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To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8: 31-32

Freedom by Scripture Alone

Scams are everywhere. Some scammers look to deceive you into giving up sensitive information through fraudulent emails, text messages, or websites. Others use fear or greed to lure you into giving up your money. In the end, they want to take advantage of your weaknesses to exploit you.

The devil is the ultimate scammer. He would lead us to believe that we are just fine in our relationship with God all by ourselves. He wants us to be convinced that there are many paths to God, and they all end up in the same place. He wants us to trust that as long as we are a good person, that’s going to be good enough for God.

He wants us to believe this, knowing full well that we’re not just fine or good with God all on our own.

So how do we sift truth from falsehood?

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth is, you and I are not good enough on our own to stand before God.

But Jesus is. One word of God’s truth sends the devil packing. Remember how Jesus defeated the devil at the start of his ministry? Each time Jesus said, “It is written.”

Today, we give thanks that God reveals his truth not in our opinions or worldly philosophy, but in the words of the Scriptures alone. In that, we will never be deceived.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for preserving your Word so that I know the truth. Jesus, help me continue to hold to your truth. 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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If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36

Free Indeed!

Willie Williams spent twenty-two years in a Georgia prison for a crime he didn’t commit. When he was exonerated by DNA evidence, he was set free. Of course, he was beyond happy with his freedom. But he also struggled to get used to it. He didn’t feel free. For a long time, he woke up at three o’clock in the morning and looked around to see if he was still in prison. Sure enough, though, he really was free.

Freedom is a precious gift. It is an undeserved gift because we commit crimes, sins, against our Creator. We came into this world as prisoners of sin and held captive by the eternal death we deserved.

But Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has set us free. Jesus allowed our sin to pin him down on the cross. He allowed our death to entomb him. He broke out of our prison when he died and rose again from death. We are free! Free indeed!

You may not feel very free. Do your daily temptations threaten to enslave you? Do your daily problems make you feel trapped? Do your fears and worries box you in and paralyze you? Do you look ahead to the end of life and feel death’s walls closing in?

Don’t be fooled by your feelings. Listen to what the Son promises you—he has set you free. You are free: Free indeed!

Sin has no more power to condemn—you are forgiven. Temptation has no more power to control you—Jesus is always with you. Death has no more power to terrify you—Jesus lives again, and so will you.

Willie Williams had to keep reminding himself that he really was free.

So do you. You may not feel free, but through Jesus, you are. Free indeed! And one day, in heaven, you’ll feel it fully: no sin, no problems, no temptations, no fear, no death.

Until then, trust what the Son tells you: you are free. Free indeed!

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, since you have set me free, I am free indeed! Thank you! Help me to trust that this gift of freedom is really mine. 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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This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:6-11

Water and Blood

The probes that go to the other planets in our solar system are looking for a lot of things, and one of them is always water. People think that if water is found, there is the chance of finding life. Without water, you can’t really have life.

When Jesus came to give us life, he began his public ministry with his baptism by water and the Spirit at the hand of John the Baptist. God told us at that time that Jesus is his beloved Son, and we believe that testimony because the Spirit has worked faith in our hearts through the power of baptism. Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life.

The probes that check our health look at a lot of things, and one of them is always our blood. Healthy blood is important; there is life in the blood. Loss of blood can lead to loss of life.

When Jesus came to give us life, he shed his blood for us. His death on the cross paid the punishment for our sins, fulfilling and ending the need for the animal sacrifices that God had commanded. Without the shedding of that blood, there would have been no forgiveness. Now we have forgiveness through Jesus, and where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

Jesus came by water and blood. Rejoice today that, because he did, you have eternal life.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for providing your Son, Jesus Christ, who came for me by water and blood. Lead me to live a life of service to you until I join you in perfect everlasting 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.

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Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
Genesis 32:30

Wrestle with God Anticipating Glory

“And the winner is…” When the referee dramatically raises the winner’s hand and confetti falls from the ceiling, sheer joy (and sometimes a certain amount of surprise) beams from the face of the victor.

