Salem Lutheran Church LCMS

06/09/2026

"A Kingdom of Priests"
June 9, 2026
They [the people of Israel] set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded Him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. (Exodus 19:2-8)

Have you ever wondered why God chose Israel to be His special nation? Indeed, why bother having any special nation at all? I think the reason God chose one nation is right here in these words: “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

What exactly does that mean, a “kingdom of priests”? What exactly are priests, anyway, according to the Bible? What are they supposed to do?

I went looking, and I found this in the book of Hebrews: “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). That is how the Bible describes the work of a priest: to serve as a mediator between God and human beings, mainly by offering sacrifices for human sin.

That was supposed to be Israel’s role when it came to all the other nations. They were to serve as mediators. They were to tell other nations about the true God, so that all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, could draw near to Him and put their trust in Him.

But what about the sacrifices part? That, too, came true—because Jesus our Lord was born a Jew, under the law of Israel, pure and holy, without flaw. And as the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus gave Himself up as a sacrifice on the cross, taking away all our sins—all the guilt and shame and penalty that lay against us. Because He suffered and died for us, we are set free from our sins—every human being who trusts in Him, Jew and Gentile alike. And because He rose from the dead, we have life and joy and peace in Him forever—living together in His kingdom.

WE PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank You for sacrificing Yourself for me, so that I too may be part of Your kingdom. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

Did God choose Israel because they were so wonderful?
If not, why did He choose them?
Why has God chosen you to be His own beloved child and a citizen of His kingdom through Jesus, your Savior?

06/08/2026

"His Steadfast Love"
June 8, 2026
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His Name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)

If faithful church-goers respond to a survey about their reasons for attending worship, there may be as many different answers as there are respondents. Why do they worship every Sunday? Some enjoy music and like to sing the hymns that celebrate our salvation. Others want to hear the Scripture readings and the sermon, teachings that will help them grow in faith. Many look forward to receiving God’s gifts of Word and Sacrament. There will be those who especially long for the peace and comfort they find in the words of the absolution. Others enjoy fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ, and many may attend simply in joyful obedience to the Lord’s command to keep the Sabbath day holy.

These are all reasonable answers, but the psalmist might have a different response for a worship survey. He worships with joy, entering the Lord’s temple with thanksgiving and praise. He blesses the holy Name of the Lord. But why is he there in God’s house? The psalmist is not there because he enjoys music, although it is very likely that he does because he composes songs! The temple is a place to learn the Word of God and to grow in faith and fellowship with all who trust in the God of Israel. But the psalmist has another reason for his attendance. He goes to the temple because the Lord is good. The psalmist worships in God’s presence because the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever, and His faithfulness lasts through all generations.

“The Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever.” Whatever our personal likes or opinions might be as we go to church, our reasons are the same as those of the psalmist. We come together to worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ because of the enduring, steadfast love of our Lord. That steadfast love led our Savior to take up His cross and die for us. The Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness are revealed in the gift of His holy Supper as we receive His body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins. It is the steadfast love of the Lord that comforts and encourages us through the reading, teaching, and hearing of His Word. Week after week, we “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” to receive God’s gracious gifts of Word and Sacrament. We might respond to a survey with a variety of answers about our reasons for worship, but each time we gather to worship in the presence of the Lord, we are there because of His steadfast love!

WE PRAY: Now and forever, Lord, accept my grateful praise for Your steadfast, enduring love. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.

Reflection Questions:

Do you have a favorite reason for going to church? If you don’t always find that on a given Sunday, can you still get a lot out of church anyway?
How has God shown us that His love and faithfulness extend to all generations?
How can you make church more agreeable, inviting, engaging for someone else, the next time you go?

06/07/2026

The Octave of Trinity - June 7th, 2026

The Octave of Trinity - June 7th, 2026

06/07/2026

"Today Your Mercy Calls Us"
June 7, 2026
“Today Your mercy calls us To wash away our sin. However great our trespass, Whatever we have been, However long from mercy Our hearts have turned away, Your precious blood can wash us And make us clean today.

“Today Your gate is open, And all who enter in Shall find a Father’s welcome And pardon for their sin. The past shall be forgotten, A present joy be giv’n, A future grace be promised, A glorious crown in heav’n.”

