Author: Kerry

“What about you?” [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
Matthew 16:15,16

Who Do You Say He Is?

Daily Devotion – August 28, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 16:15,16

See series: Devotions

About 25 years ago, I was a student at a secular university, and I took a course called “Philosophy of Religion.” The description of the course said, “The objectives of this course are to explore and reflect upon the human search for meaning, purpose, and value in life.”

I thought students would be free to hold onto and express their own convictions while studying what others believe. It felt more like an attack on any student—particularly a Christian—who might actually have convictions. If you thought you had the answers to life’s big questions, you weren’t being honest with yourself. Only if you were constantly searching were you truly enlightened.

I wish my experience was unique, but I know it isn’t. In college and high school classrooms around the world, young people are expected to leave behind their previous beliefs and worldviews and embark on a self-guided journey of discovery, in which anything goes, and the only absolute truth is that nothing is absolutely true. You have probably encountered the same way of thinking.

Jesus looked for conviction from his followers. He asked, “Who do you say I am?” It is the most important question we will ever answer in our lives. Only the right answer opens the door to eternal life. The wrong answer only leads to eternal death and destruction.

Simon Peter got it right. He said, “You are the Messiah.” The Messiah was the one chosen by God to rescue sinners from death and hell. The Messiah was the one whose birth had been foretold for ages. The Messiah was the one whose life, death, and resurrection were described in vivid detail hundreds of years before they happened. Jesus called Peter blessed for believing and confessing this truth about Jesus, a truth that God himself had revealed to Peter.

In the Bible, God reveals Jesus’ all-important identity to us too. There we see Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior God promised, the Savior we need. As we believe and confess this truth, we are truly blessed for this life and forever. There is no need to keep searching. We know who Jesus really is!

Prayer:
Jesus, lead me always to believe and confess that you are the Messiah. 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.

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
1 Peter 2:16

Freedom

Daily Devotion – August 27, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Peter 2:16

See series: Devotions

Jesus has set us free from sin, death, and the devil. God doesn’t count any of our sins against us. In him, all is forgiven, and we’re headed for heaven.

There is a temptation to take this freedom and run with it. We think, “It’s okay if I break God’s commandments because I’m forgiven anyway.” We’re tempted to treat freedom in Christ like it’s a get-out-of-jail-free card, a license to indulge ourselves. But that’s not freedom. That’s slavery.

Sin is a harsh master. It promises us freedom, then chokes us with guilt. Sin makes us want to serve only ourselves and to resent the people around us. They seem to demand our time, energy, and service, and we feel constrained to give it. There’s no freedom when sin rules our lives and drives us with guilt.

Jesus has saved us from this empty way of life. He has covered us in his righteousness. True freedom is the freedom to be the people God wants us to be. True freedom is serving others without a speck of guilt driving us. So, forgiven in Jesus, take a fresh look at the people around you—your family, your friends, the people you serve at work, home, and school. God put them there, and the same God who has taken away your sin is calling you to serve them. Forgiven in Christ and headed for heaven, you can do just that.

Today’s Bible verse says, “Live as free people,” and then, “Live as God’s slaves.” God isn’t talking out of both sides of his mouth. Jesus has freed you to be the person God wants you to be. You are free from guilt and serve God and others with a happy heart. Be who you are in Christ. Be the free person who willingly serves others with a glad heart because Jesus has set you free.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to live like the forgiven sinner you have declared me to be through Jesus, your Son. Take away my guilt, and free me to serve others with a glad 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.

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
Matthew 15:21,22

Jesus Listens

Daily Devotion – August 26, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 15:21,22

See series: Devotions

The reputation of Jesus as a miracle worker had spread far and wide. The miracles were performed to point to the fact that he was the promised Messiah, God’s chosen one to rescue the world from the power of the devil and the curse of sin.

