St. Johns News

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love For Every Day

Daily Devotion – May 20, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7


See series: Devotions

If you’ve ever been to a Christian wedding, chances are you heard these words read aloud. How could they not be? They paint a portrait of love that’s perfect for a day filled with vows, flowers, and sentiment.

Yet the more you reflect on these words, the more you might think: Maybe this isn’t the best reading for a wedding. The kind of love described here is not romantic. It’s more of an action than an emotion.

This is the kind of love God calls us to—not just on our wedding day, but every day. Love the people around you even when feelings fade, tempers flare, and disappointment creeps in. It’s love that refuses to boast, that keeps no record of wrongs, and that always puts others first. This is a tall order. This kind of love isn’t natural. In fact, it’s impossible—at least for us.

But not for Jesus. Jesus lived every word of this passage to perfection. He was endlessly patient, even with slow-learning disciples. He was unfailingly kind to outcasts and perfectly forgiving to his enemies. On the cross, he bore the record of your wrongs and endured the punishment that you deserved. His love never failed.

This is the love that saved you. And this is the love that now lives in you. In Christ, your record of lovelessness has been erased. Through faith in him, God doesn’t see your envy, selfishness, or irritability—but Christ’s perfect patience, kindness, and endurance. And by his Spirit, he enables you to reflect that same love to others.

The love described in this passage is more than just beautiful words for a wedding day; it’s a daily calling. When your patience wears thin, and his forgiveness feels far away, lean into the love of Christ. With him, you have what you need to love others.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to love others the way you have loved 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.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

With Christ’s Love, You Gain Everything

Daily Devotion – May 19, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3


See series: Devotions

It’s easy to measure success by what you’ve accomplished. You graduate at the top of your class. You land the most prestigious job. You marry someone everyone admires and raise kids who win every award. But as today’s Bible passage reminds us, even the most impressive achievements are meaningless without love.

These three verses strip away all the impressive outward works that can fill a Christian’s life: eloquent speech, prophetic insight, unwavering faith, and sacrificial giving. These good things could fool you into thinking you’re doing something meaningful in God’s kingdom, but if they are done without love, they amount to nothing.

That stings because it reminds us of how easily our motivation becomes misguided. We may teach, give, serve, or sacrifice—but is it out of love for others? Or is it sometimes driven by a desire for recognition, a need to prove ourselves, or a hope to win approval? If you’re chasing success or approval from people, you gain nothing from God.

The kind of love God calls us to doesn’t measure success by what serves ourselves but by what selflessly serves others. It’s a reflection of the love Christ has shown us: selfless, sacrificial, perfect.

Jesus lived this love perfectly for you. He didn’t serve to gain glory but to give grace. He didn’t sacrifice himself to impress you but to save you. He loved you without expecting anything in return and then gave you everything: forgiveness of sins and eternal life. That’s the love that covers you now, empowering you to reflect that love in your life.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to live not for recognition from others, but to show them the selfless love you’ve shown me in Christ. 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.

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:7

Everyday Love

Daily Devotion – May 18, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:7


See series: Devotions

If you walk through the doors of the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, you can view artifacts and documents from some of the most consequential years in the 20th Century. In room after room, on shelf after shelf, you can research the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, the rebuilding of Europe, the Korean War, and everything in between.

Somewhere in that library, you also will find a collection of over 1,300 letters. These letters, however, have little to do with historical events of the 20th Century. They are, nevertheless, something extraordinary. You see, President Truman made it a point to write a letter to his wife, Bess, every day they were apart for any reason.

Many of the letters are simple updates on minor things. Others, of course, do mention world leaders. But it’s the sheer number of letters that makes the real impact. To see those letters all together is to see the evidence of one man’s steady, faithful love for his wife.

God’s love for you is often not in the big and the dramatic. Very often his love for you is in the routine of life. He’s the One who sees to it that you get something to eat, have a place to sleep, and something to wear. He’s the One who sees to it that you receive an encouraging word when you need it. Most of all, he’s the One who sees to it that his forgiveness of your sin is fresh and new for you every day. Your face was on his heart when he sent his Son to the cross for your sins and raised him from the dead.

Through faith in Jesus, that’s the love God has for you. It’s a love that is at work in your life every single day.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for all the times I have overlooked how your love for me is at work in my life. Wash me clean in Jesus’ blood. Move me by your Spirit to see the reality of your love every single 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.

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)


See series: Devotions

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


See series: Devotions

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


See series: Devotions

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


See series: Devotions

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


See series: Devotions

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


See series: Devotions

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.