Reflections
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
Saturday of the Eighteenth Week After Trinity
October 10, 2026
Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 19 - Psalm 78:1-3, 4b; antiphon: Psalm 35:3b; 34:17a, 6b; 48:14a
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 9:1-22; Matthew 11:1-19
“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” (Psalm 78:4)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Here we have evangelism at its most basic level. We open our mouths and tell of the glorious deed...
Friday of the Eighteenth Week After Trinity
October 9, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 10:24-42
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 8:1-20; Matthew 10:24-42
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
History is full of men and women who fearlessly confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord. They could not deny him. James the Great, on...
Thursday of the Eighteenth Week After Trinity
October 8, 2026
Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of duties: to bishops, pastors and preachers
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 7:1-19; Matthew 10:1-23
“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” (Titus 1:9)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Your pastor has been given one job – to be a steward of the word of God. That is the task above all others. It is a n...
Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week After Trinity
October 7, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 9:18-38
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 6:10-25; Matthew 9:18-38
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
A woman suffering for twelve years from a horrible disease, a dead daughter, two blind men crying out for mercy, a demon-possessed man who could not speak – all healed by Jesus. With just a word and with just a touc...
Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week After Trinity
October 6, 2026
Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:(1-3) 4-9
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 5:22-6:9; Matthew 9:1-17
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Three words. Four syllables. Yet no greater words have been written, nor greater words confessed, “God is faithful.” Our very lives depend on these words. All our hopes are anchored to these words. Every promise of God made to you hangs on...
Monday of the Eighteenth Week After Trinity
October 5, 2026
Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 10:12-21
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Matthew 8:18-34
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.” (Deuteronomy 10:17)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
God has made it pretty clear what he requires of his people. What does the Lord require of you? To fear him, to walk in his ways, to love him, to s...
Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity
October 4, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 22:34-46
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 4:21-40; Matthew 8:1-17
“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.’” (Matthew 22:36-28)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
“Jesus, tell us, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Who’s asking and why? The question comes...
Saturday of the Seventeenth Week After Trinity
October 3, 2026
Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 18 - Psalm 122:1, 6, 8-9; antiphon: Liturgical Text
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 4:1-20; Matthew 7:13-29
“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
As we come to the end of a week reflecting on God’s Word regarding the virtue of humility, we can’t forget the time where we receive from the Giver of every good Gift.
Friday of the Seventeenth Week After Trinity
October 2, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 7:1-12
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 3:1-29
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
We're nearing the end of a week in which we’ve been reading God’s Word and seeing the virtue of humility. Today, God’s Word examines judgment and humility.
Thursday of the Seventeenth Week After Trinity
October 1, 2026
Today's Reading: Catechism: Daily Prayers: Asking a blessing & Returning Thanks
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 2:16-37; Matthew 6:16-34
The eyes of all look to You, O LORD, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Ps. 145: 15–16) (Luther’s Small Catechism “Asking a Blessing”)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
As we’ve been discussing humility this week, we’ve talked about repentance, angels, and how we bear...
Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week After Trinity
September 30, 2026
Today's Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 1:37-2:15; Matthew 6:1-15
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” (Ephesians 4:1-2)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
As we’ve been going through the Word this past week, we’ve been examining the virtue of humility. Today, God’s Word lea...
St. Michael and All Angels
September 29, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 18:1-11 or Luke 10:17-20
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 1:19-36; Matthew 5:21-48
“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
As we are going through God’s Word this week, we have been focusing on humility. Today, as the church celebrates the festival of St. Michael and All Angels, we look towards the spiritual war ou...
Monday of the Seventeenth Week After Trinity
September 28, 2026
Today's Reading: Proverbs 25:6-14
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 1:1-18; Matthew 5:1-20
“Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” (Proverbs 25:6-7)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Throughout the book of Proverbs, God gives His people wisdom regarding humility. This week, God’s Word offers an opportunity to reflect...
Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity
September 27, 2026
Today's Reading: Luke 14:1-11
Daily Lectionary: Malachi 3:6-4:6; Matthew 4:12-25
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Notice the certainty of Jesus, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus wants you to have humility. One way or another, it’s going to happen. You can either have humility or be humbled. For the Ph...
Saturday of the Sixteenth Week After Trinity
September 26, 2026
Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 17 - Psalm 119:1-2, 5-6; antiphon: Psalm 119:137, 124
Daily Lectionary: Malachi 2:1-3:5; Matthew 4:1-11
“Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.” (Psalm 119:137, 124)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
You have heard the famous question about the chicken and the egg: which one came first? The same could be asked about the law and the gospel. The problem is that...
Friday of the Sixteenth Week After Trinity
Today's Reading: Matthew 3:1-17
Daily Lectionary: Malachi 1:1-14; Matthew 3:1-17
“and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Israel, as God’s people, never held up their end of the bargain. They said they would do all the things that God had asked them to do, and they did not. They were warned repeatedly and fell short each and every time. The reading from Malachi contains a...
