Category: Daily Devotions

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6

Christian Faith Saves Forever

Daily Devotion – September 6, 2019

Devotion based on Genesis 15:6

See series: Devotions

Faithful Lutheran Christians say it this way: “We are not saved eternally by doing good works. We are saved by faith in Jesus alone.” That’s what the Bible teaches.

But sharp-thinking people ask, “Well, isn’t faith something that you do? No one else believes for you, so faith must be something you do. It must be a good work.” It’s easy to understand how people can draw that conclusion, but the logic is wrong.

All analogies limp. But consider this one: Suppose you fell off your cruise ship, and you were drowning in the ocean. Thankfully, one of your fellow passengers noticed your frantic splashing and quickly threw you a lifesaver. You grab hold, and he pulls you back onto the deck. Now, who gets the credit for saving your life: you or your fellow passenger? I suppose you could argue that you would’ve died had you not grabbed hold of the lifesaver, and you could pat yourself on the back for a job well done. But the truth is, all credit rightfully goes to the one who first provided the lifesaver and then pulled you on board. Your faith in the buoyancy of the lifesaver and the strength of your new-found friend saved you. It wasn’t your work; it was his.

That’s what the Old Testament believer Abram discovered about the salvation of his soul. Getting to heaven wasn’t about him or what he did. It was all about God’s promises and, most importantly, his fulfillment of those promises. Yes, Abram believed those promises, but he didn’t deserve the credit for that. God did. Amazingly, when the broken sinner Abram believed God, God declared him righteous, perfect, free from sin, and fit for heaven. It wasn’t Abram’s doing. It was God’s.

And the same is true for us. Christian faith does not save us from our sins because our faith is ever perfect. It saves us because the One in whom we are placing our trust is perfect, powerful, loving, and forgiving. We are saved by faith in Christ alone.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me see that you are the perfect one to trust 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.

(The LORD) took (Abram) outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Genesis 15:5

Christian Faith Believes the Impossible

Daily Devotion – September 5, 2019

Devotion based on Genesis 15:5

See series: Devotions

Imagine the headline: “One-hundred-year-old man and ninety-year-old wife have baby.” No self-respecting newspaper would consider printing it. Such an outlandish story would only be fodder for the tabloids. Readers would be more likely to believe that little green men had recently arrived from Mars.

So when curious readers discover the story of Abraham and his wife Sarah in the pages of Genesis, it’s not surprising that the account is often dismissed as a myth. After all, who would honestly believe that such a thing was possible?

Christians would, and the reason is simple: because that’s the whole point of Christian faith. Why should Christians have a faith that expects them to believe things that are possible? That’s no faith at all. That’s just observation.

But Christian faith believes the impossible, like when God took that worn out, childless man, pointed out the array of heavenly stars on a cloudless night, and said, “So shall your offspring be.” In other words, “That’s how many children will be in your family!”

Abraham was no fool. He understood how impossible it was. St. Paul later commented how Abraham “faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead” (Romans 4:19).

But did those facts destroy his faith? Hardly! They hardened his faith since he was “fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:21). Abraham and Sarah’s situation was so impossible, so desperate, that the only one who could create that child was the same powerful One who had brought the universe into being with a word. Why would Abraham want to place his trust in anyone less than the only One who can truly do the impossible?

And why would we? Believing possible things is nothing special. The Christian faith is. It believes the impossible, and our powerful Savior never disappoints.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, grant me your Holy Spirit that I might confidently believe your impossible promises and put my trust in you alone. 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] “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:33,34

Christian Faith is Farsighted

Daily Devotion – September 4, 2019

Devotion based on Luke 12:33,34

See series: Devotions

I’m as blind as a bat without my glasses, profoundly nearsighted. Without my spectacles, I need to hold a book just inches from my face in order to see the print clearly. If my glasses were ever broken or lost, I’d have great difficulty knowing what was coming my direction.

