Month: February 2020

Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15,16

Serve the Lord

Daily Devotion – February 11, 2020

Devotion based on Joshua 24:15,16

See series: Devotions

If you read a good book, there is some excitement when you reach the end of a chapter. What will happen next? When you finish a chapter in your life, there can be some uncertainty. What will you do next?

Joshua was near the end of his earthly life. Joshua was the man God chose to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land of Canaan. Before his death, Joshua gave a farewell address to the people. He said, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”

“Whom will I serve?” That’s an important question for you to ask yourself. Not just at the end of some season in your life. Every morning is a new chapter. You may plan ahead of time that today you will go here and do that. But before you do anything, dedicate yourself to serving the Lord in everything.

Why would you do such a thing? Just remember what the Lord, in his grace, has done for you. Jesus has delivered you from slavery to sin and has given you a place in his family. Amid life’s changes, he is always your rock. And at the end of your life, he will lead you safely through death to the eternal Promised Land of heaven.

There is blessing in serving the Lord in everything. Throw away the idols that you served yesterday because they cannot save you. Turn your heart to the Lord who alone satisfies your desires. Pray for courage. And let the world see, by humble acts of kindness, the choice of your heart.

Say along with Joshua, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Prayer: (adapted from the hymn, Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above)
Lord Jesus Christ, I confess your holy name. Help me to cast every idol from its throne. Give me courage to show the world that you, with Father and Holy Spirit, are God alone. To you all praise and glory. 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.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: . . . to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Isaiah 58:6-9

Finding God

Daily Devotion – February 10, 2020

Devotion based on Isaiah 58:6-9

See series: Devotions

“I’m showing God how sorry I am for my sins, but God isn’t noticing.”

“I’m doing all kinds of good, but God isn’t reciprocating.”

“I keep praying, but God isn’t listening.”

“Where is God?”

It’s natural for us to say such things when the going gets tough. We expect that if we do good and work hard, good will come back to us. We assume that God should work the same way. If I do what God commands of me, God should reward me. That’s just fair.

But that’s not the way God works. God is not good and merciful to us because we are good toward him or merciful to others. He is good to us because he is good. He gives us what we don’t deserve. He gives forgiveness, daily bread, and eternal life through faith in Jesus who lived, died, and rose again for us.

What does God want? He wants hearts that humbly admit and turn from sin. He wants faith that joyfully trusts in and turns to Jesus for forgiveness. He wants lives that respond to his grace with thanks by serving others with sincerity.

Where is God? You will find him where he has promised always to be—in his Word recorded in the Bible. Make God’s Word your delight and he will satisfy the desires of your heart.

Prayer:
Jesus, Savior, wash away all that I’ve done wrong today. Make me ever more like you, good and gentle, kind and true. 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.

[Jesus said] “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:14

A City on a Hill

Daily Devotion – February 9, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 5:14

See series: Devotions

The Sea of Galilee sits down in a “bowl,” with ridges rising all around it. Jesus was on one of those hillsides when he said, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” On the top of one of those ridges is a city called Safed. It’s thought that Safed was the city to which Jesus was referring in this passage. When you’re near the Sea of Galilee, you can see Safed for miles and miles.

Now put yourself into the shoes of the ancient fishermen, out on the lake and fishing all night. You don’t have much light, particularly if it’s a moonless night. How do you know where you are? Safed—that city on a hill—was your beacon! And most interestingly, Safed was almost in line with the location of the ancient fishing pier. In other words, if you can see Safed you can get home.

The real home for us humans isn’t here, it’s in heaven. Jesus won that home for each of us by dying and rising. His death paid for sins; his resurrection proved that sins were paid for, in full.

And yet many are wandering around in spiritual “darkness,” not knowing Jesus and what he’s done for them. How will they get “home”?

God very well may work through you and me! Jesus calls his followers “the light of the world.” As people see us being kind, compassionate, forgiving, honest, fair, humble, confident, etc., they get a chance to “see” Jesus’ love in action. That, in turn, may open up a chance for us to tell someone about Jesus.

And that may be the time when God works faith in that person’s heart, putting them on the road … to their heavenly home.

Prayer:
Jesus, forgive me for failing to let my light of faith shine as clearly as it should. Often my light is shrouded by sin. Forgive me! Use me to shine brightly, that others might come to know your love, and finally be brought home with you 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.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Psalm 1:1,2

Our Delight

Daily Devotion – February 8, 2020

Devotion based on Psalm 1:1,2

See series: Devotions

What delights you? A hot fudge sundae covered with caramelized pecans? A romantic candlelight dinner at a favorite restaurant with the one you love? Time in the outdoors away from the hectic pace of your daily life? A weekend at the spa, being pampered? An offer from your mom to watch the kids, while you and your spouse get away for some needed R & R?

I suppose everyone’s list would be different. But check your list carefully. Maybe something is missing, something vitally important, something that is truly satisfying, something that delights the heart of those who give attention to it, something you have let slip lately.

