Devotions

A Father Who Loves Us – January 20, 2025

2025/01/20/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Ephesians 3:14,15

A Father Who Loves Us

Daily Devotion – January 20, 2025

Devotion based on Ephesians 3:14,15

See series: Devotions

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most well-loved stories told by Jesus. In it, a young man takes his share of the family inheritance generously given by his father and in short order, wastes it all on reckless living. The young man, now penniless and at rock bottom, finally comes to his senses. He realizes that he brought shame on his family’s name and squandered his father’s wealth. He couldn’t imagine that he could ever be reconciled to his father. Resolved to return and beg for an entry-level job in his family’s business, the young man barely begins his rehearsed apology before his father runs up and interrupts. With a flurry of affection, the father welcomes him home and loudly calls for a celebration of his lost son’s return.

Some may hear that story and think, “Does a father like that even exist, one who is so loving and forgiving?” The point of Jesus’ parable is that you certainly have such a father—the Almighty God who created all things is Father of us all. He has given you a share in his beautiful creation along with every other person on this planet. Sadly, we have proven to be prodigals ourselves—recklessly and selfishly wasting what God has given to us on things with no true lasting value. How dare we ask him for anything more? But before we could even ask, our heavenly Father came to reconcile us to himself through his one true Son, Jesus Christ. Our older brother Jesus is everything that we were not—faithful, loyal, and loving to his Father and to us, his brothers and sisters. Jesus intercedes for us, reminding his Father—and ours—that our debt has been fully paid by him through his holy blood shed on the cross.

Whoever you are, whatever you’ve done or left undone, you have a Father who loves you more than you can imagine and more than you could have asked for. A heavenly Father who hears and answers your prayers.

Prayer:
Dear Father, I kneel before you in prayer, knowing you will hear me for Jesus’ sake. Forgive my sins and welcome me home. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Transformed – teen devotion – January 19, 2025

2025/01/19/in Teen Devotions

One key truth: God’s mission is bigger than ours, and his timing is better than ours.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:1-11

God Delivers More Than We Ask, Not Less

A wineless wedding may not be a big deal to you, but in ancient Jewish society, a wedding without wine was culturally disastrous.

Mary, Jesus’ mother, apparently knew that. So, she asks her son, Jesus, to do something about it. Was she hoping he’d work a miracle? Maybe, but we’re told this was the first miracle Jesus had ever performed; up to this point, she had never seen such raw demonstrations of her son’s divine power. As Mary speaks to Jesus, you get the impression she talks to him as if he was only her son—and nothing more; the son she bore; the son she nursed; the son she cradled; the son she taught to walk and took to the temple.

Mary certainly hadn’t forgotten what the angel said to her about this child: the child she would miraculously conceive was born of God: the child she carried was the Son of God, God Incarnate. But when Mary discovers there is no more wine, she leverages her relationship with Jesus as his mother to get him to do what she thinks is best when she thinks it’s best.

And Jesus, with gentleness and respect, “leverages” his relationship to her as the Son of God and Savior of the world to effectively tell her two things: 1) My mission is bigger than yours, 2) and my timing is better than yours.

So, what calamity is crashing into your life right now?

Where, in your life, do you feel things aren’t going according to your plans?

Is it fatigue from feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Is it the fear of getting sick? Is it the weariness of feeling like a failure? Like you just can’t do anything right? Is it when your closest relationships seem to be falling apart all around you? Is it the sting of being dumped or rejected? Is it the pain of losing a loved one? You don’t have to be the guest or groom at a dysfunctional wedding to doubt God’s mission is bigger than ours and his timing is better than ours.

But this story showcases more than hearts dealing with doubts in the face of disaster; it showcases a better groom—and he brings a better wedding. When it came to wine in first century A.D., it was commonly diluted with water—to where the wine that was served was two parts water and one part wine, or sometimes even three parts water and one part wine. And then there’s Jesus, and when he makes wine at this wedding, he fills six 20-30 gallon jars—not with two parts water and one part wine—not even with three parts water and one part wine—but with one part water and zero parts wine. For the Lord of all creation, the God through whom all things were made and all things hold together, water was more than what he needed to make wine. And not just any wine: wine better than the wine before it.

That is what is so beautiful about this wedding story: Jesus doesn’t just give these wedding guests something they didn’t have; he gives them something better than what they did have.

You see, Jesus didn’t come to this broken, fallen world because our wine glasses would be empty without him; he came because we would be empty without him. Our God didn’t enter this dying world to save weddings; he came to save you.

At that wedding in Cana, Jesus reveals himself to be the better bridegroom. Just as God spoke of his love for his wayward world as a faithful husband to a faithless bride, our God would demonstrate that unwavering fidelity and love by dying for us. This bridegroom would endure the justice of a holy God on a cross so we would be brought into his family. This bridegroom gave up his body and blood into death to give us something better than this world could ever give: forgiveness, newness of life, and heaven as our ultimate home. This bridegroom washed you in the waters of baptism to present you to himself as a radiant bride—without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. And this bridegroom is the one who will carry you over the threshold of this life into the mansions of heaven—where the wedding party will never end!

Prayer:
Lord God, heavenly Father, so often things spiral out of our control—and we’re incredibly quick to panic and frequently fail to give it over to you in prayer. Forgive us for these moments of doubt, encourage us with your steadfast love, and help us by your Spirit to trust your plan and your timing. In Jesus name we pray. 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.

The Continuous Video Camera – January 19, 2025

2025/01/19/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.
Proverbs 5:21

The Continuous Video Camera

Daily Devotion – January 19, 2025

Devotion based on Proverbs 5:21

See series: Devotions

What if you had someone following you around all day with a continuous video camera? The camera would record everything you said and did. Not one second of the day would be unrecorded. Would that make you uncomfortable?

God is like a continuous video camera. He sees all our ways and examines all of our paths. Not only does he see every word and action, but he also sees every thought that enters our minds. He sees even the deepest and darkest. That makes us uncomfortable! We don’t want to watch a home movie of our hurtful words and actions. We don’t want God or anyone else to watch that, either.

Thankfully, our Savior washed away every sin from our hearts, mouths, and bodies. He has cleansed us from ALL our sins. With Jesus in the picture, God’s continuous video camera is a blessing. You can be sure that everything you have done has been in full view of God, and you can be sure he still loves you very much. He has examined all your paths and declares in certainty, “You are forgiven for everything.”

What a blessing to have a Savior who knows all and forgives all!

Prayer:
Father thank you for sending Jesus to wash away my sins so that I may rejoice forever in heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

The Love of God – January 18, 2025

2025/01/18/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
Titus 3:4,5

The Love of God

Daily Devotion – January 18, 2025

Devotion based on Titus 3:4,5

See series: Devotions

“Nobody loves me!” Very few phrases are more heart-wrenching than to hear someone say that no one loves them. Many of us have felt this way at one time or another—the teenager whose friends all seem to have abandoned her, the single person who cannot find that special someone, the divorcee whose world has collapsed, the widow who is suddenly all alone. But God has comfort for everyone who has ever felt unloved. He loves us.

God does not love us because we are lovable. In fact, Paul says, “when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done.” If God’s love for us depended on our being lovable, none of us would stand a chance. The things we have done are not lovable. They are unloving and cruel and hurtful. They are sins.

But God saved us from those sins, not because of what we’ve done, but despite what we’ve done. “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” God looked at us and said, “What poor, miserable creatures! Over and over again, they deny me and disobey me. They certainly don’t deserve anything from me. But I love them. And I am going to save them from the eternal punishment they deserve.” The fact that God saved us when we didn’t deserve it proves his love for us.

Do you think no one loves you? Look at that man on the cross. Jesus loves you. He loves you as much today as the day on which he was nailed to the cross for you. What wondrous love!

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for loving me and saving me because of your mercy. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Baptism Is Bath Time – January 17, 2025

2025/01/17/in Devotions, Family Devotions

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

Baptism Is Bath Time

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Family Devotion – January 17, 2025

Devotion based on Titus 3:4-7

See series: Devotions

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

There are some really big words in our verses today—words like righteous, mercy, justified, grace, and heir. There could be a devotion on each of them! Instead, let’s focus on another word that is easy to understand and picture. Here it is—washing.

