everyone.

The arrival of the Holy Spirit does not mean that Christ is no longer with us. Many denominations teach that Christ is “only” at the right hand of God the Father. Churches across our country advocate that if you want to have a real relationship with Jesus, you need to “experience” Him. Experiential language is not the language of the Scriptures. The Scriptures teach that our Savior comes to us in the blessed Sacrament of the Altar. He comes to us as we receive His true body and true blood in the bread and the wine. In the sacrament, our sins are forgiven. In the sacrament, our faith is strengthened. We are sent out, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, to serve our neighbors in our vocations where we proclaim the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Cantate)

Rev. Timothy Davis

May 2, 2026

Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 5 - Psalm 98:1b, 3-4; antiphon: Psalm 98:1a, 2b

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 19:9-18, 26-37; Luke 11:14-36

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” (Psalm 98:1-2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The book of Psalms is sometimes known as the hymnal of the Scriptures. And for good reason. There are one hundred and fifty psalms, or songs, given by our Lord, the Maestro of mercy, for us to pray, sing, study, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. Psalm 98, which will be sung tomorrow in the Lord’s house, is a beautiful example of how the Holy Scriptures sing the story of salvation.

But it’s not just in the Psalms. You’ll find the story of salvation sung throughout the Scriptures. God’s word rings out in harmony and blends its many voices to the tune of his steadfast love. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s word echoes with the joyous songs of Yahweh’s salvation. Everywhere you find God saving his people, you’ll find them singing the songs of salvation.

When Israel walked through the Red Sea, and Pharaoh’s armies were buried in a liquid grave, they sang. “I will sing unto the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously, his horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”

When Isaiah foretold the coming Servant of Yahweh who would suffer in our place, he sang the Servant Songs that fill his prophetic book with a foretaste of the cross to come. “For by his wounds we are healed.”

When Elizabeth and Mary met, and John leapt in the womb for joy that Jesus had come at last in the flesh, Mary sang the Magnificat. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the donkey brayed, and the crowds sang, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

And when John lets us peek into the angelic choir loft of heaven, guess what the saints, angels, and archangels are doing? That’s right. Singing a new song, which is also an ancient song. “Worthy are you…for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God.”

So when you go to Divine Service tomorrow morning and sing the psalms, hymns, and liturgy, there might be ten people in church, or two hundred. But no matter how many people are gathered, you never sing alone. Whether it’s a new song or an old song, join the throng and sing along to the God of our salvation, for he has done marvelous things!

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Creator, humbly I implore You To listen to my earthly song Until that day when I adore You, Together with the angel throng And learn with choirs of heav’n to sing Eternal anthems to my King. (LSB 811:5)

Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz

May 1, 2026

Today's Reading: John 14:1-14

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 18:1-7, 20-19:8; Luke 11:1-13

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

From the disciples’ point of view, they had plenty of good reasons why their hearts were troubled. They had seen, or rather, smelled the formerly dead man known as Lazarus walk out of his grave. They got wind of the Pharisees' plot to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. They’d noticed the chief priests following them in the temple, through the streets, and around Jerusalem - their hostility and anger, a rising tide. They had seen the awesome faith in Jesus demonstrated by the crowds that followed them, and the appalling unbelief and rejection of Jesus by many in the same crowds.

Not to mention, Jesus kept saying and doing strange, odd things lately— like how the Son of Man was going to be lifted up; words of foreboding and darkness; warnings of betrayal and denial, of roosters and rejection, even among some of them. It’s no wonder the disciples were troubled that Thursday night of Holy Week.

And yet in the midst of all the disciples’ fears, anxieties, worries, and bewilderment, Jesus speaks. “Let not your heart be troubled.”

At first, this doesn’t sound comforting. It’s like the Queen in 1940s London telling you to keep calm and carry on while bombs are dropping all over, or Taylor Swift singing, “You need to calm down,” when a relationship is broken and your emotions are running as fast as your heart is beating.

But that’s the difference between our words and the words from the Word made flesh. Jesus’ words give exactly what he says.

So when Jesus sits with his frightened disciples and says, “Let not your hearts be troubled,” his word delivers his peace. Jesus’ promise and presence are the foundation and the guarantee of those words. “Let not your hearts be troubled?” How? “Believe in God and believe in me? And don’t worry, Jesus says, I’ll give you faith too.”

When Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled,” he knew that Good Friday, the cross, and his death and burial were about to happen. But he also knew that Sunday morning was coming. The stone rolled away. An empty tomb. Resurrection from the dead. What Jesus says happens. What he promises comes true: for his fearful, troubled disciples, and for you in whatever troubles you face. Jesus’ peace and promise are for you. So, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Almighty God, Your Son revealed Himself to Philip and James and gave them the knowledge of everlasting life. Grant us perfectly to know Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the way, the truth, and the life, and steadfastly to walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

April 30, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: Creed Third Article

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 17:1-16; Luke 10:23-42

“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.” (3rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“So the Holy Spirit is like the Bat-signal,” said a confirmation student while learning about the Third Article of the Creed.

“Wait, what?” I answered, bewildered, but curious. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” he went on to say, “Whenever Gotham City needs help, they light up the Bat-signal, and it points the way; it lets people know help is on the way; it lets everyone know that Batman is coming to the rescue.”

You might not think comic books could provide a talking point for confirmation class and the Holy Spirit. And believe me, I didn’t think so at first either. But this kid was right.

