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After the Israelites set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.”
Exodus 19:2-8a

Live for the Lord

Daily Devotion – June 16, 2018

Devotion based on Exodus 19:2-8a

See series: Devotions

One way to define the word “hypocrite” is to say one thing and then do another. Accordingly, we all have to admit that we are hypocrites because we have not fully followed through on every word we’ve spoken.

In the same way, we could call the Israelites hypocrites. They had just received God’s Word through Moses from the top of Mount Sinai. Just months earlier God had delivered them from the hand of Pharaoh as they passed safely through the Red Sea. They were ready to do whatever the Lord their God said. Their hearts of faith were burning in love, fear, and awe for the Lord. The Lord rescued them from slavery in Egypt and was leading them to the Promised Land! Yet, so many times thereafter they showed themselves to be unfaithful to the Lord. They said one thing, but did another.

Like the Israelites, I know the Lord. I know the wonderful, gracious, merciful things God has done for me by sending his Son Jesus to be my Savior. I certainly don’t deserve such compassion through Jesus who has freed me from slavery to sin, death, and the devil. On top of that he has given me the sure hope of the heavenly, eternal Promised Land. My heart of faith can’t help but respond: “I will live for and serve my God! I will do whatever he tells me in his Word!”

The reality for you and for me is that while we are on this side of heaven, we all have a sinful selfish nature that seeks not what God wants, but what WE want. This sinful nature, this old evil self, is why we continue to fall into sin, even when we’ve told God that we won’t do that anymore. We must recognize this enemy within us so that we learn there is only one source of help and rescue: God our Savior.

In humility we daily return to the Lord, the God of free and faithful grace, and confess our many sins. We confidently trust Jesus whose blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We gladly listen to God who holds open the door to the Promised Land of heaven. Then we rightly respond and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, strive daily to live according to his Word.

Prayer:
Lord, you alone know my many faults, sins, and shortcomings. Forgive me, O Lord, and renew my spirit each day that I may live for you more and more. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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

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

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

[God] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5

Placing Labels on People

Daily Devotion – June 15, 2018

Devotion based on Titus 3:5

See series: Devotions

Placing labels on people—that’s something the world loves to do. Some labels are encouraging: “You’re a winner…a natural leader…a hero.” Some hurt: “You’re a loser…ignorant…lazy.” In fact, labels can cause all sorts of problems by making some feel arrogant and others feel insecure. But those labels are based on someone else’s opinion, and it’s foolish to let the opinion of others determine how you feel about yourself.

However, when it comes to the opinion of God, that’s different. God our Savior has placed a label on you. “Mine,” he says. That’s not just an opinion, it’s a fact because he has done everything necessary to make it true. He has washed away your sin with his precious blood. He has wrapped you in his righteousness. He not only created you, he purchased and won you from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Even the faith you need to believe that saving message is something the Holy Spirit freely provided.

For those times when you wonder, “Could this really be true?” When the devil accuses, and your conscience agrees: “God could never love a sinner like you!” That’s when the Holy Spirit reminds you of a most precious blessing: baptism—the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. By the power of God’s Word, baptism connected you to Christ. God the Holy Spirit placed a “label” on you. “Mine,” he said. “You belong to me.”

Some labels should be ignored, but through baptism, the Holy Spirit has placed a label on you worth pondering every day. You are his own. There is nothing in this world more important and more comforting than knowing that you belong to God your Savior!

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank you for the priceless gift of baptism. Through this washing of rebirth and renewal, you have made me your own. Constantly remind me of this glorious truth. Amen.

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

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

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

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4

Catching Your Spiritual Breath

Daily Devotion – June 14, 2018

Devotion based on Job 33:4

See series: Devotions

Did you ever get the wind knocked out of you? Whether as the result of playing a contact sport or just slipping on some ice and landing on your back, it can be a most anxious feeling. For a few moments you lie there, unable to breathe. Your lungs have been emptied by the jolt, and with your diaphragm temporarily paralyzed, you aren’t able to take in any air. When oxygen is in short supply, panic may set in. Fortunately, it usually isn’t long before your respiratory system begins working again the way it’s supposed to.

