Month: April 2026

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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Psalm 23:5

With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Honored

The story arc of Psalm 23 moves fast enough to make your head spin. It begins with David identifying with a lowly sheep, content to recline in the presence of the Lord, his loving Shepherd, knowing that plenty of green grass and clean water are available. Then Shepherd and sheep are up and walking, and the paths seem right—until suddenly all is dark and scary. Fortunately, David is aware that the Shepherd is with him in that shadowy valley, fending off unknown and unseen assailants on every hand. One verse later, the darkness is lifted, revealing the enemies before him, but the tables have turned in an unexpected way. The lowly sheep from the pasture is now the guest of honor at the Lord’s own Table. Those who meant harm to him can do nothing but watch in humiliation and defeat, as he receives every sign of hospitality and honor.

Perhaps this sequence of events reflects the way King David looked back on his own life. He went from a young man tending his father’s sheep to a giant-slayer to being hunted by the king as a traitor to being anointed and crowned king himself. How could a young shepherd ever imagine receiving such honor? In gratitude for all these blessings and more, David prayed, “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Samual 7:18). He knew better than anyone that it was only by God’s grace that he was blessed in this way.

Jesus Christ—both David’s descendant and his Lord—is the Shepherd King who displays lavish hospitality on us, the sheep of his flock. He took our shame and lowliness upon himself, dying in our place, so that he might share his glory with us. When Satan points out our sin, Jesus stuns him into silence, graciously inviting us to his Table where our Lord’s own body and blood assure us of forgiveness. Jesus, our Shepherd, welcomes us as honored guests, anointing us with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: (CW, 552:5)

You spread a table in my sight,
A banquet here bestowing;
Your oil of welcome, my delight;
My cup is overflowing. Amen.

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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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Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Safety

A young couple, seemingly blessed in so many ways, learns that their daughter has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer, and the prognosis is not promising. How did this happen, they wonder. What is God’s plan in this?

In verse 3 of Psalm 23, King David confidently states that the Lord guides him “along the right paths.” One verse later, however, he finds himself walking through the darkest valley—in some translations, “the valley of the shadow of death.” How did he end up here when just a moment ago he was resting in green pastures?

The truth is that the Lord often leads his people into dark and dangerous times in life. These can take many different forms of suffering, loss, hardship, and trials, which may affect both body and soul. And yes, one day death too will cast its shadow over our lives. Although some of these may correlate to bad choices we make along the way, it is never a matter of the Lord leading us wrong or leaving us alone along the path. The darkness of the valley may prevent us from seeing clearly, but it doesn’t keep our Lord from remaining in control. Even in those dark days, we can join with David in saying, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Jesus, our Good Shepherd, watches over us and powerfully protects us from our greatest enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Not even death can separate us from the love of God, which is ours in Christ Jesus. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom 8:28).

Prayer: (CW, 552:4)

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
with you, dear Lord, beside me,
your rod and staff my comfort still,
your cross before to guide me. 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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He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:2-3

With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Rest

In classical Greek and Roman literature, an idyll was a short poem about shepherds. Later, the term was broadened to include poetic depictions of peaceful countryside settings in general. The “idyllic life,” so to speak, was supposed to exist somewhere between the untamed wilderness and the bustling city, in the quiet green meadows where the grass is soft beneath your feet, and the wind softly rustles in the branches above your head. Can you picture yourself as the shepherd gently resting there with his flock? It may have taken a little hike to reach the spot, but once you’ve arrived, you can linger and lounge and maybe even find yourself dozing off. In such a tranquil setting, there is no hurry, no threat, no pressing need. A bubbling brook with clear, cool water is nearby, should you get thirsty. And there’s plenty of grass for the sheep to nibble on, should they get hungry. Surely, shepherds and sheep can tarry in such a place for a while.

King David, a former shepherd himself, may have longed for such simpler days later in life. But even in the worst of times, David knew where he could find rest. The Lord himself would refresh his soul with promises of love and forgiveness.

When your soul is weighed down by sin and all its nasty consequences, Jesus gently invites you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). See, your guilt has been removed in your baptism in the name of the Triune God! When your conscience is stirred up by the memory of your many failings, insisting you need to make things right, you need to make it better. Look to your Lord Jesus, who has already given you his own right that you need to make it better. Look to your Lord Jesus, who has already given you his own righteousness so that you stand before God holy and blameless. He gives you strength for the journey and refreshes your soul with his word and sacraments. Calm your heart and rest in the Lord!

Prayer: (CW, 552:2)

Where streams of living water flow,
My Savior gently leads me,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feeds me. 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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The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Psalm 23:1

With Jesus My Shepherd, I Lack Nothing

What is missing in your life? In the context of reading this devotion and having just been reminded of the opening verse of Psalm 23, you might quickly confess with David, “Since the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.” But as the day goes on, the week progresses, and you look at your bills, deadlines, relationships, health, and responsibilities, you might feel there is something missing. There may be something lacking in your marriage, job satisfaction, daily routines, or life in general. Maybe you could name that missing thing right away. Maybe even talk for an hour over coffee with a friend about what your life is lacking.

