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[Jesus said] “From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Luke 12:52,53

Jesus is Worth the Loss

“Religion just causes division.” You’ve probably heard someone say that—maybe even experienced it for yourself. Faith in Christ is supposed to bring peace, isn’t it? So why does it sometimes divide families, sever friendships, and stir up such intense resistance?

Jesus doesn’t avoid that tension; he embraces it. He says plainly: “From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other.” This is not just any division—the kind that cuts straight through families: father against son, mother against daughter. The gospel can bring peace, but it can also tear people apart.

This is painful to hear and even more painful to experience. Jesus is telling you that following him will sometimes cost you the relationships that are closest to your heart. Not because you want division but because the gospel demands a response. Some will cling to Christ in faith. Others will reject him. And the closer they are to you, the more deeply it hurts.

But Jesus speaks these hard truths not to push you away—but to pull you closer. Because he knows something even deeper than your earthly bonds: his love for you is stronger than family ties. Strong enough to endure the agony of being forsaken by his own Father on the cross. Jesus allowed that perfect relationship to be broken so yours with God would be restored.

Yes, the gospel causes division. But it also gives you real peace with your Father in heaven. And if you must lose something to hold on to Jesus, even something as dear as a family relationship, know that what you gain in him is infinitely more: forgiveness, life, and a place in God’s family.

Prayer:

Son of God, give me faith that holds fast to you, no matter the loss. 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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“Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:29

God’s Word is Like a Hammer

It would be interesting to read through the Bible, imagining the sounds of hammers in the lives of people as God fulfilled his plan of salvation. For 120 years, the hammers of Noah’s family echoed through the valleys as the huge ark took shape. Moses’ hammer beat a sheet of bronze in the form of a snake, which saved the people when they looked to it and believed God’s promise. The most famous hammer sounds of history, though, took place on a hill outside of Jerusalem when a Roman soldier drove spikes into the hands and feet of Jesus. Little did that unidentified soldier know that he was dealing a death blow to Satan as he nailed Jesus to the cross. The blows of that hammer were the culmination of God’s plan to crush the devil’s power and free people from his dominion.

The crushing blow which Jesus gave to Satan by his death and resurrection resounds in the message of the gospel. This is the power of God for salvation. God’s Word is like a hammer. The Word of God recorded in the Bible has the power to lead people to saving faith in Jesus. Martin Luther wrote, “Although the Word is unimposing and seems to be nothing while it proceeds from the mouth, yet there is such boundless power in it that it makes all who cleave to it children of God.”

This is the confidence that we have in the Word: it does the work of bringing people to faith in Jesus and gives them eternal life. It can do these wonderful things because it is the inspired, errorless Word of God. When we tell people the Word of God, we don’t have to say, “I think” or “It could be.” We can assure people with the truth—God’s truth.

God wants us to get the Word out, and he will use it to produce results according to his will. God’s Word is the hammer that breaks apart the rock of unbelief and fills people with the confidence of eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Dear God, use your Word of Truth to give me assurance of my salvation through Jesus, and use me to speak your powerful Word to others. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:4-6

When God’s Promises Feel Impossible

The Lord made great promises to Abram. He promised to give him the land of Canaan, that Abram’s name would be great, and that all people who blessed him would also be blessed. Abram was starting to see those promises come true, but there were other promises from God that Abram was having a hard time seeing.

God promised that all nations would be blessed through his offspring and that his descendants would be numerous. There was just one problem, Abram didn’t have any offspring yet. According to the custom of the time, Abram’s descendent would be his personal attendant.

But God assured Abram that he didn’t need to take matters into his own hands. God was in control, and God would give Abram a son from his own flesh and blood even though Abram and his wife were past the age of having children. That would be further proof that this was an act of God, not of man and that the Lord provides.

God’s promises are not always immediately visible, but they are always trustworthy. God promises peace, but you feel anxiety. God promises to take care of you, but you face financial crisis. God promises forgiveness, but you’re weighed down by guilt. God calls us to trust him, not our outward circumstances or feelings. Those things change, but God is constant. Even if it seems like God is slow in keeping a promise like to Abram to provide a son, God is faithful.

When we believe and trust God’s promises, God does the same thing for us that he did for Abram. He credits that trust as righteousness. God does that not because of how strong our faith is but because his promise is sure.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust your promises, even when I can’t see how they’ll come true. Strengthen my faith like Abram’s and remind me that your Word never fails. 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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All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:13-16

No Turning Back

In 1519, the explorer Hernán Cortés arrived off the shore of modern-day Mexico. One of the first things he did was scuttle his ships. The message was clear. There was no going back. It ensured total commitment. The only path was forward.

That type of commitment is described in these verses. The people of faith lived as strangers and exiles on earth. They refused to settle or go back, trusting that God had something better. They looked forward to a promised city, a heavenly home. Letting go of earthly attachments, their hearts were anchored in the world to come.

What things do you need to scuttle in this world? It’s tempting to hold onto the idols of comfort, security, and pride. It’s easy to become attached to the pleasures and joys of this world. It’s hard to let go of sins that have become habits. You see these things right in front of you. You’re confronted with them every day, but the promises of God seem so far off.

But God promises a better country. The joys of God’s country far outweigh even the best this world has to offer. God calls you to trust something better: a perfect home, a forever kingdom, a place where sin, pain, and death are no more.

So don’t look back and don’t settle in. Trust in God’s promises and scuttle whatever it is that makes you attached to this world. The cross of Jesus has secured your citizenship in God’s heavenly kingdom. You can live with your eyes fixed on what’s ahead.

Prayer:

Lord, fix my eyes on the better country you’ve prepared. Help me let go of what holds me back and live each day by faith in your promises. Thank you for calling me your own. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Luke 12:22-26

Do Not Worry

Love has a way of reordering how you think about things. Consider a recently married couple. Out of love, they think about each other’s wants and desires ahead of their own. Or how about welcoming a new child? The spare room is transformed into a carefully crafted nursery with a crib, diaper changing station, rocker, mobile, and video baby monitor. It is all designed out of love.

Jesus invites you to consider your place in God’s kingdom. Just as you would care for a spouse, an aging parent, a child, or a dear friend, God cares for you.

God created this world with you in mind. You don’t have to worry or be anxious. God knows your needs and will supply them. Jesus uses the example of a raven. They don’t have a storeroom for their food, and yet God feeds them. God oversees everything. He overlooks nothing.

God doesn’t just look after your physical needs but also your spiritual needs. He didn’t spare his only Son but gave Jesus for you. If God’s great love for you motivated him to send Jesus to rescue you from your sins, you can trust that God will take care of all your needs.

When worry starts to rise about money, health, the future, or the unknown, remember who is holding your life. If God feeds the ravens, how much more will he care for you, his beloved child? He has already provided for your greatest need in Jesus. You are not forgotten. Live each day with peace, knowing your Father in heaven sees you, knows you, and will provide.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust you, especially when worries weigh on my heart. Thank you for loving me enough to send Jesus. Teach me to rest in your peace. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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[Jesus said] “Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
Luke 12:29-31

Setting Priorities

Faith, family, and football. God, country, and fishing. Sports, traveling, and work. Partying, sleeping, and eating. What are your priorities? There are so many things in life that demand our time and attention, and it is a challenge to prioritize them. The things in our lives seem to compete. More time at work means less time with the kids. More time with hobbies means less time with our spouses. More time with family means less time spent somewhere else.

Priorities are hard. We mix them up all the time. It is a difficult balancing act as we try to spend time between work and family and God. Then, of course, we all have hobbies, vacations, and kids’ schedules and before we know it, we don’t have sufficient time for the important things in life. Selfishly, we tend to prioritize the things that matter most to us, often at the expense of other people in our lives.

Jesus challenges us to reorder our priorities. He says to put God first. Everything else comes second. He knows what he’s talking about. Throughout his time on earth, Jesus had but one priority, and that was to keep God first in his life. In so doing, Jesus perfectly carried out God’s plan of saving you and me from eternal death. Rather than put himself first, Jesus kept God as his number one priority. As a result, you and I are forgiven and saved, and Jesus was raised back to his rightful place in heaven.

The God who did all this for us now wants us to keep him as our first priority. He commands this for our own good. He knows that our lives will be blessed when we keep him first, and he wants nothing more than for us to join him in heaven someday.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for keeping your priorities straight in saving me from sin and death. Help me now to order my life around you and to keep God first in my life. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”
Luke 12:24

You Are Valuable!

What do you know about Ravens? They are one of the most common birds in existence. There are an estimated sixteen million Ravens in the world, and they can be found almost everywhere. Ravens are not the most beautiful birds to look at. They are smart and dangerous predators and cause problems for humans and other birds alike. There are some who may not miss the Ravens if they were gone. Our world attaches very little value to such birds.

God wants us to know that we have much more value than Ravens. That may seem easy to say but difficult to believe. At this moment, you may not feel so valuable. You may feel like your contributions at work or home are not as valuable as others. You may feel like others don’t see any value in you. In fact, you may feel quite worthless at times. How can God say that we are much more valuable than even a common bird?

He can say that because he has attached tremendous value to you. If we all had price tags attached to us, the amount would be listed as: “priceless.” We have such value because God was willing to send his Son to die for us. Jesus came down to earth to suffer and be crucified. He came to take the punishment we deserved and to remove it from us by dying in our place. In doing this, he has saved us and made us God’s dear children through faith in him.

God says that since you have such value, you need not worry because he will take care of you. If a Raven feels no need to worry about his needs, so much less for you and me. God gave up the thing that he valued most to save us from an eternity of punishment. Now having saved us, he will most certainly continue to watch over us and care for us.

Prayer:

Dear Father in heaven, your love for me in Jesus attaches great value to me. Help me to trust you to provide for me as your dear child. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Luke 12:15

Life Is More than Stuff

It is reported that the storage industry in America tallied just over $59 billion in revenue in 2024. Our country currently has over 52,000 self-storage facilities. Of all the storage units in the world, a staggering 90 percent are in the United States. These statistics seem to say several things about Americans: One, we are blessed! God has given many of us more than we need. It is important that we do not forget the one who gave us such a surplus of material possessions. Two, we like stuff. It seems we cannot get enough of the things of this world. Three, we have a problem letting go. We hang on tightly to our possessions.

What effect does this “abundance of possessions” have on us? While it is not inherently wrong to have so many things, today’s Bible verse reminds us that life is not about how much stuff we can pile up. In fact, having so much time, effort, and money invested in our possessions can be a dangerous thing. These statistics demonstrate that our culture is focused on answering the wrong question. Rather than thinking about how much we can get in this life, we ought to be pondering a much more serious question. That is, “What will happen to me when I leave this world?” There will come a day for each of us when it is time for us to face the almighty God. No amount of possessions will save us then.

Life is not about possessions. Rather, life is about knowing and believing in Jesus. His life was not about the things of this world. The only things he had was what he could carry on his back. He was not here to accumulate stuff but to live and die as Savior of the world. His sacrifice in life and death has set us free from sin and death and given us the gift of heaven—a gift far better than any stuff this world can offer. It is also a gift that will last forever.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, you are my greatest possession. Help me to keep you at the center of my life. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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[Jesus said] “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20

Great Love

Jesus’ love for us was so great that he came to earth, leaving his glorious heavenly home to live humbly among us. He came to take our place. He took upon himself the frightful burden of our sin and allowed it to crush him by a cruel death on the cross. Victoriously, he rose from the dead, proving he is the world’s Savior. He did all this for us so we might live forever with God. Though our Savior has ascended into heaven, he has not left us. He promises that he will always be with us.

His abiding presence is a great comfort. He knows the problems and hardships we face. He knows the difficulties we have as we strive to do his work on earth. That is why he assures us that he will never leave us alone. Jesus is the all-powerful God who is always present wherever we are, guiding and upholding us. He is with us in our homes, in hospitals, in schools, in churches, and in our workplaces. He is always present to continually strengthen, comfort, assure, and support us. Therefore, we can live confidently in the peace of the forgiveness of sins that we have through him, and we can work diligently to do his work of making disciples for him by sharing the gospel.

Jesus is with you; have no doubt about it. You can face today and the rest of all your days with the certainty that your Savior loves you and is leading you step by step closer to the last day when he will take you to be with him in heaven!

