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What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
1 Corinthians 3:5-7

Only Servants

Paul worked as a missionary bringing the good news about Jesus to the people of Corinth for the first time. He spent a lot of time there teaching the basics of the Christian faith. He faithfully and diligently shared how Jesus forgives sins by his death and resurrection from the grave.

After Paul left, another gospel worker came to Corinth: a man named Apollos who was a gifted and passionate preacher. He watered the seed that Paul planted. Both Paul and Apollos were talented in their own ways, but the people in Corinth had picked their favorites.

One said, “I like Paul.” Another, “I like Apollos better.” Still another, “I like this other teacher best.” The Corinthians were doing what people still do today. They made too much of the messenger and too little of the God who sent the message.

Paul brings them back to reality. He and Apollos are only servants. They did not make the seed grow; only God could do that.

It is natural to have preferences for preachers. Some are fiery, some are thoughtful. Some make you laugh; some make you think. Some are great storytellers, and some preach verse by verse.

But the best preacher is the one who faithfully shares God’s Word with you. A preacher’s style cannot save you. A preacher’s personality cannot forgive your sins. A clever illustration cannot raise the dead. Only God can make faith grow, and God does that through the Word of Christ.

When the Word is preached faithfully, Jesus gives you what you need most. He gives you the law that exposes your sin. He gives you the gospel that forgives your sin. He gives you himself. One servant plants, another waters, but God makes it grow.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for faithful servants who bring me your Word. Help me listen past human style and hear the saving voice of Jesus. 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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As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11

Watered with the Word

It doesn’t look like much from a distance, just a white line on the horizon. But as you get closer, the line has contours and dips and domes. It turns into a white ridge of snow-covered mountains. That snowpack may look quiet and still, but in the spring and summer months, it’s doing an important job. Melting.

In places like the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the snowmelt is crucial for area agriculture. As snow melts, water runs down into rivers and reservoirs. It waters farms and orchards and carries communities through the dry months of summer.

God says his Word works like that. Rain and snow do not fall from the sky and return without watering the earth. They accomplish God’s purpose. So does his Word. It may not look powerful. Bible passages read around the family dinner table. A devotion next to a hospital bed. A Sunday sermon.

But God says his Word does not return empty. That promise is great comfort, especially when we feel spiritually dry. Maybe your faith feels weak. Maybe guilt has hardened your heart. Maybe grief has left you cracked and tired.

God’s Word is not powerful because of how strongly you feel it. It is powerful because God is working through it. The same Lord who sends rain to make the earth bud and flourish sends his Word to give faith, forgiveness, peace, and life.

The good news of Jesus is not empty. Jesus’ death for your sins was not empty. His promise to forgive you is not empty. He left the tomb empty so that every promise he made is fulfilled.

So, use God’s Word. Read it. Speak it. Share it. Rest in it. God will use it for his purpose.

Prayer:

Lord, water my dry heart with your Word. Make faith grow in me and use your Word through me to comfort others with Jesus. 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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Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7

Easy to Find

My children love to play hide-and-seek. They can get creative with their hiding spots. But when I play with my three-year-old, and it is my turn to hide, I keep it simple. I might leave a foot sticking out from behind the chair or make a little noise from the next room. At age three, she does not have a long enough attention span to seek more than a few minutes. So, I make sure that I am not too hard to find.

When Isaiah says, “Seek the LORD while he may be found,” we might picture God as someone who is hidden far away, waiting to see whether we can find him. But God is not playing that kind of game. He is not trying to make himself hard to find. He is calling out to us. He is near.

The problem is not that God has hidden himself too well. The problem is that sin leads us to look in the wrong places. We search for peace in our own plans. We search for comfort in distractions. We search for validation by making excuses or comparing ourselves to others. We go our own way and trust our own thoughts.

But God calls us back. “Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them.” We find him in his Word, in his promises, in the good news of Jesus.

Jesus did not come to stay hidden from sinners. He came near. He came into our world. He went to the cross to pay for our wandering ways and sinful thoughts. He rose so that mercy and pardon would not be hard to find but freely given.

So, seek the Lord where he promises to be found. Call on him. Open his Word. Hear his promise. He is not hard to find. He is near with mercy in Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord God, when I seek peace and forgiveness in the wrong places, call me back through your Word. Thank you for coming near with mercy and free pardon in Jesus. 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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Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Isaiah 55:6

God is Near

Does something strike you as amazing in today’s Bible verse?

What jumps out at me is the idea that the Lord is near us, that he allows himself to be found by us.

