Month: January 2021

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Mark 1:14,15

Bad Timing for Good News

Daily Devotion – January 25, 2021

Devotion based on Mark 1:14,15

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Timing is everything. Someone looking to start a new business needs to recognize the factors that might interfere with the success of their business. A lemonade stand or ice cream shop isn’t likely to take off in the middle of a Midwestern winter.

What about expanding a preaching and teaching ministry when the previous guy was just put in prison for preaching and teaching? That’s basically what Jesus did.

His predecessor, John, was in jail. John’s message had been clear and consistent: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” But many weren’t willing to admit their sins or their need for God’s forgiveness. And they didn’t like John pointing out how they had disobeyed God. This was especially true of the local king named Herod. So the king had John arrested.

This would probably be a time for anyone thinking of preaching a similar message to lay low. Give it time. Maybe people would be more receptive to listening in the future.

But instead, “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’”

By all worldly measures, it was not a good time. But Jesus doesn’t measure by worldly measures. Jesus saw people who needed to hear the good news that God had kept his promises to mankind. God had sent someone to free them from the punishment that their sins deserved. God had sent someone to release them from the burden of trying to earn God’s favor by their own actions. That someone was Jesus himself.

The news was too good to wait! Jesus came to save sinners. He knew that the sinners he came to save would resist and oppose him, but he wouldn’t give up. He wouldn’t turn back or keep quiet. He loved sinners too much.

He still does. He still calls out to you and me today too, “Repent and believe the good news!”

Prayer:
Jesus, lead me to repent of my sins and trust the good news that in you, my sins are forgiven. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.
I Corinthians 7:29

Deadline

Daily Devotion – January 24, 2021

Devotion based on I Corinthians 7:29

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“The test is on Friday.” “There are eight seconds left, and we are down by two.” “Monday, I make my presentation before the board.” “My dinner guests will be here in 25 minutes.”

Deadlines are something we know all about. When “crunch time” hits, we know we need to get very focused on the task at hand. Everything needs to be in order before time runs out.

The Bible encourages us to live every part of our lives with such focus. The “deadline” is at hand in a very literal sense. The cares and tasks of this life can tempt us to forget, but death or Jesus’ return could come at any moment. God blesses us with many things in our lives—spouses, possessions, earthly peace, and happiness. But even these are misused if they become the end goal of our existence.

Thank God that he sent his Son, Jesus, who never once lost track of the task at hand. His steady steps toward a certain death were all made in your place. Know that this is why God accepts you. Fix your eyes on your Savior and focus on the heavenly home that Jesus bought for you. He was determined to be your substitute and pay the price of your sin by shedding his blood. So when God in his wisdom brings you to the last deadline of life, there’s nothing to be anxious about. God has made you ready by faith in Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, work in my heart to prepare it for your return. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22

Follow Jesus

Daily Devotion – January 23, 2021

Devotion based on Matthew 4:18-22

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They were simple, first-century fishermen, just blue-collar workers going about their blue-collar jobs. Until, one day, Jesus called out and said, “Come, follow me.” They knew of Jesus. They had seen him before and had even witnessed his first miracle. But they could not possibly know what they were in for by following him. They would see him heal the lame, give sight to the blind, and even raise the dead. They would hear him preach and teach like no one before. They would see him arrested, beaten, and nailed to a cross. And they would see him alive again three days later. It would be a journey of highs and lows that they could never have imagined that day when he first called them to follow him.

The same Jesus who called Peter and Andrew, James, and John, calls for you to follow him. Follow his words and promises. Follow his will for your life. Follow him in good times and bad; when it is easy and when it is not. Follow him in everything you do this day and every day yet to come. Like those first-century fishermen, you cannot possibly know what it will mean to follow Jesus.

But you will be so glad you did. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is a light shining in this dark world, helping you make sense of it all and see who you really are and who your God really is. Follow him through the twists and turns of this life, and he will lead you to the heaven he bought for you with his blood.

Follow Jesus. You will be eternally thankful you did!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I realize that following you will not always be easy. But I know it will always be best. Grant me the willingness and strength to follow you through this life and into the next. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:15

Stand Firm in Your Faith

Daily Devotion – January 22, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Thessalonians 2:15

See series: Devotions

I know quite a few people who used to be Christians but have lost their faith. Some of them stopped believing when they went off to college. Their professors said that Christianity was foolish and they didn’t want to be known as fools, so they denied Christ. Or classmates told them that the Bible is hateful towards LGBTQ people. They didn’t want to be hateful, so they gave up on Christianity. Others started watching YouTube videos that taught that science has disproven God. They didn’t want to be anti-scientific, so they abandoned Jesus.

