And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

The Greatest of These Is Love

Daily Devotion – May 22, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:13

See series: Devotions

Why is love the greatest? After all, faith connects us to Christ and secures our salvation. Hope anchors us in God’s promises and gives us strength to endure. But love—love is the goal.

Faith and hope are essential in this life, but they are temporary. In heaven, we won’t need faith in what we cannot see because we will see Jesus face to face. We won’t need hope for what is yet to come because we will be living in the fulfillment of every promise. But love—love will remain. Love will be perfected.

Love is the greatest because it is the fruit of faith. Faith draws us into union with Christ, but love is the visible result. Just as fruit shows that a tree is alive and well, love shows that faith is active. We weren’t created just to believe—we were created to love. God’s intent from the beginning was that we would reflect his love in perfect relationship with him and with one another. Sin shattered that design, but in Christ, love has returned—now in part and perfectly in heaven.

Love is also the greatest because it reflects God himself. The Bible never says, “God is faith” or “God is hope.” But it does say, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). To live in love is to live in God, and to reflect God is to love others as he has loved us. Jesus’ love took him from heaven to a cross—for you. That same love now lives in you.

Love serves the neighbor. Love imitates Christ. And one day, when faith has become sight and hope has become reality, love will remain. Forever.

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for the great love that you have shown me in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love For Every Day

Daily Devotion – May 20, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

See series: Devotions

If you’ve ever been to a Christian wedding, chances are you heard these words read aloud. How could they not be? They paint a portrait of love that’s perfect for a day filled with vows, flowers, and sentiment.

Yet the more you reflect on these words, the more you might think: Maybe this isn’t the best reading for a wedding. The kind of love described here is not romantic. It’s more of an action than an emotion.

This is the kind of love God calls us to—not just on our wedding day, but every day. Love the people around you even when feelings fade, tempers flare, and disappointment creeps in. It’s love that refuses to boast, that keeps no record of wrongs, and that always puts others first. This is a tall order. This kind of love isn’t natural. In fact, it’s impossible—at least for us.

But not for Jesus. Jesus lived every word of this passage to perfection. He was endlessly patient, even with slow-learning disciples. He was unfailingly kind to outcasts and perfectly forgiving to his enemies. On the cross, he bore the record of your wrongs and endured the punishment that you deserved. His love never failed.

This is the love that saved you. And this is the love that now lives in you. In Christ, your record of lovelessness has been erased. Through faith in him, God doesn’t see your envy, selfishness, or irritability—but Christ’s perfect patience, kindness, and endurance. And by his Spirit, he enables you to reflect that same love to others.

The love described in this passage is more than just beautiful words for a wedding day; it’s a daily calling. When your patience wears thin, and his forgiveness feels far away, lean into the love of Christ. With him, you have what you need to love others.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to love others the way you have loved me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:7

Everyday Love

Daily Devotion – May 18, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:7

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If you walk through the doors of the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, you can view artifacts and documents from some of the most consequential years in the 20th Century. In room after room, on shelf after shelf, you can research the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, the rebuilding of Europe, the Korean War, and everything in between.

Somewhere in that library, you also will find a collection of over 1,300 letters. These letters, however, have little to do with historical events of the 20th Century. They are, nevertheless, something extraordinary. You see, President Truman made it a point to write a letter to his wife, Bess, every day they were apart for any reason.

Many of the letters are simple updates on minor things. Others, of course, do mention world leaders. But it’s the sheer number of letters that makes the real impact. To see those letters all together is to see the evidence of one man’s steady, faithful love for his wife.

God’s love for you is often not in the big and the dramatic. Very often his love for you is in the routine of life. He’s the One who sees to it that you get something to eat, have a place to sleep, and something to wear. He’s the One who sees to it that you receive an encouraging word when you need it. Most of all, he’s the One who sees to it that his forgiveness of your sin is fresh and new for you every day. Your face was on his heart when he sent his Son to the cross for your sins and raised him from the dead.

Through faith in Jesus, that’s the love God has for you. It’s a love that is at work in your life every single day.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for all the times I have overlooked how your love for me is at work in my life. Wash me clean in Jesus’ blood. Move me by your Spirit to see the reality of your love every single day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
Revelation 7:17

No More Tears

Daily Devotion – May 16, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:17

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When was the last time you cried? Our tears can flow for so many different reasons. Perhaps the pain of serious injury was so overwhelming that you could not help but cry. It could be that the recent loss of a loved friend or family member has left you in such a state that the tears seem to pour out at the smallest of memories. Maybe a broken relationship has left you crying tears of loneliness. And sometimes, we cry for no apparent reason at all. There is a reason why life in this world is often referred to as a ‘vale of tears.’ So many things can cause the tears to flow, and we all realize that it is only a matter of time until they flow again.

What if there were a place where you would never cry again? A place with no sorrow or sadness, no loneliness or fear. A place where people cannot and do not cry at all. A place of only joy and peace. Would you be pleased to know that such a place does exist? It is true. It is a place called heaven, and it is the most wonderful place you could ever imagine. There will be no more cause for tears. And right now, even as you read this devotion, Jesus is preparing a place there for all who believe in him.

You see, Jesus knew what it was like to live in this world. He, too, felt the pain of loss. He also shed tears at the death of a close friend. Not only can he sympathize when we feel such pain and sorrow, but he also has the power to bring such tears to an end. So that you and I could live forever in a tear-free place, Jesus came to this earth to live and die as our substitute. His death on the cross paid for our sins, and his resurrection from the grave has conquered death for us. Through faith in him, we are no longer destined for eternal pain and sorrow but are on the way to heaven, where we will live with him in eternal joy.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for preparing such a wonderful heaven for us. I can’t wait to join you there. Amen.

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[Jesus said] “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:28-30

Safe in His Hands

Daily Devotion – May 14, 2025

Devotion based on John 10:28-30

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Action movies often portray the hero leaning over the edge of a cliff or hanging over the side of a helicopter, and in their grip is the hand of a friend or family member. The suspense builds as the person hangs just moments away from a certain death. Explosions threaten to break the hold. The person’s grip starts to weaken, and one hand slowly slides out of the other. The audience holds their collective breath as they wait to see whether the hero will save the other person or whether they will plunge to their death on the rocks below.

Do you ever feel like that person hanging on for dear life as you go through life? Do you ever feel like maybe one slip, and it will all come crashing down? So many things in this world threaten to pull us down forever—greed, lies, immorality, depression, addiction, and debt. So many sins and their consequences can threaten daily. We try to hold on tighter, but we need to realize that there is only one who has a strong enough grip to keep us safe and secure forever.

His name is Jesus. He is the only one who successfully made it through this life without sin. He is the only one who died to set us free from sin. He is the only one who can get us safely home to heaven. So, make sure that the hand you are tightly hanging onto is his. There is nothing stronger in this world than him, and he will never tire of hanging on to you. He will not let you go. Hang onto him in faith and trust his promises. No one and nothing can snatch you out of his hand.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, hang onto me today as I strive to live for you. Keep me safe. Never let me go. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”
Acts 13:38,39

Free From Sin

Daily Devotion – May 12, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 13:38,39

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At the time of this writing, large snowflakes are falling quickly past my window. The biggest snow of the year so far has been predicted for today. Some area schools have been called off and some have not. Even now as an adult, I admit to wishing we had a snow day.

Do you remember how fun snow days were? For many students that was always the best day of the year. Having a snow day meant we were set free: free from sitting in class and taking notes, free from homework, and free from rules. We were free to sleep in, build a snow fort, or play video games all day long. The only negative about the snow day is that it would come to an end and the next day meant being back in captivity.

We were all at one point subject to a far worse captivity than school. The Bible teaches that each of us entered this world with an inherited sinful nature. In fact, we were slaves to that nature. As a result, we often do the things we know we shouldn’t do. We also fail to do the things we know we should do. And then our conscience kicks in and we are riddled with guilt and shame and that sinking feeling that nothing we do is ever going to be good enough to make up for all that sin.

Thankfully, in Jesus, we have been “set free from every sin.” Even better than a snow day, through faith in Jesus, we have been given the gift of eternal life in heaven. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has set us free from sin and guilt and the need to earn our salvation. We are his forgiven children and are now free to serve him in our lives out of thankfulness for all he has done for us.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for setting me free from sin. Help me to use this wonderful freedom to serve you in my life. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:11,12

Truly Worthy of Praise

Daily Devotion – May 10, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 5:11,12

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Whom do you praise? Is it some college basketball team that wins repeated national championships? Is it the man who wears the green jacket? Does your praise go to your son or daughter for getting an “A” on a test or winning a blue ribbon at the art fair? No doubt lots of hard work and effort were put forth. Parents are proud of their children’s accomplishments. Fans rejoice in the victory. But step aside from all that and ask yourself, who truly is worthy of praise?

The apostle John records what he heard and saw in this vision of heaven. Before him are countless angels giving praise to Jesus alone. But it’s not just praise for praise’s sake. They let us know exactly why Jesus alone is worthy of praise. They call him “the Lamb who was slain.”

In the Old Testament Passover meal, a year-old spotless lamb was slaughtered. Its blood was painted on the doorposts in accordance with God’s command. Trusting in God, the Israelites followed these instructions, and the angel of death passed over their houses and were saved. This was a picture pointing forward to Jesus, the spotless and sinless Son of God.

Jesus shed his blood in our place to pay for all our sins. Because of his perfect sacrifice, the gates of heaven are open for all who believe. This is why Jesus alone is worthy of the angels’ praises as well as yours and mine.

Throughout each day, as you live your life according to his will, sing a song of praise to him who has forgiven all your sins and promised you eternal life in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord God, let my life be a song of praise to you, for you alone are worthy of praise. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 9:19-22

Because Jesus Lives, We Can Help Others See

Daily Devotion – May 8, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 9:19-22

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Saul didn’t waste any time. Within days of his conversion and baptism, he was preaching about Jesus as the living Son of God—the very one that a week earlier he had dismissed as a dead blasphemer and whose followers he doggedly pursued to silence at any cost. Now he had added his own voice to theirs.

Saul didn’t send anyone out to the road between Jerusalem and Damascus to convince them. He didn’t expect others to have the same encounter with the risen Jesus that he had had there. Nor did he seek to gather forensic evidence that the one who appeared to him was really Jesus. Rather, Saul took them to the Bible. He pointed them to the many Old Testament prophecies of God’s promised Messiah, and he reminded them of all the things that Jesus did or said or suffered that perfectly fulfilled every one of those promises.

Have you come to see Jesus as the Son of God and your Savior? Maybe you didn’t always see things that way. Maybe you even ridiculed the idea in your past. But now you see Jesus for who he is. He loved you when you were unlovable. He died to pay your debt of guilt and shame before God, and now he lives to assure you that you are forgiven. That truth, that powerful truth, burns inside you. Because Jesus lives, you can help others see that they too have a way out of the world of misery and hopelessness that they find themselves trapped in. An old hymn says, “If you cannot speak like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus. You can say he died for all.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open my mouth to tell others of the saving truth of your resurrection. 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.

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As [Saul] neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Acts 9:3-5

We Can See Our Need for a Savior

Daily Devotion – May 6, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 9:3-5

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To say that Saul of Tarsus was a religious man would be an understatement. As an up-and-coming Pharisee, he had been a disciple of Gamaliel himself, a highly regarded teacher of the law. When, in later years, Saul described himself as having been “faultless” in his obedience to Jewish religious laws, no one could deny it. He joined his fellow Pharisees in condemning Jesus of Nazareth as a blasphemer, falsely claiming to be the Son of God. How dare this carpenter’s son criticize their righteousness and teach that strict obedience to the law is not what makes a person right with God! Now that this Jesus had been justly executed on a cross, Saul would not stop until the last voice praising him as the Messiah had been silenced. And everyone would know that it was Saul’s zealousness for the Lord that brought them down.

But Saul’s self-confidence came crashing down around him suddenly when Jesus himself interrupted his journey. Not only was the crucified Jesus very much alive but with a radiant glory that blinded Saul for days. The resurrected Christ spoke to Saul, turning his world upside down. All the while that he believed he had been serving God; Saul had been doing the opposite: he was persecuting the living Son of God himself when he persecuted God’s people. Later, going by the name of Paul, he would write that God showed him mercy that day. He learned to cling to the truth that Christ Jesus came to save sinners, of whom he considered himself the worst.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus preached that all must repent of sin. We too must stop believing the lie that God will accept us based on our own “goodness.” As long as we put our faith in ourselves, we are at odds with Jesus who calls us to repent and believe in him for forgiveness. Because he lives, he cannot be ignored.

Prayer:
Jesus Christ, risen Lord, teach me to trust you when you call me to a life of repentant faith. Amen.

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Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:11-14

Worth It!

Daily Devotion – May 4, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 5:11-14

See series: Devotions

Years ago, a certain cosmetic company used the tagline, “Because I’m worth it!” The idea was that I deserve to be pampered because I am worth it.

