Devotions

Even One – Week of September 15, 2025

2025/09/15/in Devotions, ECME Devotions

Then Jesus told them this parable, “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Luke 15:3-7

Even One

Are you a numbers person? Maybe you love hearing how many people were in church last Sunday or maybe you enjoy being able to tell your faculty and staff how many people attended an event that you held at your school. Sometimes numbers can be an encouragement and sometimes they can bring us down. They can make us feel successful or like a failure.

Jesus cared about numbers, too. While, of course, He cares about every single person on this earth, He also made it known that He cares about a very low number as well. He cares about the number one.

In our reading for today, Jesus has an important message to share, Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:3-7

There is a next level joy that comes with even one lost sheep being found.

While it might be tricky not to focus on the number of students and their families sitting in the pew, the one student that hears the Gospel for the first time or the one family member of your student that hears about grace and it washes over them like rain…praise God. While we struggle to think that it all depends on us, let us remember that we are mere instruments of the Lord. Let us be humbled and do our work faithfully and then let us joyfully watch what the Lord does through us.

What an honor and privilege it is to teach the Word of God to His littlest lambs. You might never see the fruits of your labor, but the Lord sees it and is doing things that we can’t even imagine.
Give your numbers to Him with full confidence that He is pleased and overjoyed with even one.

Prayer:

Perfect Shepherd, thank you for running after us. Thank you for being a perfect example of what is looks like to care so deeply about those who don’t know or love you yet. Help us push away the focus we put on the numbers and rather focus on the souls you have entrusted to our care. Thank you for the privilege it is to serve you in this way. Amen.

A Question to Consider:

Who is someone in your everyday life that you see the Lord working on? Praise God for His Word. It works!

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.

Let’s Gather Around Jesus! – September 15, 2025

2025/09/15/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.
Luke 15:1

Let’s Gather Around Jesus!

Sometimes people who don’t go to church have a misconception about those people who do: ‘They think they’re better than me.’ If I’m honest, there have been times when I have looked down upon other people because of the train wrecks they’ve made of their lives, and I think to myself, ‘Well, at least I didn’t do that.’ Shame on me for thinking like that. It’s wrong. It’s repulsive. It’s sinful.

But the more I have gotten to know other Christians and the more open they have been about their life stories; I’m met with this reality: Everyone is broken. Everyone has skeletons in their closet. Everyone has moments they wish they could take back because that action anchors their heart with guilt. EVERYONE. I am not an exception to this. And you aren’t either.

And that, my friend, is why we gather around Jesus, because Jesus is the solution to our shame! God wanted to be with his children, but sin separated us from him. So, God sent his Son to dive into this world of broken people and tell us what he was going to do about our sin—he died for it. He gave his life on the cross for us. He loves us and wants us to know that. And THAT is why we go to church—to gather around Jesus, to celebrate the forgiveness that God so freely gives to us.

Maybe you’ve had that misconception about people who go to church, but they’re just like you; they’re broken. However, they have found peace in Jesus and want you to have it too. So, take a chance! Stop into church and you’ll meet some wonderful people who will love you. But even better, you’ll meet your Savior who loves you infinitely more!

Prayer:

Dear God, I am broken and am truly sorry for my sin. Thank you for sending me my Savior who loves me and forgives me. Bless me as I reach out to those who are hurting and aching because of their guilt. May they come to know the forgiveness that is theirs because of Jesus. 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 Found Are Left; The Lost Are Found – September 14, 2025

2025/09/14/in Teen Devotions

One key truth: Jesus doesn’t give up on you. He searches for you, finds you, and rejoices when you’re found.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:1-7

The Found Are Left; The Lost Are Found

Take a moment and say to yourself, “I am the one.” Pay attention to the words. You didn’t say, “I am number one.” You’re not bragging. You’re simply “the one” that matters to Jesus.

You’re the one Jesus goes after when you wander. Sometimes you try to hide from him. Sometimes you drift without even noticing. Sometimes you feel too stuck to find your way back.

In Luke 15:1-10, Jesus is searching for you. Can you hear the Shepherd’s calming voice? Can you imagine his hands helping you out of a vulnerable, messy moment ? Can you see his smile, because he knows you’re safe, and no one can take you away?

If you’ve answered no, then answer this: Is it God who left you, or did you walk away?

Luke 15:1-2 says, “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Which person would you rather have find you?

The one who loves you no matter what and isn’t scared of your circumstances?
Or the ones who stand at a distance and judge “those people”?

You have a Good Shepherd who seeks you out in his Word and carries you back to the body of believers.

Don’t wander farther. Jesus is calling you. Today, ask for forgiveness, share your struggles, and know that the people around you will celebrate with you.

If you feel alone, remember this promise: “I tell you… that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).

Give heaven another reason to rejoice. You are “the one” worth finding. You are worth rejoicing over.

Prayer:

Good Shepherd, I admit I wander in my life. Even today there are things tempting me to leave your flock. But when I drift, help me hear your voice—through your Word, through my friends in faith, through your Spirit. Thank you for searching for me. Pull me back when I try to run away, and forgive me when I fall. 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.

Every Soul Is a Treasure – September 14, 2025

2025/09/14/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.”
Luke 15:3-6

Every Soul Is a Treasure

What would you do if you lost your keys? Would you try to remember the last time you used them? Would you retrace your day’s steps, looking everywhere? Would you rifle through the stack of papers on your desk? Rummage through all the drawers in your dresser? Check all your pants’ pockets? Hunt under the bed? Poke down into the cushions—hunting in between the stale pretzels, paperclips, and pennies for your keys?

And why would you go to such trouble to find your car keys? Simple. They have value to you. Without your car keys, you won’t be going to work today. No shuttling of the kids to after-school activities. No quick drive to buy groceries for tonight’s supper. So, when you do finally find your car keys, how do you feel? There’s a mixture of relief and joy—that which was lost has been found!

Shortly after God created his perfect world and his perfect people, he lost you. Not that he forgot where he placed you or forgot your name. He lost you because you loused up your relationship with him through your breaking of his commands. And from then on, you were indeed lost to him—estranged from him in time and separated from him for all eternity in hell.

But God sent his Son, Jesus, to “find” you. Jesus lived a perfect life for you, always keeping all of God’s commands in your stead. And because God values you so highly, he punished his perfect Son on Calvary’s cross for your sins so that you might not be lost to him any longer. Now he calls you to fully place your trust in Jesus, so that you might forever enjoy your fully restored relationship to him. So, dear fellow “lost” sinner, put your trust in Jesus as your only Savior from sin and hell. For God “finds” you only in him.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for caring enough to find a lost soul like me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Known. Loved.

2025/09/13/in Devotions, Womens Devotions

Known. Loved. – Women’s Devotion

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:13

You know what’s wild? How many of our internal experiences occur outside the grasp of anyone else on this earth. Thoughts. Feelings. Frustrations. Temptations. Even elations. All covered in layers of subtlety, intensity, nuances, and complexity. Trying to share these experiences is like witnessing a breathtaking sunrise and snapping a picture with an old disposable camera. There’s effort involved yet what comes out lacks the full truth of your experience.

