Author: Kerry

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18

Focus

Daily Devotion – June 18, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 4:18

See series: Devotions

Where are your eyes fixed these days? Are they fixed on debt as you keep going over the financial statements wondering how you are going to make it? Maybe your eyes are focused on deadlines, as you worry and stress about whether you will be able to get everything done for everyone who has expectations of you. Perhaps your eyes keep staring at your phone, waiting for the doctor to call with the results from a recent test. So often, our eyes are focused on things that fill us with stress and anxiety. We pace the halls. We fill our minds with what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. And, of course, we have little or no control over any of it. These situations are temporary as our Bible reading today reminds us, but certainly, a new set of temporary troubles will come our way whenever the old ones are resolved.

There is a solution to this problem. That is, to fix our eyes on what is unseen. Namely, on Jesus and the heavenly home that he has waiting for us. Everything we face on earth is by nature temporary. But spiritual blessings in Christ are eternal. Because Jesus died on the cross in our place and rose from the dead, we have been given eternal life which far outweighs anything this life can throw at us.

But it is always easier to focus on the here and now than it is on things unseen. God invites and encourages us to lift our eyes to things above. To always have Jesus and his Word in our thoughts and our hearts. To think about and look forward to our heavenly home. To eagerly anticipate eternity with Jesus and all believers in heaven—a place where we will not pace the halls with worry or anxiety, but a place where we will live stress-free in perfect peace and joy. Fix your eyes on that!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the heavenly home you have prepared for me. Help me to fix my eyes on things eternal. 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 our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17

Earthly Troubles

Daily Devotion – June 17, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 4:17

See series: Devotions

Cancer. Alzheimer’s. Broken relationships. Job loss. Depression. Persecution. Life in this world is not short of troubles. We all have them. It is just a question of which troubles we have at any given time. So many things we experience weigh us down, and we are so often under pressure. So much so that these things can often seem unbearable.

So, who does the author of this verse think he is to call such troubles “light or momentary”? In a world that seems to care little or nothing for what we are going through, it is important to understand that God is not insensitive to what we are experiencing. Nor should we assume that he does not care about us or love us. It can be an easy thing for us to get angry with God or assume that he does not love us or is not there for us. God has not forgotten us!

But God does want us to see things from his perspective. Our heavenly Father sees all eternity and knows that our life span is but a tiny blip on the eternal timeline. He knows that if we stay the course and trust in Jesus, we have an eternal future waiting for us. When we leave this world, we have a place waiting for us, where we will experience perfect joy that will never end. This is all through Jesus, who endured his own momentary troubles for us. Because of his troubles on that day, Jesus has opened eternal life for us all.

Whatever it is you are going through right now, God wants you to view your troubles in comparison to the eternal joys of heaven. Our joy and the glory in heaven will not be momentary, and whatever we endured on earth will be “light” in comparison. Keep your eyes on your heavenly home and trust the Lord to bring you through all your earthly troubles into the glories of heaven.

Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, give me strength for the troubles of today. Help me to see things from your perspective and to keep my eyes on my heavenly home. 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 will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
Genesis 3:15

Victory

Daily Devotion – June 16, 2021

Devotion based on Genesis 3:15

See series: Devotions

Satan was victorious. Can you picture him strutting around the Garden of Eden with his hands held high over his head in victory? He had gone up against the world’s only two perfect people, and he had come out victorious. And it sure had not taken long! Satan, quite quickly it seems, had successfully led Adam and Eve away from God and into sin, and he has been winning battles ever since.

It happens all too often in your life and mine. Sometimes before we even know it, and often without much of a fight, the devil defeats us with a quick temptation, and there he stands, gloating in victory over us. Maybe it happens when we are scrolling social media, and he tempts us to click on some inappropriate content. Maybe, it happens after a long day, and conversation is strained, and he tempts us to lash out with our temper. Maybe, it happens when we are at work, and no one is looking, and he tempts us to steal from our employer.

However, it happens Satan has defeated us more times than we care to admit. And because of our dismal record in fighting against his temptations, we were doomed for all eternity. Truthfully, one sin is all it took for us to be worthy of God’s punishment.

But God did something unexpected. He made a promise. Right as Satan was on his victory lap in the Garden of Eden, God promised to send someone to crush this seemingly unstoppable enemy. And he indicated it would not be a close contest. This One to come would CRUSH Satan’s head.

The wonderful news is that God has kept his promise. Jesus came and defeated Satan through his life, death, and resurrection. Just as God promised, Christ came and went toe-to-toe with Satan and has forever crushed him. Better yet, Jesus has given you the victory! In Jesus, we are forgiven and saved, and heaven is our home. And Satan will not be able to harm us for all eternity. Praise be to God for his victory over Satan!

Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for sending Jesus to crush my enemy. Thank you for the eternal victory you have given me. Help me always to look to Jesus in times of temptation. 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 man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” The Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me and I ate.”
Genesis 3:12,13

The Blame Game

Daily Devotion – June 15, 2021

Devotion based on Genesis 3:12,13

See series: Devotions

We are all good at playing the blame game. In fact, we learned it at a young age. How often did we not shout out while pointing at a classmate or sibling: “He did it first!” or, “She made me do it!” As we have aged, we have honed our ability to duck responsibility for our actions. We may do it more subtly now, but when it comes to being confronted with our sin, we still like to deflect, dodge, or deny. We try to shift the blame or point the finger at somebody else. Just like Adam and Eve, we try to blame someone else for our sinful actions.

For example, rather than own up to our sinful habit, perhaps we shrug our shoulders and say, “Well, that is how I was raised.” Or, instead of taking responsibility for missing a deadline at work, we throw a co-worker under the bus for not getting us the information we needed on time. Or maybe instead of apologizing to our spouse for the insensitive way we spoke, we hold a grudge and blame them for starting the argument.

Thankfully, there is one who did not deflect or dodge. Jesus went to the cross and took the punishment that we deserved for our sin. He did not point the finger of blame at us. He did not try to dodge the consequences even though the sins were ours rather than his. He had every right to shift the blame to us, but he refused to play that game. Instead, he bore the burden of our sin and gave himself up in our place. His loving sacrifice for us has forever removed our sin and has given us the gift of eternal life.

Cling to Jesus and his cross. Instead of playing the blame game, humbly confess your sin and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness that only he can provide.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for paying the penalty for my sins. Help me not to blame others, but to be honest with you about my sin and to trust in you for forgiveness. 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 God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:9

Come Clean

Daily Devotion – June 14, 2021

Devotion based on Genesis 3:9

See series: Devotions

“Where are you?” The almighty and all-knowing God of the universe was not asking that question because he was unable to locate Adam. He asked the question because he was giving the man a chance to come clean. Like any parent who knows exactly what his child has done, the Lord God was lovingly giving Adam an opportunity to be honest about what he did.

God could ask the same question of us today. “Where are you?” Are we hiding from God in a busy schedule—filling up our days with so many things that it is never convenient to address issues in our spiritual lives? Or maybe we are burying ourselves in social media and websites so that we never have to face reality about a specific failing in our lives. Perhaps we are spiraling downward in a cycle of addiction or despair over the guilt that we have so far refused to come to terms with. Where are you?

Wherever we are, God lovingly calls out to us and invites us to run to him and come clean and find our loving Father in heaven. He patiently calls out to us and invites us to turn toward him. God wants nothing more than for us to come out of hiding and confess our sin and turn toward him to receive love and compassion and free and full forgiveness. God’s will is that we all repent and find eternal salvation in Jesus.

We may not always want to be found by God, but he made every effort to seek us. In love, he sent Jesus as our Savior from sin to die on the cross and give his life in our place. Jesus then rose from the dead to guarantee our forgiveness and our place in heaven. In Christ, we are God’s forgiven children who have no need to hide. Where are you? By the grace of God, one day, the answer to that question will be: “I am in heaven forever with Jesus.”

Prayer:
Dear Lord God, forgive me for my sin and for all the times I have hidden from you. Thank you for seeking me out and for the forgiveness that is mine in Christ Jesus. 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.

We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Fix Your Eyes

Daily Devotion – June 13, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

See series: Devotions

When the apostle Paul wrote that his troubles were light and temporary, it sounds like he had a common cold or maybe a headache. But listen to some of the things he was talking about. He wrote, “three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked,” etc. Nothing light or temporary there. Eventually, he would end up being imprisoned and martyred for his faith. Light and temporary? No. But Paul was comparing the troubles he had on earth with the glory that would be his in heaven.

The joys of heaven, won for us by Jesus, are so amazing that the things we suffer here are light and temporary by comparison. Most of us have not been through all the things that Paul went through. Still, there are times when we could sit down and make quite a list. They may not look as bad as Paul’s problems, but they are OUR problems and concern us greatly.

Paul’s advice to us on those days is pretty amazing, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen.” How can you fix your eyes on something you can’t see? He is impressing on us the truth that no matter how bad things may be in our lives now, they will come to an end someday. Like Paul, we don’t lose heart because no matter how complicated and difficult life may become, we can fix our eyes on the joy and peace that we know are waiting for us in heaven through Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of eternal life with you in heaven. When life here gets difficult, help me fix my eyes on that goal and never lose 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.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8,9

Strength to Endure

Daily Devotion – June 12, 2021

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 4:8,9

See series: Devotions

It was not easy being the apostle Paul. Wherever he went to tell other people about Jesus, he inevitably faced violent opposition. Repeatedly he was thrown in prison and people tried to kill him. From the Jewish authorities, he received thirty-nine lashes on five separate occasions. From the Romans, he received three beatings with rods. Forty men once vowed that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. And on top of all this, he was shipwrecked three times, was constantly on the move, and often went without sleep or food. All this Paul suffered because he was a follower of Jesus. He most certainly was “hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, struck down.”

