Tag Archive for: daily-devotions

God Speaks Your Language – June 12, 2025

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 2:5-11

God Speaks Your Language

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Daily Devotion – June 12, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 2:5-11

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Have you ever stood in a crowd and not understood a word spoken? It’s disorienting. You look for someone, anyone, who speaks your language, because language creates community.

It also creates division. At Babel, when humanity tried to build its own glory, God scattered them by confusing their language. Ever since, we’ve stuck with those who sound like us. We’re cautious of those who don’t.

But the day of Pentecost reversed that.

On that day in Jerusalem, people from every nation under heaven heard the wonders of God in their own native tongues; not Hebrew in the temple, not a priestly voice from a distance, but everyday Galileans speaking in the languages they understood best. God wasn’t asking them to learn a new language to approach him. He was coming to them.

This is the miracle of Pentecost. Not just that tongues were spoken, but that God’s grace was clearly heard by all. In Jesus, the separation of Babel is undone. In Jesus, the glory-seeking tower is replaced by the cross. And in Jesus, forgiveness is preached to all people of all languages.

Because Jesus lives, his Spirit speaks to every heart in every culture, through the good news of forgiveness. And that message doesn’t divide, it unites.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, you broke through the confusion of many languages at Pentecost to proclaim the wonders of Christ to every heart. Speak to me again today through God’s Word, the Bible. Remind me of the forgiveness of sins won for me in Christ and the forgiveness that is for all people. 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.

Baptized With the Holy Spirit – June 11, 2025

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4

Baptized With the Holy Spirit

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Daily Devotion – June 11, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 2:1-4

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Before Jesus Christ began his work of preaching and teaching, someone else was preparing the way for him. His name was John; they called him John the Baptist. He got that name because part of his work was baptizing people. It was a sign of their sorrow over their sin, but also a trust that God was sending his chosen one to deal with that sin.

John the Baptist pointed to this chosen one called the Messiah, and John said the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus Christ proved he was the Messiah by his perfect life, his innocent death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead. Jesus made good on John the Baptist’s prediction and his own promises on the day of Pentecost.

Even though Jesus had ascended into heaven, he wasn’t going to leave his followers alone. He had promised a helper, the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, who appeared in visible and dramatic form. There was a sound of wind filling the house where the disciples gathered. Tongues of fire came and rested on each of them. They were given the ability to speak in other languages. Jesus had not abandoned them. He sent them the powerful Holy Spirit, fulfilling John the Baptist’s words.

Jesus continues to send his Holy Spirit through the waters of baptism. While there are no tongues of flame or sounds of wind, we know that Jesus is still sending his Holy Spirit, creating faith and transforming lives. The Holy Spirit kindles and strengthens the fire of faith in the hearts of believers so that the effects of Pentecost carry on to this day.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through your Spirit, I know you are with me always. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

An Act of Grace – June 10, 2025

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
Genesis 11:5-9

An Act of Grace

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Daily Devotion – June 10, 2025

Devotion based on Genesis 11:5-9

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If you had no understanding of who God is or the context of these verses, this action by God might seem petty and harsh. You might read these verses as saying that God saw the progress man was making, recognized their potential, became jealous of them, and put a stop to it by confusing their language.

The fact is that these people were disobeying God’s command to spread out over all the earth. What’s more is that their actions showed a total lack of trust in God. If these people thought they could do everything, they wouldn’t go to God for anything, including the salvation of their sinful souls. While they built a comfortable life on earth, they would trade it for an eternity in hell.

God is not concerned for himself that humans will somehow rise to his level. God cares about human beings. He is concerned about their earthly lives, but he is more passionate about their eternal lives. God didn’t confuse the languages at Babel out of his own self-interest. He did it because he loves people. It was an act of his grace so that they didn’t think that they had no need for God and then suffer eternally.

Learn more about God, and you’ll see just how far he was willing to go to keep people from hell. God sent Jesus to descend to earth. Not just to visit but to live, love, and even to die. Jesus’ death and resurrection bring people together with God. It unites them in faith.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you were willing to let your Son die in my place. Help me show gratitude by living according to your will. 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.

Bricks Can’t Reach Heaven – June 9, 2025

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
Genesis 11:1-4

Bricks Can’t Reach Heaven

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Daily Devotion – June 9, 2025

Devotion based on Genesis 11:1-4

See series: Devotions

The people seeking to build this tower had a problem. They knew life was short. Their time would quickly end, and then they would be gone. But they also felt that there was more. They longed for something eternal.

Their solution was to build a tower reaching to the heavens. Using recent technological advancements, they could climb higher than anyone ever had before them. They would make a name for themselves so that even when they died, their tower would stand as a monument to their great accomplishments.

They thought this was the solution to their problem. They had a God-shaped hole in their hearts, and they tried to fill it with bricks and tar. They knew there was a gap between sinful, mortal human beings and the perfect, eternal God. They tried to bridge that gap with the tower they thought could put them on the same level as God.

We are all born with this God-shaped hole in our hearts. We are all born with the sinful nature that tries to fill that hole with anything but God. Money, power, control, pleasure, and self-righteousness are just a few things we use to bridge the gap between us and God, but they all fall short.

The only thing that could bridge the gap between us and God is the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus climbed a tree and hung between heaven and earth to fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts with faith and trust in him as our Savior.

The people building the Tower of Babel; we don’t know their names. But God has given us the name by which we are saved. Jesus is the only one who can give us eternity.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me trust you alone as the only way to God and eternity. 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.

