Tag Archive for: daily-devotions

David’s Greater Son – December 30, 2023

“He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
2 Samuel 7:13

David’s Greater Son

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Daily Devotion – December 30, 2023

Devotion based on 2 Samuel 7:13

See series: Devotions

These words are a message from God addressed to the aging King David. He had a desire to build a magnificent temple for the Lord, but the Lord had a different plan—a greater one. David had been a man of war; his son, Solomon, was to be a man of peace. God’s words are a prediction that it was the son who was to build the temple for the Lord. “For my name” designates what God had made known about himself.”

But the prediction prophesies more than that. In the next generation, Solomon would reign in Jerusalem and build his fabulous temple there, but David was to look forward to an even greater descendant than Solomon. This is the One who would reestablish God’s domain in people’s hearts an reclaim them as living components in his eternal sanctuary. A dying world awaited David’s Son.

This is the One who would come from heaven to cancel mankind’s guilt by becoming one of us, and by serving and obeying perfectly in our place, and then suffering and dying as our substitute to cancel the penalty against us. He would be God’s Son and also a descendant of David! That’s why it is so significant for us that Mary, his virgin mother, was from the family of David, and that her child was born in Bethlehem, David’s town. In him, this ancient prophecy began to be fulfilled for our benefit.

Prayer:
Lord God, when I realize how in past ages You predicted and carried out Your plans to restore our fallen race, reassure me You will carry out Your plans for my future. Remind me You want to have me be a citizen of heaven as a partner with Jesus, trusting your mercy and experiencing your majesty. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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 Shepherd of Peace – December 29, 2023

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” . . . He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.
Micah 5:2,4,5

The Shepherd of Peace

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Daily Devotion – December 29, 2023

Devotion based on Micah 5:2,4,5

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Jerusalem was in trouble. Many of its kings had led the people astray and away from worshiping the true God. Now, foreign armies were coming to carry out God’s justice on a people who preferred worshiping themselves. God assigned Micah, the prophet, to foretell the coming destruction.

But God also had Micah prophesy about a ruler who would rescue his people. About eight miles from the capital city of Jerusalem lay a small village, Bethlehem. Its population size was tiny compared to Jerusalem. Yet, this village would be the birthplace of that ruler, the greatest king ever born.

About 700 years after Micah finished his work as one of God’s prophets, Jesus was born in the tiny town of Bethlehem to a humble virgin. The only birth announcement was made to simple shepherds in the field. But the announcers were anything but simple. Angels, the messengers from God, told the shepherds, “Today in the town of David (Bethlehem) a Savior has been born to you.” (Luke 2:11). Those angels also announced something else Micah had foretold. This Savior would bring peace.

It is fitting that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was visited first by shepherds. Jesus leads his people. He watches over them and protects them like a shepherd. But Jesus takes his shepherding to the extreme. He offers his life for his sheep so they can have peace with God. From the humblest of origins comes the greatest gift of all, peace with God, the forgiveness of sins. All who put their trust in Jesus will live securely.

Prayer:
Dear God, help me to follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who has brought me peace. Allow me to live in this peace all the days of my life and forever with you. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Abba, Father – December 28, 2023

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:6,7

Abba, Father

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Daily Devotion – December 28, 2023

Devotion based on Galatians 4:6,7

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A couple of years ago, I was sitting in an airport waiting for a flight when I noticed a young child walking by herself. She had a stuffed animal in her arms, and she was looking frantically at the faces around her. After a quick scan, I didn’t see anyone who looked like they could be her parents. She was lost, and tears filled her eyes.

Thankfully, some airport workers noticed her and quickly came to help her. As they tried to calm her down and ask her questions, a concerned couple came down the concourse. They were calling a name, her name. When the little girl heard her daddy calling her name, her expression completely changed. Joy and relief filled her face. She ran into her father’s open arms crying, “Daddy!”

Like that little girl, you were once lost and separated from your loving heavenly Father. Left to your own devices, you would have remained that way–separated from your Father for all eternity.

But your loving Father did not leave you to your own devices. He sent Jesus to find you and rescue you from the sins that separated you from him. And because Jesus has found you, he changes your identity. You are no longer a slave but a child of God. And not just a child of God, an heir. And Jesus has an inheritance that is greater than you could ever imagine. Because Jesus has removed your sin, he promises you the riches of God’s Kingdom, an eternity spent in the never-ending love of the Father who invites you to call him “Abba, Father.”

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for finding me and changing my status. I am your child. Help me live as an heir of eternal life. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

God’s Perfect Timing – December 27, 2023

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Galatians 4:4,5

God’s Perfect Timing

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Daily Devotion – December 27, 2023

Devotion based on Galatians 4:4,5

See series: Devotions

The timing of Jesus’ arrival was not arbitrary. God purposefully planned for Jesus to come into the world at the fullness of time. From the beginning, God had planned for this. And at the appointed hour, God executed his rescue plan.

God chose the humble setting of Bethlehem to unfold the greatest story ever told. In the simplicity of a stable, under a starry night, God became flesh.

Jesus was born of a woman, just like every human before and after him, just like you. Jesus was born under the law, just like every human before and after him, just like you. Being born under the law means you are to love God above all else and to love your neighbor perfectly. It’s an impossible task. You cannot keep this law.

But Jesus can. And Jesus did. He was born just like you were so that he can fulfill your obligation to the law and pay the rightful penalty for your sin. With that sin removed and your guilt taken away, there is no more hostility between you and God.

By sending his Son, God demonstrates the lengths his love would go to rescue you from sin. God guided all of human history so that everything would be just right for Jesus to enter the world.

And God is still guiding history. He’s arranged things just right, in the fullness of time, for you to learn the real meaning of Christmas. That God loves you so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to take away your sins, and to purchase you from your slavery to sin. God wants you to know how much he loves you, so much that he has adopted you into his family.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and making me a part of your family because of what Jesus, my Savior, had done for me. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Unconquerable Light – December 26, 2023

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4,5

Unconquerable Light

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Daily Devotion – December 26, 2023

Devotion based on John 1:4,5

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Nyctophobia is the fear of the dark. Darkness hides things. Darkness means you can’t see what’s around you. That darkness creates anxiety and uncertainty. The fear of the unknown, along with the vividness of the human imagination, causes terror.

There is a different type of darkness that causes fear. It’s the darkness of death. Death casts a long shadow that endarks everyone. To many people, death is the ultimate unknown. They can’t see past death, and so the fear of death affects what they do in life.

The truth of Christmas is that Jesus came as light to shine in this darkness. Each twinkling Christmas light on the tree and houses is a reminder that Jesus came as the Light of the world. And Jesus came to defeat the darkness of death.

For hours, the darkness tried to defeat Jesus as he hung on the cross. And for three days, the darkness thought it had defeated the Light of the world. But Jesus rose triumphantly from the dead on the third day. Jesus, the Light of the world, defeated death and its darkness. Death could not overcome Jesus.

That’s why Jesus is the life and light of all mankind. Jesus has illuminated what lies beyond the grave to all who follow him. Death is no longer the scary darkness of the unknown. Because Jesus came, because Jesus defeated death, it means death has no power over those who trust in Jesus as their Savior from sin.

As you gaze at the Christmas lights this year, remember they are not just a festive spectacle. But they remind us that Jesus is our light. Our lives are illuminated by the love of Christ, who brings warmth and joy to a world in darkness. Jesus lights up our lives because he has conquered the darkness of death.

Prayer:
I pray, O God, for those who are gripped by the fear of darkness and death. Surround them with the light of your love, illuminated by the gospel of the forgiveness of sins. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Christ – December 25, 2023

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5,14

Christ

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Daily Devotion – December 25, 2023

Devotion based on John 1:1-5,14

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Perhaps you have seen the symbol etched into a stained-glass window, embroidered on a banner, printed on the front cover of the hymnal, or embedded into the white candle of the Advent wreath. The symbol looks like the letter X with the letter P placed over it. But the letters are not English; they are Greek. The letter that looks like X is equivalent to ch, and the letter that looks like P is equivalent to r. These Greek letters chi and rho are an abbreviation for Christ. In Christian art, the letters are often adjusted so that the two are merged together, appearing to be a single letter. The logo on the cover of Christian Worship: Hymnal provides an example of such a stylized Chi-Rho.

On Christmas Eve and Day, the symbols of Christ surround us—manger scenes and Christmas trees, Chi-Rhos and candles. Perhaps you attend an evening candlelight service in which the light from the Christ candle, the center candle of the Advent wreath, is used to light other candles that in turn light all the candles held by worshipers. With building lights dimmed, the light from the candles fills the room with a heavenly glow.

But the glow produced from the Christ candle is a pale comparison to the brilliant glory of the angels who filled the night sky to announce Jesus’ birth! Any symbolism we employ at Christmas is only a dim reflection of the first Christmas and an imperfect representation of the miracle that the angel messenger announced: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Messiah. Both words mean “Anointed One.” This special name for this special child tells us that there is more than what meets the eye in Bethlehem’s manger. This child is anointed and appointed to be the King of kings and Lord of lords. The innocent baby wrapped in strips of cloth is also the almighty God wrapped in human flesh. God has become one of us and one with us! The One who created heaven and earth is now cradled in a manger. What an amazing heaven-sent miracle from the heart of God the Father.

Even greater than this miracle is the heavenly rescue that the Christ Child will accomplish. Jesus Christ’s mission would take him from the wood of the manger to the wood of the cross as the perfect payment for our sins and the sins of the whole world. And after the darkness of his death, the bright light of Easter morning would announce to all that the mission that began in Bethlehem’s manger was fulfilled by Calvary’s cross. The miracle of Christmas was just the beginning of the miracle of our salvation!

Rejoice! Today your Savior has been born! He is the Messiah—Christ, the Lord!

Prayer:
Almighty God, you sent your Son, Christ, the Lord, as our Savior. Receive our thanks for this miracle of your grace and enlighten our hearts with the good news of his birth that we may proclaim his praises now on earth and forever in heaven. Amen.

This Advent devotion is brought to you by Forward in Christ magazine. For an enhanced version of this devotion including a flipbook and video or to read other devotions in this series, visit forwardinchrist.net/advent-2023.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Peace – December 24, 2023

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:6,7

Peace

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Daily Devotion – December 24, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 9:6,7

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What is the worst part of a vacation? Preparing for it! Taking care of all the tasks that need to be done before a family getaway is downright chaotic and stressful! Are the suitcases properly packed? Do the kids have everything they need? Did you line up someone to take care of the pets and check on the house? Is there anything you have forgotten? The stress of vacation preparation sometimes makes you wonder if the trip is worth the hassle!

But then you finally leave. At some point, peace and calm begin to settle in your mind and slow down your once-racing pulse. Maybe that moment comes when you pull out of the driveway. Maybe it’s when everyone takes a seat on the plane. The preparation is done. Now you can breathe deeply, relax, and feel at peace during the vacation days before you.

On the Fourth Sunday in Advent, Christians are on the verge of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Our busy Advent preparations will soon give way to the peace that the Christ Child came to bring his people.

The peace that flows from Jesus’ birth is so much greater than any earthly comparison we could make. That’s because this peace is not simply a relaxed feeling. This peace is the cessation of war! Your sins and my sins and the sins of the whole human race led to a holy war between God and humankind. And God’s justice demands that those who rebel against him be eternally sentenced for their war crimes. But God’s love fulfilled those demands in his perfect Son, the one whom Isaiah calls the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The perfect Son of God endured the perfect justice of his Father for our sin, taking our punishment on himself and restoring us to a peaceful relationship with his Father.

For earthly families broken by sin and hurt by tension, the Prince of Peace comes as a child who was born to be our brother. Through our faith in that child, his heavenly Father has become our Father who welcomes us into his family of peace and forgiveness.

All four candles surrounding the Advent wreath are now lit. Turn off the lights in your home, sit in the soft glow of the candlelight, and enjoy a moment of peaceful ambiance. But remember that the peace Jesus came to bring is so much more than ambiance. His peace comes from blood-bought forgiveness. His peace is eternal, and we will bask in its glow forever.

Prayer:
O Jesus our Savior, you came to bring peace to a world broken by sin. Heal our hearts with the good news of your grace so that we may find true peace in your forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life. Amen.

This Advent devotion is brought to you by Forward in Christ magazine. For an enhanced version of this devotion including a flipbook and video or to read other devotions in this series, visit forwardinchrist.net/advent-2023.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Encouragement Before Christmas – December 23, 2023

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Encouragement Before Christmas

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Daily Devotion – December 23, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

See series: Devotions

For many, the Christmas blues are a real issue: winter weather, hectic schedules, social pressures, missing loved ones who are gone or live far away, and other family issues that seem to get magnified this time of year.

But this time of year is one of the most joyful when we cherish the message that comes from God’s Word. Wrapped in that message are the most beautiful Christmas presents, bought by Christ and carried to us by the Holy Spirit. This message prepares us for the real Christmas and the joy God wants us to have in Christmas.

It is the joy of peace with God even when conscience accuses. It is the joy of knowing that God is faithful and will not leave or forsake us no matter what happens to us in this life. It is the joy of knowing that through faith in our Savior, Jesus, we are prepared and can look forward to an eternal future in heaven. No wonder Christmas is so wonderful!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, keep me focused on the true joy of Christmas—your Son, my Savior, Jesus. Help me to celebrate this gift at this time of year and always. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Complete Joy Can’t Keep Quiet – December 22, 2023

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, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10

Complete Joy Can’t Keep Quiet

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Daily Devotion – December 22, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:10

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When a small child receives a gift she cherishes, she can’t keep quiet. On Christmas morning, she unwraps it. It’s the little princess tiara and dress fit for royalty. The expression of joy turns into a shout. She can’t keep quiet. She puts them on, wears them with pride, and announces to every person she sees that day, “Look what I got!”

Our Bible passage for today describes this kind of joy, except the person rejoicing isn’t excited about a toy tiara and pretend princess dress. This is the joy of a person who has been spiritually clothed like royalty.

Jesus has removed our sins, the filthy rags that never adequately covered us. He doesn’t give us a flimsy facade to hide behind. He fully clothes us in his complete salvation, and he wraps us tightly in the robe of his righteousness so that we are completely covered by his perfection. He crowns us with his royal status and eternal victory.

Those who know about these gifts can’t keep quiet! They shout, “Look what I got! Look what my God has given me.”

Prayer:
Come, King Jesus, and fill my heart with the joy of my salvation and my lips with praise. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Complete Transformation – December 21, 2023

He has sent me to . . . provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:1,3

Complete Transformation

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Daily Devotion – December 21, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:1,3

See series: Devotions

Everyone loves a before and after picture. To appreciate the restoration, you need to see the pictures of the old, dilapidated structure now turned into a stunning new home. To marvel at a life-changing transformation in someone’s life, you need to see where they’ve been. Imagine someone in dire straits enslaved in addiction and homeless, but now free from that slavery, off the streets, and living in luxury. A complete turnaround gives complete joy.

Look at the incredible transformation Jesus brings about in the lives he touches. In the prophet Isaiah’s time, ashes were used to outwardly display inward sorrow over one’s sin. Jesus wipes the ashes away because he has removed every sin. In place of the ashes, he gives a crown of victory, a mark of royalty. He puts an end to mourning and instead pours out the oil of joy. In ancient times, oil was used as an ointment to heal and soothe. Jesus brings healing to wounded hearts, he even transforms from death to life. He bestows a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. The transformation isn’t just on the surface. He transforms the heart. He takes a soul in despair and gives it every reason to rejoice.

It is a complete transformation. No wonder we have such complete joy!

Prayer:
Come, King Jesus, and bestow gifts that only you can give! Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Complete Joy Through Comfort – December 20, 2023

He has sent me . . . to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.
Isaiah 61:1,2

Complete Joy Through Comfort

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Daily Devotion – December 20, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:1,2

See series: Devotions

“I need to tell you something.” When someone starts a conversation with these words, you brace yourself for what they are about to say. What’s the nature of the news? Is there a problem? Is everything okay? Whether good or bad, you want to hear the news. You don’t want to be left hanging.

Jesus needs to tell you something important. Don’t be alarmed because what he says is for your ultimate comfort; it will give you reason to rejoice. He announces the Lord’s favor. It is not a favor earned by us. It is a favor that was earned for us by Jesus.

This is why our Servant-King can comfort those who mourn. When we sorrow over our sin and recognize the punishment our sin deserves, our King comes to comfort us by announcing the gift of God’s love. He is not the God who comforts only from afar. The comfort he sends is up close and personal. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to draw near to a broken world and share good news face-to-face. Jesus came to face the wrath of God and spare us from it completely. He declared his undeserved love and full and free forgiveness to us. He comes to bring up-close and personal comfort through his Word and promises that he is right there with us. He comes in the waters of baptism to personally comfort and cleanse. He comes in bread and wine with his body and blood to comfort mourning hearts and fill us with his joy.

Prayer:
Come, King Jesus, with words of comfort for my mourning heart, and fill me with the joy of your salvation. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Complete Joy – December 19, 2023

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me . . . 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

Complete Joy

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Daily Devotion – December 19, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:1

See series: Devotions

There is great joy when what is broken can be mended and made new. The glass Christmas ornament, which was handed down over generations, falls from the tree and shatters. But it’s not just swept up and thrown in the trash. Someone takes the time to piece it back together, something that seemed impossible, and now it’s better.

Jesus, your Savior-King, is also the miraculous mender. His expertise is mending broken hearts and souls shattered by sin and its devastating impact on our lives. Even when no one else knows your brokenness and pain, your Savior knows. Even when it seems impossible to pick up the pieces, Jesus doesn’t consider you too broken to fix. He binds up your broken heart with his love. His forgiveness mends the once-shattered relationship with God. That is why he came.

The Lord sent, literally deployed, his Son on an intense, feet-on-the-ground mission. The Savior-King comes, not riding high up in a chariot. His feet are on the ground, and he’s getting right down to where the brokenhearted are stooped over. He goes all the way to where people are cowering in dark dungeons. He comes and opens the prison doors and sets them free. Jesus met people in the streets, under the darkness of night, in their homes, wherever they were. He spoke words that powerfully healed broken hearts. He proclaimed forgiveness and set free consciences that were held captive by guilt. He declared peace and pardon to those still trapped in the darkness of their past.

Jesus meets you in a real and powerful way through his Word. His words recorded in the Bible have as much power as when they were spoken face-to-face. His words of healing, forgiveness, and assuring love still hold the power to bind your broken heart. His proclamation of forgiveness still sets your conscience free from guilt. His declaration of peace and pardon scatter the darkness of the past. He still comes through his Word to mend, to set free, and to bring complete joy!

Prayer:
Come, King Jesus, to bind my broken heart and fill it with joy. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Good News Brings Complete Joy – December 18, 2023

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
Isaiah 61:1

Good News Brings Complete Joy

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Daily Devotion – December 18, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:1

See series: Devotions

News often comes in impersonal ways. You turn on the TV, and the reporter shares the story with anyone listening. You receive a letter addressed to “To whom it may concern.” A company sends a mass email to millions of customers sharing news about a long-awaited product. The less personal the news, the less personal the joy.

Picture ancient times as in the days of the Prophet Isaiah. Kings often sent out heralds to bring news to subjects of the kingdom. You see a messenger riding in from the distance. You squint, and it’s not just any messenger. It’s the king himself, and he has good news for you!

For centuries before Jesus was born, God sent his messengers, prophets like Isaiah and others. They came to share important messages—warnings against sin and promises of God’s salvation. In our bible passage today, Isaiah pictures the King coming to bring good news. The King is not ashamed to come personally to the poor with good news just for them.

Jesus is the one pictured here. He is the King of heaven and earth. God anointed him, set him apart, and sent him on a special mission. He came in humility to bring good news, good news for you! He’s not just an earthly king concerned with physical matters. The good news for the poor is good news for the spiritually poor. We were poor because of our debt of sin. We came empty-handed before that Lord like beggars with nothing to offer except a load of sin. But Jesus, the Savior-King, has good news for you. The debt is paid in full; your sins are forgiven; you are not banished from his eternal kingdom; it belongs to you!

This good news brings great joy! And it’s not just generic or impersonal. Jesus isn’t like the news anchor who blasts off news without knowing who will receive it. He is the King who knows you personally and came to bring joy to your life.

Prayer:
Come, King Jesus, and fill my poor heart with the riches of your love! Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Joy – December 17, 2023

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
Psalm 98:1-6

Joy

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Daily Devotion – December 17, 2023

Devotion based on Psalm 98:1-6

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Why is the third candle pink? That is probably the most asked question about the tradition of the Advent wreath. The story is a bit complicated, so we will focus only on the basics of these devotionally symbolic colors.

In recent decades, blue, a symbol of hope, has become a more common color for Advent. Purple previously was, and in many churches still is, Advent’s predominant color. Repentance, traditionally symbolized by purple, is one of Advent’s several themes. Think of John the Baptist’s repentance message heard in worship on the second Sunday of the season: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2).

On the Third Sunday in Advent, several of the Bible readings and commonly sung hymns exude a joyful tone. Repentance-purple doesn’t seem like the right color. The color pink, a symbol of joy, captures the joyful expectation or anticipation proclaimed on the third Sunday of this season.

Sometimes anticipation makes us impatient. Sometimes it makes us anxious. But anticipation also can bring us joy. That’s not hard to imagine when Christmas is just a handful of days away. Think of a child’s excitement as Mom and Dad help their son or daughter count down the days until Christmas on their family wall calendar. Think of the joy children have decorating the tree with family, trying to guess what’s in the presents that begin to appear under it, wondering if their most hoped-for gift will be inside one of those colorfully wrapped boxes.

How much greater joy is there in the hearts of believers who know, with childlike faith, that the greatest Christmas gift they could ever receive will be unwrapped in a matter of days! What joy to know that our sins will soon be taken up by the holy and innocent Christ Child! What joy to know that our rescue from guilt and the grave is coming not in a beautifully wrapped box but in a miraculously sent child named Jesus! What joy to know that our greatest need will be satisfied by the greatest gift God could give to humankind: his own dear Son from eternity, who became one of us and one with us in time.

The anticipation of these days before Christmas brings joy to children of God of all ages! Rejoice that a Savior came for you once and will come for you again!

Prayer:
Gracious God, in this world of sin and sorrow, you give us joy in Jesus and his coming into our world. Amid the anxieties of this busy time, lead us to rejoice continually that your Son became one of us to redeem us and bring us everlasting joy. Amen.

This Advent devotion is brought to you by Forward in Christ magazine. For an enhanced version of this devotion including a flipbook and video or to read other devotions in this series, visit forwardinchrist.net/advent-2023.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Going Home – December 16, 2023

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1,2

Going Home

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Daily Devotion – December 16, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 40:1,2

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The POW labor camp wore him down day after day. How long would the warfare continue? How long before he returned home? Would his hard service ever end?

And then the day finally came. What comfort to hear the war had ended! What comfort to hear that he was heading home! What comfort to be in the embrace of his family again!

Sin took the world prisoner, including our own heart and soul. How much must we do to make up for our wrongs? How hard must we labor to make things right?

We could elevate the peaks of our pride by convincing ourselves that our best efforts will get us through. We could trust in the advancements of humanity to eventually smooth out the world’s problems. We could face the harsh meaninglessness of life and live for the thrill of each day until we sink into the depths and want it all to end.

Don’t follow those paths. Yes, our lives dry up like grass and even our greatest glories are like flowers that wither in the wind. But one thing does last. One thing remains sure and certain: “The word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

God’s says that your sin has been paid for. That’s why God’s son, Jesus, came into this world. He became flesh and blood to pay the price we cannot pay. His blood is holy, for Jesus never sinned. His blood is precious, for it is the blood of God. And that is the price he paid for you: his holy, precious blood.

What comfort! No matter what you face in this life, cling to the word of God and his tender words of comfort. He has paid the ultimate price for you and me. The glory our God has prepared for us far outweighs our present suffering. He is the Shepherd who carries us in his arms to take us home. What comfort!

Prayer:
O Lord Jesus, prepare my heart to rejoice in the comfort your word brings. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Your Shepherd – December 15, 2023

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11

Your Shepherd

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Daily Devotion – December 15, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 40:11

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In a little over a week, we will gather in churches or around the tree and peer into a feeding trough to see a King. But he won’t look much like a king. He will look like a baby, an ordinary baby.

The one described in our Bible verse today doesn’t look much like a king either. He’s described as a shepherd. But not a shepherd heroically fighting off wild animals. A shepherd cradling lambs in his arms. A shepherd gently leading ewes and lambs to food, water, and shelter.

It might seem strange to us, but it wasn’t uncommon in many cultures in the Ancient Near East for a king to be compared to a shepherd. No one fits that description better than the one whom the Bible calls the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the one whom the Bible also calls the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep.

We rejoice that Jesus came as our mighty King to do battle for us. We rejoice that he rules over all things for the good of his people. But, as we prepare to meet him when he returns, we also rejoice that he is the gentle Shepherd we need.

Jesus cares for us completely. He sees our needs and meets every one of them. He came not only to conquer our enemies but to lead and love us and feed and guide us. When we stray, he reaches out to rescue us. When our souls are hungry for peace and hope, he fills us with his promises.

And when Jesus comes again, he will carry us in his arms to our eternal home. He will “lead us to springs of living water.” He will “wipe away every tear from our eyes.” He will bless us with everything we need for eternity. Let’s prepare to meet him!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 804)
Who so happy as I am, even now the Shepherd’s lamb? And when my short life is ended, by his angel host attended, he shall fold me to his breast, there within his arms to rest. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Spread the News – December 14, 2023

You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”
Isaiah 40:9

Spread the News

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Daily Devotion – December 14, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 40:9

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Imagine the president coming to town and nobody noticing. Imagine him standing to speak without any introduction. It is unthinkable. Even when the president enters the chamber in the United States Capitol for his annual “State of the Union” address, where everyone in the room has probably had a personal conversation with him, someone still stands up to announce, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States!”

In many civilizations, past and present, the king’s coming is announced by trumpets and a herald shouting, “Make way for the king.” The coming of someone so important should be announced loud and clear—especially if he comes with good news like the defeat of an enemy in battle.

That’s what today’s Bible passage encourages us to do. After all, our King, Jesus, defeated our enemies when he came to this earth. He lived, died, and rose again in a battle against the devil and all of the brokenness that sin brings into the world. His rising from the dead was proof that King Jesus won the battle.

He conquered every enemy for us. That’s good news! We have the victory. Even death can’t overcome us. Eternal life and heaven are ours! That’s news to celebrate, share, shout from the mountaintops!

Just as ancient civilizations celebrated the king’s return from victory in battle, just as modern civilizations celebrated their teams’ coming home with the championship, so we want to celebrate our King’s coming. And we can’t wait to tell others the news.

As you celebrate Jesus’ first coming and prepare to meet him when he returns, find someone to share the news with. A King has come to rescue them. And he’s coming again. Spread the news!

Prayer:
King Jesus, thank you for those who shared the news of your coming with me. Help me spread the good news too. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Prepare to Meet Him – December 13, 2023

“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
Isaiah 40:6-8

Prepare to Meet Him

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Daily Devotion – December 13, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 40:6-8

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How’s your lawn right now? For some of you, your grass has grown dormant and won’t be green again for several months. For others, the heat of summer has cooled to allow grass to grow again, but when the hot desert sun returns, that grass will wither and die again.

Much of the world can picture what the prophet describes in these verses. The grass withers, and the flowers fall. Year after year, we see it happen. It marks the passing of time and reminds us that nothing lasts forever.

But that’s not entirely true. The things of this world—the grass, the flowers, even the people—wither and die. But the word of our God endures forever. Of course, that can’t be said of any human being. Our promises are broken. The things we say are forgotten. But not God’s.

When God speaks, he never changes his mind. He never takes it back. The things he says are always true, always relevant, always reliable.

That means when he makes a demand in his law, it stands. But it also means that when he makes a promise, it stands. He promised to send his Son to defeat sin and death; he kept that promise when Jesus came as our Savior. When he promises to separate our sins from us as far as the east is from the west, he keeps that promise. When he promises to hear those who call on him in Jesus’ name, he keeps that promise. When he promises never to leave us or forsake us, he keeps that promise. And when he promises that one day, Jesus will come again to take us to heaven, he will keep that promise, too.

And so, with trusting hearts, we treasure his unfailing word. And with joyful hearts, we prepare to meet Jesus when he comes again.

Prayer:
King Jesus, I rejoice that your Word never fails. Trusting in your Word, help me prepare to meet you when you come. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Advent is Road Construction Season – December 12, 2023

“In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.”
Isaiah 40:3,4

Advent is Road Construction Season

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Daily Devotion – December 12, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 40:3,4

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In the northern parts of the United States, many road construction projects that filled the highways with orange signs and barrels for the summer months are put on hold this time of year. The effect of cold temperatures on the ground, the workers, and the materials interferes with the ability to successfully complete any major road work.

But the word of God in our Bible passage today tells us that the season of Advent is road construction season. In these words, the prophet describes a scene that was familiar to his readers. When the king traveled around his kingdom, a delegation went ahead of him to prepare the way. But they weren’t coordinating with local law enforcement, clearing the runways for the king’s plane, or hanging colorful banners to welcome the king. They constructed or repaired roads for the king to travel on—even leveling hills, filling in valleys, and straightening curves so that the king’s journey would be swift and smooth, with no obstacles to stand in the way.

During Advent, we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus, our King, at Christmas. We also remember that he comes into our hearts through his Word and will come again at the end of time. What obstacles might be getting in the way of his coming into your heart? What is taking time away from your hearing God’s Word and getting to know Jesus better? This time of year, we can get so busy with many things. There is so much to do and so little time to do it. It is good that you are reading or listening to this devotion. Look for more opportunities like this to hear what God says in your home or at a local church.

As you do, God is at work to clear away sin and every other obstacle so that he can come into your heart with his message of peace and hope, forgiveness and mercy, and life that never ends when Jesus, your King, comes again.

Prayer:
King Jesus, clear the way to come into my heart through your Word this Advent season. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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 King Comes to Comfort His People – December 11, 2023

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1,2

The King Comes to Comfort His People

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Daily Devotion – December 11, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 40:1,2

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George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has been thrilling audiences for 281 years. For some, attending a performance of Messiah is as much a part of Christmas as putting up lights, decorating a tree, or exchanging gifts. The music of Messiah stirs our emotions like few other pieces of music can.

And yet, the true greatness of Messiah is in its message drawn directly from the Bible, such as this passage from Isaiah 40, which touches our hearts and strengthens our spirits.

“Comfort, comfort my people,” God says. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.” Comfort is what we need when we are grieving, broken, or in despair. Comfort in knowing that we are loved. Comfort in knowing that someone understands what we are going through and knowing there is a way out of our grief, brokenness, and despair.

The original audience for this message was people who had turned away from God to rebellion, disobedience, and sin. Now, they were paying the price. God let them be attacked and defeated by an enemy nation.

Far away from home, they were left with nothing but guilt. But into this emptiness, God spoke comfort and hope. Your sin has been paid for. You are right with God.

How? We want to know because we, too, are guilty of turning away from God. We deserve his punishment. But God promised that a King was coming to pay the price for our sins and guilt. That King, Jesus, proved his love by coming to be one of us. He knows what we are going through. What comfort! And because of him, there’s a way out. He speaks tenderly to us in his Word and says, “I love you. I forgive you. You are mine.” What comfort!

At this point in Handel’s Messiah, the slow, somber music moves higher, breaking through the gloom of despair and striking a note of hope. So, too, our hearts sing because of the comfort our King comes to bring.

Prayer:
King Jesus, come to me and comfort me with your promise of forgiveness and the assurance of your love. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Love – December 10, 2023

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:9,10

Love

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Daily Devotion – December 10, 2023

Devotion based on 1 John 4:9,10

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The looks on the faces of my catechism students revealed their confusion. I had said, “You don’t have to like someone to love someone.” You can guess why they were confused even if you weren’t in the room for the conversation. For many people, the word love simply means a stronger form of liking someone or something. I like everything on the menu at my restaurant of choice, but I really love this dish! I like all the players on my favorite team, but I really love the team’s leading all-star!

The biblical concept of love is much stronger than that. Biblical love put into practice will speak and act in a way that serves in the best interest of our neighbors. We get a sense of what that looks like from excerpts of John the Baptist’s firm and fiery Advent preaching. When people heeded his call to repentance and asked what they should do, part of his answer was vocation-specific ways of showing love to one’s neighbor (see Luke 3:10-14).

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, love is often in short supply. The busyness of the season—pageants and practices, concerts and rehearsals, parties and presents and preparations—overwhelms our schedule. But have these pre-Christmas externals also moved more important priorities further down our list? Does our patience with others grow thin? Is our time in God’s house and in his Word suffocated by the hustle and bustle that overtake our December days? Does our love for God and our neighbor become noticeably weak at a time when we are about to celebrate his great love for us set into motion?

No wonder Advent presents us with John the Baptist’s bold call to repent! The Lord and his prophet have our best interest in mind. That is why God’s Word calls us to repent of anything and everything that compromises our love for him and for one another. That is also why Jesus Christ came into this world as the one who perfectly loved the Father’s plan of salvation and perfectly loved us to death, even death on a cross.

The love we have received from our Savior is powerful. It changes hearts from pride to repentance, from unbelief to faith, from selfishness to generous and grateful love for God and neighbor. He who first loved us fills us with a love that finds new and sincere ways to reflect his saving love to the souls that cross our paths each day from now to Christmas and until his triumphant return.

Prayer:
Forgive us, Lord, for our loveless deeds, words, and attitudes. Renew us with the good news of your Son’s advent that we may love you with our whole heart and reflect your loving grace to our friends and neighbors. Amen.

This Advent devotion is brought to you by Forward in Christ magazine. For an enhanced version of this devotion including a flipbook and video or to read other devotions in this series, visit forwardinchrist.net/advent-2023.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

God Does Awesome Things – December 9, 2023

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
Isaiah 64:1,2

God Does Awesome Things

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Daily Devotion – December 9, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 64:1,2

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Why is it that people flock to the circus? Why do magicians attract a crowd? It’s because people are fascinated by amazing things. While traveling this fall with my family, one of the gate attendants pulled a scarf out of his sleeve and when he stuffed it into his fist it “disappeared.” My ten and eight-year-old boys were amazed and started telling everyone around them.

There are certainly times when people wish that God would display some of his awesome power. “Please God, stop the wars in the world. God, why did you allow that horrible accident to happen? Couldn’t you have stopped that from taking place?” People plead with God, hoping that if they pull the right prayer strings, they can control God and prompt a few miracles to suit their own needs.

But what really are our needs? Do we need that raise? Do we need more clothing and the latest phone with all the apps? The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God will meet our physical needs (not necessarily our wants), but more so, we learn that our greatest need is for a Savior from our sins.

