Author: Kerry

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Ephesians 1:3,4

Chosen

Daily Devotion – July 18, 2021

Devotion based on Ephesians 1:3,4

See series: Devotions

She drums her fingers nervously on the arm of the couch. Seated around the room are other young women, looking just as nervous as she feels. The sparsely furnished room looks like the dozens of others where she has waited and wondered. “Will they call my name?” is the question on every face in the room. This is not her first acting audition…but it might be her last. She cannot make ends meet for much longer. If her name is not called, she will have to head back to her hometown with her dreams of stardom left behind on the West Coast. “PLEASE,” she thinks, “Choose me!”

We have all been there. Perhaps not auditioning for an acting job, but we have all been in situations where we want to be chosen. It is thrilling when we are and devastating when we are not.

Every Christian can be certain that he or she has been chosen—not for a job, team, or promotion—but to be a child in God’s family. Unlike people being chosen for jobs, teams, or promotions, Christians were not chosen by God because they were better than others or more deserving than others. Quite the opposite. The Bible says that God chose us IN SPITE OF how undeserving we were. He chose us to show just how merciful and forgiving he is. Knowing that God has chosen to forgive us for Jesus’ sake, knowing that he has adopted us into his family, we can only marvel at how great God is.

Although it is exciting to be chosen for a team, job, or the lead role in a movie, nothing can compare to being chosen as God’s child. It means we have the almighty God on our side. Nothing can separate us from him. When we leave this world, our Father will welcome us into his eternal home.

Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for choosing me to be your child. I know that I do not deserve to be a member of your family. But knowing this only makes me more thankful. Help me this day to live as your child and bring honor to your name. 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 [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9,10

Strength with God

Daily Devotion – July 17, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 12:9,10

See series: Devotions

People who want to be fit and strong will often include the lifting of weights in their exercise routine. Serious weightlifters follow proper lifting techniques, including having spotters nearby just in case the lifter can’t lift the bar up again. Nobody would be content to rely on a spotter to lift the bar up each time. That would be foolish! The spotter would get a better workout than the lifter.

The apostle Paul gives us a different picture in our Bible reading for today. He tells us that his strength and power did not come from his muscles, but from God’s power: [The Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We have a tendency to rely upon ourselves to make it through the difficulties of life. We might view dependency on someone else as a sign of weakness. But dependence on God for his help is not weakness but strength. The almighty God is capable of handling all of our problems and providing for all of our needs. By ourselves, we are weak. God is the strong one. Trusting his power and love, we are strong.

Prayer:
Lord God, humble me and make me strong in you and your love. For when I remember your strength and love for me, that’s when I know my true strength. You are my strength. Thanks be to you, God. In Jesus’ name, 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 grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Boasting In Weakness

Daily Devotion – July 16, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 12:9

See series: Devotions

The Bible is an unusual book in how it shows the weaknesses and failures of so many of its important people. It tells us about the adultery and murder committed by Israel’s greatest king. It tells us about Jesus’ disciples who were just too sleepy to stay awake with their teacher. It tells us about the greatest missionary of all time who spent the earlier part of his life putting Christians to death.

This isn’t an accident. God included these stories in the Bible to teach us that his grace is enough for us.

God doesn’t need the help of the powerful or the strong or the smart. He isn’t choosing a team based on who is the best because he doesn’t need the best. God doesn’t need our help or assistance, nor do we need to meet God halfway. His grace supplies more than anything we could ever contribute.

Instead of trying to hide our weaknesses, God invites us to boast about our weaknesses. Rather than our weaknesses being something that holds us back, our frailty and feebleness give God’s power a chance to shine through in powerful and amazing ways. Rather than being ashamed of our inabilities, God allows us to put them on full display so that his grace can better supply what we are lacking.

What is your story? It is probably a story with plenty of weaknesses and failures. It is also a story of God’s power being made perfect in those weaknesses and failures. Despite your inability to contribute, God has forgiven your sins. He is directing all things in this world for your benefit. He has given you an inheritance in heaven.

Boast in your weakness. God’s power is shown perfectly in it.

Prayer:
God of all power and might, by my own will and abilities I can do nothing. May I always find all of my worth, hope, and joy in your grace. 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, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
2 Corinthians 12:7

Blessings from God

Daily Devotion – July 15, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 12:7

See series: Devotions

Few had accomplished more for God than the apostle Paul. His passion and drive to do the work of God were without parallel. He spent most of his life traveling from town to town, sharing the message of God. His impact on growing the church had no equal. He started churches all across the Mediterranean, and countless people came to faith because of Paul’s efforts.

