Category: Daily Devotions

[Jesus said] “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.”
John 16:12

Carry

Daily Devotion – June 21, 2019

Devotion based on John 16:12

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Christian writer Corrie ten Boom tells a story about her father. As a child, Corrie was a very curious little girl. Once, however, she asked her father to explain a subject she was still far too young to handle. But rather than ignore her, Corrie’s father did something in that moment to teach her a profound truth.

He was a watchmaker by trade, and at that time a travel case full of his watches and spare parts happened to be sitting next to him. He pointed to his travel case and asked, “Corrie, could you please carry this for me?” Corrie walked over to the case and tried. But the travel case was far too much for her to lift.

“It’s too heavy,” she said.

“Yes,” her father replied, “and it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It’s the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. When you are older and stronger, you can bear it. For now, you must trust me to carry it for you.”

Our Lord has the same loving attitude toward you and me. It goes without saying that there are many twists and turns in our lives. As you and I experience those twists and turns, ups and downs, it can be very easy to ask the question, “Why?” “Why is this happening to me now? Why is this happening to a member of my family? Why are things not going as I planned? Why is the Lord allowing this into my life?”

There are many possible answers to our questions, of course. But when the answers are not immediately apparent, remember the Lord’s heart. His heart pulsates with a love for you and me we will never fully grasp. It’s the same love that drove him to march to the cross and carry our sins away. All this he has done to make us his own.

Remember his heart when you are carrying a burden that seems too heavy to bear and you wonder “Why?” He may not reveal the answer immediately. But know that he loves you. And, he can carry what you can’t.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I am perplexed by what is happening and burdened with a load too heavy to bear, remind me of your love and carry what I can’t. 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.

Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar.
1 John 5:10

Liar

Daily Devotion – June 20, 2019

Devotion based on 1 John 5:10

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Earlier this year there was an article about lying, and how lying impacts your relationships with others. The article did a good job of spelling out the ramifications of lying—ramifications we don’t always think through. Here are a few of those ramifications.

For one, lies erode trust. This is, perhaps, the most obvious impact. Just as a rainstorm can cause a landslide, so also lies can change the landscape of a relationship and cause it to collapse.

For another, lying shows a lack of regard for the relationship. Telling the truth—even a hard truth—demonstrates that you place great value on the relationship. Lies do the opposite.

For still another, lying demonstrates selfishness. When you lie, you show that you are putting yourself and your own interests ahead of the other person.

Finally, liars are also conning themselves, the article said. They are denying their true identity and are pretending to be what they are not. Such an approach is disingenuous and will put a strain on any relationship.

All of which brings us to the Apostle John. John tells us a jarring thing. He tells us that, when you and I fail to trust God and his promises, we are saying that God is a liar. Listen to that again: John tells us that, when you and I fail to trust God and his promises, we are saying that God is a liar.

When things don’t go our way, we claim God must not love us, even though he clearly tells us that he loves us. We doubt that God is doing what is best for us even though he clearly promises that he makes everything work out for our good. And in thinking these things, John says, we are making God out to be a liar.

But that’s why Jesus came. On our behalf, Jesus demonstrated perfect trust in his heavenly Father. Then he took all our sins of unbelief and doubt and carried them to the cross. And now he lives. And because he does, he sends his Holy Spirit to renew our trust every single day.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive my lack of trust. Move me to believe what you say. 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.

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:5

Conquerors

Daily Devotion – June 19, 2019

Devotion based on 1 John 5:5

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Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most famous conquerors in history. At the height of his empire, 720,000 square miles of territory were under his command. As great as his fame is, however, other famous conquerors accomplished much more. Napoleon is actually number seven on our list. Number six goes to Adolph Hitler, who ruled 1.4 million square miles. Number five is Attila the Hun. Attila carved out for himself 1.5 million square miles. Next, there is Cyrus the Great. Cyrus swept up the nations around him until his Persian Empire covered 2 million square miles. Cyrus is number four on our list. Number three? Number three is Alexander the Great. Alexander died when he was only 32, but over the previous ten years, Alexander had marched his men from Greece to India, claiming for himself every inch along the way. 2.2 million square miles came under his command. And then there is Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan was single-minded and ruthless. With his highly disciplined troops, Genghis Khan swallowed up almost everything from Eastern Asia to Eastern Europe. By the time he was done, 4.9 million square miles were his.

