Today's Devotion

Devotion - May 22, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Genesis 11:6-7

What is God's desire for us humans? What does he want for you and me?

God's will is simple: God wants humans to go to heaven. Because of that, God stepped into human history in a big way. The human race was on the fast pace to completely rejecting God and his love. They were all about "making a name for themselves." They were in rebellion against God, refusing to spread out around the world as God had instructed.

So in amazing grace God confused their languages. Amazing grace? Yes!

Did you notice the name used for God? It's "LORD." With this name for God, we are reminded that our God is faithful; he is faithful to his justice, but also faithful to his love! And so in amazing grace, the LORD confused their languages! Why?

Because ultimately, that would result in the circumstances for the most people possible to turn their attention to his Word, believe in the LORD and end up in heaven!

And that's God's desire for us humans. He desires that as many of us as possible end up in heaven. And thank God; he's willing to do whatever it takes to get us there!

Prayer:

Oh Savior, work in my life in whatever way necessary so that through your Word I stay on the way to heaven. In your name I pray. Amen.

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

Devotion - May 22, 2013

Devotion - May 21, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

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 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 them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine." Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' "

Acts 2:1-21

What an amazing 50 days it had been for Jesus’ disciples. Jesus rose from the dead proving that God the Father had accepted his perfect life and innocent death as the payment necessary to keep sinners like you and me out of hell forever! Over the next 40 days the resurrected Jesus appeared to his followers several times to strengthen their faith in him as their Savior. Then Jesus ascends into heaven before their very eyes, promising to return on the last day to bring them to heaven to be with him forever and reminding them that as they wait for him to return they are to tell others throughout the world what he has done to save sinners for eternity. And then 10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven the events of our Scripture lesson take place. Quite the 50 days indeed!

I would like to think that during the 10 days between Jesus’ ascension into heaven and the day of Pentecost that the disciples were busy planning how they were going to share God’s Word throughout the world – especially the life changing good news concerning Jesus’ death and resurrection. I would like to think that such plans were being made, but I have my suspicions that such plans maybe were not being made. More likely is that doubt about their ability to carry out Jesus’ command and confusion concerning what to do next dominated their thoughts.

So the God of history steps in again to show he has everything under control and to give his followers confidence. Can you imagine being there on Pentecost? Thousands upon thousands of people from many different parts of the world were in Jerusalem to celebrate a harvest festival – an opportunity to thank God for the crop that had already grown and to ask God to grant them a full harvest. God the Holy Spirit uses this opportunity to blow everyone away with his miraculous presence – the sound of rushing wind and flames of fire on the eleven disciple’s heads and the disciples’ ability to speak languages they never learned before. Gone is the wavering confidence in being Jesus’ followers. Enter in a renewed confidence in what God the Holy Spirit could do through them. Enter in a new joy that wants to be witnesses for Christ to the ends of the earth. Gone is confusion over what to do next. Enter in a renewed zeal to tell others about their Savior Jesus and a confidence that Jesus and even the events of Pentecost were the fulfillment of the Scriptures.

Most likely none of us will ever experience that kind of visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit like happened that first Pentecost. Don’t let that hinder your rejoicing that it happened and that God the Holy Spirit continues to work invisibly through God’s Word to mold us and mature us into the Christians he wants us to be. Rejoice that God the Holy Spirit continues to equip us through the Word of God to visibly live as followers of Jesus and to tell others that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Prayer:

Come Holy Spirit, God and Lord, and cause your Word of life to lead us to delight in God’s providence and to let none but Jesus be our Savior and Master. Grant us the desire to be your servants, to contend for the Christian faith, and to boldly proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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Devotion - May 21, 2013

Devotion - May 20, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

John 15:26-27

Have you ever tried to figure out God? Don’t. It’ll blow your mind. One God yet three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is that immense.

But God doesn’t expect you or even want you to figure him out. He just wants you to know who he is. And when you know who he is, he wants you to tell others so that they know who God is too. God is that important.

It starts with the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sends from the Father. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Counselor and the Spirit of truth, which is really appropriate because otherwise none of us would know the truth of God, especially of Jesus.

Without the Holy Spirit, we’d only know the guilt and shame we carry because of our sin. And we’d only know that, as hard as we try, there’s nothing we can do to take our guilt and shame away. We can never do enough for a holy God. That’s the greatest frustration and predicament in life.

But it is enough when a holy God sends his only Son from heaven and that Son becomes one of us. It is enough when that Son lives the holy life God expects us to live because we have failed so miserably living it. It is enough when that Son sacrifices himself on a cross as payment and punishment for our sin. It is enough when God exchanges his Son’s holy life for our sinful life, giving his holy life to us and dumping our sinful life on him. It is enough when God accepts this exchange and raises his Son from the dead as proof.

This is the true God who goes to such lengths to save mankind. And that’s what the Holy Spirit makes clear to you.

Now comes your witness to others. They need to know what you know. God is that important.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for revealing to me the truth of who you are. Thank you for being my Savior. May others know the same. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Devotion - May 20, 2013

Devotion - May 17, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:3-9

For those days when you feel like a big, important person, remember the cue ball on a pool table.

Our God is big enough to play billiards with the planets. If he did, earth would feel smoother to God than a cue ball feels to us. If Mt. Everest wouldn't even show up as bumps on God's galactic cue ball, how big of an impression can we human beings make? We're 29,000 feet smaller than that massive mountain! When God holds the universe in his hand, why would he pay any attention to insignificant specks of humanity such as you and me?

Yet, from the beginning God did care for us, making us rulers over this universe. We’ve proven ourselves unworthy of this authority. We kill each other and pollute our world. We fight and hurt each other. We rarely say thanks to God who gave us so much. Creation rebels right back at us with hurricanes and viruses and everything in between.

We still have hope. Hebrews 2 tells us Jesus is the ultimate “son of man” of Psalm 8:4. God’s Son became a son of man. After laying down his life to pay for the wrongs we did, he went back to heaven to rule this universe in our place. All of nature is now under his control (under his feet).

Jesus rules by guiding and controlling all things for our good – even when we can’t see what good can come from cancer cells. I may not be able to see how he can make it good, but I know he will. I know because he loved me enough to die for me. Love like his guarantees he will take care of me even in the worst of times.

Not because I stand out on this planet sized cue ball. He’ll take care of me because he has chosen to love me – forever.

Prayer:

Jesus, remind me every day you thought I was important enough to die for. Keep me in your care always. Amen.

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Devotion - May 17, 2013

Devotion - May 16, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Psalm 8:1-2

Are you smarter than a first grader?

We look at the wonders of the cosmos. It is estimated that there are more stars in the universe (10²²)¹ than grains of sand in our world (7.5 X 10¹⁸)² .

We look at the wonder of our bodies – 50 trillion cells able to fight infection, create music, run for miles and miles, or cradle a child in arms.

These wonders impress us as adults. We praise God for them, thinking, “Wow! Isn’t God awesome?”

First graders know God’s creation is awesome, but they also know there is a divine glory deeper and grander than any telescope or microscope can show us. First graders sing about this glory all the time:

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

With all our knowledge and important things to do, have we adults forgotten God’s greatest glory? His most awesome work is loving us imperfect people. He loved us, people who have cursed him in pain, questioned his wisdom, forged ahead with our own life without consulting him, or completely ignored him. A first grader who believes in Jesus, knows Jesus’ greatest glory. Jesus is worthy of praise because he has loved us. He loved us to death, by dying to pay for our sins.

Learn God’s praise from children and infants. When you feel as if you have more problems than the world has sand, sing their song to remember God’s greatest glory and our strongest comfort:

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

¹http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Herschel/How_many_stars_are_there_in_the_Universe - accessed 5-14-13 - just one example of a source

²http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2012/09/17/161096233/which-is-greater-the-number-of-sand-grains-on-earth-or-stars-in-the-sky - accessed 5-14-13 - just one example of a source

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for loving me to death, even death on a cross. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Keep my heart and my life focused on your greatest glory – your love for me. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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Devotion - May 16, 2013

Devotion - May 15, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Acts 16:9

How long will eternity last?

Seriously, stop and think about that question.

When you think about it, it's mind-boggling. The hymn "Amazing Grace" reads, "When we've been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise, then when we'd first begun." And that's true! Eternity will go on and on and on and on and ..., well, you get the picture.

Of course, for us who are believers in Jesus, that's an awesome thing! We'll be enjoying God's love and praising him, and it will be incredibly meaningful and joyful!

But for those who go to hell? It will be horrible, horrible, horrible! Separated forever from God and his love, suffering without end!

So can we understand the plea from the Macedonian man? What did the people in that area need? More than anything else they needed to know about Jesus and his forgiving love! More than anything else they needed to know that God loved them! More than anything else they needed to know that heaven was open for them because Jesus had died and risen!

And wonderfully God has brought that knowledge to you! God has "helped" you in bringing you to know that Jesus is your Savior! God has "helped" you in knowing that you're on your way to heaven! Could anything be more important, more valuable than that?!

And now you get the honor of "helping" others, by leading them to Jesus. Whom can you "help" today?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for "helping" me, leading me to trust that you have saved me. Fill me with appreciation! And lead me to be one who can "help" others to know you. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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Devotion - May 15, 2013

Devotion - May 14, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 14 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life.

Revelation 22:14

The Washing

In his Civil War book, Glory Road, author Bruce Catton shows us how dirty a human being can get. He recounts an episode in which a soldier leaves a prisoner-of-war camp to rejoin his old unit. His time as a POW had left him filthy beyond description. He asks his comrades to help him get clean. They take him into a river, strip off his clothes and begin to wash and scrub. Only after this continues for a time do the man and his friends realize that he is still wearing an undershirt. The man’s body had become so encrusted that it had been impossible at first to tell the difference between a soiled piece of clothing and his own skin.

The soiling nature of sin does the same thing. From the dark thoughts we allow to fester in our minds to all the deeds of love conveniently left undone, sin does more than leave a dirty streak here and there on our souls. It makes us spiritually filthy beyond description. Left to ourselves, our hearts are so encrusted by sin that it’s impossible for us to see how lost we really are, how deep the pit really is.

That’s where Jesus comes in. We didn’t see how lost we were. But he did. We didn’t see how far we had fallen. But he did. He took us to the river of his grace. He washed us in the waters of baptism. He cleansed us in the blood he shed on Calvary’s cross. Now we stand before him in robes of white. Now, through faith in him, his forgiveness is our personal possession.

There are moments when the same old stench from the same old sinful habits can fill our nostrils with despair. When such a moment comes for you, remember who you are. Remember what Jesus has done. He has gone to the cross to wash you clean. He has risen from death to assure you that not one of your sins remains. Through his eyes your life is fresh and clean and new. Your days as a filthy prisoner are long gone.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, in those moments when I stumble and the stench of my old sinful habits fills the air, remind me of the washing I have in you. Fill me with your peace. Empower me to get back up and to walk again with you. Amen.

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Devotion - May 14, 2013

Devotion - May 13, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory.”

John 17:24

What Jesus Wants

Paul was looking for a church. Every Sunday he would try a different one. Some were intriguing. Others turned him off. As time went on his search became more frustrating. Often the message was the same and it could be reduced to one sentence: “This is what Jesus wants you to do for him.” While Paul never claimed to have any real knowledge of the Bible, he realized something was lacking. It wasn’t until a friend invited him to come to church with him that he soon found what he was missing.

During that worship service Paul noticed the difference between what he had been hearing, and now what he was hearing for the first time. Instead of being told this is what Jesus wanted him to do, he heard this is what Jesus wanted for him.

It is easy to be confused by the many messages which tell me I have to do something for Jesus. They may sound attractive, even admirable, but there is only one problem. I can never do enough to merit Jesus’ favor or secure the hope of heaven. It is impossible because my sin always causes me to fall short of the perfection the Lord requires.

The only way I can find hope and peace is by knowing what Jesus wants for me. Simply put Jesus wants me to be his now, and he wants me to his forever in the glory of heaven. He, then, reveals how I can have this hope and peace.

Through Jesus’ perfect life as my substitute, he completed what I never could have begun to do. Through his perfect death as my Savior, he secured what I never could have attained on my own. Through his triumph over death as my living Lord, he proclaimed what I never expected to hear. His work tells me I am forgiven. His work tells me I am free from death and the devil. His work tells me I am an heir of heaven.

It is easy to become confused about Jesus and his ministry. This is why I need to carefully listen to my Savior and trust his precious work. Here I can know in a clear and simple way, this is what Jesus wants for me.

Prayer:

O precious Savior, I thank you for your compassion and devotion to me a sinner. Give me peace through the forgiveness of my sins. Give me hope through your resurrection. Give me confidence to know that you want me to be yours now and forever. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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Devotion - May 13, 2013

Devotion - May 10, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

Psalm 65:9-10

Oh, Give Thanks to the Lord

We are not always great at giving thanks, whether it is giving thanks to God or thanking other people. From the time our children are very little we have to train them to say, “Thank you.” And, it’s not something we need to tell them only once. Over and over and over again we remind them, “Say, ‘Thank you.’”

As often as we fail to thank other people, it pales in comparison to how we fail to thank God for his goodness. Often, it is because we simply don’t think about everything God does for us and gives to us.

In Psalm 65 King David reminds us that it is the LORD who provides for our bodily needs. He provides rain for the crops and pasture for the livestock. We easily forget that our food comes from God because most of us have such easy access to our food. We walk into the grocery store and…there it is! There are fruits and vegetables and meat and milk and cereal. The closest most of us come to starving is having to stand behind two or three people in the checkout line!

Many Christians say a prayer before eating a meal. Perhaps something like, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” It is all too easy to say such a prayer without any more thought than when we say, “Please pass the potatoes.” The next time you enjoy a meal, remember Psalm 65. Remember that you are enjoying that meal because the Lord IS good. So, give him thanks!

Prayer:

Gracious Lord, thank you for all your goodness to me. Thank you for providing all that I need for my bodily welfare. Thank you for food and drink, for house and home, for friends and family. May all that I do and say this day reflect how grateful I am for your goodness. Amen.

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Devotion - May 10, 2013

Devotion - May 9, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 09 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

Psalm 65:1-4

Overwhelmed?

Are you feeling overwhelmed today? There are plenty of things to overwhelm us: appointments and assignments and deadlines and meetings and practices and games. Then there is the never-ending list of chores: make dinner, wash the dishes, vacuum the floor, clean the garage, do a load of laundry…and another load…and another load…and another load. It can all be a bit overwhelming. Wouldn’t it be great if someone miraculously took away all of these responsibilities? What a sense of relief you would have!

Psalm 65 talks about being overwhelmed, not by earthly responsibilities, but by sins against your heavenly Father. When you sin, your conscience weighs you down with guilt. It might be a sin you committed yesterday or years ago. It might be a sin you committed against a family member or a friend. It might be a sin that everyone knows about or a sin that no one but God knows about. It might not be a particular sin but rather the multitude of your sins that’s overwhelming.

Wouldn’t it be great if someone miraculously took away all of those sins? What a sense of relief you would have! Well, someone did. His name was Jesus and when he died on a cross two thousand years ago, he took all of your sins with him. Because of what Jesus did, Psalm 65 can say, “When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.”

God has forgiven your sins. Let go of your guilt. Live this day in the freedom of his forgiveness.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving my sins through Jesus. Lighten the load on my heart with this good news and let me live this day in the freedom of your forgiveness. Amen.

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Devotion - May 9, 2013

Devotion - May 8, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 08 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

Acts 14:8-18

You can tell the truth

You really can’t blame them. Many of people had known this man since he was a child. His feet were twisted, and he had been crippled from birth. But when this traveling preacher and his friend looked at him and told him to stand up, the man jumped up and began to walk. He didn’t need any time to get his balance, to retrain his brain, or to strengthen his muscles. The healing was immediate and effective—a sure sign of power that could only come from the living God.

They had never seen anything like it. But they knew this power to heal was supernatural. The stories of Greek mythology and its pantheon of gods seemed to be the only answer. They concluded that Zeus the father of the gods and his messenger Hermes had appeared. There was no other way to explain it. So they began to worship the two men who seemed to harness such power.

Paul doesn’t blame them, but he does tell them the truth: “We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” Paul told them that the healing power did not come from them, or from Zeus or Hermes, it came from the God. It came from the God who made all things and who provides people with everything they need. Paul also proclaimed the good news that the living God sent his Son Jesus to be the Savior of all people.

You too can tell people the truth. Like the people in Lystra, they might not know a whole lot about the one true God of Scripture. But you can tell them. You can tell them about the God who made the stars above and the DNA inside of us. You can tell them about the God who daily provides for us by sending rain to water the crops and putting food on our tables. Then you can tell them the good news that this God sent his Son to die for our sins and to rise from the dead, so that we could be with him forever.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help us to always see your love and power behind creation and all of the blessings that you provide for us. Help us not only to see your love and power, but to speak of it to others, so that they too may come to know you, the one true God and Savior of all. Amen.

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Devotion - May 8, 2013

Devotion - May 7, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 07 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Revelation 21:22

Enduring Temple

Perhaps the most famous church building in all of England is St Paul’s Cathedral in London. It’s famous for many reasons. For one, it has dominated the London skyline since before the birth of the United States. For another, it’s been the site for numerous historic events, from royal weddings to state funerals.

Its greatest fame, however, may have come from World War II. If you go online and search the words, “Photo - St Paul’s - WWII,” you’ll see why. You’ll see a picture of London just after a severe German bombing raid. Every building in the picture is a smoking ruin of rubble – every building except St Paul’s. That picture rallied the spirits of the British people throughout the rest of the war.

In our society of the 21st Century, it often feels as if we Christians are simply enduring one long bombing raid. Everything we believe seems to be under attack. Everything we hold dear seems to be a target.

But take a closer look at the picture. Yes, Christianity is under attack, as it has always been. And yes, the forces of Satan and sin have turned much of our society into a smoking ruin of rubble. But above the dust and debris of a fallen world, there still stands the enduring temple of our God. It endures because that temple is the Lamb of God himself.

In that temple you will find shelter. In that temple you will find forgiveness. In that temple you will find refreshment and life and light. For that enduring temple is your Savior, who died and rose and lives for you.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, in the smoking rubble of this fallen world, you remain. You endure. Your promises never fail. Move us by your Spirit to find our refuge in you. Amen.

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Devotion - May 7, 2013

Devotion - May 6, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 06 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:25-26

Well Prepared

Jesus knew he was going to complete his earthly ministry. This work would include his suffering, death and resurrection to rescue all people from sin and its condemning curse. Jesus also knew his disciples would need to be well prepared to proclaim his completed work throughout the world. In order to prepare them he gave them what they needed. It was the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit came to them just as Jesus had promised. He also accomplished the work Jesus said he would – teaching them all things and reminding them of everything he said to them. It was because of the Spirit’s precious work they became bold, tireless and effective witnesses of Jesus’ love. They also met the challenges and overcame the obstacles.

Today, Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit is just as important as it was when he gave it to his disciples.

The Holy Spirit works in my life in a very special way. He teaches me everything I need to know regarding Jesus. As the Spirit works in me through the Word of God, I come to know Jesus as my Savior. I also come to know the peace he gives through the forgiveness of sins. I even come to know what he has prepared for me in heaven. The Spirit’s work doesn’t stop with my knowledge of Jesus, he also reminds me of everything I have learned. Daily he helps me recall I am a child of God and how I need to be well prepared as a witness of Jesus’ love.

This work of the Spirit is paramount in my life. Daily I will have to face many obstacles employed by the world to make me question my faith. Daily I will have to endure countless temptations used by the devil to erode my confidence. Daily I will have to wrestle with the weakness of my sinful flesh which is always ready to give up.

Through the Spirit’s presence and his precious work I can meet and overcome challenges to my faith and to my life as a witness for my Savior. I can have this confidence because Jesus has given me what I need to be well prepared.

Prayer:

O precious Savior, by myself I know I will never stand strong or faithfully serve you. You, however, have given me your Holy Spirit. Through his precious work I can know and remember everything I need to be your servant and faithful witness. Amen.

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Devotion - May 6, 2013

Devotion - May 3, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 03 May 2013 06:01:00 +0000

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:21

Pause to Praise (Part 2)

Did you pause to praise the Lord yesterday and again this morning? Did pausing to praise give you a different perspective on your day?

Psalm 145 gives many reasons to praise the Lord – some expected, some unexpected. Here are four that stand out:

1. Pause to Praise the Lord for his GOODNESS.
“They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness” (Psalm 145:7).
Too often we focus on what we don’t have and blame God for it. Look around where you are right now. What do you see that is evidence of God’s goodness? Pause to praise him for it!

