Category: Daily Devotions

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9

Your God Will Not Let You Fall

Daily Devotion – January 13, 2018

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:7-9

See series: Devotions

The scene has been played out in countless movies and television shows. Someone has fallen off the edge of a cliff or tall building and is holding on for dear life to the hand of a person above him. The tension builds as the person’s hand starts to slip and he shouts, “I can’t hold on much longer!”
Christians sometimes feel this way about their faith. Challenges and tragedies have pummeled them to the point where they feel weak and wonder if they might very well lose their connection to Christ. “I can’t hold on much longer!” they think. Perhaps you are feeling this way today.
God’s Word has good news for you. Your connection to Christ does not depend on your ability to hold on to him. He is holding on to you. After all, he is the One who grabbed you out of the depths of sin and pulled you to himself in the first place. He called you to be his child and, like any loving parent, he loves you too much to let you go.
When you feel like you can’t hold on much longer, your loving Lord quietly, firmly and lovingly replies, “I can.”

Prayer:
Lord, you know how weak my faith often is. You know how easily I doubt your Word and promises. I thank you that you have called me to be your child and ask that you grant me a faith that is firm and unshakable. When I waver, hold me close. Keep me safe in your arms until I am safely home with you. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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.

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You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26–28

See yourself as God sees you

Daily Devotion – January 12, 2018

Devotion based on Galatians 3:26–28

See series: Devotions

A person’s view of himself tends to be relative—relative to the people around him. For example, I am below average in height. Most of the time, when I am with a group of people, I am looking up and feel quite short. But when I am with my extended family, I am one of the tallest people in the room. And when I am asked to reach something from the top shelf of the pantry, I feel quite tall.

People often view their morality in a similar way. They compare themselves to the people around them and feel either good or bad about themselves depending upon what they see in those other people.

But we do not have a God who compares us to other people. He compares us to himself. He expects us to be as holy, and loving, and caring, and selfless as he is. Unlike when we compare ourselves to other people, when we compare ourselves to the one, true God, we cannot see ourselves as anything but complete moral failures.

Which is why it is such a shock—a wonderful shock—to hear what the apostle Paul tell us in Galatians, chapter 3: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

What a glorious surprise! Regardless of how you see yourself, regardless of how you stack up when compared to other people, God sees you as sinless because you are clothed in the perfect life of Jesus. He sees every baptized follower of Christ this way. It doesn’t matter what gender you are, what color you are, what kind of job you hold, what kind of grades you get, or what language you speak. Through faith in Christ you are a child of the living God!

Now, how does THAT make you feel?

Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for making me your child though faith in your Son, Jesus. Cleanse my guilty conscience with the knowledge that I am holy in your sight. And lead me to live as your child this 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.

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In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
Psalm 118:5–6

When You Feel Stuck

Daily Devotion – January 11, 2018

Devotion based on Psalm 118:5–6

See series: Devotions

Several years ago, there was a popular book and movie about Aron Ralston, a climber who got trapped in Utah’s Bluejohn Canyon after an accident in which a large dislodged boulder pinned his arm against the narrow canyon wall. Ralston had not told anyone about his hiking plans, nor did he have anyway to call for help. There is an unforgettable scene in the movie where he realizes that his arm is stuck and he is not going to be able to free himself. He cries out for help, but his cry simply echoes through the vast canyon walls. There is no one to hear him. No one to help. Finally, after five days of surviving on a meager amount of food and water, Ralston broke his ulna and radius bones and amputated his trapped arm to escape.

While it might not be a life or death situation, there are times in our lives when we feel stuck. Whether it be in a relationship, a job, or even our own struggle with sin and guilt. Even when we cry out to God for help, sometimes it seems like the cry of that trapped climber reverberating off the empty canyon walls. Who is going to help me? Who is going to save me from death?

In the midst of betrayal and abandonment, with the weight of the world’s sins on his back and the impending punishment for their guilt looming on the horizon, Jesus called out to his heavenly Father. In faith he cried out to God and that cry did not simply echo into the void. God answered his prayer. Yes, Jesus had to suffer the pain and the shame of the cross for our benefit. But God did not abandon him. On the third day he raised him victoriously from the dead.

