Category: Daily Devotions

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34

House Rules

Daily Devotion – May 21, 2019

Devotion based on John 13:34

See series: Devotions

Every house needs house rules: a set of agreed upon rules for how people living in the house behave. For example, many families adopt the rule: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Jesus gives us the main house rule for living in his family of faith: “Love one another.” A simple rule. A good rule. It isn’t a complex set of instructions or a complicated flowchart to follow. It simply commands believers: love one another.

If only it were that simple. If only we could just hear Jesus say it, and then do it. If only our hearts and lives would simply be governed by love. If only we would lay ourselves down for each other. Unfortunately, we often love ourselves more than we love one another.

But thankfully, Jesus has broken the power of selfishness and self-centeredness. Jesus lovingly put thoughts of self aside and laid down his life for our benefit. Jesus took all our sin and guilt on himself and removed it forever when he went to the cross.

Imagine that! There is someone whose entire reason for living was to benefit you! To help you! To save you! There is someone that loves you and cares about you even more than you love or care about yourself!

With your sin and guilt taken care of, you are free to focus on loving others. You are free to love others as Jesus loves you. You are free to follow Jesus’ house rule: Love one another.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, set me free from my sinful self-love and self-centered attitudes. By your selfless love in your life and death, forgive me and help me to trust you for all my needs. Move me to focus on lovingly filling the needs of others. 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.

“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34

The House That Love Built

Daily Devotion – May 20, 2019

Devotion based on John 13:34

See series: Devotions

When I was younger, I remember visiting McDonald’s and seeing a little plastic coin bin on the counter. It said, “The house that love built.” The coins would go to support the Ronald McDonald house. Love for those people, in the form of coins given, built a house for those young cancer patients and their families to stay in during treatments.

It’s not hard to love cancer patients and their families. Those are clearly people who need love, help, and support. But what about people who aren’t so lovable? What about us? We like to think of ourselves as pretty lovable. But truth be told, we do not love God as he commands. And, we do not love others as ourselves. Because of our sinful attitudes and actions, we are neither loving nor lovable.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We are the recipients of something better than coins. We get to live in the house that love built—not a physical building, but a spiritual home where we live by faith. When we were lost in sin, Jesus found us and brought us home. When we were in trouble with God, Jesus took our sins away and forgave us. When we were dead in sin, Jesus loved us, welcomed us into his family, and gave us a loving home.

Now, Jesus tells us, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for you, sacrifice your own wishes and desires in order to love and serve those around you today. It will show the world that, thanks to Jesus, you live in the spiritual house that love built.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your rich, selfless love. You loved me when I was unlovable. You gave me a loving home, where I have forgiveness from you. Teach me to love as you have loved 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.

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:3-5

The Victory

Daily Devotion – May 19, 2019

Devotion based on Revelation 21:3-5

See series: Devotions

Individuals with dark hearts set off explosions that kill, maim, and injure dozens of people. Flooding destroys farmland and cripples a local economy. A distracted driver loses control and runs down a young student. Sometimes it seems that everywhere we turn we find destruction and heartache in our world.

What a beautiful comfort it is to know that one day that will all change. One day our all-powerful and living Savior will make everything new.

Right now, sin, death, and the devil have a firm hold on this world. We see the effects of their devastating attacks all around us. The war is fierce, and at times it certainly seems as though evil is winning. In the end, however, Jesus is victorious.

In fact, the victory has already been won. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, Satan’s power to accuse and condemn us was destroyed. His accusations are empty because our sin has been removed by the blood of Jesus. When he rose from the grave, he destroyed the power of death.

In the end, the victory Jesus won will be fully experienced by all who believe in him. In heaven, all of the evils of this world will not even be a distant memory—they will be gone forever.

We can persevere through all the hardships of this world with our eyes focused on Jesus. He has won the victory for us, and one day, he will make everything new.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, lift my eyes from the pain of this world to see the victory you have won for me. Help me to look forward with eager anticipation to the glory of my heavenly home where everything will be made new. 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.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:27,28

God Knows Who You Are

Daily Devotion – May 18, 2019

Devotion based on John 10:27,28

See series: Devotions

If you have ever had to be picked up from an airport or train station, you know that weird feeling as you walk out of the terminal into the crowd of people who are all there waiting for someone. You quickly scan the room as you search for the person who knows you. You are counting on them being there and so, for a moment, you hope that they didn’t forget, got stuck in traffic, or just didn’t show up. And there is a feeling of relief and joy when you finally make eye contact with the one person in the crowd who knows you, who is there to pick you up, and take you where you need to go.

It is easy to look at the crowds of people who make up our life and wonder, does anyone know us? Sometimes it seems that even our own close friends don’t know us, and our own family doesn’t understand us.

The good news is that as we look through the crowds of this life, we see one person who does know us—Jesus Christ. He knows who we are, and he knows our fears. He knows our strengths, and he knows our sins. He knows our past, and he knows our future.

The really good news is that, even though he knows us, he still loves us. Jesus laid down his life for us that we may have eternal life. He died and lives again to show us the full extent of his love for us. He invites us to hear his voice and to follow him.

The best part is that he has a plan to pick you up and take you where you need to go. He promises that no one will snatch you out of his hand and you will have an eternal life that will never perish.

Jesus knows you and he will take you home.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus who knows me, who saved me, and who gives me eternal life. Give me faith and confidence in Jesus and help me to hear his voice and to follow him. 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 the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Revelation 7:17

The Lamb is My Shepherd

Daily Devotion – May 17, 2019

Devotion based on Revelation 7:17

See series: Devotions

The headlines on Easter Sunday were a harsh reminder of life in this sinful world.

Half a world away, in Sri Lanka, over 300 people died or were injured by bombs detonated by an extremist Islamic group. Moments before the blasts, the Sunday school children of Zion Church in Batticaloa all professed their undying faith in Jesus Christ.

On the same day, newspapers ran an article about the death of the Christian faith. According to a recent poll, church membership in the United States has hit an all-time low.

Do such stories surprise us? As the psalmist says, even the best of our days is struggle and sorrow. We have all our hearts broken or our dreams shattered. It’s a good reminder for us not to build our hopes on them.

Don’t dream about what your life on earth could be; and don’t despair of what it isn’t. Put your hope in the Lamb and focus on where he is leading you. Look at the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He went uncomplaining forth to death to open the way to eternal life. In view of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarded its shame, and sat down on God’s throne.

From there, the Lamb shepherds us through death to life. He leads us to the living water of Word and sacrament and invites us to drink deeply. He connects us to his death and resurrection in baptism’s water so we too may live. He gives us forgiveness in the Lord’s Supper to assure us that we shall not perish but have eternal life.

This life will inevitably bring broken hearts and shattered dreams. But because the Lamb is your Shepherd, you can leave your water bottles and tissue boxes here on earth. He is leading you to a paradise were sin and all its problems are a thing of the past.

Prayer:
Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife; death cannot hold me, for he is the life. Nor darkness nor doubting nor sin and its stain can touch my salvation: with Jesus I reign. 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, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.”
Revelation 7:15,16

What Heaven Is Not

Daily Devotion – May 16, 2019

Devotion based on Revelation 7:15,16

See series: Devotions

In 2010, The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven by Alex Malarkey became a best-selling book. Malarkey later disavowed his work, admitting that his heavenly experience was a lie.

Despite the story’s fiction, such books remain popular. People want assurance that there is something more, something better after they die. In the last 20 years, a handful of books have been written on people’s personal afterlife experiences. However, you need only trust one account of heaven—the Bible’s.

In the New Testament, two witnesses of heaven testify to its reality. The apostles, Paul and John, were blessed to see it for themselves. Interestingly, Paul who wrote so much of the New Testament, could only say that heaven was beyond words. And John mostly tells us what heaven is not, rather than what heaven is.

If all we know is an earthly existence affected by sin in every way, how else do you describe an eternity without it?

On earth, sin causes us to separate ourselves from each other. We are suspicious of those who live beyond our borders, who speak other languages, and have a different skin color. In heaven, those dividing walls don’t exist. God brings together a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language.

The world is filled with sinful rebels. We do what we want and say what we want to get what we want. In heaven, selfishness doesn’t exist. God changes hearts so that every desire is to do his will, day and night.

On earth, we cannot stop the devastation of nature. Fire, water, wind, and earth continue to destroy lives. In heaven, God has put an end to hunger, thirst, and natural disaster.

Look past your differences, your selfishness, and those who scheme against you. Look past the problems of this world that you cannot control.

Look up and see the Lamb, who is seated on his throne.

Prayer:
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on me and bring me at last to my heavenly home. 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 one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:13-15a

Blanched in Blood

Daily Devotion – May 15, 2019

Devotion based on Revelation 7:13-15a

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At first, we thought it was pink-eye. But the medication that the vet provided didn’t help. Our pet’s condition worsened. We took her back to the clinic. She had an ulcer on her eye. More medication. More time. There was no improvement.

We returned to the clinic. The only option was surgery. If we did nothing, she could die. We scheduled the procedure for a week’s time. Meanwhile, the vet gave us a new medication. A serum that she had made from our pet’s blood. We were to put it on the ulcer three times a day.

Seven days later, I took her in for the surgery. Three hours had passed when we received a phone call. It was the surgeon. “I’m not sure how this is possible,” he said, “but your dog’s eye is fine. I have no need to perform the procedure.” The ulcer was gone. Cleansed by the blood.

By nature, we are all born with a spiritual ulcer—sin. It makes us blind to the God of salvation. It makes us hostile to the God of love. It makes us dead before the God of the living. Nothing in this world can provide an adequate remedy. There is nothing we can do. All our scrubbing, all our striving cannot get rid of the stain of sin. We may try, but the result is always the same—death.

But we are not without hope. John’s vision of heaven shows us that there is another way. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His blood has the power to purify us. His blood alone undoes the damage and heals the disease of sin.

Whatever your troubles, whatever your trials, whatever your temptations here on earth, trust in Jesus. Heaven is filled with those who have overcome because they have been washed in his blood.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I have sinned against you. Forgive me, cleanse me from all guilt, and deliver through all tribulation by the blood of your beloved Son, 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.