A Canaanite woman came to him. She was a descendant of the original inhabitants of the land of Palestine. Though not a Jew, she knew about Jesus and had faith in him as the “Lord, the Son of David.” She believed Jesus was the Messiah. At the same time, her faith was attacked by the devil in a direct and frightening way: her little daughter was inhabited by a demon. We’re not told what specific effect this had on the girl, but from other cases of demon possession recorded in the Gospels, we know that evil spirits brought great affliction to the bodies and minds of the people they possessed.

But the woman knew just where to go for help. She went to Jesus. She trusted that he had the power to help. Whether he chose to use his power in that way would be up to him. But she was certain he had the power.

Whatever problem you are facing, go to the same place the Canaanite woman went. Go to Jesus. You can be certain he has the power to help and will answer your prayer in whatever way is best. After all, he was willing to be nailed to a cross and suffer hell to rescue you from your sin. Surely, he knows how best to answer your plea for help.

Prayer: (Psalm 140:6)
O LORD, I say to you, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy. 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 now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13

Bridging the Chasm

Daily Devotion – August 25, 2023

Devotion based on Ephesians 2:13

See series: Devotions

The Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona is one of the largest canyons in the world. At its widest point, the Grand Canyon is 18 miles across. Its depth is over 5,000 feet. There is a great chasm between each side.

Imagine a group of people standing on one side. They are burdened by sin, brokenness, and spiritual death. On the other side of the canyon stands Jesus and his holiness and perfection. But because of the great distance, the people cannot come to Jesus.

And so Jesus goes to them. He leaves behind his glory in heaven, and he humbles himself to become a human. He steps into the treacherous terrain of the chasm, a chasm caused by sin. Jesus faces the separation, the pain, and the darkness that sin has caused.

As Jesus walks through the chasm, he endures separation from his heavenly Father, becoming not just far away; but cut off from God. The weight of the world’s sins rests on Jesus’ shoulders as he hangs on the cross. The great chasm between us and God is filled with the sacrificial love and grace of Jesus. He gives his life on the cross, and the blood Jesus sheds becomes the bridge across the chasm.

That’s what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote the words of our Bible reading for today. He wrote, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” What great news! Through Jesus, we are at peace with God and members of his family.

When you are feeling all alone, remember God is with you. When you feel the guilt of your sins and are sure God must want nothing to do with you, remember what Jesus did to forgive those sins so that God wants everything to do with you.

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for the gift of forgiveness bought by the blood of Jesus by which you bridged the chasm between you and 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.

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Matthew 15:28

Resilient Faith Rewarded

Daily Devotion – August 24, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 15:28

See series: Devotions

Faith has many characteristics. Faith trusts; faith believes; faith hopes. The woman in this story demonstrated all those characteristics of faith, but the one that stands out is her resilience.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back, adapt, and recover from a difficult situation. This woman showed resilience by remaining persistent through Jesus’ silence. She maintained hope after Jesus said he had only come for the lost sheep of Israel. She adapted Jesus’ harsh statement calling her a dog into an analogy of God’s grace. She did all this knowing how terribly her daughter was suffering. It’s one of the greatest examples of resilient faith in the Bible.

In response to her resilient faith, Jesus said, “Woman, you have great faith!” This is high praise from Jesus. He only said that to one other person, also a gentile, a Roman centurion.

To be sure, Jesus said this as a tribute to the woman, but it was also a tribute to the greatness of what her faith received. Yes, her daughter was healed. But Jesus also granted the woman status as a daughter in God’s kingdom. It is also a tribute to God, who gives the great gift of faith.

Every Christian’s faith is a great faith because every Christian trusts in Jesus Christ. Christians go to Jesus with their needs as the Canaanite woman did. How Jesus answers our prayers—we leave to him, trusting in his love and wisdom. Regardless of how he answers—a resilient faith keeps trusting, hoping, and believing. A resilient faith also knows that on the Last Day, the trumpet will sound, and God will make good on every promise to his followers. On that day, God will reward every believer he has gifted with faith in their Savior, Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord God, give me a resilient faith no matter what my circumstances are that holds fast to Jesus, 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.

[Jesus] answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Matthew 15:24-27

Persistent in Prayer

Daily Devotion – August 23, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 15:24-27

See series: Devotions

There are sunflowers in my backyard. It’s fascinating to look at the faces of those sunflowers at different parts of the day and see them always facing the sun. They are unwavering in their devotion to the sun because its warm rays give them life.

Similarly, the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus for help showed relentless determination. Despite the initial silence and then receiving a response from Jesus that might have discouraged others, she did not falter. She knelt before him, pleading, “Lord, help me!” Her faith remained unwavering, like the sunflower’s unwavering pursuit of the sun.

Jesus’ reply, referring to the Canaanites as dogs, may appear harsh on the surface. However, the woman’s response revealed the depth of her faith. She willingly accepted her humble position, comparing herself to a dog waiting for the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.

Her response not only showcased her humility but also highlighted her unwavering belief in Jesus’ ability to provide the smallest measure of his grace. She reasoned that even the lowest place in God’s kingdom is better than any position outside of it.

This encounter reminds us that persistence in prayer is not about demanding or manipulating God but rather about aligning our hearts with his will and trusting in his timing. It is about remaining steadfast in our pursuit of his mercy, even when faced with challenges of apparent silence.

God will not be silent to us forever. Why? Because Jesus endured the silence of the Father on the cross in our place. Jesus cried out to God, and he received no answer. Jesus endured the damnation that our sins deserved. The Father treated Jesus worse than a dog.

Jesus endured this not so that his believers would be dogs in his kingdom but that they would be his coheirs, sons, and daughters of God. Keep your face turned toward Jesus, who gives true life.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to be persistent in prayer and faith even in the face of challenges and silence. 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.

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
Matthew 15:22,23

The Silence of Jesus

Daily Devotion – August 22, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 15:22,23

See series: Devotions

Does this story make you a little uncomfortable? It seems so out of character for Jesus to act this way. Why is he giving the silent treatment to this poor woman?

Her life had become almost unbearable. Her dear daughter was demon-possessed, tormented, and afflicted from within. The woman had tried everything she could to help her little girl. And when she heard about Jesus, a man they said could drive out demons with just a word, she felt hope for the first time in forever.

She does everything right. She addresses Jesus as her Lord. She uses the term “Son of David,” for the promised Savior. She begs for his mercy, recognizing that she’s not entitled to anything. With great faith, she simply states her problem to Jesus. She doesn’t demand Jesus to fix the problem her way; she trusts that Jesus will do what is best.

But she gets no answer. The same Jesus, who called himself “gentle and humble,” is treating this woman like he is too good for her. It is uncomfortable. But Jesus’ silence serves at least two purposes. First, it reveals the great faith of this woman. But secondly, it reveals the attitude of Jesus’ disciples.

They ask Jesus to send this foreigner away. She is different from them, and now she is causing a scene. Send her away. She is making them uncomfortable.

Jesus challenges our own attitudes when we encounter someone who makes us uncomfortable. We say our church is welcoming, but how do we feel when someone different from us shows up? Someone who doesn’t look like us or live like us? We aren’t always as welcoming as we say.

But Jesus came for all people. He died for all sins, including all of ours. May Jesus give us a truly welcoming attitude toward all people.

Prayer:
Dear God, when your law reveals the sin in my heart, lead me to repentance. 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.

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
Matthew 15:21

The Boundless Reach of Jesus

Daily Devotion – August 21, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 15:21

See series: Devotions

It almost sounds like a retreat: doesn’t it? “Jesus withdrew.” An injured athlete withdraws from the competition. A businessperson withdraws a proposal when they can’t match a better one. When we are tired and worn out, we withdraw.

Maybe Jesus was tired. Tired of the lack of faith that he found in the people of Israel. Tired of the religious leaders questioning his every move. Tired of his own disciples’ greater concern about Jesus offending the religious leaders than the spiritual truth Jesus was teaching.

