October 7, 2025

Today's Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 6:10-25; Matthew 9:18-38

“who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,” (2 Timothy 1:9-10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Vocation can be an overwhelming thing to think about. It’s really tempting to reduce vocation down to one thing: what do you do for money? Are you a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, or a grocery store worker? Do you work in a factory where you make little metal bits that combine with other little metal bits to make even bigger metal bits? Or maybe you are in high school and you make your coin by grilling hamburgers at the local baseball field (been there!). The temptation of the doctrine of vocation is to zero in on just your “for money job” and try to be the best that you can be at it. But that’s only one facet of the doctrine of vocation! Your vocations (plural!) are everything in life that God has called you to do! That can sound a little overwhelming, and well, it is. You will not do it all right the first time. Maybe even the second time, too. You will fail.

But does your sin and failure mean that you are doomed? By no means! The “holy calling” is that of a forgiven child of God. Your status as that child was given to you, not on the merits of you and your work, but on the merit of His dear Son, Jesus. Our works are, at their very best, stained and filthy. We do not do them perfectly. If you’ve been paying attention for ten minutes, you know that. But the crimson flood of the blood of Jesus cleanses you from those stains and those sins. God’s grace, given through Jesus, is what proclaims you as a forgiven and redeemed child. Thanks be to God for that.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Christ, the way that leads unfailing To the Father’s home on high, Christ, the truth that frees the captive, Christ, the life that cannot die. Mediator to the Father, Sacrifice and great High Priest: Lead us to Your heav’nly mansions, There to share Your wedding feast. (LSB 540:5)

Rev. Jonathan Lackey, Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius’s life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.