2. Pause to Praise the Lord for his GRACE
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 145:8).
How quick we are to get angry, point out the faults of others, or blame God as mean and unloving. How deserving we are of God’s punishment as a result. As sinful as we are, God has shown us his undeserved love by sending Jesus, to cover our sin, to die for us. Pause to praise God for his grace!

3. Pause to Praise the Lord for his FAITHFULNESS
“The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made” (Psalm 145:13).
Just a couple verses after this, the psalm writer mentions how all creation looks to God to provide for all its needs, and since the beginning of the world God has been faithful to “satisfy the desires of every living thing” (verse 16). God has kept all of his promises. What promises do you know that God has made? How has he kept them for you? Pause to praise God for his faithfulness!

4. Pause to Praise the Lord for his JUSTICE
“The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy (Psalm 145:20).”
We struggle at times to make sense of evil in the world, terrorists, criminals and devious individuals that harm us directly or indirectly. We seek justice and wonder if it will ever come. Remember, God will bring justice to the wicked, those who do not love him. Justice for evil will come. Praise the Lord for his justice…and the love he shows to us by not treating us as our sins deserve.

Two days don’t make a habit, but perhaps these two days have planted a thought to begin each day with a brief pause for praise. With a little thought, you’ll begin to realize a brief pause is not enough to give God all the praise he deserves each day!

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for the countless reasons you have given me to praise you. Forgive me for countless days of complaining. Help me with your Spirit, to establish a new habit to pause to praise you every day. Amen.

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Devotion - May 3, 2013

Devotion - May 2, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

Psalm 145:1-4

Pause to Praise (Part 1)

So how has your day started today?

“Kids, get up…we’re running late!” “Another long day at work ahead of me.” “I don’t know if I can deal with this relationship any longer.” “Will I ever find a job?” “Really, can’t we just have one nice day of weather?” “How are we going to pay the bills?” “I’m running out of options to keep my child out of trouble.” And the list can go on and on.

Before we get too far into our day, we have quickly discovered all the things that are or potentially will be wrong about it. Perhaps the thought flits through our mind, “I wish I would have stayed in bed.”

The Scripture from Psalm 145 tells a different story. The individual understood that while it was easier to blame God for problems, it was better to praise him as King. While it might have been easier for this individual to curse the name of the Lord, it was better to praise his name forever and ever. While this person may have been tempted to shove God to the background, he found it better to simply try to grasp how great he was. While it would be easier to spend time keeping our children busy to have an “advantage” in life, he found it more important to share the mighty acts of the Lord with his family.

He paused to praise.

How about going back and restarting your day? Start with a pause to praise your God, your King for what he has done in your life. This may mean simply slowing down enough to ask, “What is God doing in my life that is praiseworthy?” I’ll let you think about this today. Read tomorrow’s devotion or more of Psalm 145 for some ideas of reasons to praise the Lord.

But today, pause to praise your God and Lord!

Prayer:

Lord, we often pause to pray which you invite us to do. We ask you to do this or that for us or take this or that away from us. Perhaps Lord, these are ways you are working a blessing in my life today. Help me today and every day moving forward to simply pause to praise you for your greatness and being part of my life. Amen.

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Devotion - May 2, 2013

Devotion - May 1, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:44-46

Consider Yourself Worthy of Eternal Life

After the Apostle Paul and his co-worker, Barnabas, had clearly explained that Jesus was the promised Messiah and the Savior of all people, they began to face opposition in the city of Antioch. A group of Jews stirred up the crowds and began to speak abusively against them. In a startling sentence the Apostle Paul explained why they rejected the good news of the Savior from sin. He said, “You do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life.”

Just think about that for a moment. Notice that Paul didn’t say their problem was that they were unworthy, just that they considered themselves unworthy of eternal life. This is the worst tragedy of all. Sometimes we see something similar happen in human relationships. If one person thinks that they are unworthy of the other, whether consciously or not, they do all kinds of things to sabotage the relationship. Then when the relationship comes to an end, it simply confirms what they believed from the beginning. “I was unworthy.”

It’s even sadder when this happens in a person’s relationship with Christ. It’s sadder because the reason Christ came was so that no one would be unworthy. He became our sin, so that sin could no longer make us unworthy before God. It’s the hardest thing in the world to believe that God knows all of our sin and all of our failures, but that he has forgiven us freely in his Son. But he has! It’s the hardest thing to believe that God loves us just the way we are. But he does! It’s the hardest thing to imagine that God clothes us with gleaming white robes of righteousness and will take us to live with him forever in heaven. But he will! He says it again and again in his Word. And if God says it, it’s true. Instead of doubting, thank God that you can count yourself worthy of eternal life.

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, sometimes I feel so unworthy of your love. I know that I deserve nothing from you. Yet I trust what you have promised me in your Word. Thank you for considering me worthy of eternal life through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Devotion - May 1, 2013

Devotion - April 30, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 13:33-35

“Clean up the kitchen after you eat. Feed the dog and let him out. Make sure you get your homework finished and get to bed by 9:00.” Similar instructions are given to responsible children in countless households by parents who are about to leave them home alone for an evening.

Jesus gave his disciples some instructions when he knew that he would be leaving them soon. His instructions were very simple: “Love one another.” By dealing with one another in love, not only would the followers of Jesus be obeying his command, they would also be making it clear to others exactly who they are – disciples of Jesus.

What is this love that we are to have for one another? Jesus tells us that it is to be the same kind of love that he has for us. His love caused him to go to the cross and give up his life for us so that we don’t have to be punished for our sins. His love focused on our greatest need and was willing to do whatever it took to meet it even if that meant he would have to suffer tremendous pain and even die.

Because of his love for us and what that love caused him to do, we know that our sins have been forgiven, and our relationship with God restored. Such wonderful news motivates us to want to live for Jesus, and he tells us how to do so: “Love one another.”

By lifting our eyes off of ourselves to see others and their needs, and then working to meet those needs even if it means personal sacrifice on our part, we obey our Savior’s command to love one another. When we do, other people will notice that there is something different about us. They will recognize that we are disciples of Jesus.

Prayer:

Jesus, my Savior, thank you for loving me enough to make the ultimate sacrifice for my sins. Help me to show that same sacrificial love to others that it may be evident to them that I follow and obey you. Amen.

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Devotion - April 30, 2013

Devotion - April 29, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

Revelation 21:3-5

Individuals with dark hearts set off explosions that kill and maim and injure dozens of people. Flooding destroys farmland and cripples a local economy. A distracted driver loses control and runs down a young student… Sometimes it seems that everywhere we turn we find destruction and heartache in our world.

What a beautiful comfort it is to know that one day that will all change. One day our all-powerful and living Savior will make everything new.

Right now, sin, death, and the devil have a firm hold on this world. We see the effects of their devastating attacks all around us. The war is fierce, and at times it certainly seems as though evil is winning. In the end, however, Jesus is victorious.

In fact, the victory has already been won. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, Satan’s power to accuse and condemn us was destroyed. His accusations are empty because our sin has been removed by the blood of Jesus. When he rose from the grave, he destroyed the power of death. That powerful enemy no longer has the ability to terrify us because we know that we who believe in Jesus as our Savior will live just as he does.

In the end, the victory Jesus won will be fully experienced by all who believe in him. In heaven, all of the evils of this world will not even be a distant memory—they will be gone forever. None of the things that cause pain and heartache will pass through the gates of heaven. There will be no more tears because every reason for crying will have been removed.

We can persevere through all the hardships of this world with our eyes focused on Jesus. He has won the victory for us, and one day, he will make everything new.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, lift my eyes from the pain of this world to see the victory you have won for me. Help me to look forward with eager anticipation to the glory of my heavenly home where everything will be made new. Amen.

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Devotion - April 29, 2013

Devotion - April 26, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:5-6

What went wrong? It would be easier to tell you what didn’t go wrong. The family home was theirs. They stretched their budget just to afford it as their family was just getting started. They sacrificed to keep up with the mortgage payments. For years they put up with the outdated features of the house. When they both had more time and financial resources freed up, they would address some of those concerns. At least that’s what they told themselves.

It actually started to become reality after the last tuition payment was sent in for their youngest child. Plans were drawn up. A contractor was hired. Their dream was finally becoming a reality. But that’s when everything went wrong.

Soon after the contractor gutted the house, the progress stopped. The builders were rarely seen. Telephone calls went unanswered. In the months while they waited, the weather took its toll on their uncompleted home. Possessions were stored in the garage. An unremodeld corner of their house became their base of operations. Lawyers were contacted. Court proceedings dragged out.

Finally, when all the drama was over, they were able to move into their dream home. Relief is an understatement. But that relief is just scratching the surface of what we have through our Good Shepherd. Any dream home would fall far short of what Jesus gives us. The goodness and love of our Savior is always with us. And we still have something better to look forward to. Our Good Shepherd has prepared a home for us in heaven. It is a home that can never be destroyed or taken away from us. Through faith our Good Shepherd guarantees eternal safety and spiritual security. We will be with our Good Shepherd, Jesus, forever in our heavenly home. What could be better?

Prayer:

Good Shepherd, you have sacrificed for me. You gave up your life so I can have peace and safety. You bless every day of my earthly existence with your presence. Keep me safe until I arrive in my heavenly home where I will spend eternity with you and all believers. Amen.

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Devotion - April 26, 2013

Devotion - April 25, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. … Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:1,4

I have to admit, I was pretty nervous. I was in a different land. The people looked different. They spoke a different language. And the security guards with automatic weapons and bulletproof vests didn’t help. At that moment I couldn’t help think, do I really need to be here? Is it really that important for me to see this sight and have this experience?

One thing is for sure, though. If I had been there all by myself, it would have been worse. The guide had been there before. He knew the people and the language. His experience let him know when it was safe for us to be there and where it was safe for us to go. Without him, I wouldn’t have had the courage to even consider going.

It’s just not strange places that cause us discomfort. Sickness throws off our routine. Tragedies cause us to question what we had earlier assumed. So many situations in life cause us sadness, sorrow, nervousness, and doubt. But you and I don’t have to go through it alone.

We have a Good Shepherd. He goes with us through the darkest valleys and deadliest ravines. Our Good Shepherd, Jesus, is better than a guide. He’s more than experienced and knowledgeable. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who “lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross takes away our greatest fears of evil. Yes, evil is still around us. There is still violence and pain and tragedy. Sometimes it strikes too close to home. But our Good Shepherd is still with us. The One who gave his life for us, his sheep, still protects us. Whatever we go through, our Good Shepherd will always be there.

Prayer:

Good Shepherd, in my darkest moments remind me of your presence. In my most fearful times come near to protect and guide me. Bring me your gracious comfort now and always. Amen.

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Devotion - April 25, 2013

Devotion - April 24, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to Paul and Barnabas, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak." Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: … "Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus."

Acts 13:15-16, 26-33

He used to be called Saul. Now he is known as Paul. But that’s not all that changed. He used to hate Jesus; he used to persecute everyone who believed in Jesus. Now look at him; in today’s reading we see Paul standing up in a crowd telling everyone what it means that Jesus has died on the cross and has been raised again to life. Clearly, it wasn’t just Jesus who had been raised to life. Paul had been raised to life, too.

Before it happened, Paul had been spiritually dead. You and I were born the same way. The Bible says so: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). To be spiritually dead is to be spiritually separated from God and helpless to do anything about it. Being spiritually dead rules out any hope we may have of “finding” God. Dead people can’t “find” things. God had to find Paul (see Acts 19:1-19) and God has to find us, too.

God gives the gift of faith to us the same way he gave it to Paul. He uses the message about Jesus. What a message! You can hear Paul speaking it in today’s lesson. Jesus accepted God’s punishment for sin which we deserved. He gave his life for ours. He rescued us from spiritual death. With this message, God does something so wonderful and miraculous that we wouldn’t be any less amazed if we saw a corpse brought back to life: he awakens our trust in Jesus. He makes us spiritually alive. He lets us see his love clearly, and he holds us close to him and his blessings in this life and the next.

Jesus’ death and resurrection happened only once, but God gives him to us over and over again through the message of what Jesus has done. Whenever God uses his Word to reveal the world’s Savior, he gives hopeless sinners hope. He gives condemned sinners a bright future. He raises spiritual corpses from the dead, and gives the gift of spiritual life. The gift is for you and me again today. Because of Jesus, all of your sin is forgiven. In him, you have the gift of life.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, risen Savior, you were dead and have now been raised to life. Take away every impulse in me that wants to run from you, and raise me to spiritual life every day by the power of your forgiving love. Amen.

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Devotion - April 24, 2013

Devotion - April 23, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. … And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." …Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; … Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. … And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 7:9-17 (selected verses)

Sing the Song of the Saints

People say Christianity is elitist. They don’t want to live by anyone else’s rules but their own. Is it any wonder that one of the most requested songs at funerals is Frank Sinatra’s, “My Way”?

Is that your song? Or does your song echo that of the saints in heaven? – “Salvation belongs to our God, … and to the Lamb.” Followers of Christ don’t boast in themselves. They boast in their Savior God. Jesus is the only thing that really matters in this life. Only he has provided deliverance from sin, all fears, and a hopeless future.

And who benefits? A select few? No! “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.”

It’s not easy to sing the song of the saints. It's easy to lose heart in this wicked world. The saints in heaven know it. They are those “who have come out of the great tribulation.” But what do those saints have to say to us? “Hang in there!”

How? Don’t rely on yourself. Trust in him who is truly wise and powerful. God gives you the strength to handle whatever you’re suffering.

Just remember that your suffering doesn’t begin to compare to what’s waiting for you in heaven. “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

From tribulation to triumph. Hang in there. Heaven is worth it!

Prayer:

Give me strength, Lord, when life gets hard. Keep me focused on the glory you have waiting for me in heaven together with all your saints. Amen.

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Devotion - April 23, 2013

Devotion - April 22, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

John 10:22-30

The Real Deal

Jeremy Lin is a player in the NBA (National Basketball Association). He is also Asian American. Last year Jeremy Lin made quite a splash with the NBAs New York Nicks. This year he has a lucrative contract with the Houston Rockets. He is the “real deal.” But people didn’t always see it that way. Though he was named California high school player of the year, not one major college offered him a basketball scholarship. Though he ended up leading the Harvard University basketball team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals, not one NBA team drafted him. Some contend that that this was because Jeremy Lin did not fit the mold or preconceived notion of what a successful NBA player was supposed to be or look like.

Jesus was also the “real deal,” not merely in an earthly sense, but in an eternal sense. He was true God from all eternity. He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem, as prophesied. He lived the perfect life which was lacking in those he came to save. He spoke with authority unlike that of any earthly teacher. And he backed all this up with numerous miracles performed in his Father’s name. Yet he did not fit the mold or preconceived notion that many had for the Messiah, the Christ. So they did not believe; they did not listen; they did not follow. Using the picture of a shepherd and his sheep, Jesus pointed out that those who did not believe, listen, or follow him were not his sheep. They were lost. Not seeing Jesus as the real deal has eternal consequences!

Thank God you are one of Jesus’ sheep and consider some of the implications: Jesus knows you. He knows you intimately, even perfectly. He knows your nature, he knows your personality, he knows your tendency, he knows the dangers and challenges that threaten you. And he acts accordingly—leading and guiding you, poking and prodding you, pulling, carrying, feeding, mending you, tending and commending you—whatever the situation calls for.

In addition, there are implications that extend beyond this life: Jesus gives you eternal life, you will never perish, and no one can snatch you out of his hand. When Jesus returns, you can be assured he has a place prepared just for you in heaven.

Jesus may not fit the mold that some are looking for or expecting, but he is exactly what all of us need. He is the real deal. Thank God you believe, listen, and follow; and pray for those who do not yet know and follow Jesus as Savior.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank you for giving me exactly what I need in this life, and thank you for assuring me of an eternal future with you in heaven. May many more be led to believe, listen, and follow. Amen.

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Devotion - April 22, 2013

Devotion - April 19, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:10:00 +0000

May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.

Psalm 67:3-4

Christianity is not a religion for just one race or just one nation.

When God promised the Savior in the hearing of Adam and Eve after they sinned (Genesis 3:15), they were to pass that promise on to their children and grandchildren.

Some of the descendants of Adam and Eve broke that chain, so God started over again with eight people: Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives (Genesis 7:13). They knew and believed the promise of the Savior, and from them came all of the nations and tribes and peoples we know today (Genesis 10).

Some of the descendants of Noah broke the chain of the promise again, so Jesus the Savior told his disciples to pass the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins on to all nations (Luke 24:47).

The Christian Church has done just that. Christian missionaries have baptized people and taught the Word of God in all of the countries of the world, and the Holy Spirit has brought people to faith. You don’t have to be a certain color, or a certain age, or a certain gender to be a Christian. You don’t have to have a certain amount of wealth, or speak a certain language in order to believe the promise.

Christians are simply people who trust that Jesus is their Savior.

From Tennessee to Tenerife, Christians hear the words of the Bible and praise God. They are glad and sing for joy, because they know that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16).

Prayer:

(Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal – 574):
Yours over all shall be the praise and thanks of every nation, and all the world with joy shall raise the voice of exultation. For you will judge the earth, O Lord; you will not let sin flourish. Your people’s pasture is your Word, their souls to feed and nourish, in righteous paths to keep them.

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Devotion - April 19, 2013

Devotion - April 18, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

Psalm 67:1-2

Everywhere on the internet there are those fake ads where someone pretends that they have received a free phone or computer because the company has made a mistake. If you foolishly click on the link, you will always find out that it’s a scam. No company would give away valuable merchandise that you haven’t paid for, right?

But God has given away something more valuable than a phone or a computer, and you haven’t paid for it. God has given away salvation, forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven. We haven’t paid anything for these valuable gifts. In fact, we don’t deserve them, and we can’t do anything to pay for them. Instead, Jesus paid for them by shedding his innocent blood and dying for us on the cross. Because we don’t deserve the love of Jesus, we call God gracious. Because the gifts of God bring us many good things in our lives of faith, we say that he blesses us.

Why would God do that for us, especially when we don’t deserve it? Is he making a mistake?

God doesn’t make mistakes. He knows what he is doing. One of the reasons he blesses us is so that his ways might be known on earth. If people realized that there really were sweet deals on the internet, getting something valuable for nothing, they would be sharing those deals immediately with family and friends.

In the same way, when we realize the grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, we find ways to post it and tell it and pass it on—across the street, across the internet, and across the world.

Prayer:

(Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal – 249):
God of mercy, God of grace, show the brightness of your face. Shine upon us, Savior, shine; fill your Church with light divine, and your saving health extend to the earth’s remotest end.

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Devotion - April 18, 2013

Devotion - April 17, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

As Saul neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.

Acts 9:3-5

We have this little game we like to play with people when we’re trying to figure something out. “Don’t tell me!” we say. We shut our eyes tight. We sigh. We say it again: “Don’t tell me. I’ve got this.” We don’t want help, because we want the honor that comes with finding the answer by ourselves. We have a way of playing that same game with God when we are looking for answers in life. “How can I take care of my latest problem, the one that keeps me up at night? How can I be sure God is really on my side? How can I finally find contentment? Don’t tell me! I know this one!”

Saul was the same way. He thought he had all the answers. He thought the way to be right with God was to follow all the laws and traditions of the Jews. Then along came Jesus. Jesus claimed that he was the only way to God. Saul couldn’t stand the thought of it. And it wasn’t just Jesus who offended Saul, it was also the followers of Jesus. Even after Jesus was crucified, his followers were saying he had risen from the dead, and they were gathering regularly to worship him. Saul was a man of action. It was time to put an end to all this talk about Jesus. He made it his life’s mission to hunt down anyone who followed Jesus.

By nature, we have something in common with Saul. We all tend to think that when it comes to getting on God’s good side, the way to be right is to do right. We take pride in our record of good behavior. There’s something offensive about the idea that in God’s book, those good things we’ve done don’t save us. Well, they don’t. Listen to what God’s book says: “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

Saul had to learn it the hard way. There was a bright light from heaven, a visit from Jesus, and a bout of blindness. As horrible as it all must have seemed to Saul at the time, clearly God loved Saul. For the three days Saul’s blindness lasted, God gave him time to reflect on things. Jesus had been right all along; he really was the only way to God. Jesus wasn’t dead; he really was alive! Best of all, when the three days were up, Saul was baptized. Jesus had died for Saul’s sins, too. God had forgiven Saul, and Saul knew it.

Go back to that little game we play when we’re struggling to figure something out. After a while, when we’re sure there is no possible way we are going to succeed, we say, “Okay, I give up. Help me out, here.” That’s the right way to think of ourselves every time we read God’s Word, and every time we think about our baptism. We’re not the ones with the answer; God is. And the answer he gives, both in his Word and in baptism, is so amazing and so beautiful that we will never get tired of hearing it. His own Son Jesus paid for all our sins with his life, and then rose from the dead to give us the gift of life forever in heaven. God is on our side.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, risen Savior, thank you for shining the light of your forgiveness on me, too. Help me to fight the sin of thinking I have all the answers for life’s questions. Bless me with the true peace and joy that comes only through you. Amen.

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Devotion - April 17, 2013

Devotion - April 16, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 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 21:1-14

This Is Jesus

What do you suppose Peter, Thomas, Nathanael and the other disciples were talking about before and during their night of fishing? What do you suppose was on their hearts and on their minds in the days following Easter? Maybe some uncertainty. Perhaps some doubts. Certainly some questions.

I don’t picture a group huddled around a clearly defined strategic plan outlining their activity for the next five to seven years. I picture a group with more questions than answers: “Will we see Jesus again? When? Where? What will he say? Is he going to give us more instruction? Will there be more direction?” Maybe even: “What are we going to do tomorrow?”

To these disciples came Jesus. The same Jesus who called them from their boats and nets and other occupations. The same Jesus who taught the crowds and met with them in quiet places. The same Jesus who suffered, died, and was buried. To these disciples came the same Jesus who provided a great catch of fish when he first called them to be fishers of men (Luke 5:1-11). The same Jesus who fed 5000 with five loaves and two small fish (John 6). The same Jesus who fed 4000 with seven loaves and a few small fish (Mark 8). This Jesus came to them, provided another catch of fish for them, prepared breakfast for them, and, more importantly, prepared them for the work he had for them to do.

Jesus was very much alive. This great truth, together with his divine desire and ability to provide for them, prepared Jesus’ disciples for the future—whatever that might be.

You and I don’t know what the future will bring. Perhaps we too have more questions than answers. But we do know this: Jesus is alive. The same Jesus who died for us, rose from the grave, repeatedly appeared to his disciples, and made us a part of his kingdom—this Jesus is alive and active. Each time we meet with him, each time we listen to his voice, he is preparing us for what lies ahead. He is preparing us for the work he has for us to do, and he is preparing us for the place he has prepared for us in heaven.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, may I cherish every moment spent with you. Prepare me for my work here. Let me find joy in that service. Then take me into your eternal presence. Amen.

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Devotion - April 16, 2013

Devotion - April 15, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Revelation 5:11-14

Worth It!

A certain cosmetic line uses the tag line, “Because I’m worth it!” I deserve the best; I deserve to be pampered, because I am worth it.

What are we truly worth? We have flaws. We have blemishes. We have shortcomings. We get angry. We are selfish. We are jealous. We are spiteful. We lust. We covet. We lie. We steal. We hate. We cover over our flaws and blemishes, because we know what we truly deserve for our sins.

We don’t deserve God’s mercy, or his love, or his faithfulness, or his forgiveness. We deserve the worst. We deserve to be disciplined. We deserve death. We deserve to be condemned. For our continual animosity toward God and his goodness to us, we deserve to be separated from him and his goodness forever. We are insufficient to save ourselves.

There is only one person who is inherently worth it. His name is Jesus. He is our perfect substitute. Even though we didn't deserve it, God sentenced his own Son to suffer for our sins and die in our place. He has paid for our sins. He has removed our guilt. How do we know this? Because our Redeemer lives! Jesus didn't deserve to die. He is worth so much more. So, God raised him from the dead, and promises that whoever believes in him is not condemned, but has passed from death to life.

Praise Jesus for his love. Honor him for his sacrifice. Glorify him with your life. He is worth it!

Prayer:

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" Amen.

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Devotion - April 15, 2013

Devotion - April 12, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:8-11

Peter lived over 1,000 years after King David, the author of Psalm 16. But, like just about every other Jewish boy who went to the synagogue, Peter would have been familiar with entire book of Psalms. After all, it was the Hebrew hymnal.

Some psalms were songs of praise for God’s greatness. Other psalms instructed God’s people in the way of truth. But Psalm 16 was a special kind of song. It was called a “Messianic” psalm because it pointed ahead to the coming Messiah, the Christ, God’s “Holy One” who would come to forgive the sins of all people.

Peter knew the psalms, but he didn’t completely understand the significance of them until he met Jesus. During the three years that he followed Jesus, Peter was convinced both by what he heard and witnessed that Jesus was the promised Christ. But he watched in horror as Jesus was put to death. When Jesus died on the cross, the idea that he might be the Holy One from God seemed to die with him.

But three days after Jesus’ death, the disciples were shocked to find an empty tomb. Angels proclaimed that Jesus was alive. Over a period of forty days Jesus appeared to his disciples and over five hundred other believers to assure them that death could not hold him.

Only after Jesus won this great victory over death did Peter come to fully appreciate the words of Psalm 16: “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life.” With these words King David had prophesied that the Holy One from God would defeat death. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy and showed once and for all that he was and always will be the Son of God.

God still uses the witness of people like King David and Peter to lead us to Jesus. Jesus defeated death and God wants you to take part in the victory. Be assured that Jesus’ death was the payment for your sin and his resurrection is the assurance that you are forgiven. Death was not the end for Jesus and it won’t be the end for you either.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for sending me so many convincing truths that Jesus is your Son and my Savior. Help me to grow in understanding of your great love for me and let me find comfort and strength in your certain promises. Instead of looking at death as the end of my life, help me to see it as the doorway though which I will one day walk to be with you. Amen.

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Devotion - April 12, 2013

Devotion - April 11, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.

Psalm 16:1-4

The Lord Is My Best Thing

Have you ever seen pictures of families abandoning their homes to escape wild fires, hurricanes or other natural disasters? Often times these survivors are only able to escape with the clothes on their backs and whatever possessions they can carry. They cling to small but priceless things like photo albums, pets, family heirlooms and other items with strong sentimental value. Watching them makes me wonder, “What would I try to take with me? What is my most valuable possession?”

Jesus had a unique perspective on this question. He told people, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20).

Hearing Jesus’ words makes me realize that one day I will have everything taken from me. It might not be in a natural disaster, but one day death will separate me from all my earthly possessions. That is a sobering thought. So how can I hold onto anything of value in my life?

Psalm 16 offers hope for the future. King David wrote these words to describe the coming Savior, Jesus Christ. So the words of this song are at the same time David’s and Jesus’ words. In verse 2 David shares his most valuable possession. “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” David valued his relationship with God more than any other thing in his life. Not even death could sever this eternal relationship.

David lists some of the great parts of a relationship with God. The Lord was David’s refuge. He could go to God in prayer at any challenging time or in any difficult situation. David was also part of a community. He enjoyed the company of others who shared a common faith and hope in God. And finally God protected David from false claims and empty promises of other phony gods. A relationship with God was all that David truly needed.

The Lord offers the same relationship with you. God valued you so much that he sent Jesus into the world. Jesus gave his life on the cross to restore God’s relationship with you and all of mankind. He also destroyed two of our biggest enemies, sin and death.

As you consider all the ways that God has blessed you in your life, remember only one of those blessings will be enjoyed in this world and in heaven. It is your relationship with God. Value it and enjoy it.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me so many valuable things in my life. I love my family and enjoy all the comforts of life that you graciously give to me. Forgive me for the times I have valued these gifts more than you. Help me to treasure you and my relationship with you more than anything else in my life. Amen.

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Devotion - April 11, 2013

Devotion - April 10, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

The high priest and all his associates…arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.” At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people… “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” the high priest said… Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”

Acts 5:17-21, 28-29

“Go…and tell” the angel told the apostles. Do you recall hearing those words recently? When some women had arrived early at Jesus’ tomb that first Easter morning, an angel told them, “Go quickly and tell his disciples: he has risen from the dead.” (Matthew 28:7). That’s the Easter imperative, the Easter command. Jesus is alive! He’s risen from the dead. He has conquered death. Go and tell.

Of course there is a part of us called the sinful nature that says, “Don’t go and tell.” Some people warn us that we should never talk about politics and religion. Sometimes, as in the Bible reading for today, even the authorities of this world forbid us to speak about the risen Christ. But through his angel messengers God told the women and the apostles, “Go…and tell.”

So why would we go and tell? We do it out of love for the Lord who told us to do so. But there is also another reason.

If your son or daughter is drowning, wouldn’t you throw out a life preserver if you had one? If a friend is dying from a poisonous scorpion bite, wouldn’t you give the antidote if you had it? If a classmate or coworker is starving, wouldn’t you feed that person if you had the food?

We live in a world where people are dying spiritually and eternally, and we have the only real antidote for death. Through faith in the risen Jesus we can and will live eternally. In the risen Jesus we have the prescription to living joyfully forever! Love for others will move us to go and tell them.

Yes, there will be some who will reject that truth, deny that possibility, and suggest that the notion of joyous everlasting life through Jesus and him alone is nothing but foolishness.

But God will bring others to faith, and they will thank you for sharing that life saving message of the crucified and risen Christ. Just read the Book of Acts in the Bible. Then experience the wonder and joy of sharing that message with others. Yes, go and tell.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, you have saved me for a life of joy in heaven with you. Moved by your wondrous love, help me to go and tell others about it, too! Amen.

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Devotion - April 10, 2013

Devotion - April 9, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Revelation 1:17-18

Keys

In San Jose, California, there is a set of keys that will let you in to a strange and massive house. It’s called the Winchester Mansion, and there’s nothing like it anywhere. The person responsible for building it was Sarah Winchester, the widow of the man who invented the famous rifle. At a time when workmen earned 50 cents a day, the mansion cost 5 million dollars. The mansion has 160 rooms, 17 chimneys, 13 bathrooms, 47 fireplaces, and 10,000 window panes.

What makes the mansion unique, however, is not just the size. It’s the design. All throughout the house are stairs that lead nowhere, hallways that dead-end, doors that open to brick walls. And here’s why. Not long after her husband’s death, a spiritualist had convinced Mrs. Winchester that as long as she kept adding on to the house, she would never die. And so that’s what she did. With her vast fortune, Sarah Winchester kept construction crews working on her house non-stop for 38 years.

But her keys to the house were not the keys to eternal life. Sarah Winchester died in 1922.

There’s another set of keys. These keys are different. These keys are in the hand of Jesus. In our place Jesus died. He died for our every sin. Then he rose from death. In doing this he demonstrated who he is. He is death’s Master. Death must answer to him.

It’s true, each of us can still expect our bodies to wear out and die, as Sarah Winchester’s did. But remember. Jesus has the keys. He has unlocked the door of death. He’s pushed it wide open. And through that door lies eternal life.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, you are death’s Master. You hold its keys. It must answer to you. When death touches my life, bring me comfort and joy in who you are. Amen.

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Devotion - April 9, 2013

Devotion - April 8, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

John 20:19-20

The Right Thing to Say

On Sunday evening following his resurrection from the grave, Jesus appeared to his disciples. They desperately needed that visit to allay their fears and remove their doubts. The words Jesus offered them were simple, and they were just what they needed. Because Jesus said the right thing, the disciples were overjoyed.

There are times in my life when I can relate to the disciples. I am afraid. I have my doubts. I wonder if faith in Jesus is really worthwhile. I am also painfully aware that the devil is ready to seize this uncertainty and fear, and drive me away from Jesus.

It is when I find myself in this dilemma that I need help. In his loving concern Jesus comes and gives me the assurance I truly need. He has just the right thing to say, and it is in those words I find great comfort and joy. Jesus says, “Peace be with you!”

Jesus’ peace is more than a cessation of earthly hostility and war. It is a peace which proclaims I am one with God. Jesus’ peace assures me the barrier of sin and guilt has been overcome. Jesus’ peace also tells me I am his, and he is my refuge, my strength, and my ever-present help in times of trouble.

In addition, it is this peace which guards my heart and life through faith. It checks the outbreak of sin and fear from within my heart. It even hinders the world’s evil influence from overwhelming me. Jesus’ peace is what I need to have in my life, and it is what I need to hear.

It might be easy to underestimate Jesus’ assurance, “Peace be with you!” Think of what would be lost if I would. This is why I cherish those precious words. Not only are they the right thing for Jesus to say, they are also the very thing I need to hear. With Jesus’ peace I have joy.

Prayer:

O blessed Savior, I thank you for your death and resurrection. Through your faithful work I know I have peace with God. Continue to bless me with this peace. Use it to calm my fears, remove my doubts, and give me a never-failing joy. Amen.

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Devotion - April 8, 2013

Devotion - April 5, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1 & Psalm 118:29

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

A morsel of public speaking advice that I’ve heard and read several times: “Tell them what you’re going to say. Then, tell them what you want to say. Finally, tell them what you just said.”

Thank the LORD for his goodness and love. Then tell why the LORD is worthy of our thanks. Finally, thank the LORD for his goodness and love.

Psalm 118 begins with: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Then, the author writes about anguish. He tells about being in trouble and about to fall. But, the LORD was with him and helped him. The LORD was his strength and salvation. He would not die, but live and would proclaim what the LORD has done. The author of the psalm had every reason to praise and thank and rejoice in the LORD.

Finally, Psalm 118 ends with “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

As you see, the first and last verses of Psalm 118 are the same. At the very beginning and very end of this song, God had the author write: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Psalm118 is perfect for us, too. We begin with thanks because we know that the LORD is good and his love endures forever.

Then life hands us countless joys and heartaches, challenges and blessings, hills and valleys. Through it all, God is with us. God blesses us. God saves us. God gives us eternal life. We praise and thank and rejoice in the LORD.

Finally, what better way to end than the way we began? We thank the LORD because he is good and his love endures forever.

Thank the LORD for his goodness and love. Then tell why the LORD is worthy of our thanks. Finally, thank the LORD for his goodness and love.

Psalm 118:1 - Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:29 - Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Prayer:

LORD God, you are perfectly good. Your love endures forever. Thank you for forgiving and saving me. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. Thank you for being with me and helping me every day. Fill my life, my words and my heart with praise and thanks for you. Amen.

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Devotion - April 5, 2013

Devotion - April 4, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:14

Strong or Weak – He Is My Strength

There are days when I feel strong. There are days when I feel weak. When I wake up after a great night of sleep, am feeling healthy and sunshine greets my day, I feel strong. When I’m tired, feeling sick and a canopy of clouds shuts out every bright beam of the sun, I feel weak.

I realize those lists are a bit simplistic. They don’t touch on the ups and downs of relationships, careers, or a huge list of other potential “strong-weak” factors.

But in the most basic and devastating way, we are weak spiritually. We don’t do the good things God tells us to do. How many times have we been too weak to share when we had plenty? Too weak to be kind when we saw someone hurting? Too weak to be patient when someone was struggling? How weak we are!

We are also weak because we cave in and do the things our God tells us not to do. How many times have we looked and lusted? How often have we dragged someone’s name through the mud? How many times have we rejected God’s offer and command to spend time in his Word? How weak we are! We are weak and incapable of doing what pleases God.

How strong! How strong is the LORD. In the Psalm for today, the author tells us: “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” God is all-powerful! In his mercy and love, God uses his strength for our benefit. God provides for our daily needs – food, clothing, shelter and many more blessings.

God displayed his love and his strength in an even bigger way. He provided salvation for us. Just a few days ago, we had a beautiful opportunity to study and celebrate God’s love and strength in our Easter celebrations. In his strength, Jesus, true God, carried what only he could carry – the punishment of the sins of the whole world. He suffered and died on the cross. In his strength, he laid down his life and picked it up again as he rose in victorious life on Easter morning. In love, Jesus saved us.

God is strong. He is our strength. Whether the sun shines or hides, or our health soars or tanks, we have strength – the LORD’s strength. Sins forgiven and salvation won, God makes us strong and gives us a reason for singing: “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

Prayer:

LORD God, I am weak, but you are strong. Thank you for forgiving my sins and saving me. Thank you for making me your child and giving me heaven as my eternal home. Make my whole life a song of joy and thanks to you for all that you’ve done for me. Amen.

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Devotion - April 4, 2013

Devotion - April 3, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: … “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation… Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy... Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

Exodus 15:1a, 2a, 6, 11b

They were as good as dead. The Red Sea was in front of them. The well-trained, well-equipped Egyptian army was behind them. There was no where to go; no way to escape. The Israelites were as good as dead, so it seemed.

It seemed the same to the women who went to the tomb Easter Sunday morning. The disciples of Jesus felt the same way. They all knew what happened. He was arrested and bound by the authorities. He was beaten and flogged within an inch of his life. Nails were driven into his hands and feet, and then he was raised on a vertical beam of torture called a cross. There was no escape. There was no mistake. He died.

But the stories didn’t end where they seemed to lead. The Lord opened up a path through the Red Sea. With walls of water standing miraculously on each side of them, the Israelites crossed through on dry land. Defeat and death didn’t touch a single one of them. But when the Egyptian forces tried to follow, their death and destruction was complete. Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation… Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy... Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

When the women went early to the tomb that first Easter, angels were there, but not Jesus. Could he really have defeated death? Could it be true? Two disciples ran to the grave to check it out. It was true. Jesus wasn’t there. Could he really have risen and shattered the power of death? That first Easter, they all discovered it was true. The enemy death was conquered. Jesus was alive. He had risen. Did Jesus’ followers sing, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation… Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy... Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

Are there times when we feel dead? Worn out from work and daily struggle? Plagued by a terrible sin or just a past life of sin? Suffering from the increasing aches and pains of old age or the sudden battle of a dreadful disease? Then sing, believer! Yes, sing! The story won’t end where it seems to lead. Christ has changed the ending! His Easter resurrection is proof that our troubles are only temporary. His resurrection is proof that our sins have been forgiven, all of them, no matter how many or how awful they are. Jesus’ resurrection is proof that death has been defeated. Earthly death has been turned into an awesome blessing. It’s the entrance into a paradise of an eternal life of love and joy with Jesus. So sing, believer; sing!

Prayer:

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation… Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy... Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

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Devotion - April 3, 2013

Devotion - April 2, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Easter Up Close

It may be easy to dismiss Easter at a distance. When Easter is a faraway object, it may be easy to label it as a fanciful story with lots of drama and a happy ending.

But to confront Easter up close is to wrestle with some pretty stubborn facts. The facts are these. By late Friday afternoon, Jesus of Nazareth was dead. A Roman soldier pierced his corpse to confirm it. The centurion in charge of Jesus’ crucifixion reported his death to Pontius Pilate. With Jesus’ execution complete, Pilate gave the body over to people who took it down from the cross and who buried it in a nearby tomb. Jesus’ disciples, paralyzed by fear and grief, kept themselves behind locked doors and did nothing.

Then, on Easter Sunday, something happened; something so extraordinary that it transformed Jesus’ disciples forever. It transformed them from men hiding in terror to men willing to spend the rest of their lives facing persecution and prison and death just so they could tell others about Jesus.

The transformation of Jesus’ disciples is a matter of record. One day they were cowering in a locked room, grieving the death of their Master. The next they were changed men, men who possessed a bold, resilient courage no one would ever take away.

Let’s face it. A room full of terrified men does not suddenly change into lifelong courageous men based on some collective whim or wishful thought.

We know what happened. God’s Word gives the account. Jesus had been dead and buried, sacrificed to pay for all sins of all people of all time.

Then he arose.

That one stubborn fact has been changing hearts and lives ever since.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, bring me up close to the reality of Easter. You were dead, and now you live. Empower me with your Spirit. Let your resurrection refresh my courage to live for you. Amen.

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Devotion - April 2, 2013

Devotion - April 1, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Luke 24:12

What Happened?

Phil was driving to work. Suddenly he noticed three police cars speed by with their lights flashing and sirens wailing. Soon these were followed by two fire trucks. The procession came to an end with two ambulances. Since they quickly disappeared he could only wonder, “What happened?” Soon he came to understand what did happen. He slowly passed by the scene of a multi-car accident. Now, he knew what happened because he witnessed the scene.

While seeing often leads to believing, it didn’t help Peter right away. After he arrived at the tomb, he peered into the empty cavity. He saw the strips of linen where Jesus’ body had been. Still he couldn’t believe his eyes. He walked away wondering what happened.

I face the same confusion. Through the words of the Bible I am invited to the empty tomb, and I am invited to look inside. There I see the strips of linen. There I see the place where Jesus’ lifeless body was laid. What I don’t see is Jesus. If I try to rely only on my eyes, I will remain like Peter. I will wonder what happened and remain confused about Jesus and his precious work.

I need to rely on the Bible to find out what happened. God’s Word tells me Jesus went to his death and the grave to secure my freedom from the punishment I deserved. Everything God the Father required, Jesus fulfilled fully and perfectly. His proclamation prior to his death is my certainty: “It is finished.”

God’s Word also tells me Jesus rose from the grave and proclaimed he is alive. With his resurrection he assures me I can put my faith in him and trust all he has done. The proclamation at his resurrection is my certainty: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

The benefit of Jesus’ work is mine through faith. This faith, worked by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, takes hold of everything Jesus said and did. It removes all doubt. It even tells me I am his now and forever. Equally important is the confidence I can have that Jesus always stands by what he says. I do not have to rely on sight. Nor do I ever have to wonder what happened. I know. Jesus rose from the grave. The tomb is empty. Life is mine.

Prayer:

O blessed Savior, send me your Holy Spirit to strengthen my faith. Use your Word of Truth to remove all doubt. Give me the confidence to know you are my living and loving Savior. Amen.

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Devotion - April 1, 2013

Devotion - March 29, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

Psalm 24:1-2

Who builds ... on water?!

Who gives life ... through death?!

Our God, that's who. The ways of our God are so often different than what we would expect. But they are oh-so-glorious. Who would have expected, for example, that the King of Glory would die on a cross? Who would have expected that the LORD Almighty would bow his head to the authority of sinful human beings?

It's not what we would have expected, but it's what God did. The Lord Almighty set aside his crown of glory and instead took on a crown of thorns. The King of Glory humbly died with the title, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" placed over his head. It doesn't seem to make any sense to our logic!

But it's God wonderful grace. Why does he act this way? Why does he take these steps? It's all about you and me. It was done to forgive us. It was done to rescue us from the hell which we deserved. God set aside his glory, his power, to save you and me from sin’s curse of everlasting death.

And there’s so much more than we can even imagine! Because of his sufferings and death, YOU will have glory! Eternally! So different from what we'd expect.

But then again, we have a God who can build on water.

Prayer:

As I gaze on your cross, O Jesus, fill me with humble repentance for my sins. Fill me also with grateful joy for the eternal life which you won for me. Gratefully, thankfully, in your name I pray. Amen.

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Devotion - March 29, 2013

Devotion - March 28, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.

Psalm 24:3-4a

These words make me cringe! You too? I look at my heart and I don't see purity. Rather I see anger and fear, lust and greed, worry and bitterness and on and on and on. You too? And too often my hands are acting out what's in my heart! And God says what? He says that if I want to be able to stand in his holy place, if I want to be able to be at one with him, that my heart needs to be pure! I have no chance!

That is, on my own I have no chance.

But I'm not on my own. Rather, I have a Savior. I have a Savior whose heart was completely pure, whose hands were totally clean.

And today, Maundy Thursday, the Savior gave us his wonderful meal by which he cleanses our hearts. He says, "Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. And drink; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins." It's as if he were speaking directly to each of us and saying, "Here, my child, is the forgiveness which you need. Here, my child, is the cleansing of your heart."

And with our hearts cleansed, to where can we ascend? Where can we stand? Yes, we can ascend the hill of the LORD, we can stand in his holy place. We can come into God's presence, for God has cleansed us. Stand there with grateful joy, O cleansed child of God!

Prayer:

O Savior, thank you for cleansing my heart, that I might stand in your presence. Keep washing me, through Word and Sacrament, that I might ever stand before you in purity as your child. In your name I pray. Amen.

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Devotion - March 28, 2013

Devotion - March 27, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Zechariah 9:9-10

It’s not what you think!

If you’re like me, perhaps you have purchased a particular item that you were sure you were going to use and that it would help you out tremendously. But when you got home, it just didn’t work. You were terribly disappointed and frustrated.

We’re in the middle of “Holy Week.” Last Sunday marked the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem and in two days we will commemorate his crucifixion and death. When he entered Jerusalem, the gathered crowds shouted praises to Jesus. They did indeed “rejoice greatly,” but it wasn’t long before they cried, “Crucify!”

Jesus wasn’t the one they expected. Many of the people didn’t want a humble king riding on a lowly little donkey. They wanted a warrior king who would come with chariots and horsemen to drive out the dreaded Romans. But this isn’t why Jesus came. He came to die for them. This wasn’t what they expected, but it’s what they needed.

Who is Jesus? Is he some great miracle worker whom you call on when you’re in a pinch? Is he the man in the picture on the wall holding children on his lap? Is his cross just a nice piece of jewelry around your neck? If so, then he’s not what you think. He came as the perfectly humble and obedient Son of God – perfectly willing to fulfill his Father’s will, even though it cost him his life.

Sin, Satan, and death were our enemies. We were in a losing battle, but the warrior has come and by his perfect life and holy death he broke the bow and ended the battle once for all – for you, for me. He’s not what we may have expected – he’s better! In fact he’s everything we need in life. Forgiveness of sins is ours. Peace is ours. Joy is ours. Contentment is ours. The sure hope of heaven is ours – all through faith in Jesus.

Rejoice greatly these next days as you remember the battle your Savior won for you. Rejoice greatly as you view the open tomb once again. Rejoice greatly – for your king has come to you!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me to always see Jesus as my perfect Savior. Help me to treasure the victory he has won for me. Amen.

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Devotion - March 27, 2013

Devotion - March 26, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

How much the Holy Spirit packs into these words he gave the Apostle to write! Here’s the wonder of what our Savior did.

First, note who Jesus is. He is God. But he did not come to this earth parading his almighty splendor. He came as a servant to do his Father’s will. Rather than displaying his equality with the Father, he became obedient to death, even death on a cross! How he humbled himself!

But why? What led him to the cross? Nothing from us attracted God’s favor. But despite the sinners we are, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). Jesus came because of his gracious love that we in no way merit or deserve.

What did he accomplish on the cross? “We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). He ransomed sinners, because he took the place of every human being. That’s why, although he is God, Jesus also became human, like us in every way but without sin. He humbled himself to death on the cross as our Substitute to pay for our sins and redeem us.

How can you be sure? Because the Father raised Jesus from the dead. “God exalted him to the highest place.” He accepted Jesus’ death as payment in full for your sins. Believe this Good News.

Now as you follow Jesus, humbly serve others with the same attitude as his. For his cross has made things right between you and God. And he will take care of you no matter what others do to you, for all must bow before him.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, let my heart ponder your cross and my life glorify your Father. Amen.

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Devotion - March 26, 2013

Devotion - March 25, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem... As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Luke 19:28,36-38

Huge crowds lined the streets to welcome him. Cloaks and palm branches paved his way. As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on the Sunday afternoon described in the Scripture before us today, the people welcomed him as a king coming to bring peace to the world. And so they shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” And, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Their praises were spot on, for Jesus is, indeed, a king who brings peace.

So are you at peace?

Maybe as you take an honest look at your life, you often question just how peaceful it is. The world you live in is filled with war and crime and poverty and pain. Your own personal life is too often filled with job insecurity, financial instability, stress, health problems, strained relationships…often the list is much longer than you would like it to be. Did King Jesus really bring the peace he promised?

It is when such questions arise that we remember the kind of kingdom and the kind of peace Jesus came to establish. His kingdom is not of this world. The peace he brings is not an earthly peace. His kingdom is in heaven and in our hearts, and so he came into this world to fix much bigger problems than just our physical problems. He came to fix our spiritual problem of sin. He came to restore peace between us and our God, opening the doors of the kingdom of heaven to a world of people whose sins had shut them.

As Jesus hung on a cross dying just five days after triumphantly entering Jerusalem, he did just that. The King who came to bring us peace washed all of our sins away through his blood. The King who came to bring us peace restored peace between us and God. The King who came to bring us peace opened wide the doors of heaven.

We are, indeed, at peace. We have the peace of knowing that all our sins are forgiven – even the ones that bother us the most. We have the peace of knowing a greater glory awaits us – even when life’s earthly struggles continue. We have a place waiting for us in God’s heavenly kingdom for all time and eternity. And so today we shout with those crowds of Jerusalem: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my King, you have recognized my greatest need and met it. You have forgiven my sins through your blood and restored peace between me and God. May such love lead me to praise your holy name here on earth and forever in heaven. Amen.

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Devotion - March 25, 2013

Devotion - March 22, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:21-26

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” “Better a bird in the hand then two in the bush.” Many phrases have been developed to describe the phenomenon that we will be happier if we had the things that are out of our reach. It was no different for Asaph, the writer of Psalm 73.

However, Asaph soon realized the foolishness of his thinking. When he was angry with God for withholding the blessings that he thought he needed, he describes himself as “senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.” When we set our minds on earthly things, when our hearts are swayed by the pleasures of this world; when we’re not content with God’s blessings in our lives, we are senseless, ignorant, brute beasts as well.

Things changed once Asaph realized he wasn’t lacking. In fact, everything he could ever want both in heaven and on earth he already had because God chose him. God held him by his hand. He guided him with the counsel found in his Word. God promised Asaph the glory of an eternity with him. How good did Asaph have it? Even if his flesh and heart failed, he still had God forever.

No matter what happens in this life, no matter how good things look for others, you can have nothing greater in this life or in the life to come than God. God gives you the same promises he gave to Asaph. He is the strength of your heart and your portion forever.

Prayer:

(Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal - 434):
Lord, you I love with all my heart; I pray you ne’er from me depart; with tender mercies cheer me.
Earth has no pleasure I would share; heaven itself were void and bare, if you, Lord, were not near me.
And should my heart for sorrow break, my trust in you no one could shake. You are the treasure I have sought; your precious blood my soul has bought.
Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord, forsake me not! I trust your Word.

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Devotion - March 22, 2013

Devotion - March 21, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills… This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence… When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Psalm 73:1-5,12-13,16-17

One of the perils of winter is ice, more specifically, trying to walk on it. It’s slippery. It’s easy to fall and hurt yourself. Some years ago, I had the privilege of going to Alaska and hiking on a glacier. The scenery is amazing, but you’re literally walking on a big chunk of ice. My tennis shoes didn’t grip well. I slipped and slid toward the edge—a 30-foot drop! Thankfully, I was able to stop my fall by bracing my foot against a nearby tree.

Asaph, our Psalmist, could relate. He says, “My feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.” But ice wasn’t the issue for Asaph. It was envy. He envied how those who didn’t follow the true God seemed to prosper and succeed, while he suffered. His envy led him to question God’s wisdom and God’s ways. He thought of joining the wicked. He was slipping and sliding towards the brink of losing his faith. Perhaps, you can relate? Maybe you’ve asked the same questions?

Maybe you’ve also felt like serving God was a waste of time; your efforts were in vain.
Asaph got to the edge. But he too was saved; not by grabbing a nearby tree, but by going to the house of the Lord. It was in God’s house that Asaph was reminded of God’s promises. There, he remembered that God had a plan to save him by sending the Messiah, his one and only Son, Jesus. He saw how this life is not the be all and end all, but there is a better life waiting for him in heaven. The same is true for you. God has a plan for your life. He sent his Son Jesus to live and die and rise for you so that you can have a future in heaven.