Some 2,000 years ago, God did something amazing. He did rend the heavens open and sent his one and only Son down and gave him the name Jesus. As if that wasn’t enough, Jesus suffered and died on the cross in our place for all our sins. And, because God’s wrath over all sin was satisfied, Jesus rose from the dead. Calling all this “amazing” is an understatement. Indeed, God does awesome things!

Each day, you and I can live knowing full well that our amazing God has forgiven our sins, loves us, and cares for us. When someone does something this amazing for us, it makes us want to tell everyone around us!

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for your amazing grace to me and all people. Help me appreciate your grace and share the story of your amazing grace and love through Jesus Christ the Savior of all. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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 King Shall Come To Save Us – December 8, 2023

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:10

The King Shall Come To Save Us

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Daily Devotion – December 8, 2023

Devotion based on Mark 11:10

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When the ancient Israelites saw that all the nations around them had kings to rule over them, they said they wanted their own king. They decided to use the form of government with a king at the top so that someone would have the ultimate responsibility of defending the whole nation against enemies.

The most successful Israelite king was named David. He was well known for defeating Israel’s enemies on all sides. The Lord promised that when the Savior of the whole world would come, he would be a descendant of David.

When that promised Savior arrived on the scene, God told his parents to name him Jesus, which means “the Lord saves.” When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the people recognized that he was a descendant of David. They yelled a Hebrew word, Hosanna, which means “save us!”

We don’t know what was on those people’s minds when they called out that word, but when we say it ourselves, we are acknowledging that we need saving. Our enemies threaten to overwhelm us in a sea of guilt and shame, but Jesus saves us with his forgiveness and love.

Jesus comes to us in a variety of ways today, in both Word and sacrament. He has the ultimate responsibility of defending us against our enemies. He is our King and comes to save us.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 412)
All glory, laud, and honor to you, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel and David’s royal Son,
Now in the Lord’s name coming, our King and Blessed One. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

In the Name of the Lord – December 7, 2023

When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Mark 11:7-9

In the Name of the Lord

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Daily Devotion – December 7, 2023

Devotion based on Mark 11:7-9

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Let’s be honest. You can visit me whenever or wherever you want, but if you come in the name of someone important, I am going to pay more attention to you.

Jesus had entered Jerusalem before. But when he entered on Palm Sunday on a colt, the foal of a donkey, people recognized that he was doing something special. He was coming in the name of the only true God, fulfilling an ancient prophecy, and they shouted a Psalm verse that showed they were paying attention.

When Jesus enters your heart in the name of the only true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—you pay attention to his promises. Every time you hear those words in baptism, you recognize that something special is going on. Every time you hear those words at the beginning of a church service, you remember that the only true God has promised to be there in a special way.

Remember that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. When someone comes in that name, it has to do with your salvation. You do well to pay attention to that arrival. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Prayer: (Psalm 8:9)
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Blameless – December 6, 2023

He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:8

Blameless

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Daily Devotion – December 6, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:8

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Did you know you need to be blameless to get into heaven? God in heaven is blameless and says that nothing unclean or impure will ever enter there. He commands you to be holy and righteous, just as God is holy and righteous. You need to be blameless on the day when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.

When God looks down from heaven, he sees no one who is blameless. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Everyone deserves punishment for their sin, and the punishment is death. The wages of sin is death, and that’s not just the separation of soul and body. It’s eternal separation from God in hell.

People read the Bible and realize these truths, but they don’t know how to remedy the problem. They try to point out that they are more blameless than other people, but that is just a misunderstanding of the total blamelessness that God demands. They try to make up for their sins by doing good deeds, but they don’t understand that all their attempts to be blameless fall far short of the real blamelessness that is required.

God realized that people’s attempts at blamelessness were not going to work, so he sent his only Son, Jesus, into the world to live a blameless life. Rather than taking the heaven he deserved for that blameless life, Jesus took the hell that you deserved when he died on the cross. God declared that the blameless life of Jesus counts for you through faith in him. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we become the righteousness of God.

Everything that God does to preserve your faith in Jesus will keep you firm to the end. Every contact you have with the Word of God in the Bible does precisely that. Through faith in Jesus, you will be blameless on judgment day.

Prayer:
God of peace, sanctify me through and through. May my whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Worth the Wait – December 5, 2023

For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Isaiah 64:3,4

Worth the Wait

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Daily Devotion – December 5, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 64:3,4

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When our children were little, they had some difficulty understanding the passage of time. Everything in the past happened “yesterday,” and everything in the future was “tomorrow.” When they were anticipating something exciting like another visit from their cousins, they would ask, “Is it tomorrow yet?” On the day their cousins were to arrive, they would often check the front door and gaze out the front window until the moment finally arrived. It was agonizing—but it was worth the wait!

We may wish we were old enough to understand God’s timetable when it comes to the end of the earth and the return of Jesus in glory. He said he was coming soon, and it doesn’t seem soon according to the way we think of time. But as God’s children, we realize that he has a long view of time. It is agonizing—but it is worth the wait!

To remind ourselves that the wait is worth it, we think of awesome things that God has done. He sent his Son to be our Savior. Through that Savior, he forgave our sins and assures us that our sins are forgiven, even when we don’t expect it.

There is nothing like a visit from the only true God. We have seen what it was like when Jesus lived, died, and rose again, and we look forward to seeing what God will continue to do on behalf of those who wait for him.

Prayer: (Psalm 40:17)
As for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Enemies – December 4, 2023

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
Isaiah 64:1,2

Enemies

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Daily Devotion – December 4, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 64:1,2

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You may think you have enemies. You may be able to identify them by name, and you may be able to list the ways they threaten to harm you and your loved ones.

Wouldn’t it be nice to simply name something those enemies are afraid of and then watch them cower in fear? Wouldn’t watching them back away and stop their threats be even nicer?

The prophet Isaiah called on God to come down from heaven in such a dramatic way even the mountains would tremble, and the enemies of God’s people would feel the heat.

