What About Jesus? Devotions

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260521dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Exchange Anxiety for Eager Anticipation What makes you anxious? On the other hand, what excites you and gives you a sense of eager anticipation? In a way, anxiety and anticipation are similar. Both look toward the future. However, when we experience anxiety, we are worried because we don’t know what the future holds. We fret about the worst-case scenarios and the “what ifs.” When we eagerly anticipate something, we are excited because we know something great is going to happen. This kind of anticipation can also help us hold out for something better to come. For example, if I know I’ll be dining at a world-class restaurant tonight, I won’t be tempted to hit the drive-through and fill up on junk. God, in his great love for us, points us toward a glorious and certain future through his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus comes to us in the promises of the Bible, proven by his rising from the dead, and he exchanges our anxiety with eager anticipation. He doesn’t reveal all that will happen in this life, but he assures us that he is with us, and we belong to him. He’ll see us through our daily difficulties that often cause us anxiety. He lifts your attention from your daily troubles and points you to the ultimate future—an eternity with him! He removes all anxiety concerning eternity by removing all your sins. All your sins were nailed to the cross with him, and his empty tomb is proof that no debt remains. You don’t need to be anxious about eternity, fretting if God will let you in. You can look forward to heaven with eager anticipation. Looking forward to eternal life with this certainty helps us hold out for something better than what this world can offer us. We need not fill up on the empty promises and temporary pleasures of this world. We can be satisfied and content with God’s love and promises right now. We can leave our anxiety at the foot of Jesus’ cross and wait with eager anticipation for the day when we will see him with our own eyes. Prayer: Lord, lead me to your cross and lift all that makes me anxious and replace it each day with eager anticipation of a glorious life with you forever. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260520dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14 You Are Blessed! “Wow, what a blessing!” “He’s so blessed!” “Count your blessings!” “Too blessed to be stressed!” These are ways we sometimes talk about blessings. It’s refreshing to hear people use the word “blessed” instead of “lucky.” Counting our blessings and remembering where they come from can keep us grounded and remind us to be thankful to God, who gives us all good things. However, are blessings only things we would naturally call good? The apostle Peter mentions blessings we wouldn’t normally think of as blessings. He doesn’t say, “If lots of people like you, you are blessed.” Or, “If you’ve got good health and wealth, you're blessed!” Instead, he says, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Don’t let worldly standards and perceptions tell you what it means to be blessed. The world may look at a Christian and criticize them for “outdated beliefs.” Unbelievers might call Christians “close-minded” for confessing that Jesus is the only way to eternal life. But the one who is truly blessed is the one who belongs to Jesus. Belonging to Jesus means that we do not belong to this world. It means a Christian doesn't fit into the world’s skewed ideas of what it means to be blessed. If you believe in Jesus, and the world looks at you sideways, or responds with even more hostility, let it remind you that you are blessed because you belong to Jesus. This blessing lasts beyond the rejection of the world. This world’s insults don't stick because God’s glorious blessings of forgiveness and life rest on you. Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessings of being connected to you and the gift of your grace. Even when the world doesn’t call me blessed, make me a blessing to those around me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260519dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. John 17:9-11 Jesus Prays for You “I’m praying for you.” Has anyone ever told you that? It can be an encouraging and comforting thing to have a Christian pray for you. They are asking God to help you with a problem or to bless you in special ways. It reassures you that you are not alone and that others are thinking of you and wishing you the best. Did you know that Jesus prays for you? He gives an example of that in today’s Bible verse. He prayed for his disciples the night before he died on the cross. He acknowledged that his disciples and every believer belongs to God as a child belongs to his father. He prayed for protection and strength. In this world they would face troubles and temptations. Many things in this world would war against their faith, but Jesus was praying to his Father on their behalf. The unbelieving world and the forces of evil are powerful, but Jesus is bigger and stronger. The one who answers prayers prayed for his disciples. We are in the world for a time. In this world, there are various troubles, but Jesus has overcome them. Jesus is in heaven, where he ascended forty days after rising from the dead. Jesus still prays for his followers for strength and endurance. He prays that through their sharing of his word and promises, many others will come to faith and receive his glorious gifts of forgiveness and everlasting life. You are not forgotten by your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The world and the forces of evil are powerful, but Jesus is bigger and stronger. The one who answers prayers is praying for you. Prayer: Lord, grant me strength to withstand all those wars against my soul, and give my great anticipation of the glorious life that waits beyond the troubles of this world. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260518dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:1-3 Eternal Glory We can be pretty good at glorifying. To glorify something or someone means to highly value it; to elevate it above other things; to praise it as one of the greatest things. We glorify the status of wealth, and the things and experiences it can buy. We put politicians and entertainers on a pedestal until they fail to meet our expectations. Our struggle isn’t that we don’t know how to glorify. It’s that we tend to glorify things that have a fading glory. Their greatness quickly passes, and we're left searching for the next great thing. When we encounter Jesus in his Word, we find an eternal glory, a greatness that never fades. The Bible verse today is a prayer that Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified. He prays that God the Father be glorified, that God’s greatness would be made known in what Jesus was about to do. He prays that he, God the Son, also would be glorified. Jesus did not seek to be glorified in a worldly sense, such as being a king on earth or receiving fame and fortune. To be glorified, Jesus was not put on a pedestal; he was put on a cross. How could there be greatness and glory in suffering and dying on a cross? Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished the greatest thing ever—the forgiveness of our sins, all the times we’ve glorified the wrong things. This great and glorious thing is proven by Jesus rising from the dead. It’s living proof that eternal life is ours just as Jesus promises. We don’t receive this glory because of our hard work. Jesus did it all. This glorious forgiveness and eternal life are ours through knowing Jesus in faith. We can set aside all the things we’ve glorified and place all our hope in Jesus and his glory, which never fades. Prayer: Lord, let all the glory of this world fade, and fix my faith on your eternal glory, the glory of sins forgiven and everlasting 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260517dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14 Insult It hurts to be insulted. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about the collective teasing and ribbing that take place among people who generally get along with each other. I’m talking about that moment when someone crosses the line, takes part of what you are, and holds it up for contempt. That hurts. When Christians are insulted because of their beliefs, they should not be surprised. Perhaps it’s the co-worker who dismisses you for being stupid and naïve. Perhaps it’s the schoolmate who goes out of her way to flaunt something sinful in front of you. Perhaps it’s the guy down at the gym who picks religious fights for fun. Perhaps it’s the family member who rolls her eyes at you and your “narrow” view of the world. Sure, you can usually ride the waves and take the cutting remarks in stride. However, there are times when it becomes overwhelming. There are moments when the insults truly hurt. When that happens, your Lord wants you to remember that such insults mark you as someone he has blessed. Oh, sure, it doesn’t feel like a blessing. But that’s okay, because the truth remains that those insults identify you as someone the Holy Spirit has brought into God’s family, someone surrounded by God’s promises, someone embraced by full forgiveness through faith in Jesus. So let the insults come. Let the eyes roll. Let the snickers and the sneers do their worst. Jesus says that they serve as a reminder that you belong to him. When we keep that in mind, then such insults are not so bad after all. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the insults come to attack my faith, empower me by your Spirit to remember that such insults mark me as someone blessed by you. In difficult moments, give me peace of mind and heart. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260516dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. Psalm 23:2 Our Good Shepherd Sheep can be easily spooked. A sudden noise can send them into a frenzy. These gentle creatures are not built to handle a lot of stress because they do not have a strong defense mechanism. Sheep are vulnerable and depend on their shepherd for protection. Like sheep, you and I don’t always feel like we’re built to handle some of the problems we’re facing. We can feel stressed and overtaxed. And the truth is that we are just as defenseless. Much of the stress in our lives is due to problems beyond our control. We may work hard, but cutbacks can still take away our job. We may eat right, but medical tests can still deliver troubling news. Thanks be to God that we are not on our own. We have a shepherd who protects us. Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, was willing to lay down his life for his sheep (John 10:11). He is a Shepherd who did not remain dead but picked his life up again. This good and living Shepherd provides protection for his sheep. Jesus’ sheep were very nervous and fearful on that first Easter. His disciples met in secret behind locked doors. Then Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). Jesus could offer the disciples peace because he was alive again. He paid the price for their sin by his death on the cross on Good Friday. The living Jesus restored their joy of salvation with his peace of sins forgiven. Jesus offers his peace to you and me as well. We may feel defenseless with the problems we are going through. But we are never alone. Our protector and Good Shepherd is always with us. Leading us to the green pastures of his Word, he fills us with comfort and confidence through his promises. As he satisfies us with the life-giving water of his Word, he strengthens our faith in him and gives us the peace that only he, our Good Shepherd, can give us. Prayer: Jesus, my Good Shepherd, lead me to a deeper understanding and a greater trust in your words. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260515dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:31 The Past Is Paid For It seems like an all-too-common occurrence when someone in the public eye comes under fire for past indiscretions. Whether it is athletes, politicians, or entertainers, we have seen examples of someone falling from grace. Once past sins are brought into the light, very few people in our society will have mercy. Social media will vilify the person. Public opinion will turn against them quickly. They might be blackballed by Hollywood or shunned by their political party. It is likely they will never recover or return to their previous position. Deep down, we are all afraid that our past sins will come back to bite us in the end. Maybe it was something done in secret that nobody knows about. Perhaps it was a sin committed in the heat of the moment, you know that at some point it is going to come to light, and you are going to have to answer for it. It is likely that whatever happened will eventually be known by others; it is just a matter of time. The fear of waiting for that other shoe to drop is real. We fear losing our jobs, reputation, or relationships. Perhaps more than that, we fear being punished by God for all eternity. That would be our fate, except that someone already answered to God on our behalf. In giving himself to die on the cross, Jesus already took both the blame and the punishment for our sins. He has paid for our sins and removed them from us. Yes, the day is coming when many will have to answer for what they have done. But through faith in Jesus, we don’t have to fear that day. The Judge on that day will be the same one who died and rose from the dead to save us. Thanks be to God that through faith in Jesus, we will not be made to answer for our sins! Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for answering for my sins and removing them from me. Lead me to not fear the day of your return. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260514dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. Acts 17:26 God Gives You Purpose Do you ever feel lost? Like you don’t have a purpose in life? Maybe at times you have found yourself wondering: ‘How did I get here?’ or ‘Where am I going?’ So many in this world, maybe us included, are adrift in this world and on a search to “find themselves.” It is to such wandering hearts that today’s verse speaks. Does it encourage you to know that God has determined the times and places in your life? The circumstances of your life are not coincidental or random. God has placed you where he wants you at a time of his choosing. That suggests that he has a purpose for you and a plan for your life. God has you right where he wants you. Perhaps you are wondering how you can trust that. Well, the same God who determined the details of your life is the God who saw fit to save you from sin, death, and hell. He is the same God who offered his own Son on the cross to take away our sins and give us eternal life in heaven. Having already shown you the depth of his love, you can be sure that same love will follow you in your life. And not just this life, but eternal life as well, You need never wonder where you are going when life in this world is over. Jesus will take you to heaven through faith in him. And while you wait for that day, God has given you a purpose: to love and serve him and the people he puts in your path. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me new life in heaven. As I wait for that wonderful day when you take me home, help me to find purpose in my daily life as I serve 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260513dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 You Can’t Keep Him Down “I can do this all day.” Marvel fans will recognize that as one of Captain America’s common statements. It was something he usually said when he was involved in a difficult fight against an enemy. Cap is known for his determination and perseverance. He might have gotten knocked down, but you could expect him to get back up. Hits that would have knocked us down for good, usually couldn’t keep him down. He would get back up, slowly, but might say to his opponent, “I can do this all day.” As much as we may look up to Captain America, none of us is that resilient in real life. Sure, we fight our battles, and we can give it our all, but so often we too get knocked down. And maybe we’ll rally and get back up for a time, but there are a few enemies that we cannot stand up to. Death is one of those enemies. It is staring all of us down, and we may fight it off for a while, but eventually it will knock us down, and we do not have the power or strength to get back up again. Not even Captain America has that kind of power. But there is one who does. Jesus faced death, too. A terrible death that he didn't deserve. Dying on a cross was not a nice way to go. And while he was innocent, he gave himself over to death so that you and I might be forgiven and saved. But that could only happen if Jesus didn’t stay down. Thankfully, on Easter Sunday, Jesus got back up. “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” Jesus is alive again, nevermore to die. He has knocked out and defeated the one enemy that you and I could never hope to defeat. In Jesus, we have victory over death and the gift of eternal life in heaven! Prayer: Dear Jesus, death could not keep you down. I rejoice to know that you are alive and that you give me the gift of life as well. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260512dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits. 1 Peter 3:19 He is the Champ Winning is fun. And there are many different ways that winners express their joy. Olympic champions cry tears of joy as they stand at the top of the podium while their country’s anthem is played. Baseball players stomp on home plate and are mobbed by their teammates when they score the winning run. NASCAR drivers hang a checkered flag out of their window and do donuts on the infield after they cross the finish line first. Champions are not shy about expressing their joy in victory. Jesus was not shy about proclaiming his victory either. But his victory had nothing to do with the Olympics, baseball, or NASCAR. No, his victory was concerned with defeating sin and temptation. It was not a game, and the stakes were high. Our eternal life was at risk. If Jesus were to be defeated, we all would have had to suffer forever and be separated from God. Jesus did not want to lose us, and so he entered the arena that is this sinful world. He was born here. He lived here. He suffered and died here. And through it all, he defeated every temptation the devil could throw at him. He never once sinned. He was perfect for us. And after dying on the cross to take our sins away, he rose from the dead to forever guarantee our victory. And like any champion, Jesus proclaimed his victory. Except he did not do it from the top of a medal stand or the infield of a racetrack. No, after being made alive again, Jesus went right into the arena where the enemy was and proclaimed his victory. He announced to the devil and all his enemies that he, in fact, is the champion. Jesus has won the victory! And he freely gives us the award that he won. Through his victory for us, we are now forgiven and saved and on the way to heaven. His victory is our victory, and we can now live our lives in a way that proclaims that victory for all to see and hear. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for winning the victory over sin, death and hell, and sharing your victory with me. Help me to live in that victory. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260511dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19 The Gift of Life The human body fights to survive. It has been given the precious gift of life, and it does not easily let go of that gift. And so, it fights infection. It develops immunities. It heals when bruised, cut, or broken. In dire situations, it will divert energy and nutrients to the more integral parts of the body. The human body is a remarkable creation of God. Add in medical advancements in technology and the knowledge that the Lord has blessed us with, and the human body can live longer than in generations past. While all of that is true, the body eventually reaches the point where life is almost over. There will come a point for all of us when the body cannot heal itself, and no medical technology or skill will be able to prolong our lives. What then? Is that it? Not at all! No matter how long or short our lives on earth are, no matter how full or empty we make them, there is more to come after life here on earth. And because of Jesus, we can have a much longer and fuller life in heaven. Because of sin, Jesus knew that we all were doomed to a short life on earth followed by an eternity of torment. He didn't want that for us, and so he came here to be our substitute and Savior. Jesus lived a perfect life for us and died an innocent death on the cross so that our sins could be paid for and forgiven. He then rose from the dead to conquer death and open the gates to eternal life in heaven for us. And now he says to you, “Because I live, you also shall live.” Through faith in Jesus, when we leave this world, we will go to a place that is far better. We will live forever in heaven—a place where there will be no more death or pain or suffering. A place where we will never grow old or have our lives come to an end. Prayer: Dear Jesus, because you live, I also will live! Help me look forward to the day when I will be with you forever. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260510dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 Hope’s Testimony Remember cramming (studying) for an exam? Trying to somehow embed your resistant memory with all those details written in the textbook or recorded in your class notes? You knew that if you didn’t have a grasp on most of the material, you’d bring home the news of a less-than-desirable test score, or perhaps even a failing grade. Peter isn’t talking about a test when he says, “Always be prepared to give an answer.” He’s talking about an opportunity! A God-given one! The Lord is bringing into your presence or opening a door to someone who doesn’t know what is yours—hope! When your unbelieving neighbor sees you living your life for Christ—”letting your light shine”—he or she is puzzled. “What accounts for this obvious joy?” “Where does this generosity of patience and love come from?” “Why are you so filled with hope?” Ah! Opportunity! This passage addresses the subject of witnessing! Of evangelizing! Of sharing the Good News that has delivered a sure and certain hope to you, but is meant for everyone! And the apostle says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Are you prepared to do so? You may be more prepared than you think! You know what Jesus has done for you. You know why he died on the cross. You know the meaning of his resurrection. You know that eternal life is already yours. You know that he is coming back to judge the living and the dead. You know that those who die in Christ are blessed. And that means you also know that those who die without Jesus have no hope. “We believe,” Paul wrote the Corinthian Christians. “And therefore speak.” Christian hope needs to find expression. The questions raised by our unbelieving friends need answering. The love of Christ compels us to share our hope with them. They must hear the gospel! Prayer: Lord, open my lips to share my hope 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260509dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said to his disciples] “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:16-19 The Promise Do you like being alone? Sure, it can be nice to take a walk by yourself to clear your head or escape to the garage for some quiet tinkering. But when the bad news comes, or the holidays arrive, or the loneliness settles in, do you like being alone? As Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure—both his departure to death on the cross and his departure to heaven at his ascension—he comforted his disciples. He didn't want them to feel abandoned by him and left on their own. So, he made a promise to them. God was going to give his Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to be with them forever. They were not going to be alone, in good times or in bad times. The promise Jesus made to his disciples is also for you. He knows there are times when you are going to feel alone. There will be times when temptation will seem ready to overwhelm you. There will be times that sorrow or trouble or the death of a loved one will leave you standing, not knowing what direction to turn. Yet God has not left you alone. When he made you his child, he sent the Holy Spirit to be with you. By your side, he reminds you of the comfort and promise of the Resurrection. Because Jesus lives, you too will live. No matter what the trial or the sorrow, nothing can take away the sure fulfillment of this promise. You will live because Jesus has rescued you from death. He has rescued you from sin. He has replaced it with eternal life. Prayer: Dearest Jesus, I give thanks that you have not abandoned me but have sent your Holy Spirit to keep your promise of eternal life before me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260508dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 The Way Home The apostle Thomas once asked a question that everyone wants to know the answer to: “How do we know the way?” How do we know the way to God, to heaven, to happiness? Jesus did not hand Thomas directions. He handed him, and all of us, himself. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” He is not one option among many. He is the way. That means the path to God does not begin with us. That hurts our pride. We would rather build something of our own. We want the work, recognition, and control. But if the way did depend on us, questions would always remain: Did I do enough? Did I miss something? Did I fail? Thankfully, Jesus removes those questions. He did not stand at the end of the road and point. He marched the way for us. He lived the life we could not live. He died the death we deserved. He rose to life and opened the way to the Father. Then he declares, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is not trying to discourage you. He is giving you certainty. In Christ, you have access to God. Stop searching. Stop striving. Stop relying on your strength. The world is full of confusing voices and competing truths. But Jesus gives us clarity: There is a way to God—his name is Jesus. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for opening the way to the Father. Keep me firmly in you and lead me safely to the eternal home you are preparing. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260507dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 You Belong Everyone wants to belong. We want to know that we matter, that we are wanted, and that we have a purpose. It does not take much to make us feel like we don’t. You walk into a room and scan the space, wondering if anyone sees you. You scroll through your phone and compare, and everyone else seems to have a place, a purpose, a people—but not you. So, we keep asking the question: Where do I fit? We ask it because something in us broke. God created us to belong to him. But sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, severing that relationship and cutting off the connection. The apostle Peter states it plainly: “Once you were not a people.” But that is no longer true. Through Jesus Christ, you have received mercy. Jesus lived the life you could not live. He died the death you deserved. He rose from the grave and brought you back to God. You are no longer an outsider. You belong. God has already given you your identity: You are chosen. You are royal. You are holy. You are God’s own possession. What others say does not change that. How you feel does not change that. What you have done or failed to do does not change that. This is who you are in Christ. And with that identity, God gives you a purpose. He has called you out of darkness into his light so that you may declare his praises. Your new life in Christ now flows from his mercy. Not to earn a place, but because you already have one. So, live as someone who belongs, because you do. Prayer: Gracious Father, thank you for bringing me into your family through Jesus. Help me live as your child and share the light of your mercy 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260506dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:4-6 The Stone That Matters Most In construction, everything rises or collapses on the first stone. Set that stone wrong and the whole structure tilts. Walls crack. The building falls. But set it right and every wall lines up and the whole building stands. The Bible says that, spiritually, that stone is Jesus Christ. It might surprise us when we stop and think about it. When Jesus came, people did not honor him. They did not welcome him. They rejected him and pushed him aside. In the end, they nailed him to a cross. The spiritual leaders of Jesus' day looked at the stone and threw it away. But God took that rejected stone and made it the cornerstone. God built his saving plan on the very one the world cast aside. Through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, God builds his church—not a building of brick and stone, but a people joined together by faith in Christ, the Cornerstone. Now this promise includes us. The apostle Peter says that those who trust in Christ are like living stones. They are not like rubble or leftovers; each stone is placed in its proper position by the master builder. He builds each one into the structure he is raising—his church. And Peter gives this promise that holds it all together: Whoever trusts in Christ will never be put to shame. The cornerstone holds. So those who rest on him stand secure. Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the cornerstone of my life. Keep my faith firmly built on you and help me live as part of your 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260505dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Know this: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12 One Name That Saves Some people say that all spiritual paths lead to the same place. The idea sounds appealing, kind, and welcoming. It sounds peaceful. But is it true? When Simon Peter spoke to the religious council in Jerusalem, he refused to soften his message. He did not hold back. He declared that salvation—rescue from sin, death, and judgment—comes through one name: Jesus Christ. Peter did not offer Jesus as one option among many teachers. He did not portray Jesus as a guide who points the way toward truth or salvation. He proclaimed that no other name saves. Jesus is not an option. He is the only Savior. People sometimes resist hearing that only one name saves. It challenges our pride. We want to be able to prove ourselves, to showcase our effort, and proclaim, “See! I did it myself.” But if rescue rested on us, one question would always haunt us: Have I done enough? As our substitute, Jesus did enough. He lived the life we fail to live. He suffered our curse. He died our death. And he rose from the grave to prove that he has finished the work to save us. In Jesus, your doubt, fear, and worry—are silenced! And not just for you. Jesus solves the problem of sin for the whole world. Which means salvation does not depend on our performance. It rests in Christ. So, forgiveness is not something we earn. Life is not something we must win. Salvation is not something we secure for ourselves. It is a gift God gives to all who trust in Jesus Christ. Guaranteed. Certain. Secure. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being the Savior the world needs. Strengthen my faith in you and help me share your saving name 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260504dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.” Psalm 118:17-18 I Will Live Sometimes life’s thread snaps. We trust it to hold until suddenly there is too much tension. A doctor provides a diagnosis. An early morning phone call startles you awake. A perfectly normal drive to work turns into a crash that lands you in the hospital. In an instant, everything changes. In moments like this, we remember what we prefer to ignore: We are not in control of our lives. We plan, we manage, we secure. But in the blink of an eye, our limitations are exposed. That is why the psalmist’s words stand out. In the middle of hardship, the psalmist declares, “I will not die but live.” How could he say that? It's not arrogance. It’s faith. He knew who held his life. Even when the Lord disciplined him, the Lord did not abandon him. The Lord guided, guarded, and preserved him. Those words gain their fullest meaning in Jesus. On Easter morning, Jesus rose from the dead. Death attacked him with everything it had, but it could not hold him. Because Jesus lives, death no longer has the final word. That means this confession becomes our own. Death is not our end. We don’t fade into nothingness when we die. Because Jesus defeated death, whoever trusts in him will live even after dying. One day, Jesus will sound the alarm, and those who fell asleep in him will wake to live with him forever. With fresh eyes, we will see God and live with him forever. What joy and comfort that promise gives! No matter what tension today brings, your story does not end with death. The Lord holds your life in his hands. So even in hardship, we confess: I will not die but live! Prayer: Living Savior, you opened the door to eternal life. Fill me with confidence in your promises and help me proclaim what you have done. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260503dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” Acts 17:22-23 The True God Is Not Unknown During the time of the apostle Paul, the people of Athens worshipped many gods. They were concerned, however, that they might not know about all the gods, and a slighted god may bring some disastrous consequences on them. So, in all their idol worship, they set up another altar to a god they didn’t know. We may look down our noses in our scientific enlightenment at these ignorant heathens. But are we really that much different? What would Paul see if we invited him to walk in our lives? He might not encounter small statues made of silver or gold that we pray to. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t tempted to worship idols. Consider that an idol for us is really anything, anyplace, or anyone that we hold more important than God or what he commands. We need to honestly ask: have we ever set our hearts on money or things that money can buy more than on God and his promises? Or has one click on the computer screen ever led us to seek happiness and pleasure in the wrong places? Satan would have us despair of ever knowing God and the salvation he accomplished for us. He would say, “With all your sin, why would God want to know you?” The truth is that God sought you and me out and revealed himself to us through his Son. The true God is not unknown to us. By the power of the Holy Spirit through the gospel, you and I know God. We know that he has forgiven our sins through Jesus. And for that reason, we will know God forever. Prayer: God, you have opened my eyes to see you as my Savior and know you as my Lord. Continue to reveal yourself to me through your Word that I may grow in my knowledge of your love and grow closer in my relationship 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260502dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. I Peter 2:25 Return to the Shepherd From time to time, the Bible calls us “sheep.” That isn”t very flattering, is it? If a wolf is bearing down, how could a single sheep protect itself? The score every time is: Wolf 1, Sheep 0. If there is a drought, where would the sheep find decent water and grass? And the very worst? If a sheep goes astray into real but invisible danger, they have no way of escaping it. How incriminating it is to hear the apostle Peter tell us, “you were like sheep going astray.” Perhaps you thought you could handle a little temptation on the computer. Or you thought you could get drunk just once and then get behind the wheel. Or, you thought you deserved the right to stay angry at so-and-so. The danger became oh-so-real, oh-so-fast. It’s time to return to the Shepherd. No more excuses. No more wandering. No more thinking that you can stare temptation in the eye and handle it alone. No more thinking that you can solve all your problems. No more being deceived into thinking that you’re in control when you are not. Return to the Shepherd! Let him be your Overseer. Let his promises guide your way. Listen to him as he tells you, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). There you are safe for eternity. Prayer: Dear Shepherd, I don’t want to wander from you. Please watch over me that I might never go astray and be safe under your promises. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260501dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Home By the time David was finally crowned king of Israel at the age of 30, he had spent nearly half of his life on the run from the jealous King Saul, who saw him as a rival to be eliminated. At one point, David pleaded with the king to give up this pointless manhunt, saying, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?” (1 Samuel 26:18). Although the king relented that day, it would still be some time before David could settle down in one place. How exhausting it must have been to be constantly hounded that way for so many years! You likely do not have a mortal enemy like young David did. But maybe you have felt chased in a more metaphorical way—constantly pursued by memories of past mistakes, of words or actions that make you blush or inwardly moan just to think of them years later. Hounded by a guilty conscience, we may even begin to doubt whether God will forgive us. David had that experience too, after making some terribly sinful choices later in life. He wrote in Psalm 51: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” In the closing verse of what is probably David’s most famous psalm, he writes of a very different kind of chase: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me [literally, pursue me] all the days of my life.” David had learned that no matter how great our sin, the Lord’s love for us is even greater. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, pursues his wandering sheep and gently restores us to himself. During our life on earth, the Lord invites us to find shelter in his house of worship; and when we depart from this earth one day, he will welcome us into his heavenly home, where “the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd…. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17). Prayer: (CW, 552:6) And so through all the length of days Your goodness fails me never; Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise Within your house forever! 