October 12, 2026
Today's Reading: Genesis 28:10-17
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 11:1-25; Matthew 12:1-21
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.’ And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’” (Genesis 28:15–17)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Imagine this: you’re getting ready to leave church. You put your hymnal back in its place on the back of the pew (or in your bag… plug for personal hymnals here!), get your jacket over one arm, and out of nowhere you hear a voice, booming, saying “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land! For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you!”
Wild right?
Well, that’s… kind of what happens.
When you’re in Divine Service, you actually are in the house of God and the gate of Heaven. For wherever Jesus is, that is the house of God. It is the gate of Heaven, for that is the place where your sins are forgiven, and you find a right standing before God.
And you hear something very similar to God’s words here at the end of the service. Each service ends with a benediction, where the pastor (who is in the stead of God in that place!) speaks words not too different from this, blessing God’s people with the continued promise of his presence and provision. What can we say to that? How about “How awesome is this place!”
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Within the Father’s house The Son has found His home, And to His temple suddenly The Lord of life has come. (LSB 410:1)
Rev. Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.
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