Month: August 2022

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
James 2:1

Favoritism

Daily Devotion – August 31, 2022

Devotion based on James 2:1

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Deep down, we all know that we should not play favorites. Parents should not have a favorite child. The teacher should not have a favorite student. The coach should not treat one player any differently than another. In the Bible, God encourages us to love and treat everyone the same way. Our love and care should be consistent.

But it is so easy to fall into the habit of showing favoritism. The teacher may, in fact, have a teacher’s pet that is quite obvious to the other students. Parents perhaps seem to favor one child over another. Coaches sometimes let the star player get away with more than the rest of the team. We have all witnessed the results of such favoritism: anger, resentment, hurt feelings, and frustration may all stem from favoritism. Deep down, we do not want our authority figures to play favorites.

We don’t want that from God either. If God played favorites, then our salvation would be in jeopardy. We wouldn’t know if he truly loved us as much as others. We would constantly wonder if we had impressed him enough to be saved. We would look around at others and constantly feel like they are better than we are. We certainly would not have any confidence in going to heaven.

Thankfully, God doesn’t play favorites. The Bible says: “God so loved the world”(John 3:16). God loves us all. He sent Jesus to pay for the sins of all. The Bible also says that God wants all people to be saved and to come to believe in Jesus for salvation. And when Jesus came into this world, he didn’t play favorites either. The Bible tells us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Before any of us could even begin to try and impress him, Jesus died for us. His death for us does not depend on us or our efforts. Jesus died for everyone, you included. Thank God that he shows no favoritism!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for me in Christ. Thank you for loving all of us equally. Help me to model that same love in my life and to not show favoritism. 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.

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
Proverbs 25:6,7

Humility

Daily Devotion – August 30, 2022

Devotion based on Proverbs 25:6,7

See series: Devotions

“Hey Daddy, watch me!” We likely all shouted similar words to a parent, grandparent, or teacher at one point in our lives. Whether we were about to go down the park slide or try a somersault or try to make a free-throw, we wanted to be noticed. That really hasn’t changed. We like to show off for the teacher, coach, or employer. We want to appear smarter than our classmates, faster than our teammates, and more productive than our coworkers. And, in getting noticed, we hope to be elevated above others. We want the scholarship, more playing time, or the raise in salary before anyone else can get it.

But what if it goes the other way? What if the teacher, coach, or boss is not impressed? What if we haven’t met the standard as well as someone else? It can be humiliating when someone is chosen ahead of us.

In the same way, we cannot impress our heavenly Father enough to be given eternal life. As he looks at our imperfect lives of sin, the only possible conclusion he can come to is that we are not good enough—that our lives of good deeds have not been impressive enough. One single sin is enough for God to humiliate us rather than exalt us.

That’’where Jesus comes in. Rather than come down to earth to impress everyone, Jesus humbled himself and put others first. He did not seek to elevate himself over anyone else. Instead, he willingly gave himself to a horrible death on a cross so that he could pay the price that our sins deserved. He died for you and me and the whole world. And now, through faith in Jesus, the Father holds out his hand and says, “come up here.” Jesus has opened the door to heaven for us. Thanks to Jesus, we will not be humiliated for our sins. Rather, we are saved now and forever.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for humiliating yourself so that I could be lifted up to heaven. Help me to honor you in my life today. 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] “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.”
Luke 14:8,9

The Best Seat

Daily Devotion – August 29, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 14:8,9

See series: Devotions

Growing up in a household of three boys, everything was a competition. We constantly competed, even when it came down to who got to sit in the front seat of the vehicle. If dad announced we were going somewhere, immediately it was a race to get outside and call: “shotgun!” Then, of course, there would be the argument of who called it first: “I called it.” “Yeah, but I called it first.” “No, you didn’t.” “Yes, I did. You just didn’t hear me.” Very often this argument would lead to Dad declaring that due to our arguing, no one would get to ride in the front seat.

We may have outgrown calling ‘shotgun,’ but we still like to rush for the best seats. We often try to get ahead of others, and we are not too concerned about how we make them feel in the process. If our getting ahead means offending someone or hurting the feelings of others, we are often willing to move forward anyway. We can be so focused on what we want for ourselves; that we end up sinning against others in the process.

If there’s anyone who could have called “shotgun!” and claimed the best seat, it was Jesus. As true God, he could have put himself first. But he didn’t come to put himself first. He came to put our needs ahead of his own. He came so that you and I could have a seat at the banquet in heaven. Jesus came to take the lowest place so that we could be elevated to the highest place. He came and took the manger and the cross so that we could be given the gift of eternal life. With this selfless love of Jesus fresh in our minds, let someone else have the best seat. Yours is yet to come.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for taking the lowest seat so that I could have a seat in heaven. Empower me to have that same selflessness in my life. 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.

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. . . . If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
James 2:1,8-10

Love Without Favoritism

Daily Devotion – August 28, 2022

Devotion based on James 2:1,8-10

See series: Devotions

How can you love someone without showing favoritism? It is easy if you only have one person to love. But when two or more people enter into the equation, it becomes difficult. Do you love your siblings equally? Do you love your children or grandchildren equally? Do you treat and respond to all your friends in the same way? Or do you find yourself enjoying time with some more than the others? Favoritism can strain and even damage relationships.

The problem is that we are inclined to love those who love us. Jesus’ love is very different. He loves all people and does not show favoritism. He demonstrated his impartial love by sacrificing his life for the sins of everyone, not just a few. He chooses us to be his followers and heirs of eternal life, not because we deserved it, but because of his great love.

Embracing us with his love, Jesus leads us to love people in the way he loves them. Our Savior teaches us to love without favoritism. As his believers, we learn to love everyone. We do not consider some people more worthy of our love than others. And let’s remember that when we love people with Jesus’ kind of love, we will surely have opportunities to tell them about the love of Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, keep me from showing favoritism. Rather, instill in me a desire to love all of the people in my life the way you do. 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.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5

The Lord is Near

Daily Devotion – August 27, 2022

Devotion based on Philippians 4:5

See series: Devotions

The Lord is near. He is coming back from heaven to judge the world. But believers in Jesus have nothing to fear. They know and trust the Savior who has taken away sin’s guilt and freed them from condemnation. Jesus has removed the fear of the final judgment with his sure promise of eternal joy with him. This comforting message leads us to rejoice always in the great love of God!

Because the Lord is near, let your gentleness be evident to all. Let people around you see the calm, confident spirit that you have because you rejoice that you are a child of God and an heir of eternal life. Imitate the gentle spirit of Jesus, always ready to help and serve others with a humble attitude and unselfish actions.

The love of Jesus working in your life through his word helps you to be gentler in your relationship with others, as he is with you. Think how conspicuous that will make you against the backdrop of the dog-eat-dog world in which we live. That can create all kinds of opportunities to tell people of the gentle love that Jesus has for them, too.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, fill me with a gentle nature that reflects the joy I have for the forgiveness of my sins which I rejoice to have by faith in 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.

Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.”
Luke 13:25-28

Standing Firm

Daily Devotion – August 26, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 13:25-28

See series: Devotions

What has your spiritual journey looked like? Did you grow up in a Christian home, participate in Christian worship, and attend Christian schools? Or did you just start hearing about God and his salvation recently?

According to Jesus, each situation has its blessings and challenges. If you just started hearing what the Bible teaches, you have the blessing of remembering what it was like to be “dead in sin.” You might feel like a newlywed on their honeymoon. Everything about God is new, fresh, and exciting. On the other hand, because your faith is not mature, you could be like a plant with little roots. Worldly desires, distractions, or disasters could have the potential to pluck you from the faith.

In the same way, there are blessings and challenges for those of you who have grown up in the Christian faith: You know how to listen to God’s Word and respond in prayer. You probably have a network of Christian friends that can help you when you are struggling. On the other hand, you might be tempted to believe you are stronger than you think. You might forget how much you need continual strengthening by God’s Word and worship.

So, whether you are a new Christian or a life-long Christian, keep growing. Let the roots of your faith grow deep as you gather with God’s people around his Word.

Prayer:
Come Holy Spirit, rekindle in us the fire of your love. 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.

People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.
Luke 13:29,30

Part of the In Crowd

Daily Devotion – August 25, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 13:29,30

See series: Devotions

I have vivid memories of my High School cafeteria. That was where the pecking order was established. If you sat at the right table with the right people, you were cool—you were in and accepted.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t cool enough to be at that table. I didn’t have the looks or the skills. I didn’t know how to tell the right jokes or wear the right clothes. So even when I mustered up the courage to sit with those people, I knew I didn’t belong.

Is that how Christianity works? Is Christianity about doing the right things, wearing the right clothes, and speaking the right way so that somehow you become a spiritual insider? Some people in Jesus’ day sure thought so—the religious elite assumed they were part of Jesus’ inner circle. They also thought that anyone different than them were outsiders and unsaved nobodies. But Jesus had a surprise for them.

He said that on the Last Day, there would be many people from faraway lands that they considered outsiders who would get in. And those who thought they were obvious insiders will be cast out. In other words, those who were last will be first, and the first will be last.