Because of Jesus we can be sure that God will answer our deepest cry for help as well. Through faith in Jesus as our Savior, we are intimately joined with him. His Father is our Father, and just as God ultimately answered his Son’s prayers for deliverance, he will answer ours too. Sometimes he miraculously delivers us from our current problems and trials. Sometimes he doesn’t. But in any case, we can be confident that God is working all things to bring us ultimate deliverance.

So next time you feel stuck, next time you are hard pressed and in anguish, cry out to your heavenly Father. Cry out trusting that the Lord hears and answers your prayers. Know that because of Jesus, you can say, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.”

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, when I feel like I am stuck and in anguish I feel life’s difficulties and problems pressing down, help me to trust in you and your unfailing deliverance. Through Jesus my Savior. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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And now the LORD says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—he 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 49:5–6

Small Things

Daily Devotion – January 10, 2018

Devotion based on Isaiah 49:5–6

See series: Devotions

A leading expert on stress, cardiologist Robert Eliot, gives the following prescription for dealing with stress: Rule No. 1 is—don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule No. 2 is—it’s all small stuff.

Looking back at your celebrations of Christmas and New Year’s, do you feel like so much of what you did was hurried and stress-filled, yet ultimately all small stuff? The gifts you gave and got, the gatherings you were part of, and the games you watched really were not that big of a deal. Still, you stressed over the giving, gatherings and games.

Perhaps you are even feeling remorseful regret over having not made more of a season filled with opportunities for witness and worship. If you have sinned through selfish indulgence; if you have sinned through wasted worship times or by worshipping games and players at the price of worshipping the God of glory, then behold, “I bring you tidings of great joy which will be for all the people.”

Entering our small lives is the Lord for whom salvation for his special people Israel was “too small a thing.” Entering our lives is the God of greatness and glory—the God of our salvation—Jesus servant of the Lord. Jesus is the designated Savior who is a light for the Gentiles which is 99.8% of the world’s population. Jesus is the one who brings salvation to the ends of the earth. He came to rescue the world from sin.

That means he brings salvation to the homes of those who gathered, gifted and watched games until they had their fill, but let Christmas and Christ pass by with little notice. It is a new year and it is not too late to shake things up and change. It is not too late to reflect upon the smallness of life here and the greatness of life hereafter.

The game-changer is Jesus. His plan and purpose is to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. His plan is to gather us to himself. Don’t settle for small when you can marvel at great!

Prayer:
Gracious God, we marvel at the task you laid upon your Son to rescue and save us all. By the Spirit, cause us to embrace and receive that salvation as our own. 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.

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Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.
2 Peter 3:15a

Patience

Daily Devotion – January 9, 2018

Devotion based on 2 Peter 3:15a

See series: Devotions

There’s an old Jewish story about Abraham. Abraham was sitting outside his tent when an old, weary man came by. Abraham invited him in and fixed him a meal. As they sat down to eat, however, the old man dived right into his food without even a prayer.

“Don’t you believe in God?” asked Abraham. “No,” the man replied. Indignant, Abraham sent the man away without another word.

Later, the Lord came to Abraham. “Where’s the stranger?” the Lord asked. “Lord, he did not believe in you, and so I sent him away.” And the Lord replied, “Abraham, I’ve been patient with that man for eighty years. Couldn’t you be patient with him for one night?”

It’s just a non-biblical story, of course. Nevertheless, it does illustrate a very biblical truth. Before we get too far into the new year, take a moment to look back into the old. How many times did you and I come up with noble-sounding reasons for giving in to raw impatience towards others? How I treated that new co-worker who was just learning the ropes? How I treated the nurses at the hospital when they were clearly short-staffed? How I treated my elderly parent who tends to repeat things?

How many times, under the guise of righteous indignation, did you and I write off the souls around us—the souls of those who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior from sin?

Thank God that he has been patient with us. Thank God that he brings us to repentance again and again. Thank God that he comes to us with his forgiveness in Jesus again and again. As Peter says to us, it’s the Lord’s patience that means salvation.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your patience in my life. Thank you for your forgiveness of my sins in Jesus. Strengthen my resolve to demonstrate patience towards 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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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A voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:11

Proud or Pleased

Daily Devotion – January 8, 2018

Devotion based on Mark 1:11

See series: Devotions

Ken was always proud of his son. His academic and athletic achievements spoke for themselves. At the same time, Ken was not always pleased with his son. There were numerous indiscretions which made Ken question his son’s judgment.

What Ken experienced with his son, God the Father also experiences with me. He can be proud of me as part of his wonderful creation. He can be proud of the way I strive to follow his law written in my heart. At the same time, he is not always pleased with me. My willful disobedience, my poor judgment, and my selfish choices regularly become a source of displeasure. As a result, God has every right to abandon me and let me deal with disastrous outcomes of my life.

When God could have subjected me to his divine displeasure, he showed his love instead. This moved him to send his Son into my world. Jesus became my substitute to do what I could never do. He secured God the Father’s good pleasure by living a sinless life and perfectly accomplishing everything his Father commanded. God signaled his acceptance of his perfectly obedient Son when he said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

God was more than proud. He proclaimed Jesus had come to accomplish the impossible on my behalf. Through faith in Jesus and in his perfect, pleasing life, God now credits me with what Jesus did. God the Father now says to me through Jesus, “I am well pleased with you.”

This precious work on the part of my Savior releases me from the burden of trying to please God on my own. It also frees me from the horror of not measuring up to his divine standards. It finally moves me to live my life in loving service to the praise of my God and Savior. What a comfort it is to know God is more than proud of me; he is pleased with me through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, Heavenly Father, I can only disappoint you with my rebellious and selfish ways. How blessed I am to know the comfort of forgiveness and the joy of perfect obedience through faith in Jesus my Savior. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” This is what God the Lord says—he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
Isaiah 42:1-7

Justice

Daily Devotion – January 7, 2018

Devotion based on Isaiah 42:1-7

See series: Devotions

React to this statement: “The Lord will bring justice to the nations; he will establish justice on earth.”

If you are focused on all the evil and atrocities in the world and society, you are probably cheering, “Finally, the wicked will receive their ‘just deserts.’ Finally, some fairness.”

I get your applause. I can’t stand the evil either. But be careful of sounding and acting like a Pharisee. Because, if you are focused on the real evil and atrocities in life, you’d search your own heart. With an honest search, I don’t imagine you are as excited about justice coming. Justice strikes grave fear because we know the evil of our heart deserves the grave. Justice coming to others is one thing. But justice coming to us is the scariest thing.

But when you read about “justice” in Isaiah 42:1-7, do you read anything about destruction? Do you read anything about fire and brimstone? Do you read anything about hell? No. Rather you read about a Servant, chosen by God, to bring a different justice than you would expect.

This servant doesn’t bully you into a corner, start yelling at you, and beat you up, like you might expect. He doesn’t make you feel worse than you already feel. If you are broken because of your sin, he doesn’t break you more. If you feel like your faith is dying out, he doesn’t extinguish it for you. Instead he treats you with gentleness and care.

• He opens your eyes to his sacrificing love on a cross where he received your “just deserts.”
• He frees you from your prison sentence of hell by having been sentenced himself.
• He brightens your life with the promise of paradise.

This servant has a name. His name is Jesus. His name is his message to you: “The Lord saves.” That’s his promise.

Prayer:
Dear Lord God, thank you for choosing Jesus to be my Savior. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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.

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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2

Follow the Signs

Daily Devotion – January 6, 2018

Devotion based on Matthew 2:1-2

See series: Devotions

“Lord, give me a sign!” Often this request accompanies my prayers. Give me a sign that you’re listening. Give me a sign that you care about me. Give me a sign which inspires my trust in you. There is only one minor complication. Even if the Lord does provide a sign, I may not always understand it or pay attention to it.

Take the Magi who came from the east. They saw the star. They investigated what it meant. Still, when they arrived in Jerusalem, they had to ask the question, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” Their experience led them to realize a sign can only take one so far.

This is why the Lord has provided his Word of Truth. Not only does it offer much needed signs, it also provides the direction which says, “Look here!” This is what eventually brought the Magi to Bethlehem to see the Savior God had provided for all people. It also led them to worship him as their Lord and Savior.

