St. Johns News

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1,2

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

They were sawed in two. Flogged. Imprisoned. Mocked. Destitute. Wandering in deserts and mountains. And still, they kept going. The great cloud of witnesses, those who ran the race before you—testify to this important truth: Keep going.

You are running the same race. But you’re not alone in this race. The witnesses cheer you on. They remind you that suffering is not a sign of failure. It is the path of faith.

Consider Jesus. What must it have been like for him? He was slapped, spat on, mocked, and unjustly condemned—by the very people he came to save. He lived a perfect life, and yet he suffered the worst of deaths. Why? Because he couldn’t bear the thought of heaven without you.

You see, Jesus is not just a moral example. He is “the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” He authored your salvation and completed it. He didn’t just run the race; he finished it. He scorned the shame of the cross, endured it, and then sat down at the right hand of God. That’s not just a seat of honor. It’s a declaration: It is finished. Your salvation is complete.

So, keep going. Run with perseverance. Life as a Christian isn’t a quick sprint—it’s a grueling marathon. There will be agony: family that mocks, coworkers who snub, hearts that break, and sin that entangles. But don’t give up.

Fix your eyes on Jesus. When you face opposition, remember he faced worse for you. When you’re tempted to give up, remember the finish line. Jesus stands there, waiting. Not just cheering, but welcoming. You are the prize he endured for. He is the prize you press on for.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, save me from the sin that entangles me and fix my eyes on you. 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.

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[Jesus said] “From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Luke 12:52,53

Jesus is Worth the Loss

“Religion just causes division.” You’ve probably heard someone say that—maybe even experienced it for yourself. Faith in Christ is supposed to bring peace, isn’t it? So why does it sometimes divide families, sever friendships, and stir up such intense resistance?

Jesus doesn’t avoid that tension; he embraces it. He says plainly: “From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other.” This is not just any division—the kind that cuts straight through families: father against son, mother against daughter. The gospel can bring peace, but it can also tear people apart.

This is painful to hear and even more painful to experience. Jesus is telling you that following him will sometimes cost you the relationships that are closest to your heart. Not because you want division but because the gospel demands a response. Some will cling to Christ in faith. Others will reject him. And the closer they are to you, the more deeply it hurts.

But Jesus speaks these hard truths not to push you away—but to pull you closer. Because he knows something even deeper than your earthly bonds: his love for you is stronger than family ties. Strong enough to endure the agony of being forsaken by his own Father on the cross. Jesus allowed that perfect relationship to be broken so yours with God would be restored.

Yes, the gospel causes division. But it also gives you real peace with your Father in heaven. And if you must lose something to hold on to Jesus, even something as dear as a family relationship, know that what you gain in him is infinitely more: forgiveness, life, and a place in God’s family.

Prayer:

Son of God, give me faith that holds fast to you, no matter the loss. 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.

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[Jesus said] “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
Luke 12:49–51

The Peace That Divides

When Jesus was born, angels filled the sky outside Bethlehem and sang: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). Peace on earth. That’s what they promised. And we want to believe it.

So, Jesus’ words in today’s Bible passage can feel jarring: Fire? Division? What happened to peace?

The truth is that Jesus’ Word does not bring peace between all people. When the gospel is preached, it sets hearts ablaze. Some hear about God’s grace and believe, and others are offended to be told they are sinners who need saving. The same Word that brings life to one brings hostility to another. Following Christ may divide households, cost friendships, and stir up tension. Jesus does not hide that reality; he prepares us for it.

But this gospel is still good news. Jesus also says, “I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!” Here, Jesus is speaking figuratively of a baptism still to come. That baptism wasn’t with water. It was the flood of God’s judgment he would endure at the cross. He would be abandoned, pierced, and crushed—not for his guilt, but for ours.

And there, at the cross, the angel’s promise is fulfilled. Peace on earth—but not peace between nations or neighbors. Peace between sinners and a holy God.

So, when the angels lit up that night sky outside Bethlehem, they weren’t promising a world free of conflict. They were proclaiming something even greater: peace with God. That’s the peace that divides, but it also saves.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, when your Word causes division, help me cling to the peace you won for me at the cross. 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.

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“Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:29

God’s Word is Like a Hammer

It would be interesting to read through the Bible, imagining the sounds of hammers in the lives of people as God fulfilled his plan of salvation. For 120 years, the hammers of Noah’s family echoed through the valleys as the huge ark took shape. Moses’ hammer beat a sheet of bronze in the form of a snake, which saved the people when they looked to it and believed God’s promise. The most famous hammer sounds of history, though, took place on a hill outside of Jerusalem when a Roman soldier drove spikes into the hands and feet of Jesus. Little did that unidentified soldier know that he was dealing a death blow to Satan as he nailed Jesus to the cross. The blows of that hammer were the culmination of God’s plan to crush the devil’s power and free people from his dominion.

