Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
Jeremiah 17:7

Confidence

Daily Devotion – February 22, 2025

Devotion based on Jeremiah 17:7

See series: Devotions

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have such great confidence that concerns in life didn’t bother you? You didn’t let worries upset you. Nothing makes you afraid.

Maybe you consider yourself to be a “confident” person, but even the most confident person can have questions like:
“Is there a God? What is he like?”
“What if I have to face him someday?”
“Is there a heaven? How can I be sure I will get there?”

Wondering about these things makes it difficult to be confident. It becomes worse when our consciences remind us that we are not “right” with God, and we fall under his judgment for our sins. Surely that doesn’t make us feel very confident!

But God has told us the answers to the big questions of life. He makes them known to us in the Bible. He points out the truth that we are sinners who do not deserve to be in heaven with him. But he has rescued us from this death sentence by sending his Son, Jesus, to die for our sins on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty of sin for us. Jesus rose from the dead to give us absolute confidence that by faith in him, we will live with God forever.

So now, what are the answers to life that we can be confident of? God does exist. And he loved us so much to send a Savior to die for our sins. We know a place in heaven is ours because of Jesus. The Bible says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” Another Bible verse speaks about heaven, telling us, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).

Gloriously, our Savior lives to assure us that we live forever. We can be confident of this because it is the truth from God.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, strengthen me in my confidence that because of your death and resurrection I have been rescued from death and will live with you forever. 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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That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10

Weakness

Daily Devotion – February 20, 2025

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 12:10

See series: Devotions

Weakness in our world is not appreciated. In fact, weakness is often squashed wherever it is found. As a society, we seek to eliminate weakness. As a result, high school athletes are cut from the team. People of faith are ridiculed for their supposed lack of intelligence. Individuals with mental health issues are shunned. Students who seem defenseless are bullied by classmates. We see individuals suffering, and while we pity them, we are secretly thankful that we are not in their shoes. For these and so many other reasons, we try to hide our weaknesses and troubles.

So how is it then that the apostle Paul (or you and I) could delight in our own weaknesses? It is all a matter of how you look at it. Paul viewed his weaknesses and shortcomings as opportunities to highlight the power of Christ in his life. He also understood that challenges and trials were moments when he could tap into Christ’s power, knowing that Christ’s strength was far better than his own.

Jesus’ strength went to work for us long ago. Before he came into this world, Jesus saw us in our sinful human weakness. He knew that we did not match up to him. We were not on his level. But rather than ridicule, eliminate, or bully us, he was resolved to help us. Rather than feel sorry for us and pity us from afar, God used his power to save us. He sent Jesus into this sinful world to take up our sins. To live a perfect life for us and to die an innocent death in our place. Jesus then demonstrated his power and strength by rising from the dead.

Jesus now seeks to use his power in us. And what better way to display that amazing power, than to rely on his strength instead of our own? Rather than hide your weaknesses, rely on Christ, and his power will shine out in your life.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, lead me to trust in you and rely on your strength today and every day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:8,9

Go to God in Prayer

Daily Devotion – February 18, 2025

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 12:8,9

See series: Devotions

Does it ever seem like God isn’t listening to your prayers? Like he is ignoring you? You thought you might try this prayer thing your neighbor keeps talking about, but nothing seems to be happening.

That can be frustrating. God asks us to go to him with our troubles, and we ask him to take one of those troubles away, but nothing seems to happen. Why? It seems that you could be a more effective employee for the company if God would just take away that chronic pain that so often interrupts your work. It goes without saying that you could be a more loving parent and spouse if God would take away the mental health issues you are dealing with. We don’t understand when God doesn’t take these things away from us.

Have you considered looking at it from a different perspective? Maybe the thing you have been asking God to take away is actually serving as a tremendous blessing in your life. Perhaps that pain or ailment can point you toward God and encourage you to put all your trust in him. It might be that God is using this trial in your life to give you an opportunity to rely on him even more.

