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Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
1 Peter 1:17-19

More than Enough

Imagine someone is paying off a small debt by handing over a fortune. That’s the picture the sixteenth-century reformer, Martin Luther, once painted when reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice. He wrote, “Just one drop of this innocent blood would have been more than enough for the sin of the whole world.”

Just one drop. Jesus’ blood is infinitely valuable because he is the sinless Son of God. His sacrifice was more than sufficient to pay for every sin: yours, mine, and the world’s.

Peter reminds us that we were not redeemed with silver or gold. Those things eventually fade and lose value. We were redeemed with something far more precious: the blood of Christ.

That truth changes how we see our lives. Our forgiveness was not cheap. Our rescue was not discounted. God loved us enough to give what was the most precious to him, his own Son.

And yet this costly redemption is also our deepest comfort. Because Jesus paid the full price, there is nothing left for you to earn, and nothing left unpaid. Your sins are forgiven. You belong to God.

So, we live in what Peter calls “reverent fear,” a fear that is not terror, but a deep respect and gratitude for the grace we’ve received. We treasure the salvation Christ won for us.

After all, when you realize what it cost Jesus to redeem you, you begin to see how precious you truly are to God.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for redeeming me with your precious blood. Help me treasure your grace and live each day in gratitude for the salvation you won for me. 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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When [Jesus] was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:30-32

Strengthened by God’s Good Gifts

The two disciples with whom Jesus spoke on Easter evening on the road to Emmaus had had their faith shaken to the core. Jesus had been tried as a felon and crucified as a criminal, looking like a failure.

They heard the reports that the tomb was empty and Jesus was alive, but it didn’t revive their faith. They didn’t even stick around in Jerusalem to see if it might be true. They hit the road for Emmaus, leaving the other disciples.

Jesus chose these two doubting disciples to be among the first he appeared to after his resurrection. He didn’t show up at Pilate’s palace. He didn’t walk into the temple in triumph. He didn’t gloat to the religious leaders who orchestrated his death. He chose two disciples in a crisis of faith.

Jesus gave them exactly what they needed. He shared God’s Word. He broke bread with them as he had during the Passover meal the previous Thursday. Those good gifts were all they needed to recognize that Jesus was alive and so was their faith.

We know what it’s like to struggle. A temptation that won’t loosen its grip. An illness that lingers. A loved one is drifting further from God. All of these can cause a crisis of faith.

That’s when we go where Jesus has told us to look. We open his Word where we hear that our sins are forgiven. We see that the cross is for us. And in the Lord’s Supper, Jesus gives us something tangible. We don’t just hear we are forgiven; we receive it.

When faith feels fragile, God doesn’t demand that we get stronger. He points us to his promises. The same Savior who walked with those disciples still comes to his people today. He still brings those good gifts with him.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, when doubt clouds my heart, draw me back to your Word and your promises. Strengthen my faith with your good gifts. 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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One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.”
Luke 24:18-21

God’s Promises and Our Perception

In 1928, scientist Alexander Fleming returned from vacation to find that one of his petri dishes had been contaminated with mold. It looked like a failure and ruined work. But when Fleming looked closer, he noticed something remarkable. Around the mold, the bacteria had died. What looked spoiled was actually powerful. That mold, penicillin, would go on to save hundreds of thousands of lives during World War II and millions more in the years that followed.

Three days after Jesus’ death, two disciples were walking away from Jerusalem. With their faces downcast and their hearts full of disappointment. They said, “We had hoped…” They had hoped for redemption, freedom, and restoration for Israel. But Jesus had been crucified. To them, the cross looked like failure, like God’s plan had been ruined.

But the cross wasn’t failure; it was success. There, Jesus satisfied God’s wrath. There, he paid for every sin. And three days later, Jesus proved it with an empty tomb.

We know the feeling of having hope disappointed. We hoped the diagnosis would be different. We hoped the relationship would heal. He hoped the door would open. Sometimes God’s work in our lives looks like a ruined plan.

But the cross teaches us it is better to trust God’s promises than our perceptions. What looked like defeat became salvation. What looked like death became life. In Jesus, your greatest problem has already been cured.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, when plans don’t match my expectations, help me trust your promises. Remind me that your cross is never failure, but always my cure. 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 performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written 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 20:30-31

Written For Your Faith

The apostle John closes his book with a purpose: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The resurrection appearances were not random miracles. They were signs. Proof. Testimony. Carefully preserved and proclaimed so that future generations—like us—might have certainty.

Christian faith is not blind optimism. It rests on recorded, eyewitness history. The apostles saw Jesus. They touched him. They ate with him. And then they wrote. Why? 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.” Notice the present tense: have life. Not only future glory, but also present peace and access to God.

Jesus lives, and therefore you live. His victory becomes your victory. His declaration of sins forgiven becomes your declaration of peace with God. His promise to be with you always becomes your source of calm and courage. His selfless love for you becomes your motivation to selflessly love your neighbor.

This is why we treasure the Bible. It is not merely a collection of inspiring thoughts. It is Spirit-breathed testimony to the living Jesus. Through it, Jesus still comes into locked rooms and hearts. Through it, he still shows his wounds. Through it, he still declares, “Peace be with you.”

When doubts arise, return to what is written. When fear closes in, return to what is written. When guilt accuses, return to what is written.

The resurrection of Jesus on Easter is not only an annual celebration. It is daily proof that your sins are forgiven and your future is secure. He lives to give you proof and peace. He lives—and in him, you have life.

Prayer:

Living Lord Jesus, anchor my faith in your written Word. Through it, grant me unshakable proof and enduring peace. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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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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Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:24–25

When Doubt Demands Proof

Thomas was not there. We are not told why. But in his absence, he missed out on the peace the risen Jesus brought to his disciples with his appearance. When the others told him, “We have seen the Lord,” Thomas refused to believe without tangible proof. “Unless I see… unless I touch… I will not believe.”

We often judge Thomas rather harshly. Yet his demand is deeply human. Disappointment makes us guarded. Grief makes us cautious. We hesitate to trust again. Thomas was not asking for some mystical feeling; he wanted reality.

But notice this: even in his doubt, Thomas remained among the disciples. He did not abandon the fellowship entirely. And that matters.

There will be seasons when you struggle. You may wrestle with suffering, prayers that seem unanswered, or intellectual questions. Doubt does not shock Jesus. He knows the wounds that cause it.

Yet the answer to doubt is not isolation. When doubt or grief casts a long shadow over your soul, the worst thing you can do is to go off alone with your gloomy thoughts.

The best thing you can do is to go where believers in Jesus gather around the promises of God and encourage one another with those promises. Go and be where Jesus meets with us— “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Go and be where his sweet “Peace be with you,” is spoken, where praying with others and for others and singing praise to God with many voices can lift you up and outside of yourself. The answer to doubt is not isolation.

Thomas stayed close enough to hear again.

And Jesus did not scold him from a distance. He came near. He lives not to shame doubters, but to give them proof and peace. The risen Jesus is patient with you, too. Even when your grip weakens, his hold remains firm.

Prayer:

Lord, when I struggle with doubt, keep me near your Word and your people. Strengthen my faith with the certainty of your resurrection. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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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On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
John 20:19-20

Behind Locked Doors

The doors were locked. The disciples were scared. The next knock on the door might be Roman soldiers sent by Jesus’ enemies to finish the job and make sure every last disciple of Jesus was silenced for good. But then—without knocking—Jesus came and stood among them.

“Peace be with you.”

This peace knows everything is the way it should be. Hiding behind locked doors was not going to manufacture calm and peace in the disciples. So, Jesus came to them. The living, breathing, crucified-and-risen Jesus stood in the middle of their anxiety and declared peace—everything is as it should be. I’m alive. You’re forgiven. Peace be with you.

Not only did he declare peace to them, but he also gave them the proof they needed. He showed them his hands and side. The proof of his love remained visible. His wounds had not vanished. The proof of his presence was no longer in doubt.

You may feel isolated in your doubts, guilt, or fear of the future. Yet the risen Jesus does not wait for you to manufacture peace on your own. Through his Word, he stands among his people today.

And he still says, “Peace be with you.”

When we are afraid, Jesus doesn’t say, “Calm yourselves.” He says, “Look at me. See the wounds that won your freedom.” The same body that hung on the cross now stands alive. The penalty of sin was paid. Death was undone. Peace with God has been won.

The peace Jesus gives is not based on our feelings, but on Jesus’ promised presence, power, and love for us. Jesus proved his love for us when he died on the cross for us. He proved his power when he conquered death. Jesus lives, so our souls trust that Jesus makes everything the way it should be.

“Peace be with you!”

Prayer:

Jesus, fix my eyes on your wounds, that I may have peace in the certainty of your victory. 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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Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.”
John 20:1-2

We Know Where Our Savior Is!

Panic, confusion, and emptiness filled Mary Magdalene. Already her heart was heavy with grief as she prepared for one last act of love for the one she had followed as the promised Messiah. She would help anoint his body for burial and then leave the tomb without hope and without help. But now this was too much to bear. Not only was her friend dead, but his body was also missing.

First, panic set in. “What could have happened?” Mary must have thought. Then confusion followed. “How could just a few days change my life so much? Just days ago, I thought I had found the Messiah. How I loved listening to him! His words freed me from my burdens. I really thought Jesus was the one. But now he’s gone. What am I to do?” And now her life felt empty. No Jesus. No hope. No help.

And that’s how our lives would also be, if Jesus had never been found, or if his dead body would have been discovered in the tomb or elsewhere. Without a risen Savior, we could have no hope, no help, no forgiveness, no life. Then we would have every reason to panic. Then confusion and emptiness would be our lot in life, and we would be pitiable and hopeless indeed.

Thankfully, the apostle Paul assures us in the book of 1 Corinthians, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Thank the Lord, we know where our risen Savior is! He’s not in the grave, for he is alive, and we have the certain hope that we live eternally. Now our life remains full, today and forever!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, today I rejoice in the reality of your resurrection and the hope and help it provides. 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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Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20:18

Mary Saw the Lord

Grief had brought her to the tomb. Mary Magdalene stood outside weeping. The one who had changed her life was gone. Jesus Christ, who had freed her from darkness and given her hope, had been crucified. Now, even his body seemed to be missing. It felt like one more loss, one more sorrow, one more reason to despair.

Then Jesus spoke her name. “Mary.”

In that moment, everything changed. The one she thought was dead was alive. The one she thought was lost was standing right in front of her. Death had not won. The grave had not kept him. Jesus lived. Her sorrow turned to joy. Her despair turned to hope. And she went to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”

This is the heart of the Christian faith. Not a philosophy. Not wishful thinking. A living Savior.

Mary was not sharing a rumor. She was announcing a reality. Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he promised. His sacrifice for sin had been accepted. His victory over death was complete.

This means everything for you. It means your sins are forgiven. Jesus did not remain in the grave because his work was finished. The payment was complete. God accepted his sacrifice in full.

It means death is not the end. Because Jesus lives, those who trust in him will live also. The grave is no longer a place of defeat, but a doorway to eternal life.

It means Jesus knows you personally. Just as he called Mary by name, he knows you. He sees your struggles, fears, and sorrows. And he comes to you through his Word with comfort and peace.

Mary’s message is still the message the world needs to hear: “I have seen the Lord.”

In the words of the Bible, you see him too. You see his love, his victory, and his promises. And because he lives, you have forgiveness, hope, and life, now and forever.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, thank you for revealing yourself as the living Savior. Strengthen my faith through your Word and remind me that you know me and love me. Help me live each day in the joy and confidence of your resurrection. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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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While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you”
Luke 24:36

Peace Be With You

The doors were locked. The disciples had every reason to be afraid. Jesus Christ, their teacher and friend, had been crucified. Reports of his resurrection were circulating, but it all seemed too good to be true. And if the authorities had executed Jesus, what might they do to his followers?

Fear filled the room. Fear of the future. Fear of suffering. Fear of death. Into that fear, Jesus came and stood among them.

He didn’t knock. He didn’t wait for permission. He simply appeared. And the first words he spoke were not words of correction or disappointment. He didn’t say, “Why did you doubt?” or “Why did you run away?”

He said, “Peace be with you.” This was more than a greeting. It was a declaration.

Just days earlier, these disciples had failed him. They had argued about who was greatest. They had fled when he was arrested. Peter had denied even knowing him. Their fear and weakness were fresh failures.

Yet Jesus came with peace. This is the peace he won for them. His death on the cross had paid for every sin. His resurrection proved that forgiveness was complete. This is also the peace he brings to you.

You know your failures. You know the times fear overcame faith, when worry replaced trust, when sin spoke louder than God’s promises. Your conscience reminds you of what you’ve done wrong. And yet Jesus still arrives.

