Podcasts about repentence

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260625dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved . . . Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:21-22,32 When Confessing Christ Costs You On June 25, 1530, Lutheran princes and representatives stood before Emperor Charles V in the city of Augsburg in Germany and presented a confession of their faith. The emperor was among the most powerful rulers in the world. The pressure to stay quiet, compromise, or soften the truth was enormous. But they confessed Christ. One of the signers was John Frederick of Saxony. A few years later, Emperor Charles V went to war against the Lutheran princes in an effort to force them back into submission. John Frederick’s own cousin Maurice of Saxony sided with the emperor and invaded John Frederick’s territory. John Frederick was eventually defeated, captured, sentenced to death, and stripped of his royal title. The details of history are complicated. The pain was not. Confessing Christ had cost him dearly, even within his own family. Jesus had warned his disciples that this could happen. “Brother will betray brother to death,” he said. “You will be hated by everyone because of me.” Following Jesus would not always bring peace with the people closest to them. Sometimes it would bring division, rejection, and loss. But Jesus also gave a promise: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” That promise gives courage. You may never stand before an emperor. You may never lose lands or titles for confessing Christ. But you will have moments when faithfulness costs you something. It may cost approval. It may strain a relationship. It may make you feel alone. In those moments, remember who stands with you. Jesus confessed you first. He claimed you as his own. He carried your sins to the cross. He rose from the dead. He speaks for you before the Father. So, confess him. Speak the truth humbly. Speak it lovingly. Speak it with confidence. The Savior you confess is the Savior who confesses you. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for confessing me before your Father. Give me courage to confess you before others, even when it costs me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260624dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 You Are Worth More Than Sparrows Sparrows are easy to overlook. They are small, common, and inexpensive. In Jesus’ time, two sparrows could be bought for just one penny. No one built monuments for sparrows. No one wrote headlines about them. Most people barely noticed them at all. Yet, God noticed. Jesus tells us that not one sparrow falls to the ground outside the Father’s care. Then he turns to you and says, “So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” That does not mean your life will be painless. Jesus spoke these words while warning his disciples that following him would bring hardship. Some people would reject them. Some would hate them. Some would even persecute them. Still, they did not need to be afraid. Why? Because their Father saw them, knew them, and treasured them. That is true for you, too. There may be days when you feel small and forgotten. You may wonder if anyone sees what you are carrying on your heart. You may feel like your prayers are too ordinary, your problems too common, your fears too small for God to notice. But Jesus says your Father knows even the hairs of your head. He knows your name. He knows your needs. He knows your weaknesses. Most of all, he knows the price paid for you, not pennies, not silver or gold, but the holy, precious blood of his Son. You are not forgotten, and you are not cheap. You are not outside your Father’s care. So do not be afraid. The God who watches over sparrows is certainly watching over you. Prayer: Father, when I feel small or afraid, remind me that I am precious to you through Jesus. Help me trust your care today. 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/20260623dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word The apostle Paul wrote these words to his good friend and coworker, Timothy, near the end of his life. He knew his death was coming. He had fought the good fight. He had finished the race. He had kept the faith. So, what final instruction did he give to Timothy? “Preach the word.” Paul did not tell him to preach what people wanted to hear. He did not tell him to follow the mood of the crowd. In fact, Paul warned that the time would come when people would not put up with sound doctrine. They would gather teachers who told them what their itching ears wanted to hear. That warning still matters. God’s Word is not always popular. Sometimes it corrects us. Sometimes it rebukes us. Sometimes it exposes sins we would rather excuse. But the same Word that wounds our pride also heals our souls. It shows us our sin, and then it shows us our Savior. That is why Paul says to preach it “with great patience and careful instruction.” God’s Word is not a weapon for winning arguments. It is the voice of Christ calling sinners to repentance, forgiveness, faith, and life. You may not be a pastor like Timothy. But you still need this Word. You need it when your heart wants comfortable lies instead of saving truth. You need it when the world calls evil good and good evil. You need it when you are tired, tempted, afraid, or ashamed. And through that Word, Christ comes to you. He corrects you because he loves you. He rebukes your sin because he died to remove it. He encourages you because he rose again and promises you the crown of righteousness. So, listen to the Word. Trust the Word. Treasure the Word. It is Christ's Word for you. Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep me faithful to your Word. Correct me, forgive me, encourage me, and strengthen me to hold firmly to your truth. 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/20260622dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.” Jeremiah 20:9 When They Won’t Listen Imagine seeing a friend driving toward a bridge that is out. You wave your arms. You shout. You call. You do everything you can to stop him. But instead of listening, he laughs at you. Then he tells others you are crazy. You would not keep warning him because you like being ignored. You would continue to warn him because you love him. The prophet Jeremiah knew what it was like to have people ignore his warning. God had given him a message for his people. Danger was coming. Their sin was not harmless. Their idolatry, unbelief, and refusal to listen to the Lord were leading them toward destruction. God sent Jeremiah to turn them from sin and turn them back to him. But they would not listen. They mocked Jeremiah. They hated his message. They beat him and put him in stocks. Jeremiah was exhausted and heartbroken. His grief was not just because people mistreated him. His grief came from love. He could see the danger clearly, but the people he loved were blind to it. At one point, Jeremiah wanted to stop speaking. But he could not. God's Word was like a fire in his bones. In Jeremiah’s suffering, we hear an echo of someone greater. Jesus came as the perfect Prophet, the very Word of God in human flesh. He warned sinners. He exposed hypocrisy. He called people to repentance. He wept over Jerusalem because they did not recognize the time of God’s coming. And they rejected him, too. They mocked him. They beat him. They nailed him to a cross. But Jesus did more than warn us about judgment. He stepped under the judgment our sins deserved. He died for our stubbornness, blindness, unbelief, and sin. Then he rose to give us forgiveness, life, and certain deliverance. God does not give up on sinners. Through his Word calls us to turn from sin and turn to him. He drives us to Christ, where mercy is full and free. He held on to Jeremiah. He holds on to you. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for warning me in love and saving me by grace. Keep your Word burning in my heart. Give me repentant faith, patient love for others, and confidence in your resurrection victory. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260621dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 A Cure for That Itch Mosquito bites. Athlete’s Foot. Poison Ivy. If you’ve ever had to deal with these itchy ailments, you know they are no fun and very hard to get rid of. You try this lotion and that spray, but the itch doesn't seem to go away. Time and patience are about the only answers that make the itch go away. As the apostle Paul wrote these last words to his dear friend Timothy, Paul was preparing Timothy to deal with a situation far worse than bug bites and skin rashes. False teachings, lies about the faith and salvation, and personal religious opinions were infesting and infecting the hearts of people. Such things go beyond irritation; they hurt and kill saving faith. Paul knew that a time was coming when people would no longer desire to hear what God has to say in the Bible. Paul’s words are quite prophetic for us since we are still living in similar times. Some books promote Jesus as a mere teacher of moral living. Others claim that Jesus was not and never claimed to be God. Why all the promotion of these and many other false teachings? Because people who don’t want to believe the Bible have an itch—an itch against God. They don’t want to feel accountable to God or live their lives according to his Word. So, the only way to calm that itch is to reduce God to nothing more than a lucky rabbit’s foot or a curse word. What is the salve for this itch? “Preach the Word!” the apostle Paul encourages. Preach and proclaim the Bible—the whole Bible. Let God work through the Word to do the rebuking and correcting. Let God set the record straight. And even if people will not listen, God still calls us to be faithful to the Word and proclaim it “in season and out of season.” May God strengthen us to do this always! Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to always faithfully proclaim your word for your Word is truth and life. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260620dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 Compassion Jesus was a man in motion. He healed a paralytic, a sick woman, and two blind men. He raised another man's daughter from the dead. He called men to be his disciples. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.” Why this activity, this urgency? Because the people were harassed by false prophets and the forces of evil. Because they were harassed by the guilt of their own sin and the fear of eternal death. And by themselves, they were helpless to do anything about it. Sound familiar? Aren’t we tempted by false prophets who promise a way to heaven other than through Christ? Aren’t we besieged by forces of evil that want to drag us away into the deadly sins of laziness, selfishness, greed, pornography, adultery, idolatry, and the like? Don’t we get depressed by our own sinfulness and guilt and wonder whether heaven can really be our home? And by ourselves, we are helpless to do anything about it. Thankfully, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who has come to guide, strengthen, and protect us. He lived the perfect life we couldn’t. He gave his life, taking the curse for all our sins. He moved beyond death and the grave, rising on Easter Sunday morning, and then returned to his throne in heaven. He assures us that his victory is ours. Because of all he has done, we are fully forgiven and headed for heaven. He did all this because of his compassion. Compassion has been defined as love in motion. That’s why Jesus was a man on the move. His love did not allow him to see us in our need and leave us there. He took action. Aren’t you glad he did? Prayer: Dear Jesus, I am amazed by your love and compassion. Thank you for taking action when I needed you to. 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/20260619dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 2 Thessalonians 3:2-5 Perseverance For those who treasure their connection with Jesus, it is a bitter reality that there are many who want nothing to do with the Savior. There are accounts about Christians in some places in the world who are brutally treated and even ruthlessly murdered for their faith. As followers of Jesus, we may never suffer opposition to that extent, but we do experience people’s indifference, ridicule, and rejection as we live and share our faith. Keep in mind that God has an eternal plan for you. He chose you to be his own, even before he created all things. He sent Jesus to accomplish your salvation. The Holy Spirit used the power of the gospel to work saving faith in your heart. You know that Jesus lived and died to free you from the guilt of sin and thrill you with the certainty of heaven. Jesus redeemed you with his precious blood—he bought you back from the power of Satan and brought you into his family of believers. In the face of opposition, rest assured that “the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” The devil and all those who ally with him cannot separate you from the love of God in Jesus Christ. It is important to “direct your hearts into God’s love.” Keep your attention on the biblical truth that you are saved from death and hell completely by God’s love through faith in Jesus. Then you will not be led astray by false teaching or dissuaded from following Jesus by those who oppose him. Through his Word, the Lord strengthens you so that you can follow the example of Jesus’ perseverance. Prayer: Lord, teach me to depend upon your strength. Assure me with your promises that you are always with me. When I face opposition for following you, protect me from harm and preserve me in faith. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260618dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 The Power of the Gospel Paul appealed to the believers of Thessalonica to pray. His concern was “that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored.” The apostle knew the difficulties involved in proclaiming the good news about Jesus. Just before Paul went to Thessalonica, he was jailed at Philippi for preaching God’s word. Before that, he was stoned at Lystra. Just after leaving Thessalonica, he debated with some philosophers at Athens, and they scoffed at his message and rejected it. Nevertheless, Paul’s enthusiasm for sharing the saving message of the gospel never faded. He sought to spread the word of life wherever and whenever he could. He recognized the urgency of telling people about Jesus and how the Savior rescued them from sin and hell. He asked, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). It is vitally important for people to hear about Jesus so that the Holy Spirit can work in their hearts. Therefore, include in your prayers the plea that God will cause the good news of salvation through Jesus to spread rapidly so that many people may hear the message of free forgiveness and eternal life. And pray that the word of God be honored by those who hear it—that through the power of the gospel, the Holy Spirit turn people from damning unbelief to saving faith in Jesus. Prayer: Holy Spirit, use the message of salvation to call many more people out of the darkness of unbelief to the marvelous light of faith in Jesus Christ. 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/20260617dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.'” Leviticus 19:1-2 Be Holy Have you ever achieved perfection? Making the perfect sales pitch. Baking the perfect pie. Earning the perfect grade. When you reach that goal, you get excited. You rejoice. You let others know that perfection has been achieved. But how long did it take you to achieve that perfection? How many mistakes did you make on the way? The Lord tells his people to be holy. In other words, be perfect. But he doesn’t say work your way to perfection. He says you are to be holy, right now, at this very moment, and then to keep being holy. Of course, you aren’t perfect. You make mistakes. You do things that are wrong. And as soon as you make one mistake or sin even in the most insignificant way, you are no longer perfect. You are unable to be holy even though God demands that you be holy. So, the Lord sent Jesus. Jesus was holy. He didn’t make any mistakes. He never sinned. He never did anything contrary to what God commands. Jesus lived a perfect life in his thoughts, his words, and in everything he did. Now Jesus gives that perfection to you. Even though you are not holy, Jesus makes you holy by giving you his perfect obedience to God’s laws and washing away your sins with his innocent blood. Through Jesus, you are able to be what you cannot achieve on your own. You are holy. Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I confess that by nature I am not holy as you desire. Cleanse me of my sins with the blood of Jesus. Lead me to always thank and praise you for the holiness that you have given me through Jesus. Keep me faithful to him. 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/20260616dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 More Than Enough Today’s Bible passage provides the opportunity for you to give thanks for one of God's greatest blessings. He chose you to be saved! He rescued you from the curse of sin and the power of death. Salvation did not come about by your choice; it is completely the result of God's gracious choice. Your salvation is not a matter of chance; it is certain and true. For even before the creation of the world, in love God chose you to be his own. The Holy Spirit used the message of Jesus to turn you from unbelief to faith in Jesus as your Savior. And with that same gospel message, the Holy Spirit still preserves you in faith. Because of Jesus' perfect life and innocent death in your place, you stand before God as one of his holy people and are privileged to be an heir of eternal life. Believe what God has revealed to you in his Word. That’s the only true defense against the assaults to your faith. Keep going back to the Word of God because that’s where you meet Jesus. That’s where God tells you about his plans for you. He shows you his Son, Jesus, and how he saved you from hell. He uplifts you with his certain word that you will share in the glory of heaven—all because of Jesus. Indeed, this is more than enough reason to give thanks to God! Prayer: Dear God, I give you thanks for planning and carrying out my salvation through your Son, Jesus. Thank you for bringing me to faith in Jesus and leading me to trust him as my Savior from sin and death. Encourage me with your sure promise that the glory of heaven awaits me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260615dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? . . . Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:25,32-33 Why Worry? Aren’t five-year-olds silly? Sometimes they get upset over such insignificant things. They cry because they can’t find their teddy bear or because their favorite television show is over. As adults, we can only shake our heads at these silly little creatures who allow themselves to become miserable over such minor problems. It makes one wonder how our heavenly Father’s head must shake when he watches over us. We worry about this. We worry about that. Such silliness. Jesus commands us not to worry. He is very serious about it because he knows that our heavenly Father does more than shake his head at our worrying. He shakes his fist. Worrying angers God because when we worry we are telling our Father that we don’t trust him to take care of us. Thank God that Jesus did more than command us not to worry. He endured his Father’s anger at our sinful worrying. He took the punishment that should have been ours, so we don’t have to worry about God being angry at us. We don't have to worry about ANYTHING. Your Father loves you. He wants what is best for you. He knows what is best for you. Instead of worrying about things that you need for life, look to your Father in heaven, who promises to provide for you. The longer you linger in his Word, the more you will say to yourself, “What was I worried about? How silly!” Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the many times I fail to trust in your love and provision. Give me eyes that look to you for help in every need. Give me ears to hear the promises found in your Word. Give me a heart to trust that you are all I need and that I need never worry. 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/20260614dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 High Fidelity In the recording industry, years ago, “hi-fi” stood for high fidelity. Much enjoyment is derived from listening to music that is faithfully and accurately reproduced. “High fidelity” is also the mark of the children of God in their performance to God. In this respect, they are imitators of their heavenly Father, who faithfully keeps all of his promises. As “hi-fi” servants of God, we carry out and fulfill the Word of God in our lives, that Word that we hold in our hearts and confess with our mouths. We are stewards and caretakers of all that God has entrusted to us. What an amazing thing it is to be found trustworthy in the high privilege that is ours to follow Jesus and his Word. What sweet music it is to God—and to our fellow human beings—when with high fidelity we reproduce the Word of God in our lives! In commending high-fidelity performance and encouraging us to continue, our Lord is not asking anything of us that he was unwilling to render. The writer of the book of Hebrews declares about Jesus, “He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house” (Hebrews 3:2). Jesus was faithful to the will of God, to the point of death, even death on the cross. All this was for us that he might redeem us from sin and enable us to give all the sweet sounds of heavenly music in all of life. Prayer: Gracious Father, I ask for your Holy Spirit working through your Word to produce his fruit in my heart, including the ability to record in “hi-fi” all the days of my life. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260613dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 God’s Abundant Grace The other day I had a talk with a friend who admitted that she sometimes gets so down on herself when she knows that she has sinned. I think I can relate; perhaps you can, too. What can we do about that? We can go to Jesus for forgiveness. We can leave those sins at the foot of his cross. It can be difficult to leave our sins at the cross sometimes. We know that Jesus has taken them away, but then why do we still feel guilty about them? Well, this is just another way that the devil tries to get a foothold on us. This is the way he gets us to doubt what God says when he tells us he loves us. The devil has a way of saying to us “Are you sure that God forgave that sin? Do you really feel sorry for it? Do you think he’s going to forgive you over and over again?” How frustrating and heartbreaking these thoughts can be! You can find help and comfort in these words written by the apostle Paul: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” Paul knew that not even his sins were too big for Jesus to take away. We can also be assured that our sins aren’t too many for Jesus to forgive. Jesus does forgive all our sins. His grace is abundant. No matter how sinful we are, even if we are the worst of sinners, our Lord pours out his grace on us and cancels the guilt of each and every sin we commit. So never doubt your forgiveness because God’s abundant grace is for you, too. Prayer: Dear Jesus, forgive me for ever doubting your saving power. Through the good news of your word, remind me of your power and love whenever I sin. Help me cling to your abundant grace and fill me with the lasting peace 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/20260612dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 An Unexpected Invitation People often draw conclusions about others based on the people they associate with. And so, there may be people you don’t want to be seen with, so people don’t think less of you. Are you ever the one someone stays away from? That can really hurt, especially if the person avoiding you is someone people look up to, or someone from whom you crave acceptance and love. Jesus approached a man named Matthew one day. He was someone people usually avoided. Not just because he was a tax collector, and people didn’t want to pay taxes. But because tax collectors worked for the Roman Empire, which oppressed Israel. And tax collectors could demand more taxes than were required and keep the difference for themselves. Jesus approached Matthew that day. “Follow me,” he said. Jesus wasn’t showing him how to get to a location across town. Jesus was calling him to be his disciple, to join his traveling school of theology, to spend time with him, and be seen with him. Jesus went out of his way and risked his reputation for someone whose chosen career path had rightly branded him a sinner to be avoided. Moved by the unconditional love in Jesus’ invitation, Matthew got up and followed him. And he never looked back. In Jesus, Matthew didn’t find acceptance of sinful ways. Instead, he found forgiveness for every fault and failure. He found pardon for his past and the promise of belonging in the family of God. He found love without condition and mercy for the messiest of lives. No matter what you have done, no matter what others think of you, Jesus says to you, “Follow me. Know that God loves you and forgives you. Hold onto my mercy. I want you to be with me forever.” Follow him, and don't look back! Prayer: Jesus, in love you found me. I want to follow 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/20260611dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12-13 I Need a Doctor By God’s grace, I’ve been healthy for most of my life. There have been times in my life when I didn’t have a primary care doctor, and I didn’t really need one. There were no aches or pains, no signs of any problems. As I’ve grown older, I’ve recognized the need to at least visit my doctor for my yearly physical. They draw blood to check my glucose and cholesterol. They check my weight, my blood pressure, and a few other things. They sometimes order tests that are recommended just because of my age. Often, those visits and those tests don’t reveal a need for any further care. So, do I really need a doctor? Of course, those checkups would be needed if any problems were to show up without symptoms that caught my attention. Without those checkups, I wouldn’t be aware of the care that the doctor sometimes prescribes. Jesus says that the same is true of our spiritual life. When he was criticized for hanging around the sinners that most people looked down on, for spending time with those who were spiritually sick, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” A doctor who isn’t honest about a risk or problem isn’t the doctor you want. The same is true spiritually. We need Jesus to come to us with his law and show us just how sick with sin we are. Our thoughts, words, and actions are infected with pride and lovelessness leading to certain death. We need to know that. But when he reveals the diagnosis, Jesus assures us that he provides the perfect and only antidote for our terminal sickness. In mercy, Jesus took the infection of our sin into himself to purify not only our blood but our whole being. He healed our wounded hearts by being wounded for us. He suffered the death that our sins brought about, so that the prognosis is reversed. Through Jesus, we will live forever. Prayer: Jesus, show me my deadly sinfulness and lead me to trust the life-saving antidote of your forgiving love. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260610dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14 Overflowing Grace Do you ever find yourself running on empty? Your energy is gone. Your enthusiasm is nowhere to be found. Hope seems elusive. You don't know how you will get through the day or week. What about your spiritual tank? Doubts and questions poke holes in your faith, and it begins to leak out. Guilt and shame pile on, leaving you feeling worn out and worthless. Maybe it’s not a constant feeling, but there’s that one incident. Death or illness struck your family without warning. You heard something that left you with real unanswered questions about your faith. You made a huge mistake, and someone was really hurt. You feel empty, confused, and worthless. When the apostle Paul wrote the words for our devotion today, he knew that, by his own strength, he could accomplish nothing. His past was checkered. His present was far from perfect. His tank was empty. But into his emptiness God poured grace. God's unconditional love and mercy overflowed in Paul’s life. It overflowed when he met Jesus. Face-to-face with Jesus, he knew that he deserved to die for the way he had treated Christians, to suffer for the suffering he had caused. But Paul said, “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly.” God’s love overflowed to forgive him. As many sins as he had, God had more grace. Because of God’s overflowing love, Paul was forgiven. With that forgiving grace, the Lord also poured out two more gifts – faith and love. Faith to believe that he was forgiven, and love that came from God and overflowed into the lives of those around him. And all of this was “in Christ Jesus.” In Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, God shows his overflowing grace for sinners. In his Word is the power to work faith in our hearts. In his love is the power and motivation to love others. When you are feeling empty, God wants to fill you up. Look at Jesus’ cross and his empty tomb. There, his grace overflows to you and every undeserving sinner. There, he fills you up with the faith and love you need to live in him and for him every day. Prayer: Lord, when I’m feeling empty, fill me up with your grace. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260609dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.” Exodus 3:11-12 Who Am I? Graduation ceremonies have recently concluded on many college and high school campuses in the United States. Many graduates heard speeches that sounded something like this: “You’ve accomplished great things. You can do anything you set your mind to! Now go out there and chase your dreams. Nothing can stop you now!” With a diploma in hand and pride in their hearts, many may believe it. But for most, the day will come when they realize that they can’t do everything. They just don’t have the skills, strength, or qualifications. Unlike those graduates, Moses hadn’t been planning for this day. He’d been minding his own business as a shepherd after fleeing from Egypt forty years earlier. But God wanted to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, where they were slaves. And he wanted Moses to lead them out. Moses felt utterly unqualified. “Who am I?” he asked God. He rightly recognized that he didn’t really have the qualifications needed for such important work. God has given us great work to do. He has called us to serve him wherever we are. We serve him by loving our neighbor, caring for our family, listening to a friend, and providing for our community through our honest labor every day. Through such tasks, God is working to show his love to the world. Who am I, that I should do such noble work? To that, God gives the same answer he gave to Moses, “I will be with you.” He came to be with us when he sent his Son to rescue us from our own pride and excuses by entering enemy territory to die for us. He promises that he is with us when we hear his Word and respond in prayer. He promises never to leave our side, as he protects us from harm and blesses the work of our hands for his purposes. No, we are not worthy to do God’s work. But by his blood, Jesus makes us worthy, and with his presence, he accomplishes great things through us. Prayer: Father, thank you for accomplishing your loving work through me. Take away my fears and excuses and make me willing to serve you by serving my neighbor. 