Category: Moments of Meditation

October 3, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 5
                             Matthew 6:33
                              10/03/2025

        33   But seek first the kingdom of God and his
             righteousness, and all these things will be added
             to you.  (ESV)

        Jesus told His followers: ``Therefore I tell you, do not be
   anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
   drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
   more than food, and the body more than clothing?''

        Our Lord pointed us to the love of God the Father who cares
   for the least of creation, who gives food and shelter to those
   things He created simply by speaking.  If He cares for the least
   of creation, He cares for the crown jewel of His creation, the
   people He formed in His own image.

        Even though we sinned and rebelled against God, He sent His
   Son to reconcile us to Himself, to redeem us at the cost of
   Jesus' life.  Through Jesus' resurrection, we are assured of
   everlasting life.

        It is not because of God's law, ``You shall have no other
   gods before Me,'' but because of His grace, love, and mercy that
   we desire to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things.  It
   is not the commandment that forces us to desire to come into His
   presence, but the truth that He is our loving Father.  Jesus
   summarized this lesson: ``But seek first the kingdom of God and
   his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.''

        Our heavenly Father invites you to receive the gift of His
   grace as He gathers us together each week.  Join us at Trinity
   Lutheran Church at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday to learn more about the
   love of the Father for your eternal blessing.

        May our Lord grant us the peace of knowing that the One who
   sent His Son to redeem us from sin gives us His temporal and
   eternal blessings.  Amen.

October 2, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 4
                            Matthew 6:31-32
                              10/02/2025

        31   Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ``What shall
             we eat?'' or ``What shall we drink?''  or ``What
             shall we wear?''
        32   For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and
             your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
             (ESV)

        Jesus told His followers: ``Therefore I tell you, do not be
   anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
   drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
   more than food, and the body more than clothing?''  He spoke of
   God's provision for creation, how the birds are fed, how the
   fields are filled with beautiful flowers.  In making this
   argument from the lesser to the greater, Jesus draws the
   conclusion:
        Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ``What shall we
        eat?'' or ``What shall we drink?''  or ``What shall we
        wear?''  For the Gentiles seek after all these things,
        and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.


        Saint Paul reminds us of a greater reason not to be anxious
   about the things of this world.  ``He who did not spare his own
   Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him
   graciously give us all things?''[1] Our heavenly Father sent His
   Son to take upon Himself our transgressions, our willful sins.
   He who created sacrificed His most treasured and beloved Son so
   that we can have eternal life with Him.  Clothing, food, and
   shelter are insignificant compared to the price paid by God to
   redeem us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in His love, not only
   for our daily bread, but for our eternal life, for the sake of
   Christ Jesus.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Romans 8:32 (ESV)

October 1, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 3
                             Matthew 6:25
                              10/01/2025

        25   Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your
             life, what you will eat or what you will drink,
             nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not
             life more than food, and the body more than
             clothing?  (ESV)

        Jesus told His followers: ``Therefore I tell you, do not be
   anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
   drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
   more than food, and the body more than clothing?''  He then spoke
   of nature, of how God feeds the birds, how God gives beauty to
   wild flowers.

        Christians who trust God's Word as being true and accurate
   are at an advantage when considering that which we need to
   sustain our body and life.  We believe, teach, and confess that
   in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, that He
   made everything for a purpose.  All things, save humanity, were
   brought forth by the power of His word alone.  Adam, however, He
   sculpted from the dust of the ground, and breathed into the lump
   of clay to give life and a soul.

        Jesus argued from the least to the greatest.  If our
   heavenly Father provides for those things created by His word,
   will He not care more for the pinnacle of His creation?  The
   finely tuned ecosystem serves for the good of all creation,
   providing food and shelter for each living thing.

        Time and again we see how God provides that which we need.
   He truly answers our prayer, ``Give us this day our daily bread''
   as He works through farmers and distribution systems so to
   deliver food to all creation.  He uses your hands and mine to
   produce and share so that everyone may live.

        May our Lord grant us faith to see His blessings even as we
   see the harvest, so that we give thanks to Him for all things.
   Amen.

September 30, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 2
                             Matthew 6:25
                              09/30/2025

        25   Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your
             life, what you will eat or what you will drink,
             nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not
             life more than food, and the body more than
             clothing?  (ESV)

        Jesus told His disciples that they could not serve both God
   and money.  Each person must set priorities to determine how to
   use their resources of time, talents, and treasures.  We either
   consider God as most important, or we consider something created
   as most important.

        In 1943, Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, discussed
   a hierarchy of needs as the way of understanding human
   motivation.  The concept is simple in practice.  You can't be
   worried about self-actualization and creativity when you are
   unable to breathe.  If your basic survival needs are not met, if
   you don't have air and food and shelter nothing else really
   matters.

        We spend our time looking for those things we need to
   support this life.  Often we will obsess over that which we do
   not have, that which seems necessary to support this life.  We
   work harder, we scheme, we plot, we do all we can to obtain that
   thing which is missing.