God the Father sends God the Son. God the Son lives and dies for the sins of the world. God the Son promises God the Holy Spirit. God, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. God the Holy Spirit points us back to God the Son, who brings us back to God the Father. The Holy Spirit gives us Jesus. Works faith in our hearts. He calls us by the Gospel, gathers us in the Holy Christian Church, sanctifies us in Jesus, and enlightens us with all of God’s holy Gifts.

The Holy Spirit is sent and given to let you, and all the baptized know, that help is on the way in Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Holy Spirit takes no days off, no breaks, no mid-day naps. His work is never done, yet is always being done in the Holy Christian church where we receive the forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit leads you to and gives you Jesus, who came to rescue, redeem, restore, and renew you.

And thankfully, unlike your favorite comic book heroes, the Holy Spirit is not a work of fiction or fantasy. However, he does mask himself and work through ordinary means: water, word, bread and wine, the Gospel, the Absolution, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Spirit is no imaginary hero, but the very real third person of the Holy Trinity who lives and works to call you to faith in Jesus, point you to your Savior, give you faith in Jesus, keep you in the faith, and eternally fill you with Good News: help is indeed on the way in Christ who rescues you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Creator Spirit, by whose aid The world’s foundations first were laid, Come visit every humble mind; Come pour Your joys on humankind; From sin and sorrow set us free; May we Your living temples be. (LSB 500:1)

April 29, 2026

Today's Reading: Leviticus 16:1-24

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 16:1-24; Luke 10:1-22

“And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.” (Leviticus 16:21)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The Day of Atonement in Leviticus sixteen is a tale of two goats. Both gathered at the tent of meeting. Both before the Lord. Both goats given by a gracious God to save his people and atone for all their iniquities.

One goat was for a sin offering. A sacrifice. A substitute. The innocent for the guilty. Clean for the unclean. A life for a life. Blood sprinkled on the mercy seat. Atonement made by the Holy One of Israel in the Holy of Holies to make his people holy. To cover all their transgressions.

The second goat was an offering as well—a living sacrifice. As Aaron laid his hands on this goat, he laid all the trespasses of the people upon it. All their sins. All their iniquities. This goat was sent packing away from the camp and into the wilderness. This goat, too, is a substitute. Sent away from God’s presence so his people would remain in his presence. Given to bear Israel’s sin so they would not have to.

But there’s more to this story. Two goats point to the One Lamb.

Like the first goat, Jesus, is our sin offering. A sacrifice. A substitute. He is the innocent one who dies for the guilty. He is the Clean One who washes away all the filth of our uncleanness. He gives his life for your life. His blood is sprinkled and shed and poured out on the altar of the cross and then into a chalice upon the mercy seat of the altar in your church.

And like the second goat, Jesus, went out into the wilderness. Jesus overcame Satan, where the Serpent overcame Adam and Eve. Jesus also bears the iniquities of the people, all people, on his head, as he goes outside the camp of Jerusalem. Into the wilderness of Golgotha, burdened and weighed down by all our trespasses, all our sins, all our iniquities. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is sent outside the city walls and is forsaken by God so that you and all who believe in him would remain in his presence. Jesus is given to bear our sin so we don’t have to.

This tale of two goats points us to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Where the paschal blood is poured, Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword; Israel’s hosts triumphant go through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia! (LSB 633:3)

April 28, 2026

Today's Reading: 1 Peter 2:11-20 or 1 John 3:1-3

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 10:1-20; Leviticus 11:1-15:33; Luke 9:37-62

“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.’” (Leviticus 11:44-45)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

In the story of the Scriptures, the word holy is like coffee shops in the Pacific Northwest or BBQ joints in Texas; you’ll find holiness on every corner of every street as you travel the highway of God’s Word. From God’s holy sabbath rest on the seventh day of creation, to the holy of holies in the tabernacle, to the angels crying out holy, holy, holy around the Lamb’s throne in Revelation, there’s God in his holiness.

God’s holiness is a matter of proximity. The dust and rocks around the burning bush were holy. Why? Not because Moses worked some magic in the wilderness. Yahweh was there. It was holy ground. The wood, fabric, furnishings, ark of the covenant, along with the whole tabernacle, were holy. Why? Not because of the handiwork of Israelite craftsmen or the hands of the sons of Aaron and Levi. Yahweh was there. And that meant everything in and around the tabernacle was holy. God places his holiness alongside people, places, and things, and they, too, by his grace and promise, become holy.

But there’s a problem. Before God, we are wholly unholy. God’s holiness is like Aslan in Narnia. God is good and holy, but he’s not safe. Apart from Christ, God’s holiness is not safe. So what does God do? God robes us in the holiness of Jesus crucified and risen. He declares you righteous and holy. In Christ, we receive God’s holiness in Jesus’ holy Gifts.

God does all of this in a way similar to the way he did for Israel of old. By blood and water and sacrifice. Jesus the High Priest is also God’s greatest and final offering for all our sins. On the cross, Jesus was defiled with all our uncleanness. On the cross, Jesus, who is wholly holy, became unholy for you, bore all our unholiness. And now he shares his holiness and holy Gifts with you.

It’s a matter of proximity. The holiness we lack, Jesus shares freely. From his holy cross, he brings you holy Gifts. His promise and presence in His Holy Word. A flood of forgiveness in Holy Baptism. Pardon and peace in Holy Absolution. His holy Body and Blood in Holy Communion. And where Jesus is, there is his holiness, and yours. For you have his promise: “You shall be holy, for I am holy. And you are holy in me.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Renew me, O eternal Light, And let my heart and soul be bright, Illumined with the light of grace That issues from Your holy face. (LSB 704:1)