Category: Daily Devotions

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 in front of the Lamb. . . . And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” . . . 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; . . . Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. . . . And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:9-17 (selected verses)

Sing the Song of the Saints

Daily Devotion – May 17, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9-17 (selected verses)


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One of the most requested songs at funerals is Frank Sinatra’s, “My Way.” It is the deceased person’s way of saying they lived the way they wanted with no one telling them what to do.

Is that your song? Or does your song echo that of the saints in heaven? In the apostle John’s vision he heard them singing, “Salvation belongs to our God, … and to the Lamb.” Followers of Christ don’t boast in themselves. They boast in their Savior-God. Jesus is the only thing that matters in this life. Only he has provided deliverance from sin, all fears, and a hopeless future.

And who benefits? A select few? No! John saw, “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language.”

It’s not easy to sing the song of the saints. It’s easy to lose heart in this wicked world. The saints in heaven know it. They are those “who have come out of the great tribulation.” But what do those saints have to say to us? “Hang in there!”

How? Don’t rely on yourself. Trust in him who is truly wise and powerful. God gives you the strength to handle whatever you’re suffering.

Just remember that your suffering doesn’t begin to compare to what’s waiting for you in heaven. From tribulation to triumph. Hang in there. Heaven is worth it!

Prayer:
Give me strength, Lord, when life gets hard. Keep me focused on the glory you have waiting for me in heaven together with all your saints. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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 7:17

No More Tears

Daily Devotion – May 16, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:17


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When was the last time you cried? Our tears can flow for so many different reasons. Perhaps the pain of serious injury was so overwhelming that you could not help but cry. It could be that the recent loss of a loved friend or family member has left you in such a state that the tears seem to pour out at the smallest of memories. Maybe a broken relationship has left you crying tears of loneliness. And sometimes, we cry for no apparent reason at all. There is a reason why life in this world is often referred to as a ‘vale of tears.’ So many things can cause the tears to flow, and we all realize that it is only a matter of time until they flow again.

What if there were a place where you would never cry again? A place with no sorrow or sadness, no loneliness or fear. A place where people cannot and do not cry at all. A place of only joy and peace. Would you be pleased to know that such a place does exist? It is true. It is a place called heaven, and it is the most wonderful place you could ever imagine. There will be no more cause for tears. And right now, even as you read this devotion, Jesus is preparing a place there for all who believe in him.

You see, Jesus knew what it was like to live in this world. He, too, felt the pain of loss. He also shed tears at the death of a close friend. Not only can he sympathize when we feel such pain and sorrow, but he also has the power to bring such tears to an end. So that you and I could live forever in a tear-free place, Jesus came to this earth to live and die as our substitute. His death on the cross paid for our sins, and his resurrection from the grave has conquered death for us. Through faith in him, we are no longer destined for eternal pain and sorrow but are on the way to heaven, where we will live with him in eternal joy.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for preparing such a wonderful heaven for us. I can’t wait to join you there. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

The Biggest Crowd

Daily Devotion – May 15, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9,10


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On February 9, 2025 over 65,000 people gathered to watch Super Bowl 59. Can you imagine being in the same building with that many people? What a huge crowd! Such large crowds can be exciting. A stadium full of people all cheering and chanting together can be an exhilarating experience. The noise level can be deafening. For many, being in such a crowd is the experience of a lifetime.

No earthly crowd can match the crowd in heaven. Far more than 65,000, the mass of people in heaven will be beyond counting. And it is a crowd that will not be limited to one group of people. Rather, people from all over will come together to worship the Lord who has saved them. And this crowd of people in heaven will have their own cheer to shout: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” The group of believers in heaven will worship Jesus, who has saved them from sin, death, and hell. They will rejoice and celebrate his gift of salvation for all eternity. This crowd will never disperse and go home. This crowd will never worry about whether they are on the winning side. Thanks to Jesus and his life, death, and resurrection, the victory is ours!

The main purpose of life here is to make sure to be in that crowd when the Last Day comes. Entry will not be granted through an electronic ticket on your phone, nor can one sneak in through the gate. Faith in Jesus alone provides our entrance into heaven to join the crowd of believers praising God for all eternity. Believe in your Savior, Jesus, who died for you.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you have saved the world from sin and will one day gather the crowd of believers to go to heaven with you. Keep me in faith and help me be ready for that day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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] “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:28-30

Safe in His Hands

Daily Devotion – May 14, 2025

Devotion based on John 10:28-30


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Action movies often portray the hero leaning over the edge of a cliff or hanging over the side of a helicopter, and in their grip is the hand of a friend or family member. The suspense builds as the person hangs just moments away from a certain death. Explosions threaten to break the hold. The person’s grip starts to weaken, and one hand slowly slides out of the other. The audience holds their collective breath as they wait to see whether the hero will save the other person or whether they will plunge to their death on the rocks below.