A Victory Celebration – June 8, 2025

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9

A Victory Celebration

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Daily Devotion – June 8, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9

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When you think of heaven, who do you see there? Is it full of grandmas and grandpas walking down golden streets? Are there white hair harpists floating on clouds everywhere? Are there angelic choirs singing God’s praise from on high?

Sometimes, cartoons paint our ideas of heaven more than the Bible. Fortunately, God gave the apostle John these visions in the book of Revelation. They serve as a glimpse of the heavenly glory, and in this passage, we see “who” will be in heaven.

The passage tells us that heaven will be overflowing with people from every nation, tribe, people, and language. The truth is that God wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Wherever God’s Word is preached and believed, there are believers. And though these believers come from all over, they are all dressed the same. They are wearing white robes—a picture of the very righteousness and holiness of God, which Jesus gives to all who believe in him.

Everyone in heaven will be purified forever from all sin. That’s a picture worth a thousand words. As it is right now, you and I cannot wash away even one of our sins, but through faith in Jesus alone and clothed in his forgiveness and love, our sins are taken away. Should God call us home tonight, we are dressed and ready to join the multitudes.

To top it off, this victory celebration will never end. What a refreshing and wonderful sight! That’s what Jesus has in store for you and all who believe in him!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for lifting my eyes to heaven and reminding me of the treasures and glories you have in store for me and all who believe. Help me to continue to share your love, so that through your Word, many more may join the everlasting celebration. 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.

Worthy of Praise – June 7, 2025

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they say: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:11,12

Worthy of Praise

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Daily Devotion – June 7, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 5:11,12

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Whom do you praise? Is it some college basketball team that wins repeated national championships? Does your praise go to your son or daughter for getting an “A” on a test or winning a blue ribbon? No doubt, lots of hard work and effort were put forth. Parents are proud of their children’s accomplishments. Fans rejoice in the victory. But step aside from all that and ask yourself, who is worthy of praise?

Star athletes have their flaws. Children aren’t always cherubs. Yet there is one, and one alone, who is worthy of everyone’s praise, and his name is Jesus.

The apostle John records what he heard and saw in this vision of heaven. Before him are countless angels giving praise to Jesus alone! But it’s not just praise for praise’s sake. They let us know exactly why Jesus alone is worthy of praise. They call him “the Lamb who was slain.”

On Calvary, Jesus shed his blood in our place to pay for all our sins! Because of his perfect sacrifice, the gates of heaven are open for all who believe! This is why Jesus alone is worthy of the angels’ praises as well as yours and mine!

The best part is that you don’t have to wait until heaven to join in praising Jesus. Each week we gather to worship Jesus and sing his praises. Each day you give glory to Jesus as you read the Bible. Throughout each day, sing a song of praise to him who has forgiven all your sins and promised you eternal life in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord God, let my life be a song of praise to you, for you alone are worthy of praise. 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.

Drink the Water of Life – June 6, 2025

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17

Drink the Water of Life

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Daily Devotion – June 6, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:17

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You just discovered the perfect little place to relax. It is quiet. It is beautiful. No one seems to know about it. Here’s the dilemma: Do you share this information with others, or do you keep it to yourself?

Sometimes, we like to keep information like this to ourselves. We are afraid that if too many people find out, then the wonder of our little hidden spot will be ruined.

Jesus proclaims himself as the Alpha and the Omega and being the Root and Offspring of David. He washes our robes and gives us access to the tree of life, to his mercy and forgiveness.

What follows is the response of the Spirit and the bride. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit. The bride is…you. God’s church, believers, are his bride.

And what do the Holy Spirit and the bride say? “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

To know Jesus as our Savior from sin refreshes us like a sip from a mountain stream. But rather than keeping this good news to ourselves, we invite others to know the thirst-quenching message of forgiveness in Jesus.

If you have come to know Jesus as your Savior, God gives you a clear purpose. Your work is to tell others: “Come and join me and drink of the water of life!”

If you are reading this and you don’t know Jesus, or are unsure, Jesus has good news for you. He loves you and shed his blood and gave his life to take away your sins. He rose from the dead to show you that he is not just a special person, but God himself. Now it’s your turn. “Come and drink the water of life in Jesus.”

Your soul will never thirst again.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for showing me who you are and having mercy on my soul. Help me to invite others to drink the water of 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.

Proper Credentials – June 5, 2025

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Revelation 22:16

Proper Credentials

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Daily Devotion – June 5, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:16

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You need critical surgery. You are given the choice of two surgeons to perform the delicate task. The first one says, “I have successfully performed this exact surgery 68 times and the results have always been excellent.” You meet with the other surgeon who tells you, “I read about this surgery in a manual once. I’m sure it can’t be that hard.”

Your choice? It’s obvious. You go with the one with the proper credentials.

At times, we are forced to entrust our lives to the hands of skilled surgeons. But only when we need to. The rest of the time, we are in charge of our own lives. At least we feel that way, and we might act that way.

The Bible reminds us today who really is in charge. Jesus gives himself some interesting titles in this verse. He calls himself the Root of David. The mighty King David, for all his power and splendor, still needed someone to give him life. He needed someone to create him. Jesus is the Root, or source, of King David.

Jesus is also the Offspring of David. While Jesus is the eternal God, he also took on human flesh and blood so that he could take all the failings of humanity upon himself. Eternal God willingly set aside his power and glory as God so he would be the source of its salvation. He was a human descendant of David. In this way, Jesus is also the Offspring of David.

