Category: Daily Devotions

We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:20,21

Reconciled

Daily Devotion – February 27, 2020

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 5:20,21

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Yesterday, Christians around the world began to observe the season of Lent. What is Lent about?

During the time of Lent, Christians take time to review the suffering that Jesus went through during the time of his ministry a couple of thousand years ago, all the way up to his death.

You might think that sounds morbid, but Christians have an individual interest in that suffering of Jesus. You see, the Bible teaches that when Jesus suffered, he had done nothing to deserve it. His life had been perfect, and people should have honored him for that. Instead, they caused him to suffer. His suffering even went as far as suffering hell when he died on the cross.

All of that suffering was for other people. You can even say that suffering was the suffering that we deserve to go through, but never will because Jesus did.

In a breathtaking leap of compassion, God said, “Jesus did not deserve to suffer, but because he did, I count that suffering for you. And the perfect life that Jesus lived—I count that as yours. He took your suffering. You take his perfection, and that’s your ticket to heaven.”

Jesus never sinned. Instead, he took the punishment for our sins. Jesus lived a perfect life. Instead of taking the reward he deserved for that, heaven, he suffered hell, and gives us heaven.

That’s why the apostle Paul encourages us in our Bible reading for today to be reconciled to God. The perfect life of Jesus, the righteousness of God, is a gift to everyone who believes in Jesus. That’s how we are reconciled, and that’s what we are reminded of during the season of Lent.

Prayer:
Lord God, reconcile me to you so that I share the righteousness of 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.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14

God Have Mercy On Me

Daily Devotion – February 26, 2020

Devotion based on Luke 18:9-14

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I am not confident of my own righteousness.

I do a lot of good things, and I belong to organizations that do a lot of good things. I like to think that God likes me and thinks I’m a pretty good guy.

But then I look at what it takes to please a perfect God. I hear that not only my actions but my thoughts have to be right all the time, and I begin to doubt myself. And then I think about times when I could have done good things but didn’t get around to doing them, and I just shake my head. How could God like me when I have messed up so many times and in so many ways?

Jesus told the story about someone who was confident in his own righteousness, and who was apparently a pretty good guy. But that’s not the person Jesus commended. Instead, he commended the person who said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

That’s the person I want to be, and that’s actually the person I am. I am a sinner. I realize this, and I throw myself on the mercy of God. I trust that he has declared me to be righteous through the life and death of Jesus, and that’s all I need. I go home today right with God, humbled and exalted.

Prayer:
God, have mercy on me, a sinner. 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 we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:16-21

A Review You Can Trust

Daily Devotion – February 25, 2020

Devotion based on 2 Peter 1:16-21

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How do you know you can trust online reviews? Sometimes when you read them, you wonder whether the owners of the business wrote their own evaluations. Could any place really be that good?

Peter was an eyewitness to the glory of Jesus, and he wanted you to know that you could trust him when he wrote about it. After all, he saw what he saw, and he wrote precisely what he saw. But he also wanted you to know that you could trust everything written in the Bible, not just what he wrote. So he tried to explain what it was like to write with the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It’s fascinating to think of writing in your own language but having every word verified by the Holy Spirit. What an amazing thing! You see why Peter says that you would do well to pay attention to the words of the Bible. The words of the Bible are God’s words. Therefore, they are true―every one of them.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is your Savior. The Bible says so, and that news brings light to every part of your life. That’s a review you can trust.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking directly to me in the words of the Bible. 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.

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Matthew 17:1-8

Eyewitness Testimony

Daily Devotion – February 24, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 17:1-8

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When you’re going on a trip, it’s nice to listen to someone who has experienced that trip already. Online reviews can steer you in the right direction for things like hotels and restaurants. Or, they can steer you away from sketchy places.

When you are going through life on your trip to heaven, it is helpful to hear from people who have experienced that trip already. Peter, James, and John are such people. They are now in heaven, but we can learn from what they experienced on their way there. For example, we know from the Bible that they experienced some very difficult times―trials and temptations and persecutions.

Jesus knew what was in store for them. So, he gave them a special gift. He gave them a glimpse of heaven. He took them to the top of a mountain and revealed his glory to them. They even saw Moses and Elijah―men who were already in heaven. When Peter, James, and John faced challenges later in their lives, they could be comforted and encouraged remembering what they witnessed on that mountain, knowing that one day they would join Moses and Elijah in heaven.

You can have the same comfort and encouragement. Although you were not physically present on that special mountain. You do have Matthew’s description of it. You can know that, through faith in Jesus, you will one day experience the glories of heaven with Moses and Elijah, with Peter, James, and John. Remember this when you are going through tough times. Others have gone through tough times ahead of you. But now they are basking in the heavenly home Jesus is preparing for you.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, guide me to your glory in life everlasting. 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.

Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Matthew 17:3

Moses and Elijah and Jesus

Daily Devotion – February 23, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 17:3

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One day Jesus went up a mountain with some of his disciples and revealed his glory to them. He began shining as bright as snow in the sunlight. As this was happening, he was visited by Moses and Elijah. These were two important people in the Old Testament. It was to Moses that God gave his Law on Mount Sinai. Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. These two men represented God’s plan and promise to send a Savior into the world.

Now Moses and Elijah stood with Jesus on the mountain. They talked about Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. Moses and Elijah clearly understood the purpose for Jesus’ approaching passion and crucifixion. Moses had been appointed by God to lead Israel out of their slavery in Egypt to the promised land of Canaan, so Jesus was the God-appointed Savior who would lead a new exodus from the slavery of sin to the promised land of heaven.

The lives and work of Moses and Elijah pointed ahead to the Savior that God promised to send for the world. Jesus came as God planned and fulfilled all that was written about him in the Old Testament. And this same Jesus cares for, lived for, and died for you. He has freed you from the eternal bondage of your sin, from hell itself. Through Jesus, you can count completely on God’s faithful promise to take you to be with him in heaven.

Prayer:
Jesus, I praise you for coming to fulfill God’s promise of saving the world from sin and eternal death. Renew in me daily an appreciation for the forgiveness of sins and sure hope of heaven I have through 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.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Mark 1:40-42

Touching the Untouchable

Daily Devotion – February 22, 2020

Devotion based on Mark 1:40-42

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Imagine the life of a leper in Jesus’ day. Imagine the pain. Imagine the rejection. Imagine having no physical contact with another human being for years. No hugs, no pats on the back, not even a handshake. Imagine being untouchable.

Until one day when, with nothing to lose, you crawl on your knees to a rabbi named Jesus. You have heard of his power. You have heard of his kindness. Maybe, just maybe, he will save you from this life of loneliness. Trembling, you look up into the kindest eyes you have ever seen and say, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

What will he do? Will he scream at you to get away from him? No, he doesn’t. As if in slow motion, the man reaches down and touches you. Touches you! With that one touch, this rabbi reveals his concern for you, his care for you, his acceptance of you, his love for you.

We are not so different from that leprous man. We are also infected with a horrible disease. Our disease does not show on our skin. It shows in our lives. It shows in our lust, greed, selfishness, and hatred. To a holy God, our sins make us look as wretched as that leper. We kneel before God with the scabs and sores of sin covering our souls.

But Jesus is willing to touch the untouchable. Instead of screaming at us to get away from him, he reached down and touched us. He left his heavenly home and became one of us. He touched us when no one else would. He touched us in order to do what no one else could. With nails through his hands and feet, with a crown of thorns on his head, he looked down at us and said, “Be clean!”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to touch me when I was untouchable. Thank you for making me clean. 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 tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
Matthew 5:22

Dangerous Guest

Daily Devotion – February 21, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 5:22

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Emory University conducted a study on the effects of holding a grudge. When you hold a grudge, that grudge can impact your physiology. For instance, a grudge can create problems for your immune system and metabolism. It can skew organ function. A grudge can elevate your blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease and stroke. It can be a breeding ground for anxiety and depression. A separate study has even suggested that holding a grudge can contribute to Type 2 diabetes.

In short, holding a grudge is no good. As an article in Psychology Today says, “Holding a grudge is lighting ourselves on fire and expecting the other person to die of smoke inhalation.”

It’s one thing to tell ourselves not to hold a grudge. It’s quite another thing never to do it. The sad fact is that it doesn’t take much to hold a grudge. It doesn’t need to be like Captain Ahab screaming at Moby Dick. A grudge can be very quiet. It can hide behind a gracious smile. It can be a polite but stubborn resentment that just refuses to leave.

And this is when my soul can drift into a dark place. When I allow this polite but stubborn guest to remain in my heart, over time it can begin to poison me. It can begin to infect my view of others and pollute my outlook on life. Worst of all, it can begin to contaminate my appreciation for what Jesus Christ has done to forgive the likes of me.

That’s why the Lord Jesus speaks to our grudges with such urgency. They threaten our relationships with others, yes. But they also threaten our relationship with him.

Listen to Jesus. He’s calling us to repentance. Be washed clean of the grudges. Be cleansed in the blood from Jesus’ cross. Be filled with his Spirit. And be at peace.

Prayer:
My little resentments, Lord Jesus, are not so little. Forgive me. Refresh my love for others with your love 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.

