Devotions

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 12

2024/12/12/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

We Do Not Lose Heart

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

In what ways are you held captive? What distresses your broken heart? Yesterday we journeyed through history to the Babylonian captivity, weeping and mourning with the Israelites who were stripped of their everyday lives and held hostage by a truly evil empire. We reflected with them on the root cause of all evil: the world’s sinfulness.

We still face evil and forms of captivity; of this we are all certain. So what holds you down under a heavy weight right now? Could it be generalized stress that prevents you from achieving true rest? Are you overwhelmed or pushing through burnout? Are you stretched thin by an overscheduled life? Perhaps your captivity is physical and you’re recovering from injury or fighting disease. Maybe the sensory overload of technology and entertainment add to the chaos? Or how’s your relational life? Are you dealing with conflict or marital trouble? Have you lost a loved one? Perhaps you’re enduring as a caretaker or even walking with someone through hospice care.

You and I both know that although my list of captivities was long, I could have kept going. The faults, flaws, and forces of evil that we face every day are vile and varied. And we all shoulder the weighty burden. Just as Jesus often healed the physical ailments that afflicted those around him, he has the power to heal you as well. He has the power to release you. But he came for so much more than our earthly comfort! He came to give you the deepest, longest-lasting type of comfort there is: eternal peace with God!

In our Scripture passage for today, Paul reminds us—even in the midst of our sorrows—to shout praises for the very characteristics of God that set us free from all forms of captivity. He is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” He sees your tears. He hears your cries. He listens to your pleas for an end to the trouble. And even when you can’t hear, see, or feel a response, he’s still holding you. He’s with you through all your earthly storms and will calm them in his timing. We can wait through the stormy nights, knowing that “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Lift your eyes from the heavy troubles of this earth. Hear God speak to you through Paul: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Though Israel’s captivity in Babylon was heavy, it was temporary. Though your burdens feel so heavy, like more than you could ever bear, they are temporary. They will not outlast your almighty Father!

deliverance—Jesus had come to heal them.

Can you imagine how awesome it would have been to witness these healings? To watch the blind person suddenly able to see God’s creation, loved ones, and the face of the Healer? To see the lame person walk for the first time? To see the diseased person set free? To see Lazarus emerge from the grave? Each of these accounts provides such a glorious, tangible picture of what it feels like to be delivered from a bodily form of captivity.

Jesus healed many people of their physical hurts, diseases, and even death, but this wasn’t the ultimate form of healing or deliverance for which he came to this world. It was for the spiritually poor who are bankrupted by their sin. It was for broken sinful natures. It was for the lives lived in captivity, imprisonment, and mourning because of defiance against a holy God.

Jesus’ healing was for them, and his healing is for you this Advent season! Instead of despair and darkness, you have deliverance. Instead of helplessness and hopelessness, you are held in the hands of your loving Lord. Praise God for sending his Servant, our Jesus, to proclaim this good news, bind up our broken hearts, declare us free, and give us comfort for all eternity!

Prayer:

Lord, I come to you feeling weighed down by my sinfulness and the stresses of this life. In your wisdom and perfect timing, lift these heavy burdens and replace them with the comfort I have through your promises of eternal peace. I trust you to lead and guide me through the storms to your eternal glory. Amen.

Written by Stacy Jensen
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You – December 12, 2024

2024/12/12/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you—vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.
Psalm 66:13-15

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

Daily Devotion – December 12, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:13-15

See series: Devotions

President Nixon’s aide, Chuck Colson, was a key player in the Watergate scandal. Because of his involvement, Colson faced prison time. During that dark time, a friend gave Colson the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. He began reading, and God’s Spirit began working in him.

One night, Colson cried out to God, confessed his sins, and promised to change his life. He pled guilty, and after serving time, Colson kept that promise. He founded Prison Fellowship, a global ministry that shares the gospel with prisoners and their families.

Colson’s conversion reflects the psalmist’s words. From the depth of his need, the psalmist promises to honor God’s faithfulness. When he was in trouble, God delivered. So, he vows to sacrifice a sizable thank offering to the Lord.

Christmas invites us to reflect on how, when we were in trouble, God delivered us. “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4,5).

Because Christ sacrificed himself for us, we joyfully submit ourselves to him. In the morning, we make appropriate and well-thought-out vows to live for him. We promise that whatever we do, we will do it all to his glory. In the evening, we humbly confess our sins, acknowledge our guilt, plead for his mercy, and rejoice in his forgiveness.

Let this Advent season be a time when you, like the psalmist, joyfully bring your sacrifices to God, your Savior. And come to worship him in his temple.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 324, vs 1)
O Jesus, let your Word be a lamp to light my way, to show me how to please you, to guide me every day. Amen.

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

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

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

Getting the Word Out – December 11, 2024

2024/12/11/in Devotions, Family Devotions

Read: Malachi 3:1-7

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:1

Getting the Word Out

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Family Devotion – December 11, 2024

Devotion based on Malachi 3:1

See series: Devotions

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

Imagine that a popular band is taking a world tour. They’re playing in all the biggest cities in the world, preparing to perform in the largest stadiums in London, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Cairo, and Buenos Aires. But as they plan this worldwide tour, they don’t let anyone know. They don’t promote it. They show up in each city unannounced, don’t give any advance notice to the stadiums they want to play in. They just hope their fans will be there when they arrive. How is that tour going to go? Not very well!

There is a reason that touring bands will spend money to promote, advertise, and get the word out. They want to prepare the places they’re playing in to be ready for them. They need a good schedule and good promoters to make their tour a success. They’ve got to get the word out!

John the Baptist was basically the promoter of Jesus’ ministry on this earth. He was getting people ready to receive the promised Savior. John was part of God’s plan to prepare people for the day they’d been anticipating for centuries: the Son of Man was coming into the world to destroy the devil’s work. John wanted to make sure the people didn’t miss it!

Did you know we have something in common with John? We are the promoters of Jesus in our day and age. We don’t know exactly when Jesus is returning. But our job is t to get things ready. We prepare our hearts to receive Jesus in his Word, day after day. We help the people we know and love to receive Jesus when he does return. We get the word out, near and far, to make sure people know who’s coming and why. Jesus is coming, and he is coming to save. Prepare the way for him!

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, our Savior, prepare our hearts every day for your coming. Then make us good promoters of your world tour—help us get the word out so that more and more people look forward to your arrival! 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

When is Jesus coming back?
When should we be ready for his return?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Bands rely on their fans to spread the word about their tour dates. As a fan of Jesus, who can you tell about his upcoming tour?
How can you get ready for it yourself?

Questions for Middle School and Above

How is our job of preparing the way for Jesus similar to John the Baptist’s, and how is it different?
We know that Jesus is coming whether people are ready or not. So, if we can’t change the outcome, what’s the point of promoting his world tour?

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Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.

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.

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 11

2024/12/11/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

A Different Type of Deliverance

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.”
Isaiah 61:1,2

Poor. Brokenhearted. Captive. Imprisoned. Mourning. Such a picture of despair, darkness, helplessness, and hopelessness! Yet these are the words that Isaiah uses in our Scripture reading for today to describe the people God the Father had in mind when he chose to send Jesus as the world’s Savior.

In the original context, Isaiah was speaking about the Israelites who were held captive in Babylon for 70 years as a punishment for their defiance against God. We read about what happened in Daniel 1:1,2: “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God.”

The Lord delivered them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar and into captivity. Before this account, Judah would have seen the northern ten tribes of Israel crushed by the Assyrians as a result of rebelling against God. Clearly, Judah didn’t learn from Israel’s example. Instead, they persisted in their sinful ways, and the Holy One of Israel allowed them to suffer punishment for it. Blood, tears, torment, and loss became their new existence. This may hurt our hearts to think about, but we must also remember that sin has consequences—for Judah back then, for the people of Jesus’ time, and for us today.

During Jesus’ ministry on earth, those first-century Jews would certainly have remembered the horrors of the Babylonian captivity and what it meant for their people. Babylon was a symbol of evil, bitterness, destruction, and enemies of God. But as Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecies in their presence, his followers witnessed a different type of deliverance—Jesus had come to heal them.