Do you ever feel like that person hanging on for dear life as you go through life? Do you ever feel like maybe one slip, and it will all come crashing down? So many things in this world threaten to pull us down forever—greed, lies, immorality, depression, addiction, and debt. So many sins and their consequences can threaten daily. We try to hold on tighter, but we need to realize that there is only one who has a strong enough grip to keep us safe and secure forever.

His name is Jesus. He is the only one who successfully made it through this life without sin. He is the only one who died to set us free from sin. He is the only one who can get us safely home to heaven. So, make sure that the hand you are tightly hanging onto is his. There is nothing stronger in this world than him, and he will never tire of hanging on to you. He will not let you go. Hang onto him in faith and trust his promises. No one and nothing can snatch you out of his hand.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, hang onto me today as I strive to live for you. Keep me safe. Never let me go. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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] “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27

So Many Voices

Daily Devotion – May 13, 2025

Devotion based on John 10:27


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Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes I want to take my smartphone and throw it in the lake or run over it with my truck. Wouldn’t that be nice? How refreshing it would be to get rid of all the pings, vibrations, and chirps that come from our devices every time we get a text, an email, or a like on one of our posts. How wonderful it would be to talk to someone without them checking their smartwatch every time a message comes in. How amazing it would be in a moment of free time to not automatically reach for the phone and start mindlessly scrolling.

But we can’t do it, can we? There are so many voices that demand our time and attention. So many people with things to text and say and post. So many influencers who want a moment of our time. So many talking heads who demand that we hear all about their take on politics or events of the day. And is it also possible that we are desperately afraid that we will miss something important?

In such a world as ours, it can be so easy to lose track of the one voice we ought to be listening to. There is only one voice of truth in this world. In a world of salesmen, influencers, and political pundits, there is only one voice that speaks the truth about getting from this world to the next. In a world that claims to be spiritual but not religious; in a world that argues for no absolute truth; there is one voice who claims to be, “the way, the truth and the life.” And it is the voice of the one who died for you. Jesus died on the cross to pay for every one of your sins and rose from the dead to guarantee that through faith in him, you will also one day rise to eternal life in heaven. His voice is different from all the rest, and it is a voice that wants to lead you home.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, in a world full of voices, help me to listen to yours. Enable me to follow you all the way to heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”
Acts 13:38,39

Free From Sin

Daily Devotion – May 12, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 13:38,39


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At the time of this writing, large snowflakes are falling quickly past my window. The biggest snow of the year so far has been predicted for today. Some area schools have been called off and some have not. Even now as an adult, I admit to wishing we had a snow day.

Do you remember how fun snow days were? For many students that was always the best day of the year. Having a snow day meant we were set free: free from sitting in class and taking notes, free from homework, and free from rules. We were free to sleep in, build a snow fort, or play video games all day long. The only negative about the snow day is that it would come to an end and the next day meant being back in captivity.

We were all at one point subject to a far worse captivity than school. The Bible teaches that each of us entered this world with an inherited sinful nature. In fact, we were slaves to that nature. As a result, we often do the things we know we shouldn’t do. We also fail to do the things we know we should do. And then our conscience kicks in and we are riddled with guilt and shame and that sinking feeling that nothing we do is ever going to be good enough to make up for all that sin.

Thankfully, in Jesus, we have been “set free from every sin.” Even better than a snow day, through faith in Jesus, we have been given the gift of eternal life in heaven. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has set us free from sin and guilt and the need to earn our salvation. We are his forgiven children and are now free to serve him in our lives out of thankfulness for all he has done for us.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for setting me free from sin. Help me to use this wonderful freedom to serve you in my life. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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 came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 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 will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:22-30

No Riddles

Daily Devotion – May 11, 2025

Devotion based on John 10:22-30


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Riddles can be used to strengthen the way you think. They can also be aggravating if you don’t have the answer. Many of the people who listened to Jesus saw him as a riddle. They couldn’t figure out if he was the Christ God had promised to send or not. So finally, they came up to ask him. “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” No more mystery, no more cloak and dagger. They wanted a straight answer.

Jesus gave them a straight answer. “I did tell you.” He did perform miracles in their presence. He did reveal who he was as he taught the crowds who followed him. The problem is that they rejected the miracles and words Jesus spoke to them. They did not believe Jesus as he proclaimed, that he was the Son of God.