The crushing blow which Jesus gave to Satan by his death and resurrection resounds in the message of the gospel. This is the power of God for salvation. God’s Word is like a hammer. The Word of God recorded in the Bible has the power to lead people to saving faith in Jesus. Martin Luther wrote, “Although the Word is unimposing and seems to be nothing while it proceeds from the mouth, yet there is such boundless power in it that it makes all who cleave to it children of God.”

This is the confidence that we have in the Word: it does the work of bringing people to faith in Jesus and gives them eternal life. It can do these wonderful things because it is the inspired, errorless Word of God. When we tell people the Word of God, we don’t have to say, “I think” or “It could be.” We can assure people with the truth—God’s truth.

God wants us to get the Word out, and he will use it to produce results according to his will. God’s Word is the hammer that breaks apart the rock of unbelief and fills people with the confidence of eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Dear God, use your Word of Truth to give me assurance of my salvation through Jesus, and use me to speak your powerful Word to others. 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.

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After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:1-6

God Still Keeps His Promises

Abram (later known as “Abraham”) was down. God had made some awesome promises to him—that he’d become a great nation, his descendants would inherit the land of Israel, and most importantly, someday, the Savior would be one of his descendants. Amazing promises!

However, Abram had no children. How could he become a great nation if he didn’t have a child?

God allayed his fears and concerns. He took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

The word of God was fulfilled just as he promised. Later, God gave a son to Abram and his wife; they named him Isaac. Isaac gave birth to twin boys, and one of those, Jacob, ended up with twelve sons and a daughter, and the great nation had begun—the nation from whom Jesus would be born.

When you’re struggling, look up into the night sky. When you see all the stars, recall how God fulfilled his promise to Abram. Then, like Abram, believe God, who keeps his promises that he gives you in his Word.

Prayer:

O faithful God, remind me that you always keep your promises so that I might live in confidence and joy. 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.

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Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:4-6

When God’s Promises Feel Impossible

The Lord made great promises to Abram. He promised to give him the land of Canaan, that Abram’s name would be great, and that all people who blessed him would also be blessed. Abram was starting to see those promises come true, but there were other promises from God that Abram was having a hard time seeing.

God promised that all nations would be blessed through his offspring and that his descendants would be numerous. There was just one problem, Abram didn’t have any offspring yet. According to the custom of the time, Abram’s descendent would be his personal attendant.

But God assured Abram that he didn’t need to take matters into his own hands. God was in control, and God would give Abram a son from his own flesh and blood even though Abram and his wife were past the age of having children. That would be further proof that this was an act of God, not of man and that the Lord provides.

God’s promises are not always immediately visible, but they are always trustworthy. God promises peace, but you feel anxiety. God promises to take care of you, but you face financial crisis. God promises forgiveness, but you’re weighed down by guilt. God calls us to trust him, not our outward circumstances or feelings. Those things change, but God is constant. Even if it seems like God is slow in keeping a promise like to Abram to provide a son, God is faithful.

When we believe and trust God’s promises, God does the same thing for us that he did for Abram. He credits that trust as righteousness. God does that not because of how strong our faith is but because his promise is sure.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust your promises, even when I can’t see how they’ll come true. Strengthen my faith like Abram’s and remind me that your Word never fails. 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.

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After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Genesis 15:1

God Is Your Shield and Reward

In ancient times, it was common for conquering kings to exact a tribute from the people they conquered. For twelve years, kings from the east forced a tribute from the kings of Canaan, the promised land where Abram lived. Tributes were expensive and humiliating, so in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.

As you can imagine, the kings from the east were not happy. They wanted their tribute and came with their armies to get it. Again, they defeated the kings of Canaan. This time, they took hostages with them. One of those hostages was Abram’s nephew, Lot.

Abram took 318 of his soldiers and went after his nephew. Dividing his men, Abram attacked in the middle of the night, using darkness to confuse his enemies. The battle was an easy victory for Abram. He rescued Lot and returned home with the other hostages and the captured goods.

One king of Canaan offered all the goods as a reward to Abram. But Abram refused. God had promised to bless Abram, and Abram didn’t want any earthly king to say he was the one who made Abram rich.

After all this, the Lord came to Abram in a vision. God reminded Abram that he was his shield, the one who protected him in battle. Abram didn’t have to fear a revenge attack. God would protect him. God told Abram that he was his reward, not the goods and spoils of war. Abram didn’t make a mistake refusing that treasure. God was all the reward he needed.