After all, why should he? Why should he be near us? Why should he allow himself to be found by us? Just look at us! We’re angry, bitter, selfish. We’re lustful, greedy, rebellious. We fail to love God; we fail to love each other. Instead of loathing sin as we should, we find ourselves listening to the devil’s temptations, perhaps even desiring to give in to those temptations. We fail to see the value and importance of eternal matters and get far to focused on temporal matters. Shouldn’t God turn his back on us? Shouldn’t God banish us from his presence forever? Yes, he should!

Instead, he stays near! In amazing grace, he even allows us to “find him” in his Word and in the sacraments. And when we find him, what do we discover? We discover that he loves us dearly and treats us with amazing compassion and boundless love.

And so, call on him! Seek him! Rejoice in the fact that your God is near, near to you!

Prayer:

O Savior, continue to draw near to me, and no matter how I might struggle, continue to draw me near to you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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[Jesus said] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

A Heavy Burden

We know what it is like to carry a heavy burden. Our arms begin to ache as we strain to hold up the weight. Our back muscles tighten, and our legs tire under the strain. We can only carry the load so long, and we are forced to put it down and rest. Sometimes the burden we carry is not with our arms, back, and legs, but on our hearts. Burdens of sadness, loneliness, discouragement, and dismay are very real and cause us to long for rest from their weight. Our spirits can be crushed if these burdens get too heavy and we carry them too long.

While Jesus understands these kinds of burdens and is present to help us carry them, these burdens aren’t the most oppressive. When our Savior invites us to come to him for rest, he means a different kind of burden that makes people weary and tired. That is the burden of sin and how sin disrupts our relationship with God. The Bible tells us, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). The demand that the Law of God makes is impossible for us to keep. We cannot perfectly fulfill its requirements.

We can’t get out from under the burden of sin by our own power. There is only one way for us to have relief. Jesus came to lift sin’s burden off our hearts. He carried that heavy burden of sin’s guilt for us and gives us rest. He gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven and that God doesn’t count us guilty. We have the peace of knowing that our relationship with God is restored. Through Jesus, there is now no fear of God’s strict judgment of condemnation against us. We are free from sin’s burden. In Jesus, we have rest!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I know that I have sinned in many ways and the guilt on my heart is a burden that is too heavy to bear. I praise you for taking the burden of my guilt and carrying it for me—suffering and dying to free me of its load and giving me the rest of full forgiveness. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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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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[Jesus said] “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29

Carrying the Cross

The Bible teaches that the burden of sin and selfishness is great because God’s judgment always follows. Simply put, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Adam’s first sin is a perfect illustration. He followed the path of self-indulgence. “When you eat of [the tree],” Satan promised, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). But when Adam pursued that path, he discovered that God’s promises always stand. God had promised, “When you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17).

In our arrogance, we think we can get away with our self-centered sinfulness. But God’s all-seeing holiness hones in on us, noting every godless thought, word, and deed. His perfect law closes every loophole, rejects every excuse, and refuses every rationale.

Which makes the saving work of Jesus and his glorious cross all the more stunning! Jesus took the shackles of God’s law on himself and carried the burden for us without stumbling. Then he picked up the heavy cross of God’s judgment and laid aside his Father’s righteous verdict against us by taking up our sin and penalty. He truly became “sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness [perfection] of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus took our great burden from us, and now he invites us to take up an entirely different cross, the cross of discipleship. “Take my yoke upon you,” Jesus says, “and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” Our Savior God offers free lessons in carrying crosses. He models for us the self-sacrificing love we are created to have for others.

And this new glorious cross doesn’t end in judgment. It ends with his promise: “You will find rest for your souls.”

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, give me the strength to carry every cross that comes my way as a result of following 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.

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[Jesus said] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

First Weariness, Then Rest

Jesus spoke in no uncertain terms about the details of Christian discipleship. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

At first blush, self-denial seems like a relatively easy standard to meet. But Christian self-denial requires us to keep God’s great commandments perfectly: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It requires us to abandon self-love completely and to concentrate all our time, energy, and effort on others.

Jesus is the perfect model of self-denial and love for others. He came into this world “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Now he calls us to expend our lives completely on others. “As I have loved you,” Jesus commanded, “so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34,35).

This kind of perfect love is difficult and wearisome, and not just because we are selfish and sinful. It was also a challenge for the perfect Son of God who “offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death” (Hebrews 5:7). He was truly tempted to abandon his love for others (Hebrews 4:15). So, when he commands us to take up our cross and sacrifice ourselves for others, he knows the burden intimately. He carried that burden himself!

Yet to us who now carry the cross of Christian discipleship, Jesus makes an astounding offer: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The one who carried the burden of the cross, loaded down by our sin, now offers his strength, help, and guidance as we pick up our cross of discipleship.

At first glance, our cross looks heavy, covered with sharp splinters. But Jesus’ love and saving power replace our weariness with true rest and power for godly living, and we see our cross in all its glory.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me carry the cross of discipleship with confidence and joy. 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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Jesus said, “Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. . . No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Matthew 11:26-27

A Purposeful Choice

Jesus and his cross are natural stumbling blocks to sinners like us. Why, then, do we believe something that seems so silly? Jesus explained when he prayed, “Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. . . No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

To be sure, God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). That’s why he sacrificed his beloved Son to be “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). God is so patient and long-suffering with the people of this world that he even plays the part of the fool, holding out his hands “all day long…to a disobedient and obstinate people” (Roman 10:21), only to have those hands remain mostly empty because so many reject his free gift of forgiveness.

Is that God’s fault? Hardly! Jesus has won mankind’s salvation completely, yet God forces no one to be saved. Instead, he works mysteriously and powerfully through his Word and Spirit. Through his Word, he shatters our pride and self-reliance, then calls us to trust in him and to see the glory of Christ’s cross.

So, our Christian faith is no accident. It’s God’s purposeful choice. “The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for graciously leading me to trust in you through the gospel. 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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Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
Matthew 11:25

A Revealed Glory

The Bible teaches us that the glory of Christ’s cross is naturally hidden from us. It is hidden behind the horrific dreadfulness of God’s shameful suffering and death there.

Martin Luther explained this important truth in his Small Catechism with these words: “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.” With that explanation, Luther was echoing the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote: “‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no mind has conceived’ [these are] the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Simply put, left to ourselves, sinful humans would never be able to see or fathom the hidden realities of God’s glorious, behind-the-scenes workings at Christ’s cross.

The Lord himself explains why this is true through his prophet Isaiah, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (55:9). In other words, the divine plan and purpose are far beyond our puny human senses. By nature, we see and sense the opposite of God’s reality. God often does the opposite of what we expect.

If that’s true, then how can anyone comprehend the divine truth? By ourselves we can’t, but the Bible tells us that, “these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:10). As Luther explained: “The Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”

Through his Word—law and gospel—the Holy Spirit brings us to humble repentance, a change of mind. First, he shows us our need for a Savior, and then at the cross, he proclaims that we have one, a perfect One.

Suddenly, the cross’s hidden glory is revealed!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, lead me daily to repentance through your holy Word so that I see the glory of your cross through the eyes of 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.

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Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
Matthew 11:25

A Hidden Glory

In his first letter to the Christians in the city of Corinth, the apostle Paul uses an interesting word to describe the “message of the cross.” He calls it “foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:18). The idea that a man killed on a cross could accomplish anything, much less the eternal salvation of the world, seems foolish to the people of this world.

So, when we proclaim the message of the cross, as Paul once did, it sometimes means being met with blank stares and cold hearts. In their unbelief, this world does not recognize the glory of the cross. To them, it is hidden.

But you might be surprised at who hides its glory. God does! Jesus said to his Father, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things …” And from whom has the Lord hidden the glory of the cross? “From the wise and learned.”

Does that mean Jesus has something against people with high IQs and post-graduate degrees? No, that’s certainly not his point. God is the giver of all gifts, including wisdom and knowledge. There is nothing wrong with being “wise and learned” unless you abuse these gifts by denying the hidden realities of the glorious cross.

Too often we do just that! We are tempted to take our eyes off Christ’s cross and to focus our attention on other things in this world that seem grander and more glorious, wiser and more learned. By nature, we claim to be wise, only to have God declare us the greatest of fools. Paul tells us the truth: even when God is being foolish, he “is wiser than human wisdom,” and even at his weakest, he “is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

So, Jesus says, stop being so “wise.” Instead, be like a little child. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3).

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, help me set aside my worldly wisdom and give me the faith of a child so that I can see the hidden glory, wisdom, and power of your foolish cross. 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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What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:24-25

Freedom

The stories of prisoners of war who survived are fascinating. The accounts of the brutal and inhumane treatment by the enemy are horrific. The extreme emotions felt by the prisoners are breathtaking: the terror of being completely controlled by the enemy, the hopelessness of recognizing that escape is impossible, and the desperation of knowing that if not rescued or released, death is soon right around the corner.

Fortunately, stories of survivors don’t end there. They include rescue or release, and the emotions that go along with it. The relief, joy, and gratitude that are described by these former prisoners make their stories enjoyable.

The apostle Paul shared his prisoner-of-war story. It’s a story that is fascinating not just because it has a happy ending, but also because it is a story that each believer in Jesus shares.