Through his Word, he stands among his people and says, “Peace be with you.” Your sins are forgiven. Your guilt is removed. Your relationship with God is restored. This peace does not depend on your strength. It depends on his finished work. Jesus lives. The cross counts. Forgiveness is real.

Whatever fears trouble your heart today, your risen Savior stands with you. He is not distant. He is not absent. He is alive. And he still speaks the words you need most. “Peace be with you.”

Prayer:

Risen Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing your peace to fearful hearts. Remind me that my sins are forgiven and that you are always with me. Strengthen my faith and calm my fears with 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.

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In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say, “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.”
Isaiah 12:1-5

Praise the God of Our Salvation

What the prophet Isaiah is trying to explain in our Bible reading today is difficult to put into words. He is a sinner standing in the presence of a righteous God. He knows that he deserves God’s anger and punishment. But something startling happens. God turns away his anger. Instead of punishing him, God rescues him.

Of course, Isaiah is talking about what God does for us in Jesus Christ. Jesus bore the punishment for our sin, and now, instead of facing God’s anger, we have full forgiveness and life everlasting. How does one express the amazing relief of that enormous load being lifted off and the sheer joy of that forgiveness?

Expressing heartfelt thanks to God for his salvation is what Isaiah is doing. You can almost see him running up and down the streets, leaping for joy, trying to tell people how it feels to be saved. Fear is gone, only trust remains. The Lord is the true strength of his life and the song in his heart. So, he gives thanks to the Lord by singing his praises and proclaiming the good news of salvation to everyone.

Listen to Isaiah shouting and singing for joy and join him in praising the God of your salvation.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for saving me from my sins. It proves that I can trust in you and not be afraid. 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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When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30

Your King Gives a New Beginning

The best stories end with happily ever after. At first glance, we might say the end of Jesus’ life is anything but a happy end. His body was broken. His friends had abandoned him. His enemies mocked as the lifeblood of Jesus drained away at the cross. With one of his final, dying breaths, Jesus spoke. “It is finished.” His life and work had ended.

Or had it? When Jesus spoke the words, “It is finished,” it did not just mean “the end.” It was also a beginning. Because this was not just a man withering away on the cross, this was God himself speaking. He would live again.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he meant that his work was finished. He had accomplished exactly what he came to do. He was God’s answer to sin. He was our perfect substitute to pay for our sins because we never could. At the cross, we see an end, but we also see a beginning. A beginning of hope, a beginning of joy, a beginning of life. Jesus was right, a lot of things were finished. Separation from God—finished. A guilty conscience—finished. Loneliness, or the feeling that God could never care for us—finished. The fear of death—finished. Worries about what is to come in life or in death—finished.

Make Good Friday a new beginning. Stop living in guilt, as if Jesus paid for all of the world’s sins, but not yours. Where you have been weak in your faith, begin again to thank God for his forgiveness. Where you have grown complacent, begin again to see God’s great love for you. Where you have grown weary, begin again to see the strength the Lord provides. Where you have fallen, Jesus makes you brand new and bids you to begin again. Jesus’ death is for us in every way a new beginning.

Through Jesus, by Jesus, because of Jesus, we have happily ever after, because Jesus’ death was not the end, but only the beginning.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, you give me new beginnings every day because of your loving sacrifice. Help me begin again to love and thank you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8

Your King Is Obedient

When my boys were little, my office was at home. One day, my oldest son decided that he wanted to act out the story of Noah’s ark. He handed out the parts to the “cast.” He was to be Noah, his mom was to be “Mrs. Noah,” and his younger brother would play the part of God. Sometime later, I could hear him calling out, “God? Where are you, God?” Apparently, his younger brother had wandered off, and as younger brothers do, wasn’t following the director’s orders. God wasn’t very obedient that day!

It’s stunning to think that God would be obedient to anyone. He created all things. Nothing would exist unless he allowed it to. You and I would not draw one more breath, and the earth would not make one more turn unless God himself allowed it to happen.

And yet God humbled himself. Jesus allowed sinful human beings to disrespect him, arrest him, mock him, and harm him. He could have stopped them and dropped them dead in their tracks if he chose to. But Jesus chose something else. To humble himself and be obedient—obedient all the way to death on a cross.

How far does your obedience to God go? On our best of days, maybe we can feel good that we were able to show God’s love to someone, to turn the other cheek when tempted to lash out, to turn away from some temptation that allured us. And yet, even our very best days can’t free us from the fact that we are sinful in our very nature. And then there are the days when we don’t act our best.