        Jesus spoke of this truth.  ``Therefore I tell you, do not
   be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will
   drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life
   more than food, and the body more than clothing?''

        Unlike many people who give such advise, Jesus gives us a
   reason why we should not be anxious, why we should not worry
   about the basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing.  As we will
   see, He brings us back to God's creating power, God's love, and
   faith.

        May our Lord open our eyes to see His rich blessings, and
   our hearts to trust fully in Him.  Amen.

September 29, 2025

Broadcast

                          Seek First - Part 1
                             Matthew 6:24
                              09/29/2025

        24   No one can serve two masters, for either he will
             hate the one and love the other, or he will be
             devoted to the one and despise the other. You
             cannot serve God and money.  (ESV)

        Sometimes we miss the most obvious truth because the truth
   is so fundamental.  What is most important to you?  As we answer
   that question, we tend to think of family or recognition or other
   things which bring happiness and contentment.  On the other hand,
   we forget that if you can't breathe, family and recognition and
   the win / loss record of your favorite football team are
   meaningless.

        This week's Gospel lesson asks us to set priorities, asks us
   to determine where we invest our resources.  As we ponder the
   words Jesus spoke as recorded by Matthew, we do so remembering
   that God gave us His law out of love.

        Jesus said:
        No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate
        the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to
        the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
        money.


        This is a practical application of the First Commandment,
   ``You shall have no other gods before me.''  Why should we fear,
   love, and trust in God above all things?  How does trusting in
   Him bring us joy?  Isn't God demanding, doesn't His law restrict
   us from doing things which otherwise we would enjoy?

        This week we will examine Jesus' teaching to learn that His
   Word is not only true, but the best advice we can receive to live
   in harmony with God and neighbor.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear and trust in His holy
   Word.  Amen.

September 26, 2025

Broadcast

                            Cured - Part 5
                              Luke 17:19
                              09/26/2025

        19   And he said to him, ``Rise and go your way; your
             faith has made you well.''  (ESV)

        While Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, ten lepers cried out
   to Him for mercy, for healing from their dread disease.  While
   they followed Jesus' instruction to show themselves to the
   priests, they were cured.  Only one, a Samaritan, returned to
   give thanks to Jesus.

        This thankful Samaritan fell at Jesus' feet, worshiping Him
   as God, recognizing Him as the Messiah.  Only God could cure the
   physical leprosy, and the Samaritan recognized that this cure was
   something done by grace and mercy alone.

        Our salvation from sin, death, and the power of the devil is
   by grace alone, God's undeserved and all redeeming love.  We
   confess that we are the living dead, that we deserve eternal
   punishment.  What we receive is complete pardon, a complete
   remission of our sin, and the heavenly declaration that we are
   holy and pure in God's sight.

        No wonder this story of the thankful Samaritan is much more
   than recounting God's power over disease, the miracle of healing
   by Jesus as He walked this earth.  It is the story of our
   redemption from sin and death, the story of God's mercy, the
   story which causes us to raise our voices in praise and honor of
   God.  It is the story of faith which trusts in God's Word, and
   trusts only in Him.

        Each Sunday our Lord invites us into His presence to receive
   this heavenly cure from sin and death.  Because we have received
   His good gift of forgiveness, we respond in praise and
   thanksgiving.  Please join us this Sunday at Trinity to hear of
   our Savior's love for you, and the gift which is given because of
   His grace.

        May our Lord bless you with the desire to return to give
   thanks, to hear ``Your faith has made you well.''  Amen.

September 25, 2025

Broadcast

                            Cured - Part 4
                             Luke 17:15-18
                              09/25/2025

        15   Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
             turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
        16   and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him
             thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
        17   Then Jesus answered, ``Were not ten cleansed?
             Where are the nine?
        18   Was no one found to return and give praise to God
             except this foreigner?''  (ESV)

        While Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, ten lepers cried out
   to Him for mercy, for healing from their dread disease.  While
   they followed Jesus' instruction to show themselves to the
   priests, they were cured.
        Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
        turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he
        fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now
        he was a Samaritan.  Then Jesus answered, ``Were not
        ten cleansed? Where are the nine?  Was no one found to
        return and give praise to God except this foreigner?''


        Let's talk about the leprosy of sin.  The first sin was not
   about eating the forbidden fruit, but about being like God, about
   replacing God.  Because we are born with this sin, we are by
   nature selfish, demanding, and arrogant.  After all, if we are
   like God, if we are God, we deserve everything good.  If we are
   in control, the gifts and kindness given to us are our right and
   are owed to us.

        The nine lepers who did not return to thank Jesus were part
   of the chosen people, the children of Israel.  They accepted the
   cure as something God owed them.  Not so the Samaritan.  He
   immediately turned back to thank Jesus, who he praised as God,
   for His grace and mercy.

        As we confess our sin, we confess that we are not in
   control.  We either are overwhelmed by our lack of hope, or we
   find our cure in Christ Jesus.