“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Benjamin Franklin often receives the credit for that bit of wisdom, although the procrastinators among us might prefer the version attributed to Mark Twain: “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well.” There is no procrastination allowed as our hymn calls out, “Today!” It is a summons taken from Holy Scripture: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7b-8a, Hebrews 3:7b-8a). It is a call to repentance and faith, and it must not be put off until another day.

Our Heavenly Father calls us to repent. It is His command and invitation and He is eager to forgive, as our hymn declares, “Today Your mercy calls us to wash away our sin.” We enter God’s presence in repentant humility and find there “a Father’s welcome and pardon” for our sin. We may be afraid to come before God, even in repentance, expecting the condemnation that we justly deserve. Instead, we see that the “gate is open” and, as we enter, we do not find wrath and judgment, but God’s welcoming love and His full and free forgiveness. The Father welcomes us because the judgment that we deserve for our sins fell on Jesus, the Father’s beloved Son. Jesus endured the judgment, condemnation, and the penalty of death that should have been ours. Our sins are washed away in His blood. We come into God’s presence clothed in the righteousness of our risen Savior.

The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, moving us to sorrow over our sins and turning our hearts to follow that insistent call: “Today!” No matter how long or how far we have wandered in sin and rebellion against God, “however long from mercy our hearts have turned away,” the Father welcomes us home for the sake of Jesus our Savior. Our sins are forgiven and as far as God is concerned, it is as if we had never turned away from Him. Our sins are removed from His sight and memory. Today “the past shall be forgotten.” Today we live in the “present joy” of God’s forgiveness and the daily guidance of His Word. Today we await the promise of the “future grace” that is the crown of eternal life!

WE PRAY: Lord, forgive my sins and lead me to walk in Your ways today. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Today Your Mercy Calls Us,” which is number 915 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

Has someone ever surprised you by his or her display of forgiveness? What led them to forgive?
What is the danger in hardening our hearts against God and others?
Is there someone you know who would do well to hear a word of forgiveness from you? Can you take strength from Jesus’ example in Scripture to offer that forgiveness?

06/06/2026

"The God Who Is Obvious"
June 6, 2026
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man … The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:22-24, 30-31)

One can only imagine the impact St. Paul’s sermon must have had on the Greek philosophers of that day. Addressing the presence of an altar inscribed “to an unknown god,” Paul replies that there is only one God, that He made heaven and earth, and He is very much alive.

There is no need, friends, to speak any longer about an unknown god. There is no need to stumble around in spiritual hopelessness. God has made Himself known to you for your forgiveness and your salvation. Scripture says that long ago God spoke through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many other prophets, in many ways. More recently, however, God has spoken to us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (see Hebrews 1:1-4).

And the Scriptures let us know that because of Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father will not deal with you and me according to the penalty our sin demands. Instead, forgiveness is promised. As the psalmist of old says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:11-12).

God “knows our frame and He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). He knows there is nothing we can do to earn His love or expect His forgiveness. Therefore, this compassion—all this love the known God has for you—is offered to us in the cross of Christ, by which God has lifted judgment against us. As the apostle John writes: “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7b). And this God gave proof of this “by raising Him from the dead.”

Let us then confess with the saints, praising this God who knows us—and has made Himself known to us. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, You have clearly made Yourself known to us and shown us that You love us in Jesus. Thank You! Amen.

Based on “The Known God,” a sermon by Rev. Dr. Wallace Schulz, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

Reflection Questions:

Why do you think the Greeks of Paul’s day had an altar dedicated to an unknown god?
How has God made Himself known to us?
When someone says it’s impossible to know anything about God, how do you respond?

06/05/2026

"That We and Others Might Believe"
June 5, 2026
This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lhm.org.

Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered Him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. (John 21:2-8)

Two times toward the end of his Gospel, the writer John tells us that what he has written is for the sake of those who hear and read his words, that they might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and have life in His Name. He signs off on his Gospel saying that he was in fact an eyewitness to the things he recorded. In the account of the miraculous catch of fish recorded in John 21, as part of his eyewitness account he includes a small little detail. John tells us that the disciples caught 153 large fish. There’s little significance to that particular number. The significance is in the fact that the number is known. We know it was 153 because John was there when they counted the fish. He wrote his Gospel and included details just like this so that you might know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It’s not that the fish themselves are important. Rather, it’s the Lord who brought about the miraculous catch. And it just so happens that there were 153 of them. These are the kinds of details eyewitnesses provide, especially those who have witnessed something like a miracle. The center of the story is Jesus, who gave that miraculous catch. Upon hauling the catch to shore, Jesus gathered His disciples around a fire for breakfast.

