Alive to God – November 15, 2025

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[Jesus said,] “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
Luke 20:38

Alive to God

Many people hope that, if God does exist, they will be able to live with him in heaven. Unfortunately for those who do not have faith in Jesus, this is a baseless hope that ends only in disaster. In contrast, Jesus helps us understand what it means to be alive to God. He also provides the assurance needed to know that we will live with him forever.

Jesus’ words appear to be challenging. He said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” There are two implications. The first is how God views those who die. When this life comes to an end, people don’t simply fade into nothingness. God still recognizes and preserves the soul. This leads to a second, and greater implication. How does that soul remain alive to God?

The answer is found in only one place and with only one person. In the Bible, God reveals the person to whom we need to hold. It is through Jesus and his precious work that we find confidence and are alive to God. In Jesus, we escape the justice of disobedience and are set free from the condemnation of sin. In Jesus, we are released from the sentence of God’s eternal punishment and declared not guilty. Our confidence comes as the result of Jesus’ blessed assurance. He promised, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

It is only because of Jesus’ precious work and his never-failing promise that we have this confidence: “I am alive to God, and I will live with him forever.”

Prayer:

O gracious God, Lord of life and death, bless me with the gift of faith which not only takes hold of eternal life, but which also holds on to the source of that life—my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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God’s Awesomeness Hurts My Brain – November 14, 2025

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Read: Luke 20:27-38

Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. Jesus replied, “Those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come . . . will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. Luke 20:27-38 (selected verses)

God’s Awesomeness Hurts My Brain

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever really thought about space . . . like, really thought about it?

  • The light from the closest star to us (besides the sun!) takes over four years to reach Earth.
  • Other stars are so far away that their light takes thousands, or even millions, of years to get here!
  • If you could fly in a spaceship past those stars, you’d see even more tiny stars, and past those, even more stars, and it keeps going forever.

Doesn’t that hurt your brain? It’s almost impossible to imagine how big space is!

Back in Jesus’ day, a group of people (called the Sadducees) had a hard time imagining heaven. They didn’t even believe it existed! They thought, “If we can’t understand it, it can’t be real!” So, they tried to trap Jesus with a tricky question, hoping he’d admit that heaven doesn’t make sense.

But God doesn’t work by human rules. Jesus told them that heaven is so different from Earth that we won’t fully understand it. Yet, in heaven:

  • There is no sin—nothing bad ever happens.
  • The only thing that matters is that we are God’s children (Luke 20:36) forever.

And if you ever doubt that God can raise his children to live with him for eternity, just remember: He made all of space! If God can make something so mind-blowing and enormous, he can certainly do anything—including keeping all his believers with him forever in heaven.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me the awesome gift of heaven. Even though I struggle to fully understand it, I know it’s going to be great! Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • How old were you four years ago? That’s how long the light from the closest star has been traveling to reach Earth!
  • List some amazing things God created. (Stars, oceans, mountains, animals—anything that makes you say “Wow!”)

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • God calls us his children. How does that make you feel? (Safe, loved, important?)
  • What do parents do for their children? Now think—that’s what God does for you, too!

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • What things about heaven don’t make sense to your brain? (No sin, no sickness, living forever . . . how can it all be real?)
  • What will you do if someone tries to stump you with a question about heaven? (Remember: God can do anything, and we don’t need to fully understand it to trust Him!)

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Family 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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Military Devotion – Stand Firm – November 14, 2025

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Based on Luke 21:10-28

Stand Firm

There has not been a generation of Americans who have lived their entire lives without their country being involved in a war or military conflict. Even during those rare stretches of relative peace, our US military was still engaged in smaller operations or “police actions.” To help me better understand our military history, one of my soldiers recommended this book: For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States from 1607 to 2012, 3rd edition.

We pray for peace around the world and in our own country, because war is horrific. People die. Some war fighters who return home find themselves lost and misunderstood by civilians. Others are broken in body and mind. Some sadly lose their faith in God. One war fighter recently shared this with me: “The American civilian public is not ready for large-scale combat, for high numbers of casualties. We’ve not had to wrestle with that reality for decades. We’re not equipped to handle this right now. Please pray for peace.”

Jesus tells us there will be wars and uprisings. There will be earthquakes and famines and pestilence in various places, which means there will always be a need for a National Guard. Jesus also says there will be spiritual conflict. He says, “They will . . . persecute you” (Luke 21:12).

This week I asked a soldier, “How can I pray for you?” He texted back, “Pray that I continue to focus my mind and heart on what our Savior did for us and have the courage to comfortably share it with others.” The military culture—and our society—is not friendly to those who follow Jesus, and he tells us it will get worse for us.

How are we to handle this and not become overwhelmed with depression and anxiety?

After Jesus had shared with his disciples all the bad news about wars and persecutions and disasters, he said this: “Stand firm, and you will win life” (Luke 21:19). You will win.

Jesus won the victory over death and grave. You will win.

Jesus stood firm against the spiritual forces of evil. You will win.

Stand firm on that promise by reminding yourself of that promise every time you hear bad news.

And “when these things begin to take place” (Luke 21:28)—the frightening things that will happen when Jesus comes again—he says that heavenly bodies will be shaken, the dead will rise, and all will see him coming again in the clouds with his angels. Many will be terrified. But Jesus tells you, “Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).

Christ has redeemed all things. The curse of sin is undone because Christ became the curse for us. The grave is conquered because Jesus lives, never to die again. Paradise lost is restored when Christ creates a new heaven and a new earth for us.

Please understand that we live in the “already” and the “not yet.” But when these things begin to take place, stand firm and you will win life. Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, in a world filled with conflict and fear, help us to stand firm in your victory. When wars rage around us and within us, steady our hearts with the promise of redemption. Give courage to those who serve our nation and strength to all who serve you. Lift our eyes from the chaos of this world to the hope of your coming kingdom. Amen.

Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.

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. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.

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Are You Lost? – November 14, 2025

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For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Luke 19:10

Are You Lost?

Is it possible to get lost anymore? With GPS, Find My, and AirTag, it seems like no one should ever get lost. Some of us remember the days when all we had was a map to guide us. Getting lost was perhaps more common in those days. But dads especially refused to admit they were lost. We can perhaps still remember Dad saying, ‘I’m not lost, I know exactly where I am!’

That kind of thinking is common also in our spiritual lives. Few, if any of us, would admit that we are lost. We think we know exactly where we are in life, and we have it all figured out. Maybe we have taken a few bad turns in life, but we are generally going in the right direction. Perhaps a few bad choices detoured us a bit, but we’re in control and we know where we are going. Yet so many of us are wandering through life without a spiritual GPS. If heaven is the destination, we don’t have any sort of guide or direction.

The good news is that Jesus came to save the lost and to guide us home. But if we can’t admit that we are lost, then Jesus has nothing for us. If we believe we are all good on our own and don’t need to be saved, Jesus leaves us to find our own way home to heaven. Without him as our Savior, we can’t possibly find the way.