So why have countless generations of God’s people had these words of David on their lips, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want”? Is it a calm expression of trust in God’s providence? Is it to remind themselves to be content, despite their feelings of loss, frustration, or fear? Or is it a prayer, asking the Lord to keep their minds focused on his love for them? You likely would not be surprised if I suggested it was all of the above.

It’s true that some things people long for flow from misplaced priorities. The human heart, darkened by original sin, may have you desiring things that are not yours or that are not for your good. The Lord calls you to repent and to return to him, finding in his forgiving grace the one thing you truly need in this life.

In other cases, what seems missing may be a truly God-pleasing thing, a blessing only he can give, but for some reason seems elusive to you right now: like peace, safety, contentment, or hope. The Lord invites you to trust his love for you and his promises, which are all fulfilled in Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He bound himself to you and laid down his life for you. You can confidently say with David, “He is my shepherd. With him, I have everything I will ever need.”

Prayer: (CW, 552:1)

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness fails me never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever. 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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[Jesus said] “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.”
John 10:9

Through Christ Alone!

“I just don’t know. I’ll have to think about it some more.” That was all John could say. He wasn’t sure if he could agree with what Paul had told him.

Paul had just told his friend about the way to heaven. He wanted to make sure John knew it was only through Jesus that he could be saved. This concerned John and made him ask, “Then, what about everyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus? Will God exclude good, moral people if they don’t believe?”

The debate still lingers. People like John still feel there are various ways to enter heaven. However, Jesus reveals something completely different. There is only one way to enter heaven, and that is through him. When he says, “I am the gate,” there are only two things that can happen. The door into heaven will be opened, or the door will be closed, and the only way the door will be opened is through Jesus Christ.

In spite of what Jesus says, there is still the desperate hope that other alternatives exist. I may even hope that there are other ways which God would find acceptable. Unfortunately, everything else fails because entry is only through Christ alone.

Jesus is the only way because he did what was needed for me and for all people to enter heaven. Jesus offered his Father the perfect, obedient life that was required, which I could never live. Jesus paid his Father the full price, which was required, and which I could never pay.

Without Jesus, I may desire to be in heaven, but I will never enter it. This is why I need to look to Jesus alone. He makes it possible for me to come into heaven, where he gladly welcomes me. Then I will have everything I need and will live in never-ending joy. How truly blessed I am to know that I am saved through Christ alone.

Prayer:

O dearest Jesus, my Lord and my Savior, you have provided the way to heaven, and you have called me through your word to enter eternal life. Give me the faith I need to trust that I am saved through you alone. 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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[Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
Luke 24:25-26

It Has to Happen

Jesus spoke these words to two of his followers walking to Emmaus the day he rose from the dead. But these two didn’t understand that Jesus HAD TO be alive. Why did he have to be alive? Because that’s what God through the prophets said would happen. These two must have heard the prophecies before that Jesus would die and rise again. They must have heard Jesus say that he would die and rise again. But what they didn’t understand was that what God says has to happen.

This is such a huge concept for us to understand as well. There are times in our lives when it seems the wheels are coming off. It’s one problem after the next. Yet God says to those who believe in him, “I have plans to prosper you” (Jeremiah 29:11). God says he will prosper us. And what God says has to happen.

We ask God to help us, but feel he isn’t. Yet he says in Psalm 50:15, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.” God says he will deliver us. And what God says has to happen.

We confess our sins to God and ask him to forgive us. But we don’t feel forgiven. We still stew on and feel that guilt. Yet God says in 1 John 1:7, “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” God says he has washed away every sin with Jesus’ blood. And what God says has to happen.

Our own words and the words of others aren’t always reliable. But what God says is fail-proof. It is reliable. We can completely trust that whatever he says and promises WILL HAPPEN.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith so that I trust that what you promise will happen. 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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Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
1 Peter 1:17-19

More than Enough

Imagine someone is paying off a small debt by handing over a fortune. That’s the picture the sixteenth-century reformer, Martin Luther, once painted when reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice. He wrote, “Just one drop of this innocent blood would have been more than enough for the sin of the whole world.”

Just one drop. Jesus’ blood is infinitely valuable because he is the sinless Son of God. His sacrifice was more than sufficient to pay for every sin: yours, mine, and the world’s.

Peter reminds us that we were not redeemed with silver or gold. Those things eventually fade and lose value. We were redeemed with something far more precious: the blood of Christ.

That truth changes how we see our lives. Our forgiveness was not cheap. Our rescue was not discounted. God loved us enough to give what was the most precious to him, his own Son.