Some of our internal world, though, we are glad to hide away. If some people knew what we really thought, felt, did, or experienced, they may not even be able to look us in the eyes. Or if they knew our burden, they would certainly be burdened themselves. We may hold those cards closer to our chest.

The author of Hebrews illustrates the reality of our sin laid bare before God—and Jesus, our perfect High Priest, making full atonement so we may approach God with confidence:

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:13-16).

Not only are we known deeply and intimately apart from our own efforts, but the Holy Spirit also intercedes for us when we can’t make sense of it all, working for our good when we lack the words to express our pain or need.

Psalm 139:1 reminds us that we’re not so alone in our experiences after all. David writes, “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.” Our burdens are not too heavy for our God, and despite every stain of sin we try to hide away, God continues to seek us, guide us, and love us.

It’s a beautiful experience to be deeply known by someone here on earth, knowing forgiveness and love despite our flaws and mistakes. We all long to be known; we are created for connection. Desiring to know and care for others as deeply as Christ himself knows and loves us is a worthy pursuit. As we seek to imitate him in this way, the Holy Spirit may use us to show light and hope where another may have only experienced darkness and loneliness.

Both the sunrises and sufferings of your life are fully known by a God who shares in your joys and sorrows, forgives sin, promises hope, and continues to pursue you with unfathomable love.

Written by Jes Woller

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The Object of Faith – September 13, 2025

2025/09/13/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:1-7

The Object of Faith

“You just gotta believe!”

When life gets hard, when no solution seems available, someone will inevitably offer up that tired phrase as encouragement. “You just gotta believe!”

Believe in what, exactly?

In governments? In myself? In money? Those things may seem capable of solving problems, but they really can’t.

Essentially, every small problem originates from one big problem for which none of us has a solution. Sin. Sin results in animosity, frustration, pain, tears, and death.

In whom, then, should I put my trust when things go wrong? The problem of sin is too big for me to solve.

Trust “Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Jesus did what we never could or would do for ourselves. Though we don’t deserve it, he provided us with the perfect solution to the problem of sin.

His perfect life and death is the “Way” God chose to pay for our sins. His powerful resurrection shows that he is our Savior. His forgiving love and peace are what we need to start over, as Paul did, and live our lives for him.

When life gets tough, when problems pile up higher than we can manage, when tears start flowing, and hope seems to fade, God calls us to believe in his Son—the solution to all of life’s problems, big and small.

Now, that is worth believing!

Prayer:

Eternal God, thank you for the grace and peace which are mine because you invited and brought me to believe in the solution to all my problems, Jesus Christ my Lord. 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.

Carrying Your Cross: Hard but Worth It – September 12, 2025

2025/09/12/in Devotions, Family Devotions

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Read: Luke 14:25-35

[Jesus said] Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 (EHV)

Carrying Your Cross: Hard but Worth It

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

There was a girl who had just finished high school. She had never opened a Bible before. Then her boyfriend invited her to a Bible Instruction Class at church. In that class she learned amazing things:

That the one true God loves her no matter what.
That baptism and the Lord’s Supper are gifts from God.
That she could pray to God anytime, anywhere.
That God wanted her to not live with her boyfriend before marriage and to not drink alcohol until she was 21 (and then only in a responsible way).
That worship with other Christians was a way to grow closer to God.
That her whole life could be a way to thank God—how she used her time, her talents, and even her money.

She loved Bible class so much she never missed a week!

But after a while, she noticed something: life actually felt harder now that she was a Christian. So, she asked her pastor, “Does it make sense that my life is more difficult now that I believe in Jesus?”

How do you think Jesus would answer? He already did! Jesus said: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).

Jesus even told a story to explain. He said it’s like a person who wants to build a tower. First, you have to sit down and figure out if you have enough money and supplies to finish it. If you start the tower but can’t finish, people will laugh and say, ‘Look at that! He started but didn’t finish!’ (Luke 14:28-30).

What’s Jesus saying? Being a disciple—someone who follows Jesus—can be hard. It means saying “no” to some things you want, but you know God doesn’t want for you. It means choosing God’s way even when temptation looks easier. It means carrying a cross.

But here’s the good part: following Jesus also gives us joy that never runs out. That girl from Bible class realized she was now called a “Child of God.” That didn’t make her problems disappear, but it gave her life meaning, purpose, and a forever future with Jesus in heaven.

So yes—being a Christian can be difficult. But it also brings the deepest joy, because we know the cross we carry now will one day be replaced with a crown.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, following you isn’t always easy. Sometimes it feels heavy, like carrying a cross. But thank you for reminding us that you carried the heaviest cross for us—when you died on the cross to save us. Give us strength to keep going and keep our eyes on the forever joy of heaven with you. In your name we pray. Amen.

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

Questions for Younger Children

What is something difficult you’ve faced in your life?
In your own words, what will it be like to be with Jesus in heaven?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Have you ever had to run a long race? How long of a race was it? How did it feel during it?
How did it feel when you finally finished? How is that like carrying our “cross” as Christians?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Jesus says we shouldn’t love anything—even family or possessions—more than him. Can you think of a time when it was hard to put Jesus first?
Why is it important to remember both the difficulty and the joy of following Jesus?

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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.

Stay Salty – September 12, 2025

2025/09/12/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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[Jesus said] “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
Luke 14:34,35

Stay Salty

Have you ever bitten into a bland meal and thought, “This needs salt”? A little salt makes all the difference. But what if the salt has lost its saltiness, its very essence? That’s Jesus’ point in today’s Bible reading.

Earlier in Luke chapter 14, Jesus spoke about the cost of discipleship. Following him means denying ourselves, carrying our crosses, and surrendering all. And then he said, “Salt is good… but what if it loses its saltiness?” He was describing what happens when disciples lose their distinctiveness. When Christians blend into the world—chasing the same priorities, hiding the gospel, forgetting grace—we become like flavorless salt. In other words, useless.

That’s a sobering warning. It’s easy to go through the motions of religion while our hearts grow cold, our witness dulls, and our faith drifts from Christ to comfort. But Jesus isn’t trying to shame us. He’s calling us back. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” He wants us to repent, to remember who we are.

Because in him, we are salty again. Jesus, the perfect disciple, never lost his saltiness. He gave his life for us. By his forgiveness, he makes us new and useful again. Through his Word and sacraments, he preserves our faith and reignites our witness.

So, stay connected to Christ. Soak in his grace. Let his love season your words, your choices, your days. You are his salt in a bland world.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you gave everything to save me. Forgive the times I have lost my zeal and blended into the world. Restore me with your grace and use me to reflect your love. 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.

Count the Cost – September 11, 2025

2025/09/11/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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[Jesus said] “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? . . . Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”
Luke 14:28-33

Count the Cost

Jesus never sugarcoated discipleship. He didn’t promise an easy life or worldly success. Instead, he spoke honestly: “Count the cost.”

Following Jesus isn’t just about going to church, saying prayers, or being a good person. It’s about giving him your time, your priorities, your possessions, and even your relationships. Jesus isn’t looking for part-time followers. He wants all of you.

That might sound overwhelming. In fact, if you truly count the cost, you’ll realize you can’t afford it. Who of us has loved Jesus more than family or put him first at every turn? None of us has the perfect devotion he describes.

But here’s the beautiful twist: Jesus counted the cost of your salvation, and he paid it in full. He didn’t back down when he saw what it would take. He gave up his glory, his comfort, his very life on the cross to make you, his disciple.

Now, following him is not about earning his love but responding to it. We carry our crosses not to impress God, but because Jesus already carried his cross for us. We surrender everything not in fear, but in joyful trust that Christ is worth more than anything we give up.

So, count the cost but also count the gain. In Jesus, you lose nothing that lasts, and you gain everything that matters: forgiveness, peace, purpose, and life eternal.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you gave up everything to win me. I confess that I am tempted to hold back, to cling to comfort, or to follow at a safe distance. Forgive me. Help me count the cost and gladly give my life to you, because you gave your life for me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

The Forgiveness Letter – September 10, 2025

2025/09/10/in Devotions, Family Devotions

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Read: Philemon 1,7-21

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon, our dear friend and coworker. For I have received great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. I have sent him [Onesimus] (who is my very heart) back to you. Welcome him. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might serve me in your place while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your kindness would not be the result of compulsion, but of willingness. Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while: so that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave, as a dear brother. He certainly is dear to me, but he is even more of a dear brother to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Philemon 1,7,12-16 (EHV)

The Forgiveness Letter

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

How many of the 66 books of the Bible have you read? Did you know one of them is so short you can read the whole thing in about 2 minutes? I tried it out loud—it took me 123 seconds! That book is called Philemon (say it like: Fy-LEE-mon). It’s short, but it packs a big lesson about Christian love.

There are three important people in the story:

First, the writer—the apostle Paul.
Second, Paul’s friend Philemon.
Third, a man named Onesimus (say it with me: Oh-NESS-ih-muss). Try saying it five times fast!

And here is how these three people fit together: Onesimus used to be Philemon’s slave, but one day, he ran away to Rome. And guess who he bumped into there? Paul! You can’t make this up! What a neat example that God is always in control, even when life sometimes feels out of control!

When Paul met Onesimus, he told him about Jesus—and Onesimus became a believer. Now Paul is writing to Philemon and saying, “When Onesimus comes back, don’t treat him like a slave anymore. Treat him like a dear Christian brother.”

That’s a big lesson for us too. Even when we get mad at someone or when they hurt us, God wants us to see them the way he sees them—as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Think about the Lord’s Prayer. When we say, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,” here’s what we’re really saying: “God, thank you for forgiving me. Help me to forgive others the same way.” That’s exactly what Paul was encouraging Philemon to do for Onesimus. Compelled by the forgiveness God has given to Philemon, Paul encourages Philemon to welcome Onesimus with open arms.

So tonight, why not grab a Bible and read Philemon out loud with your family? It’ll only take a couple minutes, and you’ll hear the whole story for yourself. A story of a family showing Christian love!

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the inside view into the lives of Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus. What a heart-warming letter that also encourages us to show Christian love with those around us. When it’s hard to forgive, remind us of how much you have forgiven us. Give us chances to show that same love to others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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

Questions for Younger Children

How many seconds would it take for one of your parents to read the book of Philemon out loud? Want to try it?!
Can you name the three main people in the book of Philemon?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

When you pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,” what are you asking God to help you do?
What was Paul encouraging Philemon to do with Onesimus? Why?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Can you share a time in your life when it was really hard to forgive someone?
How does remembering that God has completely forgiven you make it easier to forgive someone else?

Download Family Devotions

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.

Carrying the Cross – September 10, 2025

2025/09/10/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:25-27

Carrying the Cross

Jesus had a way of thinning crowds. Just when his popularity surged, he would turn and speak hard truths. Today’s words are among the hardest. Hate your family? Hate your life? Carry your cross? What is Jesus saying?

He’s not calling us to despise our loved ones. The Bible clearly teaches us to love, honor, and serve those closest to us. But compared to our love and loyalty to Christ, even our strongest earthly attachments must take second place. Jesus demands first place, not out of arrogance, but because only he can give what we need most: forgiveness, salvation, and life that never ends.

That means discipleship won’t always be comfortable. Sometimes, following Jesus causes tension in our families. Sometimes, it brings loss, rejection, or suffering. That’s what Jesus means by “carrying your cross.” It’s not about daily annoyances; it’s about faithful endurance, even when faith costs us dearly.

These words test us. We like to follow Jesus when it’s easy, when it fits our schedule and goals. But are we willing to follow him when it’s hard? When obedience means sacrifice? When his path leads to a cross? If we’re honest, the answer is often no. We cling to comfort, relationships, and reputation more than we cling to Christ.

And that’s why we need him all the more.

Jesus walked this path perfectly for us. He loved his Father above all and bore the ultimate cross. He gave up his life so that we would be forgiven for all the times we haven’t. He makes us his disciples not by our strength, but by his grace.

Now, empowered by that grace, we follow because Jesus is worth everything.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for loving anything more than you. Strengthen me to carry my cross and follow you, knowing you carried the cross to save me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

I Appeal to You – September 9, 2025

2025/09/09/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. . . Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
Philemon 1:10-12,15,16

I Appeal to You

It’s not always easy to forgive, especially when someone has hurt you or broken your trust. The apostle Paul wrote this letter to a Christian named Philemon about a runaway slave named Onesimus, who may have stolen from him before fleeing. But something amazing happened. While on the run, Onesimus met Paul and, more importantly, met Christ. The once “useless” slave became a child of God.

Now Paul gently pleads with Philemon: “Receive him back, not as a slave, but as a brother.” This short letter is more than just a personal favor. It’s a powerful picture of the gospel.

We are all Onesimus. By nature, we run from God, seek our own gain, and are useless in his kingdom. But Jesus pursued us, not with threats, but with grace. He paid for our sins on the cross and bought us back, not as slaves, but as dearly loved children and heirs.

And now, God invites us to show that same grace to others.

In Christ, relationships are transformed. Former enemies become family. That doesn’t always happen easily or instantly, but through the gospel, hearts are changed. Forgiveness becomes possible. Reconciliation becomes real.

Paul reminds Philemon that maybe all of this—the loss, the pain, the time apart—had a greater purpose: “That you might have him back forever.”

What about you? Is there someone who needs your forgiveness? In Jesus, you’ve been forgiven. And now, by his strength, you can forgive too.

Prayer:

Gracious Lord, thank you for not giving up on me when I was far from you. Thank you for making me your child. Help me to forgive as I’ve been forgiven and to see others as brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Think Long-Term! – September 8, 2025

2025/09/08/in Devotions, Family Devotions

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Read: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (EHV)

See now, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and disaster. This is what I am commanding you today: Love the LORD your God, walk in his ways, and keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances. Then you will live and increase in number, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are going to possess. But if your heart turns away, and you do not listen, and you are lured away, and you bow down to other gods and serve them, then I declare to you today that you will most certainly perish.
Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (EHV)

Think Long-Term!

