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March 13, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2026 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260313dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” The LORD answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people . . . I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” Exodus 17:3,5-6 Water from a Rock If you grew up in a home like mine and you complained about your food, you heard your parents say something like this: “There are starving children in Africa who would love to have that food.” Whether the reasoning was sound, the point was that we should be thankful for what we had instead of complaining. The temptation to be dissatisfied with what we have has plagued humanity for almost as long as this world has existed. But what if it is a basic need that seems to be missing? The nation of Israel was in the wilderness. No running water. No cool springs, pools, or streams to draw water from. We can live without food, but water is essential. Didn't God care enough to provide? But God wasn’t ignoring their need. With a miracle, he would show that he was the one who provided for them. He told Moses to strike a rock with his staff, and water flowed out of that rock for them to drink. How patient God was with them. How patient God is with us. We grumble and complain; yet he patiently continues to provide just what we need every day. The greatest gift he provides is another Rock. The Bible later comments on this time period and says, “They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4). Jesus was always with them, and he is always with us, too. In his word of grace, he gives us the essential water for our spiritual lives. Through that living water that flows from Jesus, we are rescued from the wilderness we deserve because of our sins. And we are kept alive to dwell with our God, whose patient love for us always provides everything we need and more! Thanks be to God! Prayer: Jesus, forgive my grumbling and lack of trust. Pour out your living and life-giving water to quench my thirsty soul. 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/family-devotions/20260313fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: John 4:5-26 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” John 4:7,9,13-15 The Picture We Can't Live Without In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever heard someone say, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? It means that sometimes showing a picture is better than trying to explain it with words. For example, I could describe a famous painting for a long time but seeing it in person makes it so much easier to understand. When Jesus taught people, he loved to use pictures like that to help them understand really important truths. One of his favorite pictures was water. Why water? Because we literally can't live without it! A human body can only survive about three days without water. Water is essential for life. One day, Jesus met a woman at a well. She had come to draw water to drink. Jesus used that every day, important water to teach her about something even more important: spiritual life. He said: “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Jesus wasn't talking about water you guzzle from a bottle that quenches your thirst for a little while. He was talking about the gift of salvation—forgiveness of sins and eternal life—something that lasts forever. We all look for things in this life to make us happy. The woman at the well thought the right person in her life would make her happy. We might think games, friends, screens, or even AI will satisfy us. The problem is those things never fully satisfy us. They leave us wanting more. They leave us feeling empty. Jesus gives us what we can't find anywhere else: Forgiveness when we foolishly look elsewhere for fulfillment. Peace with God for the moments we need it most. Eternal life to someday replace this life. And the best part? He fully satisfies us with salvation! We don't need to keep going back and trying over and over—Jesus already gives us everything we need. Jesus even gave us a picture of this truth: his cross. Look at it, and you see the gift of salvation, love, and forgiveness—all in one picture. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for helping me understand how important your gift of salvation is for me. May your gift always satisfy me and make me truly happy. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What happens to a person who doesn't drink water? How is that like what happens to someone who doesn't know or believe in Jesus? When you see a picture of a cross, what does it make you think of? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why was the woman at the well so surprised that Jesus talked to her? What does that show us about Jesus? How is spiritual life like drinking water? How is it different? Questions for Middle School and Above Name three other things people sometimes look to for happiness or fulfillment. Jesus used a normal, everyday thing (water) to teach a spiritual truth. Can you think of something in your life that could help you teach someone about Jesus? How would that look? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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.

March 12, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2026 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260312dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalm 95:6-7 Under His Care Imagine a shepherd who takes care of sheep. However, he is only concerned about making sure that they have food to eat. As long as the grass is growing in the field, nothing else matters. Or he only thinks about providing shelter. As long as the barn or the sheep pen is in good repair, he thinks he’s done his job. Such a shepherd won’t be a shepherd for long. The sheep may be well fed but have no protection from wolves that want to attack. They may have shelter but lack the basic food and water they need to survive. No, that would be unthinkable. A shepherd needs to attend to all the needs of his sheep. Today’s Bible verse invites us to worship the Lord because he is our Maker. Reflecting on all that we are and all that we have from the Lord who made heaven and earth leads us to joyful worship. But then he adds another even greater reason to worship. “He is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” The God who made us is the Shepherd who cares for us. Who better to care for us than he? He knows our needs, inside and out. He knows the diseases that threaten our bodies and our souls. He sees the wolves that want to attack and destroy us. He knows the nourishment our hearts need not only to survive but to thrive. With his innocent life and death, Jesus crushed Satan’s power to accuse and destroy us, no matter what we've done. With the nourishing food of his Word, he feeds our faith to receive forgiveness and the life he won at the cross. No, not a single need escapes his notice. Not a single need is beyond his care. He consistently, lovingly, and perfectly provides for all our needs. And he blesses us every day with one goal in mind—to bring us safely into his eternal pastures, where we will praise him forever. Prayer: God, my Maker and my Shepherd, I worship and praise you for your perfect love and care for 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.

