Category: Daily Devotions

[Jesus said to them] “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.”
Luke 16:19-21

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Daily Devotion – September 26, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 16:19-21

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There was a rich man whose life appeared perfectly fabulous in every way. He wore the finest clothes, and every meal was a feast.

There was a poor man whose life appeared perfectly miserable in every way. His clothes were dull. He never had enough to eat.

The poor man’s name was Lazarus. Though the world did not know him as anything special, God knew him well. And Lazarus knew his God well. It was in God that he trusted, in spite of his circumstances. So, while it looked like he had nothing, in God, Lazarus had everything.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Your eyes may see a nobody, someone overlooked or forgotten, but Jesus knows your name, and he has your number! Your eyes may see someone whose life is defined by countless bad decisions, but Jesus has already done all things well for you and purified you completely with his blood. Your eyes may see someone who is struggling, but you are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you. It may feel, at times, like you have nothing, but in Jesus, you have everything.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see my wealth and my worth 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, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

Money Makes No Promises

Daily Devotion – September 25, 2022

Devotion based on Hebrews 13:5

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Define financial stability. Is it having enough money to purchase needs or also the wants? How much savings determines stability—$1,000? $10,000? $1,000,000? Defining financial stability is not so easy.

No matter how we define it, a time of financial instability can be unnerving. When money is tight, the dreams can be dashed. But it is not just dreams that need money. For most, money buys the basics of food, clothes, and shelter. How devastating it is if earthly needs can’t be met from lack of funds. Whether it’s funding dreams or daily needs, the money we thought would always be there can fail us.

There is someone, however, who will never fail us. God has promised in his Word never to forsake those who are his own. In fact, God specifically tells us that we ought not place our trust in money, which can fail, but in him, who never fails. Whether we have $1,000,000 or $1, God will not turn his back on those he loves.

No, God has not promised that he will give us everything we want. But he has promised to supply us with everything we need. He has promised to see us through the hard times. And he proved his promise by sending his own Son, Jesus Christ, to forgive the sins of the world. God loved you and me so much he saved us from the eternal punishment our sins deserved. He also loves us enough to provide for us when money is tight.

Money can make no promises. God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Prayer:
Dear God, give me what I need for my daily life. Keep me from a love for things that gets in the way of my love for you. When tough times come, strengthen my trust that you will be with me and that you will provide. 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] “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Luke 16:13

Merciless Master

Daily Devotion – September 24, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 16:13

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We tend to live urgently. Deadlines, high-priority messages, and target dates have many of us working at an unsustainable pace. When we finally catch our breath, we wonder how we’ll survive the next big push.

Pressing deadlines and demanding supervisors make it challenging to have a life outside of work. Often, we try to do two things at once—or more! We bring our phones to the dinner table. We reply to emails during soccer games. Even when we’re finally unplugged, date night is ruined by the overflow of office stress. What is the return on our investment? Divided attention, disappointment, and sometimes even divorce. Our closest relationships suffer the most when work and life are not properly aligned.

So why do we live this way? Money is enticing because it offers potential. If we had more, we could do more. More money means a better house or car. To us, better stuff means a better life.

Jesus warns that money is a merciless master. Serving money will destroy you because it always demands more. More of your time. More of your skills. More of your energy. More of you.

Money wants exactly what God wants—you. That’s why Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and money.”

Moved by our Lord’s unconditional love, our eyes will be locked on Jesus; not on our hectic schedules. Our closest relationships can blossom because work and eternal life are properly aligned. Even when the pace quickens, God directs our focus heavenward and transforms our attitudes toward the temporal. We’re content with our present circumstances. We’re excited about our eternal future. We rest without anxiety. In Christ, we enjoy unmatched peace.

Prayer:
Lord of life, you continue to take care of all my needs. Thank you. Give me peace and fulfillment as I serve you in my workplace, my home, and my community. 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.

Command those who are rich in this present world . . . to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous.
1 Timothy 6:17,18

Rich

Daily Devotion – September 23, 2022

Devotion based on 1 Timothy 6:17,18

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Imagine the apostle Paul has just stepped forward into our 21st Century society. He has received a detailed description of the typical standard of living for Christians who live in a modern civilization. He’s learned all about our conveniences: access to medical care, ease of travel, varieties of food, freshly squeezed orange juice in the dead of winter, closets of clothes, garages of cars, indoor climate control, family trips, net assets, investments, retirement plans, our income that’s often so disposable we may think nothing of “going out for a bite to eat” simply because we can.

Then, with Paul knowing what he knows about us, you and I stand before him and clear our throats. We then try to explain to him that the Word of God in our reading that speaks “to those who are rich in this present world” does not apply to us.

The vast majority of us—in comparison to most parts of the world and in past standards of living—are among the materially rich. That is not wrong in and of itself. We give thanks to a lavish God for it. But in light of this lavish treatment, let’s confess to our Lord and to each other all the time you and I have failed to demonstrate heartfelt generosity in its many forms. Let’s also confess all the times we have talked ourselves into thinking that we cannot afford to be generous; that generosity is meant for someone else.