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

Jett and Eli were on a big ten-day backpacking trip. Somewhere along the trail on day eight, they lost their water pump that cleaned dirty water. By the end of day nine, they were SO thirsty. The park ranger had warned them before they left: “Don’t drink water from streams unless you clean it first—it could make you sick!” But Jett decided, “I can’t wait. I’m drinking now.” Eli thought, “I’ll wait until we get back to the car.”

A few days later, Jett got really sick from tiny bacteria in the water. Thankfully, he got better after going to the doctor, but the whole experience is a good picture for us to think about today’s devotion text.

The Lord gives a command not because he hates his people but because he loves us. He tells us to walk in his ways and keep his commandments, listen to our parents, and show love to our classmates. That’s not always easy, but it’s always good for us.

When we follow God’s ways, we’re showing an attitude of faith, of trusting him. We trust that Jesus forgave our sins when he lived, died, and rose for us. We trust that he has our well-being in mind when he tells us to listen to our parents and show love to our classmates. We trust that living that way opens the door to share Jesus with others.

But just like Jett, it’s so easy to think only about right now. “I’m thirsty—I want water NOW.” Or “I’m mad—I want to yell NOW.” Or “Candy looks good—I want it NOW.” That’s short-term thinking. Eli waited, thought about what would happen later, and waited until he got back to the parking lot to drink clean water.

When it comes to our spiritual lives, God wants us to think about the long-term too. This week we’ll see that being a Christian disciple isn’t always easy in the short-term, but God promises long-term gain. Stay focused on Jesus and his love for you and look forward to eternity in the joys of heaven!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help us think what’s best for the long-term and not just what feels good right now. Help us stay focused on your will and your love—the kind that you showed us on the cross. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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

Questions for Younger Children

Was it wise for Jett to drink the water straight from the stream? Why or why not?
How was Eli’s decision better than Jett’s?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Why might eating five candy bars in one minute not be good for you later?
When it comes to following Jesus, what are some short-term things that might be hard, but good for you long-term?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Can you think of a time you wanted something right away, but waiting turned out better?
When you think about the future with Jesus, what excites you the most?

Download Family Devotions

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.

He Can! – Week of September 8, 2025

2025/09/08/in Devotions, ECME Devotions

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And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27

He Can!

After reading the Bible passage today, you might feel defeated. Jesus said to the large crowds gathering around Him, “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27. May as well give up, huh? There’s even a cross reference in Matthew 10:38 which says, “and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” In the footnotes for that Bible passage it states, “The cross was an instrument of death and here symbolizes the necessity of total commitment—even unto death—on the part of Jesus’ disciples.”

If you take a look at your life right now, would you claim yourself as a disciple of Jesus? Odds are, if a show of hands was asked, your hand wouldn’t shoot up. Still feeling defeated, huh?

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Did you hear that? He picked up the cross and did it all.

Our sins make it impossible for us to be worthy, but He paid the price for our sins when he picked up the cross, suffered and died for us, so that we could enjoy the glory of heaven.

If you ever feel that you are unworthy to tell the good news of Jesus, be reminded that you are, and yet, through His suffering, death, and resurrection, we are not seen as unworthy. In fact, He calls us to join Him to spread the gospel message to the world. What an honor and privilege it is to have such a responsibility.

Our cross, alone, is too heavy to bear, but we are not alone. We have Jesus by our side every step of the way. Close your eyes and imagine him lifting that cross for us.

So go! Go spread the Word with confidence. He wants you to be his disciple! He wants you to joyfully spread his name. Don’t feel defeated. While you can’t lift your cross, He can. He did! Praise Jesus!

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you. With all of our might, we could never lift our cross to be your disciple and yet, you’ve made a way for us. Help us when we are tempted to think your way is too hard. Strengthen us in our longing to serve you and spread your truth. Thank for your Word. Helps us love it and read it daily. Amen.

A Question to Consider:

Is there anyone on your staff today that you could encourage in their journey as a disciple? Pray about it and think of a way to make their cross a little lighter today.

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.

The Lord is Your Life – September 8, 2025

2025/09/08/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Deuteronomy 30:19,20

The Lord is Your Life

Life is full of choices. Some are small: what to eat, what to wear. Others are huge: where to live, whom to marry, what to believe. In Deuteronomy chapter 30, Moses speaks to Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He lays before them the biggest choice of all: life or death.

But this isn’t just about ancient Israel. It’s all about us as well.

At first, it sounds like a moral checklist: love the Lord, listen to his voice, hold fast to him. But if you look closer, you’ll see this isn’t about earning God’s favor. It’s about trusting the One who already claimed you as his own. Moses doesn’t say, “Choose life and maybe God will be good to you.” He says, “The Lord is your life.”

That’s the key. We don’t choose life by our effort. We receive life by faith. We choose life by trusting in the Savior who chose us first.

Jesus chose the cross so that we could be forgiven. He chose suffering so that we could be blessed. He chose death so that we could live. When God calls us to “choose life,” he’s not telling us to save ourselves. He’s inviting us to trust Jesus, who already has.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for choosing me in Christ. Help me daily to live by trusting you, listening to your Word, and holding fast to the Savior who gave his life for me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Count the Cost … Worth It? – September 7, 2025

2025/09/07/in Teen Devotions

One key truth: Following Jesus means fully committing to him. It’s all in—a passion project worth finishing no matter the cost.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:25,27

Count the Cost … Worth It?

What is a project you poured your passion and whole heart into and completed? Maybe it was building a Lego set, finishing a season of a sport, beating a video game, or completing a big school project. Now think—what’s something you started but never finished? Maybe you lost interest, ran out of time, or just didn’t have the energy. Which project—the finished one or the unfinished one—would you be more excited to show off to others? An unfinished project can feel like failure. A finished one gives a sense of pride. When we show people our work, it represents who we are and what we are capable of.

Jesus attracted a large crowd of not just regular people, but also the big-name religious leaders who thought they had it all together. He warned all of them that following him meant carrying a cross.

Everyone listening knew what a cross meant—it was brutal, humiliating, and designed to erase someone from history. Yet, Jesus asks everyone to take one up. That’s a shocking thing for Jesus to say: “If you follow me, be ready to carry this.”

Here’s the question: What is more valuable—holding on to your sins or your commitment to Jesus? The “easy” answer is commitment to Jesus, of course. But the truth? Our sinful nature makes it really hard.

Here’s an example: how often do you let people know you follow Jesus? Do you talk about him with friends or family, or does the thought of awkwardness shut you down? That’s our sinful nature making it hard! Nobody likes drama or arguments, so silence can feel easier.

But silence is exactly where the devil sneaks in. The Bible calls him “the father of lies.” When we live and speak like Jesus, those lies get exposed by God’s truth.

You’ve already got God’s Word! You’ve already heard the truth! You have the words of truth given in God’s Word! Jesus ends this teaching with, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (Luke 14:34). You’ve heard. You believe. Now Jesus challenges you: make your faith your passion project. Don’t quit halfway. See it through to completion.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you have given me the tools in your Word and the blessings of my abilities to carry out your will for my life. Give me courage to live my faith openly and not quit when it gets tough. Help me treat following you as the most important project of my life—and to finish strong. 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.

Hate? – September 7, 2025

2025/09/07/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:25,26

Hate?

Did you ever have anyone dump a bucket of cold water over the shower curtain rod while you were in the middle of a nice warm shower?

In our Bible verse today, Jesus dumped some pretty cold words on the myriad of wide-eyed miracle marvellers who were following him. No, he was not telling them to hate their family members for no good reason. That would be contrary to his command to even love our enemies. But like a blast of cold water, Jesus wanted them to stop and seriously consider what it means to follow him.

From time to time, we need to have Jesus dump some ice-cold reality upon us so that we examine our priorities. Is Jesus really priority number one? Following Jesus means that our love for our families, and yes, even our own lives, cannot come before our love for Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is the only one who could pay the price for our sins, earning God’s forgiveness and giving us eternal life. If we lose him, we lose everything.

So, out of love for us, Jesus encourages us not to let anyone or anything come between us and him.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I know that from time to time, I do not love you as I ought. Forgive me and wash me clean. Help me to walk in your footsteps each day and truly reflect your love to my family, friends, and neighbors. 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 Have an Advocate – September 6, 2025

2025/09/06/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1,2

You Have an Advocate

A criminal defense attorney said that the most frequent question he is asked is: “Why do you defend people you know are guilty?” Normally, he responds that he doesn’t consider himself to be a successful attorney only if his client never sees the inside of a prison. He admitted that most of his clients are guilty of something. However, he went on to say, “not every person charged with a crime is treated fairly.” Under the law, even criminals have rights; they have rights that are sometimes violated or ignored. The attorney said that his goal is to make sure every person is treated fairly under the law. That way, he can be successful whether his client is found to be innocent or guilty.

The Bible describes Jesus as an advocate; someone who, like a lawyer, comes to the defense of someone. And the Bible says that those whom Jesus chooses to defend are those who sin.

But he not only defends us, knowing we are guilty of sin. He also did something even the very best criminal defense attorney wouldn’t. He volunteered to take our punishment. Not by sitting in a prison. But by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins on a cross.

And the reason he did that is to give you rights. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you have the God-given right to walk through life knowing you are forgiven. You have the right to be released from the heavy burden of guilt you’ve been carrying. You have the right to know that God loves you, no matter how you have sinned. You have the right to know that you will always have an advocate who will come to your defense and will always win.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for being my advocate. Help me to live today in the judgment of freedom and forgiveness you won for me with your sacrifice on the cross. 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.

Be Like Barry! – September 5, 2025

2025/09/05/in Devotions, Family Devotions

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Read: Luke 14:1,7-14

One Sabbath day, when Jesus went into the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat bread, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how they were selecting the places of honor, he told the invited guests a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline in the place of honor, or perhaps someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him. The one who invited both of you may come and tell you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then you will begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a higher place.’ Then you will have honor in the presence of all who are reclining at the table with you. “Yes, everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:1,7-11 (EHV)

Be Like Barry!

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

Barry Sanders. Have you ever heard of him? After devotion today (with the permission of an adult), try googling “Barry Sanders Highlights.” You will see ten minutes of amazing, jaw-dropping football moves. Lots of people say he was the best running back to ever play the game.

After Barry juked and spun and broke tackle after tackle, and finally ran into the endzone, what do you think he did? Most athletes would pound their chests, spike the ball, or do a celebration dance. But not Barry. He would just hand the ball to the referee and quietly head back to the sideline. He didn’t brag. He didn’t show off. He was used to scoring. And he knew he would be there again.

In a way, that describes you, dear child of God. God has secured for you your very own best place at the table. Because Jesus has taken away your sins and given you his perfect record, God has written your name in the reservation book of heaven. And you are going to enjoy being there day after day after day . . . a forever celebration!!

When you remember that, you don’t have to praise and exalt yourself right now. You can be humble and give God all the praise for what he has done for you. That will show itself in how you live: You’ll put others first. You’ll care for people who are hurting. You’ll tell them that they too have a place at the table in heaven because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

So . . . be like Barry!

You don’t need to grandstand or show off. Just hand the ball to the ref—you’re used to getting the touchdowns Jesus has won for you! That truth sets you free, not to brag, but to be humble in service to others!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we thank you that we are your dear special children through Jesus. Thank you for saving a place for me at the banquet table in heaven. Because of that amazing gift, help me to be humble and serve others until the day that we receive the eternal victory that is ours in heaven through Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen.

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

Questions for Younger Children

What is something that you are good at? (Sports, art, video games, reading, etc.)
Who really deserves the credit for that gift or talent? Why?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Can you think of someone in your life who is a good example of being humble? What do they do that shows it?
When something good happens in your life, rather than bragging, what’s something you could do to stay humble?

Questions for Middle School and Above

Why do you think Barry Sanders didn’t show off when he got a touchdown?
How does knowing that you will one day be forever home in heaven help you stay humble here on earth?

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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.

Do Not Despair, O Withering Tree – September 5, 2025

2025/09/05/in Devotions, Military Devotions

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Based on Psalm 1

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3).

The author uses the picture of a tree to describe you and your life as a Christian. A tree planted by water will send its roots down and draw sustenance and nutrients from that water and rich soil. The leaves will be green and healthy. That tree will bear abundant fruit.

That water is the promise of God to you. When you plant your tree near God’s promises—receiving his words through active personal Bible study, gathering for worship, receiving the Lord’s Supper, recalling the promises made to you in your baptism—these waters cause your tree to be active and healthy.

But what happens when your tree appears to be withering? The reason I ask this question is because the United States Congress designated September as National Suicide Prevention Month. When we discuss self-harm, we talk about depression and despair—things that make a tree appear to be withering. It’s possible that others cannot perceive this withering because depression and despair have set in at the roots or the trunk of someone’s tree. Depression and despair may have come because of a military training accident, a combat injury, a moral injury, an illness, financial ruin, or a mind and heart plagued by past trauma.

Does this describe you or someone you care about? All of this may cause you to despair of your Almighty Creator’s providence—his ability to provide for your daily bread, to care for your body or mind or family or loved ones—and you see no way out. Perhaps you think life would be better if you were not in it.

Have you or has someone you love thought this way? Have you spoken like this? Then I say to you today, “Do not despair, O withering tree.” You are not alone. Christ suffered too. In spite of planting his tree near streams of water—the promises of his Father—his tree, at times, appeared to be in rough shape. He endured opposition to his message. He suffered abuse and abandonment. Finally, he suffered the cross and the grave. But he suffered so that he might better understand your suffering. He suffered so that you will not suffer forever. God still loves sinners who are suffering. He did something about it in Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, as a Christian, you live under the cross. The same God who provided forgiveness for all your sins by a cross doesn’t promise that he will remove every cross of suffering from you. It’s not that God doesn’t have the ability to remove the suffering that is causing you to despair. In his wisdom he allows you to live under the cross. I don’t know why you are suffering in your circumstance. In God’s Word he does not always reveal suffering’s purpose to us. But he does promise that you do not endure the cross alone. Christ is with you. He provides fellow Christians to be with you.

He does say in his Word that sometimes he allows us to linger under the cross of suffering, depression, and despair so that we might despair of our strength, our ability, and see our weakness, so we might better see how great our God’s grace is for us.

Consider the apostle Paul. He planted his tree by streams of water and meditated on God’s promises day and night. But his tree appeared battered and bruised, inside and out. He struggled with his cross so much that he pleaded with God to take it away. God would answer no. God would not answer the “why” for his suffering, but he promised Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you,” O withering tree (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God chose to make you the object of his undeserved love. In your great weakness you have a greater God who loves you. He proves his love by forgiving all your sins by a cross. He proves his love to you by promising you a resurrection to eternal life with him, where there is no more depression, no more despair.

Those promises are the waters your tree may drink up so that you may have life in spite of your depression and despair. So plant yourself in those promises. Meditate on them day and night. Read this psalm every day this week. As you do, pray that your relationship with God’s Word causes you to be a fruitful tree so that, in spite of your doubts, you will know and believe God will always forgive, always love, always be present, always sustain you. After all, “The LORD watches over the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6). That’s you! The righteous! You are declared by him to be right in his sight, for Christ is your righteousness.

So do not despair, O withering tree. Plant your tree near the waters of God’s grace and mercy and compassion. Your God is with you. He loves you. He forgives you. He will not leave you alone.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, today we pray for those who are serving or have served in our nation’s military and have thoughts of self-harm. We pray for their dependents who are depressed or despair of life. Focus their thoughts on your grace for them in you, their Lord and Savior. Give them the courage to seek help. Be their strength when they are weak. Remind them that you have a purpose for living.

Use us to reach out to those who are depressed. Give us listening, patient ears and compassionate hearts. Open our lips to speak your words of grace, forgiveness, and life eternal. In your name, I pray it. 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.

Humbly Serve Everyone – September 5, 2025

2025/09/05/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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[Jesus said] “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14:13,14

Humbly Serve Everyone

When we look at our neighbors, the people God has brought into our lives, we are not to see rich or poor, black or white, young or old, strong or weak, popular or unpopular. We are to see souls for whom Jesus died, souls that demand our attention and our service. So, we will want to serve them unselfishly, because that’s how Jesus served us.

This is not always a glorious task. Sometimes your work will go unnoticed. That brings us back to the question, “Why do we do it?”

Jesus has the final answer to the question. He says, “Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Heaven is our ultimate reward. This doesn’t mean that our humility somehow earns us a spot in heaven. That’s already been won for us by Jesus. It does mean: Why worry about receiving the accolades and all the glory in this life? Thanks to the entry fee Jesus paid on the cross, you have a place at the heavenly banquet! You have Jesus’ promise that you will participate in the resurrection of the righteous.

And what a resurrection we look forward to! On that day, when we finally see God face to face, he will exalt us—he will usher us into his heavenly halls and seat us at his table. We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

Knowing that this day is coming and that you have a place of honor at God’s table reserved for you, conduct yourselves among the people of this world with a humble attitude and with unselfish actions that will serve to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind—EVERYONE! —to enjoy God’s heavenly banquet. You—and they—will be blessed.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, how can I ever thank you enough for the undeserved reward awaiting me in heaven? Bless me as I live to show my thanks to you by serving my neighbor in humility. 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.

What Humility Looks Like – September 4, 2025

2025/09/04/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.”
Luke 14:12

What Humility Looks Like

“Walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). So wrote God’s Old Testament prophet, Micah. What does humility look like in your life? Walking humbly does not mean letting people walk all over you. But it does mean that the wants and needs of your neighbor are going to come before your own.

When Jesus says, “Do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors,” is he saying we should never have our friends or family over for dinner? Of course not. Jesus is speaking to the attitude behind our service. He is saying that humble service does not expect repayment from those you serve.

We are not to invite others into our company to impress them or win power struggles. We are to serve others in their weaknesses. Followers of Jesus are to view their homes and churches not like they are country clubs. But rather, we are to view them as hospitals where people can receive care for their hurting spirit within them.

We’re not inviting people into our company expecting to get something in return. We’re inviting them in because there’s a spiritual war going on out there, and we’re all getting attacked and injured. We all need to be healed by hearing again the good news that “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

An unselfish attitude will naturally lead to unselfish actions.

Again, what does this look like? Where there is hunger, we bring food. Where there is loneliness, we bring love. Where there is doubt and despair, we bring hope and assurance. Where there is conflict, we bring forgiveness and peace. Where there is sickness, we rush to Jesus in prayer.

When you see the needs of others in plain sight, you can humbly serve them. Helping another human being as Jesus served and helped you is the most rewarding experience life has to offer.

Prayer:

Jesus, empower me to act justly; to love mercy; and to walk humbly with you today. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Grace for All! – September 3, 2025

2025/09/03/in Devotions, Family Devotions

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Read: James 2:1-13

My brothers, have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ without showing favoritism. James 2:1(EHV)

Grace for All!

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

He was one of the poorest people in town. His coat was old and stained. His shoes were held together with duct tape. And he didn’t smell the best.

It took a while, but he finally accepted the pastor’s invitation to come to church. And when the pastor came out to greet the people at the beginning of the service, he immediately noticed something. His guest was sitting right next to one of the wealthiest men in town.

But that’s not what God noticed that Sunday.

What God noticed was two equally sinful human beings sitting together, confessing their sins and hearing the same message of forgiveness—grace for all!

That’s what James tells us in today’s verse: “My brothers, have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ without showing favoritism.”

There are lots of differences between your friends at school. Some are loud, some are quiet. Some are tall, some are short. Some are superfast, and others are supersmart. Noticing differences isn’t wrong—God made us all special in different ways! But what’s wrong is when we start thinking: “That person is more important . . . and that person doesn’t matter as much.”

God wants you to look at your rich friend, your funny friend, your serious friend, your smelly friend, your friend who struggles with reading, and your friend who is really good at sports all the same way—as unique dear souls who need Jesus. Just like you. We all have the same problem that has consequences. We are all sinners who deserve to be separated from God for all eternity in a real place called hell.

But here’s another similarity: Jesus died for the rich and the poor, the popular and the unpopular, the person with the rusty old car and the one with a shiny new Tesla. That’s grace for ALL!

Remember that guest at church? He did notice he was sitting next to one of the wealthiest men in town. But the most important thing he remembered was this: They stood side by side, confessed their sins and heard the best news in the world, “Your sins are forgiven.”

That’s grace for all!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, you have made all of us uniquely different. Help me not to rank people by what they look like, how smart they are, or what they own. Help me see others the way you see them—as people you love, people you died to save, people you have forgiven. Thank you for giving grace to all of us. In your name we pray, Amen.