God created us in such a way that breathing in and out sustains our life. The Bible specifically records the moment the first human took his first breath. “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

More than just filling Adam’s lungs with air, God gave him the gift of spiritual life. In the original languages of the Bible, the words for spirit can also be translated as wind or air. What a beautiful reminder that just as the wind is all around us and yet invisible, so is the Holy Spirit of God. Just as the air we breathe keeps our bodies alive, so the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens spiritual life in us. The Spirit does this through the Word of God which he inspired (breathed into) the prophets and apostles to write about God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we can get the spiritual wind knocked out of us. Temptations and troubles, disasters and doubts, can leave us spiritually breathless. When Satan scores a blow to our spiritual breathing, it can unbalance our faith and cause us to become paralyzed with fear. In those moments, ask the Holy Spirit to help you catch your spiritual breath again. Don’t panic but listen as the Spirit points you to your Savior, Jesus who breathed his last on the cross, so that you might live forever with him.

Prayer:
Lord God, you created me through the power of the Holy Spirit. When I become winded in this weary world, send your Holy Spirit to breathe new life into me through the good news of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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

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

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

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:8-15

I Am My Father’s Child

Daily Devotion – June 13, 2018

Devotion based on Genesis 3:8-15

See series: Devotions

Sadly, I am my father’s child.

When my first father, Adam, heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden, he didn’t run to greet his loving Creator to spend quality time and perfect fellowship with him. Instead Adam ran and hid among the trees. It’s quite silly, really—running and hiding from the Almighty! But that’s what sinful people do. They do foolish things. When Adam was confronted with his sin, he tried deflecting. He tried making excuses. He tried shifting blame. That was foolish.

I do that too; too often. When confronted with my sin I try to deflect the discussion to something else, something that isn’t the heart of the matter. I try to make excuses to justify my behavior, or at least make it a bit more understandable and therefore reasonable. When this fails, I try to shift the blame to someone else. Then, over time, shifting blame becomes a first resort rather than a last resort. Yes, they are quite silly—my foolish attempts to hide from the Almighty!

Thankfully, I am my Father’s child.

When the Lord God had exposed the wretched state of his first children, he went on to address the serpent. God pronounced a curse upon the serpent, and along with this curse he proclaimed a wonderful promise. One of the woman’s offspring—a Savior—would come. He would crush the devil. He would restore what had been broken. Centuries later that promise was fulfilled in Jesus.

Now, by the grace of God and by the working of the Holy Spirit, I am a child of God. No longer estranged. Not disowned. Never abandoned. Having been freed from foolishness, I have been embraced. I am loved. I am forgiven. And I can walk with my Lord God in the morning, at mid-day, in the cool of the day—in peace and living hope.

Dear friend in Jesus, acknowledge that you are a child of the fall, and confess that you too often want others to take the fall for your transgressions. Then, rejoice that you are a child of the promise, and live as a redeemed, restored, forgiven child of your Father in heaven.

Prayer:
O Lord, help me remember, today and every day, that I am my Heavenly Father’s child. Amen.

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

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

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

Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16

Young

Daily Devotion – June 12, 2018

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 4:16

See series: Devotions

Here’s a list you may or may not want to read. It’s an official list of signs you are growing older.

According to British researchers in the April 16 edition of Express magazine, the signs, on average, begin at age 41.

Ready? Here we go.

Number 21 on the list of signs that you are growing older: You do not know the names of any modern bands. Number 18: Having colleagues who don’t know what a cassette tape is. Number 12: Falling asleep in front of the TV.

Number 11: Choosing clothes and shoes for comfort instead of style. Number 9: Finding it hard to sit cross-legged on the floor. Number 7 is finding strange hairs growing out of your ears. Number 6 is misplacing your car keys.

