Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:10

You Will Never Suffer Hell

Daily Devotion – October 24, 2024

Devotion based on Isaiah 53:10

See series: Devotions

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah got a glimpse of what Jesus would do. The details in Isaiah chapter 53 lead us to believe that Isaiah saw pretty clearly how Jesus would die on a cross. The selfless sacrifice of the suffering servant of the Lord is portrayed in graphic terms.

Isaiah also spoke of the purpose of the suffering. The death of Jesus was an offering for sin. But Jesus had never sinned! Separated from God the Father while hanging on the cross, Jesus suffered hell, the appropriate punishment for sin. He declared that this suffering was for every sin ever committed by anyone in the world, and he proved that he paid the price for all that sin by rising from the dead. He still lives, and he always will.

Jesus suffered hell for you so that you will never suffer hell. Connected to Jesus by faith, you receive forgiveness for your sins and eternal life with him in heaven. God wants you to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Nearly two thousand years after Jesus died, you have an even clearer view of the details and purpose of his suffering than Isaiah did.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for suffering hell in my place and promising me eternity in heaven with 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.

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:43-45

Servant Leadership

Daily Devotion – October 22, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:43-45

See series: Devotions

If your main goal in life is to meet the needs of others, not yourself, what does that make you? A flight attendant? The parent of a newborn? Service staff in a restaurant? No, it makes you a Christian. Let me explain.

When Jesus became a human being, he humbled himself. From all eternity, he had been God, and he could have arrived on the earth demanding to be worshiped, but instead, he came to meet the needs of others. He lived the life they could not have lived, and when it came time for him to take the reward of heaven, he chose to take the suffering of hell instead. He died for you. He did not demand to be served. Instead, he earned forgiveness for you. He served.

That means your basic needs are taken care of. As a Christian, you have forgiveness for your sins, and when your sins are forgiven, you get eternal life in heaven.

When you do not have to worry about meeting your own needs, you are freed up to meet the needs of others.

People whose main job is to meet the needs of others are servants. Jesus says that you are free to think of yourself that way, even in areas of leadership. It’s a great paradox. Because of Jesus, Christians are free, subject to no one. In response to that freedom, Christians are dutiful servants of all, subject to everyone.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive me for desiring to be served. Give me opportunities to serve in your name. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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I do all this for the sake of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:23

For the Sake of the Truth

Daily Devotion – October 20, 2024

Devotion based on1 Corinthians 9:23

See series: Devotions

His name was William Charles Macready. In the 1800s, William Macready was one of the most respected actors in Great Britain and the United States. In each stage performance, Macready poured his heart and soul into the character he was portraying. People loved him for it. They packed the theaters to see him at work.

It’s said that there once was a preacher who approached Macready with a simple question. The question was: “What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all.”

Macready’s answer was this: “I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction.”

Ouch.

Don’t misunderstand. The Bible is clear that the power to bring hearts to faith in Jesus lies in the power of the gospel—the good news of what Jesus has done on our behalf. Nevertheless, how many times have Christians put a roadblock in front of the gospel by acting as if it’s fiction?

The beauty is that, despite our lack of passion and our bouts of apathy, the gospel remains the most true and real thing there is. After all, whenever the reality of our wrongs crushes us, and we cry out in repentance, there is the gospel. There is the living, breathing Savior who promises that his blood has washed us clean, that we are his, and that he will never leave our side.

Macready did all he could for the sake of fiction. In Jesus, you and I can do all we can for the sake of the truth—the truth of sins forgiven in Christ.

Prayer:
Precious Savior, I confess all the times I have shared your good news so poorly. Forgive me. And empower me by your gospel to do all I can for the sake of the truth. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17

Making a Difference

Daily Devotion – October 18, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 90:17

See series: Devotions

“You can do anything you set your mind to.” This quote, often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, has been echoed in countless self-help books, whether they are about career goals, financial success, physical fitness, or strategies for winning on the field or court. It is repeated and rephrased in hundreds of commencement addresses every year.

But experience teaches us that it is not true. No matter how much we set our minds to it, few of us have the gifts to play in the NFL or win an Olympic gold medal. The greatest minds in the world may never find a cure for cancer or even a way to eliminate the flu or the common cold.

Psalm 90 is about the brevity of life in this world. Our mortality is a result of the sin in our hearts. Sin foolishly makes me think I can do whatever I set my mind to. I’m in charge. I call the shots. I am my own god. How arrogant!