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/20260608dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 Mercy for the Worst Growing up with my siblings, I always wanted to be the best, to play sports better than they did, to ride my bike faster, to win at board games, and to get the best grades. It took some of the fun out of it when they weren’t interested in competing and didn't care if I won. As much as I might have liked competition, I don’t remember ever competing to be the worst. Who would want to claim that title? Even when I was little, and my parents would say, “Last one in bed is the rotten egg!” no one wanted to be last! In today’s verses, Paul, the author, calls himself the worst of sinners. This is not a badge of honor any of us wants to wear. Our normal tendency is to minimize our own sins and magnify the sins of others. I did or said that, but I had a good reason for it. I’m not perfect, but at least I didn’t do that. Why did Paul call himself the worst of sinners? As he looked back on his life, he saw a life riddled with rebellion against God. Even though he thought he was doing the right thing at the time, he had persecuted Christians before God called him to faith in Jesus. Even after he became a Christian, he continued to sin against God every day. There was no excuse. No hiding. He deserved God’s punishment. But he didn’t need to hide because he knew that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. None of us can save ourselves. Paul saw the mercy that God showed him as evidence of God’s mercy for all. He saw his own salvation as proof that Jesus can and will forgive anyone. That includes you and me. So, we can honestly and without fear admit, “I’m the worst of sinners, but Jesus came to save me.” Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming into the world to save sinners—even me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260607dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Matthew 9:12 I Need Jesus Do I need Jesus? There are three possible answers. The first one is, “No!” If I look at myself and think I’m pretty good, it would be easy to conclude, “I don't need Jesus.” I have myself—my good intentions, my good works, and my better-than-everyone-else attitude. Why would I need Jesus when I have myself? The second answer is not as self-centered. I may conclude, “I need Jesus, but only in emergencies.” I believe I am in perfect control of my life. I have everything in order and running smoothly. Still, I recognize that there are times when a situation is beyond my control. Then, I need Jesus. I need him to undo the mess I have made. I need him to help me get everything back into control. It is good to know Jesus is there when I really need him. The third answer is the most honest. Do I need Jesus? “Absolutely!” Through the diagnosis of God’s perfect Word, I recognize I am sick. My disobedience has robbed me of my strength. My selfishness has destroyed my well-being. My indifference to the Lord and his will has made me terminally ill. I need Jesus. In answer to my need, Jesus is there. He is there as a doctor to heal my sin-sick soul with his assurance of forgiveness. He is there to restore my strength with his never-failing power. He is there to renew my love with his own unselfish sacrifice. Jesus is there to make me whole. I need to be honest with myself. I need Jesus. I need him to be my comfort and strength. I need him to be my Savior from sin. I need him to be my Great Physician. Prayer: O dearest Jesus, I need your help daily. Come with your healing and help. Come with your rescue and relief. Come and 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260606dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:16-18 Jesus’ Plan Jesus came to this earth to fulfill the will of his heavenly Father. He carried out all that was necessary to save sinful, fallen mankind. When his work of redemption was complete, he returned to his glorious heavenly home. As Jesus left this earth, he wanted the good news of salvation to be spread throughout the whole world. Jesus' greatest desire is for people to hear about all that he accomplished for them, and by hearing the gospel, come to faith in him as their Savior from sin and death. Jesus did not plan to stay on earth and spread the gospel. He did not plan to send angels from heaven to do the work of evangelism. He planned to direct his believers to tell the good news of salvation. He wanted his followers to pass down the precious truth of eternal life from generation to generation until he returned to take all his believers to heaven with him. Jesus can carry out his plan because he has all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is King of all creation. Jesus is the supreme commander of his army of believers and directs the conquest of his gospel in every nation of the earth. With that authority, he commissions his followers to be his missionaries. There’s no question as to what Jesus wants us to do. There is no option. He enlists us in his service to proclaim the truth of salvation to everyone. Backed by the ultimate authority of the Son of God, we shall work faithfully and confidently to fulfill our mission to proclaim the name of Jesus who lived, died, and rose, because it is absolutely true that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Prayer: Jesus, your name proclaims you to be the Savior of all people. Give me the strength to live to the honor of your name and help me share the glorious message of salvation with others. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260605dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 Everything Includes the Trinity Jesus’ words about what is to be taught are both simple and sweeping. “Everything.” Not some things. Not just the easy or familiar teachings. Everything he has commanded. That includes truths that comfort, truths that challenge, and even truths that stretch our understanding. Among those truths is the doctrine of the Trinity. It’s not something we would have figured out on our own. One God, yet three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It can feel mysterious, even difficult to explain. And yet Jesus includes this in the “everything” his disciples are to teach. Just before this, he commanded baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is not optional theology. It is at the heart of who God is and how he saves. And that matters more than we might think. If God were not triune, the gospel would fall apart. The Father sends the Son. The Son lives, dies, and rises for sinners. The Holy Spirit brings that saving work to us through faith. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, yet each carries out a distinct role in our salvation. And then comes the promise: “Surely I am with you always.” The one who commands also stays. Jesus does not send his disciples out alone to figure things out or to carry the weight by themselves. He is present every step of the way. That changes how we hear the word “everything.” It’s not a demand we must meet on our own. It’s a gift we receive from a Savior who is still with us, still teaching, still guiding. Through his Word, he continues to unfold the truth. Through his Spirit, he helps us believe it. So even when some teachings feel deep or mysterious, we don’t turn away. We listen. We learn. We trust. Because the one who gave us “everything” has also given us himself, and he will be with us to the very end. Prayer: Lord Jesus, I treasure everything you have taught me about yourself. 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/20260604dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 The Name of the Only True God These are some of Jesus’ final words to his disciples. They are clear, direct, and full of purpose. But right in the center of this command is something easy to overlook: “in the name”—singular— “of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” One name, yet three persons. Here, Jesus reveals the mystery at the heart of our faith: the triune God. This isn’t just a statement about who God is. It’s a promise about what God does. To be baptized “into the name” means more than having water applied with certain words. It means being brought into a relationship with the triune God himself. In baptism, the Father places his name on you and claims you as his child. The Son covers you with his saving work, washing away your sins through his death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit creates faith in your heart and begins a new life in you. This is not symbolic or hypothetical. It is real. God is acting. That matters because so often we look for assurance in the wrong places. We wonder if our faith is strong enough, if we’ve done enough, if we truly belong to God. But Jesus points us to something solid and outside of ourselves: baptism. There, the triune God made a commitment to you. When doubts come, you don’t have to search your feelings for proof. You can return to this simple truth: “I am baptized.” So go into your life with confidence. You carry that name with you. You belong to the triune God, the only true God, and he will not let you go. Prayer: I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have made me your child in holy baptism. Never let me go. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260603dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The Blessing of the Trinity These words in today’s Bible reading often come at the end of a worship service, a quiet blessing spoken as people prepare to go their separate ways. But this is more than a polite closing. It is a powerful reminder of who God is and how he comes to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Notice how each person of the Trinity is described. The Lord Jesus Christ brings grace. That’s not just a nice idea; it’s the undeserved love he showed by giving his life for sinners. His grace means your sins are forgiven, not because you earned it or improved yourself, but because he took your place. In Jesus, grace is not abstract. It is personal, costly, and complete. Then there is the love of God the Father, which is the source of it all. Before you ever knew him, before you ever sought him, he loved you. He planned your salvation, sent his Son, and continues to care for you as his own child. His love is not fickle or uncertain. It is steady, faithful, and eternal. And these blessings become yours through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings you into a relationship with God. He works through the Word to create faith, to strengthen it, and to keep you connected to your Savior. You are not left to figure out your faith on your own. The Spirit is actively at work, drawing you closer to Christ and to one another. This blessing shows you that the triune God is not distant. He is involved. The Father loves you. The Son saves you. The Spirit stays with you. So, these words are not just for the end of a worship service. They are for the beginning of everything that follows. As you go into your week, into your responsibilities, your struggles, and your joys, this blessing goes with you. The grace, the love, and the fellowship of the triune God are not temporary. They are yours, today and always. Prayer: Be with me wherever I go, dear Lord, with all your blessings and kindness. 