Prayer:

Lord God, I place myself into your care, confident in your promise to always be with me. Lead me through life, guarding me against all danger of soul and body, and sustaining my saving faith in Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
1 Timothy 2:5,6

Like Father, Like Son

In the apostle Paul’s first letter to young Pastor Timothy, he emphasizes the profound love and concern that our heavenly Father has for all people at all times. He urges his readers to have the same mindset. Christians are called to pray for all people because we are to love all people and be concerned for their every need.

But as much as we may try to model our thoughts and actions after our heavenly Father’s, we’re bound to fail because we’re bound by our selfishness and sin. We’re not alone. Paul openly confessed his personal struggle with living up to the perfect standard he was inspired to present to his readers. “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do,” he once lamented. “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” Finally, he cried out in anguish, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” How thankful Paul was to know the answer to that critical question! “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25).

But Jesus wasn’t just the answer for Paul. He’s the answer—the only answer—for you, for me, and for all people. And the reason for that is simple, because as Paul points out, “there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” We need someone to stand between us and our heavenly Father to fix the problem of our sin and selfishness. We need someone who loves us so much and is so concerned for every need that he’s willing to sacrifice everything—even his very life—for us. And that’s what we have in Jesus, “who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

Should we be surprised? Not at all. Like Father, like Son! Jesus’ love for us and all people perfectly reflects the love our heavenly Father has for the world. And it’s meant to inspire our love for all people.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, help me love others as you love me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy 2:1,2

Pray for the Powerful

When the apostle Paul urges Christians to pray for all people, it might be tempting to conclude that he only means those people who face trouble and challenges in this life. Certainly, he can’t mean that we should pray for those who live in royal palaces, people who seem to have everything in this world that their hearts desire. We should pray for those with wealth, power, and prestige? Why would they even need my prayers?

One could even argue that there are biblical reasons for drawing such a conclusion. After all, didn’t the psalmist pray for the downfall of mighty men who stood on top of the mountain and oppressed those under their feet? “Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out” (Psalm 10:15). Should we not instead be praying fervently for “the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.” (Psalm 10:18)? Down with the powerful, right?

It should go without saying that Paul was not commanding Timothy or us to pray for the success of powerful people who are seeking to take advantage of others. That would run counter to God’s good and perfect will. But that does not mean we should exclude powerful people from our prayers altogether. Far from it! If anything, those who exercise power and authority in this world need our special prayers because their decisions often have a significant impact on the lives of others. God grant them hearts of wisdom, humility, justice, patience, and mercy.

To what end? Paul tells us: “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Please note Paul doesn’t suggest we pray for powerful people so that we can realize earthly success, power, and wealth ourselves. No, a Christian’s ultimate goal in this world is to live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and holiness.

That’s a prayer worth praying!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, help me to fix my heart on things above and to pray for those who exercise power in this world. 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 said] “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”
Luke 11:9

Do I need to pray?

There are times when it almost doesn’t seem worth it to pray. It may be our trouble—like illness or injury—that doesn’t seem bad enough to ask God for his help. There are other times when our problems seem so large and unmanageable that it seems prayer wouldn’t help anyway. But there is never a time when it would be useless to pray.

God wants to hear your prayers, no matter what. You are wrong if you feel that your trouble isn’t bad enough to bother the Almighty. The apostle Peter said to cast all your cares on him—even the little cares.

You are also wrong if you think your troubles are too big and can’t be remedied. God can overthrow all our problems, if he wishes.

More importantly, though, he can give us the strength and courage to face them. What we need most is faith in him. In all troubles, big or small, we can be assured of his forgiving love in Christ Jesus. For this, as well as for any blessings of the body, we should pray without ceasing. God will never ignore our prayers. And his answer will always be the best for us. We have his Word on it.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to pray in all troubles. 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 said] “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42

Truth That Sinks In

It’s kind of nice that Mary and Martha come back into the story a few different times within the four gospels. Both of them must have been listening well to what Jesus spoke to them at their home the day Jesus visited.

For Mary, the results of hearing Jesus speak to her showed fruit about six months later. At that time, she knelt down to anoint Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and wiped his feet with her hair, knowing he was about to head to his death in Jerusalem, and that his death would be for her. That truth had sunk in for her.

