WELS - Daily Devotions

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Devotion based on James 3:13-15

What does it mean to be wise? What does it mean to possess wisdom and understanding? The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates is attributed with saying, “I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.” King Solomon, the wisest man ever, came to a similar, sober conclusion when he pursued human wisdom. In the book of Ecclesiastes, he wrote: “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” Just as having more money doesn’t mean more happiness, having more earthly wisdom doesn’t mean a more satisfying life.

Thankfully, God has shown us another kind of wisdom. This wisdom is much more than the accumulation of information or the acquisition of insight; it is a way of life. True wisdom that comes from heaven “is first of all pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

This wisdom can be seen perfectly in the life of Jesus Christ. It’s demonstrated in his mercy towards sinners, in his submission to his enemies, in his patience with his disciples, and finally in his selfless sacrifice on the cross. Jesus not only shows us the best possible way to live, but in his wisdom, he saved us from the control of sin and the penalty that it deserves.

When the Holy Spirit leads us to understand who Jesus is and what he has done for us, true wisdom is born in our hearts. This wisdom leads us to put away all bitter envy and selfish ambition. It helps us see through the false wisdom of this world that is earthly, unspiritual, and of the devil, and follow Jesus by sowing peace so that we, too, might raise a harvest of righteousness.

Prayer:

He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Devotion based on Mark 9:36,37

Nowadays, it seems like the kids control the family schedule: baseball practices, dance recitals, band rehearsals, science fairs, etc. I know that my wife and I are not alone in this. It seems that whenever I talk to my friends with children, they’re just as gassed and tired as we are from all the chasing and driving. How about you?

Why do we do all of this? Why are we willing to cart them around and sacrifice all that time and money? There is probably a whole slew of reasons that you could spout off, but I think it boils down to this: we love them! We want the best for our kids. We want them to be successful and have an enjoyable childhood.

Jesus loves children, too. There are a number of times in the Bible where he took time for them, held them, and blessed them. Why? Because children are important to him. Our children are important to him.

If God has blessed you with kids, you have an amazing responsibility. God has put you in charge of that child’s spiritual welfare. As important and pressing as practices and rehearsals might seem, there is something deeper and longer-lasting that God wants for your child—a life and an eternity with Jesus. God wants your child to know that he has a Savior from sin. God wants your child to know that nothing will separate him from the love of Jesus. God wants your child to know he is forgiven.

Our society spends so much time on children. Let’s make sure that the children are being cared for with something that will last into eternity—their Savior.

Prayer:

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Devotion based on Mark 9:35

Occasionally, as I’m standing in line at the gas station or grocery store, the lottery lights catch my eye. And when I see the potential payout climb to hundreds of millions of dollars, it makes me think: what would I do if I had all of that? I picture eating steak and lobster in my mansion, cruising around the Mediterranean Sea, or relaxing on the beaches of Hawaii. If I’m honest, I see a life of luxury.

If you had money, power, and connections, wouldn’t you want “the good life” too? Wouldn’t you just want to relax and take life easy? Isn’t that what so many are striving and struggling for—a life a little bit easier and more bearable?

When the disciples saw the power and fame of Jesus, they, too, thought that because of their connections to Jesus, their lives were about to get a lot easier. No longer would they be nobodies! People would know who they were! Perhaps they could quit their jobs, put their feet up, and enjoy a life of ease and luxury.

But Jesus shatters those delusions because that’s not what the life of being his follower looks like, and that’s not what Jesus came to do.

Jesus had a life of luxury, which so many dream of. He sat on heaven’s throne, ruling and reigning over all creation. But his love for mankind compelled him to take on flesh and endure the suffering and punishment for humanity’s sins. He came to serve us with himself so that life in the perfect paradise of heaven wouldn’t be just some daydream but a soon-to-be reality.

So, what are we to do as his children? We serve. We serve our neighbor. We serve with our talents, time, and treasures so that we can have the opportunity to witness to others about the sacrificial love of the Savior. May God bless us as we serve our neighbor and, in so doing, serve him!

Prayer:

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Devotion based on Mark 9:33-35

It has been a little over a month since the Summer Olympics took place. The greatest athletes from around the globe strived and competed for gold. But I am sure that if you asked, some of them—if they were honest—weren’t competing just for the medal, but rather what the medal represented: greatness.

Those athletes put in countless gut-wrenching workouts and sacrificed days, if not months, away from their families while eating nothing but chicken and brown rice for a shot to make that podium. Many of them chased a dream that they would be standing on the world’s stage, crowned above the rest. To be honest, I never seriously considered chasing an Olympic medal (nor would I have ever had a remote chance even if I tried). But I can see the appeal. Can’t you? But what if you didn’t have to put in all the hard work and effort? What if you could ride someone else’s coattails all the way to the podium?

