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.