Can you imagine how awesome it would have been to witness these healings? To watch the blind person suddenly able to see God’s creation, loved ones, and the face of the Healer? To see the lame person walk for the first time? To see the diseased person set free? To see Lazarus emerge from the grave? Each of these accounts provides such a glorious, tangible picture of what it feels like to be delivered from a bodily form of captivity.

Jesus healed many people of their physical hurts, diseases, and even death, but this wasn’t the ultimate form of healing or deliverance for which he came to this world. It was for the spiritually poor who are bankrupted by their sin. It was for broken sinful natures. It was for the lives lived in captivity, imprisonment, and mourning because of defiance against a holy God.

Jesus’ healing was for them, and his healing is for you this Advent season! Instead of despair and darkness, you have deliverance. Instead of helplessness and hopelessness, you are held in the hands of your loving Lord. Praise God for sending his Servant, our Jesus, to proclaim this good news, bind up our broken hearts, declare us free, and give us comfort for all eternity!

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for my defiance and rebellion against your holy will. Deliver me from evil, Lord, and remind me of the healing, freedom, and comfort I have because of the saving work of Jesus. Amen.

Written by Stacy Jensen
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

My Soul in Stillness Waits – December 11, 2024

2024/12/11/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
Psalm 66:8-12

My Soul in Stillness Waits

Daily Devotion – December 11, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:8-12

See series: Devotions

When our kids were little, we had a song for special occasions. If one of them complained about something they were given, my wife and I would sing. “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.” It drove them crazy, but it taught them an important lesson about our God.

The psalmist teaches us that God’s love may lead us into seasons of difficulty. Like a silversmith, God uses fiery trials to refine, not roast us. He is preparing our hearts to receive his blessings.

Life doesn’t always go as you plan. But isn’t that the real story of Christmas? How long did God’s people wait for the Messiah? Did Joseph plan to marry his betrothed? Did Mary plan to be the mother of Jesus? Did they plan to walk over seventy miles in the last month of Mary’s pregnancy to spend their honeymoon in Bethlehem? Did they plan to be in a barn when this child came into the world?

We celebrate a King who didn’t come as expected—wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. We worship a King that the world wasn’t looking for—crowned in thorns and nailed to a tree. But look what God did through him! We have a loving Savior who endured terrible things he didn’t deserve so we might receive his abundant blessings. Through his suffering, death, and resurrection, God turns sinners into saints.

You may not get what you want this Christmas but praise God anyway. In Christ, you get everything you need. Through every test and every burden, God refines your faith and strengthens you to persevere in the way that leads to eternal life.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you that in giving me your Son as my Savior, you have given me everything I need. Amen.

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

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

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

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 10

2024/12/10/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

Shining Your Light

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
Romans 12:3-6

If we could share a coffee right now, I would ask you all about the vocations God has called you to. How do you spend your days? Do you teach? Do you operate? Do you counsel? Are you a caretaker? a mentor? Do you create? organize? keep books? Then I would boldly ask this: In which moments do you feel less than adequate for your callings? Is it when you lose your patience? make mistakes? compare yourself to those who shine brighter? Is it when you fail?

Whatever your vocations, I would guess that you have had humbling moments when you wondered, Am I really good enough for this gig? And if you question your ability to live up to the standards of the people around you, you also might ask something more precarious: Am I really good enough for my holy God?

Standing alone before our God is not supposed to end well for sinners like us. Even though the voices around us downplay our shortcomings (“It happens to all of us!”), or worse, try to tell us God won’t mind our sins (“What else could you have done?”), God’s expectations of us don’t falter. Be perfect! Our reflection shows the smudges on our faces. We do not belong in the company of a holy God. It is painful to admit how rotten we are, isn’t it? But friends, it is so worth it.

Here’s the great news: The babe of Bethlehem came to find you just as you are. He does things backwards again and places a crown of life on our small, sorry, sinful heads. Unearned, undeserved, we will be with God in heaven forever because Jesus makes us worthy. That takes care of the more precarious question: Am I really good enough for my God? In Jesus, absolutely!

Now circle back with me to the conversation I wish we were having over coffee. Especially the part where you got real about your inadequacies. I have a few thoughts to share:

Feeling inadequate is not such a bad thing. It pushes us toward repentance and reminds us that we absolutely depend on Jesus. When you are weak, find strength in him!
That heavy backpack you are carrying? You know what’s in it because it weighs you down daily. Drop it at the cross as you cast your cares on Jesus. Let go of the sins he has already forgiven.
Are you traveling a difficult road? Or do you want to implement a challenging change for the better? You can count on your Savior’s support. He will be with you each step.

In spite of your shortcomings, you are still chosen by God to be the mouthpiece of the gospel. You do this as you shine your light for him in your vocations in life. You do this as you serve your family, friends, and neighbors. You also do this as you simply tell others what the Lord has done for you. If we could have that coffee together, I would leave the conversation encouraged, knowing that God has gifted you for a unique part in his plan. He has put you in the exact place where he wants you to be to accomplish great things for his kingdom with the gifts he has given you. May God keep giving you the desire, strength, and courage to share his love in all areas of your life.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for continuing to use the lowly to do the most important things! Thank you for your faithful believers all over the world who share your love in places many of us will never be able to reach. Let Jesus’ love overflow in our hearts and spill into our homes and communities. Amen.

Written by Becky Foxen
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

A Great and Mighty Wonder – December 10, 2024

2024/12/10/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot—come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations—let not the rebellious rise up against him.
Psalm 66:5-7

A Great and Mighty Wonder

Daily Devotion – December 10, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:5-7

See series: Devotions

Movies like It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol, Home Alone, and even Die Hard suggest that nothing goes together with Christmas like miracles and wonder.

Think of how many Christmas movies involve miracles: unexpected twists, people reunited, hearts softened, and wishes granted. These stories are meant to inspire and uplift. Yet even the most moving Christmas films miss the wonder of the real miracle of Christmas.

This Advent season, the psalmist invites us to “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” Christmas celebrates God stepping down into our broken world to live among us. He didn’t come to visit; he came to bring salvation.

Just as Christ delivered Israel by the parting of the Red Sea, Christ came on Christmas to deliver humanity by making a way where there was none. His sinless life and sacrificial death opened the way for us to reconciliation and life with God. Jesus is the way that leads from death to life for all who follow him in faith.

While Christmas movies may warm our hearts, their joy is fleeting, and their miracles soon fade. But God’s Christmas miracle has no end. Christ’s work fills our lives, giving us hope beyond this life, and peace beyond understanding.

Step back from the busyness and wonder anew. “Come and see” with fresh eyes and kneel before the real miracle— “an infant who veils his deity.”

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 349, vs 4)
Since all he comes to ransom, by all be he adored, the infant born in Bethlehem, the Savior and the Lord. Proclaim the Savior’s birth: “To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth.” Amen.

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

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

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

Take Christmas Personally – Week of December 9, 2024

2024/12/09/in Devotions, ECME Devotions

Take Christmas Personally – Week of December 9, 2024

“[John] went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.”
Luke 3:3-6

ECME Devotion December 9, 2024

See series: ECME Devotions

“Don’t take it personally.” Has anyone ever said those words to you after saying something that you did, indeed, take personally. Faculty, staff, friends, students can all say things that might offend or hurt us. But what if I told you that Christmas is the perfect time to take things personally? John the Baptist takes the stage in our verses today from the Gospel of Luke. He was foretold way back in the book of Isaiah, and here we find him “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” I love John’s ministry because it had such a laser focus: point people to Christ. Just as in Advent we look for the coming of the Savior, the Baptizer spent his time paving and preparing the way for the coming Messiah.

John took the coming of the Savior personally. He knew what it meant for the world, yes. He’s even the narrator of one of the more famous passages in Scripture: “Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:19) As wonderful as it is to consider God’s love for the whole world, John also knew what it meant for him as an individual. He wasn’t preaching a message of repentance only for others, but knew he personally needed it as well. John even told the crowds that he was not even worthy to untie the sandals of Jesus. He knew his sin and he still looked for and proclaimed the Messiah boldly. His unworthiness didn’t make him run away from Jesus, but rather to him. John’s repentance made him look at his sin so that he could truly look at his Savior.

Repentance is personal. It can be uncomfortable and painful to relive our shortcomings and failures to live up to God’s perfect measuring stick. This Christmas season, I encourage you to truly reflect on why God had to send his son Jesus in the first place. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Our sin is personal, but so is God’s grace. He knows your sins, every one of them, and he forgave you fully. Maybe John the Baptist felt so personally connected to Jesus because they were actually cousins- part of the same family. In Galatians, we see that we, too, get that same personal relationship since we have been adopted into God’s family as his sons and daughters.

Don’t be afraid of repentance this Advent. Seeing our sin only helps us see our Savior more clearly. Verse 6 says “And all people will see God’s salvation.” Don’t run away from your sins this Advent, run to the Father and experience the fullness of God’s grace that covers our guilt and shame. Take it personally, friends, our repentance is met with the open, forgiving arms of Jesus.

Prayer:
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh.
Come, then and listen for he brings
Good news about the King of Kings.
Christian Worship 21 316:1

Early Childhood Ministry Educator’s (ECME) Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools.

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.

Prepare the Way for the Lord! – December 9, 2024

2024/12/09/in Devotions, Family Devotions

The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
Luke 3:2-6

Prepare the Way for the Lord!

LISTEN HERE

Family Devotion – December 9, 2024

Devotion based on Luke 3:2-6

See series: Devotions

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

Prophets had an important job in the Old Testament. One of God’s prophets was tasked with preaching and teaching to the people, sort of like a pastor. But prophets had the added responsibility of telling the people about the promises of God that would come true in the future. Prophets especially had the job of telling people about the coming Savior. They had to get the people ready to meet that Savior when he arrived!

John the Baptist had this same role. Sometimes people call him “the last Old Testament prophet,” even though we read about him in the New Testament. But John was blessed in a way that no other prophet had been—John got to prophesy the coming of the Savior AND see that Savior also arrive.

John knew that Jesus was just around the corner, so he preached boldly, and he preached without apologizing: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Make straight paths for Jesus. Clear out all the debris and brush that’s blocking the way. Jesus is going to be entering into the world and into your heart. What would make it difficult to reach you? Find out what those things are and get rid of them. Bring your sins in prayer to God. Confess your selfishness to him. Make the highway to your heart as clear as possible so Jesus can ride straight in!

The words of John the Baptist are very much for us today. Jesus comes to us in his Word. Are we ready to receive him, or is the highway to our hearts blocked by something? Jesus is coming again on the Last Day, but are our eyes open to see him?

The good news is that no matter what, Jesus is coming with the salvation that he promised. Whatever debris and brush that still blocks the way, he’ll clear it. Whatever mountains and valleys make his arrival harder; he’ll level them. We look forward to his arrival and do everything we can to clear the path in advance—because we want him to reach us every day!

Jesus is coming. How cool is it that we get to prepare the way for the Lord! Come, Lord Jesus!

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we love seeing you in your word, and we look forward to seeing you with our eyes. Give us the faith to clear the path for you into our own hearts and into the hearts of everyone we know. 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 kinds of things make it hard to walk on a sidewalk?
What kinds of things make it hard to pay attention to God’s Word?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

What kinds of preparations are you making for Christmas celebrations?
What kinds of preparations can we make for Jesus the other 11 months of the year?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Why is repentance such an important aspect of preparation for Jesus’ arrival?
Why was John the Baptist’s work so valuable in God’s plan?

Download and print devotion

Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.

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.

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 9

2024/12/09/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

Delighting in the Lowly

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Micah 5:2

It was tiny. It held very little significance. Bethlehem Ephrathah didn’t even make the top 100 cities that belonged to the clans of Judah. As a traveler crossing through the region, you would hardly notice the city. Now squint toward the barley fields. There you would find the spot where the poor foreigner named Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s field. The locals of her day wouldn’t have given Ruth a second glance. She was an outsider who had fallen upon tough times, desperately trying to make ends meet. Like Bethlehem, she doesn’t seem extraordinary at all.

Continuing our tour of Bethlehem, we approach the location of the humble home of Jesse, surrounded by fields that are dotted with sheep. When the prophet Samuel walked this road, he was searching for the next great king of Israel. Someone strong. Commanding. Mature. But God rejected the ones who fit those descriptions. Instead, God instructed Samuel to anoint the youngest brother, who didn’t even make the original lineup. Like Bethlehem, David didn’t seem like much.

Eyes like ours fixate on the talented, the important, the influential, and the famous. But God delights in using the weak, the poor, and the unexpected for some of the greatest roles in the story of salvation. Lowly Ruth became the wife of Boaz, the great-grandmother of King David, and part of the family line of the Savior. Little David became the greatest earthly king Israel had seen. With God’s help, David led the army to great victories and ushered in a time of peace for God’s people.

By the time Gabriel visited Mary, the once-thriving nation of Israel had been cut down. Isaiah referred to it as a twisted, gnarly stump. This was thanks to Babylon, then Persia, then the Greeks, then the Romans, all of whom took their turn wielding power over the area. But take a closer look at the stump of that royal line. It is not completely dead! We behold a branch shooting up out of its ugliness! The lovely bloom from that branch is our only hope, Jesus, born in Bethlehem.

Jesus himself didn’t appear glorious to eyes like ours. He was born to a carpenter and placed in a feed box. As Jesus began his ministry, he was a wanderer with less of a home than the foxes and birds. Somehow, some way, this humble preacher determined the eternity of us all.

Bethlehem, Ruth, David, and Jesus—they all show us how God looks with favor on the lowly. How the Almighty does great things. How he has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. Though Jesus hid his glory in his earthly existence, he was nothing less than our holy and true God! He traded his heavenly throne for our sins and exchanged what he deserved (glory) for what we deserved (the punishment of hell). As we see Bethlehem evolve from a tiny, unimportant city to the birthplace of the King of kings, let us also remember how God took us from dead in sin to alive in Christ. Now we lay claim to full rights as daughters and sons of the King.

Prayer:

We thank you, heavenly Father, for showing us a new perspective on greatness. Take our sinful pride and replace it with your humility. Then, use our humble lives to glorify you in amazing ways. Keep a tight grip on us all our days so that we will one day live with you forever. Amen.

Written by Becky Foxen
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord – December 9, 2024

2024/12/09/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.”
Psalm 66:1-4

Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord

Daily Devotion – December 9, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:1-4

See series: Devotions

Do you enjoy Christmas carols? What about those music stations that play Christmas songs twenty-four hours a day?

Christmas carols began as expressions of humble praise to God. But many of the songs we hear today are about red-nosed reindeer, snowmen, and sleigh rides. Sure, those songs can be fun, and there is nothing wrong with innocent fun. But they are empty of praise.

Real praise joyfully responds with humble adoration to God’s powerful work. At Christmas, we rejoice that God came to earth. Through his humble life, God demonstrates the awesome power of sacrificial love.

In giving us his Son, God was gifting us something we could never pay for and definitely do not deserve—forgiveness for all our sins, victory over our spiritual enemies, and eternal life.

Our God wants everyone to benefit from his gracious gift. So, keep singing those carols! Make his praise glorious! Sing with joy and enthusiasm! And if you can’t make music, listen with a heart tuned to praise that Christ came to earth. Let everyone know about the perfect gift we have been given—God with us! God for us!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 315, vs 4)
Savior, hear my welcome cry—loud hosannas lifted high! King of glory, enter in; cleanse my soul of every sin. Amen.

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

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

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

Transformed – teen devotion – December 8, 2024

2024/12/08/in Teen Devotions

The entire life of a Christian is one of repentance. Even this is something that God works in him through the Holy Spirit.

(John the Baptist) went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:3

A Real Christmas is Rooted in Repentance

Put up the decorations. Bake the cookies. Take the end of the semester tests. There is so much work to be done in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Have you bought your mom a present yet?

In the days leading up to the start of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist was preparing the way for him. He didn’t give people a list of tasks to do to be ready for Jesus to come. He said only one thing was needed to be ready.

Repent.