Jesus’ disciples couldn’t help but get caught up with all the hype. The world’s spotlight was on him. Thousands upon thousands of people rushed to see Jesus, everyone hoping to catch a glimpse of his glory. And amazingly, the disciples were right there beside him. Who wouldn’t want a share of the limelight?

But Jesus explained to them, and to us as well, that being a part of his kingdom isn’t about titles or authority. What brings glory and honor to God is service. Jesus, of course, served mankind by laying down his life as a payment for sin. Our Savior served us.

Because of that demonstration of Jesus’ love, we look to serve others as well—first and foremost, by telling them the amazing news of our Savior’s sacrifice on the cross!

Prayer:

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

Devotion based on Mark 9:30-32

“Well, that’s not how it was supposed to turn out.” Have you ever found yourself thinking that? Maybe you didn’t get into the school you dreamed of attending or the job you wanted. Maybe some storm spoiled your family vacation that you spent months planning. Maybe the politician you thought would do the best job in office didn’t win. Sometimes, things don’t work out like we think they should. And we don’t understand.

For three years, Jesus’ disciples had been following him as he preached and healed people. Everywhere they went, Jesus drew a crowd. Thousands came out to see him. People would walk miles and wait hours for just a glimpse and a moment with Jesus. And his disciples had a front-row seat for the entire show.

But lately, Jesus’ words had grown darker. Lately, Jesus had been talking more and more about things like “betrayal” and “death.” They didn’t quite understand it. How could anyone want him gone? He was a healer of both broken bodies and broken hearts! They didn’t understand.

But eventually, they did. In death, Jesus brought about the greatest healing of all for the world. Jesus’ death paid for the sin of mankind and brought to the world the victory of eternal life. From a rational view, that doesn’t make good sense. But that’s okay. That’s how God chose to save us from death.

There will be times when we don’t understand why things happen the way that they do. But even if we can’t understand why things are happening the way they are, God has given us the greatest reason to trust him. He’s given us Jesus!

Prayer:

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”

Devotion based on Mark 9:30,31

When my children were little, I loved cuddling up with them on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn for movie nights. Oh, those were the good ol’ days! I loved watching them as they held their breath with uncertainty as one of their heroes dangled in a perilous situation, wondering if he would make it through unscathed—which he always did! After all, these were kids’ movies we were watching! But now and then, when things got a little too scary, I would hold them tight and assure them that everything would be okay.

At this time, it was easy for the disciples to follow Jesus. Jesus was popular—crowds flocked to see him! Jesus was powerful—he healed the sick, walked on water, and even raised the dead!

But his followers didn’t know that times were about to get rather scary. The disciples were about to see one of their own betray Jesus. They were going to see Jesus subdued by soldiers and put to death.

That’s why Jesus wanted to assure them that everything would be okay. Jesus wanted to assure them that everything was under his control. So, he told them what would happen—not only that he would die, but also that he would rise!

Life might feel out of control for you right now. And it might be difficult to make any kind of semblance of a plan. But remember, Jesus had a plan to rescue you and me from death and was in control of it all. That’s the kind of hero, the kind of Savior you have—one with a plan! And he’ll lead you through this week every step of the way! It’s all under control.

Prayer:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Devotion based on James 3:13

In 2007, a man named Dan Dewey was sitting next to his elderly father in a hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. His father had leukemia, and every week Dan took him to the hospital to receive chemotherapy. As he sat there, he offered to get his dad a treat—a flavored coffee from a local Starbucks. Before he left, Dan looked around the room at all the other people enduring the same ordeal his father was. He decided to bring each of them a flavored coffee, too.

Dan has been doing it ever since. Every single week. He accepts no money from the patients. He sees his coffee run as a chance to show kindness to someone else.

That true story goes a long way to illustrate what the Bible means when it talks about wisdom. I might think of wisdom as a series of profound sayings coming from a mysterious mystic on top of a mountain. The Lord is much more real. The Lord describes wisdom in terms of how I live my life, by the deeds I do to touch the lives of others.

The Lord’s view of wisdom involves deeds done in…humility. And that’s where Jesus comes in. When I stand at the foot of the cross and understand that it was my sin for which Jesus died. When I realize that my life is full and fresh and forgiven because of what my Savior has done on my behalf—that’s when real wisdom begins. That’s when I see my life as a beautiful chance to thank the Lord for what he has done. That’s when I see my life as a precious string of opportunities to thank my Savior by touching the lives of others.

Maybe someone in your life needs a cup of coffee today. Or perhaps a listening ear or just a kind word. Take a moment to fill that need. That’s what wisdom is.

