Transformed – teen devotion – March 24, 2024

One truth shared: Jesus shows real strength on our behalf leading us to leave sin and focus on him.

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 12:2

Keep life in focus, Jesus is our strength

If you are going to run a race, how do you prepare? Even if you are not the running type, I think you know. Equipment like shoes, running shorts, and a good T-shirt are very important. You’d want to map the course online, if possible, even walk the course beforehand. You would need to decide on a strategy for the course. For example, where are the hills, and what are the difficult spots? What pace should you set? There are also things you’d need to eliminate. You wouldn’t wear your winter gear like a bulky jacket, a school backpack, Chromebook, maybe even your phone. You’d need to replay the map in your mind as you’re running the course. And when you hear steps of other runners behind you, you need to remind yourself to just keep looking forward.

Running a race is a lot like going through the daily grind of life.

It’s easy in life to get wrapped up in digital distractions and be overwhelmed with people drama. God snaps his fingers and says, “Hey, stay focused!” Focus on what Jesus has done for you. Remember how and why he persevered, even enduring the cross. He carried out his mission, as hard as it was, by keeping focused on the joy that was to come. The joy set down before him is all about you. He followed his Father’s plan to save you. He went through it all so you would be with him. He longed for eternity with you.

Life takes a lot of endurance like running a race. Each day has its own temptations and challenges. But don’t lose heart! Don’t give up! Jesus is your strength. He runs with you. He runs ahead of you. He even promises to carry you.

Prayer: Dear Lord, when the road of life gets rugged and I feel overwhelmed, remind me of your love and sacrifice. You suffered so much because in your eyes, I’m worth it to you. Help me lay down my sin at your feet and live my life at peace with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – March 17, 2024

One truth shared: Sometimes it doesn’t feel like God is listening or cares, but he shows complete commitment in his salvation plan.

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.”
John 12:27

God’s timing is always on time

Have you ever wondered, “God what are you waiting for?” You’re not the first:

  • Jesus’ mother said, “They have no more wine.” … “My hour has not yet come.” Jesus replied. (John 2:4)
  • Jesus said, “You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” (John 7:8)
  • Now there were some Greeks… with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” … Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (John 12:20-23)

It seems like just the right time to see the miracle or at the very least experience something good. But then you wait, and wait, and wait. Trusting God and waiting is not always easy. Sometimes you wonder, “God, what are you waiting for?”

There is a promise that believers had been waiting on for a long time, literally from the beginning. God promised someone who would be struck on the heel but would in turn crush the devil’s head. The pages of the Old Testament provide more and more detail on this promised Messiah. Generation after generation longed for his arrival but never saw that promise fulfilled in their lifetime. After so much time, people must have wondered, “God, what are you waiting for? Will you come to save your people?”

Thousands of years passed. More and more detailed prophecy was shared. Finally, when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son to redeem those under the law. Jesus the Messiah came. Early in Jesus’ ministry it is odd to hear him say, “My time has not yet come.” So many had already waited for so long. But Jesus waited a little bit longer. Until… some Greeks wanted to see Jesus. Now is the Son of Man glorified. This is a great example of God’s love and his timing. Jesus wanted his message to reach not just the people of Israel, but every nation, and in time, to come to you with this message. Our Lord has meticulous planning and enduring patience to save us. God’s commitment to his people is solid and trustworthy.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for always listening and always providing what is best for my soul and those around me. I’m sorry when doubts creep into my heart. I know that no promise from you will ever fail. Thank you for sticking to your plan and your purpose which meant going to the cross for me. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – March 10, 2024

One truth shared: Our reason says, “I must get better for God to love me,” but Jesus shows us love first in his sacrifice.

Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Numbers 21:9

Look out, look up

Imagine that heaven is like a city and religion is the road in and out of it. If people got to design heaven, they would get to devise the way to get there. If God created heaven (and he did), he determines how to get there. It might make sense or feel better to check items off a list of difficult things to do to get right before God… but somehow, we find ourselves always lacking. When we look inside ourselves for a solution to missing the mark (sin), there is no satisfaction.

Today’s Bible reading is an example of God creating a way to get right with him. The people of Israel had bitterly complained about God. Now they were dying from poisonous snake bites and realized they needed to be saved. There were normal treatments for snake bites. A cold compress to help with the fever, tie off the affected area so the poison doesn’t spread, suck out the venom… but God told Moses, “Put a bronze snake on a pole. Tell the people if they look at it, they will live.” Look to this hanging, cold, lifeless thing and trust that God saves. It defies logic. Without any contribution on my part, just look up and trust that God saves.

Salvation can seem extremely complicated because it’s so simple. We would like to contribute and deserve forgiveness. But God takes full responsibility for our salvation so we would know it is complete and good. Don’t overthink this one, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14,15). Lift your eyes from what you’ve done or failed to do and trust that Jesus has you covered, forgiven, completely. You have peace with God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I wish I could tell you all the good things I’ve done and changed, but sin still echoes through my mind. Thank you for forgiving these sins. Thank you for moving my focus off my sin to focus on your sacrifice. Your grace is enough. I’ll lift my head up and trust that your payment is enough. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – March 3, 2024

One truth shared: Jesus refocuses our attention in worship to the Father.

His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
John 2:17

Secret Shopper – How’s your worship life?

Have you ever heard of the Secret Shopper program? A person gets a gift card, maybe a free meal in exchange for feedback on their experience at a nice restaurant. The secret shopper provides an honest look at things going well… and areas that need improvement.

In our reading today, Jesus makes a not-so-subtle visit to the house of the Lord. It was during the sacred festival of Passover. God’s people were celebrating the rescue God provided from slavery in Egypt and the rescue from death by the death of a lamb. Well, they were supposed to be… but the focus had shifted. The Father’s house was turned into a market! Jesus called out the distractions and cleared it out.

What has Jesus seen in your worship life lately? Does it seem boring, empty, a check-list-type activity? What distractions might Jesus clear out of the temple of your heart over the weekend? Let’s clear the air and refocus our worship. Worship is not focused on me, although I will benefit. Worship is not about people, but I will gather with others. Worship is celebration of all God does for us and collectively responding to his gifts with thanks and adoration. God works in worship when we are there in body, mind, and spirit. Refocus, hear the Word of the Lord.

Worship in God’s house is still special. For all the trials and fears we face throughout the week, worship brings us into the presence of God. It allows us to gather with fellow Christians and leave our sins at the foot of his cross. God speaks to us through the message of the songs, readings, and sermon to announce forgiveness and life. This is worth getting excited about, longing for, and sharing with others.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for the opportunity to gather for worship every week at church. Seeing Jesus’ zeal for your house, I see how far too often my worship life lacks focus. Worship is about what you have done and continue to do. You are the one who promised a lamb to be offered in our place. You are the one who sent your Son, your only Son, who you love to shed his blood for me. Thank you, Lord. You are worthy. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – February 25, 2024

One truth shared: Jesus confronts our deepest issues to provide confidence in following him boldly.

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Mark 8:33

What Really Matters to God

As you get older, adults will start to open up to you more. When they do, you realize the people you looked up to are just as human as anyone else. They have their own hopes, dreams, weaknesses, frailties, and fears. It is a bit unnerving, especially when they start to talk about matters of life and death, their own mortality. It is scary and sad to think about a time when those adults closest to you will no longer be around. Wouldn’t it be better if they stayed with you on this earth forever?

Jesus spent every day with his disciples. He was their teacher, friend, and family. Then Jesus began to explain to them that he had to suffer, be rejected, be killed, and rise again. Peter heard all the negative and rebuked Jesus. He didn’t want anything to happen to Jesus. Peter wanted Jesus to stay forever right there with them. Peter missed the mention of “rising again” from the dead. Peter’s concerns were short term and missed the magnitude of Jesus’ purpose.

