WELS Daily Devotions

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260408dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
John 21:13-14

Jesus Serves a Meal

It was a simple meal.

Jesus’ disciples had spent the night fishing and caught nothing. They were tired. Perhaps they were still uncertain about the future. They had seen the risen Jesus Christ, but what now? What wo...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260407dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you”
Luke 24:36

Peace Be With You

The doors were locked. The disciples had every reason to be afraid. Jesus Christ, their teacher and friend, had been crucified. Reports of his resurrection were circulating, but it all seemed too good to be true. And if the authorities had executed Jesus, what might they do to his followers?

Fear filled the room...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260406dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

[Jesus] is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Matthew 28:6

Just As He Said

The tomb was not supposed to be empty.

On Friday, everything seemed so certain. Jesus Christ had died. His lifeless body was laid in the tomb. A heavy stone was rolled into place. Roman guards stood watch. Death had done its work, just as it always had.

Early Sunday morning, the women...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260405dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say, “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what h...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260404dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of [Jesus] and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Matthew 21:8-9

A Hero’s Welcome

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, a large crowd was waiting to welcome him. They spread their cloaks and branches on the...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260403dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30

Your King Gives a New Beginning

The best stories end with happily ever after. At first glance, we might say the end of Jesus’ life is anything but a happy end. His body was broken. His friends had abandoned him. His enemies mocked as the lifeblood of Jesus drained away at the cross. With one of his final...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260402dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:5

Your King Serves You

There was supposed to be a servant there. Before the start of the Passover Feast, a servant should have taken water and washed the participants’ feet. But as Jesus and his disciples prepared to remember God’s deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt, the servant was missing.

So...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260401dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8

Your King Is Obedient

When my boys were little, my office was at home. One day, my oldest son decided that he wanted to act out the story of Noah’s ark. He handed out the parts to the “cast.” He was to be Noah, his mom was to be “Mrs. Noah,” and his younger brother would play the part of...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260331dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9

Your King Comes to You!

I once saw a king. I was at the hospital visiting my grandfather when suddenly a massive gold helicopter landed on the hospital’s helipad. I found out later that the King of Jordan had arrived for his cancer treatments.

But I didn’t meet the king. I only saw...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260330dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21:9

Shout Out to Your King!

When do you shout? It might be when you are frustrated—like when the neighbor’s dog is digging in your yard—again! It might be when you prefer to shout, “Time to eat!” rather than actually tracking down every hungry person. It migh...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260329dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260328dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:15-17

Living by the Spirit

There...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260327dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
John 11:43-44

By the Power of His Word

Does your word carry weight? Sure, there are times when I tell people to do things, and they do them. I can tell my kids to clean their rooms or do the dishes, and they will. I can tell...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260326dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. . . So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, c...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260325dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
John 11:25-27

Life After Death

Benjamin Franklin has been credited with saying that there are two things certain in life: death and taxes. <...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260324dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
John 11:23-24

Words That Truly Comfort

Many people feel uncomfortable at funerals. I remember hearing a comedian quip that he read a poll which said that the number one fear of Americans is public speaking, and the number two fear is death. He laughed, ‘So that means people would rather be in the casket than give the eulogy...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260323dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:17-21

Where Were You, God?

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260322dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

“Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” “Everything is all right,” she said.
2 Kings 4:26

Everything Is All Right

How could this woman possibly say that everything was all right? The son she thought she would never have, had died while sitting in her lap. And now she was saying everything was all right? She said this because in her heart, her son was not dead until the prophet...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260321dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

As [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. …” Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260320dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Jesus heard that they had thrown [the formerly blind man] out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
John 9:35-38

Giving Sight to the Blind

Imagine what it would be like: being blind...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260319dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about [Jesus]? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” . . . To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
John 9:17,34

Telling It Like It Is

The Pharisees were not wrong when they said to the blind man we meet in John chapter nine that he was “steeped in sin at birth.” They w...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260318dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260317dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
John 9:6-7

Even Jesus Uses Tools

My wife will tell you. I’m not handy. Putting a tool in my hands can be a dangerous prospect, because I’m more likely to make the problem worse, not...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260316dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
John 9:1-3

The Way God Operates

One of the greatest difficulties we have in understanding our Creator God is that we assume he operates the way we do. We are tempted...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260315dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 5:8-11

Light in the Lord

If you get up early to go outside and wait for the sunrise, you know what it’s like to sit in darkness. Un...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260314dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8

Live Today in Confidence

This isn’t an easy part of the Bible to read. It says some very uncomfortable things about us...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260313dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” The LORD answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people . . . I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.”
Exodus 17:3,5-6

Water from a Rock

If you grew up in a home like mine and you complained about your food, you hear...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260312dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Psalm 95:6-7

Under His Care

Imagine a shepherd who takes care of sheep. However, he is only concerned about making sure that they have food to eat. As long as the grass is growing in the field, nothing else matters. Or he only thinks about providing shelter...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260311dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

Filled with His Love

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” “No pain, no gain.” People say such things to encourage someone not to give up in difficult circumstances. It could be an...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260310dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
John 4:17-18

Dehydration

Jesus met a woman at a well outside of her village one day. They started talking, and before long, her whole life was out in the open. He knew all about her. She couldn’t pretend to be som...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260309dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
John 4:10

If You Knew

Knowledge is power. When you know a problem, you can address it. When you have the background of a situation, you are better equipped to assess it and react appropriately. Proper education and training are essential for achieving objectives and goals within a give...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260308dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

True, Lasting Peace

Amidst the struggles and hassles of our lives, there is a longing for true, lasting peace. If only there could be the peace that existed in the Garden of Eden. Our first parents lived in perfect harmony with God. They were his friends. And out of that peaceful relationship flowed a warm relationship with one another. The tragedy...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260307dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
Genesis 12:1-2

Making a Name for Yourself

More than one has dreamed of it. Some have been lured by its promise. Others have cursed its lack of fulfillment. We call it many dif...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260306dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

[Abraham] is the father of us all.
Romans 4:16

Abraham’s Faith

One of the giants of the early Christian church was John Chrysostom. He served as a pastor about 300 years after Jesus rose from the dead. Trained in classical rhetoric, John easily could have made a comfortable life for himself in various professions. Instead, he devoted his considerable gifts to the proclamation of Jesus Christ.

Like many a Christian before him and after him, John Chrysostom read from th...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260305dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3

The Same

It’s about thirty years after Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. His followers have eagerly shared the Good News of what Jesus has done. As a result, many have come to faith in Jesus as their Savior from sin. New congregations are forming. There is even a gathering of Christians in the capital city of the Roman Empire...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260304dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

[Abram] … pitched his tent there, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
Genesis 12:8

Proclamation

“I can worship God at home. I can read the Bible at home. I can pray at home. And so, I really don’t get what the difference is between my worship at home and my worship at church. Isn’t it all the same thing?”

Yes. And n...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260303dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

The LORD had said to Abram, “…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1,3

A Promise

Let’s imagine the life of Abram—this famous figure from the Bible. In our imagination, it’s easy to presume God is coming down every other day to perform a dramatic miracle. It’s easy to picture Abram living a life bursting with high drama, a John Williams soundtrack swelling in the background. And because you and I already know how everything...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260302dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”
Genesis 12:1

Leaving

Leaving is hard. You empty out your home until it’s nothing but vacant rooms. Once you’re on the road, the rhythms and routines of your old life cease to exist. And when you reach your destination, you know that, for a while, you and your family are going to be the new people...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260301dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

[Jesus said] “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
John 3:14

A Sure Cure

Bronze has been known to cure snake bites. At least it did in 1500 B.C.

God’s people figured their God was taking longer than he should to get them from Egypt to the Promised Land. So, they complained about his leadership, just like t...

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260228dev.mp3

Listen to Devotion

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:1

In Harm’s Way

There are people who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way. These people recognize the serious nature of their commitment and understand the potential consequences. They are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of others.

There is a special debt of gratitude these people deserve—military personnel, firefighters, members of law en...