Month: December 2021

The LORD . . . has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
Zephaniah 3:15

Liberation

Daily Devotion – December 13, 2021

Devotion based on Zephaniah 3:15

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It is August 25, 1944. An AP correspondent by the name of Don Whitehead has been traveling with Allied forces as they slowly drive the Nazis out of France. Now the Allies are on the outskirts of Paris. For four terrible years, the residents of Paris have been under the boot of Hitler’s tyranny. Today, however, the tyranny is over. The enemy has fled. Paris is free.

Later that day, Whitehead reports what he saw. “[W]hen the last enemy resistance crumbled…[Paris] went mad—wildly, violently mad—with happiness. All the emotions suppressed by four years of [Nazi] domination surged through the people. The streets of the city, as we entered, were like a combined Mardi Gras, Fourth of July celebration, American Legion convention and New Year’s Eve in Times Square all packed into one.”

Another reporter, who is there later writes, “[We] drove into Paris with eyes that would not stay dry, and we were no more ashamed of it than were the people who wept as they embraced us.”

That day in Paris came to be known as Liberation Day. Throughout Paris that day, there was a titanic explosion of tears, laughter, relief, and joy. Those who were there would remember it for the rest of their lives.

By nature, you and I were under the boot of an enemy as well. It was the tyranny of our own sin. There we were trapped, enslaved, imprisoned, chained hand and foot to the curse of our own impulses and rebellious desires. Left to ourselves, we would have died alone, lost, forever separated from God.

But Jesus came. The Son of God became one of us. On our behalf, he lived a life of perfect goodness. In our place, he suffered and died for our every sin. Then he rose. Through his work in our place, Jesus has turned our enemy away. Instead of fear, there is now joy. Instead of anxiety, there is now thankfulness and relief. Instead of despair, there is now a sure and living hope.

But unlike Liberation Day in Paris, our joy does not fade. In Christ, the joy of our Liberation Day lasts forever.

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord Jesus. You have set me free. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

Singing Over You

Daily Devotion – December 12, 2021

Devotion based on Zephaniah 3:17

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When my family brought home our Christmas tree this year, something spontaneous and special happened. As our three oldest children began to decorate, each child also began to sing their own Christmas song to themselves. One was humming, “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed…” Another was singing, “Red is the color of the blood that flowed down the face of someone who loved us…” The little one was making up her own tune about ornaments and Jesus and lights. Each precious heart was lost in its own little world, singing quietly, decorating joyfully. For once, there was actually no arguing or fighting!

And two smiling parents were drinking it all in.

Little Christians singing joyfully to themselves is a precious picture. Did you know that the Bible paints a similar picture of God’s thoughts towards you? The prophet Zephaniah records, “The LORD your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

It’s true! The Lord has taken great delight in you. Don’t be mistaken—this Lord is no pushover. He is mighty, and he held every right to come to earth as a pulverizing conqueror. But instead, he came as a baby. He came not to conquer but to rescue! He came not to punish but for peace! He will quiet your conscience with his full and free forgiveness, even for the sins you’re ashamed to remember. He will rejoice over you with his singing. The Savior’s heart is lost in his deep concern for you, gazing at you, beaming inside, singing because of you.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for taking great delight in me, so much that you were willing to lay down your very own life for me. Quiet my soul as I drink in your promises and give me courage as I picture you singing over me and remember that you are with me always. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:11

Filled With Fruit

Daily Devotion – December 11, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:11

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When I was in college, one of my roommates liked to eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet. One night he took that all-you-can-eat part as a challenge. He loaded up on mashed potatoes and gravy to the point of being so uncomfortable that someone else had driven home.

God tells us to stuff ourselves, but not with food for our stomachs nor with all kinds of things to satisfy our heart’s desires. We are to be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Righteousness is the reason for which Jesus, the Son of God, was born and lived here on earth. For us to live with God forever, we need to be absolutely perfect. God requires us to be righteous. But none of us, no matter how good we try to be, can live up to God’s perfect standard. That’s why the birth of Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas is so important. In love for you, Jesus took on our human nature and lived a perfect, sinless life. The peace that Christmas brings us is the assurance that our relationship with God is restored. By grace, God credits us with the perfection of Jesus! We are righteous in God’s eyes through Jesus.

God’s Word says, “Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” Fill your life with words and actions that demonstrate how thankful you are to Jesus for all he has done for you. Just like those thank-you notes that will soon be written for the Christmas gifts you receive, your life is a living thank-you to the Savior for the greatest gift you could ever receive. Demonstrate your love for Jesus with many acts of kindness and generosity towards people and with words overflowing with care and encouragement for others.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit so that this day I am filled with fruits of righteousness that bring glory to your name. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

In With the New

Daily Devotion – December 10, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:9-11

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Some educators have said that the key to adult learning is “unlearning.” All too often, learning a new skill is made more difficult later in life because of one’s previous experience. Then it becomes necessary to first unlearn earlier habits and practices in order to make room for the new.

When the Lord calls us sinners to repentance, he demands that we turn away from the sinful attitudes and behaviors that had separated us from him. His law shows us the disastrous end of our disobedience and convinces us that the path we were on only leads to death. The Lord’s goal is not our eternal humiliation but that in humble faith, we might turn to him and live. He points us to Christ Jesus, his Son, whose sacrifice canceled our debt and whose righteousness is credited as our own.

Where once there was nothing but barren, unfertile ground, now a bountiful garden grows. Our hearts have been nourished by the love of God, in Christ. They have been watered by his promises of free forgiveness, and a new and holy life has begun in us as a result. The Holy Spirit continues to cultivate these new attitudes through the Word so that they might produce “the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Prayer:
Lord, you have come to me with your Word to bring me to repentance. Turn my heart away from sin and everything that would turn me away from you. Replace my selfish habits with new attitudes of selflessness, love, and compassion for others. Let Christ’s love for all inspire me to live for him and others, so that my whole life may bring glory to your name. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6

Seeing It Through to the End

Daily Devotion – December 9, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:3-6

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Pastor Ron was blessed to serve all 46 years of his ministry in one congregation. He had walked alongside at least two generations of believers during the various stages of their lives. For several members of the church, Pastor Ron was the only pastor they had had from their baptism to their burial. As sad as those funerals were, they also gave the pastor a source of joy. Another soul bought by the blood of Christ had been led safely to their heavenly home.

It doesn’t always happen that a Christian is served by the same pastor their entire lives. More often, the Lord provides a series of spiritual shepherds to accompany you through the ups and downs of your walk with Christ. The most important thing, of course, is to recognize that it is God himself who is guiding you through his messengers. He is the one who called you to repentance and worked the miracle of faith in your heart through baptism. He is the one who blew on the sputtering embers of your faith and caused it to grow as you learned about him in Sunday School and catechism classes. He is the one who continues to send people into your life to bring you back to him when you start to stray. And God is also the one who will give you the strength to remain in that humble yet confident faith until the end.

Prayer:
Lord God, I thank you for all the pastors, teachers, and others you have sent into my life to bring me to faith and to keep me close to you. Above all, I thank you for sending your Son, Jesus. He saw my salvation through to completion, coming to this world as a servant, dying on the cross as my substitute, and rising to life as my Savior. I trust that you will keep me close to him in faith until the day that I see him with my own eyes. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Luke 3:1-6

Preparing the Way

Daily Devotion – December 8, 2021

Devotion based on Luke 3:1-6

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Today’s Bible passage begins with a list of some powerful individuals: emperors, governors, kings, and high priests. The author wanted to pinpoint for us the time in history when the ministry of John the Baptist started. The incidents in the life of Jesus that Luke would go on to describe were verifiable historical events. But as influential as these rulers were in their day, someone far more important was about to arrive on the scene.

When VIPs travel, they want to ensure that everything is ready for their arrival in advance. Messengers and assistants are sent ahead to make necessary arrangements, looking to maximize the impact of the dignitary’s visit. If this is true in the case of mortal men, how much more appropriate this preparation was when the Son of God himself was due to arrive!

In truth, nothing we can do would ever be enough to prepare to meet this King of kings, Jesus Christ. We cannot successfully rid our hearts of hatred, greed, and the mountain of other sinful attitudes that are repugnant to the holy God. But God himself prepares us to receive him. He works the change of repentance in our hearts through the preaching of his law and gospel. Do you want to be ready to celebrate Christmas this year? Plant yourself at the feet of those who prepare his way through clear gospel preaching.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for sending messengers to prepare my heart for your coming. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty. “I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:5-7

Return to the Lord

Daily Devotion – December 7, 2021

Devotion based on Malachi 3:5-7

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Due to the forces of nature and the erosion of time, the face of the quickly evolving planet we live on is much different today than when God first created it. Human empires also rise to power only to fall back into the dust of history over time. As individuals, we are even more fickle and subject to change—sometimes, the entire course of our lives can turn on a dime with one rash decision. Unlike his creation, however, God is eternal and unchanging.

For one thing, this means that God’s perspective on right and wrong does not “evolve” over time—nor does it need to. He was already perfectly holy and immeasurably loving from all of eternity. The One who will judge all nations has revealed to us his divine law, which is his unchanging will for the lives for all people of all times. Meanwhile, our sinful and impulsive human hearts try to justify our faithless disobedience by claiming that times have changed. Some, for example, attempt to redefine adultery as not hurting anyone, an “old-fashioned” idea. Others don’t even offer an excuse as they trample others in their never-ending quest for self-satisfaction. But the LORD Almighty says, “I will come near to you for judgment.”

Fortunately, God’s changelessness means that his mercy and compassion are also eternal. His promises to forgive all who repent are as valid today as they were when he first spoke to them. For the sake of his Son Jesus Christ, God still offers grace to us today. “Return to me, and I will return to you,” he says. Today, as you hear his invitation, turn to God in repentance and trust in his unending love.