What are we truly worth? We have flaws and shortcomings. We get angry, are selfish, and jealous. We lust, covet, lie, steal, and hate. We cover over our flaws and shortcomings because we know what we truly deserve for our sins.

We don’t deserve God’s mercy, love, faithfulness, or forgiveness. We deserve the worst. We deserve to be disciplined and deserve to be condemned. For our continual animosity toward God and his goodness to us, we deserve to be separated from him and his goodness forever. We are insufficient to save ourselves.

There is only one person who is inherently worth it. His name is Jesus. He is our perfect substitute. Even though we didn’t deserve it, God sentenced his own Son to suffer for our sins and die in our place. He has paid for our sins. He has removed our guilt. How do we know this? Because our Redeemer lives! Jesus didn’t deserve to die. He is worth so much more. So, God raised him from the dead and promised that whoever believes in him is not condemned but has passed from death to life.

Praise Jesus for his love. Honor him for his sacrifice. Glorify him with your life. He is worth it!

Prayer:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Revelation 1:17,18

Do Not Be Afraid

Daily Devotion – May 2, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 1:17,18

See series: Devotions

Have you ever seen one of those surprise homecoming videos? A soldier steps into a school gym, and suddenly, his child drops everything and runs into his arms. That moment—tears, relief, pure joy—feels like the world has been made right again. Dad is finally home.

Something similar happens in the first chapter of the book of Revelation. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, sees Jesus—not as humble as he was, but glorious as he is now. The sight causes John to collapse to the ground in fear.

But what does Jesus do? He reaches out, places his hand on John, and speaks the most repeated command in the Bible: “Do not be afraid.”

Here is why—Jesus isn’t just alive; he holds the keys to death and the grave. The two things that frighten us the most. Keys signify ownership and control. Death tried to hold Jesus down, but he walked out of the grave holding the keys in his hand. That means death doesn’t have the final say anymore. Jesus does.

If Christ has conquered death, then what do we have to be afraid of? Not our past; his blood covers it. Not our future; he’s already there. Not even death, because those who belong to him will rise as he did. For the believer, death is not the end. It’s just the beginning of a life that never ends.

This means that fear—about money, health, the world, or your failures—does not own you. Jesus does. He bought you with his blood. He conquered the grave so you can live free. And when fear creeps in, listen to his voice: “Do not be afraid.”

He was there for you in the beginning. He will be there for you at the end. And he is with you always to the very end of the age.

Prayer:
Jesus, keep me safe in your hands because you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.

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I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Revelation 1:9-11

Comfort My People

Daily Devotion – April 30, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 1:9-11

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Imagine you’re on a Mediterranean island with limestone cliffs and deep sapphire waters. The mountainous interior is blanketed with ancient olive trees. But this is no getaway. You are alone and in exile. The days are long. The nights, lonely. And hope seems like some distant mainland shore.

Then, one day, you find a message in a bottle with a map and a promise: rescue is on the way. Suddenly, everything changes. Even though you’re still on the island, you now have hope.

John, the apostle, was alone on a rocky island. He was suffering exile for his testimony about Jesus. Life was hard. But then, Jesus showed up and showed John—and shows us—that even in the hardest times, we have something to share with others.

John’s vision of the risen Christ reminded him—and reminds us—that we are part of his plan. We can comfort someone else who is going through hard times. We can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We can assure them that because Jesus lives, he has conquered death and reigns overall. His victory over sin, death, and the grave guarantees a glorious future.

Do you see the significance? Your struggles aren’t meaningless. Your job, family, and conversations are part of God’s mission to share. Jesus is with you, comforting, guiding, and strengthening through his Word.

So, take heart. Your life isn’t random or aimless. Because Jesus lives, every day is an opportunity to live out his mission and shine his light in a world that desperately needs it.

Prayer:
Risen Savior, you live and reign at God’s right hand. Give me courage to comfort those who suffer with the comfort I have received in your resurrection. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 1:4-6

Priests to God

Daily Devotion – April 28, 2024

Devotion based on Revelation 1:4-6

See series: Devotions

Imagine a pioneer cutting a path through the wilderness. With every swing of the axe and step forward, he makes a way where none existed. These brave people didn’t just go for themselves; they blazed a trail so others could follow. Once they arrived, they sent out press—posters and printed words, inviting others to the freedom and peace of this new and better life.

Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, is the ultimate pioneer. What does this mean? Jesus didn’t just lay down his life only to pick it up again for his own sake. He is the One who—by his suffering, death, and resurrection—has blazed the way for us through death to a new and victorious life with him.

Whether we realize it or not, that’s the life everyone longs for—the life that is yours through faith in Jesus. A life in the kingdom of God to which you get to invite others.

And what’s in our press release?

In this kingdom, there are no outsiders overlooked and no one who is on one’s own. There is no turmoil, hostility, or struggle. In this kingdom, we are given a victorious life marked by grace, peace, and freedom in the blood of Christ. His blood guarantees God’s love poured out on us when we least deserve it. His blood galvanizes us against sin and fully pardons us when we do sin. His blood gives us every reason to praise him wholeheartedly.

Because Jesus lives, you have grace to sustain you, peace to calm you, and a mission to move you. And Jesus is with you every step of the way.

Prayer:
King of love and Lord of life, thank you for opening the way for me to eternal life. Empower me to share your grace, peace, and freedom in all I say and do. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4

Set Your Heart on Things Above

Daily Devotion – April 26, 2025

Devotion based on Colossians 3:1-4

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What is your heart set on? Are you set on getting outside with the warmer weather and doing some springtime planting? Are you perhaps just itching to get out fishing? When your heart is set on something, notice how much of your life revolves around your mindset. If you can’t wait to plant, you are now getting all the things prepared and purchased. If it’s fishing, you’re working to prepare gear and tackle so that everything is ready to go.

We are just a few days removed from Easter Sunday. Do you remember what Christ’s heart was set on? He made it his entire life’s goal and passion to win our eternal salvation by crushing the head of Satan, giving up his life, and then rising in three days. If Christ had been distracted by the things of this world—power, prestige, earthly wealth, he would not have won our salvation, and we would still be dead in our sins. Praise God that Jesus set his heart on things above—on doing his Father’s will so that we might now have forgiveness, life, and peace.

The apostle Paul shares with us what it means to have our minds set on things above. He says that we died. That is to say that the controlling power of the sinful nature inside each of us is now dead. Christ has set us free and truly made us alive, just as Christ Jesus is alive and alive in us by faith.

May our hearts and minds always be set on things above. In the same way, may we also reflect what’s in our hearts and on our minds as we speak to one another about Christ’s victory over sin, death, and hell. It’s the best mindset to have and an even better one to share!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me a heart that is filled with love for you and a mind that is focused on all that you have accomplished for my salvation. Preserve me in saving faith and finally bring me to share in the glory that you have prepared for me and all believers in heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 24:2,3

The Tomb Is Empty

Daily Devotion – April 24, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 24:2,3

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The women came to anoint the dead body of Jesus on Sunday morning. Instead, they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Confusion clouded their minds. Their first thoughts were that someone had taken Jesus’ body.

If Jesus’ body had been stolen, who would have taken it? The Roman authorities had no reason to remove it; they wanted to keep order and suppress any claims that Jesus had risen. The Jewish leaders certainly would not have taken it; they had asked for a guard to ensure the body stayed in the tomb. And the disciples? They were hiding in fear, devastated by their master’s crucifixion.

An empty tomb alone does not prove a resurrection, but it’s a good start. Add to the empty tomb the undeniable fact that Jesus’ body was never found, the eyewitness testimonies of his disciples, and the radical transformation of those who saw him alive.

The resurrection was confirmed by multiple eyewitnesses. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, Peter, the disciples, and more than five hundred at one time. These were not hallucinations. Hallucinations are individual experiences, yet Jesus appeared to groups of people, spoke with them, ate with them, and invited the disciple Thomas to touch his wounds.

Skeptics suggest alternative explanations, but none hold up under scrutiny. If the disciples had fabricated the resurrection, why would they suffer and die for it? If Jesus had merely swooned on the cross, how could a severely wounded man roll away a massive stone and escape unnoticed?

The simplest, most reasonable explanation is the one the Bible gives: Jesus truly rose from the dead. His resurrection is not just an ancient claim—it is the foundation of the Christian faith and the promise of resurrection to all who believe in Jesus. Because the tomb is empty, we know that death is not the end. Because he lives, everyone who trusts in Jesus as their Savior will also live.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, send me your Spirit to help me believe more and more in the certainty of Jesus’ resurrection. 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.