Category: Daily Devotions

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 62:1-5

You make God Smile

Daily Devotion – January 23, 2019

Devotion based on Isaiah 62:1-5

See series: Devotions

As the music played quietly in the background, another look at his watch revealed that it was time. “Any moment now,” he anxiously thought. Then the doors opened, and there she was—more beautiful than he had ever seen her. Flashes popped as she slowly made her way down the aisle. Pictures that captured his face revealed a smile that would not be going away anytime soon. He couldn’t help it. There was his bride!

That joy and delight is what God has for those who believe in him. That’s right. You make God smile. Allow your jaw to drop in awe at that beautiful truth.

We know what makes God happy—total perfection. “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). We also know that God hates sin and will absolutely never allow any sinner to enter into his kingdom. “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Revelation 21:27). Yet he takes delight in you. Seeing you makes his face light up like a groom seeing his bride on his wedding day.

Every sin and imperfection that should cause God to look at you in disgust was removed by Jesus when he died for you on the cross. Through faith God has clothed you with the perfect life of Jesus so that now when he looks at you he sees beautiful perfection and nothing that would prevent you from entering his kingdom.

No matter what is going on in your life, or what others think when they look at you, God looks at you with loving eyes. What he sees gives him great joy and will continue to give him great joy for all of eternity.

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, thank you for removing my sin and making me a delight to your eyes. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11

The Right Tool for the Right Job

Daily Devotion – January 22, 2019

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

See series: Devotions

Everyone has heard the saying; “the right tool for the right job.” This is an important truth to learn. But what if we could find the one tool that does it all?

When I moved to Alaska, wise men gave me sage advice: “Get a Leatherman multi-purpose tool.” Before I went anywhere—hiking, camping, fishing—I was told, get the real deal and not an imitation. Because outdoor activities in Alaska often take place in remote places, you need to be prepared for anything. Leatherman tool, duct tape, and mechanics’ wire were always in the backpack. With this tool and these supplies you could do amazing things.

When I read today’s devotion text I thought: “Leatherman tool! The Holy Spirit is God’s ‘multi-purpose tool’” The Spirit is the real deal that does amazing things.

In Alaska I got to know a woman who said to me; “I wish I believed what the people of this church believe, but I just don’t.” It can be frustrating and disappointing to hear someone say that. But the confession of faith, that “Jesus is Lord,” happens only by the Holy Spirit.

Equipped with the Word of God we can only do what we can. We can only share the message of Jesus who is the Lord of life and Lord over all things. Then we watch and wait as the Spirit does what only the Spirit can do: bring sinners to faith in Jesus, gather them into his church and equip them for service.

As you hear today’s words you see that the Spirit has many functions, gives many gifts, and confers many blessings. Truly the Holy Spirit is God’s “multi-purpose tool” for the building of his church.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit of God, as we think of those who do not have the blessing of faith in Jesus, we ask you to give that gift freely and frequently. To those who wish to serve in your kingdom, grant our gifts for the common good. For all our other needs in life and eternity, we pray that you would work in us just as you determine. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
Titus 3:4-5

Remember the Relationship

Daily Devotion – January 21, 2019

Devotion based on Titus 3:4-5

See series: Devotions

The old story goes something like this. A little boy named Henry and a little girl named Margaret are spending a few days with their grandmother on her farm. Henry is outside, alone, playing with a new slingshot. He sees his grandmother’s pet duck. On a lark he points the slingshot at the duck and fires. To the boy’s horror, the duck falls over dead. Now in a panic, Henry hides the duck in the woodpile. But then his sister, Margaret, comes up to him and says, “I saw what you did.” The next morning, Margaret announces to her grandmother that, for some reason, Henry wants to do her chores as well as his own. When Henry begins to protest, Margaret quickly whispers to him, “Remember. I saw what you did.”

