Category: Moments of Meditation

July 16, 2026

Broadcast

                 Increase in Us True Religion - Part 4
                             Matthew 5:19
                              07/16/2026


        19   Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of
             these commandments and teaches others to do the
             same will be called least in the kingdom of
             heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them
             will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
             (ESV)

        As Christians, do we keep God's law to earn His love, or do
   we keep His law because He has shown us His mercy?  The effect is
   the same, we strive to fear, love, and trust in God above all
   things while loving our neighbors as ourselves.  But striving to
   earn our salvation leads to despair, hopelessness, and failure.
   Responding to God's love because we are saved by grace alone
   brings us hope and comfort.

        Jesus warns us:
        Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these
        commandments and teaches others to do the same will be
        called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does
        them and teaches them will be called great in the
        kingdom of heaven.


        It is a false, misleading dream that we can do enough good
   works to pay for our sins.  A false religion demands good works
   to appease an angry God.  That is the religion of the world, a
   religion that makes demands in order to find the comfort of life
   everlasting.

        But before we came to know Christ Jesus, He lived, died, and
   rose again for our redemption.  He paid the price of all sins by
   all people.  God offers us the gift of salvation, and we are
   privileged to respond.  This is why the Church prays:
        Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all
        good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your
        name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all
        goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same.


        May our Lord grant us faith to recognize the truth and to
   trust in Him.  Amen.

July 15, 2026

Broadcast

                 Increase in Us True Religion - Part 3
                             Matthew 5:19
                              07/15/2026


        19   Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of
             these commandments and teaches others to do the
             same will be called least in the kingdom of
             heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them
             will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
             (ESV)

        Our first ancestors were tempted by the question, ``Did God
   really say?''  That question is at the forefront of our response
   to the changes of this world.  Did God really say that marriage
   is between a man and a woman only?  Did God really say that
   outside of Christ Jesus there is no salvation?  Did God really
   say that we should honor authority, pray for those who lead us,
   and act with respect towards all who serve this nation with the
   duty to make, judge, and enforce our laws?

        In order to pray for an increase of true religion, we need
   to recognize the marks of a false religion.  We believe, teach,
   and confess that the Word of God is the sole source and standard
   of everything the Church proclaims.  The first warning signal of
   a false religion is rejecting the Bible, or parts of the Bible,
   as no longer being relevant.

        Jesus warns us:
        Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these
        commandments and teaches others to do the same will be
        called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does
        them and teaches them will be called great in the
        kingdom of heaven.


        The sad divisions in the Church stem from our answer to the
   question, ``Did God really say?''

        Because we daily sin and daily need God's grace, we pray:
        Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all
        good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your
        name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all
        goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same.


        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in His Word and not our
   own understanding.  Amen.

July 14, 2026

Broadcast

                 Increase in Us True Religion - Part 2
                            Matthew 5:17-18
                              07/14/2026


        17   Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law
             or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them
             but to fulfill them.
        18   For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth
             pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from
             the Law until all is accomplished.  (ESV)

        Jesus said:
        Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
        Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to
        fulfill them.  For truly, I say to you, until heaven
        and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass
        from the Law until all is accomplished.


        The teaching of the Gospel, that we are redeemed from sin
   and death by the death and resurrection of Jesus, does not
   abolish the moral law.  Those who are saved from the guilt of sin
   are still to love God with their whole heart, and their neighbors
   as themselves.  The moral law is a constant reminder that we are
   at the same time saint and sinner, that we need God's mercy each
   day.

        By fulfilling the law on our behalf, Jesus credits us with
   His righteousness.  We no longer stand condemned because our Lord
   perfectly kept the law, yet suffered our punishment.

        This redemption from our sin was foretold long before Jesus
   was born, lived, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven.  For
   thousands of years before Jesus walked upon the earth, the
   prophets foretold His life and work.  We find the fulfillment of
   the prophecies in Christ, and in Him alone.

        Therefore the church prays:
        Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all
        good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your
        name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all
        goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same.


        May our Lord grant us faith to trust in Christ Jesus alone
   for our salvation.  Amen.

July 13, 2026

Broadcast

                 Increase in Us True Religion - Part 1
                            Matthew 5:17-18
                              07/13/2026


        17   Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law
             or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them
             but to fulfill them.
        18   For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth
             pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from
             the Law until all is accomplished.  (ESV)

        The prayer this week was translated from the Latin into
   English in the mid-1500s.[1] Although the words seem outdated,
   the prayer still applies today.  It is God who fills our hearts
   with love, grace, and mercy.  True religion is holding firmly to
   Christ Jesus as our Savior from sin, death, and the power of the
   devil.
        Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all
        good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your
        name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all
        goodness, and of Your great mercy keep us in the same;
        through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and
        reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
        forever.


        The Gospel lesson comes from the Sermon on the Mount where
   Jesus teaches us that we, of our own strength, cannot fulfill
   God's holy Law.  Rather, our hope is in Christ, Himself.

        Jesus said:
        Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
        Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to
        fulfill them.  For truly, I say to you, until heaven
        and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass
        from the Law until all is accomplished.


        This week we will look at the true religion of Christ versus
   the false religion of this world.

        May our Lord grant us His mercy that we fear, love, and
   trust in Him above all things.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Reed,  L.  D.  (1947).   The  Lutheran liturgy: A study of the
      common  service   of   the   Lutheran   Church   in   America.
      Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, p. 478

July 3, 2026

Broadcast

                    The Speck and the Log - Part 5
                             Luke 6:41-42
                              07/03/2026


        41   Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
             eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own
             eye?
        42   How can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me
             take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you
             yourself do not see the log that is in your own
             eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your
             own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out
             the speck that is in your brother's eye.  (ESV)

        This week we prayed:
        O Lord, grant that the course of this world may be so
        peaceably ordered by Your governance that Your Church
        may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness.


        As we discovered, the only way that the course of this world
   may be peaceful is through the grace and mercy of our heavenly
   Father.  As you and I have been given His love, we promote peace
   by reflecting His love to others.  Therefore, Jesus was able to
   tell His followers:
        Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye,
        but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  How
        can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take out
        the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do
        not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite,
        first take the log out of your own eye, and then you
        will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your
        brother's eye.


        Join us each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran
   Church as we learn more of God's grace, love, and mercy.  Receive
   His blessing of the forgiveness of your sins and the assurance of
   everlasting life in His mansions as you hear the good news of
   salvation by grace through faith for the sake of Christ.  Depart
   in peace, reflecting His love to those around you.

        We also pray, on the eve of the celebration of the signing
   of the Declaration of Independence:
        Lord, keep this nation under Your care.  Bless the
        leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace
        among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of
        the earth.  Grant that we may choose trustworthy
        leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general
        welfare, ans serve You faithfully in our generation:
        Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

July 2, 2026

Broadcast

                    The Speck and the Log - Part 4
                             Luke 6:41-42
                              07/02/2026


        41   Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
             eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own
             eye?
        42   How can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me
             take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you
             yourself do not see the log that is in your own
             eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your
             own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out
             the speck that is in your brother's eye.  (ESV)

        This week we pray:
        O Lord, grant that the course of this world may be so
        peaceably ordered by Your governance that Your Church
        may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness.


        Such a prayer can only be answered as we turn from our
   selfish, prideful ways to seek the good of our neighbor.  Such a
   change of heart comes from outside ourselves, for we cannot act
   with pure motives and desires without God's forgiveness.

        As we seek to right the wrongs of this world, we begin not
   by applying our standards to others, but applying God's standards
   to ourselves.  Otherwise, we accuse those around us of the same
   sins we commit, asking them to change, calling wrath upon them,
   while excusing our own actions.

        Jesus instructed His followers:
        Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye,
        but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  How
        can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take out
        the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do
        not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite,
        first take the log out of your own eye, and then you
        will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your
        brother's eye.


        May our Lord grant us wisdom to confess our sins, and to
   forgive those who we have sinned against.  Amen.

July 1, 2026

Broadcast

                    The Speck and the Log - Part 3
                             Luke 6:37-38
                              07/01/2026


        37   Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn
             not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and
             you will be forgiven;
        38   give, and it will be given to you. Good measure,
             pressed down, shaken together, running over, will
             be put into your lap. For with the measure you use
             it will be measured back to you.  (ESV)

        Jesus said:
        Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and
        you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be
        forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good
        measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,
        will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use
        it will be measured back to you.


        Our prayer this week asks God to guide us in all our ways so
   that we may live in harmony with our neighbors.  As we live in
   harmony, the peace which God brings to individuals grows as
   others come to know of Christ's love, of the forgiveness He
   gives.
        O Lord, grant that the course of this world may be so
        peaceably ordered by Your governance that Your Church
        may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness.


        Long before you and I were conceived, long before we were
   born with the sin of Adam clinging to us, Christ Jesus showed His
   mercy by dying and rising again to pay the price of our
   rebellion.  He is quick to forgive, for our redemption from sin
   and eternal death is a gift, not something we earn.

        In the Lord's Prayer, we ask God to apply the standards we
   set for others as He looks upon our transgressions.  Do we hold a
   grudge, wish ill on those who cause us harm, treat them with
   contempt?  We pray that God treats us with contempt.  Are we
   quick to forgive, to seek the good of those who sin against us?
   We pray God is quick to forgive.  As we seek to know and do God's
   will, we desire to reflect His mercy, for He was first merciful
   to us.  May our Lord grant us faith to show His love, even to
   those who sin against us.  Amen.

June 30, 2026

Broadcast

                    The Speck and the Log - Part 2
                             Luke 6:37-38
                              06/30/2026


        37   Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn
             not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and
             you will be forgiven;
        38   give, and it will be given to you. Good measure,
             pressed down, shaken together, running over, will
             be put into your lap. For with the measure you use
             it will be measured back to you.  (ESV)

        The world, our nation, our lives are in turmoil.  This week
   we pray:
        O Lord, grant that the course of this world may be so
        peaceably ordered by Your governance that Your Church
        may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness.


        How are we to reflect the Father's mercy as we interact
   daily with those who are less than merciful?  First, we cannot
   show mercy unless we have received mercy.  Only as the Holy
   Spirit, working through the Word and sacraments, calls us to
   faith in God can we receive and reflect His mercy.  Otherwise,
   even our kind gestures have sinful motives.

        In our arrogance, in our pride, we apply a standard of
   behavior to others which we, ourselves, do not apply to
   ourselves.  Jesus said:
        Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and
        you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be
        forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good
        measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,
        will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use
        it will be measured back to you.


        We are to judge between right and wrong.  We are to help our
   neighbor overcome those problems which cause him harm, which
   place him in danger.  But we do so, not as a superior, but as we
   first repent and acknowledge our own sins.  We do so in hope that
   our neighbor may prosper and grow.

        May our Lord grant us faith to repent of our sin as we help
   our neighbor overcome his sin.  Amen.

June 29, 2026

Broadcast

                    The Speck and the Log - Part 1
                               Luke 6:36
                              06/29/2026


        36   Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
             (ESV)

        This week we pray:
        O Lord, grant that the course of this world may be so
        peaceably ordered by Your governance that Your Church
        may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through
        Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns
        with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        As we approach the 250th anniversary of the founding of this
   nation, we are very aware that there is little peace in this
   world, and that we are a nation divided against ourselves.  There
   are two ways we can act.  Either we are selfish, prideful, and
   arrogant, or we are forgiving and humble.  Unfortunately, more
   often we see the arrogance and not the forgiveness.

        Sunday's Gospel reading from Saint Luke begins: ``Be
   merciful, even as your Father is merciful.''  Here is where we
   fail.  By nature we desire to be in charge, to be in complete
   control.  We cherish things and use people, We strive to
   accumulate wealth at any cost.  We celebrate pride, our own
   demands over the good of others.

        Yet Jesus calls us to be merciful.  Our heavenly Father
   shows His mercy to us daily as we receive from Him all that we
   need to support this life.  But the greater mercy, He set His Son
   to die in our place, to redeem us from our arrogance, to show us
   our sin, but more-so, to show us our Savior.

        This week we will be looking at God's mercy as shown to us
   through Christ Jesus.  We will see that in Him we have life
   everlasting.

        May our Lord grant us mercy so that we may reflect His love
   to others.  Amen.

June 26, 2026

Broadcast

                        Lost and Found - Part 5
                             Luke 15:7,10
                              06/26/2026


        7    Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in
             heaven over one sinner who repents than over
             ninety-nine righteous persons who need no
             repentance.
        10   Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the
             angels of God over one sinner who repents.''
             (ESV)

        This week we have looked at the prayer of the Church in
   light of God's grace and mercy.  As John Newton confessed in the
   hymn, ``Amazing Grace,'' ``I once was lost but now I am found.''
        O God, the protector of all who trust in You, without
        whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, multiply
        Your mercy on us that, with You as our ruler and guide,
        we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not
        the things eternal.


        Because the Church is God's earthly agent, we also seek the
   lost.  We hear Jesus' words: ``Just so, I tell you, there will be
   more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-
   nine righteous persons who need no repentance.  Just so, I tell
   you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who
   repents,'' and rejoice over those who come to know the love of
   God.

        The Church is not for the self-righteous, for those who
   claim they are perfect.  The Church is for the sinners who desire
   the peace of knowing God's grace.  The Church is for those who
   long for the forgiveness earned by Christ Jesus as He suffered,
   died, and rose again.  The Church is for you and me, sinners who
   need to hear the good news of salvation.

        Each Sunday you can hear this good news that you are
   reconciled to God the Father for the sake of Jesus Christ.
   Please join us at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church to learn
   more of this marvelous truth.

        May our Lord open our hearts and minds to hear His
   invitation that we may come into His presence to receive His gift
   of eternal life.  Amen.