Jesus, despite his power and authority, became obedient to the extreme—even death on a cross. Jesus chose perfect obedience to his heavenly Father. Jesus chose willing submission even to sinful humans. He chose obedience all the way to a gruesome and shameful death. Jesus’ obedience was never half-hearted or occasional. Because Jesus obeyed, we have forgiveness. Through faith in him, his obedience has become ours.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for submitting yourself to the cross to save me. Grant me faith to grow in setting aside my own desires to serve my God and others. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21:9

Shout Out to Your King!

When do you shout? It might be when you are frustrated—like when the neighbor’s dog is digging in your yard—again! It might be when you prefer to shout, “Time to eat!” rather than actually tracking down every hungry person. It might be when your favorite player just won a victory for your favorite team.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, there was shouting. These were not shouts of anger, but ones of praise. “Hosanna” and “Blessed is he” were the spontaneous choruses that erupted from those who saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem that day.

When is the last time you shouted out to Jesus? Was it your weekly worship? Your daily prayers? Or have you been less than excited even when you do worship and pray? Or has it been a very long time since you have felt the need to say much to Jesus at all?

Perhaps you feel there are good reasons for that. It’s hard to be excited about praising Jesus when things in life are not feeling so praise-worthy. You may feel a whole lot more like shouting in frustration at God than bringing praise to God.

But remember this: Jesus shouts for you. When your conscience crushes you with the weight of your sin, Jesus shouts out, “My blood has atoned for each and every sin!” When the devil leads you to the brink of despair, Jesus assures: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!

In a few days, the shouts of Palm Sunday would be replaced by the more sinister cry of “Crucify him!” But that was the price your loving Savior was willing to pay. That is worthy of our thanks, our praise, and even a shout of “Thank you, Jesus!”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you are truly worthy of all praise. Please accept my praise and comfort me when I struggle to find joy to shout about. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:15-17

Living by the Spirit

There is probably nothing more important to a child’s well-being than having loving and caring parents. When children feel safe, cared for, and nurtured, they tend to be more obedient, perform better in school, and learn how to build relationships with others. However, when children live in constant fear of a parent, just the opposite often happens. They suffer in school, have low self-esteem, and find it difficult to trust others.

God gave us life by his Spirit when he led us to trust in his Son, Jesus. This gift of his Spirit changed our relationship with our heavenly Father. The apostle Paul says it this way: “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship.” Without God’s Spirit in our hearts, we would fear God and have nothing to look forward to except his judgment on our sin. But the Spirit leads us to see Jesus—the one who became our sin, so that we could be God’s forgiven children. Right now, we can be confident that God loves and cares for us as we await the glorious inheritance, he has waiting for us.

This wonderful truth not only changes our future, but it changes our present. Instead of living as slaves to our sinful nature with nothing but death as our future, we can live as God’s grateful children, making the most of every opportunity to thank our Father.

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, help me to always remember that through Jesus, I am your dear child and you are my dear Father. 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.

Listen to Devotion

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. . . So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
John 11:38-39,41-43

It’s Okay to Grieve

Sometimes, Christians might give the impression that when a fellow Christian passes away, we shouldn’t be sad. That’s simply not true. Jesus wept at the graveside of his dear friend, Lazarus. Jesus wept even though he knew he’d raise Lazarus from the grave.

Losing someone we love hurts. We’re going to miss making memories with that family member or that friend. It’s okay. It’s okay to grieve. I miss my dad. I miss my grandparents. That hurts. And it’s okay to grieve.

But the Bible also tells us that as Christians, we don’t grieve like the rest of the world that doesn’t have hope. Because we believe in Jesus, who died and rose from the dead. And Jesus will raise to life all who have died with faith in him.

To be honest with you, as a Christian, my grief doesn’t consume me. Sure, some days are tougher than others, but while I mourn my loss of not being able to spend time with my family and friends who have passed away, I also celebrate their great gain of eternal life. And I take the greatest comfort that I will be reunited with them in heaven for eternity.

If you’re reading this or listening to this, I want that for you as well. But more importantly, God wants you to have this comfort. And that’s what Jesus delivers.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the promise of a resurrection from the dead of all who have faith in you. May this truth bring me comfort when I mourn for my loved ones who have passed. 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.