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
Revelation 7:11,12

Glory to God

Daily Devotion – May 14, 2019

Devotion based on Revelation 7:11,12

See series: Devotions

“For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” English poet, Alexander Pope, penned that phrase in his poem, An Essay on Criticism. Since 1711, it has been reused by the likes of President Abraham Lincoln, Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan, Indian social reformer B. R. Ambedkar, and Diane from Cheers.

The phrase refers to naïve people who attempt what experienced people avoid. By nature, that’s us. We rush into sin, ignoring the wisdom of others who have been there, seen the results, and don’t dare to try it themselves.

The angels were there with God when he lit the darkness with stars. They saw what happened when Lucifer revolted against God. And now they joyfully serve God. No one knows God better than they. But their closeness to God does not breed casualness. They fall on their faces and give all the praise, glory, and honor that God is owed.

What about us? Are we too casual with God? Do we seek glory for ourselves rather than give all glory to God? Do we demand from God that my will be done rather than humbly submit to “Thy will be done?” Do we view God’s grace as an excuse to keep behaving badly? Do we equate God’s patience with acceptance of our immoral behavior?

God, forgive us for our foolishness! And he does. The voice of our Good Shepherd calls to us each day in his Word: I give you eternal life, and you shall never perish.

Praise him—the Light of the World—who calls us out of darkness. Glorify him—the Lamb of God—who takes away the sin of the world. Trust him—the Wisdom of God—who chose you to belong to him before the creation of the world. Give thanks to him—the Mighty God—who vanquished sin, death, and the power of the devil. Honor him—the Living Water—who revives our thirsty souls.

Prayer:
Lord, keep me from rushing in where angels fear to tread. Grant that my life may echo their praise instead. 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 this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9,10

Salvation Belongs to Our God

Daily Devotion – May 13, 2019

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9,10

See series: Devotions

At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus rode into Jerusalem. He was seated on the back of a borrowed donkey. He was on his way to establish himself as King of kings and Lord of all. Crowds of Jews went before and after him. They also were headed to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. They placed palm branches and their traveling cloaks at Jesus’ feet. With raised voices they plead, “Save us now!”

At the beginning of Jesus’s glorious reign, John views Jesus again. He is surrounded by a great multitude. However, now Jesus isn’t going anywhere. He is seated on his throne in the heavenly Jerusalem. He has established himself as King—the Lamb who vanquished sin by laying down his life for the world and conquered death by taking his life up again.

The crowd that surrounds him isn’t going anywhere either. Their traveling days are done. These aren’t just Jewish nationals. They are people of every corner of earth, every skin color, and every language. With raised voices they proclaim: “Salvation belongs to our God.”

Are you struggling? Do you need help? You can count on Jesus. Because he is true God and true Man who died and rose again, he provides healing and hope for all who trust in him. Walk with him during your earthly life. Follow the path that he has laid out for you in his Word. When that way gets tough, plea for his help and trust his deliverance.

Your King heals diseases, feeds the hungry, raises the dead, and forgives sin. Just remember: his kingdom is not of this world, and this world isn’t your home. You are simply traveling through. From earth to eternity. From tribulation to triumph. From cross to crown. From grace to glory. Heaven is your goal. And it is worth it!

Prayer:
Lead me, O Lamb of God. I follow you. When my road gets rough, hear my plea. And accept my praise, when you deliver 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.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17c

The Peace that God Gives

Daily Devotion – May 12, 2019

Devotion based on Revelation 7:17c

See series: Devotions

It’s nighttime. Outside there are only peaceful nighttime sounds. But inside the young family’s house it is anything but peaceful. A tiny baby is crying—crying so loudly that everyone in the household is awake. The parents make every effort to calm the child down, to silence his crying and put an end to his tears. If only they knew the reason why he was crying, they would remove the source of pain or displeasure and wipe away his tears.

What a relief it is when a tiny baby stops crying and drifts off into peaceful sleep. Whatever was bothering him isn’t bothering him anymore.

Our Scripture reading for today speaks of a time when there will be no tears and when whatever tears were being shed will be wiped away. It speaks of heaven, where there will be no pain, no cause for fear, no reason for sorrow, and not even a reason for repentance There we will have the perfect peace that comes from the fact that all our sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake.

But as Christians we don’t need to wait for a future time and place to have lives filled with peace. Such lives are ours already, as followers of the Jesus. We may still wince in pain, but God is our help. We may tremble in fear, but God is our strength. Life sometimes hurts, but God is our comfort. We still sin, but Jesus is our Savior.

In this world we shed tears and may do so right up until our dying day. But though tears flow from our eyes, peace fills our hearts. It is the peace that God gives. It is the peace that comes from knowing Jesus: the helper of the helpless, the worker of miracles, the payment for our sins. God comforts us when we cry, and he will wipe away our tears.

Prayer:
Jesus, keep my focus on you as my Savior, and fill me with the peace of forgiveness for my sins that I might live in the sure hope of 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.