Prayer:
Lord God, turn my fickle heart away from sin and towards your Son. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

“Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears?
Malachi 3:1,2

Endure His Coming

Daily Devotion – December 6, 2021

Devotion based on Malachi 3:1,2

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Nine-year-old Emma was pleased with herself. She was the first in her class to finish the assignment, and now the teacher was walking around the room checking everyone’s work. Just one more row of desks and the teacher would look down on Emma’s paper with a smile and hand her a big sticker. But wait! Emma suddenly realized she had missed an important part of the instructions. No wonder she finished before everyone else! With the teacher now only two desks away, Emma had a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach.

God’s people had been waiting and praying for the Lord to send the promised Messiah for hundreds of years. They longed for his arrival and were confident that his coming would bring many blessings. Then God sent the prophet Malachi with this message: “Yes, the one you are hoping for is coming soon. But are you ready?” The prophet pointed out many ways in which God’s people and their leaders had been disobedient. And it wasn’t just that they had heard God’s instructions wrong—they had willfully chosen to follow their own sinful desires. They were not as ready as they thought for the coming of God’s holy Son.

Does the Christmas season bring a knot to your stomach? Perhaps you become stressed at the thought of all the work that needs to be done before the holidays. Maybe you are anxious about upcoming family gatherings for any number of reasons. But what about the fact that the holy God himself has come to earth and will return one day in judgment! This fact need not fill you with terror. Although we have been just as disobedient as those before us, Jesus Christ, the righteous Son of God, came to make us right before God. He calls us to repent and believe the good news that in him, all our sins have been forgiven. We can stand before God’s throne confident that our Savior Jesus has come to make us clean.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, make me ready to welcome you with a humble but joyful heart. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3

Making a Good Memory

Daily Devotion – December 5, 2021

Devotion based on Philippians 1:3

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In the movie screen of your mind, picture this: You see a pair of sandaled feet walking inside of a house. The walking that you see is a restless pacing. The feet stand at one window. They cross the floor to another window and sigh. Then the feet cross the floor again. These feet belong to the apostle Paul. He’s in Rome and living in a rented house. But here’s the problem: He can’t leave. There’s a Roman guard in the room there with him. Paul is under house arrest, awaiting trial to face accusations from people who do not like what he’s preaching. And he’s not simply stuck there for a week or two. He’s there for years.

But the Lord sustains him. One of the ways the Lord sustains him is through the happy memories Paul has of his fellow believers. Paul cherishes these memories so much that he even tells the Christian congregation in Philippi, “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Based on what Jesus Christ has done on your behalf at the cross, God has purged from his mind every memory of your sin. Instead, there are only happy memories of your fruits of faith; fruits of faith that are big or small, carefully planned or impulsive, long or short, complex or simple.

One of those fruits of faith can be this: Making a good memory for someone else.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, give some thought to doing that. Maybe you could pick up the phone and thank someone for the kindness that really made an impression on you. Maybe you could tell a fellow Christian with chronic pain how their patient example inspires you. Or perhaps you’re just the person to give someone a hearty, much-needed laugh.

Whatever you do, do it to God’s glory. And don’t underestimate the power of a good memory. Look what it did for Paul.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for washing me clean in Jesus’ blood and remembering only my fruits of faith. Help me to touch others with good memories of Christian love. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’
Jeremiah 33:14-16

A Promise Wrapped in a Name

Daily Devotion – December 4, 2021

Devotion based on Jeremiah 33:14-16

See series: Devotions

Most parents spend a lot of time choosing a name for their child. One reason for their careful consideration is that a name says something about a person. For many people, certain characteristics come to mind when they hear various names. For example, people may be inclined to trust someone with the name “Lincoln,” and when they hear the name “Tiffany,” they might think of someone wealthy.

When God promised the coming of his Savior, he wanted to make sure that his people would have a clear picture of what he would be like, so he gave him a name that described him well. He announced through the prophet Jeremiah that the Savior would be called “the LORD Our Righteousness.”

His name is the LORD. This is the name God gave himself. And it describes him well. He is the God of free and faithful grace, who always keeps his promises and saves his people. His name is also “Our Righteousness.” Instead of demanding a righteousness that we don’t have and can’t offer, he would be our righteousness so that we would have the peace and favor of God.

God’s Old Testament people looked forward to the coming of the Savior, but we have seen the LORD Our Righteousness in the person of Jesus Christ. As we look forward to celebrating Christmas, let’s rejoice that the baby born in the manger was wrapped up in a name that tells us so much about him. He is our LORD, and he has brought us righteousness. There is no greater reason to celebrate.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for telling me so much about your Son and our Savior. Help me to stay focused on what is most important this Christmas season. Give me a faith that continually looks to the baby born in the manger, who is the LORD Our Righteousness. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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

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