Repentance isn’t really a work we do. It’s something God works in us. When his law exposes our sin, it cuts us to the heart and makes us realize our need for a savior.

Repentance really has two parts: 1. Sorrow over sin and a desire to turn from it. 2. Trusting fully in Jesus for his promised forgiveness of that sin.

Repentance is the thing we need to be ready for Jesus’ second coming as well.

The first “thesis” in Martin Luther’s 95 Theses says this: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’, he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”

Repentance is the heartbeat of a Christian. We still have a sinful nature, so sinning is inevitable. Our response to sinning should always be repentance and aiming to cut that sin out of our life.

What a relief that there is no work required of us to have a real Christmas. Jesus has done the work for you. That’s why you can repent and trust in the forgiveness he has promised you through his death on the cross.

When we realize this, we are able to celebrate a real Christmas free from worry and stress. There is no work left to do. It’s all been done in Jesus.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for doing the work necessary for me to have eternal life. Grant that every day of my life would be marked by repentance. Help me to live a life that’s pleasing to you in all things. Amen.

Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.

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.

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 8

2024/12/08/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

Dwelling with Us Today

“The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Luke 1:32,33

Today, we are going to answer this question: How is “God with us” today?

Yesterday, we followed the glory cloud, the Old Testament form of Immanuel, “God with us.” After the fall of Jerusalem in 587 b.c., the ark and glory cloud seem to have disappeared. But there was a period of restoration under Zerubbabel. Ezra and the last group of Jewish exiles under Nehemiah rebuilt the temple and restored worship in approximately 530 b.c.

Unfortunately, the ghastly curse of sin permeated the people again. Tithes were ignored, the Sabbath was broken, priests were corrupt, and the Israelites intermarried with foreigners. Yet God remained faithful and sent the prophet Malachi, whose name means “my messenger.” Malachi convicted the people of their sin. He pronounced them guilty yet reminded them of this promise: “For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays” (Malachi 4:2).

Four hundred years of silence ensued. While under the oppressive rule of Herod the Great, the Jews experienced relative peace—the Pax Romana. During this time, the faithful were dispersed throughout Judea. Separated from the temple, they established synagogues in their communities, where they worshiped and taught their children the Old Testament Scriptures. The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and Gentiles populated the countryside. This would become the fertile ground where the fire of the gospel would ignite and spread. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

In one of these small towns, Immanuel chose to return. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). This ruler, King Jesus, born of a virgin, “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32).

Here’s the big picture: “God with us” is beyond comprehension. “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32,33). Yet he achieves it with a humble maiden, in a simple manger.

But how does he dwell with us today?

At Christmas, Jesus came to earth to establish his kingdom. At the perfect time, he became human. During his life on earth, Jesus was crucified and died. But then, three days later, he returned to life and was seen by some 500 witnesses before ascending to heaven. He left his Holy Spirit to dwell here, in each of us. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). In our baptisms, we are his; through saving faith, his presence is now made known through Word and sacrament.

“God with us,” Immanuel, reigns forever!

Prayer:

We praise you, Jesus, at your birth; clothed in flesh you came to earth. The virgin bears a sinless boy and all the angels sing for joy. Alleluia!

The Light eternal, breaking through, made the world to gleam anew; his beams have pierced the core of night, he makes us children of the light. Alleluia! (Christian Worship: Hymnal 359)

Written by Lou Ann Mokwa
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

A Time to Prepare – December 8, 2024

2024/12/08/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

“Then suddenly the LORD you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.
Malachi 3:1-4

A Time to Prepare

Daily Devotion – December 8, 2024

Devotion based on Malachi 3:1-4

See series: Devotions

Have you ever gotten soap in your eye or accidentally rubbed some sanitizer into a recent paper cut. That really stings, doesn’t it? Something like that causes discomfort. It is often bad enough to make us cry out in pain. It can be a very painful few seconds or even minutes. That’s why children don’t want dad or mom to clean out a recent cut or scrape.

Repentance works the same way. It is painful to admit sin. Admitting that we have sinned also brings discomfort. We don’t like to admit greed, apathy, lust, or hatred. Like the child with the skin cut, we try to hide our sin. We try to avoid the painful but necessary cleansing process.

Failing to clean out a wound allows it to fester. It can lead to infection, illness and even ultimately death. In that case, a little discomfort in getting cleaned up is a good thing. Similarly, sin that is not cleansed through repentance is dangerous for our souls. Repentance prevents sin from festering and infecting our faith. Sin that is not addressed can ultimately lead to unbelief and eternal death in hell.

The season of Advent is a time to prepare our souls for Jesus’ return. Use the time to humbly repent of your sins and let the gospel heal you. Like a launderer uses soap, let God’s Word do its important work of cleansing your soul in Christ. He alone purifies us from all sin. Put your faith in him.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, use your law and gospel to prepare my heart to meet you. Purify me from sin and wash me clean in your blood. Amen.

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

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

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

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 7

2024/12/07/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

Waiting for a Return

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel”
Isaiah 7:14

It’s a midweek Advent service; you adjust the weekly family schedule to attend. You’ve rushed to get after-school activities and homework done. You might have just cleaned up the church kitchen after serving Advent dinner, hands still damp from the dishwater. Or you have agreed to participate in a special music offering and just completed one last rehearsal. These things have consumed your mind until you sit in the pew and hear the familiar note or bell signaling the start of worship. The service proceeds with some familiar Scripture heard every Advent season: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

The pastor rises to begin his sermon. Ahhh, a few minutes to relax, take a breath, and meditate. But this sermon starts out differently. Tonight, the pastor stands casually on the floor in front of the pulpit, like he is engaging in conversation. He asks the congregation (named Immanuel Lutheran Church), “What does Immanuel mean?” Suddenly, you are jolted from your passivity as his gaze sweeps over the congregation, looking for a response. Uncomfortable silence ensues until a brave man speaks up: “God with us.” A clear sigh of relief, or nervous laughter, rumbles through the church in agreement, seemingly saying: “Of course, God with us!”

But what exactly is this sign, this child, a son, named Immanuel? And what does it mean?

Initially, in the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to “make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). This sanctuary was a tabernacle, which means “dwelling place,” and contained an ark, the first throne of the Lord. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). This cloud became a sign for the Israelites as they were led by Moses in their nomadic journey to the Promised Land. “In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out” (Exodus 40:36).

Hundreds of years later, under King David’s rule, the ark was brought to Jerusalem. David’s son, King Solomon, built a permanent temple for the ark, and the glory cloud returned. “The cloud filled the temple of the Lord. . . . the glory of the Lord filled his temple” (1 Kings 8:10,11). In God’s eternal plan, 350 years later, this temple and the city of Jerusalem were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 b.c. At this time, two things seem to have disappeared: the ark and its overshadowing cloud (see Ezekiel 10:18-22; 11:22,23).

As the years passed, the faithful waited for the return of the ark and the glory cloud—for God to return and dwell with them.

Can you identify with these ancient, faithful sisters and brothers? Are there days when you don’t feel God is with you? Are you waiting for him to make his presence known like the glory cloud?

Enter King Jesus.

Join us tomorrow as we study how the promise of “God with us” is fulfilled forever in Jesus and by the grace he has freely given to us. Forever.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for fulfilling your promise by sending your Son to earth and permanently dwelling with us. Thank you for your perfect plan of salvation. Amen.

Written by Lou Ann Mokwa
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

A Fulfilled Promise Brings Hope – December 7, 2024

2024/12/07/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.”
Jeremiah 33:14

A Fulfilled Promise Brings Hope

Daily Devotion – December 7, 2024

Devotion based on Jeremiah 33:14

See series: Devotions

When a dog hears you say outside or walk, you better be taking that dog for a walk! Even if it’s something that only sounds like one of those words, he’s hearing you make a promise, “We’re going for a walk!”

When a child hears the hint or suggestion of doing something or going somewhere exciting, don’t they react with similar enthusiasm? What a thrill when a child hears a parent announce, “Pack a bag. We are leaving for grandma and grandpa’s house tomorrow!” Oh my, what excitement. From a child’s perspective, they just can’t wait!

Sadly, there are times when promises made become promises broken. Someone did not keep their word. The let-down is huge. The disappointment is real. When that begins to happen too often, we question if the promise is real. We stop believing.