Jesus rebuked Peter because he was emotionally intertwined with only human concerns. Jesus directs Peter and us to the mind of God. People can’t save themselves. People on their own will wander and die eternally. Jesus’ sacrifice would bring life and immortality to life. The suffering would be worth it.

Jesus knows what is better than what we want. Our hope of the resurrection provides confidence to have some of those difficult conversations on deep matters. We know following Jesus isn’t easy but there is victory over sin, death and the devil that will carry us through.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for facing the consequences of my sin willingly and without fear. There are times I’d rather shrink back from talking about all you’ve done. Please embolden my faith. Bless me with confidence in you. Thank you for providing what I need when I need it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – February 18, 2024

One truth shared: Painful trials in life are time to hold God’s promises even closer.

Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
Genesis 22:14

God, this really hurts, and I still trust you.

Her alarm clock didn’t go off on time. It was his turn to bring donuts. They were stuck in a traffic jam. She spilled coffee on her clothes and had to go home to change. Their car just wouldn’t start. A man had new shoes and got a blister and stopped for a Band-Aid. These people suffered that morning and then survived the attacks of September 11, 2001. They were blessed with more time on this world through a moment of “unbearable” discomfort and frustration that God provided them. Think about what God does through the tests of life.

It was a huge ask God gave to Abraham. A test to top every other test he had lived through. And God didn’t tell him it was a test beforehand. “Go sacrifice your son, your only son, the one you love.” Abraham didn’t respond how we often do in trials… he didn’t complain, yell, procrastinate, curse, or rebel. He held on to something God had taught him through every other moment of his life, “The Lord Will Provide.” And that is exactly what happened at the very moment Abraham needed it the most. The Lord provided a ram as a sacrifice instead of his son. Abraham named the place where God spared his son Isaac that very promise he shares with you today, “The Lord Will Provide.”

When God allows trials and tests in life, don’t get angry or upset. Hold onto the promises of the God who provides his only Son, our Savior. His promises are strong enough to lead us through.

Are you having a test of faith? Don’t worry! God will provide the answers for your faith!

Prayer: Dear Lord, it’s really easy to get lost in the moment when things are not going my way and I suffer things not going the way I’d like. I’m glad you love me and never leave me. Strengthen my trust that you are the God who provides the best for my life and my soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – February 11, 2024

One truth shared: On the mountain, a transfigured Jesus assures us of who he is shortly before suffering a horrific death for our sins.

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Mark 9:2-9

A Glimpse of His True Glory

The series of this Epiphany set of Transformed devotions has been “From the River to the Mountain.” We saw Jesus officially kick off his public ministry at the Jordan River. Today we watch him reveal even more about his glory on the mountain as he is transfigured (changed in appearance) before his disciples, giving them a glimpse of his divinity.

I’m guessing this is a day the disciples would never forget—Jesus in all his glory; Elijah and Moses making guest star appearances; the Father proudly testifying, “Yep, that’s my Son, and I’m so proud of how he is carrying out his work!” The disciples were overwhelmed. They were amazed.

And then we read, “As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Our Epiphany King—Jesus Christ, Lord of all—gave a quick glimpse as to who he never stopped being… the almighty Lord of all.

As they descended the mountain, though, Christ’s suffering was near. The Father who attested to his Son’s perfect work would soon turn his back on him in order to pay for our sin. The almighty Son of God would be crucified as the worst of sinners—the shedding of his blood being the price paid to assure us a place in heaven.

What a glimpse of Christ’s true glory we receive on this transfiguration mountain, dear friends. That is what causes us to marvel at the depth of his love for us. It’s a love which left the comforts of heaven and came to earth as the sacrifice for our sins. Today and always, we praise him for his love. Today and always, we look to him in all things, knowing that he loves us and calls us his own.

Prayer: I praise you, Lord God, for sending your Son to this earth for me. He alone is my Savior, my Lord, and my friend. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – February 4, 2024

One truth shared: Our battles with Satan throughout this life are victorious in Christ alone.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:6-11

The Devil’s Work Undone

“Stop fighting” is a phrase that most of us heard as children at least a few times… and sometimes many more. It can be a passionate command shouted from a teacher, a parent, or a coach.

In our reading for today, though, the apostle Paul tells Christians of all time and place something very different. He reminds us that a very real battle is being waged throughout our time on this earth. A fierce battle. A battle in which someone wins, and someone loses.

That, though, is why Peter’s encouragement gives us so much comfort, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Truth is, Satan hates you, dear Christian. He is a sore loser and will do anything and everything in attempt to drag you away from God’s goodness and mercy. He will use the influences all around you to try to get you to forsake your blood-bought relationship with Jesus our Savior and to distance yourself from worshiping him alone.

And that’s why we fight. That’s why we confidently hear Peter’s command to “Resist (Satan).” Not only do we resist him, though. Christ stands beside us to bolster our resistance. What an amazing assurance Peter shares with us—an assurance for today; an assurance for eternity—“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” What an amazing promise that in Christ, we will triumph.

We are in the Epiphany season of the church year. The Epiphany King who reveals himself in so many ways during our lives also fights for us, dear warriors. In him there is strength. In him there is victory. In him there is peace. That’s why Peter ends this section of Scripture—and we end this devotion—with a resounding, “To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Prayer: Keep me close to you, Lord Jesus, by the power of your Word and sacrament. Empower me for the battles ahead, knowing that my home is with you in heaven. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – January 28, 2024

One truth shared: Christ Jesus has absolute authority in every aspect of our lives as his children on earth.

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28

Absolute Authority

Even the demons knew who Jesus was and had to admit his absolute authority! How amazing.

Jesus shows up with his disciples at the Capernaum synagogue on the Sabbath Day. Already well known, he is invited to speak to the assembled crowd. His wisdom about Scripture and the manner in which he applies it to the people’s lives does not go unnoticed. The crowd is in awe as he “taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.”

This wasn’t limited authority, though. A teacher has authority over a classroom. A mayor has authority over a city. The owner of a sports franchise has authority over every aspect of his team, and a governor has authority only over his state. Not Jesus, though. He not only taught as one who had authority over the Scriptures, but exhibits with the man possessed by an evil spirit that he had power over much more than that. This Jesus of Nazareth was God become man. He had absolute authority in any and every situation.

What a comfort that gives us, dear friends. When life seems to be spiraling out of control, Jesus has got us. Divine authority must be factored in. When no one else seems to understand, our Savior does. Not only does he have the want and desire to help, though. He’s got the power and authority to help us through any and every situation as well.

Throughout this Epiphany season, we see Jesus revealing himself as the true Son of God and Savior of the entire world. We see little glimpses of his divinity, all the while marveling at his humility which led him through life and to the cross. As we look at our reading today, no wonder “news about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.” Let it be today’s headline for your life! Jesus still is the authority of what’s best for your life. He will continue to work faith in people’s hearts and strengthen us for life today and life eternal in heaven.

Prayer: Lord God, Heavenly Father, you alone are worthy of my worship and praise. I look to you for all things and ask you to never leave me. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – January 21, 2024

One truth shared: Jesus gives us the truth of the Gospel to not keep to ourselves, but rather share with others.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Committed to a Lofty Charge

What is the best news you’ve ever received? Maybe you passed a class you thought you might have failed. Maybe you received a scholarship of some kind to college? Maybe, just maybe, Mom and Dad shared great news of a new baby in the family, a vacation of a lifetime, or plans to move to a nicer house.