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

Questions for Younger Children

What are some differences you notice between your friends? (Think about personality, talents, appearance, etc.)
What’s something that’s the same about all your friends—no matter how different they are?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Have you ever caught yourself thinking one person is more important than someone else? What happened?
What did this devotion teach you about how God wants you to look at the people in your life?

Questions for Middle School and Above

When are you most tempted to show favoritism? (Like choosing teams, making lunch buddies, picking seats?)
Think about a worship service at your church. What parts remind you that everyone there—no matter how different—are all really the same?

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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.

Reserved for the Humble – September 3, 2025

2025/09/03/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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When [Jesus] noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor. . . But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.”
Luke 14:7,8,10

Reserved for the Humble

You made it! You are at a venue to see your favorite performer live in concert! But when you get to your seat, far away from the stage, you discover your view is blocked. You are crushed. But then, before the show starts, personal representatives of the performer approach you and ask you to follow them. They lead you all the way to the front row! The performer ensured that front row seats were reserved for those with a blocked view. You didn’t pay for front row seats, but thanks to the performer’s awareness of your situation and over-the-top kindness in remedying your situation, you enjoy up close the best performance you’ve ever seen!

There is an old song that goes: “It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” But if that were true, we would be able to perfectly control the attitudes of our hearts—never having a selfish attitude, never losing our temper, never looking down on others, and always being one hundred percent willing to help others with their problems. Our own hearts have a blocked view of godly attitudes, thoughts, and living.

But Jesus, the Son of God, is fully aware of what’s blocking our hearts. In his over-the-top kindness, he paid the high price to remove us from all the sins that are blocking our hearts from God and ushers us right up to the front row in God’s presence. “Friend, move up to a better place.”

It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? You are not a nobody living up in the nosebleed seats. You are the Son of God’s honored guest, able to see up close God’s out-of-this-world blessings for you. Friend of Jesus, move up to the best place and enjoy Jesus’ blessings of grace, peace, honor, and joy!

Prayer:

Son of God, fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 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.

Know Your Place at the Table – September 2, 2025

2025/09/02/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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When [Jesus] noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.”
Luke 14:7-9

Know Your Place at the Table

Imagine that you are at a wedding reception. It’s time for the dinner to be served, and one of the guests sits down at the head table right next to the groom. That would be an embarrassing moment because everybody knows that spot is reserved for the “Best Man.” It would be arrogant of that guest to think he deserves to sit next to the groom more than the other guests.

This is the arrogant attitude Jesus noticed among the people who had been invited to a banquet. And this is the attitude that lurks under the surface of our own hearts, too. We want to be more important and more honored than those around us.

But what an insult to God, the Lord of all, when we act like we’re lords over the people God created. What are we but dust and ashes without God? And yet sinful pride believes that God ought to feel lucky to have us at his banquet.

How can we stamp ugly pride out of our lives? Going along with Jesus’ example of a banquet, the answer could be worded this way: Know your place at the table! You are not the king of the castle. You are the King’s guest.

Humility comes from recognizing that everything we are is a gift from God. If we have a place at God’s table, it’s only ours by grace.

You do have a place at God’s table! Jesus, the Groom, has personally invited you to sit next to him in a seat of honor! The Bible says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of [Christ] the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for raising me up to enjoy a seat at your heavenly table. 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.

Would You Rather . . . Be Humble? – September 1, 2025

2025/09/01/in Devotions, Family Devotions

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Do not honor yourself in a king’s presence. Do not stand in a place reserved for great people, because it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than for you to be humiliated before a ruler.
Proverbs 25:6-7a (EHV)

Would You Rather . . . Be Humble?

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

Have you ever played the game, “Would You Rather?” It gives you two choices, and you have to pick which one you would rather do.

Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?
Would you rather live on a beach or near the mountains?
Would you rather have a bottomless bowl of ice cream or a bottomless plate of fries?
Would you rather (go ahead, take a moment and make up one of your own)?

Sometimes the choice is really hard because you want both ice cream and fries!

But sometimes the choice is really easy. Here’s one of those easy ones: Would you rather be moved up to a place of honor or get embarrassed and sent down to a lower place? Or think of it this way: Would you rather be last in line for recess and your teacher moves you to the front or be first in line and get sent all the way to the back? Well, that’s easy . . . move me up to the front, right?!

The Book of Proverbs is full of God’s inspired advice. And the advice is simply this, “Humble yourself. Put others first. Let God lift you up.” It’s easy to understand—but actually hard to do.

Let’s say you just got your test back at school. You notice your friend didn’t do as well. A little part of you might want to “accidentally” show off your test score, right? Or let’s say there’s one piece of pizza left. You and your brother each had two already. You want to grab it before he finishes his!

It’s hard to be humble. It’s hard to put others first.

We all have moments like that. And that’s why it’s so great to think about Jesus. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 EHV). Jesus didn’t choose the easy way. He humbled himself, so that you would be exalted!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we thank you for humbling yourself and becoming obedient to even death for us. By your resurrection, the Father exalted you and gave you the name that is above every name. Help us confess your saving name to the world around us in our words and also in our humble actions. Give us opportunities this week to live out our faith by putting others first. 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

Would you rather be last in line and moved to first, or first in line and sent to the back? Why?
Remembering that Jesus loves you, what is one thing you could do for someone this week?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Why is God’s advice in Proverbs easy to understand but hard to follow?
When you haven’t been humble or didn’t put others first, what’s the best thing to do next?

Questions for Middle School and Above

What does it mean that “Jesus humbled himself so that you would be exalted”?
Can you think of a way that you can put God’s advice into practice this week?

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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.

Pride in Him – Week of September 1, 2025

2025/09/01/in Devotions, ECME Devotions

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For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Luke 14:11

Pride in Him

Back in 2024, an athlete in the European Athletic Championship Race Walking 20K Final gave the world a lesson in humility.

With only six feet left to go in the race, she started celebrating her third-place finish. While she was busy celebrating, another, more focused, race walker overtook her in those last six feet and secured the bronze medal.

The videos of this occurrence are gut-wrenching to watch. It is hard not to feel the embarrassment that the race walker must have been feeling. In a post-race interview she said that “she would learn from the unfortunate turn of events and come back stronger as a result.”

In our Bible reading today, Luke writes, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisee’s during this portion of Scripture. While they are so quick to celebrate their “supreme goodness”, the Lord shows them what true humility looks like. While they were busy celebrating their moral “victories” they failed to realize that they were actually losing the race.

We, too, are like the Pharisees. So often we find pride in our own successes. We forget that while we have maybe not fallen as far as some, we have all fallen.

What a blessing that our shortcomings aren’t on the world stage. How embarrassing it would be if everyone could click on a link and see our “less than humble” actions play out in our lives.

Praise God for his forgiveness and mercy. When we fail, He’s there. Where we fall short, He is there to carry us through. When we feel the sting of humility, let go of the pride and learn the lesson that He is trying to teach.

Ministry is full of humble moments. When our students teach us how to be effortlessly forgiving. When they trust with a childlike faith. When a parent forgives us for speaking out of line or an employee spurs us on by encouraging a better attitude in the classroom.

So often in ministry we are constantly putting others first. Jesus was the perfect example of this. He was the ultimate victor and yet, He washed the feet of those around Him. While he had every right to stand with a proud chest, He allowed to be stripped of all glory and hang on a cross for the world to see. Praise God for what the world thought was defeat, was actually a victory that we can joyfully call our own.

Pride in Jesus, friends. Lower ourselves and exalt His holy name. He is worthy. We have victory through Him! Thank you, Jesus!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, let us always exalt your Holy Name! You, alone, are to be glorified and praised. Forgive us when we lift ourselves up and fall into the temptation of needing praise. Help us to work faithfully for you so that others may come to know your name and lift it high. Amen.

A Question to Consider:

In what areas in your life could you use some humility? Ask the Lord to help you with this.

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.

Humility Rules – September 1, 2025

2025/09/01/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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[Jesus said] “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 14:11

Humility Rules

What do you think would happen if a teacher announced to her class of twenty, eight-year-olds, “Line up, class! The first ten in line will get an ice cream cone.” Will those children calmly and politely line up for ice cream? Will they insist that others go in front of them? Hardly! They will start pushing and shoving each other in their race to get to the front of the line.

In this cut-throat world, where everyone seems to be out for themselves, where if you don’t toot your own horn, someone else is going to run over you, Jesus teaches a shocking truth. In his world, humility rules.

This is a lesson that doesn’t come naturally to any of us. We want to think we can run our lives without any help. Sinful pride within us all says, “Me first and everybody else second.” Sinful pride believes: Exalt yourself and you win, humble yourself and you lose.

And what does such an arrogant attitude lead to? Disgrace. Jesus said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.”

When it comes to getting in line for heaven, selfish ambition and self-promotion do not get us to the front of the line. In fact, if we were to rely on ourselves to get into the mansions of heaven, our perfect God would have to say, “I saw how you treated those people around you. I saw how you hurt them with your unkind words, selfish behavior, and belittling attitude. Your sins have disqualified you from heaven.”

How astounded we are, then, to witness how the Son of God gave up his rightfully earned place of honor in heaven and willingly sacrificed his life to exalt us to heaven, even though we haven’t deserved it. And by his resurrection, Jesus proved that he has truly won a place of honor for us at God’s table in heaven.

This is the cause of our humble attitude before God. We are so humbled that our Lord Jesus humbled himself to show us such undeserved kindness. Even as you live in this cut-throat world, find your true value in the place of honor Jesus has won for you.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, accept my gratitude for your humble service and exalting love. 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.

Those Who Exalt Themselves Will Be Humbled – August 31, 2025

2025/08/31/in Teen Devotions

One key truth: True greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humility. Jesus calls us to serve, not to seek status, and to include the overlooked, not just those who can return the favor.

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14:1,7-14

Those Who Exalt Themselves Will Be Humbled

In 2023, Graziadaily.co.uk published an article entitled, “Here’s Proof that Keanu Reeves is the Nicest Human Being.” Here’s one reason why: At a movie wrap-up party, Keanu showed up—but the bouncer didn’t recognize him. Instead of name-dropping or pulling the “celebrity card,” Keanu waited in line in the pouring rain for 20 minutes, just like everyone else. No drama. No ego. The host was shocked. But Keanu? He was fine with it.

People love watching him—not just because he’s a movie star, but because of how he carries himself. He’s built a reputation for being humble, kind, and thoughtful.

Jesus was being carefully watched too. Luke 14:1 sets the scene, “One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.” The Pharisees were waiting to pounce on anything Jesus would say or do to violate Jewish law. Jesus didn’t change who he was just because he is being watched closely or in a celebrity’s home.

In verses 7-14, Jesus notices how people at the dinner party were trying to grab the best seats—close to the host—because they thought they were important. But Jesus flips the script. He says it’s better to take the lowest seat and wait to be invited up, instead of assuming you deserve the spotlight and getting embarrassed when you’re asked to move down.

Jesus turns to the host. He basically says, “It’s easy when family, friends, or important guests can easily repay the host with an invitation to a future party. Instead,” Jesus says, “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.”

Jesus ends with this truth: “Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted. Be willing to help those who are less fortunate, you are showing them God’s grace and love.”

You may not be Keanu—quietly donating millions or standing in the rain without complaint—but you do have a circle of influence. When you invite people into it, who is left out? When you are part of the group, are you seeking attention or do you humble yourself and lift others up? Humble yourself. Be kind to people who can’t give you anything back. That’s reflecting God’s love and giving praise to the Father.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, in Matthew 5:16 Jesus encouraged, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Help me shine your light in how I treat others. 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.

A Different Perspective – August 31, 2025

2025/08/31/in Daily Devotions, Devotions

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When [Jesus] noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.”
Luke 14:7,8

A Different Perspective

What would Jesus do? The dinner guests carefully watched his every move. But they were not the only ones doing the watching. Jesus also observed their actions. What he saw offered him an opportunity to teach a different perspective.

The guests were literally falling over themselves to have the best seat at the dinner. Pride was their motivation, as was the desire to be recognized as being just a little better than everyone else. Jesus offered a different perspective, and it is one to which we need to pay attention.

Being humble, truly humble, is difficult. As someone who craves attention, being overlooked is hard to accept. Still, Jesus’ lesson strikes home. Pride and self-promotion cannot stand up in front of God, who is judge over all. You may try to offer all the good you have done and may claim to be better than other people. You may even demand that God has to accept you for who you are. Unfortunately, God looks at this from a different perspective. He says, “Be perfect” (Matthew 5:48). He adds, “All have sinned and fall short of his glory” (Romans 3:23).

In humility, we realize we cannot stand before God nor take pride in anything we have done. This is why Jesus’ perspective is so important. He teaches us to look past our works and look to him. He provides us with the perfection we cannot attain. He offers the forgiveness needed. He gives the ability to stand before his Father and judge as completely acceptable.

Yes, it is a different perspective, yet it is one through which we receive life and lasting glory in heaven.

Prayer:

Dearest Jesus, you alone are my pride and glory. Give me the faith I need to depend on your work for my rescue, my ability to stand before your Father, and my certainty of heaven. Amen!

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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The Found Are Left; The Lost Are Found

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Every Soul Is a Treasure

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Known. Loved. – Women’s Devotion

The Object of Faith

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Read: Luke 14:25-35

Carrying Your Cross: Hard but Worth It

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Stay Salty

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Count the Cost

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Read: Philemon 1,7-21

The Forgiveness Letter

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Carrying the Cross

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I Appeal to You

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Read: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (EHV)

Think Long-Term!

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He Can!

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The Lord is Your Life

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Count the Cost … Worth It?

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Hate?

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You Have an Advocate

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Read: Luke 14:1,7-14

Be Like Barry!

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Humbly Serve Everyone

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What Humility Looks Like

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Read: James 2:1-13

Grace for All!

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Reserved for the Humble

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Know Your Place at the Table

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Would You Rather . . . Be Humble?

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Pride in Him

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A Question to Consider:

Humility Rules

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Those Who Exalt Themselves Will Be Humbled

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A Different Perspective

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