Yet, even in all this suffering, Paul did not lose hope. It’s not that he expected God to relieve him of his suffering. No, he knew that as long as he remained on this earth, he would continue to be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and even struck down. Yet, he knew that none of those sufferings would ever be able to completely defeat him. There was one who was crushed and abandoned for him and for all people. That one was Jesus, and in him, Paul held both ultimate victory over all his enemies and the strength to endure all his sufferings.

Jesus was his strength. Even when he became discouraged, Paul did not slide into despair. Jesus was his sure hope. In the midst of the most savage persecution, Paul knew that he would never be alone. Jesus had promised to be with him always. Even if his enemies succeeded in striking him down, Paul knew that he would not be destroyed. Jesus was his life, and in him, Paul would live forever.

When the pressure seems too much for you and you’re struggling to stand up under it, remember where your strength lies. It lies, not in you, but in Jesus who was crushed and abandoned for you. In him, you hold both ultimate victory over all your enemies and the strength to endure until he takes you to heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, uphold me with your strength so that in you I may always stand. 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.

“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.”
Acts 26:25

Stand Strong

Daily Devotion – June 11, 2021

Devotion based on Acts 26:25

See series: Devotions

Some of the central teachings of Christianity are these: God became a human being in Jesus. He lived, died, and rose from the dead. And he promises to come back to resurrect our bodies and renew all of creation.

Such teachings seem illogical, unreasonable, even insane. The Almighty God shouldn’t be able to become human. Dead humans stay dead. And this world seems like it is headed towards decomposition, not renewal. These teachings make no sense to our human reason.

That’s what the Roman governor, Festus, thought as he listened to the apostle Paul explain Christianity. Paul testified that Jesus is the Messiah who suffered death and rose again to save all people, even the governor. The governor responded, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane” (Acts 26:24).

But Paul didn’t back down. He had met the resurrected Jesus on his way to Damascus. He had been changed by God’s grace and convinced that it was his life’s mission to preach this message to all people no matter who they were or how they responded.

Perhaps some of the things Christianity teaches seem strange or even insane to you. If so, you’re not alone. But what we think about those teachings does not make them any less true.

Jesus is true God. He really did rise from the dead, and he is coming back again. In his wisdom, Jesus made the unreasonable reasonable and the impossible possible. He did it so that he could make all things new, including you.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me faith to trust what your Word tells 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.

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31

Faith or Facts

Daily Devotion – June 10, 2021

Devotion based on John 20:31

See series: Devotions

Is the Christian faith blind faith? What I mean is, do Christians believe without looking at the evidence? Or, to say it another way, is faith in opposition to knowing facts?

At first glance, that’s the kind of Christianity that Jesus seems to have been advocating when he spoke to his disciple, Thomas. After Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas demanded to see Jesus’ scarred hands and side before he would believe. When Jesus showed up and let him touch his hands and feet, he scolded Thomas, saying, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). So was Jesus saying that we are more blessed if we just thoughtlessly follow whatever Christianity says?

Not exactly. The writer John says in the next verse, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30,31). Did you catch that? John recorded a number of Jesus’ miracles so that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ. John was saying that Jesus gave all of us, including Thomas, plenty of “signs” that revealed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

Faith is not against facts. The reality is we have more than enough facts about Jesus to believe. We have the facts of hundreds of Old Testament prophecies that were all fulfilled in Jesus. We have the facts of Jesus’ miracles and signs that convinced his early followers. And we have the facts of Jesus’ resurrection that emboldened almost all his apostles to give up their lives for him.

We have enough facts about Jesus. Trust that these facts are true.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me all I need to trust you in this life and the life to come. 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.

Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:20

Fear of Death

Daily Devotion – June 9, 2021

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:20

See series: Devotions

Death is the one experience that all humans share, and yet it is the one topic that we seem to avoid. Why is that? I believe it is because it is the one problem that we haven’t been able to solve. We might be able to stop cancer from spreading. We might be able to stop a virus from multiplying. But we can’t stop death, and that can be terrifying. So instead of facing the hopeless situation, we ignore it.

But I have good news. Jesus really did pass through death ahead of us and came out on the other side. He not only conquered death for himself but now gives his victory to us as a gift. The apostle Paul says it this way, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). In other words, just like the first human, Adam died because of sin. We all die because we have all sinned. But in Jesus, we will all be made alive. We will all come out the other side of death by being resurrected on the Last Day.

How can we be so sure of our resurrection? Paul calls Jesus the “firstfruits” of the resurrection. The first fruits on the vine are a promise that there is more crop to come. Jesus’ resurrection is a promise that what happened to Jesus is what will happen to all of us to follow him. That’s why Paul goes on to say, “Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him” (1 Corinthians 15:23).

Our biggest problem, the one we couldn’t solve, has been destroyed by Jesus. God has given us victory over death through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That means we don’t need to be afraid of death. We can still grieve when we lose a loved one. We can still have our concerns. But let us not avoid death because of fear or hopelessness. “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you won the victory over sin and death. Lead me to trust in your resurrection and look forward to the day you return to resurrect my body. 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.