[Jesus said] “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
Revelation 22:12

Seek Unity in Christ

Daily Devotion – June 2, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:12

See series: Devotions

Differences divide. When people look different from each other, talk differently, act differently, or eat different foods, these all can become reasons that divide. We see this in people. We even see this with entire nations and cultures.

However, differences also divide those who are the same. People of the same family, of the same faith, of the same culture also struggle with anger, resentment, and hard feelings. Even where you could reasonably expect unity, it is often lacking.

Christians struggle with unity. And nothing makes the devil happier than seeing God’s people bicker. Satan delights when Christians fight.

The apostle John in the book of Revelation gives us proper perspective. Jesus is coming. One day, soon, believers of every nation, tribe, people, and language will gather before the Lamb of God (Revelation 7:9). The grudges we hold and the hurts we hang on to simply will not matter when we stand before Jesus.

He will come “with his reward.” This is not something earned, it is something Jesus gives. His reward is all the blessings we receive from the One who loves us and gave himself for us.

And Jesus says that he will “give to each person according to what they have done.” What we do in life matters, this is clear. God desires that his people practice and share the forgiveness that we have received just as generously as it was given to us. Our deeds don’t save us but they do display that God has worked in our hearts.

One day, the risen Lord Jesus will return. That day will be awesome. And in his plan, it will be soon. He will unite all believers before himself. On that day, differences will not divide.

Until that day, seek unity, not division.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the greatest divide has been bridged between a perfect God and sinful people with your death and resurrection. Help me to rejoice in my forgiveness by sharing and showing your peace with others. 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.

[Jesus said] “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
John 16:21,22

Real Grief; Real Joy; Same Event!

Daily Devotion – May 31, 2025

Devotion based on John 16:21,22

See series: Devotions

Jesus spoke earnestly to his disciples just before the three-day, salvation-winning event of his death and resurrection. Jesus pictures a mother in labor, delivery, and at the birth of her child. That same event brings real pain and real grief but also real joy to the mom, and to her husband also.

Jesus’ disciples felt real grief over what Jesus revealed at that Upper Room Passover meal. Jesus spoke of betrayal, denial, and his own death, saying, “In a little while you will see me no more.” But he added, “…and then after a little while you will see me” (John 16:16).

We can hardly plumb the depth of grief the disciples felt that night. Jesus assured them, “I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” On the third day, following the onslaught of that grievous event, which brought our Savior to the agony of Calvary, salvation-winning event culminated in his resurrection! The disciples saw Jesus again, just as he said they would. They were eyewitnesses. Their grief turned to joy, “joy that no one will take away” because Jesus lives and reigns eternally! So he said, “Tell the world!”

For you, me, and every Christian, considering the cross of Christ stirs both real grief and real joy concerning that same event. The real grief is in the deeper understanding that the sins of every human being, including your sins and mine, nailed Jesus to the cross. The real joy is in the deeper understanding that Jesus willingly made that “atoning sacrifice (paid the full punishment price) for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). We have eternal life and an irrevocable joy shared by all who trust in the risen Christ for eternal salvation! Tell the world!

Prayer:
Lord, help me view the cross with grief, joy, and thankful sharing. 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.

After [Jesus] said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11

In the Same Way, You Have Seen Him Go

Daily Devotion – May 29, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 1:9-11

See series: Devotions

You do not have to worry that Jesus has secretly returned to the earth and is gathering people to himself under an assumed name. You do not have to worry that Jesus will return to where you are living, tap you on the shoulder from behind, and ask you religious questions to test you. You do not have to worry that Jesus has returned invisibly and is waiting for a certain number of years to reveal himself.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels said to the apostles he had chosen that Jesus would return in the same way that they saw him go into heaven. He had gone into the sky until a cloud hid him from their sight.

When Jesus returns, there will be no doubt about it. The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The angels will gather believers from all over the earth and take them to the place where Jesus is returning.

And so, we will be with the Lord forever. You can encourage one another with these words. Judgment day will be thrilling, not scary, because the one who saved you will also be the judge, and he will not forget what he did for you. In the meantime, do not worry. God has it all figured out.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 472)
Be now our joy on earth, O Lord, and be our future great reward. Alleluia, alleluia!

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.

[Paul and Barnabas] preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Acts 14:21,22

Through Many Hardships

Daily Devotion – May 27, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 14:21,22

See series: Devotions

It makes sense that becoming a Christian improves your life. You go from uncertainty and even hopelessness to confidence in rock-solid promises. You discover what God has done for you and what he thinks of you, which is good.

So why do Christians experience hardships? You might think that difficulties in life would all disappear for disciples of Christ. But it’s not like that. There are disappointments and griefs, challenges and struggles. Sometimes, those even happen because you hold to counter-cultural truths of the Bible.

It’s been like that for a long time. The apostles taught the early Christians that they had to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. They would suffer persecution. They would see occasional downturns in family life and business. They would encounter sin and even death, the wages of sin.

Without pinpointing the exact reason for every difficulty, God promises that all things will work together for good for you in the end. He invites you to trust that your entrance into the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus is secure even when you encounter hardships. Be faithful even unto death, and he will give you the crown of life.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, lead me through life’s hardships to an even stronger faith in your promises. 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.

When the crowd saw [the miracle] Paul had done, they shouted…, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes . . . The priest of Zeus . . . and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, . . . they rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and sea and everything in them.”
Acts 14:11-15

Giants but Not Gods

Daily Devotion – May 25, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 14:11-15

See series: Devotions

It is a common expression: “He is a giant in his field.” That’s a person of exceptional importance and reputation. Paul and Barnabas were giants in the field of Christian missionary work. They were not gods. The citizens of Lystra had observed the healing of a crippled man by the apostle Paul and drew a faulty conclusion.

Only God can do miracles. He chose to validate the message of the early Christian Church by working miracles through his messengers. (Mark 16:20, Acts 14:3, Hebrews 2:4) Paul and Barnabas were messengers of Christ, not gods from Greek mythology. However, they were giants in their field.

Hermes and Zeus were worthless idols. Yet the people of Lystra sincerely believed in them. Today, there are those who sincerely believe in worldly philosophies, basing their moral values on them.

Sincerely believing in something does not create truth or value. The “living God” of the Bible has revealed what is true and of real worth.

The “living God” is the heavenly Father, Creator of heaven and earth, who planned the gift of salvation for sinful mankind. The “living God” is the Son, the risen Christ, who paid for the gift of our salvation with his holy life and innocent death. The “living God” is the Holy Spirit, who gives the gift of salvation to sinners, creating saving faith by means of the gospel.

Can you be a giant in someone’s life? Can you humbly and urgently tell them, “Turn from these worthless things to the living God”? You can.

Prayer:
Lord God, help me speak the gospel of your salvation. If that makes me a giant in someone’s eyes, to you be the glory! 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.

[Jesus said] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34

As I Have Loved You

Daily Devotion – May 23, 2025

Devotion based on John 13:34

See series: Devotions

The night before Jesus died, he gathered with his disciples in the upper room. Jesus didn’t fill them with motivational slogans or empty optimism. He didn’t tell them to “go out and change the world.” Instead, with only hours left before his betrayal and death, he gave them a command—not flashy or complicated, but one that would truly change the world: “Love one another.”

The command to love wasn’t new; God had given it through Moses centuries earlier. But the standard was: “As I have loved you.” A love that is sacrificial, unconditional, one-way—a love only Jesus has ever truly shown.

It sounds simple, but it’s anything but easy. Jesus didn’t say, “Love when it’s convenient” or “Love when it’s deserved.” He said, “Love as I have loved you.” It’s a love that reaches down to wash dirty feet, extends bread to betrayers, and stretches out arms on a cross. That’s how Jesus loved us—a love that gives fully, serves humbly, and forgives completely.

And now he calls us to love one another in that same way. But let’s be honest. We don’t naturally want to. It’s easy to love those who love us, to serve when it’s noticed, or to forgive when it feels safe. But what about the people who frustrate us? Disappoint us? Wound us? Jesus still says, “Love them.”

How? By remembering that he loved us first. He loved us when we were unlovable. He gave himself fully when we had nothing to offer. Jesus’ love isn’t just a model—it’s our motivation, our foundation, and our strength. His love forgives our failures to love. His love changes hearts. His love empowers us to love others—not to earn anything from God, but because we already have everything in Christ.