Thursday of the Sixteenth Week After Trinity
September 24, 2026
Today's Reading: Catechism: Daily Prayers: Morning & Evening Prayer
Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 9:22-38; Nehemiah 10:1-13:31; 1 Timothy 6:3-21
In the morning when you get up/In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the holy cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
The catechism tells us to start and end our day in the same way...
Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week After Trinity
September 23, 2026
Today's Reading: Ephesians 3:13-21
Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 9:1-21; 1 Timothy 5:17-6:2
“So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.” (Ephesians 3:13)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
The presence and actions of God in someone’s life are sometimes hard to understand. This is especially true during the more difficult times that everyone must face. In other words, faith can be challenged during times of suffering. This is why...
Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week After Trinity
September 22, 2026
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 17:17-24
Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 7:1-4; 8:1-18; Ezra 1:1-10:19; 1 Timothy 5:1-16
“And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, ‘See, your son lives.’ And the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.’” (1 Kings 17:23-24)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Some pe...
St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
September 21, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 9:9-13
Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 5:1-16; 6:1-9, 15-16; 1 Timothy 4:1-16
“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Tax collectors were not the most popular people in the ancient world. They were thought of as corrupt because they collected more taxes than were owed and kept the...
Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity
September 20, 2026
Today's Reading: Luke 7:11-17
Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 4:7-23; 1 Timothy 3:1-16
“Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has arisen among us!’ and ‘God has visited his people!’” (Luke 7:16)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Have you ever had to clean up your room before someone comes to visit? Maybe you were told to, or even wanted to, get things ready so you could impress whoever was coming. Either way, there are things that...
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...
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 f...
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 Alta...
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...
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...
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 th...
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...
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...
Friday of the Fourteenth Week After Trinity
September 11, 2026
Today's Reading: Philippians 3:1-21
Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 29:1-24; Philippians 3:1-21
“If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.Indeed, I count everything as loss because of...
Thursday of the Fourteenth Week After Trinity
September 10, 2026
Today's Reading: Catechism: How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 9:1-13; 10:18-29; 2 Kings 13:1-18:8; Philippians 2:12-30
How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.” (Small Catechism - The Po...
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week After Trinity
September 9, 2026
Today's Reading: 2 Kings 6:1-23
Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23; 2 Kings 6:24-8:29; Philippians 1:21-2:11
“Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Please strike this people with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of...
Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week After Trinity
September 8, 2026
Today's Reading: Galatians 5:16-24
Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 5:9-27; Philippians 1:1-20
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:19-23)
Monday of the Fourteenth Week After Trinity
September 7, 2026
Today's Reading: Proverbs 4:10-23
Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:38-5:8; Ephesians 6:1-24
“Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.” (Proverbs 4:13)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Legos come with instructions. Furniture from IKEA comes with instructions. Your teacher gives you instructions. Your parents give you instructions. All these are very helpful to complete a task or tasks throughout life. Without them, you might still get the Legos built or figure out...
Fourteenth Sunday After Trinity
September 6, 2026
Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-19
Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 4:8-22, 32-37; Ephesians 5:15-33
“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?’And he said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well...
Saturday of the Thirteenth Week After Trinity
September 5, 2026
Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 14 - Psalm 84:1-2a, 4, 10b, 11b; antiphon: Psalm 84:9-10a
Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:25-5:14
“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Fancy hotels and apartments have doormen. These are the guys who stand all day outside, rain or shine, who open the doors for guests, who carry their bags and...
Friday of the Thirteenth Week After Trinity
September 4, 2026
Today's Reading: Ephesians 4:1-24
Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-24
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
These are some of the most misunderstood words in Holy Scripture. The question is, who does the work of ministry? Is it the apostles, prophets, etc.? Or is it all...
Thursday of the Thirteenth Week After Trinity
September 3, 2026
Today's Reading: Catechism: What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:1-21; 1 Kings 20:1-22:53; Ephesians 3:1-21
“What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? These words, ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,’ show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.” (Small Catechism VI.2)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week After Trinity
September 2, 2026
Today's Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-40
Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:20-40; Ephesians 2:1-22
“Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” (1 Kings 40:38)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Take that, false prophets of Baal. You, who outnumbered Elijah 450 to 1, still lost. What a wimpy god you cried out to to show his so-called power. It didn’t matt...
Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week After Trinity
September 1, 2026
Today's Reading: Galatians 3:15-22
Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 18:1-19; Ephesians 1:1-23
“If the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.” (Galatians 3:18)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Abraham is perhaps more like a Christian than an Israelite. Technically, there was no way Abraham could be an Israelite. Israelites were descendants of Jacob, who was later named ‘Israel.’ Jacob was Abraham’s grandson. So there was no pos...