Which brings us to number one. Number one is you. Number one is you in the only way that matters. All the other names on this list—Napoleon, Alexander, Genghis Khan—all they could do was seize some territory for a limited amount of time. God’s view of things is different. He tells us that true victory over this fallen world belongs to the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Think about that for a moment. Regardless of what the world thinks, regardless of your status in society, regardless of how significant or insignificant others think you are, you are the conqueror. You are the conqueror through faith in the One who has washed you clean of sin on Calvary’s cross. Through faith in Jesus, you are his and he is yours. Through faith in him you will live beyond this temporary world. Through faith in him, the new heaven and earth are yours forever.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, remind me who I am and what I have through faith 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.

[W]e glory in our sufferings . . .
Romans 5:3

Sufferings Arrival

Daily Devotion – June 18, 2019

Devotion based on Romans 5:3

See series: Devotions

Let’s start with the reality that suffering has already placed each of us on its calendar.

Many of us already know this. As many of you read or listen to these words, suffering has already arrived. Perhaps you’re in your third round of chemo treatments. Perhaps you’re in the middle of your parents’ bitter divorce. Perhaps schoolmates are on social media saying vicious things about you for their amusement. Perhaps your spouse is in the final stages of dementia. Perhaps your latest surgery has done nothing to correct your chronic back pain. Perhaps your child is breaking your heart.

However, others of us may not yet know. We may not know that suffering has already placed each of us on its calendar. Oh, sure, we know it in theory. But theory is one thing. Real life is quite another.

And so, what to do? What to do when the suffering arrives?

When it came to suffering, the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to make a statement that simply sounds outlandish. Paul had the nerve to say that “we…glory in our sufferings.”

“We…glory in our sufferings?” Such a statement is crazy, senseless, comfortless—until we understand what Paul is saying in the context of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

You and I are here in this broken, chaotic world to give clear witness to what God has done for us in Jesus. And while the Lord uses suffering in our lives for many things, Paul understood that suffering was often one of the greatest ways by which others can see that we mean what we say.

Suffering is the dark background by which you and I can more easily shine the light of Jesus in our lives. We can shine the light of his forgiveness purchased at Calvary’s cross. We can shine the light of his resurrection. We can shine the light of every single one of his promises. And in a disappointed world that craves authenticity, the Good News of Jesus can use our sufferings to deliver just that.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when my suffering arrives, give me courage. Give me courage so that others can see that your Gospel is true. 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.

[T]he LORD turn his face toward you.
Numbers 6:26

Turn Towards

Daily Devotion – June 17, 2019

Devotion based on Numbers 6:26

See series: Devotions

Dr. John Gottman and his wife, Dr. Julie Gottman, are researchers who have spent several decades studying marriage relationships. They have drawn many conclusions, and their conclusions make for powerful reading. Here is one conclusion. For years the conventional wisdom was that a way to deepen your marriage relationship was through a big romantic getaway—a trip to Paris or a Caribbean cruise. Not so, say the Gottmans. While a romantic getaway certainly has its place, the Gottmans have learned that a key to deepening a marriage relationship—or any relationship—lies in the countless little moments you have, in their words, to “turn towards” each other.

Here’s what they mean. Throughout the week, couples will give each other what the Gottmans call, “bids for connection.” These “bids for connection” almost always seem quite ordinary. For example, a spouse might say, “I had one crazy day today.” That, say the Gottmans, is a bid for connection. It is an opportunity for two spouses to “turn towards” each other in that moment and to share the details of what made the day so crazy.

This need for couples to “turn towards” each other is vital. In their exhaustive research, the Gottmans found that happily married couples turned towards” each other 2½ times more often than couples whose marriages ended in divorce.

All of which brings us to God’s attitude towards you and me.

The Lord has his face turned toward you. Not sometimes. Not frequently. The Lord has his face turned toward you always. With you in mind he came to this earth and became one of us. With you in mind he lived a sinless life as our substitute—the life you and I have failed to live. With you in mind he carried your wasted moments and mine to the cross and washed them all away.

And today he continues to turn toward you. He turns toward you through every syllable of his Word you read and hear. He turns toward you through every message from him you encounter. He turns toward you this very moment, in this daily devotion. Spend this day in the comfort and assurance of knowing the LORD‘s face is turned toward you.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when my face is downcast because of doubt or despair, remind me that your face is always turned toward 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.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1

The War Is Over

Daily Devotion – June 16, 2019

Devotion based on Romans 5:1

See series: Devotions

Did you know that, as late as 1980, Japanese soldiers were still fighting World War II? You see, the far side of the Pacific has a staggering number of tiny islands. In the chaos of that war, some Japanese soldiers became isolated and forgotten on those islands. As a result, they continued to live year after year assuming that the war was still on.

The same thing can happen to me. In the chaos of life in this sinful world, I can become isolated. In my isolation I can look to myself for answers. But the answers I come up with create only more stress and frustration and emptiness in my soul. As a result I can spend a long, long time fighting to fill myself with a peace I never find. It’s like fighting a war that doesn’t end.

Here’s the Good News: The war is over. Real peace is at hand. But this peace is better than the end to a military conflict. It’s peace with God. And this peace with God does not depend on how my emotions are doing from one day to the next. The peace with God I have is a concrete reality whether my emotions are feeling it at the moment or not. This is true because the peace with God I possess comes through faith in what Jesus has already done on my behalf. Through Jesus’ life God declares me holy. Through Jesus’ death on the cross God declares me forgiven. Because of Jesus there is nothing more to fear.

If you’ve been stuck far too long on an island of your own making, it’s time to get off. Jesus has come. Peace with God is yours. The war is over.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for all the ways I have isolated myself from you. In Jesus, real peace is mine. Embrace me with your 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.

Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.
Genesis 11:7

Communication

Daily Devotion – June 15, 2019

Devotion based on Genesis 11:7

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“What did you say?” This is one of my daughter’s favorite questions. I might be standing just five feet from her and she will still respond, “What did you say?” Sometimes she knows exactly what I said but doesn’t want to hear what I said. Other times she’s been daydreaming.

Clear communication is vital to human relationships. Couples struggle due to a lack of healthy communication. Neighborly problems persist when time isn’t spent talking through issues. Presidential candidates spend countless hours polishing skills needed to accurately and persuasively push their political and personal agendas.

The people spoken of in Genesis chapter eleven had communicated rather clearly to God that they were going to follow their own agenda. They put their will over God’s will. They thought they could accomplish anything they put their minds to and did not pay attention to the word that God spoke to them.

In response God clearly communicated both his justice and his love for these people. They needed him. Living in opposition to God results in dire consequences. On the other hand, those who hear God’s Word and follow it are truly blessed. Jesus said, “Blessed . . . are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28).

Through his Son Jesus, God clearly communicated his love for all people, including you and me, despite our own, personal agendas. Jesus’ perfect life and sacrificial death re-established our relationship with him. His resurrection provides the clear message that he still loves us.

As a result, our heavenly Father always listens and never grows tired of us asking, “What did you say?” Instead, he answers our doubts, fears, and apprehensions with patience and mercy.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, strengthen the line of communication between you and me through the power of your Word. 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.

“Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Acts 2:9-12

I Will Tell You What It Means

Daily Devotion – June 14, 2019

Devotion based on Acts 2:9-12

See series: Devotions

I’ve heard the pastor read these Bible verses during worship more than once on a Sunday morning, and I’m always glad that he is a trained public speaker. There are a lot of place names here that are difficult to pronounce. Why is this list here in the Bible? What does it mean?

On Pentecost, the people listening to the pastors preaching all heard words in their own language even though they weren’t sure that those preachers, Jesus’ disciples, could actually speak that language. That would be have been both amazing and perplexing. What did it mean?