March 11, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2026 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260311dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 Filled with His Love “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” “No pain, no gain.” People say such things to encourage someone not to give up in difficult circumstances. It could be an athletic training regimen, a cancer treatment program, or just the emptiness that comes when we experience loss. If you are like me, if someone says something like this, there’s a part of you that thinks, “That’s easy for you to say. You are not going through it.” Or you find yourself wondering if the suffering and pain are worth the possible gain you might receive. Today’s Bible verses might sound like one of those “no pain, no gain” pep talks: “You are going to suffer, but keep your chin up. It will make you stronger and better in the end.” But that’s not what St. Paul meant. Yes, he is trying to reshape our view of suffering, especially suffering because of our trust in Jesus. But it’s not about finding or forging personal strength by fighting through the pain and not giving up. Instead, God wants our suffering to guide us in seeking answers and strength beyond ourselves. Our answers, our hope, our strength don’t come from a hidden reservoir inside of us but from what God himself pours into us. The Bible says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” God loves us unconditionally and knows our struggles, wanting to rescue us from them. That’s why Jesus came, to suffer so that we don’t have to, to conquer sin and death because we couldn’t. Only God has the strength to overcome every trouble. Only he could love us enough to do just that. And his loving promises never fail. Filled up with his unfailing love, we can keep going with the strength he provides. We can press on, fueled by confidence in his unfailing love. Prayer: God, pour your love into my heart, that I can face every day with the hope that you give. 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/family-devotions/20260311fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 5:1-8 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:1,6,8 The Price of Our Peace Has Already Been Paid! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Do you like peace and quiet? If you have a little brother or sister, or a new baby in the house, you know exactly what I mean. You probably love it when everyone is calm and happy, right? But sometimes it feels impossible. Little siblings whine. Babies cry. And suddenly it seems like peace and quiet will never come back! Jesus promises peace too—but not just quiet in your house. He promises peace with God—and that's even more important. Here's why: God is holy and perfect, and we are not perfect. The Bible says we are enemies of God because of our sins. Normally, enemies try to get peace by fighting until one side wins. But that's not how we get peace with God. Paul explains it like this: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). “Justified” is a big Bible word that simply means: God says, “You're not guilty!” He says we are not enemies anymore, no matter what wrongs we've done. Think about your siblings for a minute. How do you try to make peace with them? Give them a snack if they're hungry? Give them a toy if they're bored? Let them take a nap if they need it? Sometimes that works. But sometimes it doesn't! They might still cry, still fight, or still be unhappy. Jesus didn't leave peace up to chance. He wanted to guarantee it for us. Paul says: “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). Even though we deserved the punishment, Jesus took it for us. He defeated the real enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Because Jesus won, peace with God is now ours—forever! That's why he's called the “Prince of Peace!” Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me peace with God that I couldn't have on my own. Thank you for dying for my sins and defeating sin and death. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children How does it feel when two people aren't getting along? The Bible says that Christ died for the “ungodly.” Who does that include? (Hint: it means everyone!) Questions for Elementary Age Children Why can't anyone earn peace with God on their own? The Bible often says “grace and peace” together. Why do you think that is? Questions for Middle School and Above Can you think of a Bible story that you think does a good job of showing what real peace looks like? (Helps: Jesus calms a storm, Jesus' birth—“peace on earth”, after his resurrection, Jesus greets frightened disciples, “Peace be with you.”) During Lent, we remember that Jesus paid the price for our peace. How does thinking about that help us appreciate Jesus more? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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.

March 10, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2026 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260310dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” John 4:17-18 Dehydration Jesus met a woman at a well outside of her village one day. They started talking, and before long, her whole life was out in the open. He knew all about her. She couldn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t. Her past sins and her current sinful living arrangement were no longer secrets. She had made excuses and rationalized her behavior in the past. However, that didn’t bring any real relief to the condition of her soul. What Jesus said revealed that she was spiritually dehydrated. What Jesus said revealed how desperately she needed living water. What proof of spiritual dehydration would Jesus point out in your life? What sins for which you’ve made excuses? What sins did you hope were hidden or forgotten? Would he mention a disregard for marriage in the way you live each day? Would he point to choices about how you spend your time or money that don’t put God first? Would he ask questions that reveal grudges you don’t want to let go of or anger that you let fester in your heart? Would he uncover lies you have told or hurtful things you have said? In his Word, Jesus uses the commands of the law to awaken in us a spiritual thirst that no amount of effort or excuses can satisfy. He shows us that what naturally wells up in us is filthy sludge that can only lead to death and not the pure, clean water that leads to eternal life. Jesus himself is the pure living water we need. He entered the wasteland of our world and found spiritual refreshment every day in God’s Word. Then he hung on a cross, thirsty not just from the physical toll of crucifixion but from the spiritual dehydration of our sins that he took as his own. Now he refreshes us with the promise that our sins are forgiven. Our guilt is gone. He revives us with his mercy. Through his death and resurrection, he gives us new life that will never end. Prayer: Jesus, give me living water every day in the promise of your forgiveness. 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/20260309dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10 If You Knew Knowledge is power. When you know a problem, you can address it. When you have the background of a situation, you are better equipped to assess it and react appropriately. Proper education and training are essential for achieving objectives and goals within a given field. One day, Jesus was talking to a woman in a village he was passing through. She had not met him before. Both his ethnicity and his gender as a Jewish man would have made a public conversation between the two of them culturally inappropriate at that time. But Jesus was willing to work past those cultural norms. He began the conversation by asking her for a drink of water. When she responded with surprise and suspicion, what he said got her attention even more: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” “If you knew…” But she didn’t. To her, Jesus was just a bold Jewish rabbi. But he was so much more. He was the Son of God who gave physical water its qualities that are so important for life. He was the Messiah, who came from God to quench the needs of thirsty souls with his grace, mercy, and forgiving love. He was the only one who could solve her deepest need and ours. Jesus wants us to know him, too. When we know who he is, we eagerly come to him with every need of our thirsty souls, knowing that he will meet each one. He already has. By taking our sins on himself, he set us free from guilt. By giving his life for us, he rescued us from death. By rising from the dead, he gave us eternal life with him. No need is too great for him. In the Bible, Jesus invites you to get to know him better. Then, knowing how he loves to bless you, turn to him in every time of need. Prayer: Dear Jesus, lead me to your Word to know you better and, knowing you, to come to you for every blessing. 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.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