It’s the same Lord who will gather you around His miraculous Word this weekend, whether it’s three of you, 153, fewer, or maybe more. What happens as you gather is just what John describes throughout his Gospel—the branches remain in the Vine, the sheep hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him. That is, those who hear these and every other Gospel story receive them with faith and embrace them for the miracle of salvation. And we rely on Jesus that through us, He might continue to bring in a miraculous catch, not of fish, but of people who don’t know Him, that they too might have life in His Name. He blesses us, too, because we, along with John, get to be eyewitnesses of His work.

WE PRAY: Almighty God, pour out Your Spirit upon us and stir up our hearts to hear and embrace the Good News of Your saving work for us in Jesus, and use us to introduce others to Him. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies.

Reflection Questions:

Have you ever been fishing with a guide? If so, did you do better than you expected to?
There are many opinions as to why John included the number of fish caught. Why do you think he gave a specific number?
How does God work through us to bring others into His sheepfold?

06/04/2026

"Coming Close to Us"
June 4, 2026
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. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when He heard it, He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13)

I have to laugh at the poor Pharisees. Clearly they believe that Jesus is doing a bad thing. They are echoing the same ideas our parents probably taught us—“Don’t make friends with bad people, they’ll drag you into their problems and you’ll end up just like them.” The Pharisees are also feeling moral disgust—just the thought of sitting down with tax collectors and sinners makes them feel “icky.” (I believe that’s the technical word for it.)

But to Jesus, what they want Him to do makes no sense. Jesus came into this world to save sinners! How can He do that from a distance? It’s like telling the doctor to diagnose and treat someone from the other side of a football field. It’s like telling soap not to get anywhere near those dirty, stinky hands.

Of course the doctor is going to go where the sick people are. The soap will make the dirty hands clean. And Jesus will go where the sinners are, as close as close can be—and He will make them clean.

Jesus’ holiness is not fragile. It can survive becoming a human baby—growing up in a broken world—living among sinners—even being betrayed, flogged, and put to death naked on a cross. Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection don’t change the fact that He is the holy God.

What they change is us. Because Jesus comes so near us, He makes us clean, healthy, holy. He changes us to be like Him. Because He loves us and gave Himself for us, we come to reflect His glory in miniature. We trust in the Savior who has come so near us to save us, and so we become adopted children of God, just as Jesus Himself is the Son of God by nature.

WE PRAY: Lord, thank You for coming so near to me because You love me. Draw me even closer to You. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

Jesus comes close to us because that’s what we need. What else has He done for us because we need it?
How has Jesus come close to you? Think of your own personal life and experiences with Him.
Jesus lives within His people. How can you come near to someone else who needs Jesus, and become a blessing to them?

06/03/2026

"Saved by God’s Promise"
June 3, 2026
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the Law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the Law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. … That is why it depends on faith, in order that [God’s] promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the Law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, and it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations …” [Abraham] did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:13-14, 16-17a, 19-25)

This is a really technical passage, and hard to understand if you don’t have the context. What is Paul talking about?

He’s trying to explain why human beings can’t save ourselves by keeping God’s Law and living a good life. He’s doing it by talking about the great ancestor of the Jewish people—Abraham, the man God promised to make a “father of many nations,” even though he was childless. Abraham was no idiot; he knew a man 100 years old wasn’t likely to have a child, especially with a wife who was 90. But he also knew that God would keep His promise. And so he was happy. He trusted the promise—and God made it come true.

We, too, trust in God’s promise—not the one about having a baby, but rather the one about Jesus saving us. Because Jesus suffered, died, and rose from the dead for our sake, we know that everyone who trusts in Him has forgiveness, life, and salvation. God has told us so (see John 3:14-17; John 6:28-58; John 20:31; Acts 16:31). Just like Abraham, we trust God’s promise, and we are happy, because God will certainly give us all the good things He has promised us. God is doing all the work—not us. Which is good, because we would certainly make a mess of it, if He left it to us to do!

WE PRAY: Dear Father, thank You so much for saving me and giving me life through Jesus, Your Son. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

What promises do you depend on in your everyday life?
Does it make a difference to you who is doing the promising? Why or why not?
From what you know of Jesus, is He trustworthy or not? Can you trust Him to take care of you and bring you safely to God’s kingdom?