Washing sounds easy to do, but you probably know from personal experience that washing can be hard. Parents know how hard it is to wash their small children. Kids often don’t want to stop playing for bath time; so, parents often need to convince (and plead) with kids to be washed. Even when kids get to the bathtub, it’s not easy. Often, the parents are the ones who are applying the soap and shampoo, scrubbing the dirt, and then rinsing the children. All the while, the parents have to make sure that children are safe in water that’s not too deep nor too hot.

But, in the end, washing saves you from dirty appearances, from stinky smells, and from harmful germs. Because the children come out of bath time refreshed and renewed, it’s worth it.

And that’s why the apostle Paul referred to baptism as “the washing of rebirth and renewal.” When we were first born, each of us were covered in the germs of sin. In a spiritual sense, we were dirty and stinky. To make matters worse, like stubborn kids before bedtime, we didn’t think we needed to be washed clean.

But, like a loving parent, God took us to the waters of baptism. He applied his word to us—the spiritual soap that scrubs away sin. Then, God rinsed us clean. He washed us clean through baptism. In a sense, you’ve been reborn. Now, you’re brand new.

Eventually, a child realizes that bath time is not the end and heads off to bed knowing there will be a new day to laugh and play. It’s the same with baptism. Baptism is our spiritual bath time, and it guarantees that we can fall asleep and wake up forgiven and clean for the new day.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death and resurrection, you have saved us from sin and death. By baptism, you have given us the eternal life you won for us. Let me wake up tomorrow remembering I’m clean and ready to live a clean life until the day we wake up to an eternity with you in heaven. 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’s the one word today’s devotion was about?
When Paul talks about “washing,” what is he talking about?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

God’s love and kindness appeared in Jesus Christ. What are some ways that Jesus showed kindness and love during his ministry?
What are some ways you can show kindness and love this week?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Paul pictures baptism as a “washing,” a “rebirth,” and a “renewal.” Which word-picture do you like most? Why?
At your baptism the words, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” were spoken. Why are the same words said at the start of every worship service?

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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 – Baptized into the Battlefield – January 17, 2025

2025/01/17/in Devotions, Military Devotions

Based on Galatians 3:26,27

When I was in Okinawa recently, I stood in the location for the final battle of World War II. When the American forces landed on the western side of the island, they did not experience the opposition that they had when they landed on previous islands to engage the Japanese forces. When they rolled up onto the island, they walked around, did some scouting, and didn’t see any enemy forces.

Then three or four days later, the Japanese really let them have it. You see, the Japanese allowed the American forces to land where they did and let them set up camp where they wanted, because then they knew exactly where the American forces would be and where they would be setting up camp. They then had their artillery zeroed in on those locations. They had their enemy forces located in the intricate web of caves, in the cliffs, and in the hills of the island of Okinawa, because they knew exactly where our troops would be so they would inflict heavy casualties on them.

Some days it feels that way, doesn’t it? Our life is kind of like a battlefield. And actually, the Bible describes it that way. And it’s because we are baptized into Christ. Because we are baptized into Christ, we have his name on us. The devil marks us as the enemy, and he knows exactly where to hit us with temptations so that we despair when things come up in our lives and we say, “What is going on?” We wonder where God is. The devil tempts us into false belief. He tempts us into great and shameful sin, and it just seems that no matter where we go, the devil always knows how to get us. We’re baptized into a battlefield.

But you know, my friends, that Jesus was baptized into a battlefield too. The Bible tells us that as soon as Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led him out into the wilderness to engage with the devil in hand-to-hand combat—spiritual hand-to-hand combat. The devil was tempting him for 40 days and 40 nights, but on that battlefield, Jesus won the battle for us. He won the fight for us so we know that when we are on this battlefield called life—and it oftentimes feels like we’re losing and like the devil has our location zeroed in all the time—we know that the battle has been won, because Jesus has won it for us.

Not only are we baptized into a battlefield, but Galatians 3 tells us that all of us who are baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ (verse 27). Not only do we have Jesus’ name on us as his friend, as his ally, as his brothers and sisters, but we also have been clothed with him in his righteous life. The life that he won when he engaged in battle with the devil—he gives us that. And he doesn’t leave us alone.

When the American forces were on the island of Okinawa, there were times that platoons of Marines were by themselves for a very, very long time, until reinforcements came to relieve them of the battle fatigue and all the things they were going through in that battle on Okinawa.

In that same way, Jesus doesn’t leave us alone. He gives us this promise in our baptism. He gives us this promise in his Word that he will never leave us or abandon us. He also gives us his Lord’s Prayer, especially the Sixth and Seventh Petitions—lead us not into temptation; deliver us from evil.

Those are things the Father promises to do for us when we pray to him. So, my friends, know that, yes, you are baptized into a battlefield, but you are also baptized into Christ.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, at times we tend to despair because of the way that the devil tempts us, the way that he assaults us. It feels like we’re in a fierce battle every single day of our lives, but we also know that we are baptized into your name, and because of that, we have won the victory.

And so also in that same spirit, Lord Jesus, we ask that you be with all of our warfighters who are deployed right now. Some of them are engaged in combat operations and are in harm’s way, and so we pray that you send your holy angels to watch over them. Protect them in body, mind, and soul. And also to be with their family members and friends here in the States. Remind them that they are not alone, but that you are with them. Surround them with good, faithful, Christian friends and neighbors to remind them of these promises too. We ask this in your name. 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.

Washed Downstream – January 17, 2025

2025/01/17/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5

Washed Downstream

Daily Devotion – January 17, 2025

Devotion based on Titus 3:5

See series: Devotions

On November 19, 1854, the legendary Texas general, Sam Houston, was baptized. He was known as a brutish man, a rabble-rouser, and a heavy drinker. Apparently, his wife, Margaret, had been praying for fourteen years that he would get baptized. As the story goes, after Sam Houston came up from the baptismal waters of a river in Texas, one of his friends said, “Well, General, all your sins have been washed away.” Houston replied, “If that be the case, God help the fish downstream…”

We could technically all say the same thing. At our baptisms, a whole lot of filth got washed off of us. Every sin we’d ever committed and every sin we’d commit in the future received a cleansing on that day. That’s a lot of sin. But it’s gone now. It’s washed downstream. This washing by the Holy Spirit has saved you. By your baptism, you’ve been tied into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. You died with Christ and now also live with Christ.

The two words Paul uses in this verse to describe your baptism are “rebirth” and “renewal.” To be “reborn” means to be given new life. At baptism, the “old you” was washed downstream. That “old you” was a slave to sin, but you’ve been set free now. It’s like you get to start your life over now as someone born into God’s family.

You’ve also been “renewed.” You see the word new in that word. At baptism, you were given a “new self.” This new self wants to please God and live in harmony with him. The old self of sin wants to rebel against God, but in your baptism, that old self is drowned. The new self now rises each day to live with Christ.

So, live every day as the reborn and renewed child of God that you are. You’ve been washed clean!

Prayer:
Cleansing Lord, you have saved us through the gracious washing of our baptisms. Lead us to live renewed lives each and every day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Positively Delighted – January 16, 2025

2025/01/16/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:22

Positively Delighted

Daily Devotion – January 16, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 3:22

See series: Devotions

Deep down, virtually every child wants to please their parents. When they’re still little, they want to hear their parents say, “Good job!” or “Wow, you are so big!” As they grow older, children crave to hear their parents say, “I’m so proud of you” or “You mean the world to me.” Children crave their parents’ approval and praise.

God the Father is well pleased, positively delighted, with his Son, Jesus. That’s good news for us who want to please our Father in heaven, too because Christ shares God’s delight with you. By faith in Jesus, you also gain access to God’s delight. The sins that make you look like worthless chaff are blown away. God sees you as good wheat to be stored with him. God is positively delighted with you because he’s positively delighted in what his Son has done and who he is—the substitute for sinners.

If you want further proof that you are God’s delight, look to your own baptism! Baptism is your connection to Christ and his saving work. In baptism, your sinful identity, your chaff-like appearance, is put to death, and your sins are hidden in Jesus’ tomb. But even as your sins are washed away in baptism, you are also being raised with Christ to walk in his footsteps, bringing delight to God. In baptism, God the Father’s voice calls out to you like it did for Jesus, “You are my son, my daughter, whom I love. With you, I am well pleased. You are my delight.”

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for delighting in me so much that you sent your one and only Son to claim me as one of your children. Now let your Holy Spirit guide me in serving you with my life—since you are now my joy and delight. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

I Choose You! – January 15, 2025

2025/01/15/in Devotions, Family Devotions

When [Jesse and his sons] arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
1 Samuel 16:6-12

I Choose You!

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Family Devotion – January 15, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Samuel 16:6-12

See series: Devotions

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

There is nothing quite like the thrill of being chosen. If you have ever seen the game show, The Price Is Right, audience members lose their minds when they are chosen to become contestants. Have you ever felt the excitement of being chosen for a special role?

What did you have to do to be chosen? Some people get picked for teams or performances because they are good at it. Other people are chosen to lead a group because of their personality. Still others get chosen to do important jobs because they have proven themselves.

In today’s devotion, David got chosen to be the next king of Israel. When God sent his prophet Samuel to the little town of Bethlehem, God had already chosen David—even though he was the youngest his brothers appeared stronger and more experienced. After choosing David, God equipped him to be king. God sent the Holy Spirit to equip and empower David for that important role.

In the same way, God has chosen . . . you. But God did not choose you because of your ability, your personality, or your experience. God chose you simply because he loves you and wanted to choose you.

And what did God choose you to do? God chose you to believe in him. God chose you to put all your love and trust in him as the one who created you, saved you, and forgave your sins. God sent the Holy Spirit to equip and empower you with faith. The most important thing God chose you to do was to simply trust in him.

God also chose us to serve him. As much as we may want to be served like a king, one of the most important ways we serve God is by serving other people. Now—let’s be real—that can be hard. People have many needs and big problems. How can you possibly serve all of them? Well, the same Holy Spirit who used his power to create faith in you also equips you with his power to want to serve others and have a Christian impact on them. The God who said, “I choose you,” makes it possible for you to say, “I choose to serve others!”

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for choosing us to believe in you. Give us your Holy Spirit and his power so that we can be faithful to our calling to serve others. Amen.

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

Questions for Younger Children

Jesse had eight sons. Which one was chosen to be king of Israel?
How would you feel if you were chosen to be a king or queen?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Why was David an unlikely choice to become king?
God says that he judges a person by looking at the heart. What do you think God is looking for in a person’s heart?

Questions for Middle School and Above

People often judge by outward appearance. Give an example how that could lead to misjudging someone.
Name two responsibilities that you have in the coming days. How has God equipped you to do those things?

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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.

Harsh or Hippie? – January 15, 2025

2025/01/15/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Luke 3:16

Harsh or Hippie?

Daily Devotion – January 15, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 3:16

See series: Devotions

There seems to be an interesting flip-flop of expectations for Jesus between the Jewish people of his day and us today. The Jewish people of that time wanted a fiery figure like John the Baptist, one with power who would bring heat on the elite. Jesus seemed too ordinary, humble, and uninterested in being a powerful leader.

But now it’s flipped. It seems that more and more people today would prefer to have a hippie Jesus who’s cool with whatever we feel like doing or whoever we feel like being. A Jesus who always throws up peace signs and “hang loose” signs. Many want a Jesus who doesn’t confront sin and doesn’t come to separate the chaff from the wheat and bring judgment like John was talking about because that sounds too harsh and unloving.

While it’s true that Jesus is the greatest expression of God’s love, he also wasn’t just some pushover hippie. Jesus brought fire to those who thought they were secure in their own righteousness. He came because there was a serious problem to address—our sin. And Jesus didn’t back down from talking about it and calling it out.

So, is Jesus harsh or a hippie? He’s neither. He is just and powerful yet also humble and merciful. Jesus didn’t come to say, “You’re all good just the way you are.” Instead, he came to prove, “I’ve made you good by my perfect life, innocent death, and powerful resurrection.” Jesus was harsh in his answer against sin, death, and the devil. He showed his full power in defeating our enemies. And he has shown his overwhelming grace in loving us who didn’t deserve God’s mercy because of our sin.

We thank our God that he’s given us a mighty Savior who is mighty in power and even mightier in love.

Prayer:
Dear mighty Savior, I am not worthy to approach you, but you approached me in love. I praise you for your acts of mighty love on my behalf. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

You Are Anointed – January 14, 2025

2025/01/14/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.
1 Samuel 16:13

You Are Anointed

Daily Devotion – January 14, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Samuel 16:13

See series: Devotions

When was the last time you anointed something? Do you get up in the morning and say, “I shall now anoint this pan with oil before I scramble my eggs for breakfast”? Or do you go to the beach and say, “Before sitting in the sun, I shall anoint my skin with SPF 50 sunscreen”? We don’t talk about anointing things or people. It’s not a thing we do. Anointing sounds like something reserved for kings and Old Testament prophets, but nothing to do with you or me.

Anointing is kind of a big concept in the Bible, though. It comes up frequently. The name “Christ” even means “The Anointed One.” And really, it’s because of Christ, that “Anointed One,” that you also get tied into an anointing of your own. That’s essentially what your baptism is—an anointing by the Holy Spirit.

At your baptism, the Spirit of the Lord rushes on you with power from that day forward, echoing what happened to David when he was anointed by Samuel. At your baptism, the Holy Spirit stirs and strengthens his gift of faith in your heart. At your baptism, you’re anointed with the cleansing forgiveness of sins. At your baptism, you’re anointed into Christ and his redeeming work on your behalf. At your baptism, you’re anointed into office—the office of the priesthood of all believers, as you now take up the role of being a messenger of good news for broken sinners.

That’s the anointing we still take part in today. At your baptism, you’re anointed—not just with water but with the Holy Spirit. God knew we humans are creatures who rely on our senses, and so he connects his grace, power, and blessing to something we can see—visible and concrete: the anointing waters of baptism.

Prayer:
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing Spirit to sustain me. Amen. (Psalm 51:10-12)

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

God Knows Who You Are, and So Do You! – January 13, 2025

2025/01/13/in Devotions, Family Devotions

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:15-17,21-22

God Knows Who You Are, and So Do You!

LISTEN HERE

Family Devotion – January 13, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 3:15-17,21-22

See series: Devotions

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

Have you ever been confused with somebody else? Perhaps you look like your brother or sister, and your coach, your teacher, or your pastor called you by someone else’s name? If that has happened to you, how did you respond?

Sometimes, it’s just easier to go along with it. (Maybe you don’t want the person to feel embarrassed.) But maybe you find a gentle way to correct the person. You might say, “I’m sorry, but you have me confused with someone else. My name is _______.” Then, maybe you give them a way to tell the difference.

The people in the days of John the Baptist were starting to get confused about who he was. They wondered if he was the Messiah (or, the Christ). They wondered if he was the promised Savior whom the Old Testament predicted. Did you catch how John the Baptist responded? He gently corrected them and pointed them to Jesus.

In today’s Bible reading, the triune God gives us a clear way to know who Jesus is.

When John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, God the Father declared, “You are my Son.” Then, God the Holy Spirit came down in the form of the dove that said, “I, the Holy Spirit, am with Jesus.” This was God’s way of making sure no one would get it confused. Jesus is the perfect Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior.

In the same way, your baptism is God’s way of making sure no one—including yourself—gets confused about who you are.

At your baptism, when splashes of water were put on you “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” God declared you to be his perfect child. Ever since your baptism, Jesus has proudly declared you to be his brother or sister. The Holy Spirit promised, “I will guide you all the days of your life.” Your baptism guarantees that God knows who you are.

And it helps you to know who you are. The next time you wonder who you are, the triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—says, “I put my name on you. You are a Christian. You are my child, and I am well-pleased with you.

