Author: Kerry

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him.
Matthew 25:31,32

Judged By the Son of Man

Daily Devotion – November 9, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 25:31,32

See series: Devotions

Judges are important for any society that seeks justice. They are responsible for seeing to it that every person is treated equally and fairly. Judges are important.

Jesus said that when he returns one day, there will be a courtroom of sorts, and there will be a judge sitting on a throne. All the angels will be with him, but none of them will be more important than the judge on that throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, but no one from those nations will be more important than he is, no matter how important those people were in life on earth. The judge will be the most important person there. He will hold the power of eternal life and eternal death.

When Jesus says that the judge will be the Son of Man, he is referring to himself. Although Jesus is the God of this universe, he became a human being, so he is called the Son of Man. Long before he was born, he ruled over the earth, and on judgment day, it will be obvious that he still does, even though he humbled himself to be the son of a woman.

As a perfectly just judge, Jesus would have had to find every person guilty of disobeying his holy Word because every single one of us has—over and over again. But, thankfully, when he came to this earth the first time, he took the punishment for our disobedience. He will not forget this when we stand before him on the Last Day. All who trust in his saving work will be found not guilty and spend eternity with him and his angels. How wonderful to know that on that wonder-filled day, we will not need to be afraid!

Prayer:
Calm my fears about death and judgment day, dear Lord. Let your saving work give me unshakable confidence. 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.

[Jesus said] “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.”
Matthew 10:16

Sheep Among Wolves

Daily Devotion – November 8, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 10:16

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I am constantly amazed at the bravery of the men and women in our armed forces. What is it like to walk down a street, knowing at any moment an RPG could come careening into your squad and blast you to pieces? What is it like to get up every day to patrol that same street, with that same danger lurking in the shadows? Their training and their equipment help them. They know they need to be the fastest, strongest, smartest soldiers out there. Their lives depend on it. They cannot let their guard down for an instant.

Don’t we approach life the same way? I need to be bigger, faster, stronger, and smarter than the people around me. If anyone tries to cut in line in front of me; I’ll let him know where the back of the line is!

Jesus didn’t strap a flack vest on his followers, teach them hand to hand combat, and then give them 120 pounds of ammo, machine guns, and combat knives. He sent them out into the mean, ugly, God-hating, Christian-persecuting world with only a woolly lambskin!

Not quite. But he told them they would be sheep, surrounded by the biggest, baddest, meanest wolves they ever saw.

How could they survive? Jesus was with them. He was the one behind the “I am sending you.” Instead of trusting a snarl to put someone in his place or an insurance policy to cover losses, they could trust Jesus to look after them. After all, he pulled them from the fires of hell. He walked down the street to the cross and took the full force of God’s fiercest wrath over their sins.

He’s done the same for you. Whether it is the dark of night or the light of a new day, there’s no need to fear. We can show love to others and accept all the vulnerability that comes with being Christians. We know our Shepherd will care for his sheep—no matter how the wolves may snarl.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, although I know I am like a sheep among wolves in this world, I also know you are with me and will watch over me. Grant me the peace that comes with knowing this. 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.

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
Revelation 14:6

Eternal

Daily Devotion – November 7, 2020

Devotion based on Revelation 14:6

See series: Devotions

For lovers of history, it is a dream location. If you drive through central Wyoming along State Highway 220, you can’t miss it. From the proper angle, it looks like a giant cereal bowl turned upside down. It is called “Independence Rock.” Independence Rock is 12 stories high. If you get out of your car and walk around the base, you’ll be walking for more than a mile. During the 1800s, Independence Rock was a major landmark along the Oregon Trail. Pioneers in covered wagons knew that if they could reach it by the Fourth of July, they were on schedule to finish their journey and get settled before winter. Many carved their names into the rock. You can still see their names today.

But for those who love history, here’s something about Independence Rock that is, perhaps, the most powerful. If you climb to the top and look around, you’ll see virtually no evidence of 21st Century civilization. There are no towns, no gas stations, no motels. In fact, if you climb back down and travel a bit further, what you will find are the ruts left by the covered wagons from so many years ago.

In a world where rapid change is the norm, it is a comfort for some to know that there are still some places that have changed very little.

Such a sense of comfort, however, is nothing in comparison to the comfort that comes from something that is truly permanent—the permanence that comes from the eternal gospel about Jesus Christ.

No matter how old you get, no matter what changes you see, the eternal gospel remains the same. No matter how many times you have failed, no matter how often you have disappointed others, the eternal gospel remains the same. No matter how heavy the guilt from your past, no matter how chaotic your present or how uncertain your future, the eternal gospel remains the same. The gospel message that God came to this earth in the person of Jesus Christ, that he lived and died as your Substitute to wash away your wrongs, that he raised himself back to life to assure you that all is well—every part of that message remains the same. None of it will ever change.

And that is a beautiful thing to know.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the same yesterday and today and forever, and so is your gospel. For this priceless comfort, I thank and praise you. 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 will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.
2 Timothy 4:18

You Will Be Safe

Daily Devotion – November 6, 2020

Devotion based on 2 Timothy 4:18

See series: Devotions

“Where are you going?” Mom yelled. “To Jenna’s,” yelled her daughter from the open car door in the driveway. “Be safe,” Mom yelled back as a parting thought.

“Be safe.” Ever notice how much of our life is about safety? It surrounds us. Factories hang banners that say, “Safety first.” We dedicate months to learn about “Fire Safety.” We put safeguards on our computers and locks on our doors. We store our valuables in safety deposit boxes. After basic physiological needs such as air, water, and food, some psychologists list safety as our next sought need.

Perhaps the reason we put so much emphasis on safety is that we know many of the places we go aren’t always “safe.” The highway isn’t always safe for the inexperienced driver. The computer isn’t always safe from hackers. And valuables get stolen.

But there’s one place that such things don’t ever happen. There’s one place that’s always safe: God’s heavenly kingdom, which the Bible says, “On no day will its gates ever be shut” (Revelation 21:25). In other words, there are no needs for locks or safes in heaven. It is completely safe.

What a beautiful thing to look forward to! As we near the end of 2020, we will reflect on many things that affected our safety this year. A virus threatened our health safety. Fires and hurricanes threatened our physical safety. Violence of various types threatened our community safety. But one day, it’s all going to end. One day, every follower of Jesus—every person who trusts in the full and free forgiveness he won on the cross—will be in the Savior’s arms, where they will be completely and forever safe. May this promise from God give you peace and comfort this day.

Prayer:
Lord, in the midst of turmoil, direct my eyes to my safe future at your side. 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 will rescue me from every evil attack.
2 Timothy 4:18

The Lord Will Rescue Me

Daily Devotion – November 5, 2020

Devotion based on 2 Timothy 4:18

See series: Devotions

The little girl stood at the edge of the dock, afraid to jump. From the water, Dad coaxed and coaxed with open arms, “Jump. I’ll catch you.” But her little legs only stiffened. “What if you can’t catch me, Daddy? Or what if you can’t swim with me in your arms? What if the fish bite me?” And that’s when Mom told the girl to look to her right. There, tied to the end of the pier, was a life preserver. “You see this? I’ll stay here, right here with my feet on this solid dock, and I’ll throw you this life preserver if you need it. And I’ll pull you in.” With that added confidence, the little girl jumped. And every time she got to the end of the pier the rest of the vacation, she glanced over her right shoulder to see that life preserver, knowing there was something that could save her, something that could pull her in.

Ever feel like that little girl? Ever feel like you’re about to jump into something that you’re not sure how you’re going to get out of? God doesn’t promise a life free from trouble. He doesn’t promise a life free from evil. The sharks of this world may be out to get us. But he promises to be there on the pier with the life-saving message of his Word. No matter how deep the trouble is, no matter how much we thrash around in the murky waters of evil, our Savior stands with his feet firmly planted, ready to pull you out.