Finally, after several days of this, Henry can no longer stand it. In tears, he runs to his grandmother and confesses everything. Immediately the grandmother embraces the boy and says, “Oh, Henry. Don’t be afraid. I’ve already forgiven you. I was standing at the kitchen window when it all happened.” It doesn’t take long for Henry’s tears of shame to turn into tears of relief and joy. And then he asks the question: “Grandma, why didn’t you tell me you saw everything?” To that the grandmother replies, “Well, Henry, I just had to find out how long you were going to let your sister enslave you.”

One of the oldest tricks in Satan’s playbook is to get us to forget the kind of relationship we have with God through faith in Jesus. He does this by haunting us about our past failures, piling on the regret, piling on the guilt. In time we can begin to distance ourselves from God, afraid to open up to him and afraid to admit to ourselves what a broken, sinful mess we really are.

But the Lord wants us to remember something. He wants us to remember that his entire relationship with us is a relationship of mercy—his merciful love for us in Jesus Christ. As soon as we remember this, then we can also remember that Satan has nothing with which to haunt us or to make us feel afraid. Satan has no answer for God’s mercy. None.

And for that we can all say, “Praise God.”

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when Satan comes to haunt me about my past, move me to remember that your relationship with me is pure love and mercy through faith in your Son. Remind me of this every day. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31

A Beautiful Promise

Daily Devotion – January 20, 2019

Devotion based on Isaiah 40:30-31

See series: Devotions

Little kids like to run everywhere. It doesn’t matter how short the distance. It can simply be from one side of the room to the other. The three-year-old is more than likely going to run that distance.

Part of the reason they do this is that they have short legs and need to take way more steps to cross the room than fully-grown people do. But, they also run because they just have lots of energy. As an adult, can you imagine every step you take being a running step? You would probably be ready for a nap well before lunch.

Yet even those children with seemingly endless amounts of energy grow tired after a while. Eventually they grow into adults, and their levels of energy decrease, and weariness sets in more quickly.

What a beautiful promise we have from the Lord that he will give us renewed strength! To “run and not grow weary”—it sounds too good to be true. Yet, it’s a promise from the Lord so we know that it is.

Those who know that Jesus is their Savior, who treasure the full and free forgiveness that is theirs because of his death on the cross, can walk with a little extra spring in their step. The pressing weight of sin and guilt does not slow them down, and they know that their relationship with the almighty God is one that is defined by his love and will last forever.

When that relationship is fully enjoyed inside the gates of heaven, then their youth will truly and fully be renewed. None of the physical problems, none of the aches and pains that seem to grow more severe with age will be present there. Knowing that day will come gives the believer in Jesus a little extra energy in life as well.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you know that I am tired. Keep my eyes focused on the eternity in heaven that your Son, Jesus, won for me through his death on the cross. There I know that my strength will be renewed, and I will never grow weary again. Until I get there, give me strength and energy as you have promised. In Jesus’ name I ask it. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph.
Luke 3:23

Mistaken Identity

Daily Devotion – January 19, 2019

Devotion based on Luke 3:23

See series: Devotions

“I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.” It is a mistake and an apology made by many people. Usually the only lasting consequence from a case of mistaken identity is embarrassment. Not so when it happens with Jesus.

There were many people who knew Jesus from young on and concluded he was Joseph’s son. They believed what their eyes told them. This case of mistaken identity continued throughout Jesus’ ministry. Some did acknowledge he could have been a prophet or possibly a teacher, but even this conclusion was eventually limited by what they saw.

There are many people today who still suffer from a case of mistaken identity. They believe Jesus is a good man. They believe he offers some great lessons for life. They even believe he could be a prophet of sorts. But the Son of God? This would be too much to accept.

As I live in a skeptical world, I need to have the right answer to the question, who is Jesus? Do I see him as a role model? Do I see him as an engaging teacher? Do I see him as a life coach? If this is all I believe Jesus is, I too have been confused by a case of mistaken identity. Unfortunately, this case doesn’t end in embarrassment, it ends in eternal separation from God.

I must have a clear understanding of who Jesus is and what he did. For this I must rely on what God has recorded in the Bible. In the Old Testament prophecies, as well as in the New Testament fulfillment of the same, Jesus is clearly revealed as the Son of God and Son of Man. He is also clearly revealed as the Savior God provided.

Through faith in God’s faithful testimony I will be spared from a case of mistaken identity regarding Jesus. As a result, I will see him as my Savior and my way to heaven. I will also see him as the source of my joy and my peace with God.

Prayer:
O precious Savior, through faith in your holy Word, let me see you as you are and trust in all you have done 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

The LORD says, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

Jesus is Our Humble Servant

Daily Devotion – January 18, 2019

Devotion based on Isaiah 49:6

See series: Devotions

Would you enjoy work as a servant? Most of us would choose a job in which we have some authority and privilege rather than submission and humble service.

What did Jesus choose? What did his Father choose for him? It was submission and humble service for Jesus instead of authority and privilege. He willingly took up the station designated in Isaiah’s prophecy: “the Servant of the Lord.”

Isaiah chapter 49 marks a new emphasis in that book of prophecy. Whereas earlier chapters focused on God’s deliverance of Israel from Babylonian captivity, this part focuses on the spiritual deliverance of God’s people through the Servant of the Lord.

Here we find the Servant of the Lord, fully equipped and competent to deliver Israel. Jesus kept this word of prophecy in his humble service to free us from the guilt of sin and curse of eternal death. He explained, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as the ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

He did this not just for the people of Israel (“too small a thing”) but also for you and me, for the entire world. He served in the lowliest way, bearing the burden of all sinners on his cross to restore us to life with God forever.

Praise to you, Savior Jesus, for coming to be our humble servant and bringing us the light of salvation!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, make me aware each day of the humble service you offered me to rescue me from my sin. Fill me with the light of your salvation. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.… For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
Isaiah 61:10, 62:1-2

Your After Picture

Daily Devotion – January 17, 2019

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:10, 62:1-2

See series: Devotions

Makeovers are remarkable. You have seen the “before” and “after” pictures on TV. You’ve seen the man with the 70’s hippy look transformed into the GQ magazine look or the woman with the no makeup look transformed into the Glamour magazine look. You are that person, spiritually speaking.

You can see your “before” picture in the mirror of God’s law, which demands you to be flawless. It’s not a pretty look. Your clothes are filthy from the dirt in your life, stained from enjoying life too much, and worn out from all the begging you’ve done on your knees. You’re a mess, an offense to yourself and even more to your God. You know it, and you are helpless to change it. Try as you might, God declares, “Although you wash yourself with soda and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me””(Jeremiah 2:22).

But then there’s your “after” picture. In that picture there is another person beside you. The other person is your substitute. Christ came to exchange clothes with you—his perfection for your imperfection, your guilt for his forgiveness, your damnation for his salvation. This is what he did on the cross, and because he did, there is nothing about you that is less than perfect in God’s eyes. Using the imagery of Isaiah, you are a picture-perfect bridegroom and bride.

Your joy is to let others know what God in Christ has done for you. The Lord himself wants this known. He wants everyone to know the garment exchange he has made. He wants them to know that Christ’s righteousness covers their unrighteousness. He wants to transform their lives. And he will. By grace he has transformed yours.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I rejoice that you have clothed me with your righteousness. I pray that others enjoy these same clothes. In Jesus’ name. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” … Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed stands here before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.
1 Samuel 16:1,4-13

God’s Choice

Daily Devotion – January 16, 2019

Devotion based on 1 Samuel 16:1,4-13

See series: Devotions

God doesn’t choose people the way that we do. In today’s reading, Israel needed a new king anointed from the family of Jesse, and it was Samuel’s job to anoint him. Samuel was sure it was going to be one of Jesse’s most kingly-looking sons. Son after son was brought before Samuel. Each one looked like a possible candidate, but the LORD rejected them all. Did Jesse have another son? He did. Little David, the youngest boy, was out tending the sheep. When they brought him in, the LORD made it clear to Samuel: David was the one.