Jacob could not believe it. He had just spent the night wrestling with God. And he lived to talk about it. Think about that. Seeing God face-to-face should mean death. Sinners cannot survive in the blazing holiness of the Almighty. When the Old Testament prophet Isaiah saw a glimpse of the Lord, he cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined!” (Isaiah 6:5). When one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, realized who Jesus truly was, he fell to his knees and begged, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8).

Jacob knew the same truth. A deceiver like him didn’t deserve to walk away from an encounter with God. But that’s the wonder of God’s grace and mercy: Jacob lived. He lived because God was not there to destroy him but to bless him. That’s the story of the whole Bible. Over and over, sinners stand face to face with God—and instead of condemnation, they receive mercy. Again and again, God meets sinners face to face, not with wrath but with love.

How is that possible? Because when Jesus went to the cross with our sins on his shoulders, his Father turned his face away from Jesus so that he could turn his face in favor to us. Jesus suffered God’s wrath and justice, so that one day, you will stand before God in all his glory. You will not be afraid. You will not be consumed. You will look into the face of your Savior and live.

So today, remember Peniel. Remember Jacob’s wonder because it’s your wonder. In Christ, you will see God face-to-face, and your life will be spared.

Prayer:

Lord, like Jacob, I don’t deserve to see your face. Yet in Jesus, you show me mercy. Thank you that in him I live, now and forever. Keep me clinging to your grace until the day I see you in glory. 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 man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome. Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.”
Genesis 3:28-29

Wrestle with a God Who Lets Us Win

If you’ve ever wrestled with a little child, you know the routine. They’re giggling, grunting, straining, giving it all they’ve got. And what do you do? You play along for a while, and you let them win. Not because they’re stronger, but because you love them.

That was Jacob’s night. He struggled with God and “overcame.” How? Not because he overpowered the Almighty, but because God let him win. God stooped down, allowed Jacob’s faith to cling, and then he was delighted to bless him.

That’s how our heavenly Father treats us. He loves it when we hold him to his promises. He loves it when we wrestle in faith. And in the end, he lets us win, not because we’re stronger, but because Christ has already overcome for us.

At the cross, Jesus looked like he had lost as he was pinned down by nails, mocked, and beaten. But in that defeat came victory. Sin was paid in full. The devil’s head was crushed. And Easter Sunday, when Jesus walked away from the tomb, the last enemy of death was defeated. Because he overcame sin, death, and the devil, we too will overcome.

So, when you wrestle with God in prayer, when you cling to his Word, know this: your Father delights in you. He’s the God who lets you win and blesses you.

Prayer:

Father, keep me clinging to your promises and resting in Christ’s victory. 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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The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Genesis 32:27-28

Wrestle with God Under a New Name

The Undertaker. Macho Man. Stone Cold. For years, professional wrestlers have adopted nicknames as a way to instill fear in their opponents. But not all names are intimidating or positive. Sometimes, names are embarrassing. Sometimes, names sting.

Jacob knew that sting. His name literally meant “heel-grabber,” or “deceiver.” Someone who trips you up. And he lived up to his name by tricking his dad, swindling his brother, and hustling his uncle. When his wrestling opponent asked, “What is your name?” Jacob must have been just a little bit embarrassed. His name basically was a confession.

But after that long night of wrestling, God gave him a new name: Israel—which means “he struggles with God.” That was more than a label. It was a brand-new identity. No longer defined by his past, God now defined his bright future.

That’s your story too. We walk into baptism carrying names like “Sinner” “Lost,” or “Hopeless.” But we walk out of baptism with a new name: “Child of God.” Just like an infant doesn’t choose its name, neither do we choose this name. It’s a name given to us by our Lord.