As hard as it is to admit, we are lost on our own and need Jesus to bring us home. And thankfully, he does just that. He is the only way to heaven. His life and death in our place paved the road to eternal life. He rose from the dead to guarantee that through faith in him, we will find the way through this life into heaven with him. Jesus came and saved us and now provides us with eternal life. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and he will lead you home.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to seek and save me. Help me to know that even though I was lost, now I am saved and on the way to heaven. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Today Might Be the Day – November 13, 2025

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When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
Luke 19:5

Today Might Be the Day

“I don’t have time for religion. Life is so busy right now with work and the kids and everything else. We will get back to church one of these days.” Does that sound familiar? Perhaps you have even thought about it yourself. Faith, religion, and church are all things that easily find a place on the back burner in our lives. So many things seem more pressing. There are deadlines to meet, quotas to fill, and memories to make. There are ball games to attend, vacations to take, and deals to close. And so, we tell ourselves that we will make time for God later: either when we get married, when we settle down and have kids, or maybe even when we retire.

But here’s the question: what if Jesus decides that today is the day he wants to meet you face to face, like he did with Zacchaeus? He told Zacchaeus, “I must stay at your house today.” What if he says that to you before this day is over? None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. At any given moment, God could decide that our time on earth is over.

Are you ready? If Jesus decides that today is the day, we don’t need to be afraid of meeting him. Jesus has already removed any reason for us to fear him. He has paid for our sins by dying on the cross and has guaranteed our eternal life by rising from the grave. He has forgiven us and saved us, and through faith in him, we can trust that he will take us home to heaven.

Life has a way of getting in the way of our faith. Make time for Jesus and spend time with him in worship and Bible study so that when Jesus says that today is the day, you will be ready to meet him.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for saving me and giving me the gift of heaven. Help me not to put you on the back burner today. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Not Just a Pretty Picture – November 12, 2025

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Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5

Not Just a Pretty Picture

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A long time ago, there was a man named John who loved Jesus with all his heart. John couldn’t stop talking about how amazing Jesus was! He told people, “Every one of us breaks God’s laws, but Jesus took away our sins so we could live with him forever in heaven!”

John was so excited about this good news that he had to tell everyone he met. He wanted everyone to know Jesus, too.

But not everyone liked that. One day, some soldiers showed up. They told John, “Stop talking about Jesus!” They wanted people to worship their leader—the emperor—instead of God. When John refused, they arrested him and sent him away to a lonely island called Patmos. There were no friends, no family—just rocks, wind, and waves.

It seemed like John’s story was over. He must have felt sad and hopeless.

But then—God did something incredible. God gave John a vision—like a movie playing right in his mind.

In this vision, John saw:

  • God sitting on his throne, shining brighter than the sun.
  • A river sparkling like crystal, flowing right from God’s throne.
  • The Tree of Life, growing strong with fruit for everyone.
  • A city so bright there was no night at all—because God himself was the light.
  • People from every place and time serving God with smiles and songs.

And John heard this promise: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit “will reign forever and ever.” This wasn’t just a pretty dream. God showed John heaven to fill him with hope while he was stuck on that island.

God wanted John (and us!) to know:

  • Even when life feels scary, lonely, or unfair—God always wins.
  • And because Jesus died and rose again, we’ll win with him!

Someday, we’ll see everything John saw:

  • No more tears.
  • No more sickness.
  • No more sin.
  • Only joy, light, and love that never ends.

Heaven is where our God, who has all the power in the universe, will make all things perfect for eternity.

When you have a bad day—when friends are mean, when you’re sick, or when you’re scared—remember: God loves you so much that he just has to have you in heaven with him forever. He’s already preparing your place in that bright, perfect city. You can be sure that someday, you will be standing before God’s throne in that perfect city where it is never night. There, you will live with him forever.

And just like John, you can hold on to hope—because God always keeps his promises.

Prayer:

Jesus, I can’t even imagine how incredible heaven is going to be. Comfort me with the awesome truth that it is mine. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • Why does God want you in heaven someday? (Hint: You are his child, and he wants to be with you forever!)
  • What’s the coolest thing you can imagine about heaven? (The river? The city? No more night? Something else?)

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • Have you ever had news so exciting you just had to tell someone? How is that like what John did when he shared about Jesus?
  • John’s life looked hopeless on the island, but God gave him hope. What’s something that gives you hope when life feels hard?

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • You probably won’t get sent to an island for believing in Jesus, but what other tough things might happen when you talk about your faith? (Maybe friends don’t understand, or someone teases you.)
  • The message of Revelation is “God Always Wins.” What other stories in the Bible show that God wins—no matter what? (Noah? David and Goliath? The cross? Easter morning?)

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Family 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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Feeling Small? – November 12, 2025

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When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
Luke 19:5

Feeling Small?

Zacchaeus was not a popular guy. Nobody liked him. He was a Jewish man who collected taxes for the hated Roman government. As such, he was viewed as a traitor to his people. Tax collectors were notorious for overcharging the people so they could pad their own bank accounts. They were despised. On top of this, Zacchaeus was a small man and did not stand out physically in any way. Put that all together, and he would be the last one that anyone would expect Jesus to pick out of a crowd.

What about you? Are you feeling small? Outcast? Unnoticed? Maybe there is that person in your life who just has a way of making you feel like the tiniest person in the room. Perhaps you work so hard, and nobody seems to notice or care. It could be that your recent choices in life have you feeling unworthy of Jesus’ notice. Maybe it was words you spoke in anger, or decisions you made in a moment of passion, or thoughts that linger in your mind. Whatever the case, perhaps you also feel like the last one anyone would expect Jesus to notice.

Surprising as it may be, Jesus wants to be with you, too. Just like he picked Zacchaeus out of that crowd and asked him to climb down out of that tree, Jesus calls out to you through his Word and tells you to follow him. He wants you to know that he loves you and wants nothing more than to spend eternity with you. He wants you to trust him in all things. To prove he is worthy of that trust, Jesus lived and died and rose again from the dead, all to assure you that you could have a place by his side in heaven forever. And now he invites you to spend time with him as you read your Bible. He knows that the more time you spend together, the more your faith will grow and the more you will find peace in this life.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for saving me from sin and death and for calling out to me in your Word. Help me to grow in faith as I spend time in your Word. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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In the Depths of the Sea – November 11, 2025

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You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:19

In the Depths of the Sea

‘Sploosh.’ I remember that sound as if it was yesterday. My boys and I were out with my dad, fishing on his boat. We were on Green Lake, in central Wisconsin. Anyone who has fished with young kids knows that the adults don’t actually do much fishing. Rather, it involves a lot of reattaching worms and lures, as well as untangling lines. During one of those breaks in the action, my youngest son leaned over the side of the boat to look at something in the water. As he did so, his glasses slid off his face and into the water. ‘Sploosh.’

Now, for those who don’t know, Green Lake is the deepest natural lake in Wisconsin. Its maximum depth is 237 feet. Try as we might, there was absolutely no way we were going to recover or find those glasses. They were gone forever.

