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That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.
Genesis 32:22-24

Wrestle with God in Our Weakness

Have you ever wrestled with someone stronger than you? Maybe your dad or an older brother. You give it your all, but you know deep down—they could finish you off anytime.

That’s Jacob’s story. He’s about to meet Esau, the brother he cheated years ago. After hearing that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men, Jacob is terrified. And tonight, he’s alone. Until—out of the dark—someone grabs him. Leg sweeps. Punches. Twists. Holds. They grapple all night. Not until daybreak did Jacob realize he wasn’t wrestling with a man—he was wrestling with God.

That’s how God often works. Jacob had a rather successful life, but for much of it, he relied on his own strength and schemes. But when he was weak, that’s when God came and wrestled with him. When life blindsides us with sickness or stress, it’s not always a bad thing. When we’re the weakest, that is often the best opportunity to wrestle with God. He comes into our weakness, and he doesn’t finish us off. Rather, he lets us cling to him.

Not only does God come to us when we face weakness, but he chose to become weak for us. Whether it was in the manger at his birth or on the cross at his death, Jesus looked anything but strong. The fact that he was conceived, born, suffered, died, and buried shows just how far he was willing to go so that we might grab onto him. So don’t let go. Wrestle with God in your weakness, whatever it is, and be reminded of his willingness to become weak for us. For in him, and only in him, will we find strength, forgiveness, and life.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for meeting me in my weakness. Teach me to cling to you when my strength is gone. In Jesus, I know I am blessed. Amen.

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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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Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15

An Indescribable Gift

In this chapter of the Bible, the apostle Paul addresses the important matter of Christian giving. He teaches that God-pleasing offerings flow out of a willing heart in response to God’s rich blessings and unfailing providence.

In grand conclusion to his instruction and encouragement about offerings, the apostle proclaims, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” God gave to us first, and he gave us the best. In his great love for us, he sent Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sins. Through Jesus, God gives us the peace of free and full forgiveness. By the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of his Son, death is defeated, and the way to heaven is open. A blessed life with God now and forever is ours by faith in Jesus. Jesus is everything for us. Praise God!

This is the essential reason for all that we do, including giving generous offerings, that God be praised. Yes, we give offerings for expenses at church and to help in the mission efforts of the church at large. We often hear about the needs and the opportunities. But the fundamental reason we give our offerings is not to balance the church budget or start a mission congregation or send a missionary. We give to praise God and thank him for all that he gives us. We must guard against only viewing offerings for what they will provide and buy. Our offerings, first and foremost, are a tangible way for us to honor God who has blessed us with the indescribable gift of his Son. With our eyes and hearts focused on the cross of Jesus and the gift of salvation, it is a joy to give offerings to our great God.

Prayer:

Lord, fill me with the joy of salvation that I may joyfully respond with generous offerings to honor you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:17-19

Eternal Gift, Eternal Thanks

What Jesus did for the ten men by healing their leprosy didn’t last forever. Over time, their bodies got old, they got weaker, then they died, and their bodies decomposed. So, while their physical healing was a great gift, it didn’t last forever.

But one leper saw in Jesus more than a physical healer. He saw him for who he really was—the saver of souls. He fell at his feet to thank and worship him as the true God. He believed that Jesus could do even more than cleanse him of his leprosy. So, Jesus said, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.” He wasn’t just talking about the man’s leprosy. Luke used the word “cleanse” to describe what happened to all ten. They were outwardly cleansed from leprosy. But when Jesus said to the one “your faith has made you well,” the word he used is literally “save.” That man had faith in Jesus as Savior, and he was saved.

What Jesus did for his body was great. What he did for his soul was even greater. He saved his body from pain and discomfort for a time; he saved his soul from death for eternity. He took away his leprosy so he could be accepted by society again, for a time; Jesus took away his sin, and he was accepted by God, for eternity.

You can be sure that God has done the very same for you, because he has done this for the world. By Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, he took away the sins of the world, including yours. Through faith, he makes that forgiveness your forgiveness. He may bless you physically on this earth for a time. But he has, without a doubt, saved your soul for eternity. He may bless you with the good company of friends and family, for a time. Without a doubt, he has taken away your sin so that you have a right relationship with God, for eternity. We are eternally thankful for this eternal gift!

Prayer:

Lord, may I forever praise you in this life and the next. 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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As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
Luke 17:12-15

Jesus, Help!

Have you ever cried out for help? Sometimes, we simply ask for help. But when the need is great, we cry out for help. For example, if you’ve fallen, broken a bone, and you’re all alone, you likely had to cry out for help.

Have you ever cried out to God for help? One day, ten men with leprosy, a horrible skin disease, saw Jesus, and they called out to him. “Jesus, help!” And he did! He healed them all by the power of his promise. Their leprosy was cured! Jesus helped and healed. However, one of them returned to praise and thank God in a loud voice. He realized that his problem was not only skin-deep. He realized that the blemish of sin was something Jesus could heal, too.

We may not have a horrible skin disease, but we all need what only Jesus can do—cleanse us from sin. You can be grateful for all the prayers that Jesus hears and answers. No problem is too small to pray about. Nothing you need help with is too heavy a burden for Jesus to lift. We express our gratitude when we return to Jesus in prayer and thank and trust in him for every need, big or small.

If you haven’t ever cried out to Jesus for help, or if it’s been a while, try it. Trust that he is your help and salvation. Know that he hears you and cares. Know that his care and concern for you is not merely skin-deep. He cares for the whole person, body and soul. He cleanses you of sin and every stain.

Prayer:

Lord, have mercy on me. Help me in my time of need. Move me to thank and praise you, for you are my help and my salvation! 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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By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry. Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.”
Genesis 8:13-17

Saved by God

Noah and his family were in the ark for a year and ten days. All this time did not make Noah perfect. In fact, Noah wasn’t saved from the flood because he was perfect at all. He was saved because of God’s grace, mercy, and love. The same is true of you and me. We are only saved because God has shown mercy to us, not because of anything we say or do.

Are we still sinful? Are we still prone to mistakes? Do we still set up other gods, misuse God’s name, fail to worship him, dishonor our parents, hurt, lust, steal, slander, cheat, and covet? Certainly, we do. We are even born sinful. But God has rescued us. He has saved us from the rising flood of our sinfulness with his death on a cross.

Therefore, we strive to obey God’s holy commandments, not because we have to, but because we want to, in thanks for rescuing us from our sins and preserving our lives.

Prayer:

My dear God, though I am a sinner, you have been merciful and rescued me through Jesus. Forgive me when I fail to live according to your holy will. Strengthen me to act and speak in ways that demonstrate that I am very thankful for 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.

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“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
1 Chronicles 29:14

The Gift of Giving

King David of Israel wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but God decided that David would not be the one to build it. Instead, his son Solomon would. If David was disappointed, he didn’t let it show. While he wouldn’t build it, that didn’t mean he couldn’t help assemble the materials and donate from his own personal wealth toward it.

And so that’s what David did. He gave generously, and so did his royal officials. This temple would be the most magnificent building in all of Jerusalem and Israel. It took over 175,000 workers seven years to build it. Massive amounts of stone, cedar, gold, and silver were used in its construction. It’s impossible to put a modern-day price tag on the cost of the construction, but the amount of gold and silver used alone would be close to $300 billion.

King David gave generously, and after he made his donation, he prayed to the Lord. He didn’t pray seeking recognition from God for his generosity. He prayed out of thanksgiving because David rightly recognized that all he had given already belonged to the Lord. All the blessings David had received in life came from God. Giving back to God was a privilege.

The temple would bring glory to God’s holy name for generations. King David and the people of Israel were making an investment that would have returns echoing for eternity.

We don’t have a temple to build, but we do have endless opportunities to give back to the Lord. We do that not just with our money, but with our time, talents, and love. Every act of generosity is an investment in God’s Kingdom that can echo into eternity. Our gifts testify to the greatness of God as we remember that all we have comes from him in the first place.

Prayer:

Gracious Lord, all that I have comes from your generous hand. Thank you for the blessings of life, but above all, thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Teach me to give joyfully and with thanks that I may use my gifts to bring glory to your name. 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 apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”
Luke 17:5-6

Faith Like a Seed

After hearing Jesus’ commands not to cause others to stumble and to forgive repeatedly, the apostles blurted out, “Increase our faith!” They wanted to obey, but they knew how weak they felt.

Jesus reminded them that the strength of faith doesn’t come from faith itself. A seed, by itself, is just a speck. But planted in rich soil, watered and warmed by the sun, it grows into something far beyond what anyone could imagine.

Faith works the same way. By itself, it’s nothing. But when rooted in God’s promises, nourished by the gospel, and strengthened through forgiveness, faith flourishes. God’s Word and his promises are the “nutrient-rich soil.” The water and sunlight are the gospel’s power and the certainty of sins forgiven. Faith is created and sustained by God, not by us.

And here is the comfort: if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you already have this faith. You trust the promises of God. Even when your faith feels small, the power lies not in your strength but in the Savior who holds you. That’s why Jesus could say a mustard seed of faith is enough. Faith clings to Jesus, and he can do the impossible.

So, when your faith feels weak, don’t look inward for strength. Look upward to Christ. Obey his commands in trust. He isn’t asking you to hurl oak trees into the sea. But by his Spirit, you can forgive. You can walk blamelessly. You can see the quiet but powerful fruits of faith because of what Jesus has done for you. Even mustard-seed faith is enough because it clings to a mighty Savior.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my faith often feels small and fragile. Thank you for reminding me that even mustard seed faith is enough when it is rooted in you. Nourish me with your promises, strengthen me with your forgiveness, and help me live in joyful trust each day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves.”
Luke 17:1-3

Watch Yourselves

Think of a mousetrap: the bait rests on the trigger, and when it’s touched, the bar snaps down. The trap doesn’t just appear; it’s set.

That’s the picture Jesus gives when he speaks about stumbling blocks. In this world, traps are constantly baited. Temptations are set, waiting for someone to take the bait. The results are deadly.

Jesus warns that because we are sinful, our words and actions can become part of the trap. A careless word, a crude joke, or a dishonest shortcut at work can send the message that sin isn’t serious or that Christians are hypocrites. Either way, it lures people closer to danger.

Whether we like it or not, people notice the behavior of Christians. If we live no differently than the world, some may assume Christianity excuses sin. Others may think faith itself is fake. Both conclusions spring the trap, and someone’s trust in God may be crushed.

That’s why Jesus speaks so strongly: “Woe to anyone who causes one of these little ones to stumble. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck.” It’s a shocking image, but it shows how seriously he views leading someone away from faith.

Jesus not only warns us about the danger, he came to rescue us from it. On the cross, he stepped into the snare for us, took the crushing blow of our sin, and freed us. Because of his forgiveness, the trap of guilt has no hold on us.

Now, with his Spirit guiding us, we watch ourselves, not to earn God’s favor, but to live in a way that points others safely to Christ.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you know how easily I fall into sin and how often my actions can harm others. Forgive me. Guard my words and deeds so that my life points people to you, not away from you. Fill me with your love, so I may encourage others to trust in you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Romans 2:12,13

The Law on My Heart

God gave Moses and the Children of Israel the most well-known table of laws ever written. He gave them the Ten Commandments.

Perhaps the reason why the Commandments ring so true is that they were written somewhere else long before they were given to Moses. From the beginning, God has written his law on the hearts of all people.

God’s law is written on your heart. Think about it. You don’t need the Ten Commandments to tell you that murder is wrong, do you? As a child, when I was taking cookies without asking, I tried to hide it. I knew taking something that I shouldn’t have was wrong.

It is helpful that God’s commands are written on our hearts and in the Bible with the Ten Commandments. It makes each of us both aware and accountable for our actions. But knowing the law is only part of the matter. Keeping the law is what no one can do.

When teaching a lesson on the Ten Commandments, Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish God’s law, but to fulfill it.” Jesus knew that no one could keep the law of God perfectly, so he came to do it for us. Through faith in Jesus, we become “righteous in God’s sight.” This was the gospel or “good news” that the apostle Paul came to preach.

So, the next time your conscience is bothering you, know that it is God’s law doing its work on your heart. At that same time, remember Jesus, the one who takes your sin away.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for writing your law on my heart and giving it to me in the Bible. When I have done wrong, point me to Christ where there is forgiveness. 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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But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”
Luke 16:25

A Life of Security

We all need it, no matter how old or young we are. We need it no matter how much money we have, where we live, where we work, where we worship, or who is related to us. We all need to feel secure, from little ones hugging their stuffed animals to adults paying for cybersecurity. We all want peace of mind. We don’t want anything to cause us worry, stress, or fear. We want everything set so we can live a worry-free, stress-free, secure life made easier because we have everything we need and so much more. So, we spend all kinds of time, money, and effort to make it happen, yet we can miss the only source of true security.

Jesus told the story of a wealthy man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. The wealthy man didn’t just seem to have money. He served money. He flaunted it. Lazarus, on the other hand, had nothing except the source of true security. He trusted in the true God, his Savior, his Lord, his help and hope.

When both men died, everything reversed. The Lord sent his angels to bring Lazarus to the eternal rest of heaven, while the rich man spent eternity in hell, yearning for even a single drop of water on his tongue.

What is Jesus saying to us here about the security we all seek? First, it’s not about the money or lack thereof. Money is a gift from God, but money can never be the source of our security. Instead, Jesus calls us to look to him. We look to Jesus, who became poor that we might have the eternal wealth of heaven. We look to Jesus, who left behind the feasts of heaven to fill the hungry with good things. We look to Jesus, who saw our foolish pursuits for security in this life and instead sacrificed his own security, even himself, to give his true security for all eternity. In Jesus, we have a life of security.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, like Lazarus, help me to see you as my security for this life and always. 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.