Month: November 2025

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These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:39-40

Big Plans

In a Peanuts movie animated by Charles Schulz, a boy named Linus misses out on trick-or-treating and a Halloween party with his friends because he’s waiting in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin to appear. The Great Pumpkin never comes, and Linus is crushed with disappointment.

We live in a world where it seems promises are made to be broken and plans so often fail. Is the same true of God’s plans?

Long ago, he made plans to put an end to pain and sorrow and death. When those who trusted those plans but only saw more pain, sorrow, and death, they were tempted to give up on God. But, by God’s power working through his promises, many didn’t. They trusted God, even when it seemed foolish. They believed that God’s plans never fail. And they died believing promises that they never saw come true in their lifetime.

Centuries after they died, God’s plans came together. At the right time, he sent his Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus came knowing that God’s plans for us meant that he would face his own pain, sorrow, and death. But he loved us and carried out the plan to perfection.

When he rose from the dead, it was proof that the plan worked. Death was crushed. Pain and sorrow would not get the last word. Paradise was restored.

Those who died trusting in God’s plan and promises were not disappointed. Because Jesus kept God’s promises and carried out God’s plans, their deaths meant the end of death, sorrow, and pain for them. They woke up to a new life with their God.

Life in this world is hard. We don’t see paradise, only problems and pain. But like those people long ago, we can endure it, trusting that God has big plans for us. Because of Jesus, one day, our eyes will close on the pain of this world and will open to a life of perfect joy—better than we could ever imagine.

Prayer:

Lord, in the midst of life’s pain, help me trust your eternal plans for me, so that I receive what you have prepared. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.

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Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:1-5

New Heaven and New Earth

The apostle John was given a vision of the future, after this world comes to its end, and God gives his people a new world in which to live.

In this new world, John was told there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. What a wonderful existence it will be! Some theologians believe that the saints in heaven will have all the marks of sin removed, including the deterioration of old age. The aches and pains, amputations, and all other defects will be corrected and made perfect in Jesus.

We can’t be sure this will be the case. But, whatever we look like, we know that our physical bodies in heaven will be perfect and sinless. Imagine—living with God himself without the possibility of falling into sin. We will have free choice in the purest sense, a choice that can do nothing but please God and praise him. That will be rest indeed.

Prayer:

Be with me, Lord Jesus, until I join you in the perfection of heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.

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It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1

Never Again

In the fall of 1990, millions of Americans sat down in front of their TV sets and encountered a part of their history in a way they never had before. The documentary was entitled “The Civil War.” Using superb production values and masterful storytelling, this documentary brought the American Civil War to life, making it seem immediate and real.

Of its many riveting scenes, one of the most powerful captured the horrors of slavery. With pictures of shackled and abused slaves flashing across the screen, you heard the scratchy recording of an actual former slave. The old man made it clear that the very thought of ever returning to slavery was too terrible for him to consider. “You see, when you’re a slave, you’re nothing but a dog,” the old man said. “You’re nothing but a dog.” His attitude towards his former way of life came down to two words: Never again.

What’s sad is that, when it comes to our walk with God as Christians, you and I often don’t have the same reaction to our former way of life. We were slaves by nature, shackled and chained by the guilt of our sin and our own evil desires. But when Jesus invaded our world of slavery, he took our place. He paid the price for our freedom with his own blood. He covered us with his holiness and gave us new lives.

But even now, our old slave owner, the devil, tries to sweet-talk us into coming back. He does this whenever he tells us that the answers to life are in us, and not in Christ. When he approaches you, run. Run as fast as you can to the One who has set you free. Be assured, you are forgiven by your Savior. Bask in the peace and joy that you have in him alone. And be renewed in your zeal, never again to return to slavery. Never again.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, you have set me free from the slavery of sin. Move me to look back at my old way of life and say, “Never again.” Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.