Thank God that we are even richer in another way. We are rich in God’s grace. We are rich in God’s overwhelming forgiveness of our every sin through faith in the blood of Christ. That makes us truly rich, eternally blessed.

How to thank such a generous God? “Be rich in good deeds,” Paul tells us, “be generous.” And we can do so joyfully. For doing this, we are simply giving shouts of praise to God for what he’s already given to us.

Prayer:
Lord, by your gospel, displace the stinginess of my old self with generosity and joy. 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.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap . . . For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
1 Timothy 6:9,10

Trap

Daily Devotion – September 22, 2022

Devotion based on 1 Timothy 6:9,10

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A man by the name of Hansie Cronje [pronounced HAHN-see CROHN-yah] is not familiar to many of us. In South Africa, where the game of cricket is a dominant sport, Hansie Cronje was a household name. Imagine a person with the superstar talent of a Michael Jordan, the universal popularity of a Tom Hanks, and the integrity of an Abraham Lincoln all rolled into one. In the 1990s, when racial divisions were fierce, black and white citizens alike revered Hansie, a white man, for his sense of fairness and his strength of character.

Therefore, when a report with evidence appeared that Hansie was taking money for match-fixing, almost everyone dismissed the report as outrageous. His reputation for honesty was impeccable. How could anyone even suggest such a thing?

A few days later, however, Hansie cracked. He confessed that the substance of the report was true. Later, in a legal hearing televised live to the nation, Hansie told what he had done. He also answered the question: “Why?” The reason he gave was simple. It was, he said, “an unfortunate love of money.” Authorities later banned Hansie Cronje from cricket for the rest of his life. He died in a plane crash two years later.

Hansie was honest as to the trap into which he had fallen. God’s Word, through the apostle Paul, is honest too. Across the centuries, Paul is looking us straight in the eye when he speaks to us. The love of money has always been a trap for our fallen, sinful natures. In our culture that is materialistic and money-centered, the trap is insidious. But such a trap cannot just ruin reputations and careers. Far more lethal, such a trap can pull the soul away from our Savior-God.

Are you in such a trap? Even now, Jesus reaches for you. He calls you to repentance. Be refreshed in his forgiveness purchased at Calvary’s cross. Be empowered to replace your love of money with God’s love for you in Christ.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I think about money so much, and think about you so little. Forgive me. Refresh me in your Spirit. Dominate my thoughts once again. 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.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:8

Contentment

Daily Devotion – September 21, 2022

Devotion based on 1 Timothy 6:8

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Many years ago, in the Far East, there was a man named Ali. Ali owned a farm, and he was content. However, one day someone told him about diamonds. Ali, therefore, started on an extensive journey in search of diamonds. He never found them. In the process he had to sell his farm to cover his expenses. So when all was said and done, Ali died a penniless and broken man.

Meanwhile, back at Ali’s old farm—the new owner of the farm was getting settled. He brought his camel to a stream on the farm for a drink. As the camel drank, the man looked into the stream and noticed a stone that reflected sunlight in a dazzling way. The man had just discovered the diamond mine of Golcanda, one of the most magnificent mines in the world.

The story reminds us of our lives as Christians. In our 21st Century society, we receive constant messages that tell us not to be content with what we already possess. Through television, radio, print, and the staggering array of social media, a massive advertising industry is at work not only to convince us to purchase a certain product; it is at work to shape our very view of life. Therefore, it should not surprise us that one of the great temptations for you and me is not to be content.

But here’s the problem. When the lack of contentment pushes us to wander away—always consuming, upgrading, and searching for the next new thing—we abandon the treasure we already possess.

Our treasure is Jesus and his gospel. His perfect life lived in our place, and his death on the cross for our sins has given us riches beyond our wildest dreams. Through his Holy Spirit, God himself is now ours, and we are his. We now possess his every promise to take care of us personally. And it is that very treasure that empowers us to display true contentment and remember the treasure we have.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive my lack of contentment. Refresh me in your gospel. Remind me of what I have. 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.

They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:20

Reflections

Daily Devotion – September 20, 2022

Devotion based on Ecclesiastes 5:20

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A question. If Satan were to get you to reflect on your life, what kinds of reflections would they be?

Reflections from Satan might include the following: I made it. I’m a success. I’ve done what I set out to do. I’m now enjoying the things that make life worth living. On the other hand, reflections from Satan might also include thoughts like these: My life is a disappointment. I should have achieved so much more. I cannot forget the people who’ve hurt me, and I cannot forget all the people I’ve let down.

Such reflections from Satan have one thing in common. They all focus on the self. They all fail to acknowledge the reality of our Savior-God.

The story of your life is not you in a vacuum. It includes your Creator-God loving you so much that he chose to mount a rescue mission to save you from yourself. To do this, God became one of us. In the person of Jesus, he lived the kind of life you know that you should have lived. Then he took upon himself all the ways you have let him down and blotted them out for all time through his blood on the cross.

And now he lives. He lives to delight in you. He delights in you because, through faith in him, you are forgiven, cleansed, precious in his sight. And because you are, he has saturated your every moment in this life with a kind of significance and purpose that nothing else can match.

You are God’s special creation through faith in his Son, Jesus. He is using every moment of your life to carry out his good will in your corner of his Kingdom. He sees your fruits of faith. He employs your fruits of faith. Regardless of your outward circumstance, what you do matters. It matters because God himself is working through you.

In Jesus, you and I can shake off the distracting reflections that Satan tries to slip us. In Jesus, God keeps us occupied with gladness of heart.

Prayer:
Lord, when Satan slips his reflections into my mind, replace them with gladness of heart 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.

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.
Ecclesiastes 5:13

The Hoard

Daily Devotion – September 19, 2022

Devotion based on Ecclesiastes 5:13

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His name is Lonnie. When the cameras first enter his home, Lonnie is all smiles. Lonnie is the owner of a massive collection of Las Vegas memorabilia, and he is proud of it. His inventory of artifacts is so large that it fills three large buildings—including his own house. Neon signs, clothing from famous performers, giant statues—Lonnie has it all and more.

Several minutes into Lonnie’s tour, you sense that all is not well. During the tour, Lonnie’s wife, Sandy, comes along. Sandy is quiet and pleasant but also clearly troubled. In time, the truth comes out. After years of feeding his impulse to hoard, Lonnie has put them in debt. Even worse, his passion for collecting has begun to dominate everything else—even his family relationships.

It might be easy to dismiss Lonnie as an eccentric and to congratulate ourselves for not being so over-the-top. But let’s think again. True, few of us have three buildings filled with all things Vegas. However, perhaps, I am guilty of hoarding too. In other words, perhaps I’m guilty of taking something that’s fine in and of itself but hoarding it to such a degree that it twists my priorities. For example, I may hoard a favorite hobby, my children’s athletic schedules and dance classes, my weekends, movies on Netflix, or money.

As God’s Word warns in Ecclesiastes chapter five, anything of this world—even something that’s good in and of itself—anything of this world that I hoard will bring me harm. It will bring harm because such a hoard will put distance between my Savior and myself.

But Jesus does not abandon me to my sinful impulses. Instead, he pursues me, calls me to repentance, and embraces me in his gospel. He assures me that, through faith in the blood shed for me on Calvary’s cross, I am forgiven; and I am his. He refreshes me to remember that life is not what I hoard in this world. Rather, my life is Christ.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, my life is not what I hoard. My life is you. Help me remember this. 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.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6: 6-9

Contentment

Daily Devotion – September 18, 2022

Devotion based on 1 Timothy 6: 6-9

See series: Devotions

Few things are more difficult to attain than contentment. No matter how much we have, we would like more. And when we are not content, we are miserable. Even worse, our Bible passage for today says, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

We don’t want that. What we want it to be content. The apostle Paul told his young friend Timothy that godliness with contentment is great gain. When we are content with what God has given us—knowing that everything we have is an undeserved gift from him, knowing that he was willing to sacrifice his own Son for our sins and assure us of eternal life when his Son was raised from the dead—when we are content with these great gifts, it is a great gain for us. We are happier, lighter on our feet, less jealous, and more joyful. Isn’t that great?

Prayer:
Lord, let me see all the blessings you have showered on me so that I am content. Amen.

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

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them . . . “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Luke 15:1-3,7

Recognizing Your Sin

Daily Devotion – September 17, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 15:1-3,7

See series: Devotions

He was almost forced off the road and muttered, “How could anyone drive so recklessly?” She read about the senseless murder and muttered, “How could anyone be so brutal?” After seeing another politician or athlete confess a sin, we mutter, “How could they lie, take performance-enhancing drugs, text such lewd photos?”

Luke 15 is a great chapter about the lost—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. It begins with some muttering. Awful sinners had gathered around Jesus to hear his message. But some of the religious elite muttered. They wondered how Jesus could welcome “sinners” into his presence and even sit down for a meal with them. If Jesus were truly God, he would know who they were. He’d know better than to associate with them.

But those “sinners” were people who recognized their sin. Those “sinners” understood how awful they had been, how they had hurt people and said shameful words. They knew they were sinners who needed the forgiving love of Jesus.

How different those sinners were from the religious elite who thought they were so good that they didn’t need the forgiving love of the Savior, Jesus, who was right there in their presence.

When you’re tempted to mutter, don’t be judgmental about the sins of others. Repent of your sin. Rejoice in that Savior who came to forgive the sins of “sinners” no matter who they are, even sinners like you and me. Give the angels a reason to rejoice in your repentance, rather than shake their heads in dismay over your judgmental self-righteousness.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, keep me from being judgmental. Help me to repent of my sin humbly and daily. Help me to rejoice in your forgiving love for lost sinners, even sinners like 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.