Thankfully, God sent his Son, whose hands were gentle, to selflessly help us in our sinful arrogance. His hands accepted the guilt for our pride as they were stretched out on a cross to die. He showed those nail-pierced hands to his followers after he had defeated death and been raised to life. Now his hands are lifted up to bless us with his favor and forgiveness every day.

Because of the work of God’s hands, we use our hands not to serve ourselves, not to build our own kingdom that will just pass away, but to serve our eternal, loving God. We pray with Moses, “Establish the work of our hands for us.” Help us live a life that matters. Move our hands to scroll or page through your Word to see your favor and learn what love looks like. Move our hands to cling to your promises and not our achievements. Fold our hands in prayer for those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior. And extend our hands to help someone in need to show them the love of Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, establish the work of our hands, that we may do what matters for eternity. Amen.

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For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12,13

True Priorities Exposed

Daily Devotion – October 16, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 4:12,13

See series: Devotions

“I didn’t mean to.” It’s one of the classic defenses children give when caught doing something wrong. “Johnny, you broke the cookie jar that you weren’t even supposed to touch.” And Johnny says, “I didn’t mean to.”

Do we ever really outgrow that excuse? We might not say it in quite the same way, but “I didn’t mean to” can become a coverup for everything from gossip to angry words to drug or alcohol abuse to pornography or intimacy gone too far outside of marriage. But the truth is, rarely are our thoughts and intentions pure. We may not have intended for things to turn out the way they did, but what we did was no accident.

Maybe we can fool the people around us, but God and his Word are not fooled. God’s Word “penetrates.” It doesn’t just look at the surface. It exposes the heart. It uncovers selfish motives and priorities and lays them out as evidence before the God to whom we must answer.

What thoughts and attitudes does God’s Word expose in your heart? How does it show priorities that don’t put God first in your life? Confess those things. Come clean.

And then see God’s Word expose God’s heart for you. God’s priority was to make a way for you to live with him forever. He did that by giving Jesus as the sacrifice to cover all your sinful priorities and actions. Now God’s priority is to make sure you see that sinless sacrifice as your own, to plant and grow faith deep in your heart, and to lay hold of his forgiveness and the life he wants to give you. That’s why he wants his Word to be a priority for you—because you are a priority for him.

Prayer:
Lord, help me make your Word a priority in my life; there I see your loving, forgiving heart. Amen.

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Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Mark 10:21

Treasure in Heaven

Daily Devotion – October 14, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:21

See series: Devotions

Riches come in many shapes and sizes. One person treasures the blessing of family. Another person lives to exercise and compete. Still another loves to watch others compete and lives or dies with their favorite team or athlete. Some may value their home, car, work, music, grades, recreation, and on and on.

What treasures do you live for? What would you give up to get them or keep them? What do you think would happen if you lost them?

The reality that we hate to admit is that many of the things we treasure won’t last. As wonderful as these blessings are, as thankful as we are for them, they aren’t what matters most.

Jesus once met a man who was trying to be the best version of himself. He worked hard to be a good person. Along the way, he was blessed with great wealth. Slowly, his wealth and possessions became more and more important to him.

The Bible says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” He loved him enough to point out that the treasures he was holding onto weren’t the real treasure. In fact, they were standing in the way of the real treasure.

In love, Jesus urged him to give all of it up so that he could receive what Jesus wanted to give him—a free gift, treasure in heaven. We can’t work for that treasure. It can’t be bought or sold with money. Jesus bought it for us with his innocent blood and his sinless death.

It’s a life of perfect, eternal joy, satisfaction, and purpose. It’s a life free from pain, want, and fear. It’s a life that lasts forever. Jesus gives you that treasure, as he tells you in the Bible how he bought it for you and leads you to believe that his promises are true. Listen as he speaks and receive the treasure that lasts forever. Don’t let anything stand in the way of it!

Prayer:
Jesus, take away the treasures in my life that stand in the way of my greatest treasure—life with you in heaven. 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.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:25

The Least I Can Do

Daily Devotion – October 12, 2024

Devotion based on Ephesians 5:25

See series: Devotions

A professor from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago once did a research paper on what drives people to give their lives in service to others. His research led him to many people and many places. Perhaps the most extraordinary place was in London, England, where a woman had devoted her life to serving the poor. He asked her why. The answer he received is something he never forgot.

She was a woman of Jewish descent. She’d grown up in Germany but had moved to France in the 1930s to escape Hitler. Then the Nazis invaded. Soon, she found herself fleeing from one location to the next in order to avoid capture. In time, she became exhausted and felt like she could go no farther. That is when an old, French widow knocked on her door. The elderly woman warned her that the Nazis were doing another search and that she needed to escape. “But it’s no use,” she told the old woman. “They will find me anyway. They are so close behind.”

But the elderly widow, a Christian, then said this. “Yes, they will find someone here, but it’s time for you to leave. Go. I will take your identification and wait here.” Immediately, the young Jewish woman understood the ramifications of the old woman’s plan. The Nazis would come and find this Christian widow and think she was the fleeing Jew. “Why would you do such a thing for me?” she asked. To her question, the widow responded, “It’s the least I can do; Christ has already done that and more for me.”

The Nazis did come and took the Christian widow in the Jewish woman’s place. She perished within six months at a concentration camp. But her capture gave the Jewish woman time to escape. She found her way to England and, through the power of the gospel, came to faith in Christ.

And that is why she went on to devote her life to serving others. In light of all that her Savior from sin had done for her, it was the least she could do.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I stop to consider what you have done to wash away my sin and to give me life, move me to live my life for others. It is the least I can do. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” —which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:1-3

An Honor for Always

Daily Devotion – October 10, 2024

Devotion based on Ephesians 6:1-3

See series: Devotions

People are all very different. We come in different shapes, sizes, and shades. We have different cultures and histories, priorities and abilities. Among all our differences, there is at least one thing that we share: We all have had parents. Every single person to ever walk this earth has had a mom and dad.

For many of us, it is these parents who teach us what it means to be human. They are our first personal encounter with unconditional love. They give us our first tangible rules and enforce the consequences when we fail to adhere to those rules. Love, obedience, care, and responsibility are all shown by our parents and then copied by us as we grow.

Our responsibility to our parents is to honor them. Even after we are grown and on our own, we are to honor our parents. Whether your parents gave you a lot or a little, God would have you honor them.

You may not come running to the table anymore when they call you for dinner, but honoring parents will always include listening to them and hearing their words. You may no longer present them with a handful of dandelions picked from the yard, but you are still to esteem them for their role in your lives. You may not say prayers with them before bed any longer, but may their names always be on your list of prayers.

God gave us a good gift when he gave us parents. May we always honor our father and mother.

Prayer:
Jesus, you honored your own father and mother for all the times I have failed. Forgive me for my failures to honor my parents and make me to be more like you in all that I do. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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[Jesus] said to them “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Mark 10:14,15

Not Doing but Done

Daily Devotion – October 8, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 10:14,15

See series: Devotions

There are some things children shouldn’t do because they just are too young and too little. Ask a young child to bake a cake from scratch, and you are probably in for a mess and not a cake. Ask a child to clean out the gutters, and there is bound to be an accident. Have a child put on the spare tire and I am willing to bet he won’t even get a single lug nut off, and you will be on the side of the road for a long time.

However, there are some things young children can be really good at, even babies. A young child can cry out in need. A young child can receive love. A young child can be cared for and looked after. Young children are not very good at doing, but they are good at receiving.

It is for these reasons Jesus invites the young children to him without hindrance. Even more than just inviting them, Jesus holds them up as models to everyone. It is not because they can do much but because they need much. “Everyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” With this stern yet beautiful invitation, Jesus invites us to lay down our greatest accomplishments and simply trust in him. Through trust, we receive the many blessings offered to us in the kingdom of God.

It is this act of simply receiving gifts that we get worse at as we get older. As we gain abilities, we want to show them off. We want to do more and show that we deserve things. However, our salvation is never something we can do; it must be done for us. As a child cries out and simply receives, may we cry out to God and receive his mercy, love, and forgiveness.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, give me a child-like faith that I would not work for my salvation but receive it only as a gift. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:18

Marriage is a Gift of God

Daily Devotion – October 6, 2024

Devotion based on Genesis 2:18

See series: Devotions

God provided a beautiful home for the first man he created to live on earth. It was a wonderful garden—a paradise! There were varieties of plants and an abundance of animals. But there was one thing that was “not good.” The man was alone. He observed that the animals had mates, but he had none. In the midst of all the beautiful perfection of his environment, he needed to have someone with whom he could closely share his life.

God answered the man’s need. He created another person—a very special person—a woman and brought her to the man. The man loved her, and they joined together in a special union that God intended. In marriage they lived as husband and wife.

The first marriage was God’s plan to bring blessing to the man and the woman. That marriage is important because it is God’s pattern for humanity. God established marriage as a lifelong union of one man and one woman. Though sin has brought many difficulties into marital relationships, God still blesses couples through marriage as he established it.

If you are a husband or wife, love your spouse and live together faithfully in your marriage. If you are single, honor the will of God regarding the union of marriage. God established his plan for marriage because he loves us and desires to bless our lives through it. Marriage is a gift of God to be respected and enjoyed.

Prayer:
Lord God, praise to you for establishing the union of marriage. Help me to honor this wonderful gift and live according to your will. Amen.

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Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
James 4:11,12

The Irony of Judging Others

Daily Devotion – October 4, 2024

Devotion based on James 4:11,12

See series: Devotions

Jesus could not have been clearer. He said, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned” (Luke 6:37). Those instructions were undoubtedly a regular part of our Savior’s preaching and teaching. And why? Because human beings are so naturally and sinfully quick to judge others. It’s easy for us to spot a sinner… until we’re standing in front of a mirror. We tend to overlook our own spiritual flaws because we’re so laser-focused on the sins of others.

And what’s worse, after we notice our neighbor’s sins, what’s the next thing we’re likely to do? Talk about it to someone else. God calls that slander, even if what we are saying about someone is 100 percent true, and through the pen of Saint James, he forbids it. “Brother and sisters, do not slander one another.”

Judging others is truly ironic because by gleefully pointing out the sins of others, you’re sinning yourself. James explained, “Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.” What are you doing when you stand in judgment over your neighbor? You’re suggesting that you’re in a better position to be your neighbor’s judge than God is. You’re attempting to push God off his judgment seat in order to take his place. It’s a classic symptom of arrogant, sinful, and deadly pride.

But as James reminds us, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.” So, let’s leave the judging to Jesus. After all, “Who are you to judge your neighbor?” Jesus has the job of judging all people under control, and his judgments are perfect.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, save me from the sin of arrogantly and lovelessly judging others. Amen.

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Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8

Run to Jesus

Daily Devotion – October 2, 2024

Devotion based on James 4:8

See series: Devotions

If your clothes caught on fire, it might be your first instinct to run. But as a child, you probably received the same instruction I received if faced with this scenario. I was told to stop, drop, and roll. If your clothes are on fire, running away won’t do any good; it will simply fan the flames. But stopping, dropping, and rolling are meant to snuff the fire out by eliminating the fire’s air supply. It might seem counterintuitive not to run, but it’s the right thing to do.

When Adam and Eve fell into sin, their first instinct was to run. Moses tells us that when the Lord God came to pay a visit to the Garden of Eden, the two occupants of that former Paradise didn’t come running to greet God; they hid from him. Their reason for doing so was simple and straightforward: they had done the very thing that God had told them not to do, and now they were dreading the eternal consequences: death itself!

But rather than leaving them in the misery of their guilt and sin, what did our gracious heavenly Father do? He called those scared sinners to his side. And when they came near to him, what did he do? He came near to them with the promise of a Savior. Yes, they would have to endure some earthly consequences for their sin, but God would send a unique offspring of the woman—his own Son, Jesus—to crush the devil’s head and defeat the eternal consequences of sin once and for all.

What does that important biblical account teach us? That when we find ourselves engulfed in sin, as tempted as we might be to run from God, we should run toward him. No, don’t stop, drop, and roll. Run to the open and forgiving arms of Jesus, who alone can heal the wounds of our sin with the cooling balm that flows from the wounds he willingly endured for us on the cross. And it’s in his wounds where we can wash our hands and purify our hearts forever.

Prayer:
Jesus, teach me to flee to you with my every sin to find forgiveness, peace, and life everlasting. Amen.

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Submit yourselves, then, to God.
James 4:7

A Battle of Wills

Daily Devotion – September 30, 2024

Devotion based on James 4:7

See series: Devotions

The parent-child relationship in this broken world is a fairly easy one to summarize—it’s a battle of wills. A parent wants one thing; the child wants something else. And so it is that from a very early age, toddlers begin to utilize and perfect one of their favorite words: “No!” Mommy or Daddy has directed them to do this or that, but their little ones have a completely different idea, a different will, and they resist. And the battle ensues.