Not so with our Lord. “The days are coming…,” he promised. Although the wait seemed long to God’s people of the Old Testament, God’s promises remained with them. God had made and fulfilled many promises to his people.

Those fulfilled promises were preludes to a greater promise—or as Jeremiah called it in today’s Bible passage, “the good promise.” All God’s promises gave people hope in God’s greater promise yet to be fulfilled. This promise was so good that God repeated it over and over to his people throughout history. People believed in it. Why? Because God was the promise-maker. The Lord always keeps his promises!

The season of Advent before Christmas is so exciting—Christ is coming! It means God kept his “good promise” that he made to us! God’s fulfilled promises give us the certain hope—that when God makes a promise, he will always keep it!

Prayer:
God of fulfilled promises, make good of your promise to return to me. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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

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

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

The Righteous Branch is Righteous for Us – December 6, 2024

2024/12/06/in Devotions, Family Devotions

‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’
Jeremiah 33:14-16

The Righteous Branch is Righteous for Us

LISTEN HERE

Family Devotion – December 6, 2024

Devotion based on Jeremiah 33:14-16

See series: Devotions

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

When Jesus was born, Israel hadn’t had a king for a long time. There used to be kings in Israel and Judah, but that had been hundreds of years before. Now, the Romans were in control of the territory, and even though a guy named Herod had the title of “king,” he wasn’t a real king. He didn’t have any real power. The “glory” days of Israel and Judah’s kingdoms were long gone. David’s royal line was cut off. At one point in history, you could have described David’s kingdom as a beautiful, thriving tree, but eventually, it was nothing but a dead, rotting stump. Hoping that stump would somehow once again spring to life and become a great tree again would be a waste of time and energy.

But God made a promise that David’s kingdom would last forever. He promised that a king would come and rule over God’s people for eternity. He promised that his kingdom would be an eternal kingdom, and his people would be saved. For a while, this promise looked like nothing but a dead, lifeless stump, just like David’s royal family line. But all of a sudden, a branch shot up from that stump—a green, living branch that would grow and thrive and become more and more glorious until it was a tree that was even bigger and grander than anything David’s kingdom had looked like. God turned that dead, lifeless stump into a kingdom that will last forever with a king that will reign forever. You know his name. His name is Jesus!

In this prophecy, Jeremiah doesn’t call him Jesus, but he calls him “The LORD Our Righteous Savior.” You could even say his name is “The LORD Our Righteousness.” He is perfect, he is holy, and most of all, he has come to save us. His kingdom extends way past Israel and Judah; his branches reach all across the world, covering and protecting everyone who believes in him. His branches now reach us! He is our Lord. He is our righteousness. He is our king. He is our Savior. Thank God for keeping his promise!

Closing Prayer:

God our Father, we thank and praise you for sending the righteous Branch, Jesus, to be our Lord and Savior. We pray that your kingdom extends further and further as more and more people believe in your glorious 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 makes a good king?
What makes Jesus such a good king?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Why would it be such a surprise to see a green branch growing out of a tree stump?
Why is this green, living branch growing from a dead stump such a good picture of Jesus our righteous savior?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Imagine you’re living in Bethlehem in the year 1 BC. Your royal family has been powerless and glory-less for almost 600 years. How does that make you feel?
Now imagine that you hear about the new King born in Bethlehem. What impact does that have on your life?

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Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.

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.

Military Devotion – About-Face! – December 6, 2024

2024/12/06/in Devotions, Military Devotions

Based on Luke 3:1-6

December 7th, 1941, a day that continues to live on in infamy.

On that single day, 2,403 souls perished, and almost half of them in one battleship. If you ever have the chance to get to Hawaii, make sure you stop by Pearl Harbor and take the ferry out to the USS Arizona. When you get there, you’ll find it’s a very somber place. As you think about all the souls that perished there, as you stop to listen to the waves as they gently lap up against the memorial, you can both smell and see the oil that continues to float up to the surface from the Arizona. They call those “the black tears of the Arizona.”

All of this is a reminder of that awful day when lives were lost. As we think about tragic days like that, or 9/11, or the one-too-many violent shootings in our country, we turn to God and we ask, “Why?” What does this all mean?

Before Jesus publicly went out preaching and teaching in the region of Galilee and Jerusalem and through Judea, God sent John the Baptizer to prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus. And people went out to the wilderness around the Jordan River to hear John preach and teach and baptize. And they went out to John with their questions for God. And some of those questions were, “Why? What purpose does this serve?” John’s reply to them? “Repent.”

God doesn’t always give an answer to our questions of “Why?” God doesn’t need to, even though we think that he does. But God’s answer through John the Baptizer redirects our hearts and our minds so that we see what is really needed in our lives: not an answer from God, but for us to do an about-face, to repent.

John says to you and to me, “Repent!” Do an about-face, because that’s really what repentance means. Repentance in the original language of the Bible means to change your mind, to change your heart and your mind about your sin, to do an about-face in regard to your sin. To change your mind about the things that you do that violate God’s will for your life. To change your mind about those things that you fail to do, how you fail to joyfully and faithfully carry out God’s will for your life.

Do an about-face. That means to no longer find pleasure in sinning, to no longer find pleasure in the laziness to carry out God’s will for your life. To change your mind about those things so that you no longer think that simply by trying your hardest or doing your best to be a good person that somehow this will cause God to do an about-face toward you.

John says to you and to me, “Repent for the forgiveness of your sins.” Do an about-face and turn from your sin—but turn toward something, toward someone—to that person who has sunk into the depths of your sin, your guilt, your death, and your hell, and who has left it entombed in his grave forever.

Just as the Arizona in the waters of Pearl Harbor serve as a reminder of that awful day of death, so also the waters of your baptism serve as a reminder of that awful day of what Christ did for you: that he has drowned your sin, your death, and your hell. Let the waters of your baptism be that very real reminder of the promise that Christ has made you not just to drown your sins and your death with him on the cross, but also to raise you up to new life.

Repent, turn from your sin, turn to the cross, but then turn again. Do another about-face to go and live that life of forgiveness that Christ has earned for you.

And so when you consider the events of December 7th, 1941, or you consider the events of a 9/11 or whatever disaster comes to your mind, let it be a reminder to you and to me to do an about-face, to repent, so that when Christ calls us home to heaven, however he decides to call us home to heaven through death, you and I will go through life confident and unfearingly knowing that when we meet our Maker and see him face to face, he will welcome us home to heaven with a smile because of what Christ has done for us.

Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world. We pray, Lord Jesus, that you would work through our nation’s Homeland Security and armed forces to protect our borders. Keep our citizens safe so that we might live in peace, faithfully carry out our individual vocations, and joyfully share your Word with others. In your name I pray. 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.

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 6

2024/12/06/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

That Which Seems Impossible

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Luke 1:38

I like science, especially medical science. In school, I loved learning about the human body and all its working parts. All the thousands of “hidden” chemical processes going on in our bodies in the blink of an eye are mind-boggling. Even though these processes are “natural,” they still seem miraculous to me. In my mind, I wonder, How does this work?!

Mary asked a similar question. “How can this be?” It was a science kind of question.

Let’s review the story from Luke 1.

Mary was a young Jewish virgin girl betrothed to a man named Joseph. God sent an angel to Mary to give her a special message.

Angel: Greetings! You are very special to the Lord! The Lord is with you!

Mary: Huh?

Angel: Don’t be afraid. You’re going to have a special baby. You will call him Jesus. He’s going to be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he’s going to be a king with an everlasting kingdom!

Mary: How can this be, since I am a virgin?

It was a good question! She didn’t know as much about science as we do today, but she knew enough to know that babies need a mom and a dad.

The angel had an answer. In short, “God.”

Angel: You see, Mary, with God, nothing is impossible. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High God will cover you. The baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God. Not only that, but your cousin Elizabeth will also be having a son in her old age. Everyone thought she couldn’t have a baby, but she’s six months along. Just because you’re a virgin and just because Elizabeth is old doesn’t mean God can’t make things happen. In fact, this was prophesied 700 years ago: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Even though it was prophesied, the news was most likely shocking to Mary. Not only would she become pregnant in a miraculous way, but her child was going to be the Son of the Most High AND the Son of David. True God and true man. Holy and sinless. The offspring of a woman who will crush Satan’s head.

Does anything in your life seem impossible right now? Maybe, like Mary, you have questions. I’ve been hurt; how can I ever forgive? I made a big mistake; will it ever work out? My life has no purpose; can I still find meaning? I’m filled with fear and anxiety; can I ever be at peace? I feel lost; can I be saved?

With God, all things are possible. God enabled a virgin to conceive in order to take care of our most “impossible” situation: our separation from him because of our sin. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we now have forgiveness, victory over death, and a restored relationship with God.

And this same God promises to be with us through all the “impossible” situations in our lives!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to us as true God and true man to rescue us from our lost condition! With Mary, we rejoice that you have done great things for us. Give us faith to believe that nothing is impossible with you. Amen.

Written by Mindy Holtz
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

He Comes to Make Us Blameless and Holy – December 6, 2024

2024/12/06/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:13

He Comes to Make Us Blameless and Holy

Daily Devotion – December 6, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:13

See series: Devotions

“Do you think of yourself as more of a sinner or a saint?” This was the question that the pastor asked his Bible Study group. The response was unanimous. Everyone agreed they thought of themselves as more sinner than saint.

Maybe it was the power of group dynamics talking. No one wanted to be seen as prideful. Or perhaps it was simply the truth. As we conduct our lives on this earth, we realize that there are many ways to stumble along the path of following our God in faith. Experience tells us, “I am a sinner.”

Of course, the Bible tells us that both are true. We are sinners—because we are weak and possess a sinful flesh that always wants to follow its own path. And we are saints—completely forgiven, washed clean by the precious blood of Christ.

The sinner part we seem to accept more easily. But in today’s Bible passage, the apostle Paul calls us to believe the other truth as well. You are a saint!

How can this be? Don’t look to yourself for the proof. Honest reflection would only leave you feeling even more like a sinner.

Instead, trust God’s promises in the Bible. In his Word, God shows you how sinners become saints. The Savior came to a world of sin and overcame it. Jesus met sin at the cross where your sin became his, and his holiness became yours. Through faith, God has changed your heart to know the love of Christ and the promise of eternal life.

Many days, we will struggle to believe it. How can this sinner be a saint? Go to the Word. There, God strengthens your heart. There, God will again convince you of the truth. Through the blood of Jesus, you are blameless and holy.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for taking on my sin and giving me your holiness. Help me to believe that I am washed clean, a saint. Strengthen me to live as one. Amen.

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

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

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

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 5

2024/12/05/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

A Choice When We’re Fearful

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14

The year was about 735 b.c. when Ahaz, age 20, became king of Judah. “Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (2 Kings 16:2). He even sacrificed his own son to idols. Despite this, God made some wonderful promises to Ahaz.

The kings of Aram and Israel were seeking to conquer Jerusalem. Ahaz and the people were afraid. Their hearts “were shaken, as trees of the forest are shaken by the wind” (Isaiah 7:2). Have you ever felt fear like that?

Fortunately for Ahaz, God sent Isaiah with a message of comfort and a promise of rescue. Isaiah told the king of Judah not to fear because of the minor foes against him—God would deliver them from their enemies. The Lord even graciously offered to give Ahaz a sign to assure him of this promise of deliverance, but in fake piety, Ahaz refused. Perhaps Ahaz declined the offer because he already planned to follow his own will rather than God’s. God was not pleased with Ahaz’s rejection. He gave Ahaz a sign anyway!

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Yes, God would deliver his people from the two kings who threatened them, but an even greater deliverance was coming. God wouldn’t use a powerful king or a great nation to deliver his people. Instead, he would provide deliverance through a woman—a virgin, no less! God himself would step down from his throne in heaven and take on human flesh. He would take on human flesh and become Immanuel, “God with us,” to deliver his people from their sin, the awful punishment of death, and their devilish enemy.

Rather than trusting in God as Isaiah had advised, the apostate Ahaz looked elsewhere for deliverance: to the country of Assyria. He sent silver and gold from God’s temple, offering Judah as another vassal state. This supposed “ally” would eventually besiege Judah.

Ahaz was fearful—a “shaking in your boots” kind of fear! What do we do when we are fearful? Sometimes it’s easier to trust in the strength of what we can see and touch rather than in a God who is invisible and feels far away. Do we look to politicians to fix our problems? Do we rely on our savings account more than God? Do we put our faith and hope in doctors to cure us? Do we get impatient waiting for God to act and try to take matters into our own hands? I am guilty of it all.

In our moments of fear, in the midst of our trials, we can remember God’s promise to deliver us from all our troubles and thank him for his promise of IMMANUEL! God with us! With us in our fears. With us when our foes loom large. He has delivered us from our sin and will deliver us from our fears and failures with love, forgiveness, and mercy!

Prayer:

Dear Immanuel, you are our refuge and strength. When we feel afraid, please help us put our trust in you. Amen.

Written by Mindy Holtz
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

He Comes to Grow Us in Love – December 5, 2024

2024/12/05/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12

He Comes to Grow Us in Love

Daily Devotion – December 5, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:12

See series: Devotions

There is universal agreement that the world needs more love. Politicians proclaim that we need to show more love to each other. Law enforcement is dismayed by the lack of love in their communities. Families struggle where there is a lack of love.

If we all agree that the world needs more love, why isn’t there?

There’s nothing wrong with the concept. Showing genuine love to others and receiving it from others is always a blessing.

The problem lies in the execution. We don’t carry out what we proclaim. The entertainer who walks off the stage with an “I love you” doesn’t even know your name. And if you showed up at her house to get an autograph, likely the response would be less than an embrace and a dinner invitation.

More seriously, we all struggle to do what’s needed—more love. Because what is fighting us constantly in showing more love is a sinful nature that inherently will always put itself first.

But there is one who came in perfect love. Only love could cause the purity and perfection of God to clothe himself with flesh. Jesus humbled himself so that he could move from the manger to the cross and to the tomb. Every step that he took on this frail planet was taken in love.

And it is his love that inspires our love. Since God loved us, we have the motive and the example to show God’s love to others in how we speak and act.

More love? Absolutely. We all need it. And Christians have the best reason and the best way to show it. Point to the perfect love of Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me always see and appreciate your sacrificial love in being my Savior. And then strengthen me to show and share that love in my life. Amen.

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

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

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

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder – December 4, 2024

2024/12/04/in Devotions, Family Devotions

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

LISTEN HERE

Family Devotion – December 4, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

See series: Devotions

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

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder” is a phrase that has been around for so long because it’s true! Absence DOES make the heart grow fonder. It means that if you are far away from someone, you will miss them; even though it’s hard to miss someone, it’s proof that you love them. Your heart might ache because you don’t get to see that person, but that heartache tells you something about the way you feel about them.

When Paul wrote these words, he was describing that feeling. He missed the Thessalonian church and wanted to be with them. His heart hurt for them, but that hurt was a blessing that reminded him just how thankful he was for those people. What hurt perhaps the most is that he wasn’t sure if he would see the Thessalonians again.

Paul missing the Thessalonians reminded him of someone else he had not seen in a while, someone else he was missing. That person was Jesus. But while Paul didn’t know if he was going to get to see the Thessalonians again in this life, he knew two things: 1) He knew he would see every single member of that congregation again in heaven, and 2) He knew that he would see Jesus again at his second coming and for the rest of eternity.

We might not be in the Thessalonian church that Paul was writing to, but we know what it’s like to miss people that we love and what it’s like to wait for Jesus to arrive. So, we can listen to Paul’s encouragement to that congregation and be confident in the same things: we will one day be reunited with all our brothers and sisters in Christ because we know that Jesus is on his way to take us to be home with him forever.

In the meantime, it’s okay to let absence make the heart grow fonder. We will take Paul’s prayer to heart, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and everyone else . . . may he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes.”