March 9, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2020 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260309dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10 If You Knew Knowledge is power. When you know a problem, you can address it. When you have the background of a situation, you are better equipped to assess it and react appropriately. Proper education and training are essential for achieving objectives and goals within a given field. One day, Jesus was talking to a woman in a village he was passing through. She had not met him before. Both his ethnicity and his gender as a Jewish man would have made a public conversation between the two of them culturally inappropriate at that time. But Jesus was willing to work past those cultural norms. He began the conversation by asking her for a drink of water. When she responded with surprise and suspicion, what he said got her attention even more: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” “If you knew…” But she didn’t. To her, Jesus was just a bold Jewish rabbi. But he was so much more. He was the Son of God who gave physical water its qualities that are so important for life. He was the Messiah, who came from God to quench the needs of thirsty souls with his grace, mercy, and forgiving love. He was the only one who could solve her deepest need and ours. Jesus wants us to know him, too. When we know who he is, we eagerly come to him with every need of our thirsty souls, knowing that he will meet each one. He already has. By taking our sins on himself, he set us free from guilt. By giving his life for us, he rescued us from death. By rising from the dead, he gave us eternal life with him. No need is too great for him. In the Bible, Jesus invites you to get to know him better. Then, knowing how he loves to bless you, turn to him in every time of need. Prayer: Dear Jesus, lead me to your Word to know you better and, knowing you, to come to you for every blessing. 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/20260309dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10 If You Knew Knowledge is power. When you know a problem, you can address it. When you have the background of a situation, you are better equipped to assess it and react appropriately. Proper education and training are essential for achieving objectives and goals within a given field. One day, Jesus was talking to a woman in a village he was passing through. She had not met him before. Both his ethnicity and his gender as a Jewish man would have made a public conversation between the two of them culturally inappropriate at that time. But Jesus was willing to work past those cultural norms. He began the conversation by asking her for a drink of water. When she responded with surprise and suspicion, what he said got her attention even more: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” “If you knew…” But she didn’t. To her, Jesus was just a bold Jewish rabbi. But he was so much more. He was the Son of God who gave physical water its qualities that are so important for life. He was the Messiah, who came from God to quench the needs of thirsty souls with his grace, mercy, and forgiving love. He was the only one who could solve her deepest need and ours. Jesus wants us to know him, too. When we know who he is, we eagerly come to him with every need of our thirsty souls, knowing that he will meet each one. He already has. By taking our sins on himself, he set us free from guilt. By giving his life for us, he rescued us from death. By rising from the dead, he gave us eternal life with him. No need is too great for him. In the Bible, Jesus invites you to get to know him better. Then, knowing how he loves to bless you, turn to him in every time of need. Prayer: Dear Jesus, lead me to your Word to know you better and, knowing you, to come to you for every blessing. 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/20260308dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 True, Lasting Peace Amidst the struggles and hassles of our lives, there is a longing for true, lasting peace. If only there could be the peace that existed in the Garden of Eden. Our first parents lived in perfect harmony with God. They were his friends. And out of that peaceful relationship flowed a warm relationship with one another. The tragedy of sin was that it shattered both the peace between God and people and the peace among people. Quickly after the fall into sin, we see the rise of doubts and fears and hostility, which people directed both toward God and toward one another. True, lasting peace was lost. It's not hard to point to examples in our lives that demonstrate the truth of this: the envy in our hearts, the lust of our eyes, and the hurt that we cause by wayward words and selfish actions. For all these sins and the many more we do, we truly deserve God's eternal wrath and the pronouncement of his condemnation. Yet the remarkable thing is that God loves us, and he demonstrated his one-of-a-kind love by reestablishing peace between himself and his sinful, rebellious world of people. Listen to the words again: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Every teaching of Scripture rests upon this truth. Though all people are undeserving sinners, Christ sacrificed himself in their place to win peace between God and us. Peace was reestablished through the death of Jesus Christ for “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” (Isaiah 53:5). God’s righteous wrath against sin was directed at Jesus, and he paid the deadly price for sin with his own precious blood and his innocent sufferings and death. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Prayer: O Jesus, by humbling yourself and dying for me, you rescued sinners from the condemnation I deserved. Comfort me with the true, lasting peace which comes from knowing and believing that you are my precious Savior. 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.

March 8, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2020 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260308dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 True, Lasting Peace Amidst the struggles and hassles of our lives, there is a longing for true, lasting peace. If only there could be the peace that existed in the Garden of Eden. Our first parents lived in perfect harmony with God. They were his friends. And out of that peaceful relationship flowed a warm relationship with one another. The tragedy of sin was that it shattered both the peace between God and people and the peace among people. Quickly after the fall into sin, we see the rise of doubts and fears and hostility, which people directed both toward God and toward one another. True, lasting peace was lost. It's not hard to point to examples in our lives that demonstrate the truth of this: the envy in our hearts, the lust of our eyes, and the hurt that we cause by wayward words and selfish actions. For all these sins and the many more we do, we truly deserve God's eternal wrath and the pronouncement of his condemnation. Yet the remarkable thing is that God loves us, and he demonstrated his one-of-a-kind love by reestablishing peace between himself and his sinful, rebellious world of people. Listen to the words again: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Every teaching of Scripture rests upon this truth. Though all people are undeserving sinners, Christ sacrificed himself in their place to win peace between God and us. Peace was reestablished through the death of Jesus Christ for “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” (Isaiah 53:5). God’s righteous wrath against sin was directed at Jesus, and he paid the deadly price for sin with his own precious blood and his innocent sufferings and death. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Prayer: O Jesus, by humbling yourself and dying for me, you rescued sinners from the condemnation I deserved. Comfort me with the true, lasting peace which comes from knowing and believing that you are my precious Savior. 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/20260308dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 True, Lasting Peace Amidst the struggles and hassles of our lives, there is a longing for true, lasting peace. If only there could be the peace that existed in the Garden of Eden. Our first parents lived in perfect harmony with God. They were his friends. And out of that peaceful relationship flowed a warm relationship with one another. The tragedy of sin was that it shattered both the peace between God and people and the peace among people. Quickly after the fall into sin, we see the rise of doubts and fears and hostility, which people directed both toward God and toward one another. True, lasting peace was lost. It's not hard to point to examples in our lives that demonstrate the truth of this: the envy in our hearts, the lust of our eyes, and the hurt that we cause by wayward words and selfish actions. For all these sins and the many more we do, we truly deserve God's eternal wrath and the pronouncement of his condemnation. Yet the remarkable thing is that God loves us, and he demonstrated his one-of-a-kind love by reestablishing peace between himself and his sinful, rebellious world of people. Listen to the words again: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Every teaching of Scripture rests upon this truth. Though all people are undeserving sinners, Christ sacrificed himself in their place to win peace between God and us. Peace was reestablished through the death of Jesus Christ for “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” (Isaiah 53:5). God’s righteous wrath against sin was directed at Jesus, and he paid the deadly price for sin with his own precious blood and his innocent sufferings and death. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Prayer: O Jesus, by humbling yourself and dying for me, you rescued sinners from the condemnation I deserved. Comfort me with the true, lasting peace which comes from knowing and believing that you are my precious Savior. 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/20260307dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-2 Making a Name for Yourself More than one has dreamed of it. Some have been lured by its promise. Others have cursed its lack of fulfillment. We call it many different things: “making it,” “success,” “winning.” Striving for it is as American as Mom and apple pie. It all comes down to making a name for yourself. People have gone about it in different ways, from getting an advanced degree to destroying personal relationships. “How much do you want it?” seems to be the strategy of success. Abram was already a success in the eyes of the world. He was married and wealthy. Then God changed everything. God promised Abram even more. God promised Abram a name so great that generations would remember it. Abram believed God’s promise, left his home, and went to a land he had never been to before. God makes a promise to you, too. His promise is that your name will be great—maybe not here on this earth, but certainly in the roles of heaven. God will make your name great, too. How much do you want it? Believe in Jesus. Abram did. That’s the way God marks success. Prayer: Savior, may your promises fill my heart with eager anticipation to see your glory forever in heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