I’ll tell you what it meant. God had a very important message to get out as quickly as possible, and he did not want a language barrier to prevent it. This message was so important that God wanted it to spread geographically as quickly as possible, so he brought people from all over the world to hear it right when it was preached, shortly after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

And I’ll tell you what that list of country names means today. It means that no one is left out. Christianity is not just for certain people in certain countries. The forgiveness of sins won by Jesus is for every person in every land. It’s for immigrants as well as natives, visitors as well as residents. Even if other people can’t pronounce the place that people are from, the wonders of God are for them.

In the sermon that follows these words, Peter explains that Jesus is the Savior of all people. He calls his hearers then and today to repentance and faith in Jesus. I’ll tell you what that means: Life and salvation.

Prayer:
Lord God, heavenly Father, I praise you for the wonderful things you have done for me through Jesus Christ my 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] “And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”
John 15:27

Oh That is Why

Daily Devotion – June 13, 2019

Devotion based on John 15:27

See series: Devotions

I don’t always know why God allows certain things to happen in my life. I have had some real bad times and some real good times.

When Jesus spoke the words from the Bible we are thinking about today, he was talking to his disciples. They had been through a few bad times, but there were some major bad times coming soon. That night, Jesus was arrested and killed. Why would God let the disciples go through all that? Jesus explained it even before it happened. He was preparing his disciples to testify.

They would talk about what they had seen early in Jesus’ ministry, since they had been there. And when they saw how it ended, in death and resurrection, they would be able to talk about how it all made sense in the end. Oh, that’s why God let that happen to them, and to his Son. He wanted to save them.

During the bad times, I wonder why God is letting the bad things happen. I pray for relief, and I wonder why God takes his time answering my prayer. If I learn anything from this Bible verse, I realize that God is letting the story play out, even in some bad ways, so that I can testify. I can testify to the goodness of God, to the eventual relief that he always gives, to his love.

During the good times, I learn to testify to God’s mercy and grace, since I don’t deserve them. I think about the longer arc of my life, and I realize how God has made all things work for my good. The bad times don’t look so bad when I view them like that. Oh, that’s why God gives me many seasons in my life, both good and bad. He wants me to testify.

In fact, I must testify, because I have witnessed so many lives turn from bad to good because of the forgiveness that Jesus won for them. I am compelled to say that Jesus is my Savior. He’s yours as well.

Prayer:
Lord, lead me to tell the story of your love throughout my life no matter what happens. 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 stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.” . . . This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
Acts 2:14,16,17a

This Is What Is Happening

Daily Devotion – June 12, 2019

Devotion based on Acts 2:14,16,17a

See series: Devotions

“What is happening?” Have you ever been in a situation where you looked around and could not figure out what was going on? People around you were paying attention, and they seemed to be following something, but you could not for the life of you figure out what was happening.

That must have been the situation for many people on Pentecost. Here were men with what seemed to be tongues of fire dancing on their heads. They were speaking in a multitude of different languages. It was nine in the morning, and nothing was happening that normally happened at nine in the morning.

Then Peter stood up, raised his voice, and explained. The prophet Joel had predicted this, Peter explained. The Holy Spirit was being poured out. The last days had begun.

For hundreds of years, the Holy Spirit had brought mostly Jewish people to faith in the Savior who was to come. Now there would be thousands, then millions, then billions of people coming to faith in Jesus as their Savior. The Spirit was being poured out on all people. Men and women, young people and old people—all were included. No one was excluded. Everyone was welcome.

And the last days had begun. Jesus had died, risen, and ascended into heaven. The only thing left for him to do was to return for Judgment Day. Now all of the prophecies about the last days would be fulfilled. The gospel of forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus would be preached to all people.

Now you know what is happening. We are in the last days. The Spirit is being poured out on you, and you are being brought to a closer relationship with Jesus. Your life is blessed.

Prayer:
Come Holy Spirit, God and Lord! May all your graces be outpoured. 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.