https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20260119ECME.mp3

Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:12-14

The butterfly has served as a Christian symbol for many years. Why? Because the caterpillar goes into the cocoon and seems dead to the world. But later, something seemingly new appears—a butterfly that has a new way of living. Whereas the caterpillar crawls, the butterfly flies.

Christians have seen this as a metaphor for what happens to us because of Christ’s death and resurrection, and this transformation happens in baptism.

When Jesus died on the cross and was buried for three days, he took all the sins of all people with him. In other words, our sins were “buried with Christ.”

Then, when Jesus was raised from the dead, he left our sins in the grave and gave us the victory that he had earned. Christ has “canceled the charge” that Satan might bring against us. Jesus has credited us with his perfection. So, if Jesus has forgiven us, what charge can Satan bring against us?

Baptism is what connects you to the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. You went into baptism as a dead sinner, but you came out of baptism as something new. Not a butterfly, but a forgiven, living child of God.

Of course not! We want to live the new life that God has given us. We study his word to soar above temptation and sin. We surround ourselves with those that share our faith. We serve others with the energy, zeal, and compassion that our Savior has given to us.

We can live that new life because we know that not even death and the devil have power over us. We have already been raised to life through baptism. So, even if our bodies are buried in the ground, just as butterflies come out of the cocoon and Jesus came out of the grave, we, too, will be raised glorious and live with Christ.

Jesus, all our ransom paid,

Christian Worship 435:6,7

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20260112ECME.mp3

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

Have you noticed that the dove appears frequently in the Bible? The dove is a symbol of peace and purity. After the rains stopped, Noah sent a dove out of the ark, and that dove came back with another sign of peace, the olive branch. Doves were also used in the Old Testament when God’s people made sacrifices. So, we see the dove pictured in our church banners, Christian art, and at baptisms.

When God the Holy Spirit descended to Jesus as a dove after his baptism, we are reminded of peace and innocence. Jesus did not sin. He did not ever do anything wrong and therefore did not need forgiveness.

So, it seems strange that Jesus would need to be baptized. We need to be baptized because we’re born sinners. We cannot possibly live without sinful thoughts. We cannot possibly go a single day without doing something that hurts others. But Jesus was perfect! He never sinned!

And yet, this was how God wanted Jesus to begin his public ministry. Jesus took our sins upon himself. He became a sinner for us. In part, Jesus’ baptism shows us that he was the one who came to do the job of taking our sins away.

This would not be an easy mission. So, at Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit gave Jesus gifts to fulfill his work. And God the Father assured his Son that even though he would be judged for our sin, the Father was still pleased with his Son.

Sound familiar? When we think of Jesus’ baptism, let us think of our own.

Let us remember that we are God’s children, who are loved, saved, and wrapped in the Father’s arms. Because of Christ and our baptism, God the Father is well-pleased with us!

Let us rejoice that the Holy Spirit equips us to carry out the work that God has laid before us. Just as he gave Jesus’ power at Jesus’ baptism, so God the Holy Spirit gives us special gifts, too, through our baptism! God knows all of our weaknesses and gives us the strength to carry out his work.

Let us step into each day remembering that through Jesus’ innocence, we can live a new life until we enjoy the feast of heaven, praising the one who lived a pure life in our place.

Dear Jesus,

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20260105ECME.mp3

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1-2

My dad and I used to go deer hunting in Mason County, Texas. We stayed on a ranch far away from any city. I remember getting up in the middle of the night to look at the stars, and I thought, “Aha! This is where they wrote the song that says, ‘The stars at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!” The stars were brilliant and countless as the sky stretched on for miles above the ranch.

I wonder what the night sky looked like to the Magi (sometimes called “the wise men”) when they traveled to find Jesus. How long had they been studying the sky and stars? Were they waiting long for a special sign? We don’t know how God allowed the Magi to know that the star was the key to finding our Savior, but they knew that the star was special and that it would lead them to the Savior. So, they wanted to go and worship the King.

What king do we worship? Do we worship our spouse and children and make family a higher priority than God? Do we worship ourselves and chase money or status in order to think that we are in control? When we act like we or our families are more important than Jesus, we are not worshiping the one who is really King.

The Magi show us some godly ways to worship Jesus as the King. To show their love and respect, they brought exquisite gifts to Jesus, such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

We don’t bring Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but we can offer the best of ourselves to our Savior. We give our gift of time when we volunteer for efforts in our church and school that will help reach others with God’s Word. We give our talents when we share a hobby in a classroom or at an event, or a talent that can beautify our worship services. And we give our money to support ministry in our church, school, and world.

The next time you look up at the stars, remember that special star long ago. Remember our King, and the promises he fulfilled. God saved us from our biggest problem of all when he sent that tiny baby in a manger. We thank God for this gift!

Dear God,

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20251229ECME.mp3

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.

Matthew 2:14-15

“Nooooooo!” screamed my three-year-old on an early December day. “You can’t put King Herod there!”

Our Little People Nativity Scene has an extra piece. I purchased a king with a scepter that probably once belonged with a princess set. This king represents King Herod and helps us retell the Christmas and Epiphany stories, but my one-year-old had placed him right next to the manger instead of farther away in Jerusalem, and it got a strong reaction from her older sibling.

That’s because my three-year-old knew that King Herod attempted to do an awful thing. Jesus, the Savior of the world, had been born! But not only did King Herod want to kill the Savior; he was willing to murder many other babies in order to make sure that Jesus was killed.

But King Herod could not win against God. God instructed the wise men not to return to Herod so that he could not discover Jesus’ location. God sent an angel who instructed Joseph to flee down to Egypt. In the middle of the night, Joseph ushered his family out of the area. King Herod could not carry out his plan to kill the Son of God.

This reminds us that the evil of this world cannot win against God. We are aware that evil does happen, including to vulnerable and defenseless children. We do not minimize the tragedy and heartache it brings. But Jesus’ escape to Egypt reminds us how God is in control. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves that nothing can separate us from God. So, we can trust that the same God that kept Jesus safe from King Herod will one day take us—his children—to be with him in eternity.

Dear God,

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20251222ECME.mp3

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

We made it! We just made it through the shortest day of the year! From this day until mid-June, the amount of daylight will be increasing.

Even still, this time of year can be hard for some people because the darkness seems to cover the earth for much of the day. Add in the extreme cold in some areas, and it can be downright gloomy!

When we turn on the news or scroll through social media, we are reminded of the dark days that we live in. Everywhere we look and everywhere we click, around the corner or over the next hill—we see a dark, sinful world. We see the news about another murder, an attack on a person or group of people, and people in power serving unjustly.

But we don’t even have to go that far to see the darkness. We can see it in our own thoughts, in the words that come out of our mouth, and in the things that our hands do. This is a dark, sinful world, and we contribute to that darkness.

Jesus entered our dark, sinful world to be a light for the world. Jesus was fully human; he had human needs. Yet he was completely perfect; he had no sin. True God became truly human in order to be the light of the world, and his glory was revealed when he carried out God’s plan for our salvation. Through faith, we have seen the light, and the light of Jesus helps us see God’s grace and truth.

Jesus shows us the grace of God. Even though we betray our heavenly Father, yet God loves us because of Jesus.

Jesus shows us the truth of God. Many people are searching for truth, but only come up with an empty, worldly view. Jesus’ words give us the truth we need to live our faith in this dark world and the truth we need to witness to others.

We celebrate Christmas during one of the darkest weeks of the year. But when you look at the dark sky this week see lights on homes, trees, and wreaths breaking through the dark, you can be reminded of the light that Jesus brings to the world. Jesus is the light of the world. When you hear about the glorious angels appearing that first Christmas, remember the glory of the Lord came to us in that perfect human born in the stable. Jesus, full of grace and truth, has been born for us! He is Christ the Lord!

O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woes,

Christian Worship 360 st. 4

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20251215ECME.mp3

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Matthew 11:2-3

When I was five years old, I remember whispering to my brother, “What if they are making it all up? What if they just want us to behave? How can we be sure this is true?”

It had occurred to me that the adults in my world could be tricking me into believing in Jesus, just to get me to act a certain way. Even as a young child, doubt was creeping in.

Left untreated, doubt can take over a person’s mind and lead to dangerous thoughts. Doubts take us farther from the truth and farther from the safety that God’s promises give. That’s why the devil tried to plant doubt within Eve when he asked, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). That small phrase creates big doubts, and those doubts can turn into fears, and can eventually lead to the ultimate sin—unbelief.

Sometimes, the biggest doubt we can have is whether God could love us sinners who so boldly defy him. We wonder if we really are forgiven.

When we have doubts, we should also find someone who can share the promises of God with us. Your pastor can do that. Your friend can do that. God crushes our doubts with the power of the promises in his word because he assures us of all that he has done for us and all that he will do for us.

And we can be confident in his promises because everything that God said would happen came true. Every promise was kept. When we read the account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we can be sure that all of God’s promises will come to be. Without a doubt, Jesus lived, died, and rose for us. Without a doubt, we can believe that Jesus will come again and take us to our home in heaven!

Dear Heavenly Father,

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20251208ECME.mp3

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near. I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.”

Matthew 3:1-2, 11

When do you put your Christmas tree up? When does Christmas music start to be heard through your house and in your car? Do you wait until after Thanksgiving, or do you pull out the red and green décor as soon as the trick-or-treaters stop ringing your doorbell? Sometimes we start seeing “countdown to Christmas” signs in mid-summer, and the excitement for the holidays begins.

When John the Baptist began his ministry, he knew that Jesus was going to begin the work that started on the first Christmas. John knew that Jesus was near, and so John wanted people to live a life of repentance. In other words, John wanted people to turn from sin in sorrow and turn to God in the confidence of forgiveness. As a result, John the Baptist’s entire ministry was pointing people to Jesus, the Savior and Lamb of God.

Many people that John the Baptist met already knew that a Savior was coming at some point. For generations, families had been passing down the words of Moses and the prophets that told about God’s plan to send the Messiah to save his people. Although God gave them several clues about how Jesus would enter the world and what he would do on earth, no one knew exactly when that would be.

But then John entered the picture! God used John to point people to Jesus, the Savior promised long ago.

Do you point people to Jesus? God calls us to point others to Jesus, especially since Jesus is coming again.

But the thought of Jesus’ return can make people uncomfortable. They remember that Jesus will come as a judge and that he knows every sin.

But Jesus is also the one who was judged on the cross to clear the record of every sinner. Jesus is the one who washes sinners in baptism so that they can be members of God’s kingdom. So, when we point people to Jesus, we help children and their families know about God’s undeserved love in Jesus. We remind coworkers that they are forgiven because of Jesus. We point people to Jesus so that they can be confident in life because they have the joy of forgiveness and the assurance that they are members of the kingdom of God.

Jesus is coming! He is coming as one more powerful than John the Baptist. But he will not use his power to judge your sin. He will use his power to bring you into the full joys of his eternal kingdom.

We hail you as our Savior, Lord, our refuge and our great reward;

Christian Worship 316:3-4

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20251201ECME.mp3

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7

How often do you pray? Do you pray before meals and before bed? When you have an unexpected challenge and need help? Do you pray for friends and enemies? God wants us to pray for all of these things and much more!

God wants us to come to him in prayer, thanking him for blessings and humbly asking him for things that we need. We have this gift of prayer because we are made God’s children through faith in Jesus, and God wants to hear from his children.

Being a believer does not mean we never have trials. We will still have fears, temptations, and times of sorrow. The “to-do list” for both work and home may seem infinite, and the calendar may seem full with no rest in sight. Perhaps there is a personal or professional relationship that is fragile or broken, and you wonder if the connection can ever be repaired. Or maybe you are weighed down with concern about financial instability, a family member with an illness, or regret about a choice made. How broken our world feels sometimes!

The approach and perspective of a Christian, however, will be very different from an unbeliever.

A child of God will have joy, even during times of trouble. We can still have this joy inside, even when troubled by sins and happenings of the past. This joy comes from knowing that Jesus has rescued us, forgiven us, and that he will come again.

God tells his children to let their gentleness be evident to all. But we cannot do this by ourselves! We lack the humility and patience God requests. So, we pray that the Holy Spirit helps us live a life of joy and gentleness because we know that Christ has been humble and patient to us.

A child of God will have joy and peace—and also a peaceful heart. This peace is so powerful and pure, that it doesn’t make sense to the world. It doesn’t fit in with the chaos of the daily life of mankind. Those that do not share our faith might laugh at us or show confusion because of our peaceful heart. That’s because this peace comes from God. He has given us knowledge and trust that he saved us from sin and death and has promised to come again to take us home. This peace guards us from the sins of worry and doubt.

What joy and peace we have, even when we have struggles! We know that we are saved by God, that he is near, and that he wants to hear everything that is on our hearts and minds. May we continue to bring our thanksgiving, requests and prayers to our heavenly Father!

Before you, Lord, we bow, our God who reigns above

Christian Worship 775:1

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20251124ECME.mp3

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Luke 12:40

Are you ready? Company is coming for dinner. You’re excited but you’d like just a bit more time to make sure everything is set. The children will start arriving soon, and you could use another few minutes to make sure you are ready to give them your full attention. Are you ready?

You and I like the comfort of knowing what’s coming and how much time until a given event, an appointment, a diagnosis, an answer. How often do we wish that God would let us have even a glimpse of when a situation might be resolved? The challenge of waiting is seldom easy. Being prepared can give us patience as we wait.

Are you ready? Not for the test or an appointment, but for Jesus. Are you ready for his return on Judgment Day? He certainly is coming. He told his disciples in John 14:3, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” He is indeed coming back.

But there’s one detail that we don’t have—when Jesus is coming. All Jesus tells us is, “You also must be ready” (Luke 12:40).

The greatest event for which we wait is Christ’s return on Judgment Day. This will be an event beyond our imagination and expectations. We can slip into thinking that if we knew when this would all be over, we could endure whatever challenge or crisis we’re facing.

In his wisdom, God chose not to let us in on this detail. The Bible is clear that no one knows the day or the hour. Jesus told his disciples, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).

So, what are we to do? God is clear: be ready! Expect that Jesus could return at any time. It could be today, next week, in 20 years, or in 1000 years. We don’t know.

So, how can we be ready? Our dear Savior points us to the Word. As we continue to be in the Word, we learn about our God. When we are faithful in prayer and worship, we focus our hearts on what is to come, even if we do not know when.

A colleague of mine once said, “If you knew that Judgment Day was next week or even next month, what might you do differently? How would the urgency of sharing the Gospel increase? How might your time in God’s Word be richer and more focused?” As we focus on God’s Word, we can look forward to Judgment Day with eager anticipation. That’s because Scripture makes us confident in what that day will bring. We can pray, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Dear Jesus, I want to be ready for your return. Life on earth can be such a distraction from you. Help me to focus on you and to be excited and eager to be in the Word you have given us. Help me to pray with confidence, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Amen.

Christian Worship 850: 1, 4 It Is Well with My Soul and 868 By Faith are both wonderful hymns to add to your devotions this week.

If you are looking for extra context for today’s verse of Luke 12:40, read the preceding verses of Luke 12:35-39

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All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

2 Thessalonians 1:5-7

“But she hit me first!” Do you ever feel like you should wear a judge’s black robe or a referee’s striped shirt when conflicts between children (and sometimes adults) make their way into a day? It was many years into teaching before I discovered the benefit of modeling and teaching the children to resolve their conflicts rather than announcing a judgment on a given situation. Each time I made the decision for them, it was almost guaranteed that the conflict would come back.

It’s in our human nature to strike back and to try to make things just or equal in our eyes. Victims of abuse and violence weigh on our hearts, and we want the peace of knowing that those who caused pain are handed judgments that align with the results of their actions. Without the hope that justice will be served, we might despair or focus on revenge. So, it is important to read how God “will pay back trouble to those who trouble” us.

However, we cannot focus only how God will judge others. We must recognize that we ourselves fall short of God’s expectation. As you and I reflect on our day or even the past hour, it’s easy to recognize our failures. We often do the opposite of what we intended to do. Sin is relentless, and our weaknesses continue to override our best efforts. Discouragement and despair can come creeping (or roaring) in.

Where can we go with our guilt and our frustration about our sin?

Dear Christian friend, relief is ours in the Lord Jesus! Our comfort, hope, and peace come from knowing that God’s judgment is not based on us but on Jesus. The faith that God has given us makes us righteous. Because of Christ, we have been made right in God’s eyes. God looks at us through Jesus and sees you and me as his perfect children.

And now, Jesus’ suffering and forgiveness help us deal with others. When we consider the forgiveness we have received, we can look at others knowing that Jesus went to the cross for them as well. We can give them kindness and grace, just as we received from God.

No black robe, no striped shirt for you and me. There is only God’s loving forgiveness and peace through what Jesus did for us. Thank you, Lord!

and this, we can fully count on God’s promise and his remarkable gift of Jesus for us: while we were still sinners, he died for us so that all things can be right between God and us.

Dear Jesus, it is so easy for me to see the faults of others and try to ignore my own sin. Forgive me for my own sin and give me a heart of forgiveness for those around me. Thank you for the peace that I have knowing that you have pronounced through your death and resurrection, your judgment of me is this: “not guilty!” In your name I pray. Amen

As you spend time pondering today’s verses, is there someone you can reach out to with a word of encouragement or forgiveness? Starting by sharing your gratitude for God’s forgiveness for you can be a blessing to that conversation.