Month: July 2023

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:38

Take up Your Cross

Daily Devotion – July 5, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 10:38

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At the end of this month, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod will meet in convention with the theme, “Embrace the Cross; Anticipate the Crown.”

At first glance, embracing the cross is a strange concept. The cross was a big wooden instrument of punishment. It was publicly shameful to die on a cross. People didn’t embrace the cross. They shied away from it. They did not want it for themselves, and they did not want it for their loved ones.

Knowing all this, Jesus still encouraged people to “take up their cross.” He explained that it meant to follow him even when there appeared to be unpleasant consequences all the way to death.

Following Jesus is still a challenge today. It’s not always popular, and it doesn’t always lead to pleasant consequences. It may mean denying some of our own desires and sensibilities. It may even lead to death.

But carrying a cross to follow Christ is worth it because he is the only one who can provide for our greatest needs. He went to the cross to die for our sins and win eternal life. He is our only hope! So, whatever challenges come our way because we worship and follow him might be painful, but we will gladly endure them because we know the crown we will one day wear because of him.

Prayer:
Lord, because your hands and feet were pierced for me, and because you were abandoned even by your heavenly Father, I am rescued. Be with me when I face my own crosses, and instill in me the confidence to say, “My Savior has won the victory for me!” 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.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
1 Timothy 6:11,12

Free to Serve

Daily Devotion – July 4, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Timothy 6:11,12

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Citizens of the United States celebrate the Fourth of July as the day the founders of the country made it clear they were willing to fight for their freedom. A close reading of history shows that those founders disagreed on which freedoms and how to fight for them.

We don’t have to disagree on what it means for Christians to fight the good fight of faith. The Bible is clear. It encourages Christians to flee from the love of money and to pursue things like righteousness and godliness instead. In our Christian freedom, we demonstrate persistent love for the people around us, confident that God will continue to bless us with forgiveness. With a stable government, Christians have the blessing to fight the good fight of faith with gentleness.

In a country with freedom of religion, Christians have gone beyond individual works of kindness and pooled their resources to help their whole communities in the areas of medical care, community support, and a social safety net. The Christian emphasis on helping women and children, widows, and orphans, continues to influence every country where the gospel is proclaimed to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people.

Even more important than these physical blessings is the message Christians have been privileged to proclaim. It is the message of full and free forgiveness found only in the saving work of Jesus. It is the message of freedom from the punishment our sins deserve and freedom to love and serve others to thank God for sending his Son to save us.

On this Fourth of July, thank the Lord for his blessings, large and small. Look for ways to serve others, especially with the good news about Jesus. Keep up the good work.

Prayer:
Almighty God, help me use the freedom you have won to serve the people you have brought into my life . 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.

“Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”
Exodus 32:22-24

Blame Someone

Daily Devotion – July 3, 2023

Devotion based on Exodus 32:22-24

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The temptation to blame someone else is amazingly strong when it is our fault.

Aaron was a leader who saw first-hand how the Lord rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. He was an eyewitness of any number of miracles and was aware of the awesome presence of the Lord on Mount Sinai.

But that did not prevent him from sanctioning idol worship in the form of a golden calf. Aaron’s relative, Moses, was terrifically angry when he came down from Sinai, and Aaron’s response in the face of guilt and anger is laughable. “They gave me the gold, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

The rationalizations we tell ourselves in the face of guilt and anger are amazing. Even when we own up publicly to what we have done wrong, we are tempted to blame someone else in private.

The Lord calls us to repent. But while he tells us to take responsibility, he blames someone else for our sins. Jesus was innocent, but the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Jesus took our eternal punishment by suffering hell. As a result, we are on the way to heaven.

God has performed any number of miracles in our lