Author: Kerry

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Psalm 1:1,2

Our Delight

Daily Devotion – February 8, 2020

Devotion based on Psalm 1:1,2

See series: Devotions

What delights you? A hot fudge sundae covered with caramelized pecans? A romantic candlelight dinner at a favorite restaurant with the one you love? Time in the outdoors away from the hectic pace of your daily life? A weekend at the spa, being pampered? An offer from your mom to watch the kids, while you and your spouse get away for some needed R & R?

I suppose everyone’s list would be different. But check your list carefully. Maybe something is missing, something vitally important, something that is truly satisfying, something that delights the heart of those who give attention to it, something you have let slip lately.

Psalm 1 contrasts the path of the wrong way of living, and the path of God’s right way of living. When we follow the second path, our “delight” is in the Word of God. The Word of God delights God’s people because it not only exposes our failings and reveals our great spiritual need, but it delivers God’s free solution for sin—complete forgiveness! In the light of God’s unfailing love for sinners, we look to God’s commands not as a hopeless measure that cannot be met, but as a way to show our love to Jesus who kept the Law perfectly in our place.

Don’t daydream today about the things you “think” will give delight to your heart. Spend time on that which will. The eternal lover of your soul has promised that if you “delight yourself in the LORD, he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). The details are found in his Word!

Prayer:
Loving Lord, create in me a desire to spend time with and meditate on your Word and grant me the joy and satisfaction only it can provide. 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, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:31

Go Ahead and Boast

Daily Devotion – February 7, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:31

See series: Devotions

Boasting is frowned upon in polite society. No one likes a braggart. Jesus himself once warned that “all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14). Eventually, boasting will come back to bite you.

So where does the Apostle Paul get off telling God’s people to boast? Well, you’ll notice that he isn’t suggesting that they boast about themselves or their accomplishments. Hardly. Instead, he paraphrases the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and declares, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

What does it mean to “boast in the Lord”? It means telling others what a wonderful Savior Jesus is. Like writing a glowing, online review about some product we’ve recently discovered and love, Paul is urging God’s people to let others know what they’ve found out about Jesus.

And what’s so great about Jesus? Well, has the world ever known anyone more powerful than the very Creator of the universe? No. Has the world ever seen anyone more compassionate than the One who gave sight to the blind and made the lame walk? No. Has the world ever experienced the kind of self-sacrificing love that Jesus demonstrated not just for some, but all people? Never. Has the world ever witnessed anyone else who’s been raised from the dead never to die again, only to promise us, “Because I live, you too shall live”? Absolutely not! Jesus is a one-of-a-kind gift given by a merciful Father in heaven to every one of us. Through him, we sinners have God’s perfect forgiveness and the certainty of eternal life. That’s something special, unique, amazing, and completely undeserved. God saw nothing in us that prompted him to give us such a gift but he gave it anyway because God is love. He can’t help himself. He loves you.

So, go ahead. Boast! Boast in the Lord.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me see what a wonderful and perfect Savior you are, and inspire me to boast about you and your love alone, now and forever. 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.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30

Being Something You Are Not

Daily Devotion – February 6, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:30

See series: Devotions

I was never going to be an NBA center. Though I’m tall by average standards, I would appear tiny standing next to a seven-footer. Worse than that, I’m not good at basketball. Even though people probably told me as a child, “You can be whatever you want to be,” I was never going to be an NBA center, no matter how much I wanted it.

You can’t be something you’re not, right? If you’re bashful, it’s hard to be outgoing. If you’re outgoing, it’s hard to keep your mouth shut. We’re all created and wired in our own special way. We all have unique gifts and interests. It’s nearly impossible to be something you’re not.

And yet that’s exactly what Jesus has done for us. He’s made us something we’re not. He’s made us sinners righteous, perfect, and holy in our heavenly Father’s sight, even though we’re not. We could never have become perfect and sinless by ourselves. No combination of our time and effort could have ever gotten over the finish line. But what was impossible for us sinners has been done by Jesus, and through faith in him, his perfection is ours. Yes, as St. Paul writes, Jesus “has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

Martin Luther called it the Great Exchange, this trading places that we sinners do with the sinless Son of God. He marveled endlessly at this amazing reality. “Lord Jesus,” he once wrote, “you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have become what you were not so that I might become what I was not.”

The way Jesus saves sinners is both simple and profound. He takes on himself what is ours—sin and death—and gives us what is his—perfection and life. We could have never done it ourselves in a million lifetimes, but Jesus has done it for all. He has made us something we’re not.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me marvel in the fact that by your death and resurrection you have made me what I am not—perfect. 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.

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before him.
1 Corinthians 1:28,29

Making Something Out of Nothing

Daily Devotion – February 5, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:28,29

See series: Devotions

What do you do when life hands you a bunch of lemons? You make lemonade.

That common saying is supposed to teach us that when our plans or expectations sour, we should make the best of what we have. Just add a little sugar, and everything will turn out fine.