March 7, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2020 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260307dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-2 Making a Name for Yourself More than one has dreamed of it. Some have been lured by its promise. Others have cursed its lack of fulfillment. We call it many different things: “making it,” “success,” “winning.” Striving for it is as American as Mom and apple pie. It all comes down to making a name for yourself. People have gone about it in different ways, from getting an advanced degree to destroying personal relationships. “How much do you want it?” seems to be the strategy of success. Abram was already a success in the eyes of the world. He was married and wealthy. Then God changed everything. God promised Abram even more. God promised Abram a name so great that generations would remember it. Abram believed God’s promise, left his home, and went to a land he had never been to before. God makes a promise to you, too. His promise is that your name will be great—maybe not here on this earth, but certainly in the roles of heaven. God will make your name great, too. How much do you want it? Believe in Jesus. Abram did. That’s the way God marks success. Prayer: Savior, may your promises fill my heart with eager anticipation to see your glory forever in heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260307dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-2 Making a Name for Yourself More than one has dreamed of it. Some have been lured by its promise. Others have cursed its lack of fulfillment. We call it many different things: “making it,” “success,” “winning.” Striving for it is as American as Mom and apple pie. It all comes down to making a name for yourself. People have gone about it in different ways, from getting an advanced degree to destroying personal relationships. “How much do you want it?” seems to be the strategy of success. Abram was already a success in the eyes of the world. He was married and wealthy. Then God changed everything. God promised Abram even more. God promised Abram a name so great that generations would remember it. Abram believed God’s promise, left his home, and went to a land he had never been to before. God makes a promise to you, too. His promise is that your name will be great—maybe not here on this earth, but certainly in the roles of heaven. God will make your name great, too. How much do you want it? Believe in Jesus. Abram did. That’s the way God marks success. Prayer: Savior, may your promises fill my heart with eager anticipation to see your glory forever in heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260306dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Abraham] is the father of us all. Romans 4:16 Abraham’s Faith One of the giants of the early Christian church was John Chrysostom. He served as a pastor about 300 years after Jesus rose from the dead. Trained in classical rhetoric, John easily could have made a comfortable life for himself in various professions. Instead, he devoted his considerable gifts to the proclamation of Jesus Christ. Like many a Christian before him and after him, John Chrysostom read from the Old Testament about Abraham. He read how God called Abraham to leave the familiarity of his homeland and live as a permanent stranger somewhere else. He read how Abraham, surrounded by a godless and calloused culture, publicly proclaimed the name of the Lord. And he read how Abraham heard God’s promise that the Savior of the world would one day come from his family, and how Abraham believed that promise. As he thought long and hard about Abraham, about the profound faith Abraham possessed, John Chrysostom said this about Abraham, “He asked no questions, demanded no signs, but trusted the promise alone.” Let’s read that again. Of Abraham, John Chrysostom said, He asked no questions, demanded no signs, but trusted in the promise alone. It is no coincidence that the apostle Paul calls Abraham, “The father of us all,” the father of all of us who believe in Jesus as our Savior. He says this because Abraham embodies what it meant to trust the gospel promises of God. Paul marveled at Abraham’s faith. So did John Chrysostom. So did Martin Luther. How could he do it? How could he trust so fully, without question? Was it his innate strength of character? Was he simply a better, more spiritual, kind of person? That cannot be it. The Bible makes it clear that Abraham was born a lost, broken sinner just like the rest of us. In the end, the answer does not lie in Abraham. Rather, it lies in the power of the promise itself—the promise of full forgiveness in Jesus alone. It is the same promise that feeds your faith and mine. Prayer: Lord Jesus, feed my faith by the power of your promise. 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.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

March 6, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2020 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