God wants us to know that he has done the same thing with our sins. No matter what our sins are or how big or small we think they are or how long we have been carrying them around in guilt and shame, God wants us to know that he has removed them from us forever. He has hurled them into the depths of the sea. This was made possible for us when Jesus went to the cross in our place. There, as he died for you and me, he took on our sins and paid for them once and for all. God the Father accepted that payment and has taken our sins and removed them from us once and for all. We are forgiven and saved because of Jesus.

The good news for my son was that Shopko had free replacement on kids’ glasses, so he was able to get a new pair as soon as we got back home. The even better news for you is that because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, you have been given a new, guilt-free life here on earth and a glorious eternal life in heaven.

Prayer:

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for removing my sins and burying them in the depths of the sea. Help me to live a thankful life, looking forward to my eternal life with you. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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You Are God’s Joy! – November 10, 2025

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Read: Isaiah 65:17-25

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Isaiah 65:17-19

You Are God’s Joy!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine this: your team is losing badly. Nothing’s going right. You feel like giving up.

That’s kind of what was happening to God’s people, the Israelites. They were having a really tough time. Here’s what was going on:

  • Many Israelites stopped trusting the real God and started following fake (false) gods.
  • The biggest, scariest army—called the Assyrians—was on its way to attack.
  • God sent his prophet Isaiah to tell them bad news: because they turned away from him, they would be captured and taken to a faraway land called Babylon.

Things were not looking good for the Israelites. It must have felt like everything was going wrong.

But here’s where everything changes. God didn’t stop loving them—even when they messed up. He gave Isaiah another message. This time it was good news—a message of hope! He told them about a beautiful future when he would bring his people to a new land. Not an earthly land, but a heavenly one. He told them that in heaven, “the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17).

And then God said something amazing, “I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy” (Isaiah 65:18). Wait—what?! The same people who had disobeyed him would become his joy? That’s the power of God’s love.

The truth is that there was nothing that the Old Testament people could have done to recover from their sin. Even if they said sorry a thousand times or tried super hard to be good, they never could have been good enough to deserve the promised heavenly land. They could never have made themselves into God’s joy.

So God said, “I’ll do it for you.” He promised that he himself will “create” his people (Jerusalem) to be new—to change their hearts and make them his delight.

It is the same with us. We were sinners, and we deserved punishment even worse than being taken to Babylon. We deserved to be separated from God forever. But God decided that he wanted to save us, so he did. He sent Jesus to die in our place, and now we get to look forward to that same heavenly land that God told his people about through Isaiah. We will live in a land where “the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more” (Isaiah 65:19).

No more tears. No more fear. Just joy. Because you are God’s joy.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, there are so many problems we face in this world. Thank you for giving us a new, perfect home to look forward to. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • What are some big scary things in your life?
  • What will happen to those big scary things when you get to heaven?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • What punishment do we deserve because of our sin? Why don’t we get that punishment? (Hint: Jesus!)
  • If heaven is a place with no crying, no pain, and no fear, what’s the first thing you’d want to do there?

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • Why is it so important that God says he will make you a delight—not you earning it?
  • Can you think of someone who’s having a tough time right now? What’s one way you could remind them that God loves them and can give them joy?

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Family 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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While We Were Still Sinners – Week of November 10, 2025

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You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

While We Were Still Sinners . . .

Some things simply don’t make sense. There are things we just can’t understand. Why does cilantro taste like a wonderful herb to some and a bar of soap to others? Why is it that sometimes sleep comes easily and other times at 2:00 a.m. the brain drives far away any chance of sleep? Why does a young child seem to need your help just as you sit down?

Today’s reading invites a different and deeper question. Why would God die for us sinners? The text says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It also says, “When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”

Our earthly brains and our self-centered nature can struggle to understand this. You and I may reach out to someone who appears powerless and try to help them, but nothing compares to what Christ did. He didn’t save those who were worthy but made worthy those he saved. God looked at us and all people and out of a love that is beyond our comprehension, the Father sent Jesus. The Father said, “Go save my people with your perfect life, innocent death, and resurrection.”

In our eyes that does not seem like much of a plan. In God’s eyes, it was—and is—the perfect plan. God knew we were—and are—powerless to do what needed to be done to save ourselves. But he also knew that Jesus could do it. It was God’s love that looked at us, messes that we were, and eagerly said “Let’s do this! Let’s save them and make them our own dear children.” That doesn’t make sense because we were completely undeserving, but it made perfect sense to our perfect God who loves us perfectly. That’s God’s grace; he gives us what we don’t deserve because of his amazing love.

Everyone wrestles with guilt, and guilt can overwhelm all of us. What is God’s answer to our guilt? It’s Jesus. God’s grace through Jesus says to us, “I’ve taken your guilt. You get God’s perfect grace, peace, and joy in return.” While we may not be able to grasp or understand this, we can fully count on God’s promise and his remarkable gift of Jesus for us: while we were still sinners, he died for us so that all things can be right between God and us.

Prayer:

God loves me dearly, grants me salvation, God loves me dearly, loves even me.
I was in slavery, sin, death, and darkness; God’s love was working to make me free.
He sent forth Jesus, my dear Redeemer, he sent forth Jesus and set me free.
Jesus, my Savior, himself did offer; Jesus, my Savior, paid all I owed.
Now I will praise you, O Love eternal; now I will praise you all my life long.

Refrain: Therefore I’ll say again; God loves me dearly, God loves me dearly, loves even me.

Christian Worship 583

Consider:

The text says that Jesus’ death demonstrates God’s love for us. How does Jesus’ resurrection demonstrate God’s power, and how can that help you be a powerful teacher this week?

 

Early Childhood Ministry Educator’s (ECME) Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools.
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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Our God Is Different! – November 10, 2025

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Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
Micah 7:18

Our God Is Different!

What is God like? You could potentially hear a different answer to that question for every person asked. One person may think that God is distant and aloof—barely taking notice of what is happening to us here on earth. Another may feel that God is mean or angry for threatening judgment on those who disobey. Still another may view God as unloving or cruel because he doesn’t appear to help us when we need it.

Truthfully, God could and should have been all those things and more. Because of our sinfulness, God had every right to be angry. Because we at times pay so little attention to him, he had every reason to be distant from us. Because we accuse him of being unloving, he had all the motive he needed to withhold his love from us.

All these descriptors of God would seem to make sense to human understanding. Surprisingly, though, the Bible tells us that what God is like is so completely different from what we expected or deserved. The Bible says, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” This verse tells us what God is like. He is forgiving and merciful. He does not stay angry with us but, in love, reaches out to save us. For proof of this love, you need look no further than the cross. Rather than make us pay for our sins or turn his back on us, God sent Jesus to be our Savior. To suffer and die on the cross to pay for all our sins and to give us the gift of eternal life in heaven. Rather than punish us, God invites us to believe in Jesus and to be saved.

Contrary to what many believe, God is defined by his pardoning and forgiving grace. God sent Jesus and proved everyone wrong. Our God is different!

Prayer:

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for doing the unexpected and sending Jesus to die for my sins. Lead me to trust in him today and every day. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Because of Grace, We Rejoice – November 9, 2025

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One key truth: Because of grace, we rejoice.

Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
Romans 5:20b

Because of Grace, We Rejoice

Sin is real. Everyone messes up. That can feel crushing. But Paul says something shocking: where sin grows, grace grows bigger. This isn’t a license to sin, but it is the path to freedom from guilt and shame. Guilt can be so devastating, and living with it is a giant burden. God is aware of it, and he sent his son to supply an eternal amount of grace for his children. Jesus says, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Won’t you come experience the relief that Jesus offers? His grace is sufficient for every ounce of sin, shame, and regret.

In Romans 5, Paul is describing the unstoppable power of God’s grace. He says that even though sin came into the world through Adam, grace and life came through Jesus Christ. Every time sin tries to win, grace wins bigger. Grace doesn’t just catch up—it overflows. Think of it like trying to fill a cup with water under Niagara Falls. No matter how much sin there is, grace floods over it until the cup can’t hold any more. That’s how overwhelming God’s love is for you.

The cause: God’s grace overflows.
The effect: joy rises in our hearts.

Take a deep breath. Hold it for three seconds. Exhale deeply. Now consider this truth. Grace is not only sufficient for your shortfall. Grace is actually giving you something you don’t deserve. God has not only forgiven you, he’s called you a son or a daughter.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

That’s the heart of Romans 5: God didn’t wait for you to clean yourself up before loving you. He met you in your worst moment and said, “I’ve already covered that.” Grace means you don’t have to perform for God’s approval—you already have it because of Jesus. The more you understand that, the more joy begins to grow, even in hard seasons.

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” Romans 8:16-17).

This kind of joy isn’t fake smiles. Joy is confidence that sin doesn’t win. Jesus does.

Even when life feels messy or broken, grace is the constant reminder that God hasn’t given up on you. Grace teaches you to get back up—not because you’re strong, but because Christ is. And that’s what true joy looks like: knowing that no matter what happens, grace has the final word.

Prayer:

Gracious God, thank you that your grace is bigger than my sin. Fill me with joy 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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In Christ, We Have Victory – November 9, 2025

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But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

In Christ, We Have Victory

When the apostle Paul went to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey, the word of God that he preached regarding Jesus Christ bore fruit. Some came to faith in Jesus. But enemies of the gospel raised an outcry against Paul, stirred up a mob, and forced Paul to flee during the night. Torn away from them so abruptly, Paul did not even have a chance to say goodbye to that congregation of believers.

In this letter to his Christian friends in that city, he shares his great desire to return to instruct them in the truths of God’s Word and encourage them in the face of such great opposition. But Satan stopped Paul and his companions from returning.

Satan is ever trying to prevent the progress of the gospel. He works incessantly to keep people from believing in Jesus or persuades them to deny or ignore him as their Savior. By spreading false teaching and instigating outright opposition against believers, he seeks to destroy the church of Jesus and lead people to destruction in hell.

But Jesus is stronger than the devil, and the Bible tells us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Jesus came to establish the truth of salvation. He took away the guilt of our sins by dying for us. He clothed us in his perfection so that by faith in him we are freed from the curse of eternal death and freely given the crown of life with God forever.

Satan has been defeated. Though he still strives to oppose Jesus and the truth of salvation—even making our life difficult so often—in Christ we have the victory over him and look forward to the glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes.

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for winning the victory over the devil, so that I know he cannot hurt me this day. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Autumn’s Reminder

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Autumn’s Reminder – Women’s Devotion




If you live in a climate where the leaves are turning, you know how beautiful the season of autumn can be. Lush green landscapes transform into brilliant layers of red, orange, yellow, and gold. Breezes carry the whisper of impending change as those leaves hang on, summer’s swan song, portraying God’s beautiful creation with colorful splendor.

Yes, creation has a way of preaching beautiful truths about our Creator God. “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). The autumn leaves can prompt us to think about our Creator God who is also our Savior God. Those lovely leaves are about to let go and fall to the ground, their work complete. And that’s a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for us.

The whole story—the words those lovely leaves cannot speak—is found on the pages of Scripture. In God’s Word we learn that true loveliness is more than meets the eye. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). When Jesus’ work was fully complete, he let go of his life. His brilliant, perfect season on earth inspired and amazed many people, and it had to come to an end in order to usher in a new season—one in which the world’s sins are paid in full.

Fallen leaves have no life in them. They wither and are trampled and buried. Likewise, our sinful selves died with Christ. That old version was crucified and buried with him, as the apostle Paul describes in Romans 6. But God did not leave us to blow in the wind or wither on the ground. Paul continues: “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him” (Romans 6:8). That’s a promise of eternal life, and it’s also a promise for this life: Each day we repentant sinners are empowered to lead more love-filled and lovely lives because we are alive in Christ.

The falling leaves serve as a reminder to repent regularly—to let go of the previous season and confidently arise to a new and glorious season in Christ. “If anyone is in Christ… The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).





Written by Angie Molkentin


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Heaven is My Home – November 8, 2025

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I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain.”
Revelation 21:2-4

Heaven is My Home

“There is no place like home.” That is especially true when we ponder the promise of our heavenly home. No earthly home compares to that home.

Although our earthly homes may be places of happiness and peace, sadly, they can also be places of unrest due to sin within us and around us. Tears often flow because of troubled relationships. Suffering occurs from pain and sickness. Grief fills the heart when death makes its unwelcome presence.

Our heavenly home will be a place of unbroken peace. There, God promises that anxieties and hardships will no longer trouble us. In undiminished peace we will joyfully live as we witness firsthand how God wipes away all tears and has destroyed death forever.

Heaven is also where God’s presence is with his people. We find great comfort knowing God is with us even now as we dwell on earth. We live by faith knowing that God is present. Our faith will be turned to sight when God makes his permanent dwelling with all believers in heaven.

How can we be certain that we will live in that home of unbridled bliss? Such certainty is not found in us or our good works. Our certainty is centered in Christ Jesus, our Savior. He is the one who made his home among us on earth. He lived a perfect life and now credits his perfection to all believers.

As we look forward to heaven, our hearts are filled with joy to live as his blood-bought bride. Our lips also long to tell others of the eternal home God has prepared for them through Jesus.

Prayer:

O risen Savior, I thank you for the strength your eternal Word gives me as I live each day on earth. Dry my tears with the comfort of your unfailing love as I longingly await my eternal home with you. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Worthy of Rescue – November 7, 2025

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Based on Romans 5:6-8

Worthy of Rescue

It is the highest award for bravery that can be given to an individual in the United States. The deed must be proven by incontestable evidence of at least two eyewitnesses; it must be so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes the recipient’s gallantry above and beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery; it must involve the risk of his or her life.

Since 1862, 297 US Marines have been awarded the Medal of Honor. One of the most recent Marines is Sgt. Dakota Louis Meyer. In 2009, during the war in Afghanistan, Meyer spent six hours traversing in and out of an active combat zone to rescue 36 trapped men and recover the bodies of 4 US service members fallen in an ambush by Taliban fighters. Why did he do it? Meyer said, “That’s what you do for a brother. You don’t leave anyone behind.”

Are you someone who is worth rescuing? Would someone risk his or her life to save yours? There may be some days you do not feel worthy, perhaps because of actions not taken in combat, things you did in training or on deployment. Perhaps to this day you still question orders you were given by command because they violated your moral code, but you carried them out anyway—and this bothers you. Why would someone risk his or her life to save yours?

Someone did deem you worthy. Someone did think you were worth risking his life for. In fact, he put himself in harm’s way and died to save your life.

The apostle Paul in Romans 5:6-8 wrote, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

No matter how you feel about your self-worth, know that Jesus laid down his life for you because he loves you. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, engaged in conflict against an opposing force, and he died so that you might live. Live now with the peace of knowing God loves you. You are worth his Son’s life. You are priceless in his sight.

There’s an application for you that I see depicted on the Navy Medal of Honor. There you see Minerva, the Roman goddess of warfare, holding in her hand a shield with which she repels serpents held by the crouching figure Discord. Because Jesus laid down his life for you, because God loves you, any strife or discord, any chaos, any questions or doubts, are repelled by Jesus’ actions for you. Yes, you are worthy of rescue.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, how can we thank you for your great sacrifice for us? Help us to live our lives confidently, knowing that because you died and live again, we may live at peace with ourselves and with you. As our United States Marine Corps celebrates its 250th anniversary this week, we ask you to protect our Marines who fight our country’s battles in the air, on land, and on the sea. Raise up faithful officers and enlisted who will fight for right and freedom to keep our nation safe. Amen.

Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.

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. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.

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Jesus Turns Your Losses to Wins – November 7, 2025

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Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. Luke 6:20-23

Jesus Turns Your Losses to Wins

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever lost something that made you really sad? Maybe a favorite stuffed animal, or maybe a friend moved away. Maybe it was a pet you loved, a special toy you saved up for, a chance to play in a big game, or even the respect of someone you care about. Sometimes we lose things that feel really important—like our place in a group, our good reputation, or even the attention and love we wanted from others. Jesus knew his followers would lose things—friends, comfort, or even popularity—just because they believed in him. He told them: “Blessed are you who are poor . . . Blessed are you when people hate you because of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:20,22).

Wait—what? That sounds backwards, doesn’t it? How can being left out or teased be a blessing? Jesus was showing his followers the hidden blessing of faith. When you lose things for Jesus, you gain something far greater: heaven!

Let’s think about it: the people Jesus was talking to were not powerful or popular. Some were poor. Some were hungry. Some had people laughing at them. It didn’t look like a blessing at all! But Jesus wanted them to see with eyes of faith. He wanted them to know: “You are mine. Even if the world takes things from you, I will never leave you.”

Here’s something really amazing: God already lost it all for you. Jesus was rejected, hated, and nailed to a cross. He gave up everything so you could gain everything. The Bible says, “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). When he rose from the dead, he promised that his saints—you!—will share his victory.

That means when you feel left out, Jesus is sitting right beside you. When you lose something here, he whispers, “Remember what you can’t ever lose—my love, my forgiveness, my heaven.”

So, the next time you feel small because of your faith, remember Jesus’ words: “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven” (Luke 6:23). It might feel hidden now, but your blessing is very real. And no one can take it away.

Even if you’ve lost something because Jesus is in your life, you already have the best gift—heaven!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me even when life feels hard. Help me to trust you when I feel left out, sad, or scared. Remind me that your love, forgiveness, and heaven are never lost. Keep me close to you every day. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • Can you think of a time you lost something that made you sad? How did it feel?
  • How does it make you feel to know Jesus is with you even when you lose things?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • Jesus said we are “blessed” even when people tease us or leave us out. What does that promise mean for you today?
  • How can you remember God’s love and heaven when you feel sad or left out?

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • Why do you think Jesus calls it a blessing to be rejected for his name? How does this change the way you handle being left out or teased?
  • How can sharing God’s love and forgiveness with others help them experience the same hidden blessing Jesus talks about?

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Family 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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Everything New – November 7, 2025

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“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Revelation 21:4-5

Everything New

We live in a world obsessed with the new. The latest phone, the latest smartwatch or car technology, the latest trend in clothing, or your team’s rebranded logo or colors. But new isn’t always welcomed. Change isn’t always easy.

But speaking from his throne in heaven today, God says, “I am making everything new!” With these words, he doesn’t want to increase our anxiety but to comfort and encourage us for life in this broken world and even in the face of death.

God created this world perfect, but sin brought suffering and decay into it. Disobedience brought death and pain, sorrow and sickness that God never intended. No amount of medical research will eliminate death in our world. No efforts to control the climate will completely eliminate earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. No politicians or policies will make a world where no one is mistreated or hurt by the actions of another. Our world is broken beyond repair.

But God promises, “I am making everything new.” It won’t always be this way. The struggle will come to an end one day. One day, the world as we know it will be destroyed. And God will make a new heaven and a new earth—a new, perfect place for us to dwell. There, “‘He will wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Can you even imagine that? A world without death. A world without pain or disappointment or struggle or frustration. A world where not a single thing goes wrong, not just for an hour or two but for eternity!

Because Jesus, our King, came to this broken world to defeat sin and destroy death, that’s what we have to look forward to. Through faith in him, we have been made new. Through faith in him, we are citizens of heaven, where everything is made new!

Prayer:

Jesus, keep me faithful to you until you come to make everything new and take me to my eternal home. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Worth It – November 6, 2025

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[Jesus said] “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”
Luke 6:22-23

Worth It

Think of all the things in your life that make you rejoice and leap for joy. A clean bill of health. The birth of a healthy child. A good grade on a project or paper that you spent a lot of time on. Making the team or the cast. Watching your team win the championship.

In today’s verse, Jesus adds to that list being insulted, excluded, rejected, and hated. But who would rejoice over things like that? And then, when Jesus says that we suffer like this “because of the Son of Man,” because of Jesus himself, that makes it sound even worse. It sounds like Jesus wants us to be insulted, hated, and excluded.

But that’s not what Jesus means. He means that we experience those things because our identity and trust are in him.

Our world doesn’t want a God like Jesus. A God who says our daily failures make it impossible to earn his love and a home in heaven. He expects too much of us!

On the other hand, our world also hates the idea of a God that gives us his love unconditionally without expecting anything from us, a God who rewards us with heaven because he himself met the expectations of his law for us. That’s nonsense, according to the world.

For revealing such impossible demands and showing such impossible love, Jesus himself was insulted, hated, excluded, rejected, and killed. And we can expect the same treatment because we trust in him. But Jesus promises, “great is your reward in heaven.” When we know and believe God’s forgiving love in Jesus, we are saints in God’s eyes and have a place in heaven with our name on it.

Now we can rejoice in our suffering as saints in this world. We can see it as a blessing that reminds us of God’s love and leads us to look forward to the great reward he has prepared for us.

Prayer:

Jesus, help me to rejoice when I suffer because of you, knowing that you have won a great reward for me in heaven. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Faith Sees What Others Can’t – November 5, 2025

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And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:32-40

Faith Sees What Others Can’t

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever tried to see stars in the daytime? You know they’re still there, but the sun is too bright to notice. Faith is kind of like that. You can’t always see what God promises, but you know it’s real because he says so.

In Hebrews 11, the Bible lists heroes of faith—people like Gideon, David, and the prophets. You might think their lives were easy because they trusted God. But no! Some were laughed at. Some were hurt. Some even died because they held onto God’s promises. They didn’t see triumph right away.

The Bible says: “They were put to death . . . they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:37-38). Yet they clung to God’s Word and looked forward to his salvation. “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:40).

But here’s what’s amazing: they knew God had “something better.” Faith means being sure of what we can’t see yet, based on what we can see: God’s promises in his Word. Abraham couldn’t see the future, but he trusted God’s promises. Noah couldn’t see the flood yet, but he built the ark anyway. These saints believed because God never lies (Titus 1:2).

Planting a seed doesn’t show a flower right away. You water it and wait, and one day green sprouts appear. Faith trusts God’s promises even when it looks empty. Like getting a letter from someone you love—like a grandparent—you trust the words even before seeing them. God’s Word is the same: every verse is a letter from him to you.

And you? You’re part of that same story. You may not see how God is working when school feels hard, or when someone teases you for your faith. But God’s promises are certain. He is with you. He forgives you. He is preparing heaven for you (John 14:2-3). Jesus promises, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

So, when the world tries to make you doubt, remember faith is like stargazing. Even if you can’t see it right now, God’s promises are shining—real, true, and forever. Hold onto them with joy, because “the one who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for keeping every promise. Help me trust you even when I can’t see what you’re doing. Make my faith strong like the heroes in the Bible. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • Who are some of the Bible heroes we learned about that trusted God even when things were hard?
  • How is faith like seeing stars in the daytime?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • Can you think of a time when you had to trust God even though you couldn’t see how things would work out?
  • Why do you think the heroes in Hebrews 11 kept trusting God even when they were hurt or made fun of?

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • If someone told you, “Faith is just believing in something you can’t prove,” how would you answer using Hebrews 11:32-40?
  • What’s one way you can live out strong faith this week—like Abraham, Noah, or the prophets—even if others don’t understand?

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Family 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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A Beautiful Bride – November 5, 2025

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I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Revelation 21:2

A Beautiful Bride

Many women will not look more beautiful in their life than they do on their wedding day. They chose just the right dress. They carefully do their hair and their makeup. They want the man with whom they will promise to spend the rest of their life to have his breath taken away by what he sees when she walks down the aisle.

The Bible regularly describes the Church—believers in Jesus—as the bride of Christ. As we stand before Christ, we are clothed in the most beautiful dress. But it’s not because we spent so much time and effort making ourselves look good for him. We can’t afford anything more than filthy rags. Compared to the life that God’s commandments expect of us, that’s what our lives are—filthy rags. We can’t stand before the altar looking like that.

But Christ himself provides the dress for us, his bride. That dress is dazzling white because it is washed clean with the pure and holy blood of Christ himself. He lived a flawless life in our place. There was not a single stain of lust or lies, of hatred or greed in his life. Jesus Christ took his flawless, holy life, and he offered it in death as the sacrifice for our sins. Because God accepted his perfect sacrifice, his blood covers all who see him as their Savior. It cleanses us of our lust and lies, our hatred and greed, and every other impurity that stains our lives. And now, cleansed and covered by the holy life of Jesus, we stand before him beautiful, radiant, stunning.

That’s how Jesus sees all who see him as their Savior. He delights in us the way a groom beams at the sight of his beautiful bride on their wedding day. And that smile will never fade from our Savior’s face. Every day, you are forgiven and made clean to stand before him. And one day, he will come back to welcome you home, where you will dwell with him in perfect joy forever.

Prayer:

Dearest Jesus, you chose me to be your bride and dress me in your perfect righteousness. Encourage me with that truth every day until I see you face-to-face. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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The Hero of the Story – November 4, 2025

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Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.
Hebrews 11:33-35

The Hero of the Story

The Bible is full of amazing stories. Stories of the weak overcoming the strong. Stories of people escaping from impossible situations. Stories of battles won and enemies defeated – even death itself. Stories that amaze and excite and inspire.

Those true stories are our stories too. We can relate to the weak and the wounded, the grieving and the hurting, those just trying to navigate through life and make it out alive. And the God in the middle of those stories is in the middle of ours, too.

He made promises to those people long ago, and they held onto those promises. When flames, foes, or even death were overcome for them, it was because God promised they would be. That gave them the strength and stamina to endure.

They didn’t always come out on top in this world. Innocent people were tortured and killed. But they endured it because God promised something more. He promised a Savior, Jesus, who would be tortured and killed, too. He willingly endured it to gain more than this world could ever offer. When Jesus died and rose again, he gained for them and for us rescue from death itself. He won for us a place in the family of God as forgiven saints and heirs of eternal life. He secured for us a home in heaven where no enemy can ever touch us again.

Those people in the Bible are sometimes called heroes of faith, but the real hero was the God and Savior who keeps every promise and gives us the final victory. Read the Bible. See their stories and yours. Hear and believe God’s promises to you. And know that Jesus, your hero, guarantees that your story will have a great ending!

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for being the hero of my story. Help me to live in view of the better life you have won for me. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Look! God Is With You! – Week of November 3, 2025

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And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:3-4

Look! God Is With You!

It’s the end of the day in the first weeks of school. You look over and there is that sweet child, sitting quietly in a chair, eyes fluttering and head bobbing. Fatigue sweeps over them like their favorite rest-time blanket. As the year progresses, their stamina slowly grows.

We can feel like that wiped-out little one as well. We all have days or times in our lives where it is just plain hard to keep our head up and our worry down. The life of a Christian is one that needs stamina of a different sort. Life on this side of heaven is challenging. As we look at the world around us, we see the evidence of sin impacting just about everything. Even the best of relationships can have struggles. We hear daily reports of evil and hate from our communities and from all over the world. Things wear out leading to costly repairs. People we love get sick, get hurt physically or emotionally. Death takes those we love. Our faith and beliefs are challenged or ridiculed. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are persecuted in unimaginable ways across the world. We can find ourselves feeling discouraged, fatigued.

And then we go back to our reading for today. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them.” The hard things are all around us but “Look!”- God has made his dwelling right here with us, with you! He has made us his saints (holy ones), his heirs of heaven!

