Author: Kerry

[Jesus said] “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:25-27

Christ’s Promise, Our Peace

Daily Devotion – June 13, 2025

Devotion based on John 14:25-27


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Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he knew his disciples would be troubled. They would witness his arrest and crucifixion, but even after his resurrection, Jesus would not be with them in the same way. Not only that, but Jesus was giving them the responsibility of carrying on his mission. So, he promised to give them a helper, the Advocate.

That promise still holds. Christ has not left us alone. He sends his Holy Spirit to be our comforter, counselor, and guide. The gospel did not go silent when Jesus departed. It continues to sound forth because the Spirit is still at work.

But how does the Spirit come to us? Jesus doesn’t leave that a mystery. The Spirit works through God’s Word, the Bible. Jesus ties the Spirit’s presence to his teachings. Whenever the Word of Christ is proclaimed, read, remembered, or believed, the Spirit is there. The Spirit is not found in our feelings or dramatic signs, but in the clear, dependable promises of God.

That gives us great peace. We don’t have to chase after signs or wonder if God is near. We open the Bible, and there he is. The Spirit speaks to us through the same Word he inspired, bringing comfort, conviction, and clarity. And with that Word, he gives peace, not as the world gives, but a peace that stills our troubled hearts and strengthens us in Christ.

Because Jesus lives, he sends us his Spirit. Because his Spirit speaks through the Word, we are never alone.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, come to me through your Word. Remind me of all that Jesus has done. Calm my troubled heart with your peace and help me always trust that you are with 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.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 2:5-11

God Speaks Your Language

Daily Devotion – June 12, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 2:5-11


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Have you ever stood in a crowd and not understood a word spoken? It’s disorienting. You look for someone, anyone, who speaks your language, because language creates community.

It also creates division. At Babel, when humanity tried to build its own glory, God scattered them by confusing their language. Ever since, we’ve stuck with those who sound like us. We’re cautious of those who don’t.

But the day of Pentecost reversed that.

On that day in Jerusalem, people from every nation under heaven heard the wonders of God in their own native tongues; not Hebrew in the temple, not a priestly voice from a distance, but everyday Galileans speaking in the languages they understood best. God wasn’t asking them to learn a new language to approach him. He was coming to them.

This is the miracle of Pentecost. Not just that tongues were spoken, but that God’s grace was clearly heard by all. In Jesus, the separation of Babel is undone. In Jesus, the glory-seeking tower is replaced by the cross. And in Jesus, forgiveness is preached to all people of all languages.

Because Jesus lives, his Spirit speaks to every heart in every culture, through the good news of forgiveness. And that message doesn’t divide, it unites.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, you broke through the confusion of many languages at Pentecost to proclaim the wonders of Christ to every heart. Speak to me again today through God’s Word, the Bible. Remind me of the forgiveness of sins won for me in Christ and the forgiveness that is for all people. 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.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4

Baptized With the Holy Spirit

Daily Devotion – June 11, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 2:1-4


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Before Jesus Christ began his work of preaching and teaching, someone else was preparing the way for him. His name was John; they called him John the Baptist. He got that name because part of his work was baptizing people. It was a sign of their sorrow over their sin, but also a trust that God was sending his chosen one to deal with that sin.

John the Baptist pointed to this chosen one called the Messiah, and John said the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus Christ proved he was the Messiah by his perfect life, his innocent death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead. Jesus made good on John the Baptist’s prediction and his own promises on the day of Pentecost.

Even though Jesus had ascended into heaven, he wasn’t going to leave his followers alone. He had promised a helper, the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, who appeared in visible and dramatic form. There was a sound of wind filling the house where the disciples gathered. Tongues of fire came and rested on each of them. They were given the ability to speak in other languages. Jesus had not abandoned them. He sent them the powerful Holy Spirit, fulfilling John the Baptist’s words.

Jesus continues to send his Holy Spirit through the waters of baptism. While there are no tongues of flame or sounds of wind, we know that Jesus is still sending his Holy Spirit, creating faith and transforming lives. The Holy Spirit kindles and strengthens the fire of faith in the hearts of believers so that the effects of Pentecost carry on to this day.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through your Spirit, I know you are with me always. 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.

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
Genesis 11:5-9

An Act of Grace

Daily Devotion – June 10, 2025

Devotion based on Genesis 11:5-9


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If you had no understanding of who God is or the context of these verses, this action by God might seem petty and harsh. You might read these verses as saying that God saw the progress man was making, recognized their potential, became jealous of them, and put a stop to it by confusing their language.

The fact is that these people were disobeying God’s command to spread out over all the earth. What’s more is that their actions showed a total lack of trust in God. If these people thought they could do everything, they wouldn’t go to God for anything, including the salvation of their sinful souls. While they built a comfortable life on earth, they would trade it for an eternity in hell.

God is not concerned for himself that humans will somehow rise to his level. God cares about human beings. He is concerned about their earthly lives, but he is more passionate about their eternal lives. God didn’t confuse the languages at Babel out of his own self-interest. He did it because he loves people. It was an act of his grace so that they didn’t think that they had no need for God and then suffer eternally.

Learn more about God, and you’ll see just how far he was willing to go to keep people from hell. God sent Jesus to descend to earth. Not just to visit but to live, love, and even to die. Jesus’ death and resurrection bring people together with God. It unites them in faith.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you were willing to let your Son die in my place. Help me show gratitude by living according to your will. 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.

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
Genesis 11:1-4

Bricks Can’t Reach Heaven

Daily Devotion – June 9, 2025

Devotion based on Genesis 11:1-4


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The people seeking to build this tower had a problem. They knew life was short. Their time would quickly end, and then they would be gone. But they also felt that there was more. They longed for something eternal.

Their solution was to build a tower reaching to the heavens. Using recent technological advancements, they could climb higher than anyone ever had before them. They would make a name for themselves so that even when they died, their tower would stand as a monument to their great accomplishments.

They thought this was the solution to their problem. They had a God-shaped hole in their hearts, and they tried to fill it with bricks and tar. They knew there was a gap between sinful, mortal human beings and the perfect, eternal God. They tried to bridge that gap with the tower they thought could put them on the same level as God.

We are all born with this God-shaped hole in our hearts. We are all born with the sinful nature that tries to fill that hole with anything but God. Money, power, control, pleasure, and self-righteousness are just a few things we use to bridge the gap between us and God, but they all fall short.

The only thing that could bridge the gap between us and God is the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus climbed a tree and hung between heaven and earth to fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts with faith and trust in him as our Savior.

The people building the Tower of Babel; we don’t know their names. But God has given us the name by which we are saved. Jesus is the only one who can give us eternity.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me trust you alone as the only way to God and eternity. 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.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9

A Victory Celebration

Daily Devotion – June 8, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9


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When you think of heaven, who do you see there? Is it full of grandmas and grandpas walking down golden streets? Are there white hair harpists floating on clouds everywhere? Are there angelic choirs singing God’s praise from on high?

Sometimes, cartoons paint our ideas of heaven more than the Bible. Fortunately, God gave the apostle John these visions in the book of Revelation. They serve as a glimpse of the heavenly glory, and in this passage, we see “who” will be in heaven.

The passage tells us that heaven will be overflowing with people from every nation, tribe, people, and language. The truth is that God wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Wherever God’s Word is preached and believed, there are believers. And though these believers come from all over, they are all dressed the same. They are wearing white robes—a picture of the very righteousness and holiness of God, which Jesus gives to all who believe in him.

Everyone in heaven will be purified forever from all sin. That’s a picture worth a thousand words. As it is right now, you and I cannot wash away even one of our sins, but through faith in Jesus alone and clothed in his forgiveness and love, our sins are taken away. Should God call us home tonight, we are dressed and ready to join the multitudes.

To top it off, this victory celebration will never end. What a refreshing and wonderful sight! That’s what Jesus has in store for you and all who believe in him!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for lifting my eyes to heaven and reminding me of the treasures and glories you have in store for me and all who believe. Help me to continue to share your love, so that through your Word, many more may join the everlasting celebration. 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.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they say: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:11,12

Worthy of Praise

Daily Devotion – June 7, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 5:11,12


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Whom do you praise? Is it some college basketball team that wins repeated national championships? Does your praise go to your son or daughter for getting an “A” on a test or winning a blue ribbon? No doubt, lots of hard work and effort were put forth. Parents are proud of their children’s accomplishments. Fans rejoice in the victory. But step aside from all that and ask yourself, who is worthy of praise?

Star athletes have their flaws. Children aren’t always cherubs. Yet there is one, and one alone, who is worthy of everyone’s praise, and his name is Jesus.

The apostle John records what he heard and saw in this vision of heaven. Before him are countless angels giving praise to Jesus alone! But it’s not just praise for praise’s sake. They let us know exactly why Jesus alone is worthy of praise. They call him “the Lamb who was slain.”

On Calvary, Jesus shed his blood in our place to pay for all our sins! Because of his perfect sacrifice, the gates of heaven are open for all who believe! This is why Jesus alone is worthy of the angels’ praises as well as yours and mine!