Welcome to Walking the Way. My name is Ray, and I really want to say thank you to everyone for listening in as we continue to explore what it means to have a regular rhythm of worship. CreditsOpening PrayerRay BorrettBible verseIsaiah 61:1 Thought for the dayRay BorrettBible PassageIsaiah 61Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.Prayer Handbookprayer handbook WTW 2026.pdfSupporting Walking the WayIf you want to support Walking the Way, please go to: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4WXLBBor you can subscribe to the channel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/walkingtheway/subscribeTo contact Ray: Please leave a comment or a review. I want to find out what people think and how we make it better.www.rayborrett.co.ukwalkingthewaypodcast@outlook.comwww.instagram.com/walkingtheway1@raybrrtt

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260306dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Abraham] is the father of us all. Romans 4:16 Abraham’s Faith One of the giants of the early Christian church was John Chrysostom. He served as a pastor about 300 years after Jesus rose from the dead. Trained in classical rhetoric, John easily could have made a comfortable life for himself in various professions. Instead, he devoted his considerable gifts to the proclamation of Jesus Christ. Like many a Christian before him and after him, John Chrysostom read from the Old Testament about Abraham. He read how God called Abraham to leave the familiarity of his homeland and live as a permanent stranger somewhere else. He read how Abraham, surrounded by a godless and calloused culture, publicly proclaimed the name of the Lord. And he read how Abraham heard God’s promise that the Savior of the world would one day come from his family, and how Abraham believed that promise. As he thought long and hard about Abraham, about the profound faith Abraham possessed, John Chrysostom said this about Abraham, “He asked no questions, demanded no signs, but trusted the promise alone.” Let’s read that again. Of Abraham, John Chrysostom said, He asked no questions, demanded no signs, but trusted in the promise alone. It is no coincidence that the apostle Paul calls Abraham, “The father of us all,” the father of all of us who believe in Jesus as our Savior. He says this because Abraham embodies what it meant to trust the gospel promises of God. Paul marveled at Abraham’s faith. So did John Chrysostom. So did Martin Luther. How could he do it? How could he trust so fully, without question? Was it his innate strength of character? Was he simply a better, more spiritual, kind of person? That cannot be it. The Bible makes it clear that Abraham was born a lost, broken sinner just like the rest of us. In the end, the answer does not lie in Abraham. Rather, it lies in the power of the promise itself—the promise of full forgiveness in Jesus alone. It is the same promise that feeds your faith and mine. Prayer: Lord Jesus, feed my faith by the power of your promise. 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.

Watch the Devotion Based on Romans 5:1-8 Ceasefire! Ceasefire! It is an order that demands: You stop pulling that trigger! Stop dropping mortar rounds! But the adrenaline still courses through your body. You smell the burnt propellant from your firearm. You taste the salt from your sweat. Your heart beats in your eardrums. Your eyes are still trained downrange as you drop an empty and clip in a fresh 5.56 mag, waiting, listening for the next “Pop! Pop! Pop!” so you can reengage in the fight. Ceasefire! An order that should demand peace. You no longer need to use your weapon. You no longer need to be on high alert. There is no reason to fight anymore. This is the order we need to hear from Jesus every day because when it comes to our spiritual life, it is a difficult thing to just stop and let our hearts be at peace. I know this is a hard thing to do because the enemy continues to attack our position with lie after lie. Maybe for you it's the lie God's love must be earned by the way you've lived your life. Or maybe it's that God is mean and vindictive and your suffering is God's way of punishing you for past sins. Or maybe it's that your worth is determined by how you perform before God as a warrior, as a single person, as a husband or wife or son or daughter. The enemy fire continues to bark, egging you on to keep fighting, keep grinding, maybe you'll get there someday. But Jesus calmly approaches our position with a gentle yet firm command, “Ceasefire.” Listen to his “Ceasefire” through the Apostle Paul: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). You have peace with God because he has justified you. This picture of justification lands us in a courtroom. As military service member the thought of standing in court may mean that you have to defend your actions. But in God's courtroom you don't need to defend yourself. You don't even need to testify. “God has justified you,” Paul writes. This means that the judge's declaration to you is that you are not guilty. You are innocent. Christ Jesus has taken your guilt upon himself for upon the cross he hung guilty for you. So, listen to the command from Jesus when he says to you today, “Ceasefire.” There is no need to keep fighting, to keep grinding, to keep believing the lie that God is punishing you. Just rest in his peace. Whether you feel it or not, it is true: you are at peace with God for he is at peace with you because of Christ Jesus. God has declared it, “Ceasefire.” Just stop. Stand down. Listen to what God has declared to you. You are justified in Christ Jesus. Prayer: Lord Jesus, because you are my judge, my defense attorney and the one who took my place and paid the penalty for my offenses, you remind me that I stand before you justified right now and tomorrow and the rest of the days of my life. Help me to return to the courtroom and hear your declaration of innocence so that I may rest in the peace only you can give. Continue to bring this message of peace to the hearts of our military service members who are engaged in combat. Reassure them that they stand before you justified. Strengthen their minds and bodies to carry out their vocation as war fighters, knowing their salvation is secure. Amen. Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California. 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. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260306dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Abraham] is the father of us all. Romans 4:16 Abraham’s Faith One of the giants of the early Christian church was John Chrysostom. He served as a pastor about 300 years after Jesus rose from the dead. Trained in classical rhetoric, John easily could have made a comfortable life for himself in various professions. Instead, he devoted his considerable gifts to the proclamation of Jesus Christ. Like many a Christian before him and after him, John Chrysostom read from the Old Testament about Abraham. He read how God called Abraham to leave the familiarity of his homeland and live as a permanent stranger somewhere else. He read how Abraham, surrounded by a godless and calloused culture, publicly proclaimed the name of the Lord. And he read how Abraham heard God’s promise that the Savior of the world would one day come from his family, and how Abraham believed that promise. As he thought long and hard about Abraham, about the profound faith Abraham possessed, John Chrysostom said this about Abraham, “He asked no questions, demanded no signs, but trusted the promise alone.” Let’s read that again. Of Abraham, John Chrysostom said, He asked no questions, demanded no signs, but trusted in the promise alone. It is no coincidence that the apostle Paul calls Abraham, “The father of us all,” the father of all of us who believe in Jesus as our Savior. He says this because Abraham embodies what it meant to trust the gospel promises of God. Paul marveled at Abraham’s faith. So did John Chrysostom. So did Martin Luther. How could he do it? How could he trust so fully, without question? Was it his innate strength of character? Was he simply a better, more spiritual, kind of person? That cannot be it. The Bible makes it clear that Abraham was born a lost, broken sinner just like the rest of us. In the end, the answer does not lie in Abraham. Rather, it lies in the power of the promise itself—the promise of full forgiveness in Jesus alone. It is the same promise that feeds your faith and mine. Prayer: Lord Jesus, feed my faith by the power of your promise. 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/20260305dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3 The Same It’s about thirty years after Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. His followers have eagerly shared the Good News of what Jesus has done. As a result, many have come to faith in Jesus as their Savior from sin. New congregations are forming. There is even a gathering of Christians in the capital city of the Roman Empire. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul sits down to write a letter to these Roman believers. What Paul writes is a letter that outlines some fundamentals of the Christian faith. As he does so, he quickly takes on one of the oldest assumptions people make about their relationship with God. That old assumption is this: I assume that, somehow, some way, I have it in me to set things right with God. Sure, I know I’m not the person I should be or could be. But if I keep improving myself, if I make up for the bad in my life by doing good, if I can live a life that’s a little better and more spiritual than most, then I’ll be in a proper position to receive blessings from God. It’s an old assumption that never dies. If Paul were to have a chance to tour our twenty-first century society, nothing would shock him. Even secularists are using the same old tools: Trying to find peace, meaning, fulfillment, identity in what I do. As old as this assumption is, Paul asserts that it is wrong. The answer to “ultimate meaning” lies not in me. It lies only in Jesus Christ. And all he has won for me—forgiveness, peace, meaning, identity, fulfillment—all this is mine through Spirit-created faith in my Savior. Faith alone. To prove it, Paul points back 2,000 years. He points back to Abraham. After God gave Abraham a cluster of promises, at the heart of which was the promise of the coming Savior, the Bible records that “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). For Abraham. For Paul. For us. The answer is the same. The answer is Jesus. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the temptation comes to look inward, move me to look to 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.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