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, although we cannot see you with our eyes, we know that you are with us every single day. Until you come again, make our hearts grow fonder and increase our love for one another. In your name we ask it. 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 is someone that you are looking forward to seeing again?
When will we get to see Jesus again?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Think of someone that you miss and fill in the blank: “I can’t wait to be with __________ again!”
Think of how Jesus feels about you and fill in the blank: “Jesus can’t wait to be with ____________ again!”

Questions for Middle School and Above

What is a time in your life that you really felt the phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder”?
We know Jesus isn’t really “absent,” but how is the statement still true about our relationship with Christ?

Download and print devotion

Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.

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.

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 4

2024/12/04/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

Dead-Tree Moments

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

In the corner of our backyard, we have a tree that was not doing well. It was kind of ugly, was an odd shape, and was starting to lean over the fence. It was the hunchback of trees. But, once a year, it would still bloom beautiful green leaves and white flowers, so we let it be.

This past May, we had a terrible storm come through our area, and high winds caused a lot of damage. During this storm, our tree succumbed to the winds; snapped about three-fourths of the way down; and left a very uneven, jagged stump. We thought for sure this was the end for that tree and had plans to cut it down the rest of the way. But we didn’t get around to it, and then, do you know what happened? The tree came back to life! It started blooming green leaves and growing new branches, and now seems like it’s going to make a full recovery.

Things looked bleak for the line of Jesse. After all, it had been about 1,000 years of waiting for this family tree to produce its fruit, and people were starting to doubt if it was going to happen. Then a new root was born, and suddenly this once-dead stump made a full recovery and sprouted life.

Why? Because we have a God who keeps his promises, works things for our good, and always has a purpose. We are reminded of this when we see in the Bible how God kept his promises to Adam and Eve by sending the Savior to crush the serpent’s head, to Noah by saving his family and never flooding the world again, to Moses and the Israelites by giving them the Promised Land, and to David by ensuring that from his line the Messiah would be born. Each of these stories could have had dead ends, but God restored them and used them for his purpose. We can trust he will do the same for us.

Do you have a dead-tree story in your life? Maybe your family is fighting and you don’t think there can ever be a reconciliation. Maybe you’re at a dead-end job and have resigned yourself to being miserable for the rest of your life. Maybe you have a prayer that doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to get answered. Maybe you have an unhappy marriage.

Whatever it is that seems dead, like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, remember the stories of the Bible. Esau forgiving Jacob, Saul turning into Paul, Hannah receiving Samuel, Zechariah and Elizabeth being blessed with John. God used sin, hardships, ailments, sickness, emptiness, and even death for his good and for his purpose. In the Bible, we see the purpose of everyone mentioned: to point to Jesus for our salvation.

The same is true for you! God is using all the dead-tree moments of your life to point you to Jesus, to encourage you to cling to him, and to remind you he is carrying you until that dead tree sprouts new life. Whether that’s in this life or the next, live confidently knowing God will always work for your good and his purpose: to give you life.

Prayer:

Lord, we know that you are making all things new, and we pray that you will sustain us until that marvelous day. Hear our pleas for mercy to bring life to the dead trees in our lives, work them for our good, and help us to see your purpose. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Written by Katelyn Strucely
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

He Comes to Clear the Way – December 4, 2024

2024/12/04/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
1 Thessalonians 3:11

He Comes to Clear the Way

Daily Devotion – December 4, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:11

See series: Devotions

Sometimes people take on obstacles just for the challenge. They will run a race filled with mud pits, climbing walls, and cargo nets to test themselves and hopefully overcome the challenges. At other times, obstacles just appear. Traffic comes to a standstill. The computer crashes. Progress comes to a sudden stop. And at other times, our obstacles are self-inflicted. Like leaving a phone nearby whose noises and messages distract from the work that needs to get done.

The apostle Paul had an obstacle that kept him away from the Christians in Thessalonica. Because of persecution, Paul had had to flee in the middle of the night. Now, writing to them later, he longed to be able to see them again. He prayed that God would clear the way to make a visit possible so that souls might be strengthened, and the love of Christ proclaimed.

While we may not face an obstacle keeping us from visiting Thessalonica, we do sometimes face spiritual obstacles keeping us from being closer to the Lord. Sometimes, these obstacles appear out of nowhere—a temptation or a trial we never expected. Sometimes, our spiritual troubles are self-inflicted. We keep ourselves from God’s Word or worship. We pursue a temptation rather than turning from it.

When the path to God seems difficult, take comfort in knowing that Jesus cleared the way for you. Every trial that was thrown at him, he endured. Every temptation, he overcame. Every distraction that kept him from his path to come to you to save you, he ignored. Jesus let nothing get in the way of winning your salvation.

Obstacles will come. But Advent is a great time to re-focus and re-prioritize your relationship with Jesus. Fix your eyes on him and the path to heaven that he has cleared for you.

Prayer:
Lord, help me clear my life of obstacles that get in the way of growing in you. Amen.

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

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

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

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 3

2024/12/03/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

A Heavenly Kingdom That Will Never Die

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
Isaiah 11:10

As the end of 2024 approaches, another election year has taken its toll, the economy is threatening a “light” Christmas, and we’re left wondering just what the New Year might bring. Does it all feel hopeless? Does it feel like our lives will never be the same? Does the future seem more uncertain than ever? My friends, we are not alone; these are not only 21^st-century problems.

Long ago, the Israelites were going through similar struggles. They were watching their country crumble around them, experiencing fear that their enemies would overtake them, and worrying that everything they had ever known was changing. It seemed hopeless for them. God was allowing them to suffer because of the faithlessness of their leaders, the sins they refused to leave behind, and their own willingness to turn away from God’s Word.

There were a small number of faithful few who remained true to God’s Word and followed his commands with true faith, but it was hard to see them through the masses of unbelievers. Israel was known for being God’s chosen people, but this was often in name only because their hearts were far from belonging to the Lord. It was hard to see how God’s promise of a Savior would come from the line of Jesse when so many of the kings and followers had fallen so far away from God. This family tree had certainly died spiritually and was close to dying out physically as well.

Isaiah was prophesying to a lost and hurting people, and here he gave them hope. They would not be divided forever. They would not remain dispersed. God would restore them and silence their enemies—just not the way they thought or anticipated. He would preserve the line of Jesse so that the King of kings could be born from this line. A king who would have much more power, riches, and wisdom than David and Solomon. A king who would bring them eternal peace, rest, and glory. A king who would make alive what once was dead.

God remained faithful to his people and faithful to his promises. A remnant returned to the mighty God and leaned on him for strength, hope for the future, and peace. The line of Jesse that had turned into a rotten stump would not prevent God from providing a new root. This new root would bloom in the face of adversity and be a sign for the people to rally around and be filled with hope that their wait was over.

The Root of Jesse would come to establish his heavenly kingdom, which could never die. He would fight all the evils of this world to rescue God’s people from their enemy. Even more amazing, this sign they were awaiting would be God himself in the form of a humble infant, born in a manger, willing to die on a cross to take away the hopelessness, worry, and uncertainty the Israelites felt and that we still feel today. In its place, he gave them—and gives us!—hope, peace, and rest in his eternal glory.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, may your peace and certainty always fill us so we may find rest in your Word and sacraments and hope in the eternal life we will have one day in your glorious presence. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Written by Katelyn Strucely
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

He Comes to Increase Our Faith – December 3, 2024

2024/12/03/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:10

He Comes to Increase Our Faith

Daily Devotion – December 3, 2024

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 3:10

See series: Devotions

You are missing something. As you are preparing dinner for your family you realize that one key ingredient is missing. Do you try to find a substitute? Do you just ignore it and hope for the best? Or do you drop everything and run to the store because you know that it just will not taste the same without it?

The world is missing something. Every day, a different “secret sauce” is marketed to make me happier and healthier, look younger, lose weight, get richer, live longer—the list goes on and on. But even if I can shed those stubborn pounds and smooth out a few wrinkles, how long before the next chocolate chip cookie or the newest line in my skin sends me looking for the next “something” that will fix all my problems?

You and I possess far greater problems than the externals that people can see and judge us by. There is One who sees the internal—our hearts and our souls. He knows our lives and what we do and say and think. And he, our God, has every right to judge us by our deeds and words.