I need to learn from their experience. While it would be nice to request and receive a sign, the Lord gives me something even more reliable. In his Word I have his unbroken promise of a Savior. In his Word I have the faithful fulfillment of that promise in the birth of the Savior. In the same Word I have the comfort and peace of sins forgiven through the death and resurrection of that Savior.

Still the Lord doesn’t leave me without signs which reveal Jesus is that Savior. He leads me to the stable and the manger to see the birth of Jesus. He leads me through the hills and valleys of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria to witness the miraculous ministry of Jesus. He even leads me to the cross on Calvary and the empty tomb to view the undeserved love secured by Jesus.

How blessed I am to have God’s precious Word which tells me about Jesus. How blessed I am to have the clear signs which direct me to Jesus. This is why I pray: Lord, focus my eyes to see the great things you have done; open my ears to hear the truth you have recorded; fill my heart with faith to follow every sign you have provided.

Prayer:
O gracious Lord, give me the faith I need to trust your holy Word. There not only do I see my Savior and the great things he has done for me, I also see the great signs and wonders which lead me to put my trust in him. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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.

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Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:13

Stay Focused

Daily Devotion – January 5, 2018

Devotion based on 1 Peter 1:13

See series: Devotions

It is getting more difficult to be focused. Have you noticed this? Our modern world is filled with distractions. For example: You are in the middle of an important conversation with a friend when you hear a familiar bing from your phone. You know someone has sent you a text. Who sent it? What does it say? The curiosity is killing you. Suddenly, you are no longer listening to a thing your friend is saying. You have lost your focus.

When you lose your focus during a conversation with your friend, it can be embarrassing and frustrating for your friend. When you lose your focus spiritually, it is more than embarrassing. It is dangerous.

The devil knows this. It is why he works so doggedly to distract us. He wants us to take our eyes off the prize. He wants us to forget what is most important. And it doesn’t matter to him what he uses to distract us. If he can get us to lose our focus, he may eventually be able to get us to lose our faith. And then he will have us forever.

Do not let this happen! Do not lose your focus! That is what the apostle Peter seems to shout when he writes, “Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” In other words, stay focused! Remember what is important! In the end, only your relationship with Jesus matters. Do not let yourself be distracted!

Take Peter’s encouragement into this new year. Make Jesus your priority. And no matter what the devil uses to distract you…stay focused!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that nothing is more important than my relationship with you. But I also know how easily I am distracted. Grant me the strength and focus to keep this from happening this year, and every year, until you take me home to 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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

A Prayer to Begin a New Year

Daily Devotion – January 4, 2018

Devotion based on Psalm 90:12

See series: Devotions

I remember my grandpa telling me, “The older you get, the faster the years pass by.” As a ten-year-old this was just one of those puzzling things that older people said that really didn’t make much sense. How could time go faster or slower? How could years speed up and slow down?

We’ve just entered a new year. Whether this is the 98th time you’ve changed calendars or just the 27th, you are one day closer to the end of your life here on earth. A couple of verses earlier, the writer of this psalm wrote, “The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away (Psalm 90:10). Whether they knew it or not, the 70’s progressive rock band, Kansas, was simply summarizing a truth taught throughout Scripture when they sang, “All we are is dust in the wind.” We are here one moment and blown away with the breeze the next.

So, what does this mean for us? Is the point to simply make the most of every moment recognizing that our time is short? Should we just eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die? Or should we just despair over the ever-shortening length of time we have left? No, none of these are real solutions. Instead we can pray, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Numbering our days means acknowledging that our time is short. It means not pretending that we are immortal, and will somehow escape death. But God doesn’t encourage us to number our days, just so we are aware of how little time we have. He wants us to do this so that “we may gain a heart of wisdom.” He wants us to look away from ourselves to his compassion and mercy, because it is there we will find true wisdom. It is there we will find wisdom born in a manger in Bethlehem. In Jesus we find forgiveness, salvation, and new life. In him our lives are charged with meaning and purpose, no matter how short they may seem right now. This is a prayer to begin the New Year:

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12

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.

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