Are your feet slipping from envy? Find your grip in God’s house. Find your foothold in his promises. “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.”

Prayer:

Lord God, keep me from the slippery slope of envy by leading me to your Word. In Jesus, show me how I have everything I need in this life, and in the life to come. Amen.

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Devotion - March 21, 2013

Devotion - March 20, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

This is what the LORD says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:16-19

Did you hear the newest news?

Most people probably don’t think of the word “new” when it comes to the Bible. Rather, words like “old” and “ancient” might seem more fitting. Those words are certainly true because the Bible is God’s account of things he did 1000’s of years ago. But just because he did things long ago, does not mean they are no longer relevant or “new”.

Some 700 years before Jesus was born, God spoke through his Prophet Isaiah and shared with the people something old and something new. The old news was a review of the mighty acts of the Lord at the time of Moses, leading the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. The same God who did those wondrous things was about to do something new!

At first hearing, it may seem like the Lord is building a huge water park in the middle of a desert, but he’s not; he’s doing something even better! The Lord is causing his message of forgiveness through the coming Messiah to spring up once again. This promise – while not new – was new to many ears who hadn’t heard the message or had forgotten it. Through Isaiah God called his people to repent and to trust in his promise to send them a Savior. This was wonderful news!

It’s no secret that the spiritual climate of America could be described as a desert wasteland. For so many the Bible remains an ancient book with little relevance for this modern culture. Instead people fill the hours of their days with activities, work, leisure… leaving no time for the things of God. Even with “The Bible” on the History Channel, how many millions are not tuning in? How many are watching, but are left with unanswered questions? Yet the Lord is still doing a “new” thing.

Each time his holy Word is preached or read… each time another Sunday school lesson is taught and students work to memorize Bible passages… each time the waters of Baptism flow across another person’s head in the name of the Triune God… each time the Lord’s Supper is offered… God is doing a “new” thing. He is causing faith to spring up and grow and flourish in the wasteland of this sinful world. He is connecting us to the forgiveness which Christ won for us and assuring us that we are new and clean and pure because of Jesus our Savior. This wonderful news never gets old. Treasure it – like a spring of life watering your faith!

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for this new news. May it sustain me today and always! Amen.

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Devotion - March 20, 2013

Devotion - March 19, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Philippians 3:8-9

Righteousness – there’s a heavy church word. But what joy and power is in that word when we believe what the Apostle writes in these verses!

In a bench trial, the judge evaluates the actions of the defendant and compares them to what the law says. Did any of his actions break a law? If so, then he’s not right by the standards of the law. He is unrighteous. Did his actions meet the law’s requirements? Then he’s right, as far as that law goes. He’s righteous.

When it comes to God’s law, Paul knew that he could not measure up. Even his best works fell short. So he counted them all as a loss, as rubbish. Outwardly they looked very righteous, but inwardly they did not measure up. For you see, God’s law also judges our thoughts, attitudes, and motives. And what does his law require? Nothing short of perfect love for God, trusting him completely and giving him continuous, glad obedience as we love others as ourselves. How could we ever have a righteousness of our own based on our efforts?

But take heart! There’s another righteousness from outside ourselves. This isn’t a righteousness based on YOU keeping the law. It’s based on CHRIST keeping it for you. Paul calls this “the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” God credits this righteousness to you freely, at no charge because Jesus Christ kept the law perfectly in your place. Be sure of it, for God raised Jesus from the dead. That’s the proof that Christ’s righteousness counts for you. Believe it.

What joy is yours even as you face suffering and loss! For by faith alone you have Christ’s righteousness. The Judge has declared you not guilty. What power this gives you to follow Jesus!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, you alone are my righteousness. Guide me in your ways. Amen.

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Devotion - March 19, 2013

Devotion - March 18, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Jesus went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never be!” Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Luke 20:9-18

Some people just flat out reject Jesus. Jesus himself makes that truth very clear in the Scripture before us today. In his parable, he is represented by the son of the vineyard owner who gets thrown out of the vineyard and killed. In the psalm he quotes soon after, he is “the stone the builders rejected.” This is truth: Some people just flat out reject Jesus.

Here’s another truth that Jesus makes very clear: Those who reject him come to ruin. In his parable, those who reject him are represented by the tenants who themselves are put to death. Those who reject him are also the ones who are broken and crushed by Jesus, the capstone. This is truth: Those who reject Jesus come to ruin.

So what is our reaction to such truths? Do we hear these words of Jesus and say, “Yes! How dare people reject Jesus? Shame on them! They will get the destruction they deserve!” It is tempting to think that way sometimes, isn’t it?

Yet Jesus does not speak this parable to give us a license to point our fingers at others and cheer for their destruction. He speaks it because he wants us to examine our own hearts: “Am I guilty of rejecting Jesus? Have I despised his Word? Ignored his commands? Brushed off his calls to repentance? Do I deserve to come to the same ruin as everyone else who rejects him?”

An honest assessment of our hearts reveals the answer to all of those questions to be, “yes.” That’s our sincere answer when we realize that Jesus has us right where we need to be. Because it is only when we recognize our utter failings as sinners that we will also recognize our absolute need for a Savior – one who lived and died and rose to wash those sins away. And that is exactly what Jesus did. Cling to him for forgiveness.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I stand before you as one who recognizes my sins. Your blood has covered them all. Lead me to a joyful trust in your forgiveness today. Amen.

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

Devotion - March 18, 2013

Devotion - March 15, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Psalm 32:1-2

“Adultery and murder!” the headlines scream from the front page of the Jerusalem Gazette. The subtitle reads: “King David Guilty of Both!” The article goes on to say that after months of public speculation, investigators have discovered that the rumors circulating throughout the capital city have been confirmed: King David committed sexual immorality with the wife of one of his “mighty men” while he was off fighting the Ammonites with the rest of the Israelite army. She became pregnant with David’s child! An elaborate, but fruitless, cover up attempt ensued.

After summoning Uriah home from the front lines, the king tried twice to get him to go home and sleep with his adulterous wife, Bathsheba. In fact, sources say that David even got him drunk the second night thinking that would dull his senses enough to get him to comply. But honorable Uriah refused to enjoy the comforts of a home-cooked meal and his own bed both nights. Some of the king’s servants report that he actually spent those nights at the entrance to the palace where they slept.

Back on the battlefield, one soldier reports that while the army was fighting, the trumpet sounded. He’d been told by his commanding officer to retreat when he heard the bugle play that tune. All the other soldiers received that same order—except one. For some odd reason, Uriah stood his ground beneath the city wall. Alone and exposed on the plain below, he was easy pickings for the archers above. Uriah died on the field of battle as the troops looked on in horror.

It took a conversation with God’s prophet, Nathan, to bring David to his senses after months of living in denial. He told the King a parable about a poor man who had one little ewe lamb that was such a treasured family pet that it was like a daughter to him. His wealthy neighbor, on the other hand, had a very large number of sheep and cattle. But when a traveler stopped by for a visit, he refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for his guest. Instead, he took the poor man’s pet ewe lamb . . . and prepared it for dinner. The story goes that David burned with anger . . . and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!” To which God’s prophet replied, “You are the man!” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” But there were consequences: David and Bathsheba’s illegitimate son died.

That’s how the top-story in the Jerusalem Gazette might’ve read some 3,000 years ago. Sounds quite contemporary, doesn’t it? How would you like the details of your life to be splashed across the front page of your local paper, serve as the lead-story on the evening news or be posted on Facebook? I don’t know about you, but I prefer the intimate particulars of my life to remain secret—especially the incredibly sinful things I think. But the Bible says that “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). David confessed his sin. He admitted his guilt. And God forgave him!

How about you? Why not come clean right now—like David eventually did—so that you can experience the joy he felt afterwards? He sang in Psalm 32: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.”

Prayer:

Assure me, Lord, that the blood of Jesus, your Son, purifies me of all sin. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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Devotion - March 15, 2013

Devotion - March 14, 2013

webmaster@wels.net (WELS: What About Jesus) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0000

I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32:5

The leader of God’s people Israel—a man the Bible says was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) had done the unthinkable. King David had sexual relations with a married woman named Bathsheba and then had her husband, Uriah, killed. Adultery and murder! What led David to sin in such grievous ways against the LORD?

To begin with, we’re told that he stayed back at his palace in Jerusalem when he should have been leading his forces in battle. His idle hands became the devil’s workshop. One night while strolling along the palace ramparts, he spied a beautiful young bride bathing on her rooftop. His heart was inflamed with lust, and he sent his servants to fetch her and bring her to his chambers. But there were unintended consequences. There always is when it comes to sin. Neither David nor Bathsheba were banking on a baby . . . but, as a result of their tryst, a son was conceived.

There was no way to hide the fact that Bathsheba had been unfaithful to her husband. He’d been away for weeks, but David had a plan! He summoned Uriah back from the front lines and after asking about the progress of the troops, he encouraged him to go home to his wife. However, Uriah slept on the front porch of the palace instead. He refused to enjoy the pleasures of his wife’s company while his fellow soldiers slept in tents on the battlefield. What an honorable soldier!

When David was told that his first attempt at covering up his sin had failed, he was undeterred. David invited Uriah to the palace and this time plied him with alcohol until he was in a drunken fog. “Now he’ll sleep with Bathsheba,” he thought. But Uriah had his wits about him enough to repeat his noble actions of the previous night and crash on the palace porch. Then David schemed, “I’ll get my general, Joab, to put Uriah at the front of my troops in battle. When the trumpet is sounded, all those in the know will retreat and Uriah will be left alone, exposed to the enemy.” This time, David’s cover up worked!

Or did it? Yes, Uriah was dead and Bathsheba moved into the palace as soon as her obligatory period of mourning was over. Still David’s overwhelming guilt and shame remained. He knew in his heart what he’d done, but he refused to admit his grievous sins. In Psalm 32 he wrote, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.”

For months, David kept up his spiritual charade. Finally, God sent his prophet, Nathan, to confront David in his sin. As a result, David finally admitted his guilt before God (read more about that encounter in tomorrow’s devotion). How did David feel after he came clean? He tells us: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Friend, what sin do you need God’s forgiveness for today? Come clean with the One who sees all, and then relax in the arms of his unconditional pardon secured by his Son, Jesus!

Prayer:

Teach me, Lord, that when I confess my sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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Devotion - March 14, 2013