Jesus also calls himself the Morning Star. Like the last bright star that still shines as night gives way to the light of a new day, Jesus is the bright star that will shine until he returns at the dawn of the Last Day.

This means that day by day we can confidently be assured that our lives are placed into the hands of Jesus. Could there be a better place than that? We have nothing to fear because Jesus has all the credentials to give us what is best for now and for eternity.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are my God and Savior. Help me to trust you and place myself confidently into your hands. 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.

Access Granted – June 4, 2025

[Jesus said] “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
Revelation 22:14,15

Access Granted

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Daily Devotion – June 4, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:14,15

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There are certain places that you never want to be closed. If you are suddenly very sick and in need of emergency care, how dismayed you would be if, at the entrance to the hospital emergency room, there was a sign across the doors that said, “Closed.”

“Closed” is what happened in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit, they were banished so that they could not “take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever” (Genesis 3:22).

That banishment from the Garden of Eden was actually an act of mercy from their Creator. Can you imagine an eternity of life on earth with a sinful nature and bodies broken by sin? Some might call that hell on earth.

“Closed” is what you and I would rightfully expect to see at the gates of heaven if left to our own doing. Before the purity and power of God’s holiness, we too would have to join the “dogs” and all sinners outside the gates of heaven.

But God’s desire is always for sinners to come near to him. The gates into the eternal city have been opened by the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus was excluded from the mercy of God so that you and I would not be. Jesus was closed off from the love of his Father so that he could provide something for us we could never have on our own access.

One day, by the grace of God, we will walk through those gates into the eternal city and see the tree of life with our own eyes.

Until that day comes, keep the vision of glory before you. But also heed God’s warning when it comes to our sin. Cling to Jesus, and the robes he has washed for you. Through him, access to the tree and eternity is always open.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me confidence about my eternal future. Give me that same comfort and confidence as I live my life in faith. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

The Big Picture – June 3, 2025

[Jesus said] “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 22:13

The Big Picture

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Daily Devotion – June 3, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:13

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Winston Churchill liked to tell the story of a young boy who was rescued by a sailor. The boy fell off a pier into the icy water, and a sailor jumped in, rescued the drowning boy, and was able to revive him. Later in the day, the boy and his mother were walking down the street when the boy exclaimed to his mother, “That’s the man who saved me!” The boy and mother quickly rushed over to the man, where she asked him, “Are you the man who saved my boy this morning?” “Yes, I am,” the man replied. “Well, where’s his hat?” she asked. “He came home without his hat!”

She missed the big picture. A hat is nothing compared to a life saved.

Sometimes, we miss the big picture, too. We fret over all the problems of life. We forget the One who is Eternal Life.

In our Bible reading for today, the apostle John gives us the big picture. He presents to us the glorified Lord Jesus. Having been crucified and raised, and then ascended into heaven, he speaks to us from the final chapter of the Bible. And what does this glorified Jesus want us to know?

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Jesus has always been in existence. There is no starting point for the eternal Son of God. Jesus will always be in existence. There will be no ending point for Jesus. Alpha and Omega are the “first and last” letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus is stating his eternal existence.

What makes this so comforting for us is that Jesus, who is eternally present, is also the One who set aside his glory and power for a while so that he could take our sin upon himself.

Our God is not some timeless but disinterested entity out there. Our Savior, Jesus, is both timeless and loving, eternal and sacrificial.

Keep that big picture in mind as you serve your Savior. He can help you in your needs. He exists. He loves. He cares.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to remember that you rule all things for the good of your church, your people. Help me to place my daily 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.

Seek Unity in Christ – June 2, 2025

[Jesus said] “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
Revelation 22:12

Seek Unity in Christ

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Daily Devotion – June 2, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 22:12

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Differences divide. When people look different from each other, talk differently, act differently, or eat different foods, these all can become reasons that divide. We see this in people. We even see this with entire nations and cultures.

However, differences also divide those who are the same. People of the same family, of the same faith, of the same culture also struggle with anger, resentment, and hard feelings. Even where you could reasonably expect unity, it is often lacking.

Christians struggle with unity. And nothing makes the devil happier than seeing God’s people bicker. Satan delights when Christians fight.

The apostle John in the book of Revelation gives us proper perspective. Jesus is coming. One day, soon, believers of every nation, tribe, people, and language will gather before the Lamb of God (Revelation 7:9). The grudges we hold and the hurts we hang on to simply will not matter when we stand before Jesus.

He will come “with his reward.” This is not something earned, it is something Jesus gives. His reward is all the blessings we receive from the One who loves us and gave himself for us.

And Jesus says that he will “give to each person according to what they have done.” What we do in life matters, this is clear. God desires that his people practice and share the forgiveness that we have received just as generously as it was given to us. Our deeds don’t save us but they do display that God has worked in our hearts.

One day, the risen Lord Jesus will return. That day will be awesome. And in his plan, it will be soon. He will unite all believers before himself. On that day, differences will not divide.

Until that day, seek unity, not division.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the greatest divide has been bridged between a perfect God and sinful people with your death and resurrection. Help me to rejoice in my forgiveness by sharing and showing your peace with 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.

It’s Majestic! – June 1, 2025

Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
Exodus 15:11

It’s Majestic!

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Daily Devotion – June 1, 2025

Devotion based on Exodus 15:11

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The magic of David Copperfield is always intriguing to watch. It is fascinating how he can seemingly transport himself from one side of the Great Wall of China to the other. It’s amazing how he can make the Statue of Liberty disappear. I’m guessing he can do some pretty impressive card tricks, too! Yet all the things he and other magicians do are still called “magic.” Trick photography, sleight of hand, mirrors, intricate cameras, and the like make the illusion appear to be reality.

Arguments can be made as to who is or was the greatest magician, but all of them pale in comparison to the Lord, not the magician, but the majestic! Moses saw him part the waters of the Red Sea, allowing thousands of Israelites to cross on dry land and then close the waters on the pursuing army of Pharaoh. What he saw could only have been done by the Majestic One, the Lord. His works are not tricks or sleight of hand. They are obvious. They are real, although not all acknowledge them. Consider the intricacies of the human body and marvel at the balance of the ecosystem. Gaze into the massiveness of the universe. All these “declare the glory of God.”

Even his greatest act, his resurrection from the dead, had no sleight of hand, no tricks and no mirrors. It was real. It was something no one else had done. It shows, just as the parting of the Red Sea convinced Moses, there is none among those called “gods” like the Lord. What he has done for you is not magic; it’s majestic!

Prayer:
Jesus, you proved that you are the majestic Son of God and my blessed Savior by your resurrection from the dead. Comfort me with the knowledge that one day you will majestically return and raise all the dead and give to your believers eternal life in heaven. Use me, Lord Jesus, to catch more people for you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Real Grief; Real Joy; Same Event! – May 31, 2025

[Jesus said] “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
John 16:21,22

Real Grief; Real Joy; Same Event!

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Daily Devotion – May 31, 2025

Devotion based on John 16:21,22

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Jesus spoke earnestly to his disciples just before the three-day, salvation-winning event of his death and resurrection. Jesus pictures a mother in labor, delivery, and at the birth of her child. That same event brings real pain and real grief but also real joy to the mom, and to her husband also.

Jesus’ disciples felt real grief over what Jesus revealed at that Upper Room Passover meal. Jesus spoke of betrayal, denial, and his own death, saying, “In a little while you will see me no more.” But he added, “…and then after a little while you will see me” (John 16:16).

We can hardly plumb the depth of grief the disciples felt that night. Jesus assured them, “I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” On the third day, following the onslaught of that grievous event, which brought our Savior to the agony of Calvary, salvation-winning event culminated in his resurrection! The disciples saw Jesus again, just as he said they would. They were eyewitnesses. Their grief turned to joy, “joy that no one will take away” because Jesus lives and reigns eternally! So he said, “Tell the world!”

For you, me, and every Christian, considering the cross of Christ stirs both real grief and real joy concerning that same event. The real grief is in the deeper understanding that the sins of every human being, including your sins and mine, nailed Jesus to the cross. The real joy is in the deeper understanding that Jesus willingly made that “atoning sacrifice (paid the full punishment price) for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). We have eternal life and an irrevocable joy shared by all who trust in the risen Christ for eternal salvation! Tell the world!

Prayer:
Lord, help me view the cross with grief, joy, and thankful sharing. Amen.

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One Way In – May 30, 2025

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 21:27

One Way In

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Daily Devotion – May 30, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 21:27

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Heaven sounds like a great place. There will be no crying or pain there. God will wipe away every tear from every eye. Heaven does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and Jesus the Lamb is its lamp. There will be no night there. People in heaven will be in the presence of the Lord forever. Nothing will mess it up.

It sounds like a great place to be! But the more I think about it, the more I wonder how I will ever get there. I have done things that are shameful and deceitful. Because of my sin, I am impure, and the Bible says that nothing impure will ever enter heaven.

But the Bible also says that people whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be able to get in. The Lamb is Jesus. Why is he called the Lamb in this context? It’s because there was a day when a lamb was sacrificed to pay for sins and earn purity for people. Jesus was the Lamb who was sacrificed once and for all to earn purity for all people, enough purity to get them into heaven.

So, I will get into heaven because the Lamb sacrificed himself for me, and when he called me to faith in him, he wrote my name in his book of life. I can be confident that I will fit right into that perfect heaven, and you can be confident, too, through Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, take me to heaven at exactly the right time to live there forever with you. Amen.

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In the Same Way, You Have Seen Him Go – May 29, 2025

After [Jesus] said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11

In the Same Way, You Have Seen Him Go

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Daily Devotion – May 29, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 1:9-11

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You do not have to worry that Jesus has secretly returned to the earth and is gathering people to himself under an assumed name. You do not have to worry that Jesus will return to where you are living, tap you on the shoulder from behind, and ask you religious questions to test you. You do not have to worry that Jesus has returned invisibly and is waiting for a certain number of years to reveal himself.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels said to the apostles he had chosen that Jesus would return in the same way that they saw him go into heaven. He had gone into the sky until a cloud hid him from their sight.

When Jesus returns, there will be no doubt about it. The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, 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. The angels will gather believers from all over the earth and take them to the place where Jesus is returning.

And so, we will be with the Lord forever. You can encourage one another with these words. Judgment day will be thrilling, not scary, because the one who saved you will also be the judge, and he will not forget what he did for you. In the meantime, do not worry. God has it all figured out.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 472)
Be now our joy on earth, O Lord, and be our future great reward. Alleluia, alleluia!

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Uncertainty Gives Focus – May 28, 2025

Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
John 16:16

Uncertainty Gives Focus

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Daily Devotion – May 28, 2025

Devotion based on John 16:16

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Have you ever driven to a place that you know very well with your mind on something else? Perhaps, upon your arrival, you realized that you had almost no recollection of time passing.

Familiarity and routine may be comfortable, but it can lead to taking things for granted and paying little to no attention. When God wants to get your attention, he may allow something unfamiliar to happen to you.

When Jesus died, it certainly got the attention of his disciples. They did not see him, and they were very focused on what would happen next. Then Jesus rose from the dead, and they saw him again as he appeared again and again, even to over five hundred brothers at the same time. He told his followers they were forgiven and at peace. He focused them on their next great task, getting the word out about his resurrection.

It would be nice to know when we will see Jesus. But we do not know the date of judgment day, and we do not know the day we will die. For a little while, we see Jesus only in our mind’s eye when the Bible is read, but after a little while, we will see him fully.

In the meantime, we focus on the continuing opportunities we have to serve him. When we are tempted to think that our lives are mundane, we remember what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 25. When we feed the hungry, when we give a cup of cold water to the thirsty, when we invite in strangers, when we clothe those who do not have clothing, when we visit the sick and those in prison—Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, until I see you again, focus my life on serving those around me. Amen.

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Through Many Hardships – May 27, 2025

[Paul and Barnabas] preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Acts 14:21,22

Through Many Hardships

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Daily Devotion – May 27, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 14:21,22

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It makes sense that becoming a Christian improves your life. You go from uncertainty and even hopelessness to confidence in rock-solid promises. You discover what God has done for you and what he thinks of you, which is good.

So why do Christians experience hardships? You might think that difficulties in life would all disappear for disciples of Christ. But it’s not like that. There are disappointments and griefs, challenges and struggles. Sometimes, those even happen because you hold to counter-cultural truths of the Bible.

It’s been like that for a long time. The apostles taught the early Christians that they had to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. They would suffer persecution. They would see occasional downturns in family life and business. They would encounter sin and even death, the wages of sin.

Without pinpointing the exact reason for every difficulty, God promises that all things will work together for good for you in the end. He invites you to trust that your entrance into the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus is secure even when you encounter hardships. Be faithful even unto death, and he will give you the crown of life.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, lead me through life’s hardships to an even stronger faith in your promises. Amen.

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Joy After Grief – May 26, 2025

[Jesus said] Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
John 16:22

Joy After Grief

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Daily Devotion – May 26, 2025

Devotion based on John 16:22

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Grief is real. It is a natural response to loss, and it hits different people in different ways at different times. When you hear about the imminent death of a loved one, you may even experience anticipatory grief.

The disciples of Jesus were about to experience the death of Jesus, whom they loved. Their time of grief was before and after he died on the cross. Without a clear understanding of the purpose of Jesus’ death, they did not have clear thoughts. Without the knowledge of what would happen next, they did not anticipate joy.

But they saw Jesus again when he rose from the dead. He explained that his death won the forgiveness of sins and peace for the whole world. When he was about to ascend into heaven, he explained that they would see him again, and their joy would be eternal.

You may experience grief, but you will see your Christian loved ones again, and you will rejoice. At that time, no one will take away your joy. Before that time, your laughter may come through tears, but because Jesus rose from the dead, you will also rise, and your joy will be complete.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, lead me through grief to a joy with you that has no end. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

Giants but Not Gods – May 25, 2025

When the crowd saw [the miracle] Paul had done, they shouted…, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes . . . The priest of Zeus . . . and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, . . . they rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and sea and everything in them.”
Acts 14:11-15

Giants but Not Gods

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Daily Devotion – May 25, 2025

Devotion based on Acts 14:11-15

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It is a common expression: “He is a giant in his field.” That’s a person of exceptional importance and reputation. Paul and Barnabas were giants in the field of Christian missionary work. They were not gods. The citizens of Lystra had observed the healing of a crippled man by the apostle Paul and drew a faulty conclusion.

Only God can do miracles. He chose to validate the message of the early Christian Church by working miracles through his messengers. (Mark 16:20, Acts 14:3, Hebrews 2:4) Paul and Barnabas were messengers of Christ, not gods from Greek mythology. However, they were giants in their field.

Hermes and Zeus were worthless idols. Yet the people of Lystra sincerely believed in them. Today, there are those who sincerely believe in worldly philosophies, basing their moral values on them.

Sincerely believing in something does not create truth or value. The “living God” of the Bible has revealed what is true and of real worth.

The “living God” is the heavenly Father, Creator of heaven and earth, who planned the gift of salvation for sinful mankind. The “living God” is the Son, the risen Christ, who paid for the gift of our salvation with his holy life and innocent death. The “living God” is the Holy Spirit, who gives the gift of salvation to sinners, creating saving faith by means of the gospel.

Can you be a giant in someone’s life? Can you humbly and urgently tell them, “Turn from these worthless things to the living God”? You can.

Prayer:
Lord God, help me speak the gospel of your salvation. If that makes me a giant in someone’s eyes, to you be the glory! Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

Love – May 24, 2025

[Jesus said] “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34

Love

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Daily Devotion – May 24, 2025

Devotion based on John 13:34

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It is amazing how often the word love is used. It is equally amazing for what it is used. People can love just about anything. From pets to food, from houses to cars, and especially other people—all of these can be preceded by the word love.

It is unfortunate the word love has become so diluted. It is difficult to determine whether a person only prefers something or if there is a willingness to make a life-long commitment.