What turbulent waters are you in right now? See the life preserver of the cross and the empty tomb. Cling to the promises that they hold for you. Cling to the promises of sins forgiven and life eternal. Those aren’t empty promises. The Lord will rescue you from every evil attack.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to live in such a way that always sees the promise of your deliverance. 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 I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
2 Timothy 4:17

The Lord Delivered Me

Daily Devotion – November 4, 2020

Devotion based on 2 Timothy 4:17

See series: Devotions

One of the most popular Bible stories is “Daniel and the Lions’ Den.” Daniel was a believer who was literally thrown into a lions’ den because he prayed to God. When you fold your hands at the end of this devotion, I doubt very few of you will have soldiers knocking at your door ready to haul you away.

We may not share the same threats as other believers. But as you look at your past, you may see some “lion’s mouth” that was licking its chops ready to swallow you up. Perhaps it was a physical ailment, a mental hardship, or a spiritual challenge. When you were going through them, they seemed bigger than life. Will I beat this cancer? Will I endure this depression? Will I succumb to this spiritual challenge?

The fact that you are reading this devotion right now tells me that particular lion’s mouth was shut. But this doesn’t mean it always will be. God doesn’t promise the chemo will work every time. God doesn’t promise that you will beat every disease. God doesn’t promise that you will avoid every accident. God doesn’t promise that you will live forever on this earth. But to this point, he spared you. Up to this point, he has given you a physical and spiritual life so that, by his grace, you have come to know him. Isn’t that awesome!

And, although God does not promise that you will never suffer harm, he does promise you eternal life. That’s why he sent his Son, Jesus. Jesus’ perfect life and innocent death in your place means God no longer holds you accountable for your sins. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead means God promises you eternal life when he raises your body from the grave on the last day.

They say the value of knowing history is so that you don’t repeat it. But sometimes the value of history is just appreciating that you have one. As you look back at your own personal history today, see how many times God worked things out for your good as he delivered you from the lion’s mouth. And as you see how many times he delivered you in the past, may that give you confidence for today.

Prayer:
Thank you for delivering me in the past. Deliver me from evil today. 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 stood at my side and gave me strength.
2 Timothy 4:17

The Lord Gives You Strength

Daily Devotion – November 3, 2020

Devotion based on 2 Timothy 4:17

See series: Devotions

You grab a little boy’s arm and say, “Wow, look how strong you are!” And the boy grins from ear to ear. We can’t blame him. We like strength. We strive for strong marriages. We invest in a strong stock market. We take aptitude tests to find our strengths. And we vote for whom we think is the strongest candidate.

Why are we so obsessed with strength? I’m not so sure if it’s an obsession with strength as much as it is a fear of weakness. Weakness means others can take advantage of me or overpower me. Weakness means I am not the best and that I am vulnerable. Plainly said, weakness means there’s something wrong with me. And so, I hide my weaknesses as best I can.

As much as you may try to hide your weaknesses from others, there is One who knows every single one of your weaknesses, even better than you do. And that’s your God. But here’s the difference between God and many in our world: God doesn’t show you the door when he sees your weaknesses. Rather, he shows you himself. When you are weak, he is strong. And his strength isn’t four-year-old bicep strength. Nor is it Ford Super Duty with 6.7-liter power stroke strength. His strength is world creating, wind calming, death defeating strength. God’s strength is just that, God-strength. And he uses his strength for you.

Most importantly, he used his strength to work all of world history in order to save you from your sins by his sacrificial death on the cross. At first, this might seem a strange way to show strength, but it most certainly does—not just strength, but love. And then, in the greatest show of strength in the history of this world, he was brought back to life on Easter morning to prove that he had conquered death and won eternal life for you.

So go ahead, pull out a piece of paper. Write down all your weaknesses, for your eyes only. On the other side of the ledger put the name, “Lord.” The winner is clear. The Lord will give you strength.

Prayer:
Lord, give me confidence in your strength to overcome all of my weaknesses. 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.

Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me . . . But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength.
2 Timothy 4:10,17

The Lord Stood By My Side

Daily Devotion – November 2, 2020

Devotion based on 2 Timothy 4:10,17

See series: Devotions

Demas. I doubt many people would know that name while playing a game of Bible trivia. But I bet we recognize what someone like Demas looks like in our lives. That friend, that co-worker, who stood by your side until something or someone better came along. And there you are, alone. Alone at the party. Alone at work. Alone at home. Alone in life. Not just alone but deserted. Abandoned. Neglected. Forsaken.

What races through your mind when you find yourself deserted? The emotions can take us all over the board. Anger—‘How dare he desert me?’ Embarrassment—‘It’s feels so awkward to be alone.’ Hurt—‘I can’t believe she did that to me.’ Scared—‘I don’t know what I’m going to do.’ And you can probably come up with many more emotions and questions.

From the very beginning, God knew that being alone was not a good thing. It wasn’t good for the first person, so God made someone suitable for him. Things haven’t changed. While we may like our “me time” on occasion, too much “me time” and we go crazy. For that very reason, God puts people in our lives. But let’s be honest, in our non-perfect world, the people in our lives aren’t always suitable. They take us down the wrong paths, say hurtful words, and disappoint. And at times, they desert.

Yet, there’s One who is always suitable. One who never disappoints, who always helps, and always leads us down the right path. That One is the Lord. No matter what you’re going through today, no matter how alone you feel, know this: The Lord stands by your side.

Prayer:
Lord, continue to stand by my side. And, grant me the confidence and comfort of knowing you will. 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.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice

Daily Devotion – November 1, 2020

Devotion based on Philippians 4:4-7

See series: Devotions

We are saved from our sins by grace alone. That means salvation is a gift, won by Jesus when he died and rose again. Even the faith we need to believe this glorious message is something God freely gives. Salvation is secure because it is the work of Christ, and since it is his work, then it cannot fail.

On this day, thank God for salvation by grace, spend time reflecting on how your life has changed because of Jesus’ work. Don’t forget that Jesus has washed away your sin and guilt. As you look to him in faith, you can rejoice—just as Paul says—because the Lord is with you and heaven is your home. There’s no need to be sour, harsh, angry, or anxious because you have a Savior who hears and answers all your prayers. And remember: the peace we have through faith in Christ is something no worldly woes can disturb.

But the devil will try. “Worry!” he demands. “You should! Just look at all the horrible things happening in the world! And how about all the dreadful things you’ve experienced? Get angry! Get mad! Abandon hope! Forget about joy!”

Take to heart Paul’s encouragement: “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8,9).

If you spend time focused on the ugly results of sin, the devil will get his way. So, check your thoughts. Guard your heart. Set your mind on Christ and his salvation. As you do, you’ll discover new courage and peace, more reasons to rejoice, and an extra measure of joy for the day.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to focus on Jesus and fill my heart with the peace you alone can give. 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.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6

Stop Worrying

Daily Devotion – October 31, 2020

Devotion based on Philippians 4:6

See series: Devotions

Don’t worry! That’s what God says in his Word for us today. But we wonder how we can put aside all of our worry and anxiety. There are so many dangers that surround us, so many things that stress us out, so many people who are hurting, and some of them are very dear to us. Not to worry seems impossible.

It is impossible to stop worrying if our attention is riveted on the problems and predicaments of life. But wonder of God’s love for us is that he teaches us how much greater he is than the worrisome circumstances we face daily. He assures us that he is in control of all things. He is the almighty, all-knowing God who knows our every need and is capable of fulfilling all of them.

He took away our greatest worry; he freed us from the damnation we deserved as sinners. And he lavished his love on us by giving us life with him that will last forever. So our heavenly Father, who loved us so much to send Jesus to be our Savior, promises to provide for our lives and protect us from danger.

Thankful for his saving love, we can turn from our inclination to worry and turn to him with our concerns and burdens. We can confidently address him in prayer, knowing that he listens and will answer according to our best interests. Since God has secured our eternity through Jesus, we know that according to his love, he will care for us now too. So indeed, there is no reason to worry.

Prayer:
Teach me, Lord, not to worry. Remind me of your great love and power that I can trust in times of need. Accept my prayers through Jesus, my Savior, and help me according to your wisdom. 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.