God knows who you are, and so do you!

Closing Prayer:

Father in heaven, at Jesus’ baptism you made clear that he is your Son whom you love. Through your Holy Spirit, help us to remember that our baptisms have made it clear that we are your children whom you love. Amen.

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

Questions for Younger Children

How is someone baptized?
Who was at Jesus’ baptism?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

John the Baptist said that Jesus is “more powerful” than he was. What makes Jesus more powerful than John the Baptist?
How does baptism change your identity?

Questions for Middle School and Above

John the Baptist said that all people are either “the wheat” or “the chaff.” Which are you? And how do you know?
Saint Luke tells us that Jesus was praying at his baptism. Because you are baptized, you can pray to God, too. Think of someone or a situation you want to pray for. Say a short prayer for them.

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.

Identity in Christ – Week of January 13, 2025

2025/01/13/in Devotions, ECME Devotions

Identity in Christ – Week of January 13, 2025

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

ECME Devotion January 13, 2025

See series: ECME Devotions

How do you identify yourself? What is your worldview? These are questions that are being asked around the country and in our changing world. We can identify ourselves by our family background, interests and talents, character and values. Because God made each person with different personalities, gifts, and backgrounds, each person has a different view of themselves and different perspective of the world.

This can be unsettling for some people. Many just want to fit in or are confused about where their place is in society. Some become anxious or dissatisfied and have trouble solving everyday problems. But there is a cure for an identity crisis! Our true identity is not of this world. Our true identity is in Jesus, through baptism and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is sometimes called our “second birthday”. Through baptism, we are “washed” or “covered with” the righteousness (being “right with God) of Jesus. Jesus gave us this righteousness when he lived his perfect life on earth and then took our sins upon himself when he died on the cross. He beat the devil and all sin in the world when he died on the cross and came back to life that first Easter. Because of these “righteous things” that Jesus did, we now have a loving relationship with him. Our identity is now in the family of Christ!

We can take heart that our identity in Jesus is “not because of righteous things that we have done”. We know that we are sinners that cannot save ourselves. There is nothing “good” in us that can move God to save us. And if God waited for us to be able to do anything pure and righteous, he would be waiting forever! However, God was moved to save us because of his kindness, mercy, and undeserved love.

How thankful we are that we do not need to rely on our own merits or our own sinful identity to get to heaven! On our baptism day, we became a child of God. The Holy Spirit worked into our hearts and continues to help us grow in our faith. We know who we are! We are declared righteous (right with God) because of God’s kindness, mercy and love and now share the certainty of our place in heaven.

Prayer:
Dear God,
We live in a world of uncertainty. Thank you for reminding us that our identity is not found in this world, but that we are part of God’s family through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. How thankful we are that we do not need to rely on ourselves but are saved through your undeserved love. Amen.

A Question to Consider:
Think of a friend that might be having trouble with their own identity or is having trouble during this season of their life. What words can you use to show them that God gives them a place in his family?

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.

Not an Afterthought – January 13, 2025

2025/01/13/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”. . . He sent for him and had him brought in. [David] was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
1 Samuel 16:10-12

Not an Afterthought

Daily Devotion – January 13, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Samuel 16:10-12

See series: Devotions

The prophet Samuel had come to Bethlehem so that God could choose the next king of Israel. The king would be one of the sons of Jesse. So, Jesse had seven of his sons pass in front of Samuel. Right away, Samuel noticed Eliab, who likely had a tall, kingly stature. Samuel thought to himself, “Surely this man will be the one God chooses.” But God wasn’t choosing Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, or any of the other four sons Jesse had with him that day.

Samuel said, “Are all your sons here?” Jesse replied, “Well, there’s still the youngest.” Jesse didn’t even think it was worth bringing his youngest son, David, in from the field for the prophet’s visit. He was an afterthought. But David was not an afterthought to God. He was the next king of Israel.

God doesn’t always operate the way we think he would. He doesn’t choose or prefer only those who have high earthly standing. He cherishes the lowly, the afflicted, the humble. The afterthoughts of the world are not afterthoughts to God.

No matter who you were or where you stood in the pecking order of life, at your baptism, God lifted you up as his own. He claimed you as his child. Even if you feel like an afterthought to the world, you are God’s treasured possession and an heir of his kingdom. You’re never an afterthought for God!

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, thank you for lifting me up. Thank you for never treating me like an afterthought. Thank you for choosing me to be your own and live under you in your kingdom. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Transformed – teen devotion – January 12, 2025

2025/01/12/in Teen Devotions

One key truth: Your baptism is the explicit proof of your adoption into God’s family, and God’s pledge of undying devotion and fidelity to you.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Titus 3:4-6

The Cure for an Identity Crisis

Have you seen the docuseries called, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace?

Natalia was born in Ukraine with a rare form of dwarfism, and subsequently surrendered by her mother for adoption. Eventually, a family from Indiana, the Barnetts, adopted Natalia. But the relationship she had with Kristine and Michael Barnett—her foster parents—was anything but ideal: their relationship was abusive, manipulative, and dangerous.

Why? Depends on whom you ask.

Kristine and Michael Barnett depicted Natalia as a sociopathic con-artist who tried to harm them; Natalia, on the other hand, would tell you the actual crimes committed were by Kristine and Michael Barnett; they, according to Natalia, neglected her, abused her, abandoned her, and disowned her.

So, who’s telling the truth?

Right when a particular side of the story sounds more plausible, the docuseries presents you with reason to discredit it. It’s as if the producers want you to be left constantly without any narrative clarity—starving for closure that will ultimately never come. You’re left feeling like Natalia’s belonging to a family that loves and cares for her is an ending to the story that is always out of reach—where adoption into that kind of family is too good to be true.

Our adoption can sound too good to be true, too—can’t it? That’s what your baptism is: Baptism was—and is—a washing of rebirth and renewal—a washing of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is the explicit proof that God has adopted you into his family. In baptism, he has adopted you to be his.

As much as we get hung up on the “how” of baptism, our real hangups are on the “why.” “If baptism is not merely a sign, but a seal of God’s grace, why would God both sign and seal himself over to me?”

We’re self-righteous and proud. We’re selfish and unsympathetic. We’re users and abusers. We’re liars and cheaters. We’re hateful and hurtful. We’re not even worthy to stoop down and untie the straps Jesus’ sandals. Why would God want to adopt us into his family?

It’s when you and I ask “Why?” of our adoptions that our God takes us to the waters of Christ’s baptism.

Think about it: why would Jesus need to be baptized? Why would the sinless Son of God need a washing of rebirth and renewal? Why would the blameless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world need to be baptized for repentance and the forgiveness of sins? He’s not being baptized for his own sake—but for yours. It was fitting for Jesus to be baptized as us for us to fulfill all righteousness.

That word—righteous—refers to absolute, complete, total perfection and holiness. And if we had any hope of standing confidently before God, that righteousness is something we didn’t have and couldn’t give—but we desperately needed it.

There at the Jordan River, we find the sinless Son of God emerging from the ranks of sinners to live and die for sinners like us. In Christ, all righteousness has been fulfilled.

Jesus actively kept his word to the letter—and not one stroke of the pen fell through his fingers. Jesus has passively suffered and died—clothed with our rags of sin and regret—so that we would be clothed with the robes of his righteousness. Your baptism is assurance Christ’s wardrobe is yours. Your baptism is God’s promise to you that you, in Christ, are completely and totally forgiven—that you have been washed—head to toe—by the cleansing tide of his grace—that you belong to him!

Some adoption stories of this world might resemble the story of Natalia Grace; but your adoption into God’s family is a completely different story. No cliffhangers. No lack of closure. Your baptism is God’s pledge of undying devotion and fidelity to you! In Christ, your adoption into God’s family is signed and sealed.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, at the waters of your baptism, you emerged from the ranks of sinners to live and die for sinners like us. But because of you, our primary identity is that we are baptized children of God. Whenever we doubt your love for us, bring us not only to the waters of your baptism, but the waters of our baptism, too. For there, we’ve been clothed in your righteousness and adopted into your family. In your name we pray. 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.

My Son! – January 12, 2025

2025/01/12/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:22

My Son!

Daily Devotion – January 12, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 3:22

See series: Devotions

John’s parents were bursting with pride. Their son had finally obtained his high school diploma. Although this may not seem like an extraordinary accomplishment, for John, it was the triumph of a lifetime.

He was never a model student. As a matter of fact, he despised school. Before he completed three years of high school, he dropped out. This led to a series of failures. Dead-end jobs, battles with alcohol and drugs, even a little time on the streets—these were all part of his resume.

John’s parents were cautious when he showed up on their doorstep and announced he was going back to school. Still, they supported him. In the end, he gave them something to be proud of. He not only graduated with honors, but he also kept his promise to change his life.

God the Father announced his pleasure with his Son. But this was no ordinary parent’s proud proclamation. This was the Almighty God acknowledging the perfect obedience of his Son.

Jesus came at his Father’s command to live the life we could never live. He was perfect. No sin, charge, or blame could ever be brought against him. At the Jordan River, God the Father put his stamp of approval on everything Jesus had done and would continue to do.

Jesus came to be our substitute to secure what we could never achieve—God’s pleasure. Because of Jesus’ sinless life and the gift of faith, which takes his life and makes it ours, God now declares us sinless and announces his love for us. God’s pleasure in Jesus is our guarantee of God’s pleasure in us. Through Jesus, God says to you and me, “You are my child whom I love.” Through Jesus, God declares, “With you I am well-pleased.”

Prayer:
O precious Savior, words can never express the deep debt of gratitude I owe you. You came to live for me, to die for me, and to secure for me God’s love and good pleasure. Keep me in your love, so that I can look forward to the home you have prepared for me in heaven. Amen

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

An Everlasting Covenant – January 11, 2025

2025/01/11/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said . . . “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.”
Genesis 17:1,4,5

An Everlasting Covenant

Daily Devotion – January 11, 2025

Devotion based on Genesis 17:1,4,5

See series: Devotions

In the past, the Lord made covenants with his people. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord renewed that covenant he made a quarter century before. Abram and his wife would have a son, even though his wife was barren, and he was ninety-nine. Not only would they have a child, but many nations would come from him. Kings would also be among his descendants.

The Lord then assured Abram that this covenant would take place. Only instead of signing his name to it, he changed Abram’s name as an assurance that what was promised would happen. So, the Lord changed his name from Abram, which means ‘exalted father,’ to Abraham, which means ‘father of many nations.’ What a testimony this name change would be to everyone Abraham met.

Many different nations did come from Abraham. But it wasn’t until almost 2,000 years after God made this covenant with Abraham that the Lord completed it. One of Abraham’s many descendants was born. He was a king named Jesus. Jesus came to fight the battle against evil and win the victory over death. He brought peace between God and people through the forgiveness of sins, and he establishes his kingdom in the hearts of people as he turns them to faith in him as their Savior.

Through Jesus, we also become descendants of Abraham, spiritual children who trust in God by faith, just as Abraham lived by faith. As descendants of Abraham, we share in the everlasting covenant the Lord made that he is our God. What a comfort it is to know that the God who fulfilled his covenant with Abraham by making him the father of many nations is the same God who is our God through the forgiveness of sins given through Jesus!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for fulfilling your covenant with Abraham by sending Jesus to be my Savior and King. Give me the peaceful assurance that he rules in my heart by faith to guard and guide me as one of your own dear children. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Military Devotion – Who Are You? – January 10, 2025

2025/01/10/in Devotions, Military Devotions

Based on Titus 3:3-7

Who are you? How do you see yourself? Maybe by your rank. Maybe by your spouse’s rank. Maybe you identify yourself by the things that you’ve done and the places you’ve been. And I know what happens. One of my friends who’s in the military says, “As soon as another military member walks into the room, you start sniffing each other out like dogs to see where you stand and where that other person stands.”

Is that you? Is that really you? What you’ve done, where you’ve been, your rank, maybe your spouse’s rank? You might think that you’re something. But look at what God says about you and me in our reading in Titus chapter 3. In it, the apostle Paul writes to Pastor Titus and says that God’s kindness and mercy saved us.

So it’s really not about us, what we’ve done, or who we think we are, but it’s all about God and who he is and what he’s done for us that makes us who we are.

But maybe that’s not you. Maybe you would answer that question “Who are you?” by looking at yourself in the mirror and saying, “Yeah, who am I? I’m a nobody. I’m nothing. I haven’t been able to promote as quickly as I’d like to. I haven’t been places or done things that my peers have done. I’m a nobody because of my past faults and failures.”

Look at some of the things that Paul lists in Titus chapter 3. He says, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (verse 3). You look at that list and say, “Yeah, that’s kind of the person that I am.” And the devil will try to convince you of that—that this is who you are. You’re less than nothing in God’s sight, and why should he pay attention to the likes of you?

But keep reading. The apostle Paul then begins to list the beautiful descriptors of who God is. He says that he is a Savior who saved you and me, as Paul writes, “not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (verse 5). That’s right. You are who you are because of who God is—kind and loving and merciful, the God who saves us and who saves us from ourselves.

And Paul answers the question, “Well, how did he save you and me?” in Titus chapter 3: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (verses 5,6). He saved you by washing you. He is, of course, talking about your baptism. In the waters of your baptism, God caused you to be reborn, as Paul says, which means you have a new life—a life that is no longer controlled by your sinful nature. You’ve been set free to live for Christ and to live with Christ and to live in Christ. In a life renewed, you no longer live for yourself but live for others. That’s who you are.

And there’s more. The apostle Paul goes on to say, “So that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (verse 7). All that you and I think that we are, even when we think we’re something, is really nothing. God makes us who we are because he justifies us by his grace, not because of what we’ve done.

And grace is one of those words that means “God’s undeserved love.” It’s God’s grace, his undeserved love, that moves him to justify us in the first place. And to justify means that as the judge, God declares you and me to be innocent, not guilty, of all those faults and failures that we listed before. You’re innocent. That’s who you are.

And there’s more. The apostle Paul goes on to write, “so that we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life.” This is who you are. You have a spiritual bank account that has more wealth in it than Warren Buffett, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos combined. Because of your baptism, you have everything that Jesus has. He owns the universe, which means you do too. He owned the devil and the grave, which means you do too. You have a resurrection from the dead. You have eternal life in heaven. That’s who you are.

So when you look at yourself in the mirror tonight before you go to bed, or when you wake up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror, say out loud, “I am a baptized child of God. I am justified. I am reborn. I am renewed. I have an eternal inheritance because of who God is and what he has made me to be.”

My friends, live in your baptismal identity today and every day.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Keep us who are baptized into Christ faithful in our calling as your children, and make us heirs with him of everlasting life.

Today, Father, we thank you for our military members who are currently deployed in response to humanitarian aid. So often we forget that our military doesn’t just provide a show of force or to seek and destroy the enemy or to defend our United States. But our military also provides help to those who are in need around the world. And so we ask, Father, that you keep them safe as they travel. Bring them joy as they bring aid to people who need it. Bring peace to those places of the world where people are without their daily bread, so that stable governments may bring aid to their own people. In Jesus’ 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.

A Star That Shines on All – January 10, 2025

2025/01/10/in Devotions, Family Devotions

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12

A Star That Shines on All

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Family Devotion – January 10, 2025

Devotion based on Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12

See series: Devotions

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

Picture a dark night with a bright star shining in the sky, so big and clear that you can’t miss it. Now picture people traveling a long distance, following that light. They don’t know exactly where they’re going, but they trust that the star will lead them to someone incredibly important.

This is exactly what happened with the Magi in today’s reading. The Magi were wise men from a distant foreign land. They saw something special in the sky: a new star that announced the birth of a king. These men weren’t Jewish, and they hadn’t grown up with God’s promises about a Savior. But God still reached out to them, using a prophecy and a star to bring them to Jesus.

The Magi’s story reminds us that Jesus came to be the Savior not just for one nation, but for the whole world. His love is for all people, from every background and every place. God didn’t just shine his light on the people closest to him; He sent it far and wide, guiding people from distant lands to find the Savior. The Magi traveled a long way and faced obstacles, but they followed that light because they trusted it would lead them to something amazing.

When they finally reached Jesus, they were “overjoyed.” They bowed down, worshiped him, and gave him precious gifts. The Magi saw Jesus not as just another baby, but as the King worthy of their very best. Maybe we don’t follow a star so bright you can see it during the day, but the bright light of who Jesus is has dawned on you, too. He gave his best to you when you were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It comes to you whenever someone shares God’s Word with you (like right now!) and when you hear the best news of God’s love, you are “overjoyed!”

A wise child today is one who follows the light of God and shares the light of his love. God’s light isn’t for just one place or one people; it shines on all, inviting everyone to come and worship the newborn King!

Closing Prayer:

Father in heaven, you let the light of your Son, Jesus, shine on all people. That means us! Help us to reflect the light of Jesus in everything we think, do, and say so that more people everywhere might come and worship their King! 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

Remember the last time you were in the dark and needed a light? How did it feel to have that light to guide you?
How did the wise men feel when they saw the star and found Jesus?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Why do you think God used a star to guide the Magi to Jesus? How does God guide us to Jesus today?
The Magi gave their gifts to Him. Imagine you have $1-, 5-, and 10-dollar bills in your hand. You want to give Jesus one of them as a gift. Which one would you give? And why?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Light doesn’t just lead; it exposes things we’d rather keep hidden. Why would someone not want the light of Jesus to shine on them if that’s the case?
The Magi saw Jesus as their King. What ways in your life display to others that Jesus is your King?

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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.

A Gift To Share With All – January 10, 2025

2025/01/10/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Acts 13:47

A Gift To Share With All

Daily Devotion – January 10, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 13:47

See series: Devotions

A friend has Christmas gifts for your whole family, but they won’t be there to deliver them, so they put the gifts into a box and ask you to give them to your family.

What would you do? You would share those gifts with the people for whom they are intended, right? They are counting on you to deliver the gifts.

The gift of God has come into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. The words of our Bible verse for today were first spoken about him: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” God gave us Jesus to be a light for all people living in the darkness of sin. God gave us Jesus to bring salvation—rescue from death and eternal punishment—to the ends of the earth. God sent his Son to be a gift for all people.

But how do they receive that gift, especially now that Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven? Early Christian missionaries, Paul and Barnabas, recognized that God spoke these words to them. They were not the light themselves. They could not save anyone from death and hell. But God had a mission for them—to shine the light of Jesus for all to see, to hand out the gift of salvation to the whole world.

Think about the person who first told you about who Jesus really was. Think about all the people who have given you the gift of helping you see more clearly how Jesus saved you and forgives all your sins. Jesus is God’s gift for all the world, and those people made sure to deliver the gift specifically to you. Like them, you now get to give others the greatest gift of all—life and hope through Jesus their Savior. With whom will you share that gift today?

Prayer:
Jesus, use me to share you with others as the greatest gift of all. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Light for All – January 9, 2025

2025/01/09/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Acts 13:47

Light for All

Daily Devotion – January 9, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 13:47

See series: Devotions

Are your Christmas lights still up? Many turn them off in the few days after Christmas. For others, their tradition is to leave them up until the New Year begins or until the Festival of Epiphany. But now we are past New Year’s and the Festival of Epiphany. If I drove around my community, I’m guessing I’d find a few homes still lit up, but not many.

On Christmas night, the brilliant light of the glory of the Lord appeared over Bethlehem, as angels announced the birth of the Savior to lowly shepherds. But only a few saw the light that night, and it was gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

Later, the Magi followed a star in the sky to find the child and worship him. But they may have been the only ones who noticed that unique messenger star that served as their GPS.

But the light that appeared to Jewish shepherds and the light that led non-Jewish or Gentile Magi to Jesus illustrates a truth predicted by prophets centuries earlier. The Messiah—the Savior the Lord promised to send—would be a light for all people.

Outdoor Christmas lights may be especially enjoyed because they light up homes and streets when the days are short and the nights are long in the northern hemisphere.

Without the Messiah, we live in spiritual darkness. We know there is a God out there, but we can’t see him on our own. And so, we foolishly make up our own paths out of the darkness. Prideful paths that are paved with our own best efforts and that define right and wrong by how it feels. Those dark ways of our own making will only lead to one deadly dead-end after another.

But Jesus came into the world to be light. The light that reveals the perfection God requires of us. But, also, the light that lives out that perfection in our place and destroys sin’s darkness as it does. Jesus is the light we need because he is the path out of this world’s darkness into heaven’s eternal light that will never go out.

Prayer:
Jesus, be the light in my heart every day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Light for the Whole World – January 8, 2025

2025/01/08/in Devotions, Family Devotions

Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
Acts 13:46-49

Light for the Whole World

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Family Devotion – January 8, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 13:46-49

See series: Devotions

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

During this time of year, the amount of daylight is pretty short. Imagine living in Fairbanks, Alaska where the sun shines for only 3 ½ hours on the shortest day of the year! Light is important for a lot of different reasons.

Now imagine you’re in a dark room with a flashlight. Imagine if the flashlight was under a pillow, so only a little light got out. Not very helpful, right? But then you move the pillow away so the flashlight shines brightly, lighting up everything around.

Paul and Barnabas remind us that God’s message of love and forgiveness is like that light. At first, the good news about Jesus came to the Jewish people, God’s chosen people. But not everyone believed it. So, Paul and Barnabas shared the message with the Gentiles, people from other nations who didn’t know God’s promises yet. Paul reminded everyone that God’s plan was always for Jesus to be “a light for the Gentiles” too, bringing salvation to the whole world.

When the Gentiles heard this, they were overjoyed! Imagine hearing for the first time that God’s love isn’t just for a small group of people, but for everyone. Jesus came to save people from all nations, backgrounds, and ages. Through him, God opened the door for everyone to receive eternal life—Jews and Gentiles alike.

The same is true for us today. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection made it possible for everyone, including us, to be forgiven and have a relationship with God. Just as Paul and Barnabas were sent to share God’s message of forgiveness and love, God invites us to share it, too. We can share the good news with our friends, our neighbors, or even someone who’s never heard it before. God wants his message to be like a bright light reaching everyone, all the way to “the ends of the earth.” He wants it to shine for everyone!

How can we help that light reach others? Maybe it’s telling a friend about Jesus, praying for someone, or even helping others see God’s love through our kindness. This light of Jesus is too great and bright to keep to ourselves!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, let the good news of what you have done for all people be a light dawning on the whole world! Help us hold onto this good news and spread it wherever we go. Amen.

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

Questions for Younger Children

How do you feel when you hear that Jesus loves everyone, including you?
Who could you tell about Jesus this week, like a friend or family member?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Paul and Barnabas shared the message of Jesus even with people who hadn’t heard it before. Why is it important to tell others about Jesus?
TRUE or FALSE. God’s love is for those who believe in him.

Questions for Middle School and Above

Paul calls Jesus “a light for the Gentiles.” How does that challenge you to rethink how you interact with people who don’t yet know Jesus?
There’s a lot of darkness out there. How might your actions and words be like a “light” to someone going through a dark time?

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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.

A Gift That Inspires Our Gifts – January 8, 2025

2025/01/08/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

A Gift That Inspires Our Gifts

Daily Devotion – January 8, 2025

Devotion based on Matthew 2:11

See series: Devotions

Have you ever received one of those gifts? The kind of gift that made you say, “Wow, you shouldn’t have.” (And not the way you say it to the relative who gave you that sweater that you wouldn’t be caught dead in.)

Have you ever received one of those gifts that was so generous that you truly didn’t expect it and had no idea how to respond? If selfish thoughts don’t take over first, don’t such gifts inspire you to look for ways to give something back to the person who gave it to you or to pay their generosity forward to others?