06/02/2026

"Absolutely Certain"
June 2, 2026
[God says:] I will return again to My place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face, and in their distress earnestly seek Me. “Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 5:15-6:3)

You can hear the frustration in God’s voice. What is He to do with His stubborn people?

He has sent them prophets, and the prophets have not been gentle; God uses words like “hewn” and “slain” to describe how painful their message to God’s people has been. And the people themselves use that kind of language, when they say, “Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him.”

That sounds painful! And yet, God’s message has succeeded, right? Because look at what else the people are saying! They say, “He has torn us, that He may heal us.” That means God’s whole purpose in tearing them was to heal them in the end. They say, “He will bind us up,” and “He will revive us … He will raise us up, that we may live before Him.” I don’t hear any uncertainty in those words. They are convinced that this God, their own God, whom they deserted, still loves them so much that He will do a miracle and restore them to life and health.

And they’re right. Even though they have deserted the Lord, even though they have gone after other gods and brought the Lord’s discipline upon them—even though they are driving Him nuts!—He still loves them, loves them dearly. He will do all the things that they say. He will heal them, He will raise them. And He will do the same for us.

Because we, too, sometimes fall into sin that we can’t get out of, and we worry what the Lord thinks of us—will He give up on us? Is this the last straw? Have we pushed Him too far?

And God makes it clear: He will take us back and restore us, no matter how far away we’ve been or what we’ve done. Even if we’ve fallen into the same sin a hundred million times, He will patiently and lovingly restore us and raise us from the dead, so that we may live before Him in peace and joy. This is why Jesus came—to bring us home to God, again and again and again, until that final day when He brings us home forever, and sin is nothing but an old, bad memory. He suffered, died, and rose again so that He could make you—you personally—His own forever. He’s not going to give up on you now.

WE PRAY: Dear Savior, strengthen my trust in You, especially when I’ve sinned and feel terrible. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

Do you ever worry what God thinks of you?
What does Jesus’ coming indicate about God’s attitude toward you?
What does God do when you’ve fallen into sin? See Luke 15:3-7.

06/01/2026

"Better Than Gold"
June 1, 2026
It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (Psalm 119:71-72)

When we struggle with any kind of affliction—issues with physical health, anxiety, workplace or family trouble, spiritual concerns—it can be difficult, if not impossible, to see anything good about our circumstances. Inspired by the Spirit of God, the psalmist has clearer sight: “It is good for me that I was afflicted.” The psalmist sees beyond his immediate circumstances to the purpose of God. The affliction serves good purpose because through his suffering, the psalmist learns to rely on the teachings of God. The Word of the Lord is worth more than a fortune in silver and gold!

The psalmist is not the only biblical writer to see beyond affliction to the work of God. The apostle Paul suffered a “thorn” in his flesh, yet he saw divine purpose in that physical ailment. The thorn was a messenger of Satan, permitted by God to prevent the apostle from becoming conceited about the many revelations the Lord had given to him (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-9). The Lord did not remove the thorn, revealing to Paul that His grace was enough. The mighty power of Christ is made perfect in weakness and suffering, as it was at the cross. Paul also explains that in our afflictions we are comforted by our Heavenly Father “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4b). We find peace and hope in the promises of God’s Word and then, in turn, share that peace and hope with others who suffer. Through the trials we experience, God conforms us to the image of His Son.

The psalmist recognized the good in his afflictions because the suffering led him to learn the teachings of the Lord. In days of trouble, we also turn to the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is at work in the Word to bring us forgiveness, peace, and hope. Joining with saints from the psalmist to Paul, we glorify God even through suffering. In our trials we may see more clearly the afflictions endured by our Savior Jesus Christ for the sake of our salvation. We rejoice in the glory of His victorious resurrection and long for the day when we will experience perfect peace and healing in His eternal presence. It is never easy to endure the trouble we face. Yet in that suffering, in the midst of our afflictions, we recognize the truth of the psalmist’s words. The hope and peace to be found in the promises of God’s Word are better than gold and silver.

WE PRAY: Spirit of God, when I endure trials, lead me to turn to the comfort of Your holy Word. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.

Reflection Questions:

Why is it hard to see beyond our immediate circumstances and still give praise to God?
How did the apostle Paul deal with that thing that was bothering him? What monumental truth did he learn from his situation? See 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.
How do you think God shapes and forms us as His children through the things we face in this life?