We all have battles. It could be fear of the future. It could be pressure to compromise. It could be temptation to cling to things that look like rewards but don’t last. God’s message to Abram is his message to you. He is your shield. He is your reward. Don’t be afraid. The God of the universe calls himself your protector. You don’t have to chase earthly rewards when God offers himself to you. Through Jesus, God offers the ultimate rescue and reward—eternal life with him.

Prayer:

Lord, you are my shield and my reward. Help me to trust you more than my fears and to seek you above all else. 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.

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All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:13-16

No Turning Back

In 1519, the explorer Hernán Cortés arrived off the shore of modern-day Mexico. One of the first things he did was scuttle his ships. The message was clear. There was no going back. It ensured total commitment. The only path was forward.

That type of commitment is described in these verses. The people of faith lived as strangers and exiles on earth. They refused to settle or go back, trusting that God had something better. They looked forward to a promised city, a heavenly home. Letting go of earthly attachments, their hearts were anchored in the world to come.

What things do you need to scuttle in this world? It’s tempting to hold onto the idols of comfort, security, and pride. It’s easy to become attached to the pleasures and joys of this world. It’s hard to let go of sins that have become habits. You see these things right in front of you. You’re confronted with them every day, but the promises of God seem so far off.

But God promises a better country. The joys of God’s country far outweigh even the best this world has to offer. God calls you to trust something better: a perfect home, a forever kingdom, a place where sin, pain, and death are no more.

So don’t look back and don’t settle in. Trust in God’s promises and scuttle whatever it is that makes you attached to this world. The cross of Jesus has secured your citizenship in God’s heavenly kingdom. You can live with your eyes fixed on what’s ahead.

Prayer:

Lord, fix my eyes on the better country you’ve prepared. Help me let go of what holds me back and live each day by faith in your promises. Thank you for calling me your own. 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.

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[Jesus said] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:32-34

Free to Be Generous

There’s a lot of uncertainty in the economy. The summer of 2025 has turned into the summer of tariff wars. And not just tariffs but geopolitical strife and warfare play a part in the uncertainty, too. Will prices increase even more on everyday essentials? How will you make it work with a budget that already feels stretched to the max?

In these times, our natural reaction is to take and to preserve. My food. My gas. My supplies. We grab more than we give. We want to hoard rather than be generous. We let our fear of the unknown economy justify our stinginess.

But Jesus tells us to have a different mindset. “Do not be afraid.” God gives his followers the riches of heaven. He gives them the kingdom. He is not stingy. God doesn’t hold anything back.

God’s generosity frees us to be generous to others. Since God takes care of us, we can use our possessions to care for others. Instead of hoarding, Jesus invites us to live with a generous mindset. Since God has already given us the riches of heaven, we don’t have to cling so tightly to temporary treasures.

When we are generous, we are displaying trust and faith in God. We declare that our true treasure is in heaven. We know we have something that inflation, wars, and tariffs cannot touch or destroy. Because of Jesus, our treasure is secure.

We have that certainty because God treasures us. He sent his Son, his heart, to rescue us from death and damnation.

In uncertain times, don’t be afraid. We have God’s love, his kingdom, and the promise of eternal life. The proof? That’s in the cross of Christ and the empty tomb. God gave everything for you. You are his treasure.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for calling me your treasure and giving everything to make me yours. Free my heart from fear and teach me to trust your care. Help me live generously, knowing my true treasure is in you. 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.

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Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Luke 12:22-26

Do Not Worry

Love has a way of reordering how you think about things. Consider a recently married couple. Out of love, they think about each other’s wants and desires ahead of their own. Or how about welcoming a new child? The spare room is transformed into a carefully crafted nursery with a crib, diaper changing station, rocker, mobile, and video baby monitor. It is all designed out of love.

Jesus invites you to consider your place in God’s kingdom. Just as you would care for a spouse, an aging parent, a child, or a dear friend, God cares for you.

God created this world with you in mind. You don’t have to worry or be anxious. God knows your needs and will supply them. Jesus uses the example of a raven. They don’t have a storeroom for their food, and yet God feeds them. God oversees everything. He overlooks nothing.

God doesn’t just look after your physical needs but also your spiritual needs. He didn’t spare his only Son but gave Jesus for you. If God’s great love for you motivated him to send Jesus to rescue you from your sins, you can trust that God will take care of all your needs.

When worry starts to rise about money, health, the future, or the unknown, remember who is holding your life. If God feeds the ravens, how much more will he care for you, his beloved child? He has already provided for your greatest need in Jesus. You are not forgotten. Live each day with peace, knowing your Father in heaven sees you, knows you, and will provide.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust you, especially when worries weigh on my heart. Thank you for loving me enough to send Jesus. Teach me to rest in your peace. 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.