Great news causes us joy. It also causes us to want to share it with others. We read in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians that Christ’s love for us “compels us”! It changes our priorities. It clarifies our focus. It gives us purpose in this life—not only to rejoice in Jesus our Epiphany Savior but to share him with others.

Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden brought about devastating consequences: some of them immediate; all of them deadly. Only Christ Jesus can undo the pain and consequence that sin brings. And he did just that through his death on the cross and victory over the grave. Christ’s victory is our victory.

What a joy, then, we have to serve as his “ambassadors,” joining in the work of sharing Jesus with this world, announcing the good news of salvation by grace alone, and basking in the timeless truth that “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (verse 21).

Teenagers are often told in life to “be quiet” or “settle down” when it comes to expressing their excitement over something. Not this good news of Jesus, though, fellow ambassadors. Share it! Loudly! Proudly! Never keep the “best news ever” that burns in your heart to yourself. Proclaim it to friends and family and everyone in between. Jesus is our Savior and our Lord. Pass it on!

Prayer: This Epiphany season, dear Lord, your Son is revealed to us as the Lord of all things and the Savior of the entire world. Work this truth deeply into my heart that I may share it with those near and far. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – January 14, 2024

One truth shared: We marvel at the kindness our Savior shows sinners and the exciting work he gives us to do.

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
John 1:43

The Kindness in His Calling

How many selfies do you take before settling on one? Studies find that today’s teens can take up to five or more selfies of themselves before posting on social media. And why? Largely because perfection is what people are after. We don’t want our blemishes showing. We want the lighting to be perfect. Before anyone else out there in cyberworld sees the finished product, we want to hide our imperfections so that no one sees them.

Obviously, this is not achievable in this world so ravaged by sin. We fail. All the time. In so many ways. We do the things we know are bad for us. We stay away from the things which will strengthen us and bring us closer to God. We can try, try, and try again… and yet nothing can change the fact that we have failed.

And yet Jesus loves us. He calls us his own. He did what we could not do—and so much more—so that we do not get as our sins deserve and instead get the gift of an eternity with him in heaven.

We get even more than that. Jesus uses dirty, rotten sinners of all shapes and sizes to serve him in this life and to proclaim his glorious mercy to those around us. He did so at the beginning of his ministry as he called unworthy men to follow him. He does so today as he looks at our faults, knows our weaknesses, and still has room for us in his kingdom and plenty of work for us to join in on this earth.

Jesus loves you, fellow sinner. Never forget that. Always remember your worth to him every day of life.

Prayer: Thank you for loving me despite myself, dear God. Your mercy humbles me and gives me joy each day. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – January 7, 2024

One truth shared: Our baptisms connect us to Jesus our Savior and empower us to live to serve him alone.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:1-11

It Begins With Baptism

“I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!” These words, which are spoken every time there is a baptism in Christian churches, are filled with the very power of God and backed by the supremacy of his Holy Word. What a blessing it is to watch the Holy Spirit at work in baptism as water combines with the Word to create saving faith in someone, assuring them that they are God’s and he is theirs.

The Epiphany season is one in which Christ reveals himself throughout his ministry on earth as the true Son of God and the Savior of the entire world. That “revealing” begins in earnest with his baptism in the Jordan River.

Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River not only allows us to better understand who he really is, it gives us an opportunity to cherish who we really are in him alone. Our baptisms are the beginning of a new life—connected to Christ and children of the Most High. This connection equips us to say NO to the sin that threatens us at every juncture and empowers us to say YES to following our Lord in life. This connection strengthens us to live to his glory, assured that we will be in heaven with him some day.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth was not just some good dude who lived a humble life, served a lot of people, and did some noble things. He is so much more! He is the almighty Lord of all things and the Savior of our souls. Remember that this Epiphany season. Live that truth always as you seek to serve only him.

Prayer: Thank you, Almighty God, for cleansing me of my sin and calling me your own. Remind me of my baptism daily and help me seek to serve you alone in all I think, say, and do. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – December 31, 2023

One truth shared: God has opened our eyes to see the true peace he brings at Christmas.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Luke 2:25-32

There Is Peace on Earth

The title of this devotion may be deceiving. If you pay attention to the news or follow any newsfeed on the internet, what you hear about is anything but peace. Nations are fighting against other nations. People are being arrested for violent crimes. Families are being torn apart for any number of reasons. There seems to be everything but peace in our world. Many hope the Christmas season might bring a change to all of this. They hope for the miracle of Christmas to bring an earthly peace to this world.

The problem is that they miss completely what peace God brings to them through Christmas. God made two promises to Simeon. One is the promise he made to all of Israel: he would send a Messiah to rescue them from their sin. The second promise was specific to Simeon: He would not die until he had seen the Messiah with his own eyes. What a promise from God that he granted to Simeon at Jesus’ circumcision! He saw with his own eyes the Savior whom God had promised would come to rescue him from his sin! With a trusting heart, Simeon saw not just a baby but the one who would bring the salvation that God promised to his people. Simeon could now live the rest of his life in peace because he had seen the one who had come to conquer death and open heaven to him and all believers. He could live in the peace of knowing God kept his promise—his sins would be forgiven, and he would live with God for the rest of eternity.

What a joy to know that we too see what Simeon saw! Through the eyes of faith, the Holy Spirit allows us to see in Jesus our Savior. At our baptism, God opened our eyes of faith to see the salvation Jesus brings to us. There at the water of baptism, God washed our sins away because of Jesus and promised that we are his children who will live with him forever. Through that wonderful promise, God gives to us the same peace as Simeon. This is not an earthly peace like so many in our world hope for. It is a spiritual peace. It is the peace of sins forgiven and the peace of being right before Almighty God. Through faith, God gives us the peace that while we might face troubles and difficulties here, we can live in peace because we know the heaven that is to come.

As we wait to see heaven with our own eyes, we wait patiently with hope in the peace only God can bring. We, too, one day will see the salvation of God! What a day that will be!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, through the troubles and difficulties of the world, remind us that with us always is the peace that you alone give: the peace of sins forgiven. Calm our troubled hearts as we face the trials of this world with the confidence of a peaceful life with you that awaits in heaven. Help us to persevere as we keep our eyes focused on the eternal that will come in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – December 24, 2023

One truth shared: The message of the angels is what brings us such great joy at Christmas!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:10-12

A Savior Has Been Born

It was an interesting message the angels brought. To some it might be so familiar that they really don’t stop to think much about it. For example, “the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” The angels talked about great joy that first Christmas night. There are many things that might bring people joy at Christmas: getting presents, decorating the tree or cookies, putting up the lights, gathering with family and the like. But the great joy the angel was talking about was different. No, the “good news” from the angels that would bring “great joy” would come from the message they had to bring: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.”

To find that kind of great joy means you need to first acknowledge your need for a Savior. Note how personal God wants this to be: a Savior has been born… to you! God sent his son… for you! There isn’t one of us to whom this doesn’t apply because:

  • We know the jagged edges which come from knowing you are the one who hurt others with your selfishness.
  • We are so familiar with the broken feeling of standing before almighty God knowing that no matter how good you have tried to be and how hard you have worked that you couldn’t possibly meet the standard of perfection which he demands from you.

Our jagged edges and inner brokenness are symptoms of what’s wrong with us—we are sinners. We can try to earn worth through performance. But all it gives is an unstable sense of worth that constantly fluctuates with each performance you give. It’s a roller coaster that isn’t worth riding. It’ll steal your joy.

“Do not be afraid,” the angel said. Here’s Christmas joy: Jesus comes to bring peace to broken people like you and me. This is the peace of knowing that all is right between you and God—not because you did what needed to be done, but because Jesus did fully and perfectly everything that needed to be done for your salvation and gives that perfection to you as a free gift of his grace through faith.

God made us emotional beings, and he gave us a broad range of emotions to feel. You can’t have all “good” ones unless you are willing to also have the “bad” ones. They all come in the same package. But it’s Christmas! God desires for you only peace and joy! “Today, a Savior has been born to you!”

Prayer: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! Take away all anger, sadness, or anxiety and fill me with the great joy that comes from knowing a Savior is born for me. Keep me in your peace. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – December 17, 2023

One truth shared: Especially when we’re struggling, God desires to bring us perfect joy through the gift of Jesus!

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11

He is Bringing Perfect Joy

A talk radio host made an astounding comment, “There’s a lot of pain and fear in the people of our country…. So many people are not happy right now.”

Is that you?

Young people all over our country are experiencing a great deal of anxiety along with a variety of other mental health issues. This is supposed to be a festive time of the year with Christmas parties and gatherings all around us. When you are hurting and in pain or full of anxiety, it isn’t easy to watch people around you celebrate. How can you find joy and celebrate this time of year when you constantly live under such a heavy burden?

Here’s an idea: Let’s announce next year to be a “Year of Jubilee.” That’s what Isaiah talks when he announces the “year of the LORD’s favor.” This is a reference to an actual Jewish historical event called the Year of Jubilee. Every 50 years when the jubilee year came, all debts were forgiven, all slaves were freed, and all inheritance land was returned to its original owner. The past was forgiven and forgotten, the slate was wiped clean, and everyone was given a new beginning!

At Christmas, we celebrate God sending Jesus into this world to give unhappy people a new beginning and bring relief to the beggars, the brokenhearted, the enslaved, the prisoners, the people who lost their inheritance—to those crushed with sin and helpless to do anything about their desperate situation. Christmas celebrates God taking action and doing what we could never do. He ushered in our Year of Jubilee. Our debt of sin has been canceled, the prison door of death has been opened, our inheritance in heaven has been restored, and we have a new beginning!

What a difference having a Messiah makes in our lives, especially when we approach our God. When we came to God before, we were completely out of place. We were people who had only the torn and stained rags of their sinful lies covering them. Dressed like that, we had no right to stand in God’s holy presence. But now we stand before our God looking like a bride dressed beautifully on her wedding day—pure and white in the garments of holiness God’s own Son has selected for us.

“So many people are not happy right now.” But it doesn’t have to be you! With the perfection of Christ covering us through faith, we have favor with God. The trumpet of joy is sounding in our hearts as we reflect on the change Jesus has made in our lives. So rejoice, my friends! God gives you perfect joy!

Prayer: Almighty and eternal God, fill my heart with thoughts of jubilee! Though I might be weighed down with problems, troubles, worries, and anxieties, in Jesus I have reason to celebrate! This festive season, focus my attention on the good news of freedom and the holy clothing I wear because of my Savior. In his name I ask this. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – December 10, 2023

One truth shared: It is essential that we stay prepared and ready to meet Jesus at all times!

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
2 Peter 3:8-14

Prepare to Meet Him

“How come it takes so long?” That depends on what are you waiting for. To get picked up by your ride? For the food you ordered to get done? Because your parents won’t stop talking and you just want to get home?

The season of Advent focuses our attention forward to the coming of our Savior back to this earth. Christmas is coming… and so is Christmas break! We are tempted to ask, “How come it takes so long?” You aren’t alone. The apostle Peter wrote today’s words to some of his impatient friends who felt God was slow in returning on judgment day. “Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Peter encouraged them to just be ready for when Jesus returns. Why it is so important? “The day of the Lord will come like a thief.” Imagine a thief is planning to break into your house. Will he call you up earlier in the day and say, “Hey, I just want to give you a heads-up that I’ll be over tonight… midnight-ish.” That’s ridiculous! Here’s the point: If you know it’s a real possibility for a thief to break in on any night, then be prepared for it. Lock the doors. Turn on outdoor lights.

That’s the season of Advent. It focuses our attention forward to the coming of our Savior back to this earth. He’s given us a heads-up that his return will be like a thief in the night. Our only hope is to just be ready. The only way that we can stand before God holy and blameless as he desires is for our faith to be locked in on Jesus. We do that through regular and daily repentance. We lay ourselves bare before the Lord by recognizing our sins and then laying them before the Lord and asking for his forgiveness. We then stand confident in the forgiveness of Jesus that we have been cleansed of our sin and made holy in God’s sight! With faith in him, we are prepared to stand before God in judgment!

There’s so much going on this month of the year. Christmas is coming. No matter how impatient we might be, it is essential that we stay prepared as we wait for Jesus’ final coming.

Keep your focus. Be on your guard. Stay prepared!

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, there are so many distractions which grab our attention and attempt to pull our attention away from you as we await your return. Through daily repentance, help us to keep our eyes fixed on you at all times. Lead us to not grow impatient as we wait but to stay prepared and ready for your return. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – December 3, 2023

One truth shared: Having the right expectations for Jesus shapes our anticipation for his coming!

When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:7-10

He Is Coming to Save Us

Our entire perspective on whether something is good or bad can hinge on the expectations we had going into it. The season of Advent helps us to look forward to the coming of our King, Jesus. Having the correct expectations for Jesus can keep us from becoming disappointed or disenchanted. What kind of a king are you looking for in Jesus?

  • Some expect for Jesus to bring them earthly health and success. They have the expectation that if they follow him and serve him, then earthly success and health will come to them.
  • Others expect from Jesus a richness of earthly blessings like luxury and ease.
  • Still others expect that following Jesus means there will be no hardships or challenges or sad times or loss. When you look to him as the one who can take away physical problems, it is disheartening when those problems continue.

It’s easy to come to Jesus with all the wrong expectations and, like the crowd on the first Palm Sunday, become disappointed and disenchanted.

The crowd had it correct when they shouted, “Hosannah,” which means, “Come and save us.” This is exactly the reason for which Jesus came to this earth! He came here to save us. The hard part of recognizing this truth is that it begs the question: Do we need saving? The hard truth is: Yes, we do. It helps shape our expectations this Christmas. A newborn King enters our world so that he might be the King who fights for us. Jesus could see everything on the way into Jerusalem and everything on his path to the cross. He saw the battlefield and the satanic forces of evil facing him. And then, he saw you. He heard your cry, “Come save me!” What motivated Jesus from his cradle to his cross? It was you—his love for you.

What a King we have! As we prepare to celebrate the coming of our King, let’s make sure that our expectations are in the correct place. We are celebrating a King who came to save us!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending into this world the exact King that we needed to save us from our sins. Keep our eyes focused on him as the only one who defeated the devil and offers eternal life. Help us to continue to do battle against our sinful nature, the world and the devil himself. Keep us safe eternally as we look forward to the joys of heaven that we will enjoy with our King. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – November 26, 2023

One truth shared: God neither sacrificed his justice for the sake of his love—nor did he sacrifice his love for the sake of his justice. God sacrificed himself for the sake of you.

“As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

By the Book

It’s not fair.

How come your siblings can stay out late but you have a curfew? How come you get a B- on your paper and your classmate (who plagiarized their paper) got an A? How come you have to sit on the bench when your teammate (who is always late for practice) gets way more playing time than you?

That happens, doesn’t it? Coaches can sometimes care more about conference trophies than being consistent. Teachers don’t always see the corners that other students cut. And our parents aren’t always balanced in how they parent us versus our siblings.

Not so with God.