Of course, the old names try to stick around. When we sin, Satan whispers, “You’re still Sinner, Lost, Hopeless.” But the cross of Jesus thunders louder, “You are forgiven. You are redeemed, because I bought you with my blood. You are mine.” Because of Jesus, your name is no longer “Condemned,” but “Beloved.” As such, you are now equipped to wrestle through the challenges of life under a new name, knowing that victory awaits.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for giving me a new name in Christ. Help me live in that identity every day, even when my past tries to pull me back. 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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When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Genesis 32:25-26

Wrestle with God with Persistence

Have you ever felt like you were praying and nothing was happening? Like your words were bouncing off the ceiling? Jacob knew that feeling. All night, he wrestled with God, but he refused to let go until the blessing came. That’s a picture of prayer—not just tossing wishes into the air but hanging on to God’s promises and refusing to let go.

It’s not that Jacob outwitted, outplayed, or outlasted God. Jacob didn’t “win” by being stronger than God. Just one touch on his hip showed how weak Jacob really was. But God wanted Jacob to keep clinging. To keep asking. To keep holding on.

That’s not just a lesson or invitation to Jacob. Jesus told stories of persistent widows and midnight doorknockers. “Pray continually” may be the shortest verse of the Bible, but it takes the longest to fulfill. God doesn’t need to be nagged to listen, but persistence shows faith—faith that refuses to let go of his promises.

And you know why we can pray with such boldness and persistence? Because Jesus did it for us. As he walked on this earth, we consistently see him go off by himself to pray. On the night before he died, his sweat was like drops of blood as he wrestled in prayer in a garden. On the cross, he prayed for your forgiveness. He won access for us to our heavenly Father. Because of Jesus, every prayer we whisper is heard by the Father.

So don’t let go. Wrestle with God with persistence. Even if the answer feels delayed, the blessing will come.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer. Teach me to cling to your promises, even when answers seem slow. Strengthen my faith to trust your timing. 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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That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
Genesis 32:22-24

Wrestle with God in Our Weakness

Have you ever wrestled with someone stronger than you? Maybe your dad or an older brother. You give it your all, but you know deep down—they could finish you off anytime.

That’s Jacob’s story. He’s about to meet Esau, the brother he cheated years ago. After hearing that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men, Jacob is terrified. And tonight, he’s alone. Until—out of the dark—someone grabs him. Leg sweeps. Punches. Twists. Holds. They grapple all night. Not until daybreak did Jacob realize he wasn’t wrestling with a man—he was wrestling with God.

That’s how God often works. Jacob had a rather successful life, but for much of it, he relied on his own strength and schemes. But when he was weak, that’s when God came and wrestled with him. When life blindsides us with sickness or stress, it’s not always a bad thing. When we’re the weakest, that is often the best opportunity to wrestle with God. He comes into our weakness, and he doesn’t finish us off. Rather, he lets us cling to him.

Not only does God come to us when we face weakness, but he chose to become weak for us. Whether it was in the manger at his birth or on the cross at his death, Jesus looked anything but strong. The fact that he was conceived, born, suffered, died, and buried shows just how far he was willing to go so that we might grab onto him. So don’t let go. Wrestle with God in your weakness, whatever it is, and be reminded of his willingness to become weak for us. For in him, and only in him, will we find strength, forgiveness, and life.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for meeting me in my weakness. Teach me to cling to you when my strength is gone. In Jesus, I know I am blessed. 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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Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Genesis 32:24-28

Wrestling with God

God doesn’t always give us what we want, at least not right away. Have you noticed this? We pray and pray and pray for something, but there seems to be no answer. Sometimes we become discouraged or angry with God for not listening. We might even conclude that God doesn’t love us.

To accuse God of not loving us is a sin of the highest order. God is love. He showed that love when he sent his Son to die on a cross as payment for our sins. God’s love for us is greater than any other love we could imagine.

So, why doesn’t God give us what we want when we want it? Sometimes, he gives us the opportunity to exercise our faith by being persistent in prayer. Wrestling with God in prayer is a way of demonstrating that we trust he will do what’s best for us, in his own time and in his own way.

We may never wrestle God physically the way Jacob did in this unusual story from the Bible, but we do wrestle with God spiritually in our prayers. Like Jacob, be bold and persistent in asking God for his blessings. Then, trust that the God of love will answer in whatever way is best for you.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, give me the faith to trust you completely. 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.