A thousand years later, David’s descendant Jesus was born. And just like David, Jesus wasn’t anything like the kind of king people were looking for. Many rejected Jesus immediately because of his lowly status. Others followed him for a little while, until they found out what he was about. He wasn’t here to defeat their political enemies. He was here to suffer and die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. None of us would ever have picked a king like this. But God did. At Jesus’ baptism, God made his choice known to all the world: “This is my Son whom I love.” (See Luke 3:21,22.)

Jesus is the reason God chooses sinners like you and me. He doesn’t choose us because of anything good in us. We know how far we often fall from our own standards, much less his. God chooses sinners purely out of love and mercy.

As David was anointed king, as Jesus was anointed Savior, so also, we sinners are anointed to be God’s children. In Baptism, God takes what he did for the whole world at the cross of Jesus, and he makes it personal. He singles you out. He comes to you with his forgiveness, not just forgiveness for the sinfulness you were born with, but forgiveness for all sins, even the ones you haven’t committed yet. Are you baptized? Then you don’t have to wait for a day of forgiveness to come. That day has already come. Your sins were forgiven at your baptism, through faith in Jesus, your Savior.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, whenever I wonder how someone like God could love someone like me, help me to remember the grace and mercy there is to be found in God’s gift of Baptism. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
Acts 16:25-34

A Most Important Question

Daily Devotion – January 15, 2019

Devotion based on Acts 16:25-34

See series: Devotions

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” This is the most important question in the world. It cuts to the heart of the most important issue of life—the matter of eternal life.

At the critical moment of life and death, there was only one correct answer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” Human philosophies could not answer the jailer’s question, so Paul and Silas “spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.”

At the heart of the “word of the Lord” is the message that through faith in Jesus who lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death on our behalf, we are saved from sin—from the effects of sin (guilt and shame) and from the final result of sin (punishment in hell). Paul and Silas do not tell the jailer to “do” anything. He is to believe what Jesus has already done for him. There is no other way to be saved.

The jailer is in one moment a desperate, guilty, enemy of Christ and in the next a forgiven, loving servant to Christ. This is the power of Christ and his salvation. If you know it, share it. If you do not, keep coming back to hear “the word of the Lord.” It is for you and your household.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your Word which is the Word of salvation. Thank you for giving us life in a world of death. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:4-11

The Voice in the Desert

Daily Devotion – January 14, 2019

Devotion based on Mark 1:4-11

See series: Devotions

You hear one voice in the desert. You hear another voice from heaven.

It’s the first voice you might not listen to. Who would listen to a guy who preaches in camel’s hair and eats locusts? Who would listen to a guy that calls you a snake and a sinner? (See Matthew 3:7-10.) Your initial thought, as you listen to this voice, is to scoff and argue. But the more you listen, you end up crying for mercy instead. The voice in the desert speaks the damning truth. It cuts you to the core. You recognize the poison in your heart—poison that blasphemes, hates, lusts, and envies—and you are brought to your knees to confess that you deserve eternal punishment for your sins.

But the voice in the desert points to more than your sin. The voice in the desert points to the One so powerful, that no sinner is worthy to untie his sandals, and yet so powerful that he overwhelms and overcomes sinful hearts with his Spirit of grace. He points to the One who is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Now you couldn’t be more ready to listen to the voice from heaven. As water runs down Jesus’ face, the Father’s voice from heaven declares his approval and confidence in his Son, because he purposely and willingly gives him as the sacrifice for your sin. His life for yours! His death instead of yours! Even the Holy Spirit descends with approval. And yes, you hear the voice from heaven correctly, it pleases God to do this for you. Through faith you will not perish but have eternal life.

Because of such love, out of the overflow of the heart, another voice speaks. It’s your voice. It echoes the voice from the desert and the voice from heaven. It shows sin and shares saving love with others. It points people to Jesus.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, may I never lose sight of my need for a Savior from sin, and may I never let go of the fact that Jesus came for me and saved me. In his name. 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 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.