Reflections

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Религия и духовность
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Join HT for a reading of the days Higher Things Reflection. A short devotion directed toward the youth of our church, written by the Pastors and Deaconesses of our church, clearly proclaiming the true Gospel of Jesus Christ! Find out more about HT at our website, www.higherthings.org

-1 ч

Saturday of the Fifteenth Week After Trinity

September 19, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 16 - Psalm 86:1, 7, 12-13; antiphon: Psalm 86:3, 5 Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 2:11-20; 4:1-6; 1 Timothy 2:1-15 “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” (Psalm 86:12) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You know it is your duty to thank, praise, serve, and obey your heavenly Father for the magnificent Gifts He bestows on you—not least, your very life! Yes, God desires your heart! He even calls you “precious” (Psalm 116:15), that is, meaningful and weighty, and significant to Him. How wonderful it is that in Baptism, He makes your heart capable of loving Him in return. Oh, we certainly fall in moments of weakness, but we have His promise that one day, we will love Him with our whole heart! That day dawns at a Christian’s death. To be sure, death is an enemy—the greatest enemy of God. Yet for you, a Christian, death is a portal because Christ has overcome death. So when death draws near, we find comfort knowing that the promise of Baptism will overcome death. At a Christian’s death, family, friends, and siblings in Christ gather together to share their grief, remember the brevity of life on earth, and give voice to sorrow—but also to thank God for their loved one, and to entrust them into His hands. In a special rite called the Commendation of the Dying (also known as “Last Rites”), it is suggested to sing the last stanza of Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart. That stanza describes the day when we will truly love the Lord with all our heart. Until that day, we live by the first two verses. We praise the Lord by glorying in His Gifts. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Lord, thee I love with all my heart; I pray thee, ne'er from me depart, with tender mercy cheer me. Earth has no pleasure I would share; yea, heav'n itself were void and bare if thou, Lord, wert not near me. And should my heart for sorrow break, my trust in thee can nothing shake. Thou art the portion I have sought; thy precious blood my soul has bought. Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord, forsake me not! I trust thy word. Lord, let at last thine angels come, to Abr'ham's bosom bear me home that I may die unfearing; and in its narrow chamber keep my body safe in peaceful sleep until thy reappearing. And then from death awaken me that these mine eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, thy glorious face, my Savior and my fount of grace. Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend, and I will praise thee without end.LSB 708:1, 3) Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL.
-1 дн.

Friday of the Fifteenth Week After Trinity

September 18, 2026 Today's Reading: 1 Timothy 1:1-20 Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 1:1-2:10; Haggai 1:1-2:23; 1 Timothy 1:1-20 “To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:2) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Timothy’s biological father was a pagan who apparently cared nothing for his son’s spiritual life. Timothy was nonetheless blessed to have many parents in the faith. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, nurtured him in the faith and taught him the love of Jesus. Paul pointed them out as examples of spiritual parents in his second letter to Timothy. Here, in his first letter, however, Paul does not give explicit examples; yet, nonetheless, his language is a subtle reminder that Timothy is part of a great family—God’s family. This was a great comfort to Timothy. When he received each of those letters from Paul, Timothy was a young pastor going through a rough time. He felt lonely in his duties. He was separated from those who once cared for him—at least emotionally, and possibly geographically, too. Timothy served in Ephesus. That is at least a week-long walk from his hometown in Lystra, where Paul met him in Acts 16. For all we know, Eunice and Lois were asleep in Christ by this point in history. Paul himself was in and out of prison and often facing trial. It would have been easy for Timothy to feel disheartened and lonely. But being part of God’s family means we are never alone. We have an omnipresent God who desires to be called “Father.” He wants to hear your worries and cares—not because of any special merit or worthiness in you, but simply out of a fatherly, divine goodness and mercy. So Paul shared God’s “grace, mercy, and peace” as a true spiritual father does to a true spiritual son. We enjoy these same Gifts today. Your heavenly Father has granted you siblings more numerous than the stars in the sky! They gather together weekly to receive His greatest gifts: freely-given grace, entirely undeserved mercy, and an everlasting peace that the world could never shake or destroy. God’s only-begotten Son, Jesus, raises you into His family. You now have the joy to raise up your fellow family members to know that same “grace, mercy, and peace.” No matter what sort of biological family we may or may not have, we always get to share the love of God with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We get to smile at the screeching baby in the pew ahead, offer a hand to the parent struggling to juggle diapers, bottles, and blankets. We get to volunteer to help with Sunday School or bring a dish to the potluck. Even simple things like singing in worship help our brothers and sisters know that they are not alone! So, too, is the way we refer to one another: as “brother” and “sister.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Lord, teach me to treasure the true family You have given me in Christ Jesus. Amen. Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL.
-2 дн.

Thursday of the Fifteenth Week After Trinity

September 17, 2026 Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Who receives this sacrament worthily? Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 36:1-23; Philemon 1-25; Colossians 4:1-18 Who receives this sacrament worthily? Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe. (Small Catechism- The Sacrament of the Altar) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Our churches practice “closed Communion,” in keeping with our confessional understanding of fellowship and the danger of receiving the sacrament without proper spiritual preparation. Out of love for our neighbors, only those who are properly prepared should commune. St. Paul warns us: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning, the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) These words are serious business! It is understandable that over the years, various churches developed human practices to help Christians examine themselves and discern that Christ is truly present in, with, and under the forms of Bread and Wine. For example, some recommend fasting prior to Communion. Such practices are good and can certainly help us appreciate God’s great Gift. But it is the spiritual preparation that truly matters. So, how is one spiritually prepared? By being properly catechized to have faith in the words “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” and all the true doctrine and practice implied with them. Those who do not share our confession may or may not be properly spiritually prepared, so out of love, we do not commune them. Spiritual preparation means sorrow for your sins, trust in Jesus Christ as your sole Savior from sin, believing His words that He truly gives you His Body and Blood in the Sacrament, and desiring, with the Spirit’s aid, to amend the sin in your life. All this is only possible through the working of Jesus in your heart; He is the one who makes us worthy to receive. Praise be to Him for this most wonderful Gift! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Dear Savior, at Your gracious invitation I come to Your table to eat and drink Your holy body and blood. Let me find favor in Your eyes to receive this holy Sacrament in faith for the salvation of my soul and to the glory of Your holy name; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen. (“Before communing,” LSB Prayers for Worship, inside cover) Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL.
-3 дн.

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week After Trinity

September 16, 2026 Today's Reading: Galatians 5:25-6:10 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 35:1-7, 16-25; Zephaniah 1:1-3:20; Colossians 3:1-25 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Holy Spirit encourages us to do good to one another. It sounds so simple. Yet doing good can be downright exhausting. In this sin-broken world, doing the right thing the right way is not always the quickest, most efficient, most convenient, or most enjoyable. So some set aside doing good altogether. Take the working world, for example. It is dominated by corporate espionage and get-ahead-quick schemes. The goal is to come out ahead of one’s competitors. The question of ‘good’ is sometimes replaced with the question of ‘legality.’ Think about it: many companies have a legal department, but when was the last time you heard of a company with an ethics department? Some try to aim for a ‘reasonable’ compromise. The initial plan is always to do good, but when bearing one another’s burdens becomes too much, well… they move on to less exhausting work. This is not God’s desire. He would have His creatures live in a perfect world, where those who bear His image “live by the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit.” This is why the Holy Spirit comes to us in Holy Baptism, to enlighten us by His Gifts and continually sanctify us—that through us, He would sow spiritual good throughout all creation! God has sown the seed of the Gospel in you! And He will reap a good harvest in time. Do not grow weary of doing good, brothers and sisters! God is working through you! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Called by worship to Your service, Forth in Your dear name we go, To the child, the youth, the aged, Love in living deeds to show; Hope and health, goodwill and comfort, Counsel, aid, and peace we give, That Your servants, Lord, in freedom May Your mercy know and live. (LSB 848:4) Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL.
-4 дн.