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/20260602dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 God Speaks About Himself in the Plural It’s a small detail, but it makes you stop and think: “Let us make… in our image.” From the very beginning, God speaks of himself in the plural. This is not confusion or contradiction. It is a quiet glimpse into the mystery Christians later confess in more detail. The one true God is triune: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here, already in creation, the triune God is at work together. And what is the result of this divine counsel? Humanity. You were not an after-thought or an accident. You were created intentionally, personally, and wonderfully. The triune God crafted human beings in his own image, capable of knowing him, reflecting his holiness, and living in perfect relationship with him and with one another. But when we look at ourselves and our world, something feels off. The image is cracked and distorted. Sin has broken what God made perfect. Instead of reflecting God’s holiness, we often reflect selfishness, pride, and fear. Instead of living in harmony, we experience division and pain. Yet the triune God did not abandon what he made. The Father sent his Son into the world. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, is called “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Where we have failed to reflect God, he does so perfectly. He lives the life we could not live and dies the death we deserved, restoring what was broken. And the Holy Spirit continues God’s creative work even now. Through the gospel, he renews hearts and reshapes lives, restoring the image of God within us. What was shattered is being made whole again. So, when you hear God say, “Let us make,” remember that this same triune God is still speaking and still working. You are not forgotten or without purpose. You were created by God, redeemed by God, and are being renewed by God. Prayer: Thank you, triune God, for your continuing work in me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260601dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 All Three Persons at the Beginning Before anything existed, God was already there. He did not emerge from the darkness. He spoke into it. With nothing but his powerful word, he brought everything into being. These opening words of the Bible remind us that creation is not random or accidental. It is intentional, ordered, and purposeful because it comes from God himself. And already here, at the very beginning, we see the mystery and beauty of the Trinity. The Father is the Creator, the one who wills and designs. The Spirit of God is hovering over the waters, present and active, sustaining and preparing. And the Son is the One through whom all things are made. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together bring light into darkness. That matters more than it might seem at first. The same triune God who created light out of darkness is the one who speaks into the darkness of our lives. There are times when life feels formless and empty, when sin, guilt, or uncertainty leave us without direction or hope. Left to ourselves, we cannot create light. We cannot fix what is broken. But God still speaks. Just as surely as he said, “Let there be light,” he has spoken again to us in his Word. In Jesus, the living Word, God steps into our darkness. He brings forgiveness where there is guilt, life where there is death, and clarity where there is confusion. The Spirit continues to hover, working through the Word to create faith in hearts that were once empty. So, when your world feels chaotic or empty, remember where everything began. Not with darkness, but with God. And where God speaks, light always follows. Prayer: Lord God, thank you for putting me into this world you have created. Continue to bless me with the promises of your holy Word. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260531dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 A Mystery for Our Comfort Already at the very beginning of time, we see God in three persons working to bless us. God the Father created all things. The Holy Spirit participated in a miraculous way as he hovered over the waters, and the apostle John reveals that it was through Jesus, God the Son, that all things were called into being. The Bible clearly teaches that there is one God in three persons. Each person, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is separate and distinct, yet there is only one God. In other words, One + One + One = One. Obviously, this equation does not add up. Throughout history, people have tried to understand the mystery of the triune God. But no matter how hard we try, finally, it just doesn’t add up. But should it really surprise us? Is it really all that unreasonable that we can’t completely fathom the all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-holy God? When we are confronted with this mystery, there are two ways we can respond. We can arrogantly raise our voices and argue with the creator of heaven and earth, or we can humbly bow our heads in worship to praise the one who is above all. The Holy Spirit moves us to do the latter. With the psalmist, we can proclaim: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:6). But the Bible doesn’t reveal the triune God only to humble us, but also to comfort us. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were active and working in creation, they were also active and working in our salvation. The Father sent his one and only Son. The Son freely offered his life for our sins. The Spirit brings what Jesus accomplished to us personally by creating faith in our hearts, enabling us to receive forgiveness of sins and the promise of everlasting life. Prayer: Almighty God, you are beyond my understanding and intellect. Thank you for revealing yourself to me in the pages of the Bible, and leading me to your Son, Jesus Christ, my 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/20260530dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” John 7:37 Swank or Saving? Exclusive. Trendy. Natty. Dapper. Chic. Swank. These adjectives describe Ty Nant. Ty Nant is a company in Wales that bottles and sells water. In 1976, a water diviner instructed a British farmer to bore beside his house through 100 feet of rock. He did. And he hit a powerful spring. Thirteen years later, the water that wells up adjacent to the stone farmhouse was on the market. And these days, Ty Nant bottled water graces the tables of some of the world’s most esteemed restaurants. Ty Nant’s water may wet one’s taste for being trendy or chic, but it cannot quench the thirst of the soul. That’s because every person enters this world with a hellishly parched soul. Ty Nant’s hydrating properties can’t soothe such sin-scorched souls. And Ty Nant’s social status can’t soften what is shriveled in death. But there is water that springs from eternity. It is effervescent from the peace and power of Almighty God. It cannot be discovered by any human diviner, but is graciously revealed in the divine man, Jesus Christ. In his own words, Jesus explains: “Let anyone who is thirsty, come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” This is not about being swank but being saved from our accursed selfishness. This is not about being trendy but being quenched in our thirst for life with God. This is not about being chic but being confirmed in a child-like faith that declares, “Jesus is my Savior from sin.” Ty Nant, when translated, means “House by the Stream.” How chic! But Jesus Christ opens his home in heaven to us. Ty Nant is temporarily trendy while Jesus Christ is eternally satisfying. And Jesus is free. Prayer: Dear Jesus, when I’m feeling down or worried or sad, help me realize that I’m experiencing spiritual thirst. Then help me turn to you and your promises to quench my thirst. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260529dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” John 7:37 Thirsty The Southwestern United States has a breathtaking beauty all its own. If you ever go on a hike, however, anyone with experience will make something very clear: Keep drinking water. Here’s why. In such a region, the air is so dry that it draws moisture from your body without you realizing it. When that happens, dehydration can set in. The level of dehydration can quickly reach a point where your mind grows confused, disoriented, and unable to process what’s happening. In other words, your dehydration can become so severe that you may not realize you need water. The fallen world in which you and I live is a spiritual desert. As I live, work, and move about, the cultural air around me is steadily dehydrating my soul. Left unchecked, my heart can quickly grow confused, disoriented, unable to process what’s happening. In other words, my spiritual dehydration can become so serious that I no longer comprehend that I need water. Sin does that. Your sin and mine. It steadily works to dry up my soul. It steadily works to remove even my awareness that I have drifted away from the only Savior I am ever going to have. And our sin would love nothing more than for you and me to keep wandering and stumbling through the desert of this world until it's too late. Enter Jesus. In a loud voice, he says to you and me, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” The Son of God has gone to great trouble to bring us the water we need. He became one of us. He entered the desert of our broken world. On our behalf, he lived a life of perfect goodness. In our place, he endured the white-hot heat of God's punishment for our sin. And three days after his death, he raised himself back to life. And now, as our living Savior, he brings us the water we need. He brings us his Gospel—the good news of what he has done to wash our sins away. It is that water the Holy Spirit uses to refresh us, restore us, and bring us home. Prayer: Holy Spirit, refresh me in Jesus. Keep me close. 