There should never be any confusion when Jesus uses the word love. As he prepared his disciples for his suffering and death, he gave them the command: “Love one another.” The words were probably met with mixed emotions. This is why Jesus also added the following explanation: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Suddenly, the word took on a special meaning. The new command was not about personal preference or taste. It was about love that was unselfish and never-failing.

Jesus uses his own love as the key to understanding this new command. His love brought him to this earth. It also made him endure shame, mockery, and rejection. It even subjected him to the most horrible of deaths on the cross. In him, the love he commands for those who follow him is revealed in complete clarity.

What makes Jesus’ love unique is that it not only offers the encouragement to love but also provides the reason and power to love.

Roughly forty years after the disciple John heard Jesus’ words, he wrote: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). He learned the lesson Jesus taught and lived it without compromise. As you hear Jesus’ new command, “love one another,” how will you respond? As you learn of your Savior’s unselfish love and grow in that love, there is only one response: I will love others as Jesus loves me.

Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, you have revealed what true love is, fill me with your pure and unselfish love so that I can love you and all people in response to your love for me. Amen.

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As I Have Loved You – May 23, 2025

[Jesus said] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34

As I Have Loved You

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Daily Devotion – May 23, 2025

Devotion based on John 13:34

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The night before Jesus died, he gathered with his disciples in the upper room. Jesus didn’t fill them with motivational slogans or empty optimism. He didn’t tell them to “go out and change the world.” Instead, with only hours left before his betrayal and death, he gave them a command—not flashy or complicated, but one that would truly change the world: “Love one another.”

The command to love wasn’t new; God had given it through Moses centuries earlier. But the standard was: “As I have loved you.” A love that is sacrificial, unconditional, one-way—a love only Jesus has ever truly shown.

It sounds simple, but it’s anything but easy. Jesus didn’t say, “Love when it’s convenient” or “Love when it’s deserved.” He said, “Love as I have loved you.” It’s a love that reaches down to wash dirty feet, extends bread to betrayers, and stretches out arms on a cross. That’s how Jesus loved us—a love that gives fully, serves humbly, and forgives completely.

And now he calls us to love one another in that same way. But let’s be honest. We don’t naturally want to. It’s easy to love those who love us, to serve when it’s noticed, or to forgive when it feels safe. But what about the people who frustrate us? Disappoint us? Wound us? Jesus still says, “Love them.”

How? By remembering that he loved us first. He loved us when we were unlovable. He gave himself fully when we had nothing to offer. Jesus’ love isn’t just a model—it’s our motivation, our foundation, and our strength. His love forgives our failures to love. His love changes hearts. His love empowers us to love others—not to earn anything from God, but because we already have everything in Christ.

So, what does this mean for you? It means your life matters—not necessarily because you accomplish great things, but because you reflect the love of Jesus. It means you carry a kind of love into the world that can’t be found anywhere else. And it means that when you love, people see their Savior.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, grant that I love others not as they deserve, but as you have loved me. Amen.

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The Greatest of These Is Love – May 22, 2025

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

The Greatest of These Is Love

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Daily Devotion – May 22, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:13

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Why is love the greatest? After all, faith connects us to Christ and secures our salvation. Hope anchors us in God’s promises and gives us strength to endure. But love—love is the goal.

Faith and hope are essential in this life, but they are temporary. In heaven, we won’t need faith in what we cannot see because we will see Jesus face to face. We won’t need hope for what is yet to come because we will be living in the fulfillment of every promise. But love—love will remain. Love will be perfected.

Love is the greatest because it is the fruit of faith. Faith draws us into union with Christ, but love is the visible result. Just as fruit shows that a tree is alive and well, love shows that faith is active. We weren’t created just to believe—we were created to love. God’s intent from the beginning was that we would reflect his love in perfect relationship with him and with one another. Sin shattered that design, but in Christ, love has returned—now in part and perfectly in heaven.

Love is also the greatest because it reflects God himself. The Bible never says, “God is faith” or “God is hope.” But it does say, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). To live in love is to live in God, and to reflect God is to love others as he has loved us. Jesus’ love took him from heaven to a cross—for you. That same love now lives in you.

Love serves the neighbor. Love imitates Christ. And one day, when faith has become sight and hope has become reality, love will remain. Forever.

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for the great love that you have shown me in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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Love Never Fails – May 21, 2025

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:8

Love Never Fails

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Daily Devotion – May 21, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:8

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We’ve all seen love fail. Marriages end. Friendships break. Families fall apart. Promises are broken. Hearts hurt.

So, when the Bible says, “Love never fails,” it might sound more like a wish than a truth. But it is true—because it’s not talking about the kind of love the world knows. It’s talking about God’s love.

Our love fails. Often. We lose patience. We say unkind things. We keep records of wrongs. We assume the worst and give up too easily. We gossip instead of protecting. We withhold forgiveness. Even when we try to love well, our sinful nature gets in the way.

But Christ’s love? That love never fails. It never gives up, never gives in, never runs dry. Jesus’ love took him from heaven’s glory to a manger in Bethlehem. His love drove him to the cross, where he bore every failure of our lovelessness. And his resurrection proves that his love never fails.

This perfect love is now yours. When God looks at you, he sees the flawless love of Christ. Patience. Kindness. Forgiveness. Endurance. It’s all credited to you by faith. Christ’s love has washed away your sins and given you a new identity as a child of God, clothed in righteousness.

Other spiritual gifts will fade away. But this love never ends, not even in heaven. How could it? Love is the essence of heaven because love is the essence of God. “God is love” (1 John 4:7). This means that one day, you will see this unfailing love face to face and then be able to love perfectly.

Until that day, you live in a world where you will see love fail. You can, however, know Christ’s unfailing love more and more. The more time you spend with him and his Word, the more like him you will become. His love is the source of your forgiveness and the power that makes your love more like his. Everything else fades, but love endures forever. So, live in the love that never fails.

Prayer:
Lord, grant that I may live in your unfailing love all the days of my life. Amen.

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Love For Every Day – May 20, 2025

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love For Every Day

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Daily Devotion – May 20, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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If you’ve ever been to a Christian wedding, chances are you heard these words read aloud. How could they not be? They paint a portrait of love that’s perfect for a day filled with vows, flowers, and sentiment.

Yet the more you reflect on these words, the more you might think: Maybe this isn’t the best reading for a wedding. The kind of love described here is not romantic. It’s more of an action than an emotion.

This is the kind of love God calls us to—not just on our wedding day, but every day. Love the people around you even when feelings fade, tempers flare, and disappointment creeps in. It’s love that refuses to boast, that keeps no record of wrongs, and that always puts others first. This is a tall order. This kind of love isn’t natural. In fact, it’s impossible—at least for us.

But not for Jesus. Jesus lived every word of this passage to perfection. He was endlessly patient, even with slow-learning disciples. He was unfailingly kind to outcasts and perfectly forgiving to his enemies. On the cross, he bore the record of your wrongs and endured the punishment that you deserved. His love never failed.

This is the love that saved you. And this is the love that now lives in you. In Christ, your record of lovelessness has been erased. Through faith in him, God doesn’t see your envy, selfishness, or irritability—but Christ’s perfect patience, kindness, and endurance. And by his Spirit, he enables you to reflect that same love to others.

The love described in this passage is more than just beautiful words for a wedding day; it’s a daily calling. When your patience wears thin, and his forgiveness feels far away, lean into the love of Christ. With him, you have what you need to love others.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to love others the way you have loved me. Amen.

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With Christ’s Love, You Gain Everything – May 19, 2025

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

With Christ’s Love, You Gain Everything

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Daily Devotion – May 19, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

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It’s easy to measure success by what you’ve accomplished. You graduate at the top of your class. You land the most prestigious job. You marry someone everyone admires and raise kids who win every award. But as today’s Bible passage reminds us, even the most impressive achievements are meaningless without love.

These three verses strip away all the impressive outward works that can fill a Christian’s life: eloquent speech, prophetic insight, unwavering faith, and sacrificial giving. These good things could fool you into thinking you’re doing something meaningful in God’s kingdom, but if they are done without love, they amount to nothing.

That stings because it reminds us of how easily our motivation becomes misguided. We may teach, give, serve, or sacrifice—but is it out of love for others? Or is it sometimes driven by a desire for recognition, a need to prove ourselves, or a hope to win approval? If you’re chasing success or approval from people, you gain nothing from God.

The kind of love God calls us to doesn’t measure success by what serves ourselves but by what selflessly serves others. It’s a reflection of the love Christ has shown us: selfless, sacrificial, perfect.

Jesus lived this love perfectly for you. He didn’t serve to gain glory but to give grace. He didn’t sacrifice himself to impress you but to save you. He loved you without expecting anything in return and then gave you everything: forgiveness of sins and eternal life. That’s the love that covers you now, empowering you to reflect that love in your life.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to live not for recognition from others, but to show them the selfless love you’ve shown me in Christ. Amen.

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Everyday Love – May 18, 2025

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:7

Everyday Love

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Daily Devotion – May 18, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 13:7

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If you walk through the doors of the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, you can view artifacts and documents from some of the most consequential years in the 20th Century. In room after room, on shelf after shelf, you can research the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, the rebuilding of Europe, the Korean War, and everything in between.

Somewhere in that library, you also will find a collection of over 1,300 letters. These letters, however, have little to do with historical events of the 20th Century. They are, nevertheless, something extraordinary. You see, President Truman made it a point to write a letter to his wife, Bess, every day they were apart for any reason.

Many of the letters are simple updates on minor things. Others, of course, do mention world leaders. But it’s the sheer number of letters that makes the real impact. To see those letters all together is to see the evidence of one man’s steady, faithful love for his wife.

God’s love for you is often not in the big and the dramatic. Very often his love for you is in the routine of life. He’s the One who sees to it that you get something to eat, have a place to sleep, and something to wear. He’s the One who sees to it that you receive an encouraging word when you need it. Most of all, he’s the One who sees to it that his forgiveness of your sin is fresh and new for you every day. Your face was on his heart when he sent his Son to the cross for your sins and raised him from the dead.

Through faith in Jesus, that’s the love God has for you. It’s a love that is at work in your life every single day.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for all the times I have overlooked how your love for me is at work in my life. Wash me clean in Jesus’ blood. Move me by your Spirit to see the reality of your love every single day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Sing the Song of the Saints – May 17, 2025

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. . . . And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” . . . Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; . . . Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. . . . And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:9-17 (selected verses)

Sing the Song of the Saints

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Daily Devotion – May 17, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9-17 (selected verses)

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One of the most requested songs at funerals is Frank Sinatra’s, “My Way.” It is the deceased person’s way of saying they lived the way they wanted with no one telling them what to do.

Is that your song? Or does your song echo that of the saints in heaven? In the apostle John’s vision he heard them singing, “Salvation belongs to our God, … and to the Lamb.” Followers of Christ don’t boast in themselves. They boast in their Savior-God. Jesus is the only thing that matters in this life. Only he has provided deliverance from sin, all fears, and a hopeless future.

And who benefits? A select few? No! John saw, “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language.”

It’s not easy to sing the song of the saints. It’s easy to lose heart in this wicked world. The saints in heaven know it. They are those “who have come out of the great tribulation.” But what do those saints have to say to us? “Hang in there!”

How? Don’t rely on yourself. Trust in him who is truly wise and powerful. God gives you the strength to handle whatever you’re suffering.

Just remember that your suffering doesn’t begin to compare to what’s waiting for you in heaven. From tribulation to triumph. Hang in there. Heaven is worth it!

Prayer:
Give me strength, Lord, when life gets hard. Keep me focused on the glory you have waiting for me in heaven together with all your saints. 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.

No More Tears – May 16, 2025

‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
Revelation 7:17

No More Tears

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Daily Devotion – May 16, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:17

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When was the last time you cried? Our tears can flow for so many different reasons. Perhaps the pain of serious injury was so overwhelming that you could not help but cry. It could be that the recent loss of a loved friend or family member has left you in such a state that the tears seem to pour out at the smallest of memories. Maybe a broken relationship has left you crying tears of loneliness. And sometimes, we cry for no apparent reason at all. There is a reason why life in this world is often referred to as a ‘vale of tears.’ So many things can cause the tears to flow, and we all realize that it is only a matter of time until they flow again.

What if there were a place where you would never cry again? A place with no sorrow or sadness, no loneliness or fear. A place where people cannot and do not cry at all. A place of only joy and peace. Would you be pleased to know that such a place does exist? It is true. It is a place called heaven, and it is the most wonderful place you could ever imagine. There will be no more cause for tears. And right now, even as you read this devotion, Jesus is preparing a place there for all who believe in him.

You see, Jesus knew what it was like to live in this world. He, too, felt the pain of loss. He also shed tears at the death of a close friend. Not only can he sympathize when we feel such pain and sorrow, but he also has the power to bring such tears to an end. So that you and I could live forever in a tear-free place, Jesus came to this earth to live and die as our substitute. His death on the cross paid for our sins, and his resurrection from the grave has conquered death for us. Through faith in him, we are no longer destined for eternal pain and sorrow but are on the way to heaven, where we will live with him in eternal joy.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for preparing such a wonderful heaven for us. I can’t wait to join you there. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

The Biggest Crowd – May 15, 2025

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9,10

The Biggest Crowd

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Daily Devotion – May 15, 2025

Devotion based on Revelation 7:9,10

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On February 9, 2025 over 65,000 people gathered to watch Super Bowl 59. Can you imagine being in the same building with that many people? What a huge crowd! Such large crowds can be exciting. A stadium full of people all cheering and chanting together can be an exhilarating experience. The noise level can be deafening. For many, being in such a crowd is the experience of a lifetime.

No earthly crowd can match the crowd in heaven. Far more than 65,000, the mass of people in heaven will be beyond counting. And it is a crowd that will not be limited to one group of people. Rather, people from all over will come together to worship the Lord who has saved them. And this crowd of people in heaven will have their own cheer to shout: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” The group of believers in heaven will worship Jesus, who has saved them from sin, death, and hell. They will rejoice and celebrate his gift of salvation for all eternity. This crowd will never disperse and go home. This crowd will never worry about whether they are on the winning side. Thanks to Jesus and his life, death, and resurrection, the victory is ours!

The main purpose of life here is to make sure to be in that crowd when the Last Day comes. Entry will not be granted through an electronic ticket on your phone, nor can one sneak in through the gate. Faith in Jesus alone provides our entrance into heaven to join the crowd of believers praising God for all eternity. Believe in your Savior, Jesus, who died for you.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you have saved the world from sin and will one day gather the crowd of believers to go to heaven with you. Keep me in faith and help me be ready for that day. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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

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

Safe in His Hands – May 14, 2025

[Jesus said] “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:28-30

Safe in His Hands

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Daily Devotion – May 14, 2025

Devotion based on John 10:28-30

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Action movies often portray the hero leaning over the edge of a cliff or hanging over the side of a helicopter, and in their grip is the hand of a friend or family member. The suspense builds as the person hangs just moments away from a certain death. Explosions threaten to break the hold. The person’s grip starts to weaken, and one hand slowly slides out of the other. The audience holds their collective breath as they wait to see whether the hero will save the other person or whether they will plunge to their death on the rocks below.

Do you ever feel like that person hanging on for dear life as you go through life? Do you ever feel like maybe one slip, and it will all come crashing down? So many things in this world threaten to pull us down forever—greed, lies, immorality, depression, addiction, and debt. So many sins and their consequences can threaten daily. We try to hold on tighter, but we need to realize that there is only one who has a strong enough grip to keep us safe and secure forever.

His name is Jesus. He is the only one who successfully made it through this life without sin. He is the only one who died to set us free from sin. He is the only one who can get us safely home to heaven. So, make sure that the hand you are tightly hanging onto is his. There is nothing stronger in this world than him, and he will never tire of hanging on to you. He will not let you go. Hang onto him in faith and trust his promises. No one and nothing can snatch you out of his hand.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, hang onto me today as I strive to live for you. Keep me safe. Never let me go. 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.