March 5, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2020 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

Welcome to Walking the Way. My name is Ray, and I really want to say thank you to everyone for listening in as we continue to explore what it means to have a regular rhythm of worship. CreditsOpening PrayerRay BorrettBible verseIsaiah 60:19 Thought for the dayRay BorrettBible PassageIsaiah 60Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.Prayer Handbookprayer handbook WTW 2026.pdfSupporting Walking the WayIf you want to support Walking the Way, please go to: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4WXLBBor you can subscribe to the channel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/walkingtheway/subscribeTo contact Ray: Please leave a comment or a review. I want to find out what people think and how we make it better.www.rayborrett.co.ukwalkingthewaypodcast@outlook.comwww.instagram.com/walkingtheway1@raybrrtt

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260305dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3 The Same It’s about thirty years after Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. His followers have eagerly shared the Good News of what Jesus has done. As a result, many have come to faith in Jesus as their Savior from sin. New congregations are forming. There is even a gathering of Christians in the capital city of the Roman Empire. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul sits down to write a letter to these Roman believers. What Paul writes is a letter that outlines some fundamentals of the Christian faith. As he does so, he quickly takes on one of the oldest assumptions people make about their relationship with God. That old assumption is this: I assume that, somehow, some way, I have it in me to set things right with God. Sure, I know I’m not the person I should be or could be. But if I keep improving myself, if I make up for the bad in my life by doing good, if I can live a life that’s a little better and more spiritual than most, then I’ll be in a proper position to receive blessings from God. It’s an old assumption that never dies. If Paul were to have a chance to tour our twenty-first century society, nothing would shock him. Even secularists are using the same old tools: Trying to find peace, meaning, fulfillment, identity in what I do. As old as this assumption is, Paul asserts that it is wrong. The answer to “ultimate meaning” lies not in me. It lies only in Jesus Christ. And all he has won for me—forgiveness, peace, meaning, identity, fulfillment—all this is mine through Spirit-created faith in my Savior. Faith alone. To prove it, Paul points back 2,000 years. He points back to Abraham. After God gave Abraham a cluster of promises, at the heart of which was the promise of the coming Savior, the Bible records that “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). For Abraham. For Paul. For us. The answer is the same. The answer is Jesus. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the temptation comes to look inward, move me to look to 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/20260304dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Abram] … pitched his tent there, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and proclaimed the name of the LORD. Genesis 12:8 Proclamation “I can worship God at home. I can read the Bible at home. I can pray at home. And so, I really don’t get what the difference is between my worship at home and my worship at church. Isn’t it all the same thing?” Yes. And no. Can I praise my Lord in the privacy of my home? Yes. By myself, can I let the Word of my Lord speak to me? Yes. When I am all alone, can I talk to my Lord in prayer? Absolutely. And thank God for the privilege. But if I then conclude that there is no need for me to gather with others to do what I can more conveniently do at home, then I have overlooked something; something big. Then I need to sit down for a moment and watch Abram. Abram had just completed a journey. In this journey, he left his homeland far behind. Throughout this journey, he did not know where he was going. But now God has made it clear where Abram is to live. He is to pitch his tent in the land of Canaan; a land, God says, he will give to Abram’s descendants. And so, Abram pitches his tent. He, his family, along with the families of his shepherds, herdsmen, and laborers—they all set up camp. But the episode does not end there. Surrounding Abram’s household is a Canaanite culture that is calloused and often shocking in its ungodliness. And so, what does Abram do next? He builds an altar and proclaims the name of the Lord. He proclaims the Lord. Publicly. Openly. He does not just have a quiet devotion in the privacy of his tent. He does not just meditate on God’s Word by himself. He does not just pray to the Lord when he is all alone. He builds an altar and proclaims. For all to see. For all to hear. He publicly proclaims the only Savior from sin the world is ever going to have. Like Abram, let’s take advantage of every opportunity to publicly proclaim the name of the Lord. Prayer: Lord Jesus, you’re the only Savior there is. Move me to proclaim you with my fellow believers. 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.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