Is that what God did with our broken and sinful world? Did he simply squeeze the lemons that we sinners are by nature, add a little divine sugar, and make it all better? Not really, because sinners are not just sour lemons. They are rotten ones that should be thrown out altogether. No amount of sugar or any other additive could ever solve the problem.

So what did God do instead? He made something altogether new out of nothing. He powerfully spoke a new reality into existence. Just as he did when he first created the things of this world by declaring them to be, God has now spoken his powerful Word over a sinful world, declaring each one of us to be perfect in his sight. We were nothing, but by his creative Word, he made something out of nothing.

That was no accident or afterthought. It was all according to plan. As our Bible reading for today says, “God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.” In other words, it wasn’t as if God carefully picked through the lemon pile to select the very best ones to make the most of an otherwise lost cause. No, he bought up the whole worthless lot. And what was the purchase price? Not gold or silver, but the holy, precious blood and the innocent sufferings and death of his Son, Jesus.

And then God did something amazing. For Jesus’ sake, he declared us sinners perfectly sweet and sinless, as only he could. He made something out of nothing.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, give me confidence that, though I am sinful, you have declared me innocent for Jesus’ sake. 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 God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:27

God Chooses the Opposite

Daily Devotion – February 4, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:27

See series: Devotions

When I dish out ice cream for my two children at the same time, I very purposefully put more in one bowl than I do the other. It’s an experiment. Which bowl will the first-comer choose, the one with more ice cream or less?

So far, I’ve been able to predict the outcome with pinpoint precision. The first to choose always chooses more ice cream. Always. Go figure!

What accounts for this unfailing phenomenon? I think you already know. It’s not random, and it’s certainly no accident. Like their father, my children are sinful and self-concerned, so it’s natural for them to want more of something good than their neighbor. Of course, we sinners want more than the other person. If given the choice, we almost always choose the most, the best, the brightest, the strongest, the most attractive.

How different we are from our holy and perfect God! St. Paul tells us that God is just the opposite. When it comes to God choosing things in this world—especially people—he chooses the opposite of what we would naturally choose. “God chose the foolish things of the world,” Paul declares. “God chose the weak things of the world.”

Is God just being difficult, bucking the trend? No, he’s trying to teach us the important lesson that what we judge to be important and best often isn’t important or best at all. Our sinful hearts and minds attempt to convince us otherwise, but God puts his foot down by choosing the foolish things “to shame the wise” and choosing the weak things “to shame the strong.”

We see this most clearly in the way that God chose to save us from our sins. He sent his Son, Jesus, who had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, to die an awful death on a cross as our substitute. The cross seems foolish and weak to our eyes, but through faith, we see the opposite, the wisdom and power of God’s love for us sinners shining brightly.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me to see and understand the wisdom and power of your choices and Jesus’ cross. 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.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
1 Corinthians 1:26

Your Worth

Daily Devotion – February 3, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:26

See series: Devotions

Like me, you’re probably not often asked, “How much are you worth?” Unless you roll with the Bill Gates of the world, your wealth is not wrapped up in your stock portfolio. Instead, it may be no greater than next week’s paycheck. Like Old Man Potter once mused about George Bailey in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” we may even be worth more dead than alive.

The people to whom St. Paul was writing in his letter to the Corinthians were apparently in the same boat. They weren’t worth much in the eyes of the world. They weren’t movers and shakers. They had never gotten—nor could they ever expect—their fifteen minutes of fame. “Not many of you were wise by human standards,” Paul reminded them. “Not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.”

We naturally wish it was different. Regardless of how big our house is, we wonder what it would be like to live as the rich and famous do. Little girls dream about being princesses, and little boys knights in shining armor. We want to be a somebody, but so often we feel like a nobody. We seem to be nothing. Regardless of how much we might have, we still feel worthless.

And that’s only when we’re comparing ourselves to other human beings. Consider comparing yourself to our holy and perfect God! If God is the measuring stick for judging our worth and worthiness, then where does that leave us? Doubly worthless!

If that’s the way you feel about yourself, good. At least you’re being honest about yourself. More than that, though, you’re exactly the kind of person that Jesus chooses to save and bless eternally.

Jesus once told a story about one self-important man who boasted about his worth and another man who couldn’t help but confess his worthlessness before God (Luke 18:9-14). The second man, Jesus concluded, was the one worth imitating. He was the one who was saved from his sins because he was the one who knew he needed saving.

What are you worth to Jesus? Everything!

Prayer:
Jesus, help me understand how much you value 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.

[Jesus said] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous . . . Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-45,48

Love Like the Lord

Daily Devotion – February 2, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 5:43-45,48

See series: Devotions

Sometimes the words of the Bible make you cringe. Sometimes they make you crinkle your brow in confusion. Sometimes they seem so wrong. Love your enemies? What a crazy concept! “Love the ex-spouse who hurt me? Love the co-worker who ruined my reputation? Love the family member who took advantage of me? No! I want to make them pay for what they did. I want to hurt them for the way they hurt me. It just makes more sense.”