You may be thinking, “That’s great, but the problems of life are still right in front of me.” That’s true. However, knowing we are chosen by God as his dear children makes all the difference. First, we’re reminded that this world is temporary; it’s a blip on the timeline of eternity that we will spend in heaven. But we don’t have to wait till God calls us to heaven to have peace. True peace comes from knowing that God is with us in the blessings and in the challenges. He never promised to take away all the effects of sin in our lives, but before he ascended into heaven, Jesus did promise to be right there with us. We have the assurance that comes with the promises he keeps each day. So, we keep our faith focused on what is to come. We will join the saints in heaven where there is no more death, crying, pain because we will be wrapped in Jesus’ loving arms for eternity.

As you approach each day with its blessings and challenges, remind yourself and those around you that God is here with you, his saints. As the fatigue of life rolls over you, find your stamina in his Word and in his promises kept for you. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among his people.” God and his kingdom dwell in you. He’s with you to comfort, encourage, guide, and bless you with his grace until he takes you to heaven.

Prayer:

Dearest Heavenly Father, I come to you today with a heart full of gratitude. The world can be so hard, but knowing that you are with me each day gives me hope, encouragement, and strength. It is an indescribable gift to know that someday I will join all your saints in heaven in your perfect peace. Remind me that you are always here, and that heaven is my home. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

A Hymn to Consider:

Hymn 867 from Christian Worship entitled Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near has a wonderful text to reflect on as you consider the thoughts of today’s reading.

 

Early Childhood Ministry Educator’s (ECME) Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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The Best Is Yet to Come . . . and It’s Already Here! – November 3, 2025

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Read: Revelation 21:1-6

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-6 (selected verses)

The Best Is Yet to Come . . . and It’s Already Here!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever looked forward to something super exciting, but it didn’t turn out like you hoped? Maybe you waited all week for your birthday party, but it rained, the bounce house got wet, and you had to bring the party inside. Or maybe you saved up for a toy that broke on the first day. Bummer, right? That’s what the world feels like sometimes—lots of disappointment.

That’s why the vision God gave John in Revelation is so amazing. John saw heaven and what life there is like: “[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Rev 21:4). Can you imagine? No one ever gets sick. No one ever cries themselves to sleep. No one ever says goodbye. That’s where those who have died believing in Jesus, “saints,” are now! Safe and happy with Jesus.

Revelation tells us even more: John saw a brand-new heaven and earth, where God makes his home with people. He heard a loud voice say, “I am making everything new!” (Rev 21:5). No brokenness remains—God himself promises, “It is done!” (Rev 21:6).

But here’s the good news for us: God’s promises aren’t just for “someday.” Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is within you” (Luke 17:21). That means because Jesus forgives us, we are saints right now, living with Jesus’ presence in our lives. When we are baptized, God promises us forgiveness, hope, and his Spirit. Those blessings give us strength every day while we wait for the joy of heaven.

Think about it this way: earth can feel like a balloon that keeps popping. Heaven is like a balloon that never runs out of air. And the best part? Jesus already hands you that balloon right now by filling your heart with his Spirit.

So, what do we do? When life is disappointing—when you lose a game, when friends leave you out, when sadness feels heavy—remember that Jesus has already given you hope. And when you share that hope with others, you’re helping them glimpse the joy of heaven too.

The saints in heaven are celebrating with Jesus. We saints on earth get to celebrate too—because the best is yet to come, and the best is already ours in Christ!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for the hope we have in you. Help us remember that even when things go wrong or make us sad, you are with us. Thank you for promising a new heaven and a new earth, and for filling our hearts with your Spirit today. Teach us to share your joy and hope with others. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • Can you think of a time when something didn’t go the way you hoped? How did it make you feel?
  • How does it make you feel to know Jesus is with you even when things go wrong?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • Revelation 21:4 says God will wipe every tear from our eyes. What do you think that will be like?
  • How can remembering Jesus’ promises help you when life is disappointing?

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • John saw a brand-new heaven and earth where God says, “It is done!” How does that change the way you view sadness and loss today?
  • How can you share the hope of heaven with friends or family who are struggling or sad?

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Family 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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Big Plans – November 3, 2025

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These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:39-40

Big Plans

In a Peanuts movie animated by Charles Schulz, a boy named Linus misses out on trick-or-treating and a Halloween party with his friends because he’s waiting in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin to appear. The Great Pumpkin never comes, and Linus is crushed with disappointment.

We live in a world where it seems promises are made to be broken and plans so often fail. Is the same true of God’s plans?

Long ago, he made plans to put an end to pain and sorrow and death. When those who trusted those plans but only saw more pain, sorrow, and death, they were tempted to give up on God. But, by God’s power working through his promises, many didn’t. They trusted God, even when it seemed foolish. They believed that God’s plans never fail. And they died believing promises that they never saw come true in their lifetime.

Centuries after they died, God’s plans came together. At the right time, he sent his Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus came knowing that God’s plans for us meant that he would face his own pain, sorrow, and death. But he loved us and carried out the plan to perfection.

When he rose from the dead, it was proof that the plan worked. Death was crushed. Pain and sorrow would not get the last word. Paradise was restored.

Those who died trusting in God’s plan and promises were not disappointed. Because Jesus kept God’s promises and carried out God’s plans, their deaths meant the end of death, sorrow, and pain for them. They woke up to a new life with their God.

Life in this world is hard. We don’t see paradise, only problems and pain. But like those people long ago, we can endure it, trusting that God has big plans for us. Because of Jesus, one day, our eyes will close on the pain of this world and will open to a life of perfect joy—better than we could ever imagine.

Prayer:

Lord, in the midst of life’s pain, help me trust your eternal plans for me, so that I receive what you have prepared. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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God Renews Our Mind, We Live Transformed – November 2, 2025

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One key truth: Because God renews our mind, we live transformed.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2a

God Renews Our Mind, We Live Transformed

The world pushes everyone into its mold—be popular, be successful, be liked by everyone. Paul says don’t conform. Instead, be transformed by the truth of God’s Word from the inside out. The world’s patterns are everywhere—sometimes it feels impossible to escape. Paul says that there is a way out of this pattern. It’s through the renewing of our minds through his living Word. The same God who breathed life into the first humans can breathe new life into you today.

The cause: God renews our minds through his Word.
The effect: we live differently, with peace and fulfillment.

Transformation isn’t about being weird or fake. It’s about becoming real—who God made you to be. God’s Spirit changes how we think, which changes how we live. We are no longer bound to conform to the patterns of this world. No! In Christ we are set free from comparisons, guilt, shame, sin, greed, lust, all the ways the world tries to trap us. Instead of filling our lives with the world, Jesus sets us free and gives us new desires that truly satisfy.

For teens, this means: confidence doesn’t come from popularity or labels, it comes from Christ’s truth. Renewal gives stamina to keep going when the world whispers for you to quit. It gives courage to stand out when everyone else blends in. Go boldly into the calling that God has for your life, and experience the peace and fulfillment that belong to you in Christ Jesus forever.