Jesus had such an opportunity on the night before he died. He knew the events of the next day would bring him severe pain and suffering. He prayed that if it was God’s will, the cup of suffering might be removed from him. God heard his prayers and said, “No.” It was God’s will to make Jesus suffer so that we would never have to suffer as payment for our sins. Jesus humbly accepted God’s will and relied on his Father to provide the strength to endure what he had to go through. And thank God he did! Because Jesus endured through his hardship, you and I are saved now and forever.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you endured suffering so I could be free. Help me rely on you today as I face my own struggles. 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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This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. . . . But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”
Jeremiah 17:5,7

Trust in the Lord

Daily Devotion – February 16, 2025

Devotion based on Jeremiah 17:5,7

See series: Devotions

In the modern world that we live in, influenced by so much wisdom, supported by sophisticated technology, and pampered by a great amount of materialism, people can be deceived into thinking that they can live without God and his help.

However, those who put their trust in human power and turn away from God deprive themselves of the rich blessings that he intends for people to have. Without God, there is confusion about the true purpose and ultimate direction for life. In the end, having separated themselves from God, finally, God eternally separates himself from them. Cursed indeed!

However, for those people who place their confidence in the Lord, there are wonderful blessings. “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

God is speaking to everyday people who operate businesses and anxiously watch the bottom line, who go to work faithfully and collect their paychecks, who attend school regularly and try to make the grade. There isn’t a lot of difference outwardly between those who are blessed and those who are cursed. The real difference is in the heart.

The cursed trust mainly in their business acumen to succeed; the blessed recognize that it is the Lord who blesses with profits.

The cursed trust their paychecks to provide; the blessed give thanks to God for his provision.

The cursed endeavor with their wisdom to succeed in school and a competitive world; the blessed praise God for the gifts they have and use them to the best of their ability for the glory of God and the good of others.

It is often said, “You can do anything if you try hard enough.” The truth is that the ability to accomplish things is not ultimately dependent on human strength. To put our trust in the Lord opens our eyes to his countless blessings.

Prayer:
Lord, help me surrender myself to you, completely trusting that you will fulfill your promise of blessing me according to your gracious will. I thank and praise you for the greatest blessing of all—your Son, Jesus, my Savior! 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.

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:12,13

Saved the Same Way

Daily Devotion – February 13, 2025

Devotion based on Romans 10:12,13

See series: Devotions

“There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.” Those words must have shocked the original recipients of this letter from the apostle Paul. How could Paul say that? From the time God called Abraham over 2,000 years ago, there were differences between Jews and the rest of the world. The Jews were God’s chosen people, specifically separated from other nations. They had a book of laws and regulations to prove it.

Those laws and regulations did separate the Jews from the Gentiles, but the Jews had lost sight of the purpose of those laws. They pointed forward to the coming of a promised Savior, who would rescue people from their sins. Instead, many of the Jews had turned the law into their savior. If they kept these laws, they thought, they would be right in God’s eyes.

But that is an impossible task. No one can be perfect. That is why there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. We all fall short of God’s glory and perfection. God’s law tells us how desperately we all need a Savior. And there is no difference in how we are saved.

Paul quotes an Old Testament prophet tying together Jews and Gentiles who are saved the same way: by calling on the name of the Lord. Looking to Jesus as our Lord and Savior is what saves us. It does not matter what tribe, race, ethnicity, or age. The same Lord is Lord of all.

Sadly, there are some people today who think they are saved because their name is listed in a church membership book, or their family name has been in that book for generations. But just as the Jews were not saved by their lineage or name, neither is anyone saved today because of their last name. Instead, we are saved by the name confessed on our lips and believed in our hearts—the name: Jesus.

Prayer:
Jesus, you are my Lord and my Savior. Help me always confess your name and believe in 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.