Good parenting involves training a child to submit to your will willingly. It’s a valuable lesson to learn. But for children to be willing to do that, they must learn from experience that their parents’ will is good for them. They need to appreciate that Mom and Dad love them and have their children’s best interests in mind. As children begin to recognize this, they’ll be more willing to surrender their will because they see how it results in their blessing.

It’s no different for the children of God. By nature, we don’t trust our heavenly Father. We’re convinced that our way of doing things is better than his. We’re forever tempted to engage him in a battle of wills.

But how could that ever turn out well for us? Consider the many advantages our heavenly Father has over us, not the least of which is his ability to know the future and control it for our good. More than that, when we consider what he wants for us and all people—that he “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4)—why would we ever think that his will for us could somehow turn out badly? And when we consider his overwhelming love for us—that he “did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all” (Romans 8:32)—how could we ever imagine that our will is superior to his? God’s will is always accomplished, and his will for us is good.

Simply put, this is one battle of the will we should want to lose because it results in our eternal blessing.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me daily to submit to your good and gracious will for me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
James 3:13-15

Wisdom From Above

Daily Devotion – September 28, 2024

Devotion based on James 3:13-15

See series: Devotions

What does it mean to be wise? What does it mean to possess wisdom and understanding? The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates is attributed with saying, “I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.” King Solomon, the wisest man ever, came to a similar, sober conclusion when he pursued human wisdom. In the book of Ecclesiastes, he wrote: “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” Just as having more money doesn’t mean more happiness, having more earthly wisdom doesn’t mean a more satisfying life.

Thankfully, God has shown us another kind of wisdom. This wisdom is much more than the accumulation of information or the acquisition of insight; it is a way of life. True wisdom that comes from heaven “is first of all pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

This wisdom can be seen perfectly in the life of Jesus Christ. It’s demonstrated in his mercy towards sinners, in his submission to his enemies, in his patience with his disciples, and finally in his selfless sacrifice on the cross. Jesus not only shows us the best possible way to live, but in his wisdom, he saved us from the control of sin and the penalty that it deserves.

When the Holy Spirit leads us to understand who Jesus is and what he has done for us, true wisdom is born in our hearts. This wisdom leads us to put away all bitter envy and selfish ambition. It helps us see through the false wisdom of this world that is earthly, unspiritual, and of the devil, and follow Jesus by sowing peace so that we, too, might raise a harvest of righteousness.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, send your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may always know true wisdom in my Savior, Jesus. Help me to live a life that is more and more like his. 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.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Mark 9:35

The Servant of All

Daily Devotion – September 26, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 9:35

See series: Devotions

Occasionally, as I’m standing in line at the gas station or grocery store, the lottery lights catch my eye. And when I see the potential payout climb to hundreds of millions of dollars, it makes me think: what would I do if I had all of that? I picture eating steak and lobster in my mansion, cruising around the Mediterranean Sea, or relaxing on the beaches of Hawaii. If I’m honest, I see a life of luxury.

If you had money, power, and connections, wouldn’t you want “the good life” too? Wouldn’t you just want to relax and take life easy? Isn’t that what so many are striving and struggling for—a life a little bit easier and more bearable?

When the disciples saw the power and fame of Jesus, they, too, thought that because of their connections to Jesus, their lives were about to get a lot easier. No longer would they be nobodies! People would know who they were! Perhaps they could quit their jobs, put their feet up, and enjoy a life of ease and luxury.

But Jesus shatters those delusions because that’s not what the life of being his follower looks like, and that’s not what Jesus came to do.

Jesus had a life of luxury, which so many dream of. He sat on heaven’s throne, ruling and reigning over all creation. But his love for mankind compelled him to take on flesh and endure the suffering and punishment for humanity’s sins. He came to serve us with himself so that life in the perfect paradise of heaven wouldn’t be just some daydream but a soon-to-be reality.

So, what are we to do as his children? We serve. We serve our neighbor. We serve with our talents, time, and treasures so that we can have the opportunity to witness to others about the sacrificial love of the Savior. May God bless us as we serve our neighbor and, in so doing, serve him!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for serving as my Savior. Move my heart to serve my neighbor and bless my efforts to serve you in your kingdom. 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.