So, “Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.” But if this was a retreat, it wasn’t so that Jesus could nurse his wounds, rethink his strategy, or get some rest and relaxation on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

No, it was really no retreat at all. Instead, it was an attack on the forces of darkness that had long lived in this region. Jesus came to shine light in the heart of pagan darkness. Tyre and Sidon were port cities. A multitude of cultures converged with diverse backgrounds, traditions, and beliefs. Jesus chose to reveal his heart for the world in this place. His message of salvation went beyond the borders of Israel to every corner of the earth. Jesus left the known shores of Galilee to guide lost souls to the embrace of God’s love.

The city of Tyre had two harbors offering refuge to ships traveling through treacherous waters. Jesus offers refuge from the treacherous waters of sin. He guides sinners back to the safe harbor of his love when they get lost in this life. He does not withdraw from the darkness of this world; he shines brightly in it and attacks the darkness. Like a lighthouse in the raging sea, Jesus draws sinners to calm waters.

Jesus promises calm waters where it matters most in our relationship with God. Jesus weathered the storm of God’s fury in the place of sinners so that all who believe in Jesus and look to him for refuge will find it. So all who trust in Jesus are no longer pagan foreigners but the very children of God.

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for finding me and making me your child. 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.

“Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Matthew 15:27

Trust in Jesus’ Goodness

Daily Devotion – August 20, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 15:27

See series: Devotions

What happens when a ten-month-old child is on the kitchen floor? He doubles as a vacuum cleaner. Any stray item, thread, piece of paper, paper clip, crumbs all go in the mouth. There is no fear but the desire to touch, taste, and experience the newfound item. What do parents do when they notice the cache in their child’s cheek? They dig the junk out of the child’s mouth and say, “Yucky! Don’t eat that!”

A Canaanite woman, a non-Jew from the region of Tyre and Sidon, today’s Syria, had come to Jesus looking for a morsel, a crumb of God’s grace. Her daughter was demon-possessed and in desperate need of Jesus’ help. Three times the mother boldly asked Jesus for help. Somehow this non-Jewish mom had come to believe in Jesus. She addressed Jesus as, “Lord, Son of David.”

At her first request, Jesus said nothing. After her repeated requests for help, Jesus said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Then the mother knelt before Jesus begging him to help her. Jesus response? “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

The woman answered, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” She said in effect, “I am not afraid to eat the crumbs because even what falls from your table will be enough for me and my daughter.” The woman solely focused on Jesus. Astonishingly, her daughter was healed.

Remember this story when you wonder whether you are worthy of Jesus’ care and attention. The truth is none of us are worthy. But this Canaanite woman was not relying on her worthiness. She was relying on Jesus’ goodness. And so can we. It was Jesus’ goodness that led him to the cross to suffer and die for our sins, not because we were worthy but precisely because of our unworthiness. Let this give you the confidence to go to him in every need, trusting in his goodness.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, your grace is sufficient for me, for your grace is made complete in my weakness. 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 Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:29,30

Walking on Water

Daily Devotion – August 19, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 14:29,30

See series: Devotions

We know that we cannot normally walk on water. When we use the expression today, we mean that someone is performing at a level far above what is expected or thought possible. But to actually walk on water—that is beyond the performance level of you or me, ever.

In the incident related in Matthew chapter 14, the apostle Peter actually got out of the boat and walked on the water. It wasn’t because of his ability. It was because of Jesus’ power. But it did not last. Peter was distracted by what he saw around him, and he forgot the power of the Lord.

Jesus giving Peter the ability to walk on water was certainly marvelous—in fact, miraculous. But think what he has given us. Jesus has given us eternity with him in heaven. We had lost that possibility because of our sins against him. God demanded perfection, not the breaking of his commands, for us to be permitted into heaven. But once we had sinned, that was no longer possible. So, God sent Jesus to become a human like us, to keep all of God’s commands perfectly in our place. He died and rose again to show his power over Satan and his evil empire, the source of sin.

Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” when he became fearful. God anticipated the fear that we would feel by being separated from Him eternally. God loved us and planned our salvation. He sent his Son. Jesus saved us from that fear. His salvation will last!

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from drowning in my sins as I deserve. Increase my faith in you, my only hope for heaven. 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.