        May our Lord grant us faith to thank Him for His rich gift
   of forgiveness and life everlasting.  Amen.

September 24, 2025

Broadcast

                            Cured - Part 3
                              Luke 17:14
                              09/24/2025

        14   When he saw them he said to them, ``Go and show
             yourselves to the priests.''  And as they went
             they were cleansed.  (ESV)

        Jesus was traveling from Galilee to Jerusalem along the
   border of Samaria.  This was His final journey.  He soon would
   enter into Jerusalem to the shouts of the crowds and the waving
   of palm branches.  There He would die to pay the price of sin for
   all people, to be the cure for everlasting death.

        Ten lepers, recognizing Him as the one who had cured others
   of their diseases, cried out, ``Jesus, Master, have mercy on
   us.''  ``When he saw them he said to them, `Go and show
   yourselves to the priests.'  And as they went they were
   cleansed.''

        The lepers recognized that they were condemned, considered
   already dead by society.  They also knew they could not cure
   themselves, that nothing they did would cure the physical stain.
   Seeing Jesus, they knew He was their only hope.  As they followed
   His command, the lepers were cured.

        As sinners, we recognize that we cannot pay the price of our
   own sin.  The damage we have done to our families, our neighbors,
   and ourselves cannot be undone.  Our only hope for a cure is the
   mercy of God, to have Him remove the sin which otherwise condemns
   us forever.  As we trust in Christ Jesus, our Lord, we are cured.

        This is the direct parallel between leprosy and our own sin.
   Saint John reminds us, ``If we confess our sins, he is faithful
   and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
   unrighteousness.''[1]

        May our Lord grant us faith to see Jesus as our Redeemer
   from sin and death.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. I John 1:9 (ESV)

September 23, 2025

Broadcast

                            Cured - Part 2
                             Luke 17:11-13
                              09/23/2025

        11   On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along
             between Samaria and Galilee.
        12   And as he entered a village, he was met by ten
             lepers, who stood at a distance
        13   and lifted up their voices, saying, ``Jesus,
             Master, have mercy on us.''  (ESV)

        On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along
        between Samaria and Galilee.  And as he entered a
        village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a
        distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ``Jesus,
        Master, have mercy on us.''


        How does this incident in the life of Jesus point to our
   salvation from sin, death, and the power of the devil?  Leprosy,
   at the time of Christ Jesus, was considered incurable.  Those
   affected with the disease were not allowed to have contact with
   other people.  They had to warn those unaffected by calling out,
   ``Unclean'' as they drew near.

        Lepers were considered already dead.  If the disease was
   reversed, they could be declared clean and whole by a priest,
   thus they could regain their place in society.  This was very
   uncommon.

        Sin is like this disease.  Because of sin, we are unclean in
   God's sight and removed from His presence.  In the same way the
   lepers saw Jesus as their only hope for a cure, we look to Him
   for our restoration before God.

        The lepers could not cure themselves.  Even today, with the
   modern antibiotics, the cure for leprosy is long and difficult.
   Once the skin and nerves are damaged, even if the underlying
   bacteria is removed, the effects are permanent.  No wonder the
   Church speaks of the leprosy of sin, the incurable and eternally
   fatal disease which only Christ may cure.

        May our Lord grant us wisdom to understand our only hope is
   in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

September 22, 2025

Broadcast

                            Cured - Part 1
                             Luke 17:11-13
                              09/22/2025

        11   On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along
             between Samaria and Galilee.
        12   And as he entered a village, he was met by ten
             lepers, who stood at a distance
        13   and lifted up their voices, saying, ``Jesus,
             Master, have mercy on us.''  (ESV)

        The Gospel lesson this week is the familiar story of the
   thankful Samaritan, the only one of ten lepers who returned to
   thank Jesus for being cured from this horrible disease.  It is
   also the Gospel lesson appointed for Thanksgiving Day.

        On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along
        between Samaria and Galilee.  And as he entered a
        village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a
        distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ``Jesus,
        Master, have mercy on us.''


        Why would the Holy Spirit, who inspired Saint Luke to write
   his Gospel, cause this incident to be recorded?  Was it to prove
   beyond a doubt that Jesus is true God?  This may certainly be the
   case.  Was it to serve as an example of gratitude?  Of course,
   that is one lesson.  Was it to show that faith in Christ Jesus as
   our Redeemer from sin and death leads to a response, a
   recognition that He has taken our incurable disease of sin upon
   Himself?  Absolutely.

        All of the Bible is written so that we know that Jesus is
   the promised Savior, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him
   we will have life everlasting.  This week we shall explore this
   miracle with the goal of your eternal life in mind.  We will see
   how the physical disease of leprosy is a perfect likeness to our
   spiritual disease of sin, and that our only hope of a cure is
   Jesus.

        May our Lord grant us faith to recognize Him as our only
   hope of salvation.  Amen.