WELS Daily Devotions

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[Jesus said] “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn, ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’”
Matthew 10:34-36

Peace

A few years ago, I was sitting in a doctor’s office. My wife was holding our toddler, pregnant with our secon...

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[Jesus said] “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own hous...

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Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
Jeremiah 20:13

It’s Time to Sing!

Do you like to sing? Perhaps you enjoy singing because you are a gifted singer, and people around you enjoy hearing you sing. Or perhaps you enjoy singing but can’t carry a tune. So, you keep your singing to yourself and save it for the shower. Either way—whether you are a gift...

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Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8

The Crown That Opens Heaven

A crown can open doors. If you wear the right crown, guards step aside. Palace doors swing open. You are welcomed into rooms where ordinary people cannot go. A royal crown gives access, honor, and pr...

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[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...

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[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...

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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 d...

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“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 be...

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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 th...

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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...

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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 bitt...

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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 P...

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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...

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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 grea...

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[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 be...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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 ou...

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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. Noth...

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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...

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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 s...

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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 co...

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[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 do...

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[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...

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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...

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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 sm...

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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 ever...

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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...

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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 spri...

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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 le...

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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 posses...

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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 basi...

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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, yo...

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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...

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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...

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[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 nu...

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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...

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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 kn...