We are all prisoners held by our sinful flesh. We know that the sins we commit deserve eternal death, and yet we keep sinning. That’s all that our sinful flesh can do. If our story ended there, we would be filled with fear, hopelessness, and eternal despair.

The story does not end there. We have a Savior who rescued us. Jesus freed us from the bonds of sin. Jesus took the condemnation to hell we deserved and set us free. “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Our prisoner of war story is certainly a heart-warming one. Our freedom has been guaranteed by Jesus. Praise to our Savior because of the freedom he has won for us!

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for freeing me from my slavery to sin. Help me use my freedom to serve you and the people you bring into my life 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.

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[Jesus said] “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:37-39

Whom Do You Love?

These words of Jesus may be a bit difficult to comprehend, especially if you’ve ever held your own child in your arms. The love that parents have for their child is something that can hardly be described. It’s overwhelming. It’s profound. Many people experience their greatest joy in these moments.

As you consider the words of Jesus once again, ask yourself, “Is my love for my child, parent, sibling…greater than my love for Jesus?” If so, Jesus’ words cut deeply. In truth, we are breaking the very First Commandment, “You shall have no other gods,” if we are loving people more than we love Jesus. The results of this are eternally damning.

Let’s consider this from heaven’s eternal viewpoint. Everything we have is a gift from God–a gift that is best viewed “on loan.” Our parents are his. Our children are his. The material things we have are his, on loan to us for a time. If we love the gifts and not the giver of the gifts, we are idol worshippers.

Jesus had it all, and yet he gave it all up. He is the eternal Son of God who gave up the glory of heaven to come to this world, where he died destitute–all because he loved God above all else. He truly is the only one who has earned the title “worthy.” Yet, by grace alone, through faith alone, he forgives our sins and calls us worthy. He promises that whoever loves him and believes in him HAS eternal life.

What astonishing love Jesus has for us! What an amazing gift he has given to us! In love, he gives us eternal life—a gift that far surpasses all material gifts. May his love lead us to love him above all else—always.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me to love you more and more each day. Thank you for all the gifts you have given 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.

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[Jesus said] “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Matthew 10:42

God Notices

Large gifts or giant acts of kindness are often heralded, praised, and promoted. You have probably read stories about billionaires donating massive amounts of money to a children’s hospital, or a group fundraising campaign raising money to purchase a home for a homeless veteran, or a bunch of high school kids who all chip in to buy the school janitor a new car. Those are the kind of stories that get a lot of press and attention. I love hearing stories like that!

But what about the “little” gifts or the “small” acts of kindness? Do they make a difference? Does anyone notice? Does anyone care? The answer is most certainly yes! Jesus says that when we serve others and do things for others because we’re thankful for what Jesus has done for us, God absolutely cares and God loves to see us do them.

We don’t do those things to earn God’s favor or to pat ourselves on the back. We serve one another because we’re so thankful for what Jesus has done for us. Jesus gave himself up to death to save our lives. And now, we live our lives for his purpose: to serve God and to serve one another. And we can do this even in the “little” things we do each day. One example Jesus mentions is giving a thirsty child something to drink; however, the opportunities are endless—a kind word to a troubled heart, a prayer for a friend or stranger who is hurting, a sandwich or blanket for someone who is financially struggling, a cup of coffee and our attention to someone who needs someone to listen. We could come up with example after example. The opportunities are endless!

Consider how you can serve Jesus and someone else. Those acts of service aren’t nothing. And God notices them.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for serving me with your sacrifice on the cross so that I would be made one of your own. Give me opportunities this week to serve those you put in 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.

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[Jesus said] “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.”
Matthew 10:40-41

Welcoming Jesus

Sometimes when we share the truths of God found in the Bible, we are met with hostility or indifference. But sometimes the opposite happens. Sometimes, when we share a passage from the Bible to comfort or correct bad behavior or offer to pray for a person who is struggling, that act of love and kindness is welcomed with open arms.

And Jesus says something remarkable in our Bible reading for today. He says that when people welcome the words we share from the Bible, they are actually welcoming him.

Let this encourage you as you share his truths with others. When we share the message of the Bible, we are directing hearts to Jesus, who is strong enough to shoulder all of their burdens; Jesus, who loved them so much that he gave up his life for them; Jesus, who had the power to defeat death on their behalf.

Look for opportunities to share your favorite parts of the Bible. Ask your friends and family if there is anything you can pray for. Because when you do those things, you are bringing people closer to Jesus.

May Jesus bless you as you look to share him with others, and may he be welcomed in their hearts!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for the people in my life who introduced me to you. Bless me this week as I look for people who are hurting or struggling as I share with them your amazing power and 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.