We know little about the men who came to Bethlehem looking for the infant Jesus. We don’t even know how many there were. But we do know this: their gifts were generous gifts fit for a king. Gold is a valuable gift in every era. Frankincense was burned in ritual worship and may have had medicinal uses as well. Myrrh was used to anoint kings and priests or wrapped with bodies in ancient burial customs.

Their gifts showed that they knew that Jesus was no ordinary baby. These men traveled great distances and brought generous gifts. Why? Because they recognized that the baby was God’s gift to them—a gift more precious and valuable than any other gift ever given or received.

Jesus was born to keep ancient promises and bring eternal treasures. He came to bring the abundant love and mercy of God as he conquered spiritual foes and set sinners free from the torture of hell. He came to earth to open heaven, an eternal paradise where pain, sorrow, and death are gone forever.

Jesus is God’s gift to you and me, too. How will we respond to this generous gift? We live our lives to serve him. We joyfully and generously serve those God brings into our lives. We give to support churches that share the gift of Jesus with our communities and the world. We give ourselves as gifts to him.

Prayer:
Jesus, you are the greatest gift. Accept my life as my gift of thanks to you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

One Size Fits All – January 7, 2025

2025/01/07/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
Psalm 72:11,12

One Size Fits All

Daily Devotion – January 7, 2025

Devotion based on Psalm 72:11,12

See series: Devotions

Little in this world is universal. People speak different languages. They have different abilities and come in different shapes and sizes. One-size-fits-all clothes are too big for some and too small for others. Laws meant for all often have loopholes and exceptions. Political policies that help the poor may hurt the rich and vice versa.

Imagine a leader lauded by kings and loved by peasants. Picture a king who truly cares for the greatest and the least, for those who have it all and those who have nothing. A king so wise that he understands what every single person needs. A king that is so powerful that he can provide exactly what everyone needs.

Who wouldn’t choose such a candidate? But you won’t find his name on any ballot. You won’t see him signing bills in the White House or your local city hall.

The Bible describes a King that all kings bow down to and all nations serve. Such a thought would horrify us if he were merely a human king. Rulers with far less influence have been corrupted by such power.

But this is not just any king. He’s not just a king that rich kings bow down to because he acts in their best interests. He’s a king who “delivers the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.”

Jesus is that king. As the Son of God, he rules over all kings and nations with unmatched wisdom and limitless power. But when he came as a human being, he experienced what it was like to be needy and afflicted with no one to help. And he rules to help people in their most desperate time of need.

That means no matter who you are, he rules for you. He rules to rescue you from your desperate need for mercy and hope. He fights to free you from the oppression and affliction of death itself. He listens to your cries and reigns to bring you safely to a perfect, peaceful kingdom that never ends. A one-size-fits-all-perfectly King.

Prayer:
Jesus, my perfect King, hear my cries and help me trust and worship you in every time of need. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

It’s Hard to Wait! – Week of January 6, 2025

2025/01/06/in Devotions, ECME Devotions

It’s Hard to Wait! – Week of January 6, 2025

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.
Galatians 4:4-5

ECME Devotion January 6, 2025

See series: ECME Devotions

Have you ever watched a child participating in “The Marshmallow Test”? During this test, a sweet treat is placed in front of the child, and the child is told that they can get an additional treat if they can wait a few minutes before eating the first treat. It is so hard to wait! Some children eat the treat as soon as the adult leaves the room, others dip their head down to smell it while they wait, and others cover their eyes to try to help resist the temptation. Participants say that the test is an exercise in patience, obedience, and delayed gratification. But all children agree that it is very hard to wait!

God’s people had to wait a long time for Jesus to be born. When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, they were promised that one day, a Savior would come and rescue them from this big problem of sin. But they had to wait! In fact, they had to wait thousands of years for this promise to be fulfilled. It must have been so hard to wait!

On the first Christmas, the time had come. The wait was over! The words are very clear. God sent his Son, who, born of a woman, is both God and human. As a man, Jesus needed to do the one thing that no other person has ever been able to do—he needed to keep all of God’s commands perfectly. Jesus could never sin, never give in to the temptations of this world. And Jesus won that battle against sin for us!

Jesus passed the “marshmallow test”, and so much more. Not only did Jesus live a perfect life, but he also allowed himself to be punished in our place. The punishment that WE deserve was served to Jesus. The sins that WE have committed were placed on Jesus, and yet HIS righteousness (being “right with God”), his purity, have been credited to us. And now God has adopted us as his children, blameless in his sight because of the work of Jesus. Our inheritance, freely given by God through Jesus, is eternal life in heaven.

And now we wait! God’s promise to Adam and Eve has been fulfilled, and now we wait for the fulfillment of his promise to bring us to him in heaven. We don’t know how long we will be on this earth, and we don’t know when Jesus will come again. But we DO know that God will keep his promise to bring us to our new home in heaven. And while we wait, we have work to do! We can show our love for God by continuing to study his Word in the Bible and by sharing the joy of God’s promises with others.

Prayer:
Dear God, Thank you for sending your Son to live a perfect life for us. As we wait for you to bring us to our home in heaven, help us look for opportunities to study your Word and share it with others. Amen.

A Question to Consider:
The wait for our Savior to come is over! How can you share this joy with someone in your life this week?

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.

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due – January 6, 2025

2025/01/06/in Devotions, Family Devotions

When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the LORD, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. . . . she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.
She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth, you have far exceeded the report I heard. Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”

1 Kings 10:1-7,9

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

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Family Devotion – January 6, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Kings 10:1-7,9

See series: Devotions

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

Can you think of something people will travel far and wide to visit or see? Disney World has more than 58 million people come through its gates every year. Do you think the world’s biggest ball of yarn in Kansas gets as many visitors? The Georgia Aquarium, the biggest aquarium in North America, welcomed 3 million guests in 2023. Do you think the World’s Biggest Peanut in Ashburn, Georgia can beat that?

The point is this: if someone travels a great distance to see something, it’d better be spectacular! That’s what makes today’s Bible reading so special. The queen of a distant land called Sheba heard about a great king. She comes with expensive gifts. She comes to see if what she heard was true about him. And that’s what she finds! King Solomon possessed incredible wisdom and, in his wisdom, he led Israel into greatness.

But let’s focus on something very important at the end of what the queen of Sheba said. She praises all awesome things in Israel. And Solomon’s wisdom lived up to the stories she heard. But her real focus is on the Lord! “Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel!” She recognizes that the only reason Solomon is such a great leader and Israel is so blessed is because of the Lord and his eternal love! She gives credit where credit is due.

You probably don’t have people from far away coming to visit you. But people are looking at you. Will they see you giving credit where credit is due? During these weeks after Christmas, don’t forget the greatest blessing God has given you in his eternal love: Jesus! We have the incredible love of Jesus born as a baby for you and me.

The Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Let the wisdom of your faith in Jesus and his awesome love be the thing that pulls people in from far and wide to learn more about the gifts God has already given you (and wants to give to them, too) in Jesus!

Closing Prayer:

Lord God, let the wisdom of our faith and trust in you show itself in our lives each day. Let it be the thing that draws people to us so that when they ask us why we are the way we are, we can point them to the overwhelming love you showed us in Jesus. 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

The queen traveled far to see the great things God had done for Israel. What great things do you see that God has done for you?
How can we help people know about Jesus’ love, no matter how far away they are?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

The queen praised God for His love for Israel. Why is that important for us to do when enjoying good things in our lives?
God’s wisdom made Solomon’s kingdom special. Recall the last time you could have relied on God’s wisdom when you have a choice to make or need help.

Questions for Middle School and Above

The queen saw God’s blessings in Solomon’s life and praised God because of it. How might God be using you to reflect His love and wisdom to those around you?
The queen of Sheba went out of her way to seek wisdom from Solomon and to understand God’s blessings on Israel. In what ways can you seek out and share God’s wisdom in your own 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.

A King for All – January 6, 2025

2025/01/06/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1,2

A King for All

Daily Devotion – January 6, 2025

Devotion based on Matthew 2:1,2

See series: Devotions

Imagine the conversation. It may be happening through an interpreter. These men are from out of town. They probably don’t speak Aramaic like most of the people in Jerusalem.
“Where is he?”
“Where is who?”
“The King of the Jews.”
“Oh, you mean Herod? He lives in that palace over there.”
“No, not Herod. The new king. We are here to worship the one who was born king of the Jews.”

At this point, maybe you wonder if there’s something lost in translation. It is not entirely unheard of for people to worship kings. Some kings even demand it. But not usually the Jewish kings. And, even if they did, why would foreigners want to worship them?

But the king they are looking for isn’t just the King of the Jews. He was born to be their king, too. They heard prophecies predicting his coming. And now he has come. A careful search of those prophecies is made. Maybe it is even their idea.

And the scholars find a prophecy about a king who would come from Bethlehem. The men from out-of-town hurry to Bethlehem and worship him whose name is Jesus.

Today some people might happily look for a new king or ruler to guide their nation. Others are perfectly happy with the one they have. But these men come looking for a different kind of king—a heavenly King who rules over an eternal kingdom. This king is not just for them but for all. He’s your king, too—God’s gift for all people.

Jesus was born to rule with perfect justice, to bring true freedom from guilt, shame, and even death. He came with perfect love for all—mighty and lowly, rich and poor, young and old, Jew and Gentile. He came for Magi from the east and for Jewish locals. He came for you to be your powerful, loving, and merciful King.

Prayer:
Jesus, the King that I need and long for, move me and all people to find you and worship you in joy! Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Transformed – teen devotion – January 5, 2025

2025/01/05/in Teen Devotions

Jesus came to be a Savior for all people.

“Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”

1 Kings 10:9

The Gift of God is for All People

Christianity is both the most exclusive religion in the world and the most inclusive religion in the world.

What does that mean? Consider this: there are only two groups of people in the world. There are those who believe in Jesus as their Savior and those who do not. Those who do not believe in Jesus

when they die will face punishment in hell. In that way, Christianity is exclusive.

At the same time, Christianity is the most inclusive religion in the world. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was payment for the sins of the whole world no matter someone’s race or language. No one is excluded. In that way, it is the most inclusive religion in the whole world.

The words from 1 Kings above were spoken by a gentile queen. She was not Jewish, but she had heard of Solomon’s great wisdom, so she traveled a long distance to come and learn from him.

When she saw the wisdom God had given to Solomon and all the ways he had blessed Israel, she spoke the words above. She wasn’t from Israel, but she praised the true God.

On Christmas Eve the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

The good news of Jesus is for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you were born in America or China, Africa or the Middle East. It doesn’t matter if you were born and raised a Christian or if you didn’t hear the gospel until you were older. It doesn’t matter if your past is littered with mistakes.

The good news of Jesus is for all people, and that includes you.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you came to be a Savior for all people. Help me to see everyone as someone that you came to die to save. 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.

Timing Is Everything – January 5, 2025

2025/01/05/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son.
Galatians 4:4

Timing Is Everything

Daily Devotion – January 5, 2025

Devotion based on Galatians 4:4

See series: Devotions

Think about those words from today’s Bible reading for a moment. “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son.” Throughout human history, God had a specific, precise timetable for when the Savior of the world would enter the world. It would not be a minute too late or too soon. But until the moment of his birth arrived, God’s people throughout the centuries had had to wait.

You and I have a real luxury. We have the luxury of reading exactly how God fulfilled his promise of a Savior. Believers who lived before Jesus’ coming could only wait and trust. But wait and trust they did. And their trust was not misplaced, “for when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son.” God kept his promise.

There are times in our lives when the noblest work we can do as Christians is not something heroic or dramatic. For we please our Lord when, in the difficulties and disappointments of day-to-day life, we wait for him, when we trust his promise to work everything out for our good. When we do that, our trust is well placed because the God who delivered on his promise to wash us clean of our every sin is the One we can trust for absolutely everything.

Prayer:
Lord, empower me by your Spirit to wait. For I know that you will fulfill all your promises to me in your own good time. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.

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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.

A New Year

2025/01/04/in Devotions, Womens Devotions

A New Year – Women’s Devotion

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10

A new year means a new you, right? Out with the old. In with the new! New potential. A fresh start. A clean slate.

We love the idea of pushing the restart button and getting a “do-over.” At least that’s what we’re led to believe.

But what if we are exactly where we’re supposed to be? What if we are doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing? What if the only change that needs to be made is to see God’s design from God’s perspective?

Peter knew that was exactly what the early Christians needed, so he wrote them a letter of encouragement we know as 1 Peter. Scattered throughout Asia Minor, God’s people were exiles. Because of their different culture, food, work, customs, political views, and religion they were “suffering grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6). They were treated with ridicule, suspicion, and even persecution. I don’t care who you are, every exile is looking for a fresh start.

We might think Peter would encourage them to “blend in.” “Create the new you!” “Captain your ship, just don’t rock the boat!”

Instead, Peter greets them with grace and peace in Jesus. He lifts their eyes beyond the present circumstance to the future inheritance waiting for them in heaven. He reminds them their hope is “living” because it was bought with the precious blood of Christ. And he encourages them to continue living as strangers by setting their minds on the grace to be revealed when Jesus comes instead of conforming to the world around them.

Why?

Because there was much more going on than these Christians could see from their limited and isolated perspective. God was building something, and they were a part of it.

Just like Jesus, who was chosen from before the creation of the world to be the cornerstone and foundation of their faith, the exiles were also—like living stones, being built into a spiritual house. This spiritual house was like the temple in Jerusalem where God’s presence dwelt.

The Christians would have clearly understood Peter’s message to them: With Jesus as your cornerstone, you are the living stones God is using to build his house. You. Exiles God has called holy, chosen, and precious because of Jesus. You, the priesthood of believers, are uniquely placed, but lovingly set together, as the house where God will dwell. And by living God’s way, as strangers in a godless world, you are showing him to the world around you!

They didn’t need to change anything or reinvent themselves. They were exactly where God wanted them to be for his kingdom to be built and his salvation revealed.

How?

By repaying evil with blessing and wrongdoing with humility and compassion. By serving others. By suffering for bearing God’s name. By submitting to corrupt governors because God gives authority. By working hard for unfair bosses. By offering hospitality without grumbling. By living Godly lives despite the ridicule and hardship. By not conforming to the world. By living for God.

They would be different than the world around them. But in doing so, they would point to Jesus.

We need that same encouragement today. The world we live in is as foreign to God’s kingdom as it was 2,000 years ago. We suffer grief in all kinds of trials at work, from unbelieving friends and neighbors, while raising children whose friend’s parents have different standards, when making sacrificial priorities with time, treasures, and talents, or suffering difficulty for bearing the name of Jesus. When we do these things as God’s children, we look different than most people around us.

And Peter’s encouragement in 1 Peter is for us as well. His message to us: There’s a bigger picture than what you can see. Because your faith is founded on the living Stone—you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house. You are where God dwells. And when you give thanks to Jesus by the way you live, you show the world who God is.

That’s God’s design for every Christian and the perspective we have as aliens and strangers in the world around us.

It was important enough for Peter to write a letter to the early Christians 2,000 years ago. And it’s important enough for us to give it time for thoughtful mediation today—and in the new year ahead.

You don’t need a fresh start or to become the new you. Since you are founded on the Living Stone, you are exactly where you should be, doing exactly what you were meant to be doing. You are a living stone! You are being built into God’s spiritual house. By living different than the world around you, you are thanking Jesus.

And in doing so, you are showing God to the world.

Prayer: Living Savior, as this new year begins and I reflect on the coming year, I pray that you would show me all the places I can give a clear witness of your grace and forgiveness. Give me boldness and courage to speak of the forgiveness you purchased on the cross and sealed with your resurrection. I ask for strength to bear up under challenges and trials so that you are glorified and people see your greatness. Through Word and sacrament, reinforce my grip on your truth that fills me with hope and radiant joy—I am a redeemed sinner living in your grace. All that I have is yours and yours alone. Amen.

Written by Dawn Schulz

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