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week After Trinity

September 15, 2026 Today's Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 34:1-4, 8-11, 14-33; Nahum 1:1-3:19; Colossians 2:8-23 “And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.” (1 Kings 17:15) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Rewind nearly 3,000 years. The widow of Zarephath thought she knew what was coming. It would be death, and a fate worse than any she had ever imagined. Famine was in the land, and food and drink were not to be found. She meant to enjoy one last supper before the great end of her days. She gathered some sticks—two, in the original Hebrew, to be precise—that she might prepare. But Elijah knew what was really coming. It would be life. God would provide what was needed for life to flourish. He prophesied: “The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.” (1 Kings 17:14) Having been so broken and desperate that nothing remained but to trust this in his word of promise, “she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.” (1 Kings 17:15) Fast forward nearly 1,000 years. The disciples thought they knew what was coming. It would be life, greater than anything they had ever imagined! After all, the Messiah had come! Jesus Himself had proclaimed: “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:23) They enjoyed one Last Supper before the great end of the early days. “Do this,” He said. Elsewhere, pieces of wood were gathered together—two, in the typical Roman fashion—that He might prepare. But Jesus knew what was really coming. It would be death. God Himself had come to provide what was needed for sin to be killed. He had prophesied throughout the Scriptures, again and again, for those who had ears to hear: death would be conquered by death. Even when Jesus was upon the cross that next day, the disciples could not yet understand what was happening. They were broken and desperate. Nothing remained but to trust in His Word of promise, and even that seemed too much. They fell away. Then Jesus arose. Fast forward over 2,000 years. We know what is coming. It is both death and life, greater and more wonderful than anything we could have imagined! It has been revealed to us through the Word of the Lord: Jesus has given us death to sin and life in Him. We join Him at His Table, receiving the very Bread of Life Himself, by faith. “Do this,” he says. And His holy church? Well, “she and he and her household ate for many days,” justified by His precious sacrifice. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. For what purpose was My dying If not for your justifying? And what use this precious food If you yourself were pure and good? (LSB 627:8) Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL.
-5 дн.

Holy Cross Day

September 14, 2026 Today's Reading: John 12:20-33 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25; Jonah 1:1-4:11; Colossians 1:24-2:7 “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:23) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. John’s Gospel started with a glorious light shining in the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. In chapter three, Nicodemus came under the cover of darkness to learn about that Light. Jesus explained, “God so loved the world…” Yes, just as a bronze snake was gloriously “high and lifted up” by Moses to heal any Hebrew who saw it, in the same way, God would hold His own Son, gloriously “high and lifted up,” to heal all people who see Him by faith. Now, in chapter 12, Jesus has healed many! And on the outskirts of Jerusalem, in the little suburb up the hill called Bethany, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead! A crowd gathered, laying cloaks upon the road and waving palm branches. They shouted: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” They came because “they heard he had done this sign.” (John 12:18) Jews sought a sign-doer: “Jesus, raise my dead, too.” “Jesus, multiply more bread.” “Jesus, fill my belly and make me rich.” Jews were not the only ones. “Sir, we wish to see Jesus,” some Greeks said. They sought worldly wisdom. “Jesus, teach me the secret to inner peace.” “Jesus, show me how to succeed in this life.” “Jesus, teach us how to outthink our enemies to have power and influence to rule the world.” Both Jews and Greeks ultimately sought glory for themselves. Jesus did not come for his own glory. He came for all the world. Now with all the world represented in the Greeks and Jews gathered around Him, Jesus said: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” It was a reminder of His talk with Nicodemus. When the Light of the World is “high and lifted up,” He is not atop a warhorse, or carried upon a grand litter, but nailed on a Cross. His glory is an emblem of suffering and shame—an instrument of torture and death. Had Jesus chosen to come into the world today, we might very well venerate an electric chair. Paul might have written “We preach Christ electrified!” It is easy to see why the Cross is a stumbling block to those seeking glory by signs, and a folly to those who seek glory by wisdom. The Cross is salvation for sinners in need of God’s Light—Jews and Greeks, and all people. And you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Let ev’ry race and ev’ry language tell Of Him who saves our lives from death and hell. Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim Till all the world adore His sacred name. (LSB 837:5) Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL.
-6 дн.