And yet this costly redemption is also our deepest comfort. Because Jesus paid the full price, there is nothing left for you to earn, and nothing left unpaid. Your sins are forgiven. You belong to God.

So, we live in what Peter calls “reverent fear,” a fear that is not terror, but a deep respect and gratitude for the grace we’ve received. We treasure the salvation Christ won for us.

After all, when you realize what it cost Jesus to redeem you, you begin to see how precious you truly are to God.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for redeeming me with your precious blood. Help me treasure your grace and live each day in gratitude for the salvation you won for me. 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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When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:37-39

Cut and Comforted

When the apostle Peter preached to the crowd in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, he did not soften his message. “You crucified him,” Peter said. The very Savior that God had promised, the one sent to rescue them, they had rejected. And the people felt it. Luke says they were “cut to the heart.”

That’s what God’s Word does. It doesn’t flatter us. It doesn’t tell us we’re basically fine. It tells us the truth. Our sin isn’t small. It isn’t someone else’s problem. Left alone, it separates us from God. When that truth sinks in, the question arises: “What shall we do?”

It’s the most natural question in the world. When you realize something is broken, you want to fix it. When you realize you’re guilty, you want to make it right. But Peter’s answer is not, “Try harder.” It’s not, “Do better next time.”

He says, “Repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Notice how active God is in that sentence. Forgiveness is given. The Spirit is given. The promise is given.

We bring the sin. God brings the rescue. That is how faith begins. God’s law cuts so that his gospel can heal. He shows us our desperate condition so that we will see how desperately we need Jesus.

And then he gives him to us. Through his Word, through baptism, through the message of the cross, God applies what Jesus has done. Not partly. Completely. Not because we earned it. Because Christ did. The same God who exposes our guilt also washes it away. The promise is for you.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, cut away my pride and self-reliance. Then comfort me with the full forgiveness won by Jesus. 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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When [Jesus] was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:30-32

Strengthened by God’s Good Gifts

The two disciples with whom Jesus spoke on Easter evening on the road to Emmaus had had their faith shaken to the core. Jesus had been tried as a felon and crucified as a criminal, looking like a failure.

They heard the reports that the tomb was empty and Jesus was alive, but it didn’t revive their faith. They didn’t even stick around in Jerusalem to see if it might be true. They hit the road for Emmaus, leaving the other disciples.

Jesus chose these two doubting disciples to be among the first he appeared to after his resurrection. He didn’t show up at Pilate’s palace. He didn’t walk into the temple in triumph. He didn’t gloat to the religious leaders who orchestrated his death. He chose two disciples in a crisis of faith.

Jesus gave them exactly what they needed. He shared God’s Word. He broke bread with them as he had during the Passover meal the previous Thursday. Those good gifts were all they needed to recognize that Jesus was alive and so was their faith.

We know what it’s like to struggle. A temptation that won’t loosen its grip. An illness that lingers. A loved one is drifting further from God. All of these can cause a crisis of faith.

That’s when we go where Jesus has told us to look. We open his Word where we hear that our sins are forgiven. We see that the cross is for us. And in the Lord’s Supper, Jesus gives us something tangible. We don’t just hear we are forgiven; we receive it.

When faith feels fragile, God doesn’t demand that we get stronger. He points us to his promises. The same Savior who walked with those disciples still comes to his people today. He still brings those good gifts with him.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, when doubt clouds my heart, draw me back to your Word and your promises. Strengthen my faith with your good gifts. 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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[Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Luke 24:25-27

All Scripture Points Us to Jesus

When Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he kept them from recognizing him. That seems strange. If the goal was to convince them he was alive, why not simply say, “It’s me”? Instead, Jesus did something just as powerful. He opened the Scriptures.

He walked them through the first part of the Bible, what we call the Old Testament, and showed them how it had always been pointing to him. He may have taken them back to the Garden of Eden, where God promised that one of Eve’s descendants would crush the serpent. He may have reminded them of the Passover Lamb in Exodus, whose blood saved God’s people from death. He certainly could have pointed to the prophet Isaiah, who wrote about a suffering servant who would be “pierced for our transgressions.”

We might think it would be more powerful if Jesus were to appear today. Wouldn’t that make for an undeniable and visible testimony? If Jesus were standing right in front of us. Wouldn’t that settle everything?

But Jesus chooses something else. He chooses his Word. God’s Word doesn’t just give information. It creates faith. It reveals who Jesus is and what he has done. His Word shows us that his suffering wasn’t an accident. Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection was a rescue plan written across centuries.

The Bible is not a random collection of spiritual thoughts. It is one unfolding story with one hero: Jesus. And through that Word, the Holy Spirit opens eyes just like he did for those disciples on the road to Emmaus.

If you want to know who Jesus is, start where he told us to look. Open the Bible. That will lead you straight to your Savior, Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, open my eyes through your Word. Strengthen my faith in your promises and help me see you on every page of Scripture. 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.