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/20260528dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus stood and said in a loud voice… John 7:37 Loud Voice How often do you picture Jesus speaking in a loud voice? Over the years, countless artists have depicted Jesus with his gentleness in mind. Over the years, composers of hymns have depicted Jesus with his quiet humility in mind. Over the years, illustrators of children’s Bible storybooks have depicted Jesus with tenderness in mind—and for good reason. After all, when our Savior walked on this earth, he possessed all of these qualities, and he possessed them perfectly. Nevertheless, a steady stream of these depictions in art, music, and children’s illustrations may lead us to a misleading presumption. A benign, harmless picture of Jesus from my childhood may give my adult self the idea that Jesus sits quietly in a distant corner of my world, hands folded, mild smile on his face, ready to offer a hand when asked, but determined not to be a bother. Such an idea about Jesus might be convenient, especially when my old, sinful self does not want him getting in my way. But such an idea is wrong. The apostle John records that, when needed, Jesus did not hesitate to speak in a loud voice. He was determined to command people’s attention. He was determined that people fix their eyes on him. He was determined that people hear him. This reminds us about something in connection with the Word of God. God’s Word is not simply information. In God’s Word, there is power. And the Holy Spirit uses that power to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, to melt hearts of spiritual stone—and to open ears that are spiritually deaf. Never forget that, through his Word, Jesus Christ is speaking to you. He is speaking to you with patience. He is speaking to you with persistence. But he is also speaking to you with urgency. And, when needed, he will not hesitate to speak to you in a loud voice. He is determined to command your attention. He is determined that you fix your eyes on him. He is determined that you hear him. After all, he died to wash you clean. And now he lives for you. He loves you that much. Prayer: Holy Spirit, use the power of my Savior's Word to penetrate and renew my heart. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260527dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Life-Giver The camera pans over an old, abandoned farm truck that has been sitting in the woods for decades. Ivy covers it. Moss covers it. A small tree grows through a rusty hole. Mice have built a nest in the cab. And over the years, the wheels have settled into the dirt. But then along comes a cheerful backyard mechanic by the name of Derek Bieri. With basic tools and good-natured humor, Derek goes to work on the hulk sitting before him. Despite setbacks and disappointments, he patiently persists until the thrilling moment when the long-forgotten truck roars to life and comes out of the woods under its own power. This is the magic behind the wildly popular YouTube program entitled “Vice Grip Garage.” Each episode features a dead and forsaken car or truck that Derek manages to bring to life. One thing is for certain. These vehicles do not repair themselves. They start and run only because of Derek. By nature, I am far worse off than any rusted wreck left in the woods. Not only am I born spiritually dead, but my attitude towards the true God is downright hostile. On my own, I have no ability whatsoever to trust in Jesus as my Savior from sin. There’s a greater likelihood that a dead farm truck from “Vice Grip Garage” would bring itself to life and drive itself out of the woods. But that’s where the Lord comes in. Not only did he send his Son to become human and live a perfect life in my place. Not only did Jesus pay for my every sin through his death at Calvary’s cross, but he also raised himself from the grave. He has even sent God the Holy Spirit to bring my spiritually dead heart to life. Through the power of the Good News of Jesus, the Spirit has created within me the miracle of faith. And through this miraculous faith, I now receive full forgiveness, peace with God, and eternal life as my personal possessions. Giving life: There’s nothing the Holy Spirit enjoys more. Prayer: Holy Spirit, my heart was dead. But through your gospel you have brought me to life. Thank 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/20260526dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd. Acts 2:14 Lesson Learned Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most successful comedians of his generation. Before his career blossomed, however, Jerry learned a hard lesson. He describes the first time he ever went up on stage. Until that moment, he says, you assume that the audience is in a mood to laugh, and as long as you're reasonably funny and say a few funny things, you’ll be just fine. That assumption died the moment he began to speak. The audience fell into a dead silence. As you stand there, Jerry says, all you can hear is the sound of your own quivering voice. The shock was so great that he could not remember his material. He retreated from the stage, crushed. That experience, however, stripped away his false assumptions and replaced them with a true understanding of what it takes to make it in the world of entertainment. The night before Jesus was crucified, the apostle Peter had a brutal lesson to learn. His, however, was far more serious, far more profound. Until that night, Peter had assumed that, on his own, he was strong enough and brave enough to stand up for his master. After Jesus’ arrest, however, Peter’s assumption died the moment someone simply asked him if he was a follower of Jesus. The strength and bravery he thought he had were not there at all. Instead of saying, “Yes, I’m a follower of Jesus,” Peter lied. He said he didn’t even know this Jesus. And when two more people challenged him, he lied to them, too. That night ripped away Peter’s false assumptions. He realized what a broken sinner he really was. But Jesus replaced Peter’s false assumptions with a true understanding. He carried Peter's sinful failures to the cross. He died for them. Then he raised himself from the dead. Ten days later, after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, Peter had another opportunity to stand up for Jesus. This time, Peter spoke boldly. The bravery and strength, however, did not come from Peter. They came from the good news of what Jesus had done. Our bravery and strength come from the same place. Prayer: Holy Spirit, teach me the same lesson you taught Peter. Make me a bold witness for Christ. 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/20260525dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Utterly amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?” Acts 2:7 Adventure Awaits Wapakoneta, Ohio, is a solid, stable small town. It has a population of about ten thousand. It has a high school and a public library. It has a movie theater and a bowling alley. To grab a bite to eat, you can stop by Lulu’s Diner, RJ’s Coffey Cup, or The Alpha Cafe. And every August, you can attend the county fair located just outside the city limits. Wapakoneta is a great place to raise a family. At the same time, its citizens admit that it’s not the kind of place that automatically comes to mind when you think of famous figures or high adventure. But thanks to a 10-minute plane ride at a local air show, a 6-year-old farm kid by the name of Neil Armstrong got the flying bug. Three decades later, Neil Armstrong was the face of one of the world’s great adventures. He was the first man to set foot on the moon. In the first century A.D., the region of Galilee was not known for much of anything. In fact, many in Jerusalem looked down on Galileans as being just a bit unsophisticated, a bit rough around the edges. Therefore, on the Day of Pentecost, it came as a shock for people in Jerusalem to see and hear several men from Galilee stand up and do something extraordinary. By a miracle, God the Holy Spirit empowered these Galileans to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in a variety of different languages. And the adventure did not stop there. In the years to come, these same men would travel far and wide proclaiming what Jesus had done to take away the sins of the world. By the power of the gospel, that same Holy Spirit brings people today to faith in Jesus as their Savior. And through this miracle of faith, they receive full forgiveness of sin, peace with God, and eternal life in heaven. And adventure awaits them in their future. The Lord will use them to pierce the darkness of this world, to proclaim the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his wonderful light. Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am now yours through faith in you. Let my adventure begin. 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/20260524dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. . . Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Acts 2:1-6,11-12 Simply Believe Recently, my daughters were playing with some immature flower buds from our dwarf Magnolia tree. Since these buds look like pickles, I told them they were pickle seeds. Later, I overheard one of my daughters referring to the tree as a “pickle tree.” That’s the way it is with children. They simply believe what they are told. That’s not always so easy for us as we grow older. We encounter so many ideas about lifestyles, religion, and the future (just to name a few topics). We wonder what we should believe. The people in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost could hardly believe their ears. Some even made fun of the disciples who were suddenly able to speak in foreign languages. Yet the Holy Spirit used their intelligible words to reveal the Triune God who is serious about sin and, at the same time, full of forgiveness, love, and hope for the future. What makes it difficult for you to believe God’s promises? A past full of sin? A list of confusing, complicated questions about life? The Bible equips us to deal with this sinful world by revealing “the wonders of God.” Like a child, believe God’s promises—Jesus loves you and has forgiven you! Prayer: Holy Spirit, instill in me an unshakable trust in your promises. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260523dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Peter said,] “It is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” . . . Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1:21-22,26 Witnesses of the Resurrection The number twelve is significant in the Bible. That number is closely associated with God’s people. In the Old Testament there were twelve tribes of Israel. In the New Testament there were twelve apostles. Well, there were twelve apostles. After he betrayed Jesus, Judas was seized with remorse and took his own life. Then there were only eleven apostles, and God does not leave things incomplete. So, after Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter addressed the believers and told them that it was time to replace Judas. The believers prayed, cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. We do not know what happened to Matthias after this. He is not mentioned again. So why does the Bible make such a big deal of his selection? Because the big deal is not Matthias, it is what Matthias was called to do. Peter said that Matthias “must become a witness with us of Jesus’ resurrection.” The big deal about Matthias is that he was an eyewitness. He could tell people, “This is not made up! I was there. I walked and talked with Jesus before he was crucified, and I saw him alive again three days after he died.” We did not see Jesus’ death and resurrection or hear his teaching. But Matthias and the other apostles did, and their eyewitness testimony is recorded in the Bible. Jesus saved us by giving his perfect life and dying the death that we deserve. But Christ is risen. It’s true; we can count on it for eternal life! Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for providing me with witnesses of your resurrection and for preserving their testimony in the Bible. Most of all, thank you for giving me eternal life in the risen Christ. 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/20260522dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. . . And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-7,10-11 He Cares “Who cares?” Maybe we’ve said that when something seemed insignificant. At times, we might truly ask that when we are struggling, and it seems like no one cares. Who sincerely cares? God does. He sees, and he cares. While we wait for Jesus to come and take us to glory, Peter reminds us that he cares. He writes, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” There’s a dose of humility that comes with suffering. In humility, I need to see that I’m not exempt from hardship and suffering any more than Jesus was. But neither am I exempt from the glory and life my Savior won for me. In the meantime, he cares! Peter encourages us to cast our anxiety off on Jesus. But sometimes, we tend to brush off instead of casting off. Brushing off means I don’t want to deal with it. I don’t have the capacity to address this problem, so I’ll ignore it or pretend it doesn’t exist. Sometimes, we brush off the troubles of others and minimize whatever it is that’s making them anxious. Jesus doesn’t brush you off, and he doesn’t brush off whatever is causing you anxiety like it’s nothing. He says, “Give it to me!” That’s how much he cares. The same living and loving God who said about your sins, “Give them to me!” and carried them to a cross, also says about your fears, your worries, your anxieties, your sorrows, “Give them to me!” Why? Because he cares. For you! He lifts the burdens you can’t carry and sustains you through this life even when you suffer. And as surely as he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, he lives, and he is coming to take you to glory someday. Why? Because he still cares! Prayer: Lord, give me the humility to cast all my anxieties on you because you care. 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/20260521dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Exchange Anxiety for Eager Anticipation What makes you anxious? On the other hand, what excites you and gives you a sense of eager anticipation? In a way, anxiety and anticipation are similar. Both look toward the future. However, when we experience anxiety, we are worried because we don’t know what the future holds. We fret about the worst-case scenarios and the “what ifs.” When we eagerly anticipate something, we are excited because we know something great is going to happen. This kind of anticipation can also help us hold out for something better to come. For example, if I know I’ll be dining at a world-class restaurant tonight, I won’t be tempted to hit the drive-through and fill up on junk. God, in his great love for us, points us toward a glorious and certain future through his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus comes to us in the promises of the Bible, proven by his rising from the dead, and he exchanges our anxiety with eager anticipation. He doesn’t reveal all that will happen in this life, but he assures us that he is with us, and we belong to him. He’ll see us through our daily difficulties that often cause us anxiety. He lifts your attention from your daily troubles and points you to the ultimate future—an eternity with him! He removes all anxiety concerning eternity by removing all your sins. All your sins were nailed to the cross with him, and his empty tomb is proof that no debt remains. You don’t need to be anxious about eternity, fretting if God will let you in. You can look forward to heaven with eager anticipation. Looking forward to eternal life with this certainty helps us hold out for something better than what this world can offer us. We need not fill up on the empty promises and temporary pleasures of this world. We can be satisfied and content with God’s love and promises right now. We can leave our anxiety at the foot of Jesus’ cross and wait with eager anticipation for the day when we will see him with our own eyes. Prayer: Lord, lead me to your cross and lift all that makes me anxious and replace it each day with eager anticipation of a glorious life with you forever. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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

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

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260518dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:1-3 Eternal Glory We can be pretty good at glorifying. To glorify something or someone means to highly value it; to elevate it above other things; to praise it as one of the greatest things. We glorify the status of wealth, and the things and experiences it can buy. We put politicians and entertainers on a pedestal until they fail to meet our expectations. Our struggle isn’t that we don’t know how to glorify. It’s that we tend to glorify things that have a fading glory. Their greatness quickly passes, and we're left searching for the next great thing. When we encounter Jesus in his Word, we find an eternal glory, a greatness that never fades. The Bible verse today is a prayer that Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified. He prays that God the Father be glorified, that God’s greatness would be made known in what Jesus was about to do. He prays that he, God the Son, also would be glorified. Jesus did not seek to be glorified in a worldly sense, such as being a king on earth or receiving fame and fortune. To be glorified, Jesus was not put on a pedestal; he was put on a cross. How could there be greatness and glory in suffering and dying on a cross? Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished the greatest thing ever—the forgiveness of our sins, all the times we’ve glorified the wrong things. This great and glorious thing is proven by Jesus rising from the dead. It’s living proof that eternal life is ours just as Jesus promises. We don’t receive this glory because of our hard work. Jesus did it all. This glorious forgiveness and eternal life are ours through knowing Jesus in faith. We can set aside all the things we’ve glorified and place all our hope in Jesus and his glory, which never fades. Prayer: Lord, let all the glory of this world fade, and fix my faith on your eternal glory, the glory of sins forgiven and everlasting life. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260517dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14 Insult It hurts to be insulted. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about the collective teasing and ribbing that take place among people who generally get along with each other. I’m talking about that moment when someone crosses the line, takes part of what you are, and holds it up for contempt. That hurts. When Christians are insulted because of their beliefs, they should not be surprised. Perhaps it’s the co-worker who dismisses you for being stupid and naïve. Perhaps it’s the schoolmate who goes out of her way to flaunt something sinful in front of you. Perhaps it’s the guy down at the gym who picks religious fights for fun. Perhaps it’s the family member who rolls her eyes at you and your “narrow” view of the world. Sure, you can usually ride the waves and take the cutting remarks in stride. However, there are times when it becomes overwhelming. There are moments when the insults truly hurt. When that happens, your Lord wants you to remember that such insults mark you as someone he has blessed. Oh, sure, it doesn’t feel like a blessing. But that’s okay, because the truth remains that those insults identify you as someone the Holy Spirit has brought into God’s family, someone surrounded by God’s promises, someone embraced by full forgiveness through faith in Jesus. So let the insults come. Let the eyes roll. Let the snickers and the sneers do their worst. Jesus says that they serve as a reminder that you belong to him. When we keep that in mind, then such insults are not so bad after all. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the insults come to attack my faith, empower me by your Spirit to remember that such insults mark me as someone blessed by you. In difficult moments, give me peace of mind and heart. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260516dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. Psalm 23:2 Our Good Shepherd Sheep can be easily spooked. A sudden noise can send them into a frenzy. These gentle creatures are not built to handle a lot of stress because they do not have a strong defense mechanism. Sheep are vulnerable and depend on their shepherd for protection. Like sheep, you and I don’t always feel like we’re built to handle some of the problems we’re facing. We can feel stressed and overtaxed. And the truth is that we are just as defenseless. Much of the stress in our lives is due to problems beyond our control. We may work hard, but cutbacks can still take away our job. We may eat right, but medical tests can still deliver troubling news. Thanks be to God that we are not on our own. We have a shepherd who protects us. Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, was willing to lay down his life for his sheep (John 10:11). He is a Shepherd who did not remain dead but picked his life up again. This good and living Shepherd provides protection for his sheep. Jesus’ sheep were very nervous and fearful on that first Easter. His disciples met in secret behind locked doors. Then Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). Jesus could offer the disciples peace because he was alive again. He paid the price for their sin by his death on the cross on Good Friday. The living Jesus restored their joy of salvation with his peace of sins forgiven. Jesus offers his peace to you and me as well. We may feel defenseless with the problems we are going through. But we are never alone. Our protector and Good Shepherd is always with us. Leading us to the green pastures of his Word, he fills us with comfort and confidence through his promises. As he satisfies us with the life-giving water of his Word, he strengthens our faith in him and gives us the peace that only he, our Good Shepherd, can give us. Prayer: Jesus, my Good Shepherd, lead me to a deeper understanding and a greater trust in your words. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260515dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:31 The Past Is Paid For It seems like an all-too-common occurrence when someone in the public eye comes under fire for past indiscretions. Whether it is athletes, politicians, or entertainers, we have seen examples of someone falling from grace. Once past sins are brought into the light, very few people in our society will have mercy. Social media will vilify the person. Public opinion will turn against them quickly. They might be blackballed by Hollywood or shunned by their political party. It is likely they will never recover or return to their previous position. Deep down, we are all afraid that our past sins will come back to bite us in the end. Maybe it was something done in secret that nobody knows about. Perhaps it was a sin committed in the heat of the moment, you know that at some point it is going to come to light, and you are going to have to answer for it. It is likely that whatever happened will eventually be known by others; it is just a matter of time. The fear of waiting for that other shoe to drop is real. We fear losing our jobs, reputation, or relationships. Perhaps more than that, we fear being punished by God for all eternity. That would be our fate, except that someone already answered to God on our behalf. In giving himself to die on the cross, Jesus already took both the blame and the punishment for our sins. He has paid for our sins and removed them from us. Yes, the day is coming when many will have to answer for what they have done. But through faith in Jesus, we don’t have to fear that day. The Judge on that day will be the same one who died and rose from the dead to save us. Thanks be to God that through faith in Jesus, we will not be made to answer for our sins! Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for answering for my sins and removing them from me. Lead me to not fear the day of your return. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260514dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. Acts 17:26 God Gives You Purpose Do you ever feel lost? Like you don’t have a purpose in life? Maybe at times you have found yourself wondering: ‘How did I get here?’ or ‘Where am I going?’ So many in this world, maybe us included, are adrift in this world and on a search to “find themselves.” It is to such wandering hearts that today’s verse speaks. Does it encourage you to know that God has determined the times and places in your life? The circumstances of your life are not coincidental or random. God has placed you where he wants you at a time of his choosing. That suggests that he has a purpose for you and a plan for your life. God has you right where he wants you. Perhaps you are wondering how you can trust that. Well, the same God who determined the details of your life is the God who saw fit to save you from sin, death, and hell. He is the same God who offered his own Son on the cross to take away our sins and give us eternal life in heaven. Having already shown you the depth of his love, you can be sure that same love will follow you in your life. And not just this life, but eternal life as well, You need never wonder where you are going when life in this world is over. Jesus will take you to heaven through faith in him. And while you wait for that day, God has given you a purpose: to love and serve him and the people he puts in your path. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me new life in heaven. As I wait for that wonderful day when you take me home, help me to find purpose in my daily life as I serve you. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260513dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 You Can’t Keep Him Down “I can do this all day.” Marvel fans will recognize that as one of Captain America’s common statements. It was something he usually said when he was involved in a difficult fight against an enemy. Cap is known for his determination and perseverance. He might have gotten knocked down, but you could expect him to get back up. Hits that would have knocked us down for good, usually couldn’t keep him down. He would get back up, slowly, but might say to his opponent, “I can do this all day.” As much as we may look up to Captain America, none of us is that resilient in real life. Sure, we fight our battles, and we can give it our all, but so often we too get knocked down. And maybe we’ll rally and get back up for a time, but there are a few enemies that we cannot stand up to. Death is one of those enemies. It is staring all of us down, and we may fight it off for a while, but eventually it will knock us down, and we do not have the power or strength to get back up again. Not even Captain America has that kind of power. But there is one who does. Jesus faced death, too. A terrible death that he didn't deserve. Dying on a cross was not a nice way to go. And while he was innocent, he gave himself over to death so that you and I might be forgiven and saved. But that could only happen if Jesus didn’t stay down. Thankfully, on Easter Sunday, Jesus got back up. “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” Jesus is alive again, nevermore to die. He has knocked out and defeated the one enemy that you and I could never hope to defeat. In Jesus, we have victory over death and the gift of eternal life in heaven! Prayer: Dear Jesus, death could not keep you down. I rejoice to know that you are alive and that you give me the gift of life as well. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260511dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19 The Gift of Life The human body fights to survive. It has been given the precious gift of life, and it does not easily let go of that gift. And so, it fights infection. It develops immunities. It heals when bruised, cut, or broken. In dire situations, it will divert energy and nutrients to the more integral parts of the body. The human body is a remarkable creation of God. Add in medical advancements in technology and the knowledge that the Lord has blessed us with, and the human body can live longer than in generations past. While all of that is true, the body eventually reaches the point where life is almost over. There will come a point for all of us when the body cannot heal itself, and no medical technology or skill will be able to prolong our lives. What then? Is that it? Not at all! No matter how long or short our lives on earth are, no matter how full or empty we make them, there is more to come after life here on earth. And because of Jesus, we can have a much longer and fuller life in heaven. Because of sin, Jesus knew that we all were doomed to a short life on earth followed by an eternity of torment. He didn't want that for us, and so he came here to be our substitute and Savior. Jesus lived a perfect life for us and died an innocent death on the cross so that our sins could be paid for and forgiven. He then rose from the dead to conquer death and open the gates to eternal life in heaven for us. And now he says to you, “Because I live, you also shall live.” Through faith in Jesus, when we leave this world, we will go to a place that is far better. We will live forever in heaven—a place where there will be no more death or pain or suffering. A place where we will never grow old or have our lives come to an end. Prayer: Dear Jesus, because you live, I also will live! Help me look forward to the day when I will be with you forever. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260510dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 Hope’s Testimony Remember cramming (studying) for an exam? Trying to somehow embed your resistant memory with all those details written in the textbook or recorded in your class notes? You knew that if you didn’t have a grasp on most of the material, you’d bring home the news of a less-than-desirable test score, or perhaps even a failing grade. Peter isn’t talking about a test when he says, “Always be prepared to give an answer.” He’s talking about an opportunity! A God-given one! The Lord is bringing into your presence or opening a door to someone who doesn’t know what is yours—hope! When your unbelieving neighbor sees you living your life for Christ—”letting your light shine”—he or she is puzzled. “What accounts for this obvious joy?” “Where does this generosity of patience and love come from?” “Why are you so filled with hope?” Ah! Opportunity! This passage addresses the subject of witnessing! Of evangelizing! Of sharing the Good News that has delivered a sure and certain hope to you, but is meant for everyone! And the apostle says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Are you prepared to do so? You may be more prepared than you think! You know what Jesus has done for you. You know why he died on the cross. You know the meaning of his resurrection. You know that eternal life is already yours. You know that he is coming back to judge the living and the dead. You know that those who die in Christ are blessed. And that means you also know that those who die without Jesus have no hope. “We believe,” Paul wrote the Corinthian Christians. “And therefore speak.” Christian hope needs to find expression. The questions raised by our unbelieving friends need answering. The love of Christ compels us to share our hope with them. They must hear the gospel! Prayer: Lord, open my lips to share my hope in you. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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