It is God’s will that you . . . avoid sexual immorality . . . God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
1 Thessalonians 4:3,7

Temptations

Daily Devotion – February 20, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 4:3,7

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Imagine the apostle Paul transports from the first century to the twenty-first century. It falls upon you to bring him up to speed on all the sexual temptations that face a Christian in the present day. You swallow hard, clear your throat, and then proceed. You try to be thorough and hold nothing back. When you are done, you await Paul’s reaction. You may be surprised to find that Paul is not rattled. In fact, he may even remark that in comparison to his own century, the temptations seem a bit mild.

The culture of Paul’s day had taken God’s wedding gift of sexuality and twisted and monetized it in virtually every way possible. In addition, the culture of Paul’s day was not particularly delicate with what was displayed for all to see.

This is helpful for us to keep in mind when we hear Paul speaking pretty pointedly to the Christians living in the Greek city of Thessalonica. He was well aware of the culture that surrounded them and the temptations they faced. Nevertheless, Paul did not flinch from telling them what God’s goodwill for them was. Paul concluded what he had to say by telling them, “God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

No one needs to bring us up to speed on our own culture, of course. We know what surrounds us. We know the temptations and the ways we can stumble. And we know those ways are legion. But that’s why we have Jesus.

Are you troubled? Haunted? Burdened? Jesus came to this earth with you in mind. On your behalf, he lived a holy life. At the cross, he washed you clean. And now he lives. Be refreshed in his forgiveness and restored. And when you are, his Spirit will empower you to begin again. For as Paul says, “God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for cleansing me in your blood. Empower me to live a holy life for 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.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom . . . but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1 Corinthians 2:6

What Remains

Daily Devotion – February 19, 2020

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 2:6

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The year is A.D. 55. You are standing in front of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It is the Temple of Artemis, Goddess of Fertility. Everything about it is extravagant and massive. It dwarfs the Parthenon of Athens in terms of size. And it’s much more beautiful. Double rows of columns surround it―127 columns in all. Each column is sixty feet high and six feet thick, with intricate carvings and precious metals covering every single one. Pilgrims and tourists pour in from around the civilized world to see it. The famous and the powerful come to pay homage. Perhaps more than any other structure, the Temple of Artemis symbolizes the dominant culture and wisdom of the age.

Several blocks away a man is composing a letter. His name is Paul. He’s in the middle of a three-year stay in the area as he shares with others the good news of Jesus. As Paul writes, the sights and sounds and platitudes and presumptions that flow from the Temple are all around him. None of it seems to bother Paul, however. He understands that, while cultures and worldly wisdom will come and go, the message about Jesus Christ will remain. Sure, it might seem like foolishness to the rest of the world. But the good news about Jesus is the very wisdom of God. As such, it slices through the temporary and fleeting. It speaks to the heart of humanity’s problem. The message of God becoming a human being to carry the world’s sin to the cross is the only thing that will heal a world of broken souls. Paul knows this.

It is the present day. You are standing where the great Temple of Artemis once stood. It is now a swamp. Frogs croak in the background. A bird’s nest sits on top of the temple’s one remaining column. The wisdom of Artemis is gone. But the wisdom of God remains.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in the shifting shadows of this world, you are the answer. You are my answer. 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.

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, [King] David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army . . . But David remained in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 11:1

Every Moment

Daily Devotion – February 18, 2020

Devotion based on 2 Samuel 11:1

See series: Devotions

In 2010, a report from the British Psychological Society came forward with a curious finding of human behavior. The finding revealed two things. On the one hand, researchers had discovered that people are better off when they avoid idleness. On the other hand, researchers had also discovered that a majority of people will gravitate towards idleness when given the means and opportunity to do so.

This should not surprise us. Our fallen, sinful natures have been pursuing self-destructive habits for a long, long time.

Which brings us to the worst episode in the life of Israel’s most famous king―King David. You can read the entire sorry mess in 2 Samuel chapter 11. David has an affair with a married woman. She becomes pregnant with his baby. To cover it up, David arranges for her husband to be killed in battle, after which David quickly marries his widow. Adultery. Murder. Cover-up. David’s dark behaviors tumble out one after another.

But God’s Word also records how it all started. It started when David chose to remain idle. Instead of devoting his time to leading his army, David decided to let someone else do the work so he could stay home. And it was in this moment, when David had too much time and too little to do―David’s eyes began to wander.

There’s a fierce warning here. Thanks to the overwhelming conveniences of twenty-first-century life, the temptation is greater than ever to be idle as David was when he chose to stay home. And when that happens, the door is wide open for our minds to wander into some very bad places.

But that’s why Jesus came. He came for David and for us. On our behalf, Jesus devoted every moment of his time to his heavenly Father. In our place, he suffered and died for all we’ve wasted. As a result, not only do we stand forgiven through faith in him but his Spirit now empowers us to engage our time to his glory. Idleness rules no more. Jesus has taken its place.

Prayer:
Forgive my idleness, Lord Jesus. Wash me clean. Restore my zeal to live every moment for 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.