God chose to come down from heaven the first time in a less dramatic way with the birth of a child named Jesus.

But make no mistake, the child who grew into a man was doing everything exactly right to fight the enemies of God’s people. Sin, death, and the devil threatened him, but he stood up to those enemies, and eventually, they cowered before him.

When sin, death, and the devil threaten you, cling to the name of Jesus, your Savior. Those enemies know him and tremble.

He is coming again soon, and the second time, it will be far more dramatic. When the mountains tremble, you will not because you know that he comes to save you from your enemies.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 314)
O Savior, rend the heavens wide; come down, come down with mighty stride. Unlock the gates, the doors break down; unbar the way to heaven’s crown. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

Hope – December 3, 2023

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Titus 2:11-14

Hope

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Daily Devotion – December 3, 2023

Devotion based on Titus 2:11-14

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We went shopping at a local mall on a Saturday afternoon in September. As we rode the escalator to the second floor, my wife looked beyond me and said, “Don’t turn around!” I knew what she meant: “Turn around, but you won’t like what you see!” What terrible sight was about to greet us on the second floor? A fully decorated Christmas tree with lights, garland, and ornaments! Did I mention that it was September?

Our US culture observes its secular version of Christmas long before Christmas Day. The day after Thanksgiving used to be the start of the secular Christmas season. Now the starting date seems to be the day after Halloween—or even earlier! Impatient Americans don’t wait to celebrate the holidays. We exhaust them long before they arrive on the calendar!

How very different is the Christian’s Christmas celebration! Christmas Eve and Day don’t end the celebration but begin it. We spend the weeks leading up to Christmas not in celebration but in hopeful anticipation. We light the first candle of the Advent wreath as we take our place in the sandals of Old Testament believers who looked up to the heavens, waiting and watching and hoping for the Lord to keep his promise to send the Messiah.

God promised to send his Son to undo the damage of sin caused by Adam and Eve and each one of their descendants. That includes you. Jesus would have had every right to come into this world with his wrath and anger aimed squarely at us. He would have had every right to fill us with fear instead of hope. Instead, God’s promised Messiah came with grace and humility aimed solely at saving us. His mission from cradle to cross would remove the guilt of sin and restore the relationship between God and humankind.

Old Testament believers waited and hoped for God to send the Messiah as he promised. New Testament believers now wait and hope for Christ to return in glory and bring us to the glories that he won for us. Despite many attempts to predict that day, we cannot know when it will be. And so we patiently wait and hope. We hope in Christ, knowing that he who kept his promise by his first advent will come again in his good time for his final advent. With hopeful anticipation we cry, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with patient hope as we wait for your triumphant return. Keep us faithful to you and fix our eyes on the promises of your Word so that when you return in glory, we may joyfully receive the salvation that you won for us at your first advent. Amen.

This Advent devotion is brought to you by Forward in Christ magazine. For an enhanced version of this devotion including a flipbook and video or to read other devotions in this series, visit forwardinchrist.net/advent-2023.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

A Sight to Keep In Mind – December 2, 2023

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”
Daniel 7:9,10

A Sight to Keep In Mind

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Daily Devotion – December 2, 2023

Devotion based on Daniel 7:9,10

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You don’t often think about the memorabilia you have stuffed into storage. Unless you’re a mechanic, you don’t often think about your vehicle’s engine. Out of sight, out of mind.

Then suddenly, you find yourself thinking about those things. You crave to see some old pictures because a dear friend has died. You pop open your car’s hood because that one noise has gotten so much louder.

Too often, God drifts out of our regular thoughts. We see and experience people, things, joys, and the struggles of life—they’re right in front of our faces. But God doesn’t visibly occupy a chair at the supper table. He doesn’t physically hug you when you cry. Is God out of sight and often out of mind?

One day, God will be very much “in sight.” About 550 years before Jesus was born, God showed Daniel a vision. As Daniel described that vision, he wrote how God appeared. God’s clothing was white as snow, and his hair white like wool. The throne he sat on was flaming with fire. Daniel was seeing God in his holiness and power. God was seated to judge.

One day, you will stand face-to-face before God, who will judge you. But if you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you will not be alone. Jesus will be at your side. Through faith in Jesus, God has credited you with the perfection of his Son’s holy life, and God has declared you not guilty of your sins on account of Jesus’ innocent sufferings and death for you.

Keep that day in mind—the day you’ll stand face-to-face with God. Keep Jesus in mind—his life, death, and resurrection for you. Keep in mind your forgiveness and peace with God, and even though God is now out of sight, one day that will change, and you will see God face-to-face.

Prayer:
Dear God, it is so easy to forget about you and the day I will see you face-to-face. Forgive my sins for Jesus’ sake. Fill my heart with your peace and my life with love for you and others. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.

A Never Ending Joy – December 1, 2023

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven . . . we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

A Never Ending Joy

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Daily Devotion – December 1, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

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Trumpets. Angels. Flying. Reunion with loved ones. You’ve contemplated some or all of those things. God willing, you have been encouraged by all of them. And yet, they fail in comparison to the encouragement of the words before us today. We won’t just meet our loved ones in the air, “we’ll meet the Lord in the air. We will be with the Lord forever.”

When we’re with the Lord, nothing else matters. Think of some of the commercials you see this time of year. Some of the tear-jerking commercials are military members coming home for the holidays and being reunited with their loved ones. When a daughter runs into her G.I. dad’s arms at the airport, you don’t hear her complain, “Daddy, it’s really warm in this airport.” Her joy of being with her once-deployed dad supersedes any discomfort. Likewise, when a deployed daughter surprises her mom with coffee in the kitchen on Christmas morning, you don’t hear the mom complain, “Folgers? Why not Starbucks?” She’s just glad to be with her daughter.

On the day Jesus returns, so many exciting things will happen. But nothing will compare with our supreme joy of being with the Lord—a joy that will never end. Therefore, be encouraged with these words and that your King is coming to be with you.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I can’t wait to be with you. Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly! Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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.