Each person left Christianity for different reasons. But they all had this one thing in common. None of them were feeding their faith. None of them were actively going to church and speaking with their pastor and other Christians. Jesus predicted that these people would fall when he told the parable of “The Sower and the Seed.” In his story, Jesus compares our faith to a plant. If our faith is not “fed” and “watered,” it will dry up or get choked out by the weeds of life.

That’s why Paul told his congregation in Thessalonica to “stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” Paul knew that it is not enough to just hear the Word of God once. Followers of Jesus need to actively take hold of it, absorbing Biblical sermons, and meditating on what Paul and the other Biblical authors wrote down.

Wherever you might be in your relationship with the Lord, stand firm in the message of God’s love for you in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Lord God, lead me to stand firm and hold fast to your precious Word. Don’t let the devil or anything in this world snatch me from your hand. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:13,14

The Gift of Faith

Daily Devotion – January 21, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14

See series: Devotions

How does a person become a Christian? Do they need to have an emotional experience in a worship service? Do they need to have all their questions answered? Do they become Christian after they see good examples of other believers?

Those experiences can be important turning points that lead people to be open in hearing the message of Jesus. But one of Jesus’ followers, a man named Paul, said that Christians are made through the “sanctifying work of the Spirit.” That means God, the Holy Spirit, works in a person to want to know and believe in Jesus.

A great Christian reformer named Martin Luther had a tremendous experience that opened him up to the Gospel. But when he explained how a person comes to faith, he didn’t focus on the outward experience. He said it was through the work of God on the inside.

Luther wrote, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel…”

That’s why Christians ought to be the humblest people on the planet. Christians don’t come to believe in Jesus as their Savior because of their own intelligence or worthiness. They are not better than anyone else. God, the Holy Spirit, gave them the gift of faith through his mighty power.

If you call yourself a Christian, live a life of humility and thankfulness. If you are still struggling to believe, I pray that the Holy Spirit would move you to see Jesus as your God and Savior.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, work in my heart to trust that what you tell me in your Word, the Bible, is true, especially when you tell me that Jesus is my one and only Savior and hope for eternal life with you. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
John 1:45-49

Jesus Patiently Calls Skeptics to Believe

Daily Devotion – January 20, 2021

Devotion based on John 1:45-49

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One of Jesus’ first disciples was Andrew. Andrew was so excited to be following Jesus that he went and told his friend Nathaniel. But when Nathaniel heard that Jesus was from the small, no-name town of Nazareth, he sneered, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Andrew responded, “Come and see.”

When Nathaniel approached Jesus, Jesus didn’t rebuke Nathaniel for his unbelief. Jesus gently showed Nathaniel that Jesus knew all things. Nathaniel quickly changed his mind and believed that Jesus is the true Son of God.

Perhaps you are someone who doubts all of the claims about Jesus. You wonder about his being born of a virgin or healing people of their diseases. You wonder about the claim that his death paid for the sins of all people or the claim that he rose from the dead. He knows that sometimes you struggle to believe. But Jesus doesn’t reject you. He patiently calls you to the truth. He gives you clear evidence in the Bible of who he is and what he has done.

You need not live in your skepticism any longer. Hear Christ calling you through his Word. Respond to his Word with faith. And give him all the glory.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your patience with me. Lead me to believe even when I’m overwhelmed with unbelief. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
John 1:43

Follow Me

Daily Devotion – January 19, 2021

Devotion based on John 1:43

See series: Devotions

I used to pride myself on being a leader. I thought I knew what direction to lead my family and my church. I had plans to take our family on a vacation to Florida. And we had plans to keep expanding our church in multiple locations. But then the 2020 pandemic hit, and all our plans stopped. Suddenly, I didn’t feel like a confident leader. I didn’t know what the future would hold. And I had no idea where I was supposed to lead my family and God’s people.

Did something similar happen to you? Were you confident about where you were leading yourself and others? Did you lose your confidence when the world was turned upside down?

In our Bible reading today, Jesus is calling his first disciples. We read that he finds a man named Philip and says to him, “Follow me” (John 1:43). That’s it. Follow me. Jesus tells Philip that he doesn’t need to lead. He just needs to follow. Jesus doesn’t tell him what the future will be like. But he does tell him that he will be with him always.

Jesus is calling us with those same two words, “Follow me.” We don’t have to know what is going to happen in the near future. We can follow behind Jesus, listening to his Word, and following his teaching.

We can be even more confident than Philip to respond to Jesus’ call. Philip was called before Jesus died and rose. We are being called by the resurrected and living Savior who is sitting in the place of power at the Lord’s right hand. The future made seem uncertain, but we can continue in confidence because Jesus is our leader.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I trust in you. I will follow you wherever you lead. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:10

The Lord Calls Us in the Darkness

Daily Devotion – January 18, 2021

Devotion based on 1 Samuel 3:10

See series: Devotions

The book of Judges is one of the darkest, bloodiest books of the Bible. It is the seventh book in the Old Testament. And it tells the story of what happened to the nation of Israel after they entered the Promised Land of Canaan. From about 1400 B.C. until about 1000 B.C., the Israelites fell into perverted idolatry and senseless violence. Although this book is hard to read, it isn’t much different than the corruption that we see in our society, and especially in our own hearts.

As the time of the Judges was coming to a close, we hear a remarkable story about the calling of Samuel. Samuel was a young boy who was an apprentice for the High Priest, Eli. Even though Samuel worked at the tabernacle, the Bible says, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him” (1 Samuel 3:7).

Yet, the Lord, in his grace, called out to the boy, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel didn’t know who was calling him. So the priest, Eli, instructed Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening’” (1 Samuel 3:9). And that’s just what he did. The next time the Lord called, Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).

What can we learn about the Lord from this account?

• God is still calling his people to follow him, even in dark days.
• God calls us, even when we aren’t looking for him.
• God opens our heart so that we can listen and receive him.

When the world seems so dark and wicked, it might seem like God has abandoned us. But he is still here, still calling us to believe him, follow him, and serve him. May we, like Samuel, answer, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me through your words in the Bible. Help me always to listen to what you say. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
John 1:40-42

Bringing People to Jesus

Daily Devotion – January 17, 2021

Devotion based on John 1:40-42

See series: Devotions

There was so much excitement and so little stress when Andrew told his brother about Jesus. Have you ever wished it was that easy?

It is easy to worry about trying to find just the right words to say or trying to find just the right time to say them. But notice that Andrew wasn’t concerned about any of that.

Andrew didn’t worry about getting the timing right because he did it as “the first thing.” There was no waiting for just the right moment because Andrew got right to it.

He didn’t worry about finding the right words to say because all he said was what he knew: “We have found the Messiah.” There was no crafting of the perfect thing to say. Andrew just said what he knew.

All of this is because Andrew realized what the real job of sharing our faith is—it is bringing people to Jesus. It is easy to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to share Jesus and to do it in just the right way. However, sharing our faith is really a natural thing for Christians. We want to bring other people to be where Jesus is.

Jesus is the one who does the real work. He is the one who does the convincing and puts opportunities in our lives. Our job is just to bring people to be with Jesus.

Prayer:
Father, help me to be like Andrew as he brought people to Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
John 2: 1,2

The Perfect Substitute

Daily Devotion – January 16, 2021

Devotion based on John 2: 1,2

See series: Devotions

When you host a party or event, what are your criteria for whom you invite? We don’t really know why Jesus was invited to the wedding chronicled in our story. But he was there. Perhaps the inviting couple knew of Jesus as a teacher with a growing reputation. But he had not yet performed any miracles. That all changed at this special wedding when Jesus changed water into wine.

When the wedding was over, did the couple and guests realize that Jesus had power over nature? Did they realize that Jesus was “telling them” that he was the promised Messiah? He was sent by God, his Father, because of the sins that our first parents—Adam and Eve—committed in the Garden of Eden. And every generation of man since then, including us, has continued to sin against our holy God. And our sins have separated us from God.

Enter Jesus. Here he was, God himself, living here on earth as a true man. Jesus had power over nature and the devil because he is God. As a man, he was subject to all the temptations that we are, but Jesus lived a perfect life on earth. And then he was brutally punished and killed, even though he was innocent. In his Father’s eyes, Jesus became the perfect substitute and took our punishment on himself. Now, in God’s eyes, all of Jesus’ followers are perfect because he took our place. They will be with him in heaven—a party unlike any other.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith as I dwell on your substitution for me. Hear my thanks now, and when I praise you and thank you eternally in heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.