In Daniel 7, the “Ancient of Days”—God the Father—enters the scene to preside from his throne of judgment on the Last Day. Such a holy judge neither judges unfairly, nor arbitrarily. He doesn’t wield his gavel with favoritism. He is completely just and righteous.

He’s not like coaches, teachers, or parents who can’t see the full picture: he’s witnessed everything. He meticulously judges by the book—and those books will be opened. John’s vision in Revelation explains the books that Daniel saw. John writes, “Then I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”

So, how do you feel about God judging by the book?

Be it self-determination or self-absorption, our world is inclined to ground our confidence before God in ourselves. “I’m a pretty good person,” we say. “Why wouldn’t God let me into his heaven?” We do our best, and sugar coat our worst. We cherry pick the glamorous, and glaze over the gross—and somehow, we think God might not notice.

But he does. Our God is a judge who judges by the book. And if we insist on earning our entry into heaven by virtue of that book that contains all that we’ve ever done—we’ll find nothing but filthy rags.

But in the courtroom of heaven, we do have one who speaks to the Father on our defense. Because God the Father isn’t the only judge presiding. The one pleading your case and pronouncing you “not guilty” is the very Son of God, the King of heaven and earth—your Savior Jesus.

You see, God doesn’t forget nor forgo his justice. He judges by the book. But when you and I would have stood convicted and condemned in the courtroom of heaven, our loving Savior steps in. And those sins on our ledger? Jesus claimed them as his own.

But he didn’t just claim our sinfulness: he claimed the punishment for those sins, too. God’s unrelenting justice dropped on the God-man on Calvary, all because of his unrelenting love for you. Jesus didn’t come to sidestep God’s wrath, but to satisfy it by being the blameless, atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross.

Can you see how Jesus changes everything? On that day that you and I stand before the Ancient of Days, your God will see your sins buried in Christ’s death. He will see when you were clothed with Christ’s holiness at your baptism. He will see how his Spirit dwells within you. On that day, the books will be opened, and your God will judge by the book! And he will see your name in the book of life!

Prayer: O Ancient of Days, I plead my case before you today because Christ is by my side. Thank you for your unending love that will never give up on me. With my confidence in Christ alone, I will believe and live life because you already see my name in your book of life. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – November 19, 2023

One truth shared: The why behind our living and giving self-sacrificially is God’s abundant love for us in Christ; it shapes how we see other members of the body of believers.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:1-8

Remember your Membership

Do you know what an autoimmune disease is?

An autoimmune disease is when your body’s natural defense system can’t distinguish between your own cells and foreign cells. For example, Type 1 Diabetes is where your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas—meaning you’ll need regular insulin shots to survive. Or take Multiple Sclerosis (MS), where your immune system attacks nerve cells, which results in cognitive difficulties, vision problems, fatigue, and loss of muscle coordination.

Chances are, you or someone you know struggles with an autoimmune disease. And they’ll tell you how difficult life is—because their body isn’t operating the way it’s supposed to: simply put, the body starts attacking itself.

Sadly enough, Christians can suffer from autoimmune diseases, too. And I don’t mean Type 1 Diabetes or MS. I mean when we use our words to tear other Christians down. It’s when we hold grudges against fellow believers and withhold forgiveness. It’s when we are jealous of the gifts other Christians have and are dissatisfied with the gifts God has given us. It’s when we see our gifts as “better” or “more important” then the gifts of other Christians we know. When we start to conform to the self-centered patterns of this world, the body of believers suffers—and even wages war against itself.

So, what sets us free from the patterns of this world—and breaks down all barriers between us? What empowers us to defy the patterns of this world and stand out—and serve boldly, even self-sacrificially? What puts the patterns of this world to shame and inspires a greater kindness and a greater love within us? What reduces the patterns of this world to rubble and rallies people of all tribes and all generations behind a common, singular banner for a common, singular identity? To answer that, we need to go back to Romans 12:1, to the key operative phrase of that verse: “in view of God’s mercy.” The why behind our living and giving self-sacrificially is God’s abundant love for us in Christ.

Want to hear something awesome? God doesn’t need your time, talents, or treasures. They were never initially yours to begin with: God gifted them to you. Our God’s existence doesn’t depend on how much money we give to church—as if he needs to eat to survive; he’s the God who daily puts bread on your plate, because you need him to survive. He’s a God who doesn’t need you—yet he, in love, would relentlessly pursue you because you need him! He would rather have a heaven with you than without you. He’s the God who gives us his best—even when we give him our worst. He’s the God who, to buy us eternal residence in the mansions of heaven, would shed his perfect blood on a cross, to win us forgiveness and an identity that will never perish, spoil, or fade: in Christ, you are God’s family!

But not just you! You, in Christ, have been grafted into a diverse body of other Christians, too. And in the time between now and eternity, you need them—just as they need you. After all, our God doesn’t just give to us; our God gives through us. Dear Christian, remember that you are an invaluable member of a far greater body—a body that includes your Christian neighbor, too.

So, in view of God’s amazing mercy, how might you uplift and encourage the body of believers today?

Prayer: Christ Jesus, I give thanks to you for graciously grafting me into your family. Thank you for the unique gifts and talents you’ve not only given me, but the gifts of those Christians around me. By your Spirit, help me to cherish them, to appreciate their gifts, and to help me use my gifts to help them, too. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – November 12, 2023

One truth shared: For a world with millions of reasons to lose sleep, our gracious God wakes us up with gospel words of comfort and peace. There is no nightmare that can steal the rest you have in Christ.

Awake, awake, Zion,
clothe yourself with strength!
Put on your garments of splendor,
Jerusalem, the holy city.
The uncircumcised and defiled
will not enter you again.
Shake off your dust;
rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,
Daughter Zion, now a captive.
For this is what the LORD says:

“You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed.”
Isaiah 52:1-3

The Redeemed Find Rest

What would you consider to be your worst nightmare? Falling from a tall building? Missing an important event? Getting dumped by your significant other? Or being chased by a terrifying clown?

As awful as nightmares are, at least they’re over when you wake up. But for the inhabitants of Judah, it felt like they were stuck in a nightmare that would never end.

Not long before Isaiah wrote these words, the Judah’s northern neighbor—the kingdom of Israel—was wiped out by the Assyrian Empire. And now the strength of Assyria’s army was knocking at the doors of Judah. If you could walk Jerusalem’s streets, you wouldn’t hear songs and shouts for joy; you’d hear songs of grief, shame, and sadness—sung not in the clothing of celebration, but rags and ashes.

Those songs of grief and sadness were sung until the day—nearly a century later—when the Babylonian Empire would invade Judah and level the city of Jerusalem. Those songs of grief and sadness were sung as the last of Judah’s inhabitants were taken away and deported to Babylon. And for 70 years, sad songs were sung while they sat in exile. The people of Judah felt they were sleepwalking through one, long, grief-filled nightmare.

We know the feeling. The feeling like everything is falling apart—and there’s nothing we can do. The feeling of having nowhere to go with our guilt and shame. The feeling of sleepwalking through the heart and heartache. The feeling of tossing and turning over questions of identity, meaning, purpose, and our destiny.

And just like a loving dad who runs to his son or daughter when they’re having a nightmare, our God graciously runs into our broken world to wake us up from our nightmares too.

For the people of Judah, God faithfully upheld his gracious promise to deliver them from captivity. “Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion, put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city.” “Set aside your sitting in dust and ashes! I have come to deliver you! I have come to redeem you—to buy you back! Though you gave yourself away for free, I have come to freely redeem you to myself! Because you are precious and valuable to me!” But those aren’t just God’s words for Israel; these are his words for you!

