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It pleased the LORD for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious.
Isaiah 42:21

A Gift Worth Opening

You receive a gift. You open it up. The gift may tell you something about the person who gave you the gift. Are they a big spender? Do they have a solid grasp on current fashion? Do they know you well or not?

The same happens when you open God’s gift to you–his Word found in the Bible. Each day as you open that gift, what will you learn about your God? You will learn that he is wise and powerful and loving. And, as the prophet Isaiah writes in our Bible passage today, you will see that the God who loves you is righteous.

God wants you to know his righteousness. So, God made his Word great and glorious. He did this, not to make it a “great read” or best seller (although it is). He made his Word great and glorious so that you would clearly see and know his righteousness. And the One who is righteous makes you righteous, too.

Perhaps one of the most important clues you may pick up from a gift you receive is a clear indication of what the giver thinks of you. But many gifts from others often don’t accurately reflect this. Perhaps they like you, but not as much as their lavish gift seems to indicate. Or they deeply love you but are lousy gift givers. In the Bible, you clearly and repeatedly see that God loves you. That’s a gift that’s worth opening every day!

Prayer:

Gracious Lord, thank you for the great and glorious gift of your Word. Give me the time and desire to regularly read and study your Word. May the Holy Spirit give me understanding, wisdom and increased faith in you. Empower my faith to shine in a life of love for you and others. 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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I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
1 John 2:14

Renewed by the Light

Before you go camping in the woods, be sure to check that your flashlights all work properly and the batteries are all new. You will be far away from the artificial lights illuminating the cities and suburbs. Many thick trees can block the natural light of the stars. Unforeseen clouds and rain might also douse the light of a campfire.

Before facing a new day in this dark world, be sure to check that your spirit is recharged with the truth and grace of Jesus. We are still living far away from heaven’s glorious light. The things of this world that are supposed to bring us happiness are merely artificial lights that quickly burn out. Unexpected temptations threaten to plunge us into sinful decisions and right back into the darkness of fear and shame.

We constantly need to recharge the lights of Jesus’ truth and love in our hearts. John tells us how: “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

The evil one still accuses, deceives, and seeks to destroy faith. Yet John dares to speak in the past tense: “You have overcome the evil one.” This victory is not based on present feelings or visible success, but on Jesus’ finished work. By his cross and resurrection, Jesus has already defeated Satan. Faith clings to that victory.

In ourselves, we are weak. Our faith wavers, our resolve collapses, and our obedience is imperfect. But in Jesus, we are strong. Those who live in the word of God will have the word of God living in them. It will renew your faith in Jesus’ victory. It will continually rekindle the joy in your heart that Jesus has overcome the darkness of evil for you.

Keep living in the word of God, and the word of God will live in you, reminding you daily that in Jesus, you are strong.

Prayer:

Jesus, Light of the world, shine in my heart. Forgive my sins and fill me with your love so that I may walk in your ways and love my neighbor 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.

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Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 4:17

Turn to the Light

Driving at night on winding, unfamiliar roads, we rely heavily on our GPS to get us where we need to be. On a recent drive, navigating the roads as they twisted and turned, I diligently scanned for deer and watched for broken tree limbs that might have come down on that windy night.

I realized that the GPS guiding me was extremely important, but there was something else I was relying on. Without it, I would never have made it home. Even a perfect map would have done me no good if I did not have headlights to show me where the turns were, where the dangers were.

Light is a good thing—it exposes the dangers around us that we need to avoid. It shows us where we are headed.

The light of Jesus is very good. In Jesus, God himself came into the world and promised: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Believing in Jesus is the way to the kingdom of heaven. He is the one who endured sin’s curse for us, removing it forever. And he is the one who rose from the darkness of his own tomb, bringing to light the way to everlasting life.

But until we reach heaven, many dangers still lurk in the darkness. Often, it feels like we’re driving at night with the lights turned off.

So, Jesus preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” By calling sinners to repent, Jesus is urgently pleading with us: “Turn to me in faith! Turn on the Light of the world! I will expose the dangers around you. I will guide you on the way of peace and bring you safely to the kingdom of heaven.”

When you are uncertain of where your life is heading, turn on the Light of the world. Turn to Jesus and trust his promise: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Prayer:

Gracious God, thank you that your kingdom has come among us through Jesus. Turn my heart toward you in repentance and faith. Let your mercy and forgiveness guide my life today. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:23

Jesus’ Ministry

Preaching, teaching, and healing. Those three actions pretty much summarize Jesus’ earthly ministry. He touched a lot of lives during those thirty-plus years. But he’s touched a lot more lives since, like mine. He’s touched my life in ways beyond counting. He’s forgiven my sins. And there are plenty to pardon! He’s given me the peace of knowing that I’m loved by the Father despite myself. He’s reconciled the two of us . . . put us back into a right relationship again.

He gives me a fresh perspective and a whole new set of “eyes” with which to see others, the circumstances of my day-to-day life, and the problems I inevitably face as I go about my business.

He put a song in my heart and a spring in my step because he has convinced me, by his Spirit, that no matter what happens, he’ll walk beside me, guiding and protecting me and working all things out for my ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Nothing in all creation can separate me from his love (Romans 8:39).

It’s encouraging to begin each day knowing that because of Jesus and what he’s done for me, and continues to do for me, I’ll be more than just okay: I’ll be blessed beyond belief!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I thank and praise you for all the blessings with which you enrich my life. Teach me to dedicate my life to you in gratitude for all you give 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.

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So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7

Keep Your Attention on the Lamb of God

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what did John want people to do when he said, “Look!”?

The word he used means something like, “Hey, look over there!” It is a kind of interjection, a way to draw people’s attention to something important that they might have otherwise missed. If John hadn’t pointed out Jesus, most would not have given him a second glance. There was nothing about Jesus’ appearance that would make him stand out in that crowd.

John’s whole ministry, however, was to get people ready for the coming of God’s promised Savior. Jesus was the one hope of salvation that sinners have. It was important they didn’t miss, or worse, ignore the Lamb of God who was standing among them. When John said, “Look!” it was more than just calling their attention to a quick curiosity or a momentary distraction. Jesus was to hold their permanent attention. The Bible says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Somewhere, at some time, someone pointed you to Jesus. You have (hopefully!) come to know him as your Lord and Savior, the one who died to set you free. Now, don’t let yourself be distracted away from him. Rather, continue to train your eyes on him and his cross, and tune your ears to his voice in the Scriptures. Through his word, he will strengthen your faith and change your heart. Let the model of his humble love and the certainty of forgiveness in his name occupy your thoughts and fill your heart with joyful service and thanksgiving.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Have mercy on me and keep my attention focused on you and 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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When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14

The Lamb of God Takes Away Our Sins

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does it mean that he “takes away our sin”?

Sin is defined in various ways throughout the Bible. It is rebellion against God; it is failing to live up to God’s law of perfect love; it is every thought, word, and action that does not flow from a right relationship with our Creator. Sin’s corruption permeates every part of our lives. Not only does sin lead to needless pain and cause countless problems in every personal relationship, but it also separates us from the holy God who made us and who will be our judge. Finally, the wages of sin is death.

As one preacher of the gospel, Martin Luther, said, there are only two places where sin can be: on the sinner or on Christ. Either we carry the weight of our disobedience ourselves and accept its consequences of eternal separation from God, or we rejoice in God’s work of placing our sin—all our sin—squarely on Jesus, the Lamb of God. This is the heart of the gospel, the good news of what Christ came to accomplish for us. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

The result for those who turn to Jesus in faith is that God no longer treats us as our sins deserve. Although our corrupted nature still leads us to act contrary to his word, sin does not factor into how God sees us. Instead, he assures us that, in Christ, we have been forgiven. He gives us strength to live for him and joy in the knowledge that we are his dearly loved children through faith in Jesus.

Prayer:

Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Thank you for your mercy! 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 next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29

Jesus Is the Lamb of God

John the Baptist was appointed by God to point people to their Savior Jesus. When John saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But in what way was Jesus a lamb?

For nearly fifteen hundred years before this, Jewish believers had been commemorating the Passover Festival with a special meal featuring the meat of a lamb. In this way, they never forgot how God rescued them from slavery in a foreign land. While the angel of death had passed from house to house throughout Egypt, he passed over the homes of all who trusted God’s promise by painting their door frames with the blood of a lamb.

Years later, the prophet Isaiah compared the coming Messiah to a lamb who quietly and without complaint allowed himself to be a sacrifice for others. He wrote, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

These and many other prophecies from the Old Testament help us understand why John later called Jesus “the Lamb of God.” He was sent to be our substitute, sacrificed in our place. As innocent as a young lamb looks, Jesus was even more pure at heart. The Passover lambs did not complain as they were led to be killed, partly because they did not understand what would happen to them and could not have done anything to protect themselves, even if they had known. But Jesus knew very well how he would suffer and die—and he had all the power of the Son of God to prevent it, yet he quietly and humbly accepted all of it. As the innocent Lamb of God, he came to stand between us and the punishment we deserved. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice in our place, nothing stands between us and peace with God.

Prayer:

Jesus, Lamb of God, you came to take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on me. You willingly came to be my substitute, and with your death you became 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.

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Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
Matthew 3:13-15

Baptism Connects

Here is an interesting question: If Jesus never sinned, why did he need to be baptized? The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus endured temptations but never succumbed to them. He never sinned—not once. Not a stray thought, not a rash word, not a single misdeed. So, why did he need to be baptized?

Jesus needed to be baptized “to fulfill all righteousness.” Not his righteousness—ours. Every one of us needs to be baptized into Jesus, and his baptism connects us to him. We are washed just as he was. But the water that washes us is not just water, it is water connected with Jesus’ very words—”the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Martin Luther explained: “It is certainly not the water that does such great things, but God’s Word which is in and with the water and faith which trusts this Word used with the water. For without God’s Word, the water is just plain water, and not baptism. But with this Word it is baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of rebirth by the Holy Spirit.”

The little words at the end of today’s Bible passage should tell us something about our life of faith: “Then John consented.” We do nothing to initiate our contact with God, but he invites us to receive faith as a gift. Our humble “consent” is not something we do actively, but something God gives us to do in response to his grace.

What a great God we have! He has connected himself to us by becoming human like us. And he has connected us to him through this simple faith-creating act of baptism.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of baptism that connects me to you, my perfect Savior, and makes me a member of God’s family. Guard and protect me, body and soul, that I may experience your love and goodness 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.

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A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.
Isaiah 42:3-4

He Follows Through

Those working in environments where there is a great deal of brokenness can easily become discouraged. Those in a caretaker role can easily become drained as they try to meet the needs of the ones they serve. Often, we strive to serve and accomplish a task with high ambitions, but over time, we run out of energy and become discouraged.

The Servant of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, came down to ground zero to serve souls in dire need of saving and nurturing. He doesn’t get discouraged and give up. He follows through until the mission is accomplished. Before Jesus, the Lord sent many servants in the form of prophets, kings, and others who were to serve people. Some started strong but easily got discouraged. Some accomplished great things, but they had their limitations. Others served only themselves. They were only human, and none was able to follow through perfectly as servants of the Lord.

Jesus is different. He’s not only human. He is truly God from eternity. Making a promise is one thing. Keeping it is an entirely different thing. There are likely times in your life when you have been the victim of a broken promise, big or small. There are times when you promised something with every intention of keeping it, but for whatever reason, you couldn’t or didn’t follow through. Jesus has the divine authority to make promises, and he has the divine authority to keep promises.

God’s greatest promise was to save you from the brokenness and destruction of sin by declaring you not guilty. He promises to care for your soul for time and for eternity. Jesus followed through until his mission was accomplished and God’s promise was kept. This promise still stands today. It has endured thousands of years and has traveled thousands of miles. It has reached our distant shores and our troubled hearts and gives hope of life now and forever with the Lord.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for following through on the greatest promise ever. Sustain me each day by your sure 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.

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He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
Isaiah 42:2-3

He Speaks Gently

Do you know someone with a voice that commands attention? If you are at a large family gathering and you need to quiet the crowd, there might be someone in your family with a deep and commanding voice to get everyone’s attention. Certain leaders are known for their distinct voice that can capture a nation’s attention with powerful words.

If God were to speak to you to get your attention, what kind of voice do you think he’d use? Would it sound like thunder? In today’s Bible verse, the Lord’s Servant is depicted as speaking gently. He doesn’t rely on worldly rhetoric and a booming tone to catch people’s attention. He has a gentle voice that we might not expect at first. The Lord’s Servant is Jesus. It’s not the sheer volume of his voice that captures our attention. It’s what he speaks and how he speaks. He speaks gently.

What a difference from the many voices we hear in the world around us. Sometimes the loudest voice we hear could be our own. When we are alone and in our heads, we dwell on something we’ve done or said. We can be very hard on ourselves because we recognize our shortcomings or failures. Psychologists call this self-talk, and when our self-talk is negative, they might suggest replacing it with more positive thoughts. That might be helpful, but here’s a more powerful way to change the way we think about or talk about ourselves—hear the voice of your Savior and listen to how he talks about you. Don’t look in a mirror. Look to your Savior and listen to what he has to say. He’s not shouting at you, saying, “Come on, how could you do that again?” He will not shout and cry out or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” With a sure and gentle voice, he says, “I love you. I forgive you.”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me tune out the many voices of the surrounding world and calm my troubled heart so I can hear and dwell on your gentle words of pardon and peace. 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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Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17

How’s Your Approval Rating?

Whether it’s at work, school, or home, we are constantly graded, compared to others, and rated. The boss gives us our annual review. The teacher hands out report cards. The son informs mom that her Mac & Cheese isn’t as good as what Dylan’s mom makes.

It is strange how these “ratings” can affect our day. If they’re good, we feel good. If they’re lousy, we feel lousy. If they’re nothing special, then we are tempted to feel that we’re nothing special.

How’s your approval rating with God? How have you been keeping up with those Ten Commandments? Remember, they’re not God’s suggestions; they are his commands. How’s it going between you and your neighbor, all your neighbors? Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

If we’re going to talk comparisons, why not go all the way and, as God says, compare ourselves to him. “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Yikes! Will I ever meet with God’s approval? Will God ever say of me, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”?

This is what makes the Baptism of Jesus, as well as our own baptisms so special. God, in his grace, has connected me to Jesus. God has given me faith in Jesus as my Savior. Jesus has taken away all my sins. Jesus gives me his perfection and holiness. When God looks at me, he sees Jesus and he says, “This is my son, my daughter, whom I love! With him, with her, I am well pleased.” Approval ratings don’t get any higher than this. God be praised!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, when doubts of my worth come, drown them in the waters of Baptism and remind me of your love for me in Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14

God Made the Down Payment

How do you go about paying for a new house? You deposit a portion of the cost for the house up front, right? You make a down payment. However, even though you still haven’t paid in full, you already get to move into the house. You get to live in it and enjoy it. You get to make it your own. You don’t have to wait to pay the full amount to make the house your home. Of course, many years later, when you one day make the final payment on your home, there’s a special joy and satisfaction in knowing the home is completely owned by you. There’s no one else with a claim on it at all anymore.

Maybe buying a house can help you understand what God is telling you here in Ephesians chapter 1. When you believe in Jesus, you’re marked with God’s seal—the Holy Spirit himself. The Holy Spirit enters your heart as God’s down payment and guarantees your full future redemption to come.

Before reaching your ultimate salvation on the Last Day when you sit at your Lord’s feet in heaven, already now, by faith, the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart. That means you now get to enjoy the blessings of God: to taste his forgiveness, to have a hope that presses you forward, to know a love that has no limit. This is just the down payment that guarantees so much more. Your eternal salvation is sealed already by the Spirit dwelling in you. God guarantees a future for you. The Holy Spirit has made your heart his home, and that means you are God’s special possession today and in eternity.

Prayer:

Dear Holy Spirit, I thank you for making my heart your home and for guaranteeing me a future with you and the Father and the Son. That you would do this, even for a sinner like me, shouts your praise and glory to the ends of the earth. 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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For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Ephesians 1:4-6

Destined to Be His

When you were a child, maybe your parents took you to the animal shelter to pick out your very first pet. You looked at all the cute kittens and puppies until you found one that stole your heart. “I want that one,” you said. And you took it home.

God has done the same for his followers. He’s chosen them. He’s adopted them into the family. He’s given them a part in all that is his. He said about them, “I need to have this one. I’m going to make this one my own.” What amazing comfort to know that God did this “in accordance with his pleasure and will.” God wasn’t forced into making his followers his own. He wanted to.

And maybe the most mind-boggling thing is that God has chosen and predetermined that they would be his own even before they had a thought of wanting to be his. It’s tempting to think that belonging to Christ was some kind of decision they made. But today’s Bible verses pushes that idea aside. It was God who “chose us in him before the creation of the world.”

That truth may cause our brains to run in circles, but it causes our hearts to rest with comfort and confidence. That truth gives us peace to know that no part of our salvation is up to us. God carries out our deliverance from beginning to end. He has sought his people out by his Spirit, paid for them in his Son, and will take them home to live with him forever.

Prayer:

Almighty Lord, your grace has no beginning and no end. I praise you for loving me even before the world began. I thank you for sending Jesus into the world to purchase me. I go in peace knowing your Holy Spirit has adopted me into your family at my baptism. In Jesus’ 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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I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness.
Isaiah 61:10

Gift Wrapped for God

What do you think of your new clothes? We’re not talking about the new clothes you might have gotten for Christmas, but the new clothes that the Lord has gifted to you. Our eyes can’t perceive these new clothes we’re wearing, but God notices them on us. He sees us wrapped in “garments of salvation” and a “robe of righteousness.”

We didn’t pick these clothes out or buy them for ourselves. These clothes were a gift from Jesus. And he paid a steep cost to give them to us. He paid with his life for us to wear these clothes. More than that, he took our grimy, dirty, sin-covered clothes away from us when he gave us his garment of salvation.

Martin Luther famously captured this exchange that happened at the cross when he said, “Lord Jesus, I am your sin; you are my righteousness. I have made you what you were not; you have made me what I was not.”

Jesus has made us what we were not. Jesus wraps us up as gifts for his heavenly Father. He presents us to the Father, wrapped in his perfection. He says, “These people are my joy. And I know you’ll love them too, Father.”

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for gift wrapping me in your garment of salvation and robe of righteousness. My soul rejoices in you because you covered my shame and sin with your forgiveness and glory. I am precious in God the Father’s sight. Let that truth give me peace every single day. In your name, O Lord. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Isaiah 63:9

In Distress

The “damsel in distress” is a character often found in books and movies. She is usually helpless, in a dire predicament, and unable to save herself. Tied to the railroad tracks with a train barreling toward her or locked away in some tall tower, her only hope is for someone to come and rescue her. The hero rides in on his white horse and, with superior strength, he wins the day, many times with little effort or cost.

Jesus is a different kind of hero. While Jesus won the day, he didn’t do it by coming in on a white horse. Rather, Jesus saved us in our distress by becoming distressed. Yes, Jesus came to rescue us by putting on flesh and being made like us in every way. He knows what our distress is like. He saved us because he knows what it is to cry and to be hungry. He saved us because he knows what it is to have friends leave and to be disappointed with others. He saved us because he knows what it means to be tempted to sin, and he knows what it takes to resist sin. He knows what it takes to have Satan come after him and what it takes to send him running. Most of all, he saved us because he knows what it takes to pay for our sin, as he still bears those marks in his hands and feet.

This is how Jesus redeemed us and how he lifted us up and carries us. Yes, he came to earth as true God, but also came as true man. Not on a white horse nor a show of strength, he suffered to save us from suffering. Both as a powerful savior and a suffering servant, he came to rescue us. By being distressed for us, he saved us from all distress.

Prayer:

Father, you sent Jesus to be distressed in our distress. By his coming to earth and through his life and death he lifted us up. In our distress may we always look to his love and redemption. 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.