Number 5 on the list of signs you are growing older: Not knowing any songs in the Top 10. Number 4 is giving out an involuntary groan when you bend down. Number 3 is talking about your ailments with others.

And according to researchers, the number 1 sign that you are growing older? Forgetting names.

We can smile at this list. In fact, we should. But as we do, there is also the quiet acknowledgement that, with each passing year, our bodies age. This reality is simply part of living in a world broken by sin—your sin and mine.

But here’s the good news. In Jesus, we are young. Through faith in his life and death and resurrection on our behalf, our inner self is being renewed day by day. As we bask in his full and complete forgiveness, all things are fresh and clean and new. There is purpose in our life. There is meaning. There is a vibrancy that no anti-aging product can ever produce. There is a spring in our step as we walk with our Savior, who is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

And as for these bodies of ours that keep getting older? When Jesus returns, even they will be young again. Better than ever. For all eternity.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, on those days when my body feels its age, remind me that even the aging of my body is temporary. Remind me that in you, all things are new. Forever. Amen.

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

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

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

Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem, said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
Mark 3:20-22

The Right Conclusion

Daily Devotion – June 11, 2018

Devotion based on Mark 3:20-22

See series: Devotions

There were many people who had their ideas about Jesus. Their conclusions were often based on what they observed, and sometimes what they assumed. These personal ideas often led to the wrong conclusion. This is why I need to rely on the testimony of Scriptures and the gift of faith.

Through these gracious gifts I can arrive at the right conclusion. This is important because during this life I will need to rely on Jesus. If I allow the world to influence me, I might come to the same conclusion his family did: Jesus is out of his mind … how can anyone promise or do what Jesus did! I might also be led to the same faulty conclusion the teachers of the law had: Jesus couldn’t possibly be God … he must be some kind of demon who masquerades as an agent of good.

Only the Scriptures lead me to the right conclusion. God’s Word reveals what I need to know and believe. In its inspired and error-free testimony I come to know the truth, and that truth is precious. Jesus came as my substitute to do what was impossible for me to accomplish. Jesus came as my Savior to rescue me from the judgment I deserved for my sin. Jesus came as the Son of God to secure my victory over death and hell.

It is only through the witness of the Scriptures that I can know the truth, and what a blessed truth it is. God’s Word leads me to the only right conclusion—Jesus is God’s Son and my Savior.

Prayer:
O gracious Father in heaven, I know I am easily confused and distracted. By your holy Word increase my faith to confess with confidence Jesus is my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

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

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

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

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13

Jesus Came to Call Sinners

Daily Devotion – June 10, 2018

Devotion based on Matthew 9:10-13

See series: Devotions

The Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. They didn’t accept him as the one God had promised to rescue them from sin’s curse and deliver them from their enemy Satan. As proof of their position, they pointed to Jesus’ activity of dining with people of ill-reputation (tax collectors) and eating with those whose lifestyle opposed God’s law (“sinners”). Their logic was that if Jesus is God, he would know what kind of people he was associating with and avoid them.

Jesus responded to his unbelieving critics, “It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” The Pharisees considered themselves spiritually healthy because they strived to live good and obedient lives before God. They didn’t think they needed Jesus for spiritual healing to save them. So Jesus told them that he couldn’t help them because they wouldn’t admit that they were sick with sin. However, Jesus made it clear that he was glad to minister to those who admit their guilt and look to him as their only hope for salvation.

Jesus quotes God’s word recorded in Hosea’s prophecy, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Salvation from the condemnation we deserve as sinners doesn’t come by sacrifices that we make—by good things that we strive to do and wrong things we seek to avoid. Not at all! Rather, rescue from the curse of sin comes only by everything Jesus has done for us. The “mercy” that God desires is to sincerely admit that we are sinners and trust Jesus alone for full forgiveness of sins and free salvation from eternal death.

Jesus came to call sinners. That’s me. That’s you. He is our Savior!

Prayer:
Help me realize, dear Jesus, that I am sick with sin. Open my eyes to see you as my Savior and my heart to put my complete trust in you for salvation. Then open up my mouth to speak your praises for all your great goodness. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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

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

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

[Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God … being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:20-21

Eyes of Love

Daily Devotion – June 9, 2018

Devotion based on Romans 4:20-21

See series: Devotions

There’s a story about a nighttime fire that started in a family’s house. The entire family escaped except for one child—a young boy. The fire had forced him to keep climbing until he found himself on the roof. The boy was trapped. He could not go back downstairs—the heat was too intense. The smoke around him was so thick that it left him disoriented and confused. The thought of jumping off that roof paralyzed him with fear. So he stood, and time was running out.

But then below him, in the darkness, beyond the smoke, there came a voice. It was the voice of his father. “Jump, Son, jump!” the father cried out. “Just jump, and I will catch you.” But the boy could not see his father. On that terrible roof, all he could see were flames, sparks, darkness and smoke. In a choking voice the boy sobbed, “I’m afraid to jump, Daddy. I can’t see you.”

It was then that the father cried out the one thing that made all the difference. “I know you can’t see me, Son,” the father said. “But I can see you.” That’s all the boy needed to hear. He jumped. His father caught him, and all was well.

Because of your sin and mine, life in this broken world is often like standing on the roof of a burning house. So much smoke, so much chaos, so much confusion—it can paralyze us with fear.

But beyond the darkness comes the voice of our heavenly Father. Through the power of his Word he calls to us. He calls to us to trust him, to trust his promises, to trust his will for our lives. And trust him we can—not because we see through the smoke, but because he does.

Our heavenly Father sees us. And he will catch us. Every time. After all, he gave his own Son to wash us clean and make us his own. Since then, his eyes of love have never left us.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, through the darkness and smoke of this fallen world, you see us. By your Spirit, embrace us in this marvelous truth. Move us to trust your promises and your will for our lives. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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

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

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

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51:11

I Need the Holy Spirit

Daily Devotion – June 8, 2018

Devotion based on Psalm 51:11

See series: Devotions

“I trust him about as far as I can throw him. If I don’t keep my eye on him every second, there’s no telling what he will try to pull. I have to be vigilant 24-7. I simply can’t trust him a bit.”

King David didn’t write those words. But maybe he could have. David was recovering from a serious spiritual crisis. He had sinned against the Lord. He had taken another man’s wife for his own. He had murdered that other man through conspiracy and misuse of power. He had deceived a nation—God’s people. He had denied his sins.

But David was forgiven. The Lord took away his sin. The Lord had cleansed him and made him clean. The Lord had washed away all his iniquity and cleansed him of sin. (Read Psalm 51.) Now David was moving forward in repentant faith. He knew he was forgiven and a child of God. He knew God would not hold his sin against him. But David also knew that his only hope of remaining a child of God was the work of the Holy Spirit.

So he prayed: “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” As if to say, “Lord, I was born with a sinful nature. I trust that I have your forgiveness for that sinful nature and all that it does. But I don’t trust my sinful nature even as far as I can throw it. I need your help to keep that sinful nature from getting the best of me and taking me down. Be merciful to me and do not drive me away. Keep me close to you. If you should ever take your Holy Spirit from me, I’m a goner. So send the Holy Spirit to me again and again through your loving promises, that I may live and enjoy your love forever.”

We can pray the same thing. We have a sinful nature that we can’t trust. We have forgiveness through Christ, who died and rose again. We have received the gift of the Holy Spirit through Word and sacrament. We have the ongoing need and the gospel-born confidence to pray: “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”

Prayer:
Dear Lord, be merciful to me. As you have so richly forgiven me, so continue to send me your Holy Spirit, that I may not fall from faith, but remain your child forever. Amen.

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

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

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