The same God who moved an empire to release his people from captivity is the same God who would work an even greater redemption for the entire world—including you! We live in a world in need of liberation from sin and death. And without redemption from that bondage, we’d be exiled from God and his goodness forever. We needed a Savior, someone who would end the nightmare of sin and death and make all things good once again.

And that Savior has come. Because of his undying love for you, your God and Savior Jesus pursued you to reconcile you to himself. To set us free from the nightmare of sin, death, and hell, Jesus would take ownership of our sin, endure our hell, and die our death on a cross. That was the cost to redeem you: God’s holy, precious blood. Jesus paid it all—all out of love for you.

Such a redemption came at a cost. The price of such redemption was God’s holy, precious blood. And that’s the price your Savior Jesus paid on the cross—all out of love for you. Not a single nightmare can separate you from the love of God you have in Christ. Not sickness. Not suffering. Not death itself.

So, get some good sleep tonight—knowing you belong to Jesus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know all that’s on my heart and mind. You know the nightmares that leave me restless and afraid. Remind me of your goodness, your steadfast mercy, and abiding faithfulness—and that no nightmare can possibly separate me from your redeeming love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – November 5, 2023

One truth shared: See your Savior dying our death under the hashtag “#cursed” so you—when you die—will live under the hashtag “#blessed.”

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12

#blessed

If you were to go on Instagram and look up photos with the hashtag “#blessed,” would you find a picture of you?

What you will find are pictures of athletes receiving championship trophies and gold medals. You’ll find pictures of students graduating from prestigious universities with honors. You’ll find pictures of entrepreneurial giants making millions while creating billion-dollar industries that change the world. You’ll find pictures of celebrities taking selfies with their adoring fans. You’ll find every picture-perfect person vacationing at beautiful places—all the while showing off their toned abs by the pool.

When you search for pictures with the hashtag #blessed, you’ll find people who appear to be absolutely winning at life. #blessed are the attractive. #blessed are the achievers. #blessed are the popular. #blessed are the privileged. #blessed are the rich—for every pleasure in this world is within reach. #blessed are the comfortable—for they don’t need comforting. #blessed are the strong—for they will inherit positions of power and respect. #blessed are the those who hunger and thirst for success, for they will be satisfied. #blessed are the those who are praised and complimented and smothered with recognition for who they are, for flattery is its own reward.

But when we arrive at the opening words of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we’re not shown pictures of some guy driving a Maserati or some girl in designer clothes walking down a runway. We’re shown people who—by the world’s estimation—aren’t winning at life, but utterly losing.

”Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the pure in heart… Blessed are the peacemakers… Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness…” those who are insulted, beaten, and maliciously slandered all because they follow Jesus. How could any of this coincide with someone who is #blessed?

But who do you know whose life is perfectly embodied by these Beatitudes? Who was perfectly merciful to us when we needed to be shown mercy? Who beautifully embodied ”meekness” as he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem to wage war against sin, death and hell for you? Who would be persecuted so that you would be saved?

Jesus. The Beatitudes paint his portrait—for you!

See your Savior fulfilling all the promises of Scripture for you. See your Savior not running from suffering, rejection and isolation, but running headlong into it so you wouldn’t experience that for eternity. See your sin, guilt, and shame nailed to his cross. See your Savior dying our death under the hashtag “#cursed” so you—when you die—will live under the hashtag “#blessed.”

You are #blessed because, in Christ, you are reconciled to God. You are #blessed because, in Christ, you are forgiven and adopted into God’s family. You are #blessed because, in Christ, the riches of heaven are your reward. Your Savior lives. And because Jesus lives, who cares if anyone will ever find your photo on Instagram? Your very name is written in the book of life.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise you for your amazing, unending, undeserved love for someone like me. I thank you for sending your Son to live for me and die for me to make me a member of your family. As I endure hardships in my life, may I never forget the eternal identity I have in your Son. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – October 29, 2023

One truth shared: When you feel you’re in a lion’s den, our Savior was devoured (so to speak) in the ultimate lion’s den to ultimately deliver us from every single one of ours.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Daniel 6:10-12, 16-23

In the Midst of Lions

Thirty teeth. That’s what you’ll find in the mouth of the average lion: 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars, and 4 molars. Add to that a bite force that is four times stronger than yours (650 pounds per square inch to be exact). And that’s just one lion. Now imagine an entire den full of them—and they’re eyeing you up as a chew toy. Daniel didn’t have to imagine: he was in the midst of lions.

But Daniel was “in the midst of lions” even before he was tossed into a lions’ den. Long before lions would attempt to tear him up, his employees were attempting to tear him down. Daniel’s employees were out for blood—his blood. But they had nothing on Daniel. In fact, Daniel had distinguished himself to the king by his trustworthiness, integrity, and other exceptional qualities. His employees couldn’t find any dirt on Daniel. All they had to work with was his evident faith in his God—the LORD.

So, they came up with a plan: they would flatter the king, and then convince him to decree that everyone in his kingdom had to flatter him, too—by worshiping him and him alone. “Anyone who prays to any god or human being… except you, your majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.” The king loved the sound of that—until his irreversible decree landed Daniel in the lions’ den. Because Daniel loved and trusted in the LORD God above all things—and his faith landed him in the midst of lions.

But he wasn’t alone.

Centuries earlier, King David describes how he felt as he was being persecuted. “I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords” (Psalm 57:4). Maybe you’ve felt the bite for being a Christian. Maybe your social circle has snapped at you for saying “no” to something you know isn’t right. Maybe you’ve felt surrounded by people who seem out to get you—all because you cling to a crucified God for comfort.

But you’re not alone.

God was with Daniel. God sent his angel to shut the powerful jaws of every lion surrounding his prophet. God delivered Daniel from that lions’ den—just as your God continues to deliver you from yours. That isn’t to say the time between now and eternity will be free of pain or persecution for our faith. But what we can’t say is “God has abandoned me.” Because he hasn’t. He’s will always be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. And how do we know that?

Because your God doesn’t just stand with you in the midst of lions; your God would stand for you in the midst of lions. “Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me,” your Savior Jesus would say of his suffering on the cross. “They pierce my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:13,16b). But your Savior wouldn’t just be devoured by the mistreatment, abuse, and mockery of the world for you. Your Savior would endure the bite of God’s justice to free you from the jaws of death. And three days later, your Savior emerged victorious from the den of death—proving he has rescued you from sin and death as well.

So, let the lions roar. The Lion of Judah (Jesus) roars with you—and for you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I give thanks to you that you truly are with us always—through thick and thin—to the end of the age. By your Spirit and through your Word, calm my anxious mind and still my troubled heart. For you, O Lord, are with me. You, dear Jesus, will never leave me nor forsake me. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – October 22, 2023

One truth shared: God has established all government and calls on us to show honor and respect to the government.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1

Do I Have to Respect the Government?

There is a lot of division in America over politics lately. Maybe you’ve noticed. There’s lots of shouting and fighting, and no one seems to be able to get along. Some of the leaders in politics don’t always seem to have the best interests of the people they serve in mind. It raises the question: do I have to respect the government in the country in which I live?

God speaks pretty strongly about this in Romans 13. He says everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, because the authorities that exist have been established by God.

You might argue, “But what if my government is really bad!?” I’d like to remind you of the government in place when Paul wrote these words. The Roman government was hunting Christians down in the street and putting them to death. Eventually they would execute Paul as well, and he still said people should submit to the government.

There is a limit, obviously. We must obey God rather than men. This means that if our government commands us to do something sinful, we would have to obey God rather than men at that point.

But God has established all governments for the good of his people to maintain peace and order. Even when a government appears to be evil, we can be confident that God is using their actions for the eternal good of those who love him.

Whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, a Libertarian, or an Independent, you owe honor and respect to the government regardless of who is in power, because it has been instituted by God.

Pray for your political leaders whether you agree with all of their policies or not. Pray that God would be with them and use them to bring peace and prosperity to the land in which you live. Pray that they, too, would come to know the Savior who bled and died for them.

Finally, even when you have sharp disagreements with your government, take comfort in the fact that God is still the one in ultimate control. No government can do anything he doesn’t allow it to do, and he is working out everything in history according to his perfect plan.

Prayer: Father in heaven, be with the leaders in our government. Give them wisdom to make the best decisions for the people of this country. Let us treat them with honor and respect even when we disagree with them. If they don’t know you already, bring them to a knowledge of your Son. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – October 15, 2023

One truth shared: Jesus invites you and clothes you for his eternal party in heaven.

For many are invited, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14

A Story of Insane Rejection

Are there some invitations you would prefer to ignore? You might not want to accept the invitation to your great aunt’s birthday party when your friends are planning to hang out that night. You might not want to accept the invitation to the wedding where you’ll hardly know anyone.

On the other hand, there are some invitations you’d never reject: an invitation to meet your favorite band backstage or an invitation to the Super Bowl. There are some invitations we accept and some we reject.

In Matthew 22, Jesus tells a story about a king who threw a big wedding reception for his son. He invited all the people you would expect, but all of them rejected the invitation. In fact, they even killed the servants who brought them the invitations. It was an insane rejection!

Naturally, the king was enraged and sent his army to deliver justice and put those men to death. Then the king had his servants go out into the street and invite anyone and everyone into the wedding reception. They invited those you’d expect to be at a royal wedding and those you wouldn’t expect to be there in a million years.

Jesus says this story illustrates the kingdom of heaven. He has sent out invitations far and wide through the message of the gospel for people to trust in him as their Savior. This trust in Jesus, worked in us by the Holy Spirit, serves as one’s ticket into the heavenly banquet that he has prepared for us. It would be insane to reject this invitation, but some people do. Don’t reject Jesus’ invitation.

There’s one more wrinkle to Jesus’ story about the wedding banquet. After all the guests came in from the street, a man was found who wasn’t wearing any wedding clothes. He hadn’t come prepared for the wedding, so he was thrown out.

You, too, need to make sure you have the right clothes to get into the heavenly banquet. Thankfully, Jesus gives you the clothes you need. He has clothed you in his robes of righteousness. He has made you perfect through his death on the cross. Should anything happen to you today, know that you have everything you need to join in the heavenly party!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to cherish the invitation to your heavenly banquet which you have extended to me through the message of the gospel. Thank you for clothing me in Jesus’ righteousness that I might be worthy to enter heaven. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – October 8, 2023

One truth shared: Jesus is the only foundation in life worth building on, and he’s the only one who won’t fail us.

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
Matthew 21:42

What is the foundation of your life?

What is your foundation in life? What brings you peace, joy, and fulfillment? What is the one thing that would cause your life to fall apart if it was taken away from you? Maybe it’s family. Maybe it’s good grades. Maybe it’s a significant other. None of those things are bad, but none of them should be the cornerstone of your life. Jesus tells us what, rather who, should be the cornerstone of your life, and it’s him.

It was the Tuesday before Good Friday, and Jesus was sparring with the Pharisees like he had so many times before, but he knew he was only three days away from his crucifixion. So he wasn’t holding back any punches anymore.

Jesus told the Pharisees a parable (read Matthew 21:33-43) about some tenants of a vineyard who kept beating up and killing the servants of the owner until finally the owner sent his son to the vineyard. They killed him too.

Jesus’ message was clear. The people of Israel had rejected and killed the prophets over and over again. Now God had sent his own Son to them, and they were planning to kill him too. They had rejected the cornerstone.

Rejecting the cornerstone doesn’t end well for anyone. According to Jesus, everyone who does so will be broken to pieces or crushed. Let that be a warning for us.

Even more than warning, though, there is a promise. A promise that when Jesus is our cornerstone, the rest of our life will be solid. That’s because Jesus is the one true constant in our lives. Family, good grades, a significant other… those things are all capable of failing us. But Jesus will never fail us.

Jesus is rock-solid, and he promises that when we put our faith in him, we are solid too. He has made us solid through the payment that he made for our sin on the cross. There is nothing that anyone or anything can do to change that, because Christ is our cornerstone.

Stop looking for the stability of something or someone else. When you have Jesus, you’ve got the foundation for your life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are my cornerstone, and in you I put my trust. Help me to always keep you as my foundation in this life. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – October 1, 2023

One truth shared: Being right with God isn’t about saying the right things and going through the motions. Being right with God is about knowing that Jesus accomplished it all for us. This leads us to respond with love of our own.

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered.
Matthew 21:28-31a

Walk the Walk

“He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?”

Words are useless unless they are backed up by action. If you had a boyfriend of girlfriend who told you they love you, that would feel pretty good. However, if they turn around and talk poorly about you to their friends or speak to you in a demeaning manner, they don’t really love you. Words must be backed up by action.

Jesus illustrated this point in a parable. There was a father who told both of his sons to go and do some work in the vineyard. The first son told him he wasn’t going to do it, but on second thought, he went and did the work asked of him. The second son told him that he would do it, but then he never actually went. Which of the sons showed their father that they loved him? Well, it was the first son who showed his love through action. So, which son are you?

We look a lot like the first son. He said “No, father, I won’t go and work as your son.” You and I can probably think of times when we have blatantly said, “No” to our heavenly Father. “No, I’m not going to forgive that person.” “No, I am not going to clean up my language and life.” “No, I’m going to live the way I want to live, and no one is going to tell me otherwise.” But other times, you and I act just as phony as the second son. We say, “Yes” to our heavenly Father, but our words lack action.

Jesus is the perfect Son. He didn’t just say that he loved us. He showed that he loved us through his suffering and death on the cross. He showed that he would go to any means necessary to give us eternal life. There has never been any love greater than this.

Jesus wants us to respond to his love with love of our own. He wants us to love him and love our neighbor.

This doesn’t mean we just say the right words or go through the motions. We show our love through our actions.

We show our love for God by making time to worship him on Sunday mornings and by following his commandments. We show our love for our neighbor by helping them when they are in need and picking them up when they are down.

When it comes to loving God and others, don’t just talk the talk. Walk the walk. Jesus walked the greatest walk ever for you.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving me. Help me to always show my love for you and for my neighbor. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – September 24, 2023

One truth shared: Sometimes we can question God’s fairness in regard to who is saved. In reality, we should change our perspective and recognize that it isn’t “fair” that God saves anyone, including us, because of our sinfulness. This leads us to see God’s generosity and rejoice in it.

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Matthew 20:13-16

Is God fair?

“Life’s not fair.”

Maybe your parents have said that to you before. You wanted to go to a movie with your friends, but you had to stay home and watch your younger siblings. You protested and pointed out the unfairness. You were simply hit with “Life’s not fair.”

Humans want things to be fair. We want everyone to get a fair shake. We also want everyone to do their fair share of the work to be done.

We let this desire for fairness spill into how we think about God and eternal life. We want to make sure that God is fair when it comes to whom he allows into his heaven.

Here’s some news for you. God’s not fair.

Jesus used a parable to make this point. A parable is a simple little story that contains profound truths about life and eternity.

He told the story of a man who hired some men to work in his vineyard. They agreed he would pay them one denarius (one day’s wage) for their work. He went out a little later and hired some more men for the day. He did this three more times throughout the day.