March 4, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2020 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260304dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Abram] … pitched his tent there, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and proclaimed the name of the LORD. Genesis 12:8 Proclamation “I can worship God at home. I can read the Bible at home. I can pray at home. And so, I really don’t get what the difference is between my worship at home and my worship at church. Isn’t it all the same thing?” Yes. And no. Can I praise my Lord in the privacy of my home? Yes. By myself, can I let the Word of my Lord speak to me? Yes. When I am all alone, can I talk to my Lord in prayer? Absolutely. And thank God for the privilege. But if I then conclude that there is no need for me to gather with others to do what I can more conveniently do at home, then I have overlooked something; something big. Then I need to sit down for a moment and watch Abram. Abram had just completed a journey. In this journey, he left his homeland far behind. Throughout this journey, he did not know where he was going. But now God has made it clear where Abram is to live. He is to pitch his tent in the land of Canaan; a land, God says, he will give to Abram’s descendants. And so, Abram pitches his tent. He, his family, along with the families of his shepherds, herdsmen, and laborers—they all set up camp. But the episode does not end there. Surrounding Abram’s household is a Canaanite culture that is calloused and often shocking in its ungodliness. And so, what does Abram do next? He builds an altar and proclaims the name of the Lord. He proclaims the Lord. Publicly. Openly. He does not just have a quiet devotion in the privacy of his tent. He does not just meditate on God’s Word by himself. He does not just pray to the Lord when he is all alone. He builds an altar and proclaims. For all to see. For all to hear. He publicly proclaims the only Savior from sin the world is ever going to have. Like Abram, let’s take advantage of every opportunity to publicly proclaim the name of the Lord. Prayer: Lord Jesus, you’re the only Savior there is. Move me to proclaim you with my fellow believers. 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/20260303dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD had said to Abram, “…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1,3 A Promise Let’s imagine the life of Abram—this famous figure from the Bible. In our imagination, it’s easy to presume God is coming down every other day to perform a dramatic miracle. It’s easy to picture Abram living a life bursting with high drama, a John Williams soundtrack swelling in the background. And because you and I already know how everything turns out, it’s easy to suppose that, somehow, Abram does too. These presumptions, of course, are wrong. Ninety-nine percent of Abram’s life had no high drama at all. It was mundane, ordinary, filled with problems, filled with headaches—those made by others and those of his own making—filled with the logistics of finding food and water for his flocks and herds, filled with the complications of caring for his not-always-happy family. And Abram did not have a crystal-clear vision on how everything was going to turn out. All he had was a promise. The Lord promised to bless him. The Lord promised to take care of him. The Lord promised to do wonderful things through him. And most of all, the Lord promised that, through Abram, he would bring the Savior into the world. And that was it. That’s what Abram had. Throughout his most ordinary life, Abram possessed an extraordinary promise from God. With few exceptions, our lives are not lives of high drama. The London Symphony does not follow us around playing a movie score. Our lives contain much that is mundane, ordinary, filled with trouble, bouts of pain, and unresolved problems that need our management. It’s part of living in a broken world—a world broken by your sin and mine. And all we have is a promise. A promise that the Lord will bless. A promise that the Lord will take care of us. A promise that the Lord will do wonderful things through us. But here’s the thing. Such a promise is more than enough. It’s more than enough because it’s a promise sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ, the very blood that has washed our sins away. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the mundane problems of my life overwhelm me, remind me of the extraordinary promise I possess 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.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

March 3, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2020 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

Welcome to Walking the Way. My name is Ray, and I really want to say thank you to everyone for listening in as we continue to explore what it means to have a regular rhythm of worship.  CreditsOpening PrayerRay BorrettBible verseIsaiah 58:6 Thought for the dayRay BorrettBible PassageIsaiah 58Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.Prayer Handbookprayer handbook WTW 2026.pdfSupporting Walking the WayIf you want to support Walking the Way, please go to: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4WXLBBor you can subscribe to the channel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/walkingtheway/subscribeTo contact Ray: Please leave a comment or a review. I want to find out what people think and how we make it better.www.rayborrett.co.ukwalkingthewaypodcast@outlook.comwww.instagram.com/walkingtheway1@raybrrtt