Do not become like those people who gathered around Jesus. Do not begin to think that Jesus doesn’t give a clear answer about who he is or what he came to do. There is no riddle. Jesus also speaks plainly to you. He is God; he stated, “I and the Father are one.” He came to save you from your sins; he came to give you eternal life. Jesus doesn’t speak in riddles about who he is or what he came to do. He speaks plainly to you, his sheep, so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

Listen to the clear words of Jesus. Hold on to them in faith. And look with hope to the eternal life he brings.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I give thanks that you have given me life through Jesus, your Son. Continue to preserve my faith until I am with you in heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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 I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:11,12

Truly Worthy of Praise

Daily Devotion – May 10, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 5:11,12


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Whom do you praise? Is it some college basketball team that wins repeated national championships? Is it the man who wears the green jacket? Does your praise go to your son or daughter for getting an “A” on a test or winning a blue ribbon at the art fair? No doubt lots of hard work and effort were put forth. Parents are proud of their children’s accomplishments. Fans rejoice in the victory. But step aside from all that and ask yourself, who truly is worthy of praise?

The apostle John records what he heard and saw in this vision of heaven. Before him are countless angels giving praise to Jesus alone. But it’s not just praise for praise’s sake. They let us know exactly why Jesus alone is worthy of praise. They call him “the Lamb who was slain.”

In the Old Testament Passover meal, a year-old spotless lamb was slaughtered. Its blood was painted on the doorposts in accordance with God’s command. Trusting in God, the Israelites followed these instructions, and the angel of death passed over their houses and were saved. This was a picture pointing forward to Jesus, the spotless and sinless Son of God.

Jesus shed his blood in our place to pay for all our sins. Because of his perfect sacrifice, the gates of heaven are open for all who believe. This is why Jesus alone is worthy of the angels’ praises as well as yours and mine.

Throughout each day, as you live your life according to his will, sing a song of praise to him who has forgiven all your sins and promised you eternal life in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord God, let my life be a song of praise to you, for you alone are worthy of praise. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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 I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:11,12

We See the One Who Deserves Our Praise

Daily Devotion – May 9, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 5:11,12


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Some years after his conversion, the apostle Paul found himself with an opportunity to speak about the resurrected Jesus to a crowd of philosophers in the great city of Athens. He began his message by mentioning how many objects of worship he had observed throughout their city. The Athenians were trying to cover their religious bases by having every deity known to man represented and honored in some way. Finally, in case they accidentally missed one, Paul observed that they even had an altar inscribed “To an unknown god.” He proclaimed to them that day that the one they were ignorant of wanted them to know him. The one true God calls all people everywhere to repent and to put their trust in his Son, Jesus, whom he raised from the dead.

Another disciple of Jesus, named John, was given a vision of God’s eternal throne room in heaven. Seated there in the center is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was killed as a sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. He rules from the throne, because he has been raised to life again and seated at the right hand of God the Father. From there, Jesus watches over his people, whom he bought with his own blood. One day, soon, he will return to earth to raise the dead, to judge mankind, and to bring his people home with him forever.

We are not called to worship some unknown and unknowable deity but to thank and praise the one who was willing to suffer and die for us. We want to give our best in service to him, and not just during a worship service on Sunday morning. Because Jesus our Savior lives, we see him as the one who deserves all our power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I will praise you as long as I live—and then on into eternity, because of your sacrificial love for me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 9:19-22

Because Jesus Lives, We Can Help Others See

Daily Devotion – May 8, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 9:19-22


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Saul didn’t waste any time. Within days of his conversion and baptism, he was preaching about Jesus as the living Son of God—the very one that a week earlier he had dismissed as a dead blasphemer and whose followers he doggedly pursued to silence at any cost. Now he had added his own voice to theirs.

Saul didn’t send anyone out to the road between Jerusalem and Damascus to convince them. He didn’t expect others to have the same encounter with the risen Jesus that he had had there. Nor did he seek to gather forensic evidence that the one who appeared to him was really Jesus. Rather, Saul took them to the Bible. He pointed them to the many Old Testament prophecies of God’s promised Messiah, and he reminded them of all the things that Jesus did or said or suffered that perfectly fulfilled every one of those promises.

Have you come to see Jesus as the Son of God and your Savior? Maybe you didn’t always see things that way. Maybe you even ridiculed the idea in your past. But now you see Jesus for who he is. He loved you when you were unlovable. He died to pay your debt of guilt and shame before God, and now he lives to assure you that you are forgiven. That truth, that powerful truth, burns inside you. Because Jesus lives, you can help others see that they too have a way out of the world of misery and hopelessness that they find themselves trapped in. An old hymn says, “If you cannot speak like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus. You can say he died for all.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open my mouth to tell others of the saving truth of your resurrection. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.