The best part is that you don’t have to wait until heaven to join in praising Jesus. Each week we gather to worship Jesus and sing his praises. Each day you give glory to Jesus as you read the Bible. Throughout each day, sing a song of praise to him who has forgiven all your sins and promised you eternal life in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord God, let my life be a song of praise to you, for you alone are worthy of praise. 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.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17

Drink the Water of Life

Daily Devotion – June 6, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:17


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You just discovered the perfect little place to relax. It is quiet. It is beautiful. No one seems to know about it. Here’s the dilemma: Do you share this information with others, or do you keep it to yourself?

Sometimes, we like to keep information like this to ourselves. We are afraid that if too many people find out, then the wonder of our little hidden spot will be ruined.

Jesus proclaims himself as the Alpha and the Omega and being the Root and Offspring of David. He washes our robes and gives us access to the tree of life, to his mercy and forgiveness.

What follows is the response of the Spirit and the bride. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit. The bride is…you. God’s church, believers, are his bride.

And what do the Holy Spirit and the bride say? “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

To know Jesus as our Savior from sin refreshes us like a sip from a mountain stream. But rather than keeping this good news to ourselves, we invite others to know the thirst-quenching message of forgiveness in Jesus.

If you have come to know Jesus as your Savior, God gives you a clear purpose. Your work is to tell others: “Come and join me and drink of the water of life!”

If you are reading this and you don’t know Jesus, or are unsure, Jesus has good news for you. He loves you and shed his blood and gave his life to take away your sins. He rose from the dead to show you that he is not just a special person, but God himself. Now it’s your turn. “Come and drink the water of life in Jesus.”

Your soul will never thirst again.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for showing me who you are and having mercy on my soul. Help me to invite others to drink the water of life. 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.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Revelation 22:16

Proper Credentials

Daily Devotion – June 5, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:16


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You need critical surgery. You are given the choice of two surgeons to perform the delicate task. The first one says, “I have successfully performed this exact surgery 68 times and the results have always been excellent.” You meet with the other surgeon who tells you, “I read about this surgery in a manual once. I’m sure it can’t be that hard.”

Your choice? It’s obvious. You go with the one with the proper credentials.

At times, we are forced to entrust our lives to the hands of skilled surgeons. But only when we need to. The rest of the time, we are in charge of our own lives. At least we feel that way, and we might act that way.

The Bible reminds us today who really is in charge. Jesus gives himself some interesting titles in this verse. He calls himself the Root of David. The mighty King David, for all his power and splendor, still needed someone to give him life. He needed someone to create him. Jesus is the Root, or source, of King David.

Jesus is also the Offspring of David. While Jesus is the eternal God, he also took on human flesh and blood so that he could take all the failings of humanity upon himself. Eternal God willingly set aside his power and glory as God so he would be the source of its salvation. He was a human descendant of David. In this way, Jesus is also the Offspring of David.

Jesus also calls himself the Morning Star. Like the last bright star that still shines as night gives way to the light of a new day, Jesus is the bright star that will shine until he returns at the dawn of the Last Day.

This means that day by day we can confidently be assured that our lives are placed into the hands of Jesus. Could there be a better place than that? We have nothing to fear because Jesus has all the credentials to give us what is best for now and for eternity.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are my God and Savior. Help me to trust you and place myself confidently into your hands. 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.

[Jesus said] “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
Revelation 22:14,15

Access Granted

Daily Devotion – June 4, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:14,15


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There are certain places that you never want to be closed. If you are suddenly very sick and in need of emergency care, how dismayed you would be if, at the entrance to the hospital emergency room, there was a sign across the doors that said, “Closed.”

“Closed” is what happened in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit, they were banished so that they could not “take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever” (Genesis 3:22).

That banishment from the Garden of Eden was actually an act of mercy from their Creator. Can you imagine an eternity of life on earth with a sinful nature and bodies broken by sin? Some might call that hell on earth.

“Closed” is what you and I would rightfully expect to see at the gates of heaven if left to our own doing. Before the purity and power of God’s holiness, we too would have to join the “dogs” and all sinners outside the gates of heaven.

But God’s desire is always for sinners to come near to him. The gates into the eternal city have been opened by the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus was excluded from the mercy of God so that you and I would not be. Jesus was closed off from the love of his Father so that he could provide something for us we could never have on our own access.

One day, by the grace of God, we will walk through those gates into the eternal city and see the tree of life with our own eyes.

Until that day comes, keep the vision of glory before you. But also heed God’s warning when it comes to our sin. Cling to Jesus, and the robes he has washed for you. Through him, access to the tree and eternity is always open.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me confidence about my eternal future. Give me that same comfort and confidence as I live my life in faith. 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.