WELS Family Devotion

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Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:1-2

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever had to follow a rule you didn’t like? Maybe you thought, “Why should I listen?” Paul wrote this letter while living under the rule of the Roman government. It was a powerful and often harsh government that eventually put Paul to death. So how could Paul tell Christians to honor and obey their government? He explains that God himself gives governments their authority.

This year, America is celebrating an exciting milestone: 250 years as a nation! The history of our country is full of both successes and failures. For 250 years it has been led by imperfect people making imperfect decisions. Yet Paul reminds us that our government, like all governments, has been established by God. That does not mean God approves of everything leaders do. But he wants us to respect the authority he has given them.

God works through government to bless us. Laws help keep us safe. Roads help us travel. Emergency workers help when danger comes. In our country, we are especially thankful for the freedom to worship the one true God.

Still, we don’t always show respect. We break rules or make mean comments about leaders. These sins disobey God’s Fourth Commandment, which teaches us to honor our parents and others God places over us. Thankfully, we have a Savior who never failed to keep the Fourth Commandment. Jesus lived a perfect life in our place and went willingly to the cross to pay for all our sins, including our sins against the Fourth Commandment.

As forgiven children of God, we want to thank him by obeying his commands. We can speak respectfully about our leaders, obey our country’s and community’s laws, and pray for our leaders. We can pray for the well-being, peace, and safety of our nation.

What will the next 250 years look like in our country? Only God knows. But we can be certain that he will continue to work all things for the good of his church. Earthly leaders make mistakes. Our heavenly King never does. Jesus rules with perfect love, and his kingdom will never end!

Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing us through our country and the freedoms we enjoy. Forgive us when we disrespect our leaders. Help us honor them, pray for them, and obey your Word. Watch over our leaders, keep our nation safe, and help us trust in Jesus, our perfect King. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:7-8

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine walking into school and hearing, “You can’t use your name anymore. We’ve picked a new one for you!” How would you feel? That is exactly what happened to Daniel. Babylon gave him a new education, a new home, and even a new name. But the people who changed his name wanted to change something even more important: his faith in God.

The Babylonians hoped if they changed Daniel’s surroundings, they could change his heart as well. They wanted him to forget the Lord and become more like them. But Daniel remembered who he was. His name had changed, but his identity had not. He served an earthly king, but he belonged to the heavenly King. He respected the king, but when the king’s wishes went against God’s Word, Daniel obeyed God.

Christians live in two kingdoms too. God places us under earthly leaders and laws. We respect the authorities God gives us. But through faith in Jesus, we also belong to God’s kingdom. Our worth does not come from popularity, success, possessions, or fitting in. Our worth comes from Jesus.

Still, we often forget. We want others to like us. We compare ourselves to others. We might think, “If I had those shoes or looked like that person, then I would matter!” Too often we believe those lies.

When we do, we can ask God for forgiveness. Jesus never forgot who he was or why he came. He lived perfectly in our place and gave his life on the cross for us. Because of him, our sins are forgiven and we remain God’s beloved children.

In Baptism, God placed his own name on us, the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and made us his children. Led by the Holy Spirit, we can honor the authorities God has placed over us while remaining faithful to God’s Word.

One day, God will call us to live forever with him in heaven. Until that day, remember Daniel: people could change his name, but they could not change whose child he was. Whatever others call you, through faith in Jesus, you are God’s beloved child!

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for making us your children through faith in Jesus. Forgive us when we care more about fitting in than following you. Help us remember that we belong to you. Give us courage to obey your Word each day. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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’Friend, how did you get in here without wearing wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. Matthew 22:12 (EHV)  

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

On July 3, 2026, singer Taylor Swift married Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce in a ceremony at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Lots of fans would have loved to attend! But you couldn’t just walk through the doors. Only invited guests could enter, and security officers helped keep others out. Imagine how exciting it would have been to receive an invitation!

In the gospel reading, Jesus tells of a wedding banquet with room for many guests. The king who’s throwing the party sends messengers out multiple times to bring still more people to the feast. The original guests rejected the king’s kind offer to join the party, just like the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus as the Promised Savior sent from God. So, the king sent out his messengers to take his gracious invitation to the people in the streets, inviting everyone they found. God’s good news is for all people too!