Some of the men worked twelve hours. Some worked nine hours. Some worked six hours. Some worked three hours, and some only worked one hour.

However, when the time came for them to paid, everyone was paid the same amount for their work. You can understand why the men who worked all day long were not very happy with the owner. It wasn’t fair!

But the owner showed that he was being completely fair. He paid them what they had agreed upon. He had every right to be generous and pay the rest of the men the same regardless of how long they worked.

Some people are baptized into God’s family as little babies and live their entire lives as Christians. Other people come to know Jesus as their Savior on their deathbed after living a life chasing after the things of the world. Many people come to believe in Jesus somewhere in between those two things. Yet all of them receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Is it fair that the murderer who comes to faith in prison will receive the same eternal reward as you?

That’s really the wrong question to ask. The right question would be “Is it fair that God sent his only Son to die on the cross for my sins even though I did nothing to deserve it?”

It isn’t. God’s not fair to himself. That’s a good thing for us. Rather than question God’s fairness, rejoice in his generosity! Rejoice that he gave up his only Son on the cross, so that you could live with him in heaven forever!

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Son to die for me even though it wasn’t fair to him. Help me to rejoice in your generosity every time a new person believes in you and your grace. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – September 17, 2023

One truth shared: We forgive as God has forgiven us.

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:15-21

When forgiving is the hardest

Giving the right gift isn’t always easy. When you know someone really well you have a better idea of what they want and what they could use. But sometimes, you don’t know the person whose name you pulled for the Christmas gift exchange. What gift are you going to give them? Good luck! The better we know someone, the easier it is to give them a gift. Better yet, it’s easiest to give to someone we know has a specific need our gift can fill.

But what about that certain someone you feel is the very last person on the face of the earth who deserves your gift? You know what they’ve done to you and how they’ve hurt you, they don’t deserve anything from you. That is the situation Joseph was in. He was loved by his father, but not by his brothers. They were all jealous of Joseph who was “the favorite.” So they got rid of him by selling him off into slavery and lying to their father about it. But God had other plans. Joseph ascended to second in command in Egypt. His leadership helped provide the Egyptians the gift of food during a severe famine.

Then Joseph’s brothers came looking for food too. They didn’t know Joseph was their brother Joseph. When they found out he was still alive and one of the most powerful people on earth, they were terrified. They assumed Joseph would throw them into slavery as payback.

But Joseph didn’t. He knew they had hurt him deeply, but that God had loved him completely through it all. Because Joseph knew God was so gracious to him, he then could be gracious and forgiving towards his brothers. He told them right away “Don’t be afraid!” He wasn’t here to take them away. God had put Joseph there at that very moment to give his brothers the best gift: forgiveness.

Who has hurt you? Who has apologized to you lately? Who do you need to apologize to? The story of Joseph and his brothers is a perfect example of Christian reconciliation. We too can restore our relationships with one another by apologizing, forgiving, and loving each other just as Christ has loved and forgiven us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, you sent Joseph and his brothers to Egypt so they could eventually be together again in love and forgiveness. Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. Move me to be the one who gives your gift of forgiveness to the people in my life. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – September 10, 2023

One truth shared: The Church is willing to say hard things in order to save a soul.

When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”
Galatians 2:11-16

Pulling from the Wreckage

The Jaws of Life seems like an odd name for a portable, hydraulic tool meant to save someone. “Jaws” make you think of the fangs of a lion or a great white shark making its way close. But “jaws” can save people too, like in a car accident. If someone is in a rollover accident and pinned inside a crushed vehicle, the Jaws of Life are a handheld tool firefighters use to extricate a victim by cutting the metal of the car or separating it. These tools have ten to twenty thousand pounds of cutting/pulling force! When they come your way, you know you are going to be safe.

If you have ever driven by the scene of a car accident, you know how scary it can be. What if firefighters lacked the rescue tools or had no clue how to use them? Worse, what if they were scared to even come and help? What if they didn’t have the stomach for it and fainted every time they saw blood? Would that be loving? Helpful?

Nope.

In Galatians chapter 2, Paul witnessed a spiritual wreck. Not collision of cars, but a horrifying pile-up of souls being led to believe that God loved some souls (Jews) more and other souls (Gentiles) less, based on who they were at birth. They started separating themselves from people who had a different background than them. And the worst part was that another leader in the church, the apostle Peter, was leading the way in this accident.

Paul could have found excuses to stay away from the conflict, but he went in with the Jaws of Life—the rescue tool of God’s Word. He confronted Peter in front of the group so that the damage would stop and the healing would begin. Peter would realize his error. The Galatian group was extricated from a messy situation back to safety. Now they knew that it was Jesus, and only Jesus, that saves us. Our background and works have nothing to do with it. We are saved by grace alone!

What’s the takeaway for us? Paul was willing to get his hands dirty if it meant pulling a soul from the world’s wreckage and saving them with the love of Jesus. So can you! Sometimes people in our lives make a mess with their own sinful decisions. Jesus wants us to love them enough to point out their sin, but in a way that shows how every sin is forgiven by Jesus too. Freed by grace new life begins! There is no better job to have!

Prayer: Lord, help me to run towards the people who need my help most. Give me the courage to confront sin in order to help others. Give me humility when someone confronts my own sin. Use those conversations to grow us in our faith in you. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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Transformed – teen devotion – September 3, 2023

One truth shared: Because Jesus carried his cross for us, we deny ourselves and carry our crosses for him.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matthew 16:21-27

A Necessary Weight

Everyone packs with different priorities. Which best describes you? Do you travel light or pack heavy?

  • Some will pack light and take as little as possible along with them (like in a backpack). It’s someone who prioritizes getting to and from places fast without bringing the extra weight of luggage.
  • Others like to be prepared for everything. They’ll pack an outfit for every weather scenario and all the beauty products from the bathroom counter… just in case! They’ll be prepared, but the luggage will be heavy. Who knows, maybe the weight will be necessary to carry?

In Matthew 16, Jesus tells his followers that the extra weight of the cross is necessary. Peter just confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of the world. But when Jesus told him that dying on the cross would be necessary to save the whole world, Peter didn’t want to hear it. In fact, he pulled Jesus to the side and tried to get him to avoid the weight of the cross waiting for him in Jerusalem.

Here’s how Jesus replied: “GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!”

Wow! What if Jesus would say that to you? Does that get your attention? Why was Jesus so serious with Peter? Because he wanted Peter to understand something important. If Jesus avoided the cross, our sins would not be forgiven and we would have no idea where we were going after we die.

But Jesus carried his cross for us. He didn’t avoid the weight or the pain. He denied his own comfort so that we would someday be comfortable with him in heaven forever. But until then, Jesus tells us we too must carry crosses. No cross? No Christian. It means that Jesus wants us to put him first in our lives. He wants us to put others first as well. To keep it simple, Jesus wants us to deny ourselves and follow him. This is the Christian carrying their cross.

When we realize that we have all the life we need in Jesus, we can live as selflessly as Jesus did. Will it be easy? No! But will it be worth it? Absolutely. The cross of Jesus was worth it. After he rose from the dead, he was seated in heaven as King of kings and Lord of lords. He carried his cross first, then received his crown of glory. It will be the same for us. The best part of a long trip with heavy luggage is dropping it on the floor when you get home. That’s what it will be like when we get to heaven. We get to drop the weight of our crosses and pick up the crown that Jesus has waiting for us in heaven. First the cross, then the crown.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is not easy for me to deny my own wants and desires. Keep me focused on how you gave yourself up for me on the cross. Use your sacrifice to motivate me to live a sacrificial life for my friends and family. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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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