Prayer:

Father, I can always trust every word spoken by you. When I rest in your Word, you breathe life into me and revive me. Your Word is a precious gift, and it will never change. Holy Spirit, renew my mind through your Word. Transform me to live boldly for 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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New Heaven and New Earth – November 2, 2025

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Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:1-5

New Heaven and New Earth

The apostle John was given a vision of the future, after this world comes to its end, and God gives his people a new world in which to live.

In this new world, John was told there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. What a wonderful existence it will be! Some theologians believe that the saints in heaven will have all the marks of sin removed, including the deterioration of old age. The aches and pains, amputations, and all other defects will be corrected and made perfect in Jesus.

We can’t be sure this will be the case. But, whatever we look like, we know that our physical bodies in heaven will be perfect and sinless. Imagine—living with God himself without the possibility of falling into sin. We will have free choice in the purest sense, a choice that can do nothing but please God and praise him. That will be rest indeed.

Prayer:

Be with me, Lord Jesus, until I join you in the perfection of heaven. Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Never Again – November 1, 2025

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It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1

Never Again

In the fall of 1990, millions of Americans sat down in front of their TV sets and encountered a part of their history in a way they never had before. The documentary was entitled “The Civil War.” Using superb production values and masterful storytelling, this documentary brought the American Civil War to life, making it seem immediate and real.

Of its many riveting scenes, one of the most powerful captured the horrors of slavery. With pictures of shackled and abused slaves flashing across the screen, you heard the scratchy recording of an actual former slave. The old man made it clear that the very thought of ever returning to slavery was too terrible for him to consider. “You see, when you’re a slave, you’re nothing but a dog,” the old man said. “You’re nothing but a dog.” His attitude towards his former way of life came down to two words: Never again.

What’s sad is that, when it comes to our walk with God as Christians, you and I often don’t have the same reaction to our former way of life. We were slaves by nature, shackled and chained by the guilt of our sin and our own evil desires. But when Jesus invaded our world of slavery, he took our place. He paid the price for our freedom with his own blood. He covered us with his holiness and gave us new lives.

But even now, our old slave owner, the devil, tries to sweet-talk us into coming back. He does this whenever he tells us that the answers to life are in us, and not in Christ. When he approaches you, run. Run as fast as you can to the One who has set you free. Be assured, you are forgiven by your Savior. Bask in the peace and joy that you have in him alone. And be renewed in your zeal, never again to return to slavery. Never again.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, you have set me free from the slavery of sin. Move me to look back at my old way of life and say, “Never again.” Amen.

 

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Freed to Fly – October 31, 2025

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Read: John 8:31-36

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:31-36 (selected verses)

Freed to Fly

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Once upon a time, high up in the mountains, a shepherd named Miguel watched over his sheep. He was kind and gentle, spending his days keeping his sheep safe and collecting their wool to sell in town.

One morning, Miguel packed up his wool and started down the twisty path toward the market. He was excited to trade it for some garden seeds—or maybe a warm blanket for his daughter.

As he passed a small farm, he noticed something strange—an eagle walking around with a bunch of chickens! It wasn’t flying, just pecking at the dirt like the other birds. Miguel asked, “Why is that powerful eagle acting like a chicken?”

The farmer said, “I found its egg long ago and put it in the chicken coop. It hatched with the chicks and grew up thinking it’s one of them.”

Miguel felt sad for the eagle. So, he traded all his wool for it and carried the bird up the mountain. When they reached the top, he set the eagle down. The bird looked nervous at first. Then it saw other eagles flying high above. It stretched out its wings and soared into the sky—free at last!

That eagle’s story is a lot like us. Sometimes we forget who we really are. We start to think like the world around us—trying to fit in, worrying, or thinking we’re not good enough. Sin traps us, like invisible ropes around our heart.

But Jesus, our Good Shepherd, came to rescue us. He didn’t trade wool—he gave his own life for us! Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

When Jesus forgives us, he cuts the ropes of sin and reminds us who we are—God’s children, made to soar!

Even when you feel stuck—worried, sad, or guilty—Jesus lifts you up with his truth and love. Every time you pray, read his Word, or say something kind, it’s like stretching your wings and flying higher in faith.

And the best part? You can help others fly too! When you show love, forgive, or tell a friend about Jesus, you’re helping them discover that life with him isn’t about “pecking at the ground”—it’s flying high with him, free and happy, forever!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming down from the mountain to rescue us from sin, bringing us up to you, and setting us free. Help us spread our wings of faith and soar in your love. Teach us to follow you and to help others fly in your truth. In your name, Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

  • What would it feel like to fly high like an eagle—free and strong?
  • Why do you think the eagle in the story acted like a chicken?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

  • What does Jesus mean when he says his truth sets us free? Free from what?
  • How can you “spread your wings” for Jesus—at home, at school, or with friends?

Questions for Middle School and Above

  • Agree or Disagree: Since Jesus forgives us, we can live however we want. (Why or why not?)
  • If a friend feels stuck in guilt or fear, how could you help them remember that Jesus makes them free to fly again?

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Family 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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Our Motto – October 31, 2025

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Semper Fidelis, De Oppresso Liber, Pro Deo et Patria, Semper Paratus

Our Motto

Mottos matter. In the military, mottos—often in Latin—name a unit’s values and mission and give the reason for its existence: Semper Fidelis, De Oppresso Liber, Pro Deo et Patria, Semper Paratus. “This we’ll defend” or “So that others may live.”

The Lutheran church has mottos too, and we usually mention them on this day—October 31—the day we celebrate the Reformation. Sola gratia, sola fide, sola Scriptura, sola Christus, soli Deo gloria. These are not performance slogans. They are not to-do lists. They name who we are by God’s action: a people chosen by grace alone, kept by faith alone, grounded in Scripture alone, which witnesses to Christ alone, and living for the glory of God alone.

These confessional Lutheran mottos focus on your identity. When you serve in a specific branch or squadron, that motto under which you march often becomes part of your vocabulary. When it becomes a natural, almost automatic, part of your speech, you begin to live under that banner. When you transfer to another squadron or after you separate from active-duty service, that motto changes or even fades.

Your identity in Christ never changes. It never fades. And like a military motto, this Lutheran motto reminds you that you belong to something bigger: the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the church eternal—and she shall never perish.

So, the next time you hear a branch or battalion motto, pause. Give thanks for the formed purpose and existence of that branch or battalion. Then remember the larger motto into which you are baptized: You belong to Christ, by his grace alone, through faith alone, in Scripture alone, which points to Christ alone for your salvation, all to the glory of God alone.

That identity does not cancel your duty to service; it simply reorders it. You serve as one who is served—saved by grace, kept by faith, forgiven, and freed to love.

Prayer:

Almighty God and Father, we give you thanks for those who serve and for the mottos that bind units together in purpose. Remind us daily, by your Word and sacraments, that we are claimed by sola gratia and held by sola fide, that Christ alone is our boast. Strengthen and guard those in harm’s way, comfort the weary, and keep us united in the holy Christian church. To you, who rescued us and reigns forever, be all praise and glory. Amen.

Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.

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. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.

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