So, what does this mean for you? It means your life matters—not necessarily because you accomplish great things, but because you reflect the love of Jesus. It means you carry a kind of love into the world that can’t be found anywhere else. And it means that when you love, people see their Savior.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, grant that I love others not as they deserve, but as you have loved 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.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:8

Love Never Fails

Daily Devotion – May 21, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:8

See series: Devotions

We’ve all seen love fail. Marriages end. Friendships break. Families fall apart. Promises are broken. Hearts hurt.

So, when the Bible says, “Love never fails,” it might sound more like a wish than a truth. But it is true—because it’s not talking about the kind of love the world knows. It’s talking about God’s love.

Our love fails. Often. We lose patience. We say unkind things. We keep records of wrongs. We assume the worst and give up too easily. We gossip instead of protecting. We withhold forgiveness. Even when we try to love well, our sinful nature gets in the way.

But Christ’s love? That love never fails. It never gives up, never gives in, never runs dry. Jesus’ love took him from heaven’s glory to a manger in Bethlehem. His love drove him to the cross, where he bore every failure of our lovelessness. And his resurrection proves that his love never fails.

This perfect love is now yours. When God looks at you, he sees the flawless love of Christ. Patience. Kindness. Forgiveness. Endurance. It’s all credited to you by faith. Christ’s love has washed away your sins and given you a new identity as a child of God, clothed in righteousness.

Other spiritual gifts will fade away. But this love never ends, not even in heaven. How could it? Love is the essence of heaven because love is the essence of God. “God is love” (1 John 4:7). This means that one day, you will see this unfailing love face to face and then be able to love perfectly.

Until that day, you live in a world where you will see love fail. You can, however, know Christ’s unfailing love more and more. The more time you spend with him and his Word, the more like him you will become. His love is the source of your forgiveness and the power that makes your love more like his. Everything else fades, but love endures forever. So, live in the love that never fails.

Prayer:
Lord, grant that I may live in your unfailing love all the days of my life. 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.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

With Christ’s Love, You Gain Everything

Daily Devotion – May 19, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

See series: Devotions

It’s easy to measure success by what you’ve accomplished. You graduate at the top of your class. You land the most prestigious job. You marry someone everyone admires and raise kids who win every award. But as today’s Bible passage reminds us, even the most impressive achievements are meaningless without love.

These three verses strip away all the impressive outward works that can fill a Christian’s life: eloquent speech, prophetic insight, unwavering faith, and sacrificial giving. These good things could fool you into thinking you’re doing something meaningful in God’s kingdom, but if they are done without love, they amount to nothing.

That stings because it reminds us of how easily our motivation becomes misguided. We may teach, give, serve, or sacrifice—but is it out of love for others? Or is it sometimes driven by a desire for recognition, a need to prove ourselves, or a hope to win approval? If you’re chasing success or approval from people, you gain nothing from God.

The kind of love God calls us to doesn’t measure success by what serves ourselves but by what selflessly serves others. It’s a reflection of the love Christ has shown us: selfless, sacrificial, perfect.

Jesus lived this love perfectly for you. He didn’t serve to gain glory but to give grace. He didn’t sacrifice himself to impress you but to save you. He loved you without expecting anything in return and then gave you everything: forgiveness of sins and eternal life. That’s the love that covers you now, empowering you to reflect that love in your life.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to live not for recognition from others, but to show them the selfless love you’ve shown me 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.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. . . . And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” . . . Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; . . . Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. . . . And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:9-17 (selected verses)

Sing the Song of the Saints

Daily Devotion – May 17, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9-17 (selected verses)

See series: Devotions

One of the most requested songs at funerals is Frank Sinatra’s, “My Way.” It is the deceased person’s way of saying they lived the way they wanted with no one telling them what to do.

Is that your song? Or does your song echo that of the saints in heaven? In the apostle John’s vision he heard them singing, “Salvation belongs to our God, … and to the Lamb.” Followers of Christ don’t boast in themselves. They boast in their Savior-God. Jesus is the only thing that matters in this life. Only he has provided deliverance from sin, all fears, and a hopeless future.

And who benefits? A select few? No! John saw, “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language.”

It’s not easy to sing the song of the saints. It’s easy to lose heart in this wicked world. The saints in heaven know it. They are those “who have come out of the great tribulation.” But what do those saints have to say to us? “Hang in there!”

How? Don’t rely on yourself. Trust in him who is truly wise and powerful. God gives you the strength to handle whatever you’re suffering.

Just remember that your suffering doesn’t begin to compare to what’s waiting for you in heaven. From tribulation to triumph. Hang in there. Heaven is worth it!

Prayer:
Give me strength, Lord, when life gets hard. Keep me focused on the glory you have waiting for me in heaven together with all your saints. 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.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9,10

The Biggest Crowd

Daily Devotion – May 15, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9,10

See series: Devotions

On February 9, 2025 over 65,000 people gathered to watch Super Bowl 59. Can you imagine being in the same building with that many people? What a huge crowd! Such large crowds can be exciting. A stadium full of people all cheering and chanting together can be an exhilarating experience. The noise level can be deafening. For many, being in such a crowd is the experience of a lifetime.

No earthly crowd can match the crowd in heaven. Far more than 65,000, the mass of people in heaven will be beyond counting. And it is a crowd that will not be limited to one group of people. Rather, people from all over will come together to worship the Lord who has saved them. And this crowd of people in heaven will have their own cheer to shout: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” The group of believers in heaven will worship Jesus, who has saved them from sin, death, and hell. They will rejoice and celebrate his gift of salvation for all eternity. This crowd will never disperse and go home. This crowd will never worry about whether they are on the winning side. Thanks to Jesus and his life, death, and resurrection, the victory is ours!

The main purpose of life here is to make sure to be in that crowd when the Last Day comes. Entry will not be granted through an electronic ticket on your phone, nor can one sneak in through the gate. Faith in Jesus alone provides our entrance into heaven to join the crowd of believers praising God for all eternity. Believe in your Savior, Jesus, who died for you.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you have saved the world from sin and will one day gather the crowd of believers to go to heaven with you. Keep me in faith and help me be ready for that 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.

[Jesus said] “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27

So Many Voices

Daily Devotion – May 13, 2025

Devotion based on John 10:27

See series: Devotions

Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes I want to take my smartphone and throw it in the lake or run over it with my truck. Wouldn’t that be nice? How refreshing it would be to get rid of all the pings, vibrations, and chirps that come from our devices every time we get a text, an email, or a like on one of our posts. How wonderful it would be to talk to someone without them checking their smartwatch every time a message comes in. How amazing it would be in a moment of free time to not automatically reach for the phone and start mindlessly scrolling.

But we can’t do it, can we? There are so many voices that demand our time and attention. So many people with things to text and say and post. So many influencers who want a moment of our time. So many talking heads who demand that we hear all about their take on politics or events of the day. And is it also possible that we are desperately afraid that we will miss something important?

In such a world as ours, it can be so easy to lose track of the one voice we ought to be listening to. There is only one voice of truth in this world. In a world of salesmen, influencers, and political pundits, there is only one voice that speaks the truth about getting from this world to the next. In a world that claims to be spiritual but not religious; in a world that argues for no absolute truth; there is one voice who claims to be, “the way, the truth and the life.” And it is the voice of the one who died for you. Jesus died on the cross to pay for every one of your sins and rose from the dead to guarantee that through faith in him, you will also one day rise to eternal life in heaven. His voice is different from all the rest, and it is a voice that wants to lead you home.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, in a world full of voices, help me to listen to yours. Enable me to follow you all the way to 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.

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 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 10:22-30

No Riddles

Daily Devotion – May 11, 2025

Devotion based on John 10:22-30

See series: Devotions

Riddles can be used to strengthen the way you think. They can also be aggravating if you don’t have the answer. Many of the people who listened to Jesus saw him as a riddle. They couldn’t figure out if he was the Christ God had promised to send or not. So finally, they came up to ask him. “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” No more mystery, no more cloak and dagger. They wanted a straight answer.

Jesus gave them a straight answer. “I did tell you.” He did perform miracles in their presence. He did reveal who he was as he taught the crowds who followed him. The problem is that they rejected the miracles and words Jesus spoke to them. They did not believe Jesus as he proclaimed, that he was the Son of God.

Do not become like those people who gathered around Jesus. Do not begin to think that Jesus doesn’t give a clear answer about who he is or what he came to do. There is no riddle. Jesus also speaks plainly to you. He is God; he stated, “I and the Father are one.” He came to save you from your sins; he came to give you eternal life. Jesus doesn’t speak in riddles about who he is or what he came to do. He speaks plainly to you, his sheep, so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

Listen to the clear words of Jesus. Hold on to them in faith. And look with hope to the eternal life he brings.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I give thanks that you have given me life through Jesus, your Son. Continue to preserve my faith until I am with you 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.

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

We See the One Who Deserves Our Praise

Daily Devotion – May 9, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 5:11,12

See series: Devotions

Some years after his conversion, the apostle Paul found himself with an opportunity to speak about the resurrected Jesus to a crowd of philosophers in the great city of Athens. He began his message by mentioning how many objects of worship he had observed throughout their city. The Athenians were trying to cover their religious bases by having every deity known to man represented and honored in some way. Finally, in case they accidentally missed one, Paul observed that they even had an altar inscribed “To an unknown god.” He proclaimed to them that day that the one they were ignorant of wanted them to know him. The one true God calls all people everywhere to repent and to put their trust in his Son, Jesus, whom he raised from the dead.

Another disciple of Jesus, named John, was given a vision of God’s eternal throne room in heaven. Seated there in the center is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was killed as a sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. He rules from the throne, because he has been raised to life again and seated at the right hand of God the Father. From there, Jesus watches over his people, whom he bought with his own blood. One day, soon, he will return to earth to raise the dead, to judge mankind, and to bring his people home with him forever.

We are not called to worship some unknown and unknowable deity but to thank and praise the one who was willing to suffer and die for us. We want to give our best in service to him, and not just during a worship service on Sunday morning. Because Jesus our Savior lives, we see him as the one who deserves all our power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I will praise you as long as I live—and then on into eternity, because of your sacrificial love 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.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Acts 9:10-16

Because Jesus Lives, We Can See Our Purpose

Daily Devotion – May 7, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 9:10-16

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Ananias of Damascus was exactly the kind of person that Saul of Tarsus had been pursuing. If Jesus had not appeared to Saul on his way to Damascus and blinded him, Ananias very likely would have been hauled away to prison along with others who believed in Jesus as their Savior. It’s somewhat understandable, then, that Ananias questioned the Lord’s command to minister to this violent persecutor of the church. You can almost picture Ananias’ jaw dropping when the risen Lord Jesus further explained that Saul was his chosen one to proclaim his name near and far. The one who had caused so much suffering for disciples of Jesus would himself suffer greatly for that same Jesus.

Ananias did as he was told. Face to face with the man who days earlier had been breathing out murderous threats against people like him, Ananias understood that the resurrection of Jesus changed everything. He visited Saul, comforted him, and healed him of his blindness. What’s more, Ananias seems to have had the privilege of baptizing Saul, ushering him into God’s kingdom of grace.

Believers in Jesus have the same calling today: to love the unlovable and to tell them of the forgiveness we have in our Savior, Jesus. Because he lives, we can see our purpose.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, because you died for me and live again, help me live for you and for others. 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.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
John 21:4-7

Because Jesus Lives, We Can See Clearly

Daily Devotion – May 5, 2025

Devotion based on John 21:4-7

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Simon Peter had been a fisherman when he first met Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Following an unproductive night, Simon’s crew was calling it quits for the day when Jesus convinced him to throw his net overboard one more time. When Simon’s boat began to sink from the weight of so many fish caught in the net, the veteran fisherman knew it was a miracle. All he could see at that moment was how unworthy he was to be in the presence of this holy man. He fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “Go away from me, Lord; for I am a sinful man!”

Fast forward a few years. Simon Peter had many opportunities to learn from Jesus, and he witnessed even greater miracles than that earlier one. More importantly, he and the other disciples had seen for themselves how their teacher, Jesus, allowed himself to be crucified on a cross as a sacrifice to make them right with God—and what’s more, he had come back to life! A short time later, Jesus once again caught the disciples off guard with a miraculous catch of fish. This time, however, Peter’s reaction was completely different. Rather than pleading for Jesus to leave him, he jumped overboard, swimming to shore in his eagerness to see his risen Savior.

Jesus’ resurrection corrects our spiritual vision better than any lenses could do for our physical eyesight. We now know that we have been reconciled with God. Rather than avoiding Jesus out of fear of punishment, we are moved to pursue our Savior in joy.

Prayer:
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives! 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.