Psalm 1 contrasts the path of the wrong way of living, and the path of God’s right way of living. When we follow the second path, our “delight” is in the Word of God. The Word of God delights God’s people because it not only exposes our failings and reveals our great spiritual need, but it delivers God’s free solution for sin—complete forgiveness! In the light of God’s unfailing love for sinners, we look to God’s commands not as a hopeless measure that cannot be met, but as a way to show our love to Jesus who kept the Law perfectly in our place.

Don’t daydream today about the things you “think” will give delight to your heart. Spend time on that which will. The eternal lover of your soul has promised that if you “delight yourself in the LORD, he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). The details are found in his Word!

Prayer:
Loving Lord, create in me a desire to spend time with and meditate on your Word and grant me the joy and satisfaction only it can provide. 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.

Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:31

Go Ahead and Boast

Daily Devotion – February 7, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:31

See series: Devotions

Boasting is frowned upon in polite society. No one likes a braggart. Jesus himself once warned that “all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). Eventually, boasting will come back to bite you.

So where does the Apostle Paul get off telling God’s people to boast? Well, you’ll notice that he isn’t suggesting that they boast about themselves or their accomplishments. Hardly. Instead, he paraphrases the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and declares, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

What does it mean to “boast in the Lord”? It means telling others what a wonderful Savior Jesus is. Like writing a glowing, online review about some product we’ve recently discovered and love, Paul is urging God’s people to let others know what they’ve found out about Jesus.

And what’s so great about Jesus? Well, has the world ever known anyone more powerful than the very Creator of the universe? No. Has the world ever seen anyone more compassionate than the One who gave sight to the blind and made the lame walk? No. Has the world ever experienced the kind of self-sacrificing love that Jesus demonstrated not just for some, but all people? Never. Has the world ever witnessed anyone else who’s been raised from the dead never to die again, only to promise us, “Because I live, you too shall live”? Absolutely not! Jesus is a one-of-a-kind gift given by a merciful Father in heaven to every one of us. Through him, we sinners have God’s perfect forgiveness and the certainty of eternal life. That’s something special, unique, amazing, and completely undeserved. God saw nothing in us that prompted him to give us such a gift but he gave it anyway because God is love. He can’t help himself. He loves you.

So, go ahead. Boast! Boast in the Lord.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me see what a wonderful and perfect Savior you are, and inspire me to boast about you and your love alone, now and forever. 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.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30

Being Something You Are Not

Daily Devotion – February 6, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:30

See series: Devotions

I was never going to be an NBA center. Though I’m tall by average standards, I would appear tiny standing next to a seven-footer. Worse than that, I’m not good at basketball. Even though people probably told me as a child, “You can be whatever you want to be,” I was never going to be an NBA center, no matter how much I wanted it.

You can’t be something you’re not, right? If you’re bashful, it’s hard to be outgoing. If you’re outgoing, it’s hard to keep your mouth shut. We’re all created and wired in our own special way. We all have unique gifts and interests. It’s nearly impossible to be something you’re not.

And yet that’s exactly what Jesus has done for us. He’s made us something we’re not. He’s made us sinners righteous, perfect, and holy in our heavenly Father’s sight, even though we’re not. We could never have become perfect and sinless by ourselves. No combination of our time and effort could have ever gotten over the finish line. But what was impossible for us sinners has been done by Jesus, and through faith in him, his perfection is ours. Yes, as St. Paul writes, Jesus “has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

Martin Luther called it the Great Exchange, this trading places that we sinners do with the sinless Son of God. He marveled endlessly at this amazing reality. “Lord Jesus,” he once wrote, “you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have become what you were not so that I might become what I was not.”

The way Jesus saves sinners is both simple and profound. He takes on himself what is ours—sin and death—and gives us what is his—perfection and life. We could have never done it ourselves in a million lifetimes, but Jesus has done it for all. He has made us something we’re not.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me marvel in the fact that by your death and resurrection you have made me what I am not—perfect. 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.

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him.
1 Corinthians 1:28,29

Making Something Out of Nothing

Daily Devotion – February 5, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:28,29

See series: Devotions

What do you do when life hands you a bunch of lemons? You make lemonade.

That common saying is supposed to teach us that when our plans or expectations sour, we should make the best of what we have. Just add a little sugar, and everything will turn out fine.

Is that what God did with our broken and sinful world? Did he simply squeeze the lemons that we sinners are by nature, add a little divine sugar, and make it all better? Not really, because sinners are not just sour lemons. They are rotten ones that should be thrown out altogether. No amount of sugar or any other additive could ever solve the problem.

So what did God do instead? He made something altogether new out of nothing. He powerfully spoke a new reality into existence. Just as he did when he first created the things of this world by declaring them to be, God has now spoken his powerful Word over a sinful world, declaring each one of us to be perfect in his sight. We were nothing, but by his creative Word, he made something out of nothing.