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260303dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD had said to Abram, “…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1,3 A Promise Let’s imagine the life of Abram—this famous figure from the Bible. In our imagination, it’s easy to presume God is coming down every other day to perform a dramatic miracle. It’s easy to picture Abram living a life bursting with high drama, a John Williams soundtrack swelling in the background. And because you and I already know how everything turns out, it’s easy to suppose that, somehow, Abram does too. These presumptions, of course, are wrong. Ninety-nine percent of Abram’s life had no high drama at all. It was mundane, ordinary, filled with problems, filled with headaches—those made by others and those of his own making—filled with the logistics of finding food and water for his flocks and herds, filled with the complications of caring for his not-always-happy family. And Abram did not have a crystal-clear vision on how everything was going to turn out. All he had was a promise. The Lord promised to bless him. The Lord promised to take care of him. The Lord promised to do wonderful things through him. And most of all, the Lord promised that, through Abram, he would bring the Savior into the world. And that was it. That’s what Abram had. Throughout his most ordinary life, Abram possessed an extraordinary promise from God. With few exceptions, our lives are not lives of high drama. The London Symphony does not follow us around playing a movie score. Our lives contain much that is mundane, ordinary, filled with trouble, bouts of pain, and unresolved problems that need our management. It’s part of living in a broken world—a world broken by your sin and mine. And all we have is a promise. A promise that the Lord will bless. A promise that the Lord will take care of us. A promise that the Lord will do wonderful things through us. But here’s the thing. Such a promise is more than enough. It’s more than enough because it’s a promise sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ, the very blood that has washed our sins away. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the mundane problems of my life overwhelm me, remind me of the extraordinary promise I possess 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/20260302dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1 Leaving Leaving is hard. You empty out your home until it’s nothing but vacant rooms. Once you’re on the road, the rhythms and routines of your old life cease to exist. And when you reach your destination, you know that, for a while, you and your family are going to be the new people—the people no one knows. When Abram had to leave with his family, however, his sources of stress were far worse. At that time, leaving your homeland meant more than leaving the place where you grew up. It meant leaving your sense of identity. It meant leaving those who knew you and your family through generations of shared stories, traditions, inside jokes. It meant leaving a place where you knew the people you could count on. Abram left all that—for what? Permanent camping. Living in a tent. Uncertainty. Unknowns. Always the stranger. Never fitting in. Humanly speaking, that’s what Abram had for the rest of his life. But leaving the familiar happens to you and me, too. We leave the carefree days of school, when easy laughter with friends was the norm. Many of us have had to leave a workplace where we felt appreciated. Through illness or injury or age, many of us have had to leave behind the days when our bodies were quick and strong. And when death strikes, many of us have had to leave behind those moments when we were never alone for the evening meal. Leaving is hard. Thankfully, Abram had the LORD. He had the One who would already be there, waiting for him, when his future arrived. He had the One who would be his constant. He had the One who would never change. He had the One who would keep his every promise. He had the One who would bring to Abram a kind of fulfillment and joy he could not even imagine. All this Abram possessed through faith in the promise of a Savior from sin. You and I have the same. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I leave the familiar, remind me that you never leave. 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.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

March 2, 2026 The Daily Walk Devotional Podcast by Walk Thru the Bible is designed to help you listen through the Bible in one year. Each episode provides a short devotional thought and a guided journey through each day's Scripture passage. Episodes are six days a week, with the weekend combined into one day as a catch-up day. Thanks to our partners at Biblica for making the NIV audio Bible available. Find out more at www.biblica.com The Listener's Bible®: NIV® Edition Audio Copyright℗ 2011 by Max McLean. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ©2020 Walk Thru the Bible All rights reserved.

Welcome to Walking the Way. My name is Ray, and I really want to say thank you to everyone for listening in as we continue to explore what it means to have a regular rhythm of worship. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere welcome to Spring and if you're south of the equator welcome to Autumn.CreditsOpening PrayerRay BorrettBible verseIsaiah 57:3 Thought for the dayRay BorrettBible PassageIsaiah 57Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.Prayer Handbookprayer handbook WTW 2026.pdfSupporting Walking the WayIf you want to support Walking the Way, please go to: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4WXLBBor you can subscribe to the channel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/walkingtheway/subscribeTo contact Ray: Please leave a comment or a review. I want to find out what people think and how we make it better.www.rayborrett.co.ukwalkingthewaypodcast@outlook.comwww.instagram.com/walkingtheway1@raybrrtt

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260301dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14 A Sure Cure Bronze has been known to cure snake bites. At least it did in 1500 B.C. God’s people figured their God was taking longer than he should to get them from Egypt to the Promised Land. So, they complained about his leadership, just like they had been complaining for the last forty years. This time, God allowed them to experience a little bit of life without him. Immediately poisonous snakes in the wilderness started to bite people, and many died. The people were sorry for their sinful disobedience against God and pleaded for the snakes to be taken away. God directed Moses to make a snake out of bronze and hang it on a pole. God promised, “Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live” (Numbers 21:8). It seemed ridiculous, but it worked. Snake-bitten people who looked at the bronze snake did not die. How could bronze be an antidote for venom? God's promise made that piece of bronze cure a snake bite. We have our own “snake bites.” We lose our temper and hurt the people we love. We trade news about people we know—news that wounds reputations. Make no mistake—these “snake bites” are more deadly than those snakes in the wilderness. Our sinful disobedience leads to eternal death in hell. Our heavenly Father gives us a stronger cure than bronze. He put his Son on a pole—a cross. God promises that his death takes away the poison of sin. By looking at Jesus and believing in him, we will not die but live forever in heaven. Jesus, the Son of Man, was lifted up on a cross. Because of him, your sins are forgiven. Because of him, you have life with God—now and forever! Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being the sure cure for my sins. 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/20260228dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 In Harm’s Way There are people who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way. These people recognize the serious nature of their commitment and understand the potential consequences. They are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of others. There is a special debt of gratitude these people deserve—military personnel, firefighters, members of law enforcement, and emergency medical technicians. Without their willingness to serve and readiness to sacrifice everything, our lives would be much more difficult. The same can be said about Jesus, and the debt of gratitude we owe him. When we read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ temptation, we might wonder, “Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil? Why would he put Jesus into harm’s way?” The answer has everything to do with our rescue from sin and freedom from the controlling power of the devil. Because we are sinners from birth, it is impossible for us to defeat the devil. So great is his power over us that we would always succumb to his attacks. It is because of our weakness that God the Father had his Son come to this earth, take on flesh and blood, and become our substitute. This meant Jesus had to live under all of God’s righteousness requirements. It also meant Jesus had to put himself into harm's way. To free us from the devil’s control, Jesus had to subject himself to temptation. Every cunning act, every lie and deception, every powerful ploy, Jesus undertook on our behalf. What was impossible, Jesus accomplished perfectly and without sin. He overcame the devil’s attacks and secured complete victory. He now offers us the ability to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life. We can be at peace with God through our Savior’s perfect obedience. We are safe and secure because Jesus put himself into harm’s way to rescue us. Prayer: O blessed Jesus, you are my refuge, my strength, and my never-failing help. Daily be with me to protect and bless me through your victory over the devil. 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.