Isn’t that a fitting description of our lives in this world? Aren’t we forced into living life nearsighted, worrying about the here and now, because we can’t see the future? So doesn’t it make sense to pile up as much security as we can today because we can’t know what tomorrow might bring? Seeing is believing, right?

This is why we find safety and peace in creature comforts. As long as we are surrounded by them, all is good. But when those worldly treasures begin to evaporate—when we lose our job, our house, our spouse, our health, our lives—our knees begin to wobble.

All of which makes Jesus’ directive in Luke 12 so interesting, “Sell your possessions,” he says, “and give to the poor.” Jesus isn’t actually demanding we divest ourselves of every worldly asset immediately, but he is calling us to get our priorities straight and not be so near-sighted. Sooner or later, we will need to surrender what we have in this life.

So, Jesus urges, why not begin practicing now? Why not begin looking beyond the things of this world to the things of the next world? Because as wonderful and comforting as the “stuff” of this world might be, it doesn’t last. It is quickly passing away. (See Matthew 24:35.)

And what does letting go of our grip on the things of this world demonstrate? Christian faith. One of the things that makes the Christian faith so valuable is that it’s farsighted. It sees and longs for God-given, eternal treasures “…that,” Jesus says, “…will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”

We need such farsighted faith because we aren’t close to these heavenly treasures right now. But, through faith, we see them with 20/20 vision. And their everlasting luster prompts us to ease our grasp on our nearby but quickly fading fortunes.

Prayer:
Jesus, give me such farsighted faith. 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] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32

Christian Faith Grows Through Challenges

Daily Devotion – September 3, 2019

Devotion based on Luke 12:32

See series: Devotions

What requires greater faith: walking on a tightrope extended one inch above your backyard or on one suspended over the Grand Canyon’s widest and deepest chasm?

The answer is obvious. There’s not much risk involved if the worst that can happen is some grass stains on your new white socks. But a head-first tumble into the rocky bottoms would ensure your speedy death.

It’s safe to say that we all want life to be easy and relatively risk-free, like that backyard scamper across a low-hanging tightrope. But often we feel suspended high above the Grand Canyon without a net, wondering whether our next step will be our last. At those times it’s natural to ask, “Where is God? Why is he allowing me to face these challenges and feel these anxieties?”

The irony is that those challenges are no accident; they’re divinely purposeful. When Jesus’ disciples once feared for their lives on a boat in the midst of a ferocious storm, Jesus lay sleeping in the stern. They wondered aloud whether Jesus would do anything to help them, but when the Master finally woke up, he wondered aloud why they were so afraid. At the height of their anxiety, Jesus showed his power by silencing the winds and waves, prompting them to ask, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27).

What we sometimes fail to appreciate is that Christian faith is not normally conceived and nurtured in the soft, green fields of life. Growth requires unforeseen visits to the rocky and treacherous desert, where we are compelled to recognize that there is no one to help—except Jesus, that is. Only then we see his power and love in a way that had previously been unrecognized, and Christian faith grows.

Yes, Jesus allows—even sends—challenges into our lives, not because he loves us a little but because he loves us much. He knows best how Christian faith grows best. It grows through challenges.

But with those challenges, he also sends his saving promise, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Prayer:
Jesus, help me endure the challenges you send, as I cling forever to your saving promises. 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.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

Christian Faith Is Not Blind

Daily Devotion – September 2, 2019

Devotion based on Hebrews 11:1

See series: Devotions

How would you describe faith? Many people think faith requires you to close your eyes tightly and to step into the abyss without any idea of what may happen. You cross your fingers and hope for the best.

When trouble strikes, someone might say to you with the best of intentions, “You just have to have faith.”

There’s just one problem. You need to ask, “Faith in what, in whom?” Too often the response is, “You need to have faith in yourself.”

But that poses an even bigger problem because we have so little control over what happens, and no one can predict the future. If we could, we would have avoided the trouble in the first place! Putting faith in ourselves is true blindness, silliness.

The Christian faith is different. It’s not blind because it’s not based on thin air. It’s based on real facts, on a real person who did and does real things—even impossible things.

Some people think Christians are silly. “You actually believe that Jesus Christ walked on water?” they ask with a smirk. “You actually believe he raised people from the dead, and that he rose from the dead himself?” they wonder.

Of course, Christians do. After all, why would they want to put their faith in someone who cannot walk on water? What good reason would they have to trust someone who could not conquer death?

The Christian faith is not wishful thinking. It’s raw confidence based on the knowledge that the Christ in whom Christians put their hope foresees all things and controls them—yes, even evil and trouble—for the eternal good of his people (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). It’s a certain expectation and assurance that in the end, Jesus alone saves now and forever.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me place my confidence in you alone for all things. 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.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

Live by Faith

Daily Devotion – September 1, 2019

Devotion based on Hebrews 11:1

See series: Devotions

Are you an optimistic person? Or do you live each day expecting a bunch of problems? Maybe your life has been difficult, and you have chosen to cope by expecting more troubles. Maybe you are more comfortable calling yourself a realistic person. The truth is, God promises many things in his Word, but an easy life is not one of them.

That is why it is important to understand what it means to live by faith. A good place in the Bible to read about living by faith is in the book of Hebrews chapter 11. This chapter gives a snapshot of historical figures who trusted in God’s promises. Each of them endured some very scary times by trusting that God had something much better in store for them. Each of them knew that this earth was not their real home. They were looking ahead to a much better place. They were looking forward to living forever with God because he promised to send them a Savior.

The fascinating thing about the people listed in Hebrews chapter 11 is that all of them died before their Savior, Jesus came down to earth to pay for their sins. Did this mean they missed out on God’s promise? Absolutely not! They simply took God at his word. They trusted that when God makes a promise it’s as good as done! Hebrews 11:16 says, “they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

How can you live by faith? Trust in God’s promises!

Prayer:
Dear God, please help me to always trust in your promises. What you have promised will come true! You sent your Son into the world to take away my sins and he will come again to bring his believers to heaven! Help me to always live by faith and trust in 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.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:1,2

Think About Something Better

Daily Devotion – August 31, 2019

Devotion based on Colossians 3:1,2

See series: Devotions

Have you ever had nights where you just can’t take your mind off of something? You toss and turn. You may even get up to check your e-mail or read a book just to take your mind off your concerns. Unfortunately, when we get our minds stuck on things, they’re usually things we don’t want to think about or shouldn’t be thinking about.

God’s Word has some great advice when we struggle with our thoughts. God reminds us to think about him! Instead of dwelling on things that stress us out or tempt us to sin, God says, “Think about me and what I have already done for you!” He tells us that we have been raised with Christ. That is another way of saying that Jesus defeated death and the devil for us. It’s not merely a possibility, it is the reality!

Since you have been raised with Christ, think about all the great blessings you have because of Jesus. Think about the forgiveness you have for all your sins and the eternal life of joy that is yours right now. Think about how anxious your loving heavenly Father is to hear from you and help you with whatever is keeping you awake at night. Don’t let the matters of your life stress you out. Think about something better. Think about Jesus!

Prayer:
Lord, keep me from being overwhelmed by the problems I experience. Rather, help me think about what you have done for me. You sent your Son into this world to take away my sins, and you have made a place for me in heaven! Thank you, Lord! 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] “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:21

A Rich Life

Daily Devotion – August 30, 2019

Devotion based on Luke 12:21

See series: Devotions

John was surprised. He was talking to his close friend Bob. The conversation revolved around finances and retirement. Bob said, “I have no worries. I am a wealthy man.” This caught John completely off guard. They worked together. Their families were close. They were next-door neighbors. The last thing John would have imagined was that Bob was wealthy.

But Bob wasn’t referring to worldly wealth. He was referring to spiritual wealth. Bob knew what Jesus had done to save him and his loved ones from their sins. Bob knew that Jesus had risen from the dead and promised to give eternal life to all of his followers. And Bob knew that this same Jesus promised always to provide for him. So when Bob looked ahead to his retirement, he had nothing to worry about.

True wealth and a truly rich life can only come from God. He is the source of everything we have and enjoy. He demonstrated his undeserved love and forgiveness in Jesus. He assures us that nothing we truly need is ever lacking. A truly rich life is ours when we rely on God’s compassionate care along with his abundant blessing.

What a mistake we make when we selfishly live our lives for ourselves and leave God out of the picture. We rob ourselves of our most important relationship and alienate ourselves from the very one who can satisfy the longing in our souls. If we live our lives only for ourselves we will spend the next life by ourselves, separated from our loving God forever.

Thankfully, that does not need to be the case. Thankfully, through Jesus, our loving God has provided forgiveness even for those times we live for ourselves and leave him out of the picture. Because of the forgiveness Jesus won for us, God promises that we will spend our eternity in his loving presence. Knowing this means having a rich life now and into eternity.

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for providing for my every need. Fill me with gratitude and thanksgiving for making my life rich through your grace and blessing. 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, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. . . . The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
James 5:10,11

A Patient Life

Daily Devotion – August 29, 2019

Devotion based on James 5:10,11

See series: Devotions

It is said that patience is a virtue. But that does not mean it is easy to come by. It is hard to be patient. It becomes especially difficult when the challenges of life become more intense. So, how does a person live a patient life?

We can start by considering those who were patient in the past. The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord are a good example. In spite of being persecuted for proclaiming God’s Word, they patiently waited for the Lord to carry out his will.

The prophets were able to be patient because they had confidence in God’s ability to act at the right time and in the right way. This trust is the very heart of patience.

It is also what we are expressing every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer and say, “Your will be done.” This request requires patience to wait for the Lord to bring about his good will. While we may desperately want God to follow our timetable, he has his own. He works according to his wisdom for which there is no comparison. He also works according to his power for which there is no equal. Both of these traits are combined with his undeserved love. That is why we can live a patient life. We have every confidence God has everything in control, and his plans take every nuance into account.

There is one additional source of patience, we can turn to. It is Jesus, our Savior. In undeserved love and patience, he did not deal with us as our sins deserved. He forgave us. He washed us clean and declared us not guilty—not only once, but daily and without limit. He also intercedes for us and assures us everything will work together for our blessing. Knowing this provides us with the ability to live a patient life.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for my impatience. Give me the strength of faith I need to say your will be done. 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.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:1,2

A Heavenly Life

Daily Devotion – August 28, 2019

Devotion based on Colossians 3:1,2

See series: Devotions

How a person walks reveals much about his or her life. A person whose head hangs down and shuffles along says he is carrying the weight of the world. In contrast, a person whose head is held high and walks with a spring in her step says her life is in order.

How a person walks also reveals what is happening in his or her spiritual life. A person struggling with guilt and sin will be noticeably burdened. A person who knows his Savior’s forgiveness will be noticeably joyful. While not scientific, it does help us understand what Paul means when he encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on heavenly things.

Paul is not giving us a recipe for earning our way to heaven, nor is he giving us a way to make God feel better about us. Rather, when we turn our thoughts and hearts to what God has done for us through his Son, there is a change.

We know from painful experience the devil and the world want to weigh us down. Although we desperately want to avoid their influence, we can’t. It remains with us and deceives us into looking for quick fixes and easy solutions. This is why Paul’s words are so precious and powerful. We want to set our hearts on things above, on God the Father and his Son. When we make their work our chief focus, we will see more than a quick fix. Gone will be the guilt and the burden of conscience. Gone will be the baggage that weighs down our hearts.

When we only look to this world for solutions, we will be disappointed. We will be like a leaf blown from place to place. In contrast, when we look to what God has secured through the work of his Son, we will be confident. We will live a heavenly life throughout our earthly stay.

Prayer:
O gracious Lord and Savior, remind me that I am a stranger in this world and my home is in heaven. Keep my eyes ever focused on this place of joy that is waiting 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.