When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Luke 5:4,5

Because You Say So

Daily Devotion – February 11, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 5:4,5

See series: Devotions

Imagine a plumber telling an airline pilot how to do his job. Or a stockbroker giving advice to a road worker. That advice is not likely to be received well. Maybe you’ve experienced something similar when someone completely unqualified tried to tell you how to do your job. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”

Jesus, the carpenter, told Simon Peter, the fisherman, how to do his job. It had been a long and frustrating night for Peter. Every time he cast his net into the water, he had come up empty. He let Jesus use his boat as he cleaned his nets and dreamed of a hot meal and a fresh bed.

But then Jesus told Peter to go back out (after just cleaning his nets) and cast in the deep water. Deep water? During the day? This sounds like the advice of a carpenter and not a fisherman. It must have seemed impractical, maybe even crazy, for Peter to listen to this command from Jesus.

Peter replied, “Because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Even when it didn’t make sense or went against everything he knew, Peter trusted Jesus enough to obey. And the result? A miraculous catch of fish that nearly sank his boat.

This story isn’t just about Peter’s obedience; it’s about Jesus’ authority and power. When Jesus speaks, he knows exactly what he’s doing, even if it seems impractical or impossible to us. His words are not limited by our knowledge, experience, or understanding.

Christians are often called to listen to Jesus in ways that may seem counterintuitive—like forgiving someone who has hurt us deeply, trusting God with an uncertain future, or sharing the gospel when we feel unqualified. These things can feel just as impractical as fishing in deep water during the day. But Jesus doesn’t call us to rely on our own understanding. He calls us to trust him.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to always trust in your commands, even when they seem impossible to 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.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:14,15

The Story of Your Salvation

Daily Devotion – February 9, 2025

Devotion based on Romans 10:14,15

See series: Devotions

Novel writers will tell you there is no secret recipe for producing a best-selling page-turner. However, many successful authors start with the ending and work backward. They have a goal in mind—it may be a happy ending or a shocking surprise, and the rest of the story builds toward that last chapter.

As a believer in Christ, you already know how your life’s story will end. You will joyfully spend eternity in the glorious presence of God, who loves you. But how do you come to such a happy ending? In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul “reverse engineers” your story. You will be saved from the punishment you deserve through your faith in the Son of God, Jesus, who died in your place. You were led to call out to God for mercy, and he answered you for the sake of Jesus. But how did you know to call on him? How did you learn that he was such a merciful God and offered full and free forgiveness? Someone—a family member, a friend, or a pastor perhaps, shared with you the good news of what Jesus accomplished by his death on the cross. But that person who told you had to have been told by someone else. And so on.

Your life’s story begins and ends with the love of God in Christ Jesus. He has arranged everything to happen in your life for the purpose of your salvation. The events that lead to your eternal life in heaven began long before you were born. Always remember, in prayer, those that God has used to bring you to know him and consider how God may be using you in someone else’s life story. As you share what you know about Jesus with others, you become a vital character in the story of how that person also arrives at their happy ending.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for sending gospel messengers into my life. Let me know the joy of revealing to others the not-so-secret ending of the story of 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.

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:2,3

Stick With Sound Doctrine

Daily Devotion – February 7, 2025

Devotion based on 2 Timothy 4:2,3

See series: Devotions

There are over 40,000 different Christian denominations around the world, each one with its own unique teachings. So, if there is only one God and only one Bible, why is there so much variety?

The apostle Paul answers this in today’s Bible passage. People won’t put up with the sound doctrine God speaks in his Bible. Instead, they follow teachers who tell them what their itching ears want to hear. Over the last two millennia, this has resulted in many churches.

In a way, it’s understandable. You know how hard it is to tell people something they do not want to hear, especially if you’re correcting their sinful lifestyle or erroneous beliefs.

Because the Word can offend sinners, there will always be a temptation to twist its meaning—not just for pastors and teachers, but for all Christians. If you do that, however, you set up yourself and others for eternal disaster.