That was no accident or afterthought. It was all according to plan. As our Bible reading for today says, “God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.” In other words, it wasn’t as if God carefully picked through the lemon pile to select the very best ones to make the most of an otherwise lost cause. No, he bought up the whole worthless lot. And what was the purchase price? Not gold or silver, but the holy, precious blood and the innocent sufferings and death of his Son, Jesus.

And then God did something amazing. For Jesus’ sake, he declared us sinners perfectly sweet and sinless, as only he could. He made something out of nothing.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, give me confidence that, though I am sinful, you have declared me innocent for Jesus’ sake. 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 God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:27

God Chooses the Opposite

Daily Devotion – February 4, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:27

See series: Devotions

When I dish out ice cream for my two children at the same time, I very purposefully put more in one bowl than I do the other. It’s an experiment. Which bowl will the first-comer choose, the one with more ice cream or less?

So far, I’ve been able to predict the outcome with pinpoint precision. The first to choose always chooses more ice cream. Always. Go figure!

What accounts for this unfailing phenomenon? I think you already know. It’s not random, and it’s certainly no accident. Like their father, my children are sinful and self-concerned, so it’s natural for them to want more of something good than their neighbor. Of course, we sinners want more than the other person. If given the choice, we almost always choose the most, the best, the brightest, the strongest, the most attractive.

How different we are from our holy and perfect God! St. Paul tells us that God is just the opposite. When it comes to God choosing things in this world—especially people—he chooses the opposite of what we would naturally choose. “God chose the foolish things of the world,” Paul declares. “God chose the weak things of the world.”

Is God just being difficult, bucking the trend? No, he’s trying to teach us the important lesson that what we judge to be important and best often isn’t important or best at all. Our sinful hearts and minds attempt to convince us otherwise, but God puts his foot down by choosing the foolish things “to shame the wise” and choosing the weak things “to shame the strong.”

We see this most clearly in the way that God chose to save us from our sins. He sent his Son, Jesus, who had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, to die an awful death on a cross as our substitute. The cross seems foolish and weak to our eyes, but through faith, we see the opposite, the wisdom and power of God’s love for us sinners shining brightly.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me to see and understand the wisdom and power of your choices and Jesus’ cross. 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.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
1 Corinthians 1:26

Your Worth

Daily Devotion – February 3, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:26

See series: Devotions

Like me, you’re probably not often asked, “How much are you worth?” Unless you roll with the Bill Gates of the world, your wealth is not wrapped up in your stock portfolio. Instead, it may be no greater than next week’s paycheck. Like Old Man Potter once mused about George Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” we may even be worth more dead than alive.

The people to whom St. Paul was writing in his letter to the Corinthians were apparently in the same boat. They weren’t worth much in the eyes of the world. They weren’t movers and shakers. They had never gotten—nor could they ever expect—their fifteen minutes of fame. “Not many of you were wise by human standards,” Paul reminded them. “Not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.”

We naturally wish it was different. Regardless of how big our house is, we wonder what it would be like to live as the rich and famous do. Little girls dream about being princesses, and little boys knights in shining armor. We want to be a somebody, but so often we feel like a nobody. We seem to be nothing. Regardless of how much we might have, we still feel worthless.

And that’s only when we’re comparing ourselves to other human beings. Consider comparing yourself to our holy and perfect God! If God is the measuring stick for judging our worth and worthiness, then where does that leave us? Doubly worthless!

If that’s the way you feel about yourself, good. At least you’re being honest about yourself. More than that, though, you’re exactly the kind of person that Jesus chooses to save and bless eternally.

Jesus once told a story about one self-important man who boasted about his worth and another man who couldn’t help but confess his worthlessness before God (Luke 18:9-14). The second man, Jesus concluded, was the one worth imitating. He was the one who was saved from his sins because he was the one who knew he needed saving.

What are you worth to Jesus? Everything!

Prayer:
Jesus, help me understand how much you value me. 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.

[Jesus said] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous . . . Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-45,48

Love Like the Lord

Daily Devotion – February 2, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 5:43-45,48

See series: Devotions

Sometimes the words of the Bible make you cringe. Sometimes they make you crinkle your brow in confusion. Sometimes they seem so wrong. Love your enemies? What a crazy concept! “Love the ex-spouse who hurt me? Love the co-worker who ruined my reputation? Love the family member who took advantage of me? No! I want to make them pay for what they did. I want to hurt them for the way they hurt me. It just makes more sense.”

It makes sense to my sinful nature. But it is not God’s nature. He sends blessings even on those who thumb their noses at him. He sacrificed his own Son to save those who sinned against him again and again—people like you and me. Our Father PERFECTLY loves us—although we have not perfectly loved others.

If we want to be like our Father in heaven then we will love even our enemies. We will forgive the spouse who hurt us. We will be kind to the co-worker who ruined our reputation. We will pray for the family member who took advantage of us. After all, they need love and forgiveness just like we do.

Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for loving me perfectly. Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me when I was unlovable. Dear Holy Spirit, create in me a perfect love for others, even my enemies. 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.