But when the banquet hall was full, the king noticed someone wasn’t wearing wedding clothes he provided for all the guests. The man had come to the party, but he refused to honor the king. So out that man went into the darkness, where there was crying and pain. “For many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

So, what’s the point? When it comes to our place at God’s heavenly wedding banquet, it’s only by the King’s undeserved love that we’re invited. And we cannot come dressed in our own goodness. We need the perfect goodness of Jesus. Because of our sin, we should spend eternity on the wrong side of the door, begging to be let into God’s presence. But in God’s kingdom, he’s the one who invites us in. He sent Jesus to win our forgiveness. Through faith in him, his perfect goodness covers us like wedding clothes. He keeps inviting, over and over again, seeking and saving the lost. But there’s still room at the party!

Clothed in the wedding clothes of Jesus’ perfection, we are sent into the world with his gracious invitation— “Everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet!”

Lord Jesus, thank you not only for inviting us to the heavenly wedding banquet, but also for doing everything necessary to get us there. Your blood and righteousness cover us. Help us always to rejoice to be found clothed in your perfection. In your name. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Do you find it odd that Paul says he’s “unashamed” of the gospel? Paul had a lot in his past to be ashamed of—he had hurt people who followed Jesus. But why would he ever be ashamed of the good news of sins forgiven in Jesus? The message of the cross tells us that God became human in Jesus and died to pay for the sins of the world. That message can sound foolish or even make people angry. Our sinful hearts want to believe we can earn God’s love by being good enough. Yet Paul was not ashamed of this message because this promise brought salvation to everyone who believes. Your sin is forgiven! You’ve been clothed in Christ! That’s not a cause for shame, but for rejoicing!

But maybe that’s not your issue. “I’m not ashamed of the gospel; I’m just bored with it. I’ve heard it all before.” Or, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel; I’ve moved past it. Give me something harder to learn than ‘Jesus loves me.’” Or maybe you’re not ashamed of the gospel; you’re ashamed of yourself. “If anybody knew what I’ve done—or the good things I haven’t done—they wouldn’t want me around.” You might even wonder whether Jesus wants you. In despair, I say, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel, I’m just not worthy of it.”

The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to show us how much we need Jesus. He also uses that Word to show us how completely Jesus has rescued us and to give us faith in him. Paul said, “In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last” (Romans 1:17). Righteousness means being right with God. We cannot earn it. Jesus gives us his perfect goodness as a gift, received through faith.

Now you can admit your sins instead of hiding them. You can rejoice that Jesus came to rescue you. Your sins do not have the final word—your Savior does. Jesus removes the shackles of sin from your hands, and you’re free now. That’s the gospel. You never outgrow your need for it, and you never need to earn it. Christ’s righteousness is yours through faith. Because of Jesus, you can face each day forgiven and unashamed.

Dear Jesus, thank you for taking away our sin and shame. Bless us with confidence in your undeserved love and the gift of righteousness that you give us. Help us to live every day unashamed of your tremendous grace to us. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. Isaiah 25:6

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sadly, it seems feasting has gone out of style. Big family meals can be hard to fit into our schedules. The excuses are predictable: there’s too much food, it’s unhealthy, too much work, and not enough time. With school, sports, homework, and busy family calendars, it’s not too surprising that we struggle to gather around a table and enjoy a meal together.

Isaiah uses the picture of a banquet to whet our appetites for the feasting we’ll get to do forever in God’s glorious presence. The Lord has sent out the invitations, planned the party, and set the table himself for our heavenly wedding banquet. The menu? The best of meats and the finest of wines—more good things than we can imagine! But what makes this party truly special is what won’t be there: death. “On this mountain [the Lord] will swallow up death forever” (Isaiah 25:8). Have you ever missed someone at a family meal because that person had died? It’s why there is sometimes an empty chair at even the best earthly parties. Death has stolen some of our joy, but Jesus walked out of his tomb alive and defeated death once and for all.

As we wait for that heavenly feast, our God still sets the earthly table for us with a full menu—his good news in the Bible, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. But who’s got time for it? Our Savior invites us to feast on his promises to us, but we’ve got other stuff going on. We skip hearing his Word because we’re busy—or because we’d rather do something else. We’re missing the food our faith needs to grow because we’ve allowed other important things to crowd out what we need most: Jesus and his Word. Without him we wither and die.

Rather than let us spend eternity apart from him at a table by ourselves in hell, Jesus did something. He made you his priority. Going all the way to a cross and out of an empty tomb, Jesus let nothing crowd out the eternally important work of saving you, forgiving you, loving you, and preparing for you a feast in heaven. Then we’ll say with all God’s people for all eternity: “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us” (Isaiah 25:9).

Jesus has made a place for you. Come to the feast! Enjoy his promises today and look forward to being with him forever.

Lord Jesus, thank you for saving us from our sins and for preparing a place for us at your heavenly banquet. Until we arrive there, help us always to feast on your good news in the gospel and invite still more people to come to the feast with us! In your name. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. Matthew 21:37

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine lending someone your favorite game. When you ask for it back, they slam the door. You ask again. They slam it again. Would you send your own child to ask for it?

That helps us feel the surprise in Jesus’ story. A landowner rents out his vineyard to tenant farmers. They grow grapes, and the master receives his share of the harvest—that’s the way it was supposed to work. But when the master sent messengers to collect, the tenants beat them and even killed some of them. What would you do? The master sent more messengers. Then, “last of all, he sent his son to them.” You know where this is headed.

Jesus tells much of the entire history of the Old Testament in about four verses. God kept sending prophets to call his people back, but many refused to listen. At last, he sent his Son, Jesus. Jesus told this story to religious leaders who were rejecting him. He was calling them to turn back to God and recognize him as the promised Savior.

We might be tempted to point at those leaders and say, “We wouldn’t do that!” But we also want to run our lives our own way. After all, “It’s MY life,” right? When God tells us to love someone and we refuse, we act as though we own what belongs to him. We forget that we were bought at a price; our very lives belong to God. We need Jesus to call us back, too.

Jesus’ story ends with a warning: rejecting the son matters. But the real heart of this story isn’t the wickedness of the tenant farmers; it is the astonishing mercy of the master. He keeps sending, speaking, reaching out to his wayward people, all so he can bring them back. God’s not afraid to keep doing the same thing over and over again for you in Christ. Jesus knew he would be rejected and killed, yet he still went to the cross for sinners like us. He keeps forgiving you, he keeps loving you, he keeps promising you all his goodness.

Marvel at the master’s mercy!

Lord Jesus, everything belongs to you, and we belong to you, too. Thank you for being patient with us and forgiving us when we sin. Help us never forget how good you are. Fill us with joy because you saved us, and help us wonder at how much you love us. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Forgetting what is behind . . .” How could Paul say that? Don’t you think he remembered how he had treated Christians? He had dragged believers off to prison because they followed Jesus. He had a lot behind him!

How could you ever forget what is behind you? Maybe you still remember something mean you said or something good you should have done but didn’t. You wish you could go back and change it. How can you leave that behind? Not by pretending it never happened. You can bring it to Jesus. He took your sin to the cross and rose again. Because of him, God forgives you. A full cross on Calvary and an empty tomb on Easter are his guarantee. In Christ, salvation is a gift given, not a bargain struck.

That gospel truth brought Paul to strive in a different direction. Previously he persecuted Christ’s church (Philippians 3:6); now he pressed on because Christ had taken hold of him (Philippians 3:12). Paul even uses the same word for “persecuting” and “pressing on.” What changed his direction? Jesus, who died and rose for Paul—and for you.

“Forgetting what is behind . . .” How can you? Because the same Jesus who forgave Paul is the Jesus who rescued you from your sins. His forgiveness frees you to stop looking backward in fear. You can look ahead and ask, “How can I show Jesus’ love today?” Maybe you can include someone who feels left out, tell the truth when it’s hard, or help without being asked.

Paul pressed on because Jesus had already made him his own. You belong to Jesus, too. And as you follow him now, you can look forward to the day he returns and makes all things new. That’s a new kind of striving.

Lord Jesus, when I keep thinking about something wrong I’ve done, help me forget what you have placed behind me because of your undeserved love! Help me press on to be who you’ve declared me to be—a forgiven, beloved child of God. In your name. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? Isaiah 5:4

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music moves people. A song can make you want to dance, or cheer (like a jock jam in your school gym), or cry (like a song about love and loss and a broken heart). Music moves people. In Isaiah 5, we get to hear a song from the Lord himself. It’s a love song about his “vineyard,” but with a sad twist. Listen to what made the Lord’s song so sad.

The Lord had set his vineyard up for success. He planted it in a fertile place. He cleared out the stones, planted good vines, and built a watchtower. He even made a place to press the grapes. Those vines needed nothing more. The expectation was for those vines to do the only thing that grapevines do: produce fruit. The Lord looked for good grapes. Instead, he found bad ones.

Isaiah tells us what the song means: the vineyard was God’s people, Israel. God had cared for them, but instead of doing what was right, they hurt others. This song isn’t about a bad grape harvest; this song is about God’s broken heart because his people wouldn’t love him back.

We aren’t Old Testament Israelites, but hasn’t our God given us everything we need for body and soul, too? We must confront the “elephant in the vineyard,” and ask: When have I failed to love God or treat others as he wants me to? The Lord has every right to call our sin what it is. He has the right to sing a sad lament.

Thank God, this is not the end of the song! The solo voice of Jesus sings another stanza. He sings the song of our salvation—how he carried all our bad fruit or lack of fruit. He carried our pride about any of our good fruit to the cross. He died to forgive us and rose on Easter—that’s music to our ears!

As we hear the song of our Savior, what he has done, the Holy Spirit grows faith in us and helps us show his love to others. That is a song worth singing!

Lord Jesus, you took upon yourself all of our failures. Forgive me when I fail to love you and others. By your Holy Spirit help me bring forth the good fruits of faith. In your name. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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[Jesus said] “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. Matthew 21:28-32

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Locked in a battle of wills with a stubborn young child or teenager, more than a few parents have said—or at least thought—“You don’t get to win today!” Parents sometimes need to stand firm. Yet those tense situations can quickly change from loving correction into a stubborn contest. What began as an effort to guide a child becomes more about winning the argument.

Jesus’ tense conversation with the religious leaders was different. It happened during Holy Week, just days before Jesus would go to the cross. Jesus was teaching in the temple when the religious leaders challenged him: “By what authority are you doing these things?” (Matthew 21:23).

Jesus answered their challenge with a question about John the Baptist. The leaders knew that admitting John had been sent by God would also express their refusal to believe his message. They were more concerned about protecting themselves than listening to God.

Jesus then told them about two sons. One son told his father, “No,” but later changed his mind and obeyed. The other said, “Yes,” but never went. The religious leaders said the right things about God, but they refused to repent and believe. Meanwhile, people known for openly sinful lives heard God’s warning, repented, and believed his promise.

Jesus was not trying to outsmart the religious leaders or win an argument. He wanted to break through their stubbornness. He wanted them to recognize his authority, repent, and receive the forgiveness he would soon win on the cross.

We can be like both sons. Sometimes we openly resist what God says. Other times we say the right words while stubbornly doing what we want. We need Jesus to expose our stubborn hearts and turn us back to him.

Jesus wants more than to win an argument with us. He wants to win us back. He speaks with God’s authority because he is God. He uses his Word to turn us from stubborn sin to the forgiveness he freely gives. Because his love does not change, he keeps calling us to repent and believe.

Lord Jesus Christ, you speak with the authority of God because you are God. Forgive us for saying “yes” with our mouths but “no” in our hearts. Break through our stubbornness. Turn us by your Word and love to repentance and faith. Help our family to repent, trust your forgiveness, and gladly follow you. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:3-8

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What a beautiful instruction! Paul tells us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Can you imagine what life would be like if we always treated one another that way? Instead of scrambling to be first, we would gladly serve others.

That sounds wonderful, but everyday life reveals our sin. In our families and with our friends, we often want to be first. We want others to serve us, listen to us, forgive us quickly, and notice the nice things we have done. Instead of having the mind of Christ, our sinful minds turn inward and focus on ourselves.

God’s law acts like a mirror. It shows us our pride and selfishness—not to make us despair of God’s mercy, but to lead us to repentance. We can say honestly, “Lord, I have not loved my family as you have loved me. I have been proud, selfish, impatient, and slow to forgive.” Repentance is not pretending our sin is small. It is agreeing with God that our sin is real and trusting in his mercy.

Philippians 2 does not end with our failure. God’s Word lifts our eyes to Jesus. The Son of God humbled himself for proud sinners. He became a servant for people who want to be served. He obeyed perfectly in our place. Then he carried all our selfishness, pride, anger, and impatience to the cross.

Jesus, the Lord of all, chose to serve us by giving his life for us. The Father then raised and exalted him. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We do not confess our sins to convince God to be gracious. God has already shown us his grace in Christ. Because Jesus has forgiven us, we can admit when we are wrong. We can forgive one another. We can put aside our pride and serve someone else.

What a beautiful way to live! How can we express it in even the smallest and simplest of ways? May the Lord who chose to serve us now give us humble, loving hearts that choose to serve others.

Lord Jesus, you humbled yourself and died for us. Forgive our pride and selfishness. Forgive us for your sake. Give our family humble hearts that gladly serve others. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

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