For Martha, the truth Jesus spoke to her sank in, too. Later, as she stood at the grave of her brother Lazarus, she gave one of the clearest confessions of faith you’ll find in the Bible. At the death of her brother, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” Clearly, the truth had sunk in for busy Martha, too.

What Jesus said was true for both of the women. The one thing needed—Jesus and his words of life—were not taken away from them. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. About a week later, he rose from the dead, too, after crushing every sin of distraction and worry at the cross.

What Jesus gives you as you soak up his Word at his feet can’t be taken from you either. You can rest in what Jesus has done for you. Instead of letting yourself be pulled in so many unneeded directions, let the Lord pull you ever more toward the one thing needed—hearing his good Word. That is what he worked for Martha and what he will work in your heart, too.

His Word and promises will never pass away. Let that sink in. The good news of the gospel cannot be taken away from you. Ever. No matter what.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, let your Word sink into my heart and let it bear abundant fruit as I trust in you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

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“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things.”
Luke 10:41

Compassion for Worriers

An article on the website lifehack.org lists the top seven most common priorities people make in their lives. Those priorities are your life mission, physical health, quality time with family, healthy relationships, mental health, finances, and self-improvement.

The article claims you’ll cut back on busyness and stress by prioritizing these few things. But thinking about trying to prioritize even just seven things in life can make our heads spin. The priorities we set can worry us and trouble us as, time and time again, we fall short in each category, unable to juggle all these important aspects of life.

Martha had a lot of priorities that were making her worried and upset when Jesus showed up at her home. But, just like that list from LifeHack, she was forgetting the most important priority: sitting at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus didn’t harshly rebuke Martha though. He didn’t say, “Stop acting like you’re some kind of martyr to your own contrived busyness Martha!” He didn’t say, “Why don’t you be more like your sister Mary!” No, he just wanted Martha to realize she didn’t need to be so distracted and worried about serving him when his whole intent was to serve her. So, in a caring and compassionate tone he says her name twice, “Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is needed.” One thing is needed. To sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to the peace he gives to anxious, worried people.

You can replace that compassionate phrase of Jesus with your own name to let it sink in. Imagine Jesus saying your name twice and then adding, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. I’m not looking for you to fill me up with your service or prove how well you keep your priorities. I just want you to have what I can give to you. Hear my Word. Hear my good news.”

Jesus has proven that you and your salvation are his greatest priority. Sitting at his feet and soaking up his compassion for us sounds like the best possible way to spend our time. It’s not work. It’s rest.

Prayer:

Dear compassionate Savior, take my worries and burdens on your shoulders. Help me to rest at your feet. 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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As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
Luke 10:38-40

From Stretched to Stilled

As busy twenty-first-century Americans it’s easy to relate to Martha. She’s described as “distracted.” Do you ever feel that way, too? The Greek word for “distracted” here literally means to be pulled or stretched in every direction. Do you feel that pull, too? There are responsibilities and expectations to be met, programs your children are enrolled in, and deadlines at work. The ever-present distractions of digital media and your phone don’t help either. Do you feel like Bilbo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings when he says that he feels “thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread”?

The hard part of all this is that sometimes the things that distracts us aren’t bad. Look what Martha was doing. She was trying to serve Jesus. He was a guest in her house. She wanted him to be well taken care of, well-fed, and comfortable. That’s certainly not a bad thing. Jesus had no issue with her loving service to him. But he had an issue with what all that busy service and work was doing to her soul. What she needed most was not to serve Jesus but to be served by Jesus. She was allowing her work to distract her from what was most important—the one thing needed—hearing the words of Jesus.

Modern life pulls us in a hundred directions and distracts us. But Jesus cuts through all of it to give us the one thing we really need—himself. He’s the one thing that fills us up even as the world empties our tanks with over-filled schedules and countless concerns. The words of Jesus are the one thing needed to counteract all that. We need to be stilled, not stretched. Jesus invites us to still our troubled souls at his feet so that we can be filled with all his loving service to us.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, let your Word still my distracted hearts so I can be filled with your calming grace. 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.