It makes sense to my sinful nature. But it is not God’s nature. He sends blessings even on those who thumb their noses at him. He sacrificed his own Son to save those who sinned against him again and again—people like you and me. Our Father PERFECTLY loves us—although we have not perfectly loved others.

If we want to be like our Father in heaven then we will love even our enemies. We will forgive the spouse who hurt us. We will be kind to the co-worker who ruined our reputation. We will pray for the family member who took advantage of us. After all, they need love and forgiveness just like we do.

Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for loving me perfectly. Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me when I was unlovable. Dear Holy Spirit, create in me a perfect love for others, even my enemies. 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.

If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, LORD, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Psalm 130:3,4

Free and Full Forgiveness

Daily Devotion – February 1, 2020

Devotion based on Psalm 130:3,4

See series: Devotions

Imagine you are taking a look at your checkbook, and you don’t like what you see. Or maybe you don’t have to imagine. Looking at the list of deposits placed into your account, you see a problem. The amount of income is not enough to cover your expenses. Frustration! What’s more, you don’t have a solution for reconciling the account.

Imagine if the Lord God kept a record of sins like we keep a record of our finances in our checkbook. We would have a massive debt before God and have no hope of settling the account with him. We would be helpless and hopeless before God.

But don’t despair; there is good news: with the Lord there is forgiveness. He is our merciful, loving God who paid the debt of sin for us. He charged his Son for our sin; the blood of Jesus was the complete payment that has set us free from the guilt of all of our sins. We are forgiven!

If some kind person made a deposit into your checking account to wipe out your financial debt, certainly you would be happy and thank that person for their help and generosity. How much more will we always thank and praise the Lord for the free and full forgiveness of sins that we have through Jesus!

Prayer:
Lord God, fill me with the peace and joy of the forgiveness of sins accomplished by Jesus’ suffering and death for 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.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:23

Miraculous Change

Daily Devotion – January 31, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 4:23

See series: Devotions

Isn’t it interesting how Matthew writes about Jesus’ miracles? These works that bend the laws of nature are stated so matter-of-factly that they run the risk of going unnoticed altogether. More importantly, notice who’s benefitting from Jesus’ divine, miraculous work. When Jesus flexes a little almighty muscle, it’s not to pump up his Instagram likes or to boost the views on his webpage. It’s not to benefit him, but those who trust in him.

When you look at action words in this verse, you see that all of Jesus’ work here was born of his outward-focused, servant heart. Going…teaching…proclaiming…healing. It was all to draw people closer to God. Truly “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

And today, Jesus still serves, sending his Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of his people through the words of the Bible and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. And wonderful changes take place. First, they see him as the Savior who indeed gave his life as a ransom for them. And then they serve, with grateful hearts. No, it’s not a perfect service—no sinner could offer that! But by the Holy Spirit’s power, naturally self-centered people now look outward. People who are naturally inclined to serve self, now also seek to serve God and neighbor. People who by themselves are spiritually powerless, are empowered to be God’s instruments bringing help for people’s lives and hope for people’s souls. That is a miraculous change of heart and purpose. May God ever equip his people for such a changed life!

Prayer:
Gracious God, continue to miraculously change my heart and train me to serve, rejoicing in sins forgiven and following the example of my Savior 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.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:21,22

Miraculous Response

Daily Devotion – January 30, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 4:21,22

See series: Devotions

What kind of opportunity would it take to make you switch careers? A bigger salary? An office with a window and the respect that comes with it? A more solid retirement package? It would probably have to be an invitation so powerful that it knocked you off your feet—especially if you like your current job.

Did you notice what kind of offer caused James and John to drop their nets and hop out of their respective boats? Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat. Can this response be anything less than a miracle, the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit himself through Jesus’ powerful Word? The men were losing money in this career change. They were risking the good graces of their father. They were leaving behind business and family and stability. What kind of a person does that? The person to whom Jesus says, “follow me.” These men would continue to be followers of Jesus even if it cost them their lives. His call is powerful, eliciting a miraculous response.

Here we are, 2,000 years later, half a world away from the Sea of Galilee and yet Jesus calls people to follow him today in the same way that he called people to follow him then, with simple, powerful words.

And the fact that we follow, that we respond in faith, is nothing short of a modern-day miracle of the Holy Spirit. For how else could we describe the spiritually dead coming to life?

Consider how God’s powerful Word brings people to faith and moves them to obediently follow. Consider how it lifts the spirits of those who are sick, trains the hearts of the young, comforts the hearts of the old—and you will understand the miracle of discipleship, a miracle that our Jesus still performs today.

Prayer:
Jesus, you call me to follow you with your powerful Word. Send your Holy Spirit to instill a faith in me that allows me to do so. 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.