Fifteenth Sunday After Trinity

September 13, 2026 Today's Reading: Matthew 6:24-34 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 32:1-22; Hosea 1:1-14:9; Colossians 1:1-23 “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. For all the troubles we face in this fallen world, God provides tools of care to help us endure. But these tools for ‘care’ are not themselves the ‘Cure.’ The sole Cure for sin is Jesus. He reminds us, by His Word and Sacraments, that He has brought us to dwell in His kingdom. He strengthens us and protects us from all harm and danger. Take, for example, a pesky epidemic that troubled people during Jesus’ earthly ministry: anxiety. It continues to affect almost everyone at some point. In the most severe cases, anxiety manifests as a chronic mental illness. In such cases, God provides tools for care, including trusted pastors, trained therapists and psychologists, and even medicine. Yet ultimately, these tools for care are not the Cure. Anxiety is a product of the Fall into sin. The only Cure is Jesus. Consider how anxiety orders society today. Well-intentioned parents are anxious about the physical safety and worldly success of their children. So, children are often placed into ‘structured and safe’ bubbles of activity, such as travel sports leagues, training programs, tutoring, and more. Unstructured time with friends today is less than a third of what it was a decade ago—from 140 minutes per day to barely 40. As one pastor put it: “Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors… and everyone is at soccer practice.” On one hand, this means fewer injuries! From 2019 to 2020, Emergency Room visits for boys aged 0-17 dropped from 50 visits per 100 children to just 32. On the other hand, keeping children physically safe has not made anxiety go away. By 2015, one in five American teenage girls used social media more than 40 hours a week—that is equivalent to a full-time job! Self-harm among boys in the U.S. rose by 48% between 2010 and 2020. For girls aged 10-14, those numbers have increased by 600% in the past decade. Adults are affected, too: on average, mental illness shortens lifespans by 25 years. Friends, if you are suffering, seek help and get the proper care. God provides care for the mind, just as He provides food and clothing for the body. But even more importantly, seek first the Kingdom of God. Let the Cure have a place in your life. He loves you, forgives you all your sins, and strengthens you to life everlasting! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Eternal God, You counsel us not to be anxious about earthly things. Keep alive in us a proper yearning for those heavenly treasures awaiting all who trust in Your mercy, that we may daily rejoice in Your salvation and serve You with constant devotion; through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Sunday after Trinity, Proper 3) Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL.
12 сент.

Saturday of the Fourteenth Week After Trinity

September 12, 2026 Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 15 - Psalm 86:4, 6, 15a, 16; antiphon: Psalm 86:1a, 2b, 3 Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 31:1-21; Philippians 4:1-23 “Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.” (Psalm 86:6) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Wow! … Really? … That’s crazy! … Yup. … How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? … And then suddenly, “Are you even listening to me?” Trapped. Not even half of your attention was being given to that other person. You were not listening but were distracted by other things. Your mind wandered. The phone buzzed. A loud car drove by. And suddenly you were a million miles away, not listening to a word they were saying. Sometimes I would guess it feels this way with your prayers. You have been praying for something, and it seems like God is just ignoring you, like He’s got something better, someone else better to listen to than you. This is our sinful human nature at work, causing doubt, failing to believe the words of our Introit tomorrow, and so many other passages of Scripture. God loves to hear the prayers of His children, to hear your prayers. He invites us to pray to Him and promises to hear us. David calls upon that promise as he cries out to God, “Give ear, O Lord to my prayer”. Stated another way, David is saying, “Okay God. You promise to hear me, so listen to me now.” And God does! He is not so busy with the other 8 million plus people that He doesn’t have time to listen to you. Of course He does! You are His child. He created you in your mother’s womb. He re-created you in the water of Holy Baptism to be His own child. He shed His holy and precious blood to forgive your sins. He feeds you with His holy Body and Blood, giving you forgiveness, life, and salvation. All this He has done for you. Of course, He hears and answers your prayers. He is the one who provides for you in the body with all the Gifts listed in the explanation to the First Article. He is also the one who provides for you in your soul with the Second and Third Articles' Gifts, namely life and salvation. So cry out to God, often. He does indeed give ear to your prayers. He listens to you and responds always with His good Gifts. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Lord, this I ask, O hear my plea, Deny me not this favor: When Satan sorely troubles me, Then do not let me waver. O guard me well, My fear dispel, Fulfill Your faithful saying: All who believe By grace receive An answer to their praying. (LSB 758:3) Rev. Daniel Voth, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, ND.

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Great start to my day

06.05.2024

JoyfullyRedeemed

Wonderful program. Great start to my day. Reminds me of what we we have in Christ. The transcripts are much appreciated. Thank you..