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260430dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Honored The story arc of Psalm 23 moves fast enough to make your head spin. It begins with David identifying with a lowly sheep, content to recline in the presence of the Lord, his loving Shepherd, knowing that plenty of green grass and clean water are available. Then Shepherd and sheep are up and walking, and the paths seem right—until suddenly all is dark and scary. Fortunately, David is aware that the Shepherd is with him in that shadowy valley, fending off unknown and unseen assailants on every hand. One verse later, the darkness is lifted, revealing the enemies before him, but the tables have turned in an unexpected way. The lowly sheep from the pasture is now the guest of honor at the Lord’s own Table. Those who meant harm to him can do nothing but watch in humiliation and defeat, as he receives every sign of hospitality and honor. Perhaps this sequence of events reflects the way King David looked back on his own life. He went from a young man tending his father’s sheep to a giant-slayer to being hunted by the king as a traitor to being anointed and crowned king himself. How could a young shepherd ever imagine receiving such honor? In gratitude for all these blessings and more, David prayed, “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Samual 7:18). He knew better than anyone that it was only by God’s grace that he was blessed in this way. Jesus Christ—both David's descendant and his Lord—is the Shepherd King who displays lavish hospitality on us, the sheep of his flock. He took our shame and lowliness upon himself, dying in our place, so that he might share his glory with us. When Satan points out our sin, Jesus stuns him into silence, graciously inviting us to his Table where our Lord’s own body and blood assure us of forgiveness. Jesus, our Shepherd, welcomes us as honored guests, anointing us with joy and the Holy Spirit. Prayer: (CW, 552:5) You spread a table in my sight, A banquet here bestowing; Your oil of welcome, my delight; My cup is overflowing. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260429dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Safety A young couple, seemingly blessed in so many ways, learns that their daughter has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer, and the prognosis is not promising. How did this happen, they wonder. What is God's plan in this? In verse 3 of Psalm 23, King David confidently states that the Lord guides him “along the right paths.” One verse later, however, he finds himself walking through the darkest valley—in some translations, “the valley of the shadow of death.” How did he end up here when just a moment ago he was resting in green pastures? The truth is that the Lord often leads his people into dark and dangerous times in life. These can take many different forms of suffering, loss, hardship, and trials, which may affect both body and soul. And yes, one day death too will cast its shadow over our lives. Although some of these may correlate to bad choices we make along the way, it is never a matter of the Lord leading us wrong or leaving us alone along the path. The darkness of the valley may prevent us from seeing clearly, but it doesn't keep our Lord from remaining in control. Even in those dark days, we can join with David in saying, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Jesus, our Good Shepherd, watches over us and powerfully protects us from our greatest enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Not even death can separate us from the love of God, which is ours in Christ Jesus. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom 8:28). Prayer: (CW, 552:4) In death's dark vale I fear no ill with you, dear Lord, beside me, your rod and staff my comfort still, your cross before to guide me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260428bdev.mp3 Listen to Devotion He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:2-3 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Rest In classical Greek and Roman literature, an idyll was a short poem about shepherds. Later, the term was broadened to include poetic depictions of peaceful countryside settings in general. The “idyllic life,” so to speak, was supposed to exist somewhere between the untamed wilderness and the bustling city, in the quiet green meadows where the grass is soft beneath your feet, and the wind softly rustles in the branches above your head. Can you picture yourself as the shepherd gently resting there with his flock? It may have taken a little hike to reach the spot, but once you’ve arrived, you can linger and lounge and maybe even find yourself dozing off. In such a tranquil setting, there is no hurry, no threat, no pressing need. A bubbling brook with clear, cool water is nearby, should you get thirsty. And there’s plenty of grass for the sheep to nibble on, should they get hungry. Surely, shepherds and sheep can tarry in such a place for a while. King David, a former shepherd himself, may have longed for such simpler days later in life. But even in the worst of times, David knew where he could find rest. The Lord himself would refresh his soul with promises of love and forgiveness. When your soul is weighed down by sin and all its nasty consequences, Jesus gently invites you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). See, your guilt has been removed in your baptism in the name of the Triune God! When your conscience is stirred up by the memory of your many failings, insisting you need to make things right, you need to make it better—look to your Lord Jesus, who has already given you his own righteousness so that you stand before God holy and blameless. He gives you strength for the journey and refreshes your soul with his Word and sacraments. Calm your heart and rest in the Lord! Prayer: (CW, 552:2) Where streams of living water flow, My Savior gently leads me, And where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feeds me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260427dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Lack Nothing What is missing in your life? In the context of reading this devotion and having just been reminded of the opening verse of Psalm 23, you might quickly confess with David, “Since the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.” But as the day goes on, the week progresses, and you look at your bills, deadlines, relationships, health, and responsibilities, you might feel there is something missing. There may be something lacking in your marriage, job satisfaction, daily routines, or life in general. Maybe you could name that missing thing right away. Maybe even talk for an hour over coffee with a friend about what your life is lacking. So why have countless generations of God’s people had these words of David on their lips, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want”? Is it a calm expression of trust in God's providence? Is it to remind themselves to be content, despite their feelings of loss, frustration, or fear? Or is it a prayer, asking the Lord to keep their minds focused on his love for them? You likely would not be surprised if I suggested it was all of the above. It’s true that some things people long for flow from misplaced priorities. The human heart, darkened by original sin, may have you desiring things that are not yours or that are not for your good. The Lord calls you to repent and to return to him, finding in his forgiving grace the one thing you truly need in this life. In other cases, what seems missing may be a truly God-pleasing thing, a blessing only he can give, but for some reason seems elusive to you right now: like peace, safety, contentment, or hope. The Lord invites you to trust his love for you and his promises, which are all fulfilled in Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He bound himself to you and laid down his life for you. You can confidently say with David, “He is my shepherd. With him, I have everything I will ever need.” Prayer: (CW, 552:1) The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness fails me never; I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260419dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.. . . Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:32,36 Christ Lives to Reign King Cyrus of Persia, King David of Judah, Caesar Augustus of Rome—these are three of the countless people who have ruled nations and empires over the centuries. Some kings and kingdoms lasted for generations, while others were short-lived. As different as they were from each other, they all had one thing in common—they did not last. How uncertain life would be if all we had to lean on were these passing kings and kingdoms. Our immortal souls need something more. How eagerly, then, we listen to the words of the apostle Peter. He tells us of a far greater King. This King is the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter tells us of a far greater kingdom. Jesus’ kingdom will last for eternity. It didn’t always seem this way, though. Jesus’ enemies plotted for years to kill Jesus. Finally, they carried out their plans and crucified him. He didn’t seem like a king whose kingdom would last for eternity. But then came Easter. Jesus’ disciples ran to an empty grave. He had risen. He was still King, and his kingdom was still intact. Today, let Peter’s words give you strength. Be assured of this: your King lives to reign. He is the Lord of your heart. He is your eternal source of forgiveness and hope. Prayer: Lord Jesus, by your resurrection from the dead you proved that you are my Savior and Lord. May your sure promises of forgiveness and life not only lead me to trust in you but also to live 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260418dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 Living Hope A person struggles with a dangerous sin. He has given in before. It’s such a struggle that some days he is ready to give in for good. But he hangs on, remembering the battle Jesus fought to set him free. He continues to fight, relying on God’s power that raised Jesus to life. And where there is life, there is hope. This new life is ours through the good news of the crucified and risen Jesus. Through this message, the Holy Spirit connects us to the accomplished work of our Savior. Jesus’ death becomes our death. Jesus’ life becomes our life—a living hope. Living hope is not skeptical. It does not get discouraged when life’s circumstances change. Living hope holds onto God’s indestructible inheritance. If you die or the world ends, it’s still yours. It can’t be spoiled by sin or sinful people. It won’t lose value over time. God is keeping it safe for you in heaven. By faith in Jesus, that inheritance is your salvation—eternal freedom from sin, death, and the devil’s power. So, rejoice! Jesus lives! And where there is life, there is hope. Prayer: Dearest Jesus, I praise you for the life, hope, and inheritance I have in you. And so, I consider it a joy if I must suffer for your name. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260417dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31 Written For Your Faith The apostle John closes his book with a purpose: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The resurrection appearances were not random miracles. They were signs. Proof. Testimony. Carefully preserved and proclaimed so that future generations—like us—might have certainty. Christian faith is not blind optimism. It rests on recorded, eyewitness history. The apostles saw Jesus. They touched him. They ate with him. And then they wrote. Why? So “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Notice the present tense: have life. Not only future glory, but also present peace and access to God. Jesus lives, and therefore you live. His victory becomes your victory. His declaration of sins forgiven becomes your declaration of peace with God. His promise to be with you always becomes your source of calm and courage. His selfless love for you becomes your motivation to selflessly love your neighbor. This is why we treasure the Bible. It is not merely a collection of inspiring thoughts. It is Spirit-breathed testimony to the living Jesus. Through it, Jesus still comes into locked rooms and hearts. Through it, he still shows his wounds. Through it, he still declares, “Peace be with you.” When doubts arise, return to what is written. When fear closes in, return to what is written. When guilt accuses, return to what is written. The resurrection of Jesus on Easter is not only an annual celebration. It is daily proof that your sins are forgiven and your future is secure. He lives to give you proof and peace. He lives—and in him, you have life. Prayer: Living Lord Jesus, anchor my faith in your written Word. Through it, grant me unshakable proof and enduring peace. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260416dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:26-29 The Wounded Lord Draws Near A week after Jesus appeared to his disciples on Easter evening, he appears again. The doors are locked. This time, Thomas is present. Jesus speaks directly to him. “Put your finger here; see my hands… Stop doubting and believe.” What mercy! Jesus repeats Thomas’s own words back to him—not to mock, but to invite. The Lord had heard his doubt. And now he answers it with the proof of his wounds from the cross. Even in resurrection glory, Jesus keeps the marks of crucifixion as proof of his undeserved love. Thomas responds with the clearest confession in John’s Gospel: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas declares who Jesus is—God himself—and who Jesus is to him—his Lord. His doubt is transformed into worship. Jesus then speaks to us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This is not second-class faith. It is faith grounded in the testimony of the apostles. The eyewitnesses saw so that we may trust their proclamation. We do not touch his wounds physically. However, we encounter the same crucified and risen Jesus in his Word and in the Lord’s Supper. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus provides individual sinners with the ongoing assurance that his body and blood have been given and shed for them. He lives. And his living presence continues to comfort wounded consciences. Your wounds, too, are known to him. By his death and resurrection, he transformed your guilt into peace, your temporary pain into enduring hope, and your momentary sorrows into joy that will last forever. Thomas received what he asked for and more. He received a living Savior. So do you. Prayer: My Lord and my God, thank you for meeting my doubts with mercy. Keep my faith anchored in your wounded yet victorious body. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260415dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:24–25 When Doubt Demands Proof Thomas was not there. We are not told why. But in his absence, he missed out on the peace the risen Jesus brought to his disciples with his appearance. When the others told him, “We have seen the Lord,” Thomas refused to believe without tangible proof. “Unless I see… unless I touch… I will not believe.” We often judge Thomas rather harshly. Yet his demand is deeply human. Disappointment makes us guarded. Grief makes us cautious. We hesitate to trust again. Thomas was not asking for some mystical feeling; he wanted reality. But notice this: even in his doubt, Thomas remained among the disciples. He did not abandon the fellowship entirely. And that matters. There will be seasons when you struggle. You may wrestle with suffering, prayers that seem unanswered, or intellectual questions. Doubt does not shock Jesus. He knows the wounds that cause it. Yet the answer to doubt is not isolation. When doubt or grief casts a long shadow over your soul, the worst thing you can do is to go off alone with your gloomy thoughts. The best thing you can do is to go where believers in Jesus gather around the promises of God and encourage one another with those promises. Go and be where Jesus meets with us— “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Go and be where his sweet “Peace be with you,” is spoken, where praying with others and for others and singing praise to God with many voices can lift you up and outside of yourself. The answer to doubt is not isolation. Thomas stayed close enough to hear again. And Jesus did not scold him from a distance. He came near. He lives not to shame doubters, but to give them proof and peace. The risen Jesus is patient with you, too. Even when your grip weakens, his hold remains firm. Prayer: Lord, when I struggle with doubt, keep me near your Word and your people. Strengthen my faith with the certainty of your resurrection. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260414dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:21–23 Sent with the Spirit’s Power Twice, Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” Then he added, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” The peace Jesus gives is not stagnant. It inspires people who have found peace to now offer it to others in Jesus’ name. Notice what empowered Jesus’ disciples: “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'” The same Lord who breathed life into Adam now breathes new life into fearful disciples. Resurrection life becomes missionary life. And what is the core of their mission? Forgiveness. “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” This is astonishing authority. Christians do not invent forgiveness; they deliver what Jesus purchased. The peace Jesus spoke in that locked room now travels through the mouths of believers into the ears of sinners. When a believer in Jesus declares, “I forgive you in Jesus’ name,” it is not wishful thinking. It is the living Jesus applying the forgiveness he purchased and won. Receive from the risen Jesus the power of forgiveness. Receive from the risen Jesus the power to forgive. You are sent to bring peace to people in this world—not necessarily across oceans, but across rooms, across tables, across ordinary conversations. You carry the message that death has been defeated and sins are forgiven. “Peace be with you!” Prayer: Jesus, breathe your Spirit into me. Fill me with your peace and send me to share the forgiveness you have won. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260413dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. John 20:19-20 Behind Locked Doors The doors were locked. The disciples were scared. The next knock on the door might be Roman soldiers sent by Jesus’ enemies to finish the job and make sure every last disciple of Jesus was silenced for good. But then—without knocking—Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you.” This peace knows everything is the way it should be. Hiding behind locked doors was not going to manufacture calm and peace in the disciples. So, Jesus came to them. The living, breathing, crucified-and-risen Jesus stood in the middle of their anxiety and declared peace—everything is as it should be. I’m alive. You’re forgiven. Peace be with you. Not only did he declare peace to them, but he also gave them the proof they needed. He showed them his hands and side. The proof of his love remained visible. His wounds had not vanished. The proof of his presence was no longer in doubt. You may feel isolated in your doubts, guilt, or fear of the future. Yet the risen Jesus does not wait for you to manufacture peace on your own. Through his Word, he stands among his people today. And he still says, “Peace be with you.” When we are afraid, Jesus doesn’t say, “Calm yourselves.” He says, “Look at me. See the wounds that won your freedom.” The same body that hung on the cross now stands alive. The penalty of sin was paid. Death was undone. Peace with God has been won. The peace Jesus gives is not based on our feelings, but on Jesus’ promised presence, power, and love for us. Jesus proved his love for us when he died on the cross for us. He proved his power when he conquered death. Jesus lives, so our souls trust that Jesus makes everything the way it should be. “Peace be with you!” Prayer: Jesus, fix my eyes on your wounds, that I may have peace in the certainty of your victory. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260412dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. John 20:19-20 Then Jesus Stepped Into the Room How secure are you? Is your job safe, or is there a lay-off coming? How about your health? Or what if you had a serious car accident, or your home caught on fire, or what if …? These are important questions, but in reality, almost laughingly insignificant in comparison to, “What is my relationship to God?” Or to put it a different way, “When I die, where will I go—to heaven or hell?” Now these questions simply have to be answered, or there will be a nagging sense of worry, emptiness, and insecurity. The problem is, as we look into our heart and mind, we’re not helped. Have we been perfectly patient with those around us, shown perfect love to them, always been an example of Christ-like love? Or do we see in ourselves a rash of impatience, unkindness, selfishness? Ouch, more insecurity. Jesus’ disciples understood insecurity. There they were, locked in the room, with no idea what was going to happen next, with no idea where their life was going to go. And then? Then Jesus stepped into the room. And what did he do? He showed them his hands and side. There, on his nail-pierced hands, was proof that the disciples were forgiven, that Jesus had fully paid for all their sins, and that they stood at one with God. It wasn’t, “Don’t worry, be happy, the sun will come out tomorrow.” No, it was far deeper. It was, “See here—in my hands and side—the proof that I love you! The proof that your sins are forgiven and you’re on the way to heaven!” Jesus’ hands and side say the same thing to you and me: “You are forgiven. You are loved. You are on the way to heaven!” Prayer: Jesus, my risen Savior, often I’m nervous and afraid. Forgive me. Focus my attention on your nail-scarred, risen hands, that I might see clearly that my sins are forgiven, and that I’m at peace 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260411dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.” John 20:1-2 We Know Where Our Savior Is! Panic, confusion, and emptiness filled Mary Magdalene. Already her heart was heavy with grief as she prepared for one last act of love for the one she had followed as the promised Messiah. She would help anoint his body for burial and then leave the tomb without hope and without help. But now this was too much to bear. Not only was her friend dead, but his body was also missing. First, panic set in. “What could have happened?” Mary must have thought. Then confusion followed. “How could just a few days change my life so much? Just days ago, I thought I had found the Messiah. How I loved listening to him! His words freed me from my burdens. I really thought Jesus was the one. But now he’s gone. What am I to do?” And now her life felt empty. No Jesus. No hope. No help. And that’s how our lives would also be, if Jesus had never been found, or if his dead body would have been discovered in the tomb or elsewhere. Without a risen Savior, we could have no hope, no help, no forgiveness, no life. Then we would have every reason to panic. Then confusion and emptiness would be our lot in life, and we would be pitiable and hopeless indeed. Thankfully, the apostle Paul assures us in the book of 1 Corinthians, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Thank the Lord, we know where our risen Savior is! He’s not in the grave, for he is alive, and we have the certain hope that we live eternally. Now our life remains full, today and forever! Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I rejoice in the reality of your resurrection and the hope and help it provides. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260410dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17 The Lord Provides a Savior It seemed like the end. Jonah had run from the Lord. He boarded a ship going in the opposite direction. When the storm came and the truth was revealed, he was thrown into the sea. The water closed over him. There was no escape. No strength left. No hope of saving himself. But the Lord provided. God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah. What looked like judgment became rescue. What seemed like certain death became the means of preserving his life. Jonah could not save himself, but the Lord saved him. This account points us to someone greater than Jonah, that is, Jesus Christ. Jesus would not spend portions of three days in a fish, but in the grave. He would sink into death itself, not because he ran from God, but because we have. He took our place. He carried our sin. He faced the punishment we deserved. When Jesus died on the cross and was laid in the tomb, it seemed like hope was lost. But on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. What looked like defeat was victory. What looked like judgment became salvation. This means your salvation does not depend on your ability to rescue yourself. Like Jonah, you cannot escape sin or overcome death by your own strength. But the Lord has provided. He provided his Son. Jesus entered death and came out alive. His resurrection proves that sin is forgiven. His victory means death is defeated. When you feel overwhelmed by guilt, remember that Jesus has already paid for it. When you feel helpless against death, remember that Jesus has already conquered it. When you feel lost, remember that the Lord has already provided your rescue. Your salvation rests not in what you have done, but in what Jesus has done for you. The Lord provided a fish for Jonah. The Lord provided a Savior for you. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for entering death to rescue me from sin and judgment. Strengthen my faith in your victory and help me trust in your saving love. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260409dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:18 Mary Saw the Lord Grief had brought her to the tomb. Mary Magdalene stood outside weeping. The one who had changed her life was gone. Jesus Christ, who had freed her from darkness and given her hope, had been crucified. Now, even his body seemed to be missing. It felt like one more loss, one more sorrow, one more reason to despair. Then Jesus spoke her name. “Mary.” In that moment, everything changed. The one she thought was dead was alive. The one she thought was lost was standing right in front of her. Death had not won. The grave had not kept him. Jesus lived. Her sorrow turned to joy. Her despair turned to hope. And she went to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” This is the heart of the Christian faith. Not a philosophy. Not wishful thinking. A living Savior. Mary was not sharing a rumor. She was announcing a reality. Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he promised. His sacrifice for sin had been accepted. His victory over death was complete. This means everything for you. It means your sins are forgiven. Jesus did not remain in the grave because his work was finished. The payment was complete. God accepted his sacrifice in full. It means death is not the end. Because Jesus lives, those who trust in him will live also. The grave is no longer a place of defeat, but a doorway to eternal life. It means Jesus knows you personally. Just as he called Mary by name, he knows you. He sees your struggles, fears, and sorrows. And he comes to you through his Word with comfort and peace. Mary’s message is still the message the world needs to hear: “I have seen the Lord.” In the words of the Bible, you see him too. You see his love, his victory, and his promises. And because he lives, you have forgiveness, hope, and life, now and forever. Prayer: Risen Lord, thank you for revealing yourself as the living Savior. Strengthen my faith through your Word and remind me that you know me and love me. Help me live each day in the joy and confidence of your resurrection. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260408dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. John 21:13-14 Jesus Serves a Meal It was a simple meal. Jesus’ disciples had spent the night fishing and caught nothing. They were tired. Perhaps they were still uncertain about the future. They had seen the risen Jesus Christ, but what now? What would become of them? Had their failures disqualified them? Had Peter’s denial changed everything? Then Jesus met them on the shore. He didn’t come with demands. He didn’t come with a list of corrections. He came with food. He took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. The risen Lord of life served his disciples. What a beautiful reminder of who Jesus is. This is the same Savior who had washed their feet. The same Savior who had given his life on the cross. The same Savior who rose from the dead in victory. And now, he still came to serve. His resurrection had not changed his heart. He was still their gracious, giving Savior. This is comforting, because we are not so different from those disciples. We also grow tired. We also face uncertainty. We also carry the burden of our sins and failures. We wonder if we have done too much wrong, failed too often, or wandered too far. Yet Jesus still comes to his people. He comes through his Word with his promises. He serves a meal, the Lord’s Supper, for the forgiveness of our sins. He comes with promises that calm our fears. He comes with his grace, not because we deserve it, but because he loves us. The disciples did not need to earn that meal. Jesus freely gave it. In the same way, you do not earn his love. He freely gives it. Your risen Savior lives. He knows your needs. He knows your weaknesses. And he still serves you with his grace. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for serving me with your grace and forgiveness. When I am uncertain, remind me that you are alive and caring for me. Strengthen my faith and help me trust your constant love. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260407dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you” Luke 24:36 Peace Be With You The doors were locked. The disciples had every reason to be afraid. Jesus Christ, their teacher and friend, had been crucified. Reports of his resurrection were circulating, but it all seemed too good to be true. And if the authorities had executed Jesus, what might they do to his followers? Fear filled the room. Fear of the future. Fear of suffering. Fear of death. Into that fear, Jesus came and stood among them. He didn’t knock. He didn’t wait for permission. He simply appeared. And the first words he spoke were not words of correction or disappointment. He didn’t say, “Why did you doubt?” or “Why did you run away?” He said, “Peace be with you.” This was more than a greeting. It was a declaration. Just days earlier, these disciples had failed him. They had argued about who was greatest. They had fled when he was arrested. Peter had denied even knowing him. Their fear and weakness were fresh failures. Yet Jesus came with peace. This is the peace he won for them. His death on the cross had paid for every sin. His resurrection proved that forgiveness was complete. This is also the peace he brings to you. You know your failures. You know the times fear overcame faith, when worry replaced trust, when sin spoke louder than God’s promises. Your conscience reminds you of what you’ve done wrong. And yet Jesus still arrives. Through his Word, he stands among his people and says, “Peace be with you.” Your sins are forgiven. Your guilt is removed. Your relationship with God is restored. This peace does not depend on your strength. It depends on his finished work. Jesus lives. The cross counts. Forgiveness is real. Whatever fears trouble your heart today, your risen Savior stands with you. He is not distant. He is not absent. He is alive. And he still speaks the words you need most. “Peace be with you.” Prayer: Risen Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing your peace to fearful hearts. Remind me that my sins are forgiven and that you are always with me. Strengthen my faith and calm my fears with your promises. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260406dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus] is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6 Just As He Said The tomb was not supposed to be empty. On Friday, everything seemed so certain. Jesus Christ had died. His lifeless body was laid in the tomb. A heavy stone was rolled into place. Roman guards stood watch. Death had done its work, just as it always had. Early Sunday morning, the women came expecting the same reality we all know too well. They came expecting death. They came bringing spices, ready to care for the body. They came grieving, hearts heavy with loss and disappointment. But instead of death, they heard life. The angel announced, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” Those words change everything. Jesus had promised this. He told his disciples he would suffer, die, and rise again. At the time, they didn’t understand. It seemed impossible. Death doesn’t reverse itself. Graves don’t open. The dead don't walk out alive. But Jesus is not like anyone else. His resurrection proves that his promises are true. When he said he would pay for sin, he did. When he said he would defeat death, he did. When he said he would rise, he did. And that means his promises to you are also true. When guilt weighs on your conscience, the empty tomb assures you that your sins are forgiven. Jesus’ resurrection is God’s declaration that the payment was complete. Nothing remains to be paid. When grief fills your heart, the empty tomb assures you that death is not the end. Because Jesus lives, those who trust in him will live also. When fear whispers that God has forgotten you, the empty tomb reminds you that Jesus keeps every word he speaks. The stone was rolled away not so Jesus could get out, but so the world could see in. The tomb is empty. Death is defeated. Your Savior lives. And because he lives, you have peace, forgiveness, and eternal life. Just as he said. Prayer: Risen Savior, thank you for keeping your promise and rising from the dead. Strengthen my faith in your victory over sin and death. Help me live each day in the peace and confidence that you are alive and that your promises are true. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260329dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Matthew 21:4-9 The Heavenly King Took Our Place It is a sad reality that you and I sin against our God every day. Because we sin, we don’t deserve to be in heaven in the presence of God for all eternity. And the alternative is not pretty. But God loves us, his creation, and took action to change what we deserved because of our disobedience. God, the ruler of all things, sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to be among us for a purpose. Instead of being an earthly king, Jesus lived a humble life and kept all of God’s laws for us. Then, even though innocent, he suffered and died for us. After three days, Jesus rose from the grave to show his power over death and the devil for us. Now you and I, by faith, can look forward to spending eternity in heaven because of our perfect substitute, Jesus. Because of what our King Jesus has done for us, we can shout with the crowd on the first Palm Sunday, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” In our excitement, we exclaim, “Blessed is he who came in the name of the Lord!” Prayer: Jesus, may your Spirit work in me the joyfulness to praise you for being my substitute and assuring me of heaven with you forever. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260328dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:15-17 Living by the Spirit There is probably nothing more important to a child’s well-being than having loving and caring parents. When children feel safe, cared for, and nurtured, they tend to be more obedient, perform better in school, and learn how to build relationships with others. However, when children live in constant fear of a parent, just the opposite often happens. They suffer in school, have low self-esteem, and find it difficult to trust others. God gave us life by his Spirit when he led us to trust in his Son, Jesus. This gift of his Spirit changed our relationship with our heavenly Father. The apostle Paul says it this way: “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship.” Without God’s Spirit in our hearts, we would fear God and have nothing to look forward to except his judgment on our sin. But the Spirit leads us to see Jesus—the one who became our sin, so that we could be God’s forgiven children. Right now, we can be confident that God loves and cares for us as we await the glorious inheritance, he has waiting for us. This wonderful truth not only changes our future, but it changes our present. Instead of living as slaves to our sinful nature with nothing but death as our future, we can live as God’s grateful children, making the most of every opportunity to thank our Father. Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, help me to always remember that through Jesus, I am your dear child and you are my dear Father. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260327dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. John 11:43-44 By the Power of His Word Does your word carry weight? Sure, there are times when I tell people to do things, and they do them. I can tell my kids to clean their rooms or do the dishes, and they will. I can tell my dog to get off the couch, and she will… sometimes. And yet, sometimes, it does not happen. The kids don’t always do their chores. And my dog defies what I have to say more often than not. But when Jesus spoke, his word packed a punch. When Jesus spoke, amazing things happened. Once, when he and his friends were stuck in a furious storm, he simply told the storm to stop, and it did. There was another time when Jesus cast out some demons who were torturing a young man simply by the power of his word. And in our Bible reading today, we see that by the power of his word, Jesus raised a dead man to life. He simply told him, “Lazarus, come out!” Why do Jesus’ words carry so much power and authority? It’s because he is the Son of God. He’s not just the head of a household. He’s sitting on a throne ruling heaven and earth. And what he says, goes. That’s why I want to tell you about something else Jesus said. One of the last things he said, when he was dying, was “paid in full.” That’s what Jesus said about the sins of humanity—about your sins and mine. By his death on the cross he paid for them in full. He paid for them with his life. Because our sins have been wiped out, you and I are sinless before holy God. And he sees us as his children whom he loves dearly, children whom he will welcome to our home with him in heaven some day. All by the power of Jesus’ word. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for saving me through your death on the cross. May I daily draw comfort from the power of your holy Word. 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.