Few had received more blessings from God than the apostle Paul. God had given him signs and miracles to accompany his message. Paul had heard with his own ears the voice of the risen Jesus. Paul had even been so blessed that one time he was caught up to heaven and experienced “inexpressible” things.

There was one blessing Paul was given that he asked God to take back: a thorn in his flesh. We don’t know exactly what this thorn was. It may have been an illness of some type. Maybe a limitation or persecution that he had to experience. Regardless of what it might have been, its purpose was clear. Paul said it had been given to him “…in order to keep me from becoming conceited.”

Paul had accomplished so much that it would have been easy for someone of his caliber to become conceited. Therefore, God, in his perfect wisdom and love, granted one more blessing, a reminder to rely on God alone.

We can look at the challenges in our lives the same way. We can see them as blessings from God. After all, he has promised to use everything in our lives for our ultimate good. It is not always easy to believe, but this is his promise. When the doctor brings a bad report, God is blessing you. When money is scarce, God is still blessing you. When people hurt, God is still blessing you. Regardless of your situation, God promises to bless you.

May we always see God’s hand of blessing in our lives.

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, when difficulties enter my life keep me close to you. Remind me that in all circumstances you promise to bless 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.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
Mark 6:2,3

Hidden in Plain Sight

Daily Devotion – July 14, 2021

Devotion based on Mark 6:2,3

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The ancient city of Petra in the country of Jordan has been popular with archeologists and tourists for centuries. It was thought that all the ancient buildings there had been uncovered until just a few years ago when a woman from Alabama discovered one of the largest ancient buildings at the site. Using a camera on a drone, she noticed that hiding in plain sight was a very large, partially buried building that people had just been walking over without giving any notice for hundreds of years. The building was always there, but no one had noticed what was right under their own feet.

Those who lived and grew up with Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth didn’t realize what was hiding in plain sight. They knew Jesus as a carpenter. He was the son of Mary and Joseph, it seemed. He had brothers and sisters. They saw him in the streets and talked with him as they would talk with anyone else. When he started doing miracles and teaching the people as the Son of God, the people had questions and were offended. Could the Messiah that God promised be hiding in plain sight?

People are still offended by Jesus for the same reason today. They think he was nothing more than a moral man who had some helpful things to teach us.

But Jesus wasn’t just a moral man. Jesus was sent by God his Father. In plain sight, before all the world, he taught like no one else and did miracles like no one else to show that he was like no one else. While he grew up before the world with a mother and brother and sisters, he is God from all eternity come to do what no one else could do—save the world from its sin and reunite us to our heavenly Father. He is Jesus, the Son of God.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus. Help me to always see him as your Son and my Savior. 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.

He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.”
Ezekiel 2:3,4

Not Just for the Good Guys

Daily Devotion – July 13, 2021

Devotion based on Ezekiel 2:3,4

See series: Devotions

God doesn’t just love the “good guys.”

It is perhaps the greatest miracle in the entire Bible. Sure, the Bible tells us about people walking across seas, the blind receiving their sight, and empires brought to their knees. But the greatest miracle in the entire Bible might be that God loves the rebels and transgressors and the obstinate and stubborn.

Many years ago, God sent a man by the name of Ezekiel to speak to his people. These weren’t “good guys.” They had rebelled against God’s commands. They had transgressed his commands. When they were told to turn from their sin, they stubbornly refused to listen. Despite this, God still sent Ezekiel to the people of Israel to share his message that the people needed to turn from their sins that God might forgive their ways.

There are many days when we cannot describe ourselves as “good guys.” We have moments when we are selfish and uncaring. There are times when we are stubborn and disobedient to God. We have all rebelled against God and not obeyed what he commands. Yet God still calls us back through his servants. He sends pastors and teachers to instruct us in the Word. He uses the biblical encouragement of friends and family to call us to repentance.

God even sent his own Son, Jesus, to live and die for rebellious and stubborn people. He sent his Son to have us turn from our sins, to speak words of love and forgiveness, and to make us his people for all eternity. God didn’t send Jesus just for the “good guys,” but for you and me.

Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank you for sending Jesus for people like me. May I always hear your voice through those you have sent. 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.

And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Ezekiel 2:5

God Speaks Anyway

Daily Devotion – July 12, 2021

Devotion based on Ezekiel 2:5

See series: Devotions

It is frustrating when you are speaking, but no one is listening. My grade school teacher used to do something when the class was not listening. With two dozen kids making a lot of noise, she would stop talking. She would stand in front of the classroom and not say anything at all until, one by one, we all realized we weren’t listening, and we quieted down and gave her our attention once more.

What does God do when we are not listening? He speaks anyway.

Many people don’t want to listen to God. They don’t want to hear either his commands or his promises. They are more comfortable listening to themselves than their Creator. However, even though many people don’t want to listen to God, he speaks anyway.

Even our own hearts often don’t want to listen to God. We would rather find things to do other than hear God’s Word. We would set aside his commands in order to do what we think is best. We would rather find our own way forward than hear how God would have us live for him. Even though we don’t always want to listen, God speaks to us anyway.

Why? Because he loves us, and he knows how desperately we need to hear what he has to say. We need to hear about this love for us—especially the love that caused him to send Jesus to earn the forgiveness of our sins. We need to hear about his commands—the way he wants us to live our lives because he knows his way is always best for us.

What a wonder that God would continue to speak to us. May we always be eager to listen!

Prayer:
I thank and praise you, God, for continually speaking to me through your Word. Give me ears to hear your message, eyes to see your constant love for me, and a heart to believe what you have to say. 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.

To keep me from becoming conceited . . . there was given me a thorn in my flesh.
2 Corinthians 12:7

Thorn

Daily Devotion – July 11, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 12:7

See series: Devotions

The apostle Paul had a serious problem. There was something wrong in his body, and he suffered because of it. We have no idea what this physical problem was. Maybe he had to grapple with crippling pain, bad eyesight, severe arthritis, terrible digestive trouble, seizures, or heart disease. Maybe what vexed him was something completely different. All we know is that this physical problem was serious and the burden on him was profound. Paul simply described it as “a thorn in my flesh.”

It should come as no surprise that Paul prayed about this physical problem. Paul asked the Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh. And, in love, the Lord answered Paul’s prayer.

His answer was “No.”

In his perfect wisdom, the Lord knew that this debilitating physical problem was necessary for Paul and his ministry. It gave Paul perspective. It reminded Paul that, on his own, he was frail and weak. As a result, he never forgot that his real strength was in the Lord and in his gospel. With that thought in mind, Paul later concluded, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

What is the thorn in your life? Perhaps it is chronic illness, chronic pain, a lifelong struggle with depression, or a deep emotional scar from an old wound. Perhaps it is a thorn only you and your Lord understand.

For the time being, if the Lord has chosen to leave that thorn in you, just remember—he does this in love. It may be to give you perspective or to nurture your compassion for others. It may be to keep your eyes fixed on the One who has washed your sins away at the cross, and who lives to fulfill his every promise to you. Whatever the reason, never forget that there is love in that thorn—God’s love for you in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Lord, when you choose to let a painful thorn remain, remind me that even that thorn overflows with 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.

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.
Lamentations 3:25

Amazing Love

Daily Devotion – July 10, 2021

Devotion based on Lamentations 3:25

See series: Devotions

Last summer, my brother put on a fireworks display for our family. He hardly lit more than a sparkler when his five-year-old daughter said to the rest of the family, “My daddy is amazing.”

There are few things more powerful than a child’s hope in a grown-up’s ability to do amazing things. Isn’t this the same attitude you want to have toward your heavenly Father? He has put on a display of his love when he put Jesus on the cross to die in your place. And he displayed his love again when he raised Jesus from the dead so that you too can live a new life. Isn’t our heavenly Father amazing!

As soon as my niece told the family that her daddy was amazing, she immediately turned to daddy and said, “Do it again!”

God has done the amazing for you through Jesus. Seek him and his goodness again and again. He promises that you will not be disappointed. May you be filled with his amazing love for you!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for your amazing love for me. Help me to help others see it too. 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.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

He Became Poor

Daily Devotion – July 9, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 8:9

See series: Devotions

In ancient Greece and Rome, there were rich people who would use their wealth for the good of the whole community. They would, for example, pay for public baths to be built since very few people had plumbing in their homes. Yes, the wealthy people might use those baths themselves, but they were mostly for other people.

The word used for what those rich people did was “grace.” From their wealth, they did something they didn’t have to do, not really for their own benefit, but for the whole community. Even if people in the community didn’t deserve the gift, they still got to take advantage of it.

Jesus was rich. As God, he had every advantage. Jesus could have spent eternity being worshiped by the angels. Instead, he took on human flesh, put himself under the law, suffered ridicule, and even went to death on a cross. He chose not to use many of his advantages as God. He made himself poor.

Jesus didn’t do all of that for himself. He did it for the benefit of the whole world. And since you are in the world, you can rest assured that he did it for you. Don’t worry that you don’t deserve it. The point of grace is that he did it for you even though you don’t deserve it.

Now you are rich! You have forgiveness for all your sins and the promise of life after death. You have the comfort of knowing that the God of the universe cares about you.

And with all of your newfound wealth, you can afford to be generous.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for becoming poor to make me rich. 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.