Jesus came to give us what we lack. The perfect obedience that God demands he gives to us through faith in his Son. Jesus came to take away the sins that we commit. And then he gives us the ingredients to build us up in faith.

The Bible. Baptism. The Lord’s Supper. They seem so simple. We might want something more dramatic. We might expect we have to sacrifice or somehow do something to deserve to receive his message. We might think we have to do something drastic to find the secret sauce.

But this is how he builds us in faith. Through a steady diet of his Word, God comes to us, builds us up in faith, and keeps us strong to handle the problems that life throws at us. And through his Word, we have all that we need.

Prayer:
Lord, make me glad to worship you and seek out your Word so that I may grow in you. Amen.

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

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

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

Christmas Requires Remembering Why Christ Came – Week of December 2, 2024

2024/12/02/in Devotions, ECME Devotions

Christmas Requires Remembering Why Christ Came – Week of December 2, 2024

“May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

1 Thessalonians 3:13

ECME Devotion December 2, 2024

See series: ECME Devotions

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Advent is here and will lead us right to Christmas in just a few short weeks. You can almost feel the anticipation during this time as we look forward to the coming of our Savior!

As much as Advent is a time to look forward, I’d love to take a look back with you over this first semester. Imagine for a moment that on the first day of school you weren’t there to receive your new students. Instead, the parents had simply dropped off their child in an empty classroom with no teacher to be found. What would these past few months have looked like as your kiddos tried to figure out things like reading, cutting, painting, sharing, Bible lessons, etc. all by themselves? I would imagine not much growth would be found. The kids would be lost and confused, wondering what to do next, and possibly even scared for their safety. Thankfully, the reality is that you have been there with guidance, hard work, preparation, and careful instruction. What a blessing to reflect on the fruits of your labor with your students as they have grown leaps and bounds thanks to your faithfulness. Is there room for them to grow? Of course! That’s why children have a whole semester ahead of them and more years of learning to come. Even you, as educators, have committed to a lifetime of learning and growing in your trade.

Just as your students have graciously not been alone this year at school, you are most definitely not alone this Advent season or at anytime. Our verse says, “May he strengthen your hearts…” God is present in this. He is the one that gives us the strength. It is a tall order to be a teacher. It is an even taller order to be “blameless and holy in the presence of our God…” We are not left alone to our own devices to figure it all out. Immanuel- God with us- is there to guide, instruct, and encourage us on our walk of faith. Is there room to grow? Of course! We fail daily to be perfect and are constantly reminded of our own shortcomings. Praise God that One came who indeed did it perfectly for us. He promises to be there as we commit to a lifetime of knowing God more deeply as he refines us until the day he comes once more.

Advent isn’t just a time to remember that Christ came. Advent is a time to remember why he came. He came to live a perfect life for you, die on the cross that should have been ours, and rise from the dead- conquering death and the devil for good. Jesus now walks alongside you in your journey towards eternity at home with him. May we always look to Jesus as the source of our strength as we prepare our hearts for his coming.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you for being the source of our strength always. Forgive us for the times we try to do it all on our own. We know that you are Immanuel- God with us- this Advent season and at all times. Help us to lean on you and remember all the beautiful reasons why you came to earth. In your Perfect Name. Amen.

Early Childhood Ministry Educator’s (ECME) Devotions are brought to you by WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools.

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.

Christmas Isn’t the Only Thing on the Way – December 2, 2024

2024/12/02/in Devotions, Family Devotions

Read: Luke 21:25-36

[Jesus said] “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:25-28

Christmas Isn’t the Only Thing on the Way

LISTEN HERE

Family Devotion – December 2, 2024

Devotion based on Luke 21:25-28

See series: Devotions

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

December is here! Stores have been selling Christmas gifts and decorations for months. Parents are figuring out the schedule around holiday parties, winter break, family get-togethers, and additional worship services throughout the month. Radio stations have changed their programming to cycle through carol after carol. Look around; it’s undeniable that Christmas is coming!

But in our Bible reading for today, Jesus tells us to look for other signs. Not signs that show the coming of Christmas, which is the first time Jesus came to this world; Jesus also tells us to look for signs that show his coming again. In the Christian Church, we call this season “advent,” an old Latin word that means coming. December is a month of anticipation, and we have the privilege of anticipating two things: the celebration of Christ’s first coming and the arrival of his second coming as well.

Just like our joyful anticipation of the Christmas holiday, our waiting for Christ’s second coming is full of joy, too. The signs of his coming might not sound super joyful because up until that day, sin will continue to affect us and the world. But yes, when we see these signs, we Christians have the joy of standing up and lifting our heads to look for Jesus. We know that he is coming, and that when he finally arrives, he will completely destroy the effects of sin that we’ve lived with all our lives. He is coming to undo everything the devil ever did. He is coming to take you to be with him in heaven forever!

Keep on watching and waiting—not just to celebrate Christ’s first coming, but to joyfully anticipate the second time he comes. That will be a worldwide celebration, unlike any holiday we’ve ever celebrated!

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you have prepared us to watch and wait for your second coming. In this holiday season, direct our eyes not only to the cradle of your birth but also to the skies of your return. In your name, we pray. 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

When Jesus comes again, where is he taking us?
What’s the coolest thing about heaven?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

What is the real reason that Christmas is so joyful?
Why is Christ’s second coming going to be even more joyful?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Jesus’ warnings don’t sound all that joyful today. Where is the joy as we wait for his second coming?
Not everyone knows or believes that Jesus is coming again…but he is, whether they think so or not. What does that motivate us to do?

Download and print devotion

Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.

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.

Advent Devotion – Just As He Said – Day 2

2024/12/02/in Womens Advent Devotions, Womens Devotions

Just As He Said

I Can Hardly Wait!

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Revelation 12:17

I can hardly wait! In these days leading up to Christmas, a child’s anticipation bubbles over and makes it hard for them to concentrate on anything else. They long for time to go by quickly because they know the wonder yet to come. It’s an early experience of an earthly reality—waiting.

I can hardly wait! Adam and Eve must have uttered these words in the early days of humanity. With the birth of each of their many children, I can imagine them wondering each time if this would be the one who was promised. In reality, they wouldn’t see the fulfillment with their own eyes, but they would cling in faith to that first gospel promise of a Savior. It would be worth waiting for.

I can hardly wait! As generations of Israelites came and went, they passed on the continued prophecies that foretold the offspring of Eve who was yet to come and clung tightly in hopeful anticipation to the details revealed to them. Maybe this would be the year the wait would be over.

I can hardly wait! We know the story of his first coming so well that we can practically picture the scene in our minds: the baby Jesus in the manger with the virgin Mary on one side and Joseph standing guard. The little family surrounded by various barn animals who look on, mildly curious and only slightly put off by the intrusion—or is that joy on their faces that their Creator would pick their home for his birth? The shepherds who have just raced down from their posts, perhaps still slightly out of breath and surrounded by a few of their flock that could keep up with them. They stand in awe and wonder if the events of this night could ever be truly expressed. The mysterious light from the sky illuminates the scene, and we agree with those first witnesses to the Word made flesh that this was worth the wait.

I can hardly wait! Are you as tired as I am from living under the curse of sin? Day after day, there’s a battle raging inside of us to do the good we want to do versus the sin we actually keep on doing! It’s exhausting and extremely frustrating. Then there are our relationships and experiences of living in a sinful world that hates God and everything he stands for. “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus” (Revelation 12:17). Thankfully the promise of hope given to Adam and Eve was also meant for us because if God had not intervened in that very moment in the garden, we would still be friends with Satan now. Can you imagine? While we still have battles to fight here on earth, we have an inner peace knowing that our relationship has been made right with God through Jesus. Our anticipation of finally being set free from the curse of sin and the dream of walking in the garden with God like Adam and Eve did before the fall will happen. Hold fast! He is coming! I can hardly wait!

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your plan of salvation carried out by sacrificing your one and only Son, Jesus, so that through him we have peace with you. Be with us here on earth while we wait for that glorious moment when Jesus returns to bring an end to this present evil age, so that we may begin the next glorious chapter in the new Jerusalem with you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Rachel Halldorson
Provided by WELS Women’s Ministry

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