Why is that? Often those people who are last in this world recognize their need. They tend to humbly call out to God for help and rescue. They welcome Jesus’ salvation. But those who are first in this life often believe the lie of their own self-sufficiency. They are self-reliant to the point of being self-righteous. They are so full of themselves that there is no room for God.

Here is the good news: If you feel like a spiritual outsider, someone God could never love—know that Jesus came to save just such people. He came to save you so that you who deserve to be last can be first.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for welcoming me to your table. Show me what it means to be accepted by 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.

[Jesus] said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ . . . Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
Luke 13:24-27,30

A Narrow Door

Daily Devotion – August 24, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 13:24-27,30

See series: Devotions

Jesus says we must walk through the “narrow door” to enter heaven. But what exactly is that “narrow door”? Some people believe that it is about knowing all the right religious teachings. And so, “entering the narrow door” is like passing an academic test. If you know the right answers, you make it through.

Others might think it’s about doing the right deeds. “Entering the narrow door” is about completing a list of tasks. They might think, As long as I go to church, give an offering, and become a good citizen, I’m in.

But Jesus says that on the Last Day, those people who just had a mere superficial and transactional relationship with Jesus will not enter. He will say to them, “I don’t know you or where you come from.”

So how do you “enter through the narrow door”? We trust in him like a child trusts their parents. We rely on him as our way back to God.

Jesus explained what it means to enter this narrow door in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Today, right now, make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. Put your trust in Jesus. Abandon all hope in yourself and your knowledge and performance. Cling to Christ and let him lead you into your heavenly Father’s presence.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are the way through the narrow door of salvation. I trust in you. I will not be afraid. 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 to them “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
Luke 13:24

Walk Through the Door to Heaven

Daily Devotion – August 23, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 13:24

See series: Devotions

Maybe you heard that all you have to do is “believe in Jesus,” and you will be saved. And so maybe you thought that the Christian faith is easy. Just believe, and that’s it. But when Jesus describes salvation, he says, “Make every effort” and “enter through the narrow door.”

So, what is this door? And why does it take so much effort to enter through it?

First, you’ll notice that Jesus is describing a singular door. There are not many doors to heaven. There is one. Jesus said that he is that one and only door. “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7). Every other religion doesn’t offer a doorway but a mountain of religious rituals and rules to gain their god’s favor. But because of the work of Jesus, the doorway to heaven has been swung wide open for all.

But why does Jesus describe this door as “narrow” and that many will not enter it? What does that mean? The doorway to heaven is narrow because no one who is puffed up with pride can squeeze through. Before we enter this doorway, we must recognize our great need as we go through the process of repentance. As we trust in Christ, our self-righteousness is deflated, and we can fit through that narrow door.

Getting to heaven is hard. In fact, on our own it is impossible. By nature, we reject our need to be rescued. But the Holy Spirit makes our unwilling hearts willing to receive Jesus.

Therefore, by the Spirit’s power, enter through this narrow door. Shed your pride and self-righteousness. Cling to Christ in faith and walk through the door to heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for all that you have done throughout history to open a way for all to be saved. Now, continue to work a miracle in my heart. Lead me to believe and trust in you, so that I might always be confident in my salvation. 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.

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
Luke 13:22-24

Make Every Effort to Enter God’s Kingdom

Daily Devotion – August 22, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 13:22-24

See series: Devotions

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2015, there were about 2.5 billion Christians on earth. That is a large number of people professing to follow Jesus. And yet, when you consider that there are about 8 billion people in the world, that number doesn’t seem so high. That might lead us to wonder, are only a few people going to be saved?

That is not a new question. In fact, when Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” (Luke 13:23) Now we believe that Jesus is true God, and so we believe he knows everything, even the very number of hairs on our heads. (Luke 12:7) He knows the exact number of people who will be saved. But when he was asked, he didn’t disclose that number. He didn’t tell his followers how many people would be saved.

Instead, Jesus responded, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to” (Luke 13:24). Jesus was not dodging the question but redirecting his followers to a more important issue: their own salvation. He was telling them not to assume that they were automatically in God’s kingdom because of their nationality or religious upbringing. He told them to make every effort to enter into God’s kingdom.

The same is true for us. Rather than focusing on how many people will be in heaven one day, Jesus wants us to focus on making sure we are in heaven one day. This means staying close to Jesus and the promises he makes in the Bible—the promise of forgiveness, peace with God and eternal life through his life, death, and resurrection. Strengthening our faith by the power of God’s Word is how we make every effort to enter the door of heaven.

Prayer:
Lord, lead me to grow your kingdom even as you work on my heart. 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.