Thankfully, Paul doesn’t just describe the problem; he also gives the solution. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season” (v. 2). That is, stand by the Bible’s sound doctrine, not only when it’s popular but also when it isn’t.

Jesus knows what it’s like to be unpopular for speaking the truth—he was crucified for it! He gave his life as a sacrifice for sins, and you are forgiven when you avoid the truth, ignore the truth, and forget the truth.

And that’s the key: When God has spoken it, it is the truth. He promises to bless all his words that come from your mouth. When you speak the word with great patience, you won’t always tell people what they want to hear, but you will always tell them what they need to hear. Stick with the sound doctrine that prepares you for your eternal home.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, help me to apply my heart and mouth to do your will. Prepare me to correct, rebuke, and encourage. 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.

“Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.”
Jeremiah 1:6,7

Say Whatever I Command You

Daily Devotion – February 5, 2025

Devotion based on Jeremiah 1:6,7

See series: Devotions

How do children respond when you ask them to do something unpleasant? They make excuses: “I can’t do that! Do I have to?” Sometimes adults do the same thing: “I don’t have the skills to do that! Can’t somebody else do it?”

When the Lord called Jeremiah to be his prophet, he gave him the unpleasant task of convicting the people of their sin. How did Jeremiah respond? “Alas, Sovereign LORD, I do not know how to speak; I am too young” (v. 6).

Jeremiah was a young man sent to people who valued experience more than youth and who wouldn’t want to hear what he had to say. It was a good excuse, but it was still an excuse, and a childlike one at that.

What excuses do you have? No, the Lord has not called you to be a prophet, but we all have people in our lives who need to hear about God and his promises.

What do you say to yourself to justify staying quiet? “I’m too young. I’m too old. The timing is wrong. I don’t know what to say.” Satan loves excuses because excuses silence the Word so souls headed for hell don’t hear it.

That’s why the Lord tells you the same thing he told Jeremiah: “Say whatever I command you” (v. 7). Jeremiah didn’t speak his own words. He repeated God’s Word. What comfort! The people wouldn’t always like what he had to say, but Jeremiah wasn’t called to be popular; he was called to fearlessly share God’s Word.

Remember this. The power of God’s Word does not depend on you. The power comes from God. That means you don’t need to be afraid to speak the Word of the Lord to people who need to hear it. The Lord does not promise to supernaturally give you words to speak, but he does give you the Bible. That is the Word you speak.

Prayer:
Sovereign Lord, silence my excuses and give me confidence in your Word and care. 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.

At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
Luke 4:40,41

Signs of the Ultimate Healing

Daily Devotion – February 3, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 4:40,41

See series: Devotions

Jesus had been busy. In the synagogue that morning, he freed a man from demon possession by commanding the demon to leave him. Later he cured a woman of her high fever simply by rebuking the fever. Jesus’ word had accomplished great things that day, and word about him had been spreading like wildfire. He was a popular man.

By sunset, all kinds of sick and demon-possessed people had been brought to Jesus. With a touch from his hands, the sick were healed, and by the word of his mouth, demons were exorcised. No illness resisted him, and demons couldn’t speak without his permission.

In one miracle-packed day, Jesus demonstrated his power over afflictions and his deep concern for every afflicted individual. But if affliction is no match for Jesus’ powerful word, why doesn’t he continue to miraculously heal people today? That is a question every follower of Jesus wrestles with, especially when they are suffering.

To answer that question, we need to remember that everyone Jesus healed could have gotten sick again, and even if they stayed healthy for the rest of their lives, they still died. Those miraculous healings made Jesus popular, but they were only temporary reprieves of a much greater problem. The Bible tells us, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Jesus came to end that problem permanently. His miracles proved he was sent by God to do just that because they demonstrated that he was the Son of God in human flesh. Jesus’ bloody cross and empty tomb leave no doubt that he defeated our afflictions at their source. Jesus’ miracles of healing point to the ultimate healing: the forgiveness of your sins and the perfect restoration of all things on the Last Day.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are the Great Physician of body and soul. Remind me of your concern for me. Help me when I suffer and give me strength to endure until the day you restore your creation to perfection. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Isaiah 61:1

Freedom

Daily Devotion – February 1, 2025

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:1

See series: Devotions

When we try to guess what God is thinking, we don’t usually get very far. We don’t know what he will bring into our lives tomorrow, much less next year or the year after. But there is one area of life where we can begin to guess what God is thinking with great accuracy, and that is when we’ve messed up. Maybe friends were depending on us, and we let them down. Maybe we said something we regret and wish we could take it back. Maybe it was something bigger than all that, something that eats at us. It’s not as though God has given us something complicated to do—just love. But we get this wrong again and again, and we can sense that God is angry.

But God anointed Jesus to preach God’s mind, and to tell us something we would never have guessed on our own. Jesus preached freedom. Not political freedom. Not financial freedom. The freedom Jesus preached is a release from the darkness of sin and death, forever. And he did more than preach. He rescued us. On his cross, he put himself in our dark dungeon and released us into the light. Jesus didn’t just talk about freedom; he set us free.

You are fully and eternally free from all punishment for your sin. Jesus signed your pardon papers with his blood and sealed them with his resurrection from the dead. Have you ever found yourself caught in a web of guilt, buried under a burdened conscience, terrified by the darkness of death? The message of Jesus is as breathtakingly wonderful as it is simple: freedom.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you have suffered and died for me. You have set me free from sin, guilt, and death. Bless me with your peace and joy today 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.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:3

Witness Trees

Daily Devotion – January 30, 2025

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:3

See series: Devotions

One million people visit the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, every year. One million. The draw, of course, is the Gettysburg battlefield—the site of the most famous battle fought during the American Civil War.

If you have even a casual interest in history, a visit to Gettysburg is well worth the trip. Thanks to the foresight of people generations ago, the town and the battlefield are in a remarkable state of preservation (if you look carefully, you can even spot cannon balls still stuck in the sides of buildings). If you want to encounter the past even more, however, ask a Battlefield Guide to show you what’s called a witness tree. A witness tree is a tree that’s old enough and sturdy enough to have witnessed the actual battle. Some are still hiding bullets and shrapnel behind their bark. There’s something powerful about showing a witness tree to a young child. It says to a young boy or girl, “This battle was real. This really happened.”

In Isaiah chapter 61, the Lord was speaking to people who felt frail, defeated, and crushed. They felt this way because the consequences of their sin had made them realize what lost, broken sinners they were. God, however, reminded them that he had made a promise. He had promised to send a Savior from sin—someone who would wash away their guilty stains and renew their relationship with their Creator. When this happened, God promised that “they (would) be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

God has fulfilled that promise. He has sent his Son. Jesus Christ has washed away our guilty stains at the cross. Jesus Christ has lived a life of solid, perfect faithfulness on our behalf. Through faith in his Son, God declares us holy. And as he does, he also empowers us to be witness trees for the Lord, “to be oaks of righteousness . . . for the display of his splendor.”

When we are—when we absorb the shrapnel and scars of living as Christians in a fallen world—then you and I can tell the next generation, Be of good courage. Christ is your strength.

Prayer:
Lord, my strength, empower me to stand strong for 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.

[The LORD] has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim . . . release from darkness for the prisoners.
Isaiah 61:1

Darkness

Daily Devotion – January 28, 2025

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:1

See series: Devotions

Some years ago, Smithsonian Magazine published an article about the effects of prolonged darkness and how the lack of sunlight can impact people. It’s a compelling piece. For example, prolonged darkness prevents our bodies from producing vitamin D. This, in turn, can trigger a whole host of problems: Weaker bones, weaker tissues, a weaker immune system, and even weaker teeth.

On the other hand, studies about the impact of sunlight have suggested many benefits. They include reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack, reducing the risk of diabetes and lower blood pressure. Then, there is the impact of sunlight on our brains. It produces chemicals that improve our mood and prevent loss of energy, lack of interest, oversleeping, and feelings of depression.

All of this, of course, comes as no surprise. Thousands of years of shared experience have taught us to associate positive things with light and negative things with darkness.

Of all the kinds of darkness in this dark world, however—the worst kind of darkness is the darkness of sin. Your sin and mine. It separates us from the light of the goodness of God. It isolates us from the Lord and each other. It surrounds us with anxiety. It saturates us in fear. It weighs us down in hopelessness. It crushes us in guilt. It smothers us in despair. It tells us we are trapped, helpless, and alone.

But the light has come—Jesus has arrived. And on his arrival, he has pierced the darkness. Not only has he pierced the darkness, but he has destroyed the very source of the darkness: our sin. In place of our deeds of darkness, Jesus has lived a sinless life of light. And as our substitute, Jesus endured the darkness of eternal death—all to pay our debt of sin in full.

And now he lives. And because he does, the light of his gospel now shines to bathe our dark souls in his brightness. Through faith in him, you and I now bask in his light. He has released us from the darkness. We now live to praise him, who has brought us into his wonderful light.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, move me to bask in your light. Every day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove [Jesus] out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Luke 4:28-30

The Power to Walk Away

Daily Devotion – January 26, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 4:28-30

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Jesus had gone to Nazareth, his hometown, and went into the synagogue to worship. The people invited Jesus to preach, so Jesus opened to a part of the book of Isaiah which reads, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” This is a beautiful segment of the Bible which reminds us that God is full of forgiving love! It also teaches that God doesn’t like to deal with us in judgment (Though he will do that if we stubbornly rebel against him.) Rather, he loves to deal with us in mercy and love. Jesus identified himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy, as the promised Messiah.

Unfortunately, the people reacted with unbelief, and Jesus confronted them about it. This made them furious, and they tried to kill him.

How did Jesus deal with that? He walked away. He simply left, and there was nothing the people could do to stop him.

That’s very valuable for us to see. Why? Because later another group of people tried to put Jesus to death. It happened in Jerusalem, and Jesus didn’t walk away. He could have, but he didn’t.

This shows us that when Jesus died, he did so willingly. When Jesus died, he did so because he loved you. He wasn’t forced into it. He had the power to walk away from the cross just as he had walked away from the hill in Nazareth. But he didn’t.

So, we rejoice! We rejoice that Jesus had the power to walk away from the crowd in Nazareth. And we rejoice even more that Jesus didn’t walk away from the cross in Jerusalem.

Prayer:
O Savior, remind me that your love for me is a willing love so that I might know for sure that you love me forever. 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.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20,21

More Than All We Ask or Imagine

Daily Devotion – January 24, 2025

Devotion based on Ephesians 3:20,21

See series: Devotions

In an iconic scene from the classic movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, George and Mary playfully walk, talk, and sing together under the romantic light of a full moon. They stop and face each other as George asks, “What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey, that’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary.” She replies, “I’ll take it. Then what?”

In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul had dared to pray boldly on their behalf. He asked that God would powerfully strengthen these believers through the Holy Spirit so that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith. What’s more, the apostle asked that they would be given the power to know the unknowable—how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ—to the point that these Christians would come to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. He might as well have asked for the moon!

But Paul knew the God to whom he was praying. He is the God who does the impossible, the unimaginable. Jesus assured his disciples, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” They never could have imagined that Christ would die for them, the holy and righteous Son of God, punished in the place of sinners. But he did and saved them and us from hell before we could even think to ask.

What is it you want? Be bold in your prayers in Jesus’ name. Your Father loves you more than you can ever know. He has filled you with everything you could ever need. Your God is able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for taking care of all my needs—and so much more. Increase my faith in you so that my prayers might become bolder and more confident. 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.