Prayer:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Devotion based on Ephesians 6:10

“Be strong.” Do you ever get tired of hearing that? Maybe mom and dad were dropping you off for your first day of school or football practice and the advice was: “Be strong.” Perhaps it was time to go to the doctor for some serious tests or to the funeral home for some funeral planning and the encouragement you heard was: “Be strong.”

The directive, “Be strong,” can be quite dangerous for two reasons. On the one hand, we might believe we have sufficient strength to do whatever we need to do. This self-reliance can work at times but ultimately leads us to crash and burn. That’s because we rely on ourselves rather than God. On the other hand, constantly being told to “be strong” can have a demoralizing effect. Maybe we know that we don’t have the strength required for the task and the encouragement to “be strong” leads us to despair and to give up. This is the problem with relying on human strength. It fails and lets us down.

Thankfully, God’s Word tells us: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” On our own, sinful human beings can only fall short of whatever goal we are trying to achieve. But trusting in the Lord and relying on his power, there is nothing that God can’t accomplish for us.

When we focus on Jesus, we see a Savior who has everything we need. We see One with the power and might to calm storms, drive out demons, and heal diseases. We see One with the wisdom to know exactly what we need and when we need it. We see One with the love to do everything necessary to make sure we are forgiven and saved, even when that means going to the cross to die in our place. We see One with the power to rise from the dead and promise to do the same for us some day.

Each day we can begin with the encouragement—not to “Be strong” in ourselves but to “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

Prayer:

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Devotion based on Ephesians 6:17

When I grew up, my parents would give the children in my family an Easter basket filled with candy. Except, my brother and I didn’t receive woven baskets. Our candy-holder was a souvenir baseball helmet. Every year, a new team was represented. We loved those helmets. When we’d play baseball in the backyard, the batter wouldn’t go without one. I don’t think those souvenir helmets would have saved us from a 90-mph fastball to the head, but it impressed upon us the necessity of keeping your head safe. Lose a limb, and you can live. Lose your head, and you’re dead.

One of the targets for the devil’s schemes is our head. Not only does he fill it with doubts, but he also twists some of God’s cerebral blessings against us. Think of how much the gift of reason often combats the truths of the Bible. For example, it doesn’t make sense that God is three distinct persons and yet only one God. It doesn’t make sense that God is eternal. My mind can’t conceive of someone who is timeless. It doesn’t make sense that a virgin could become pregnant. And the list continues.

When reason and Scripture are at odds, the devil tries to let reason win. But if everything that God is and everything that God does makes sense to our human reason, is he much of a God at all? I don’t want a God who makes sense. I want a God who’s greater than my mind. And that’s the God we have. We have a God who took on flesh so that he could die. We have a God who turned his back on his Son on the cross so that he could welcome us into heaven. We have a God who plants faith in our hearts when he attaches his Word to a little water poured over our heads. We have a God who didn’t wipe this earth clean when we rebelled, rather, we have a God who carried out a plan of salvation on our behalf. And it’s that salvation, that helmet of salvation, that allows us to stand firm against the devil’s schemes.

Prayer:

Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Devotion based on Ephesians 6:16

“Snow day!” Nothing sends more excitement into a neighborhood than those two words. While snow days off school are intended to keep the children safe, for many children, those two words mean war as a neighborhood snowball fight can commence later in the day. After each side has built their fortresses and stockpiled their perfectly rounded snowballs for ammunition, the fighting begins. Armed with garbage can lids as shields, one troop advances on the other, trying to capture the flag in the other team’s fortress.

If only all wars were as harmless as a neighborhood snowball fight. When the devil advances into our fortress, he’s shooting something at us more dangerous than snowballs. The flaming arrows of the evil one may come in the form of doubts, guilt, fear, laziness, and much more. How do we fend off his attacks? What’s going to keep us safe?

Our first temptation may be to retreat. But he’s going to keep coming. Then, we may tend to look to ourselves. I’m faster. I’m bigger. I’m stronger. This may be true if you’re comparing yourself to the other neighborhood kids, but not when it comes to the devil. When I look to myself as I battle the devil, I see the cracks in my armor. I see the plodding feet. If I look to myself, I will fall. I will not stand firm.

But all is not lost. No matter how intense the enemy’s attack is, our Lord equips us with a shield of faith that is bigger and sturdier than any garbage can cover. We can completely hide behind the shield of faith. Why? Because faith is only as strong as the object in which it rests. And our faith rests on the One who defeated the devil. Our faith rests on the One who invaded the devil’s kingdom of the world and crushed his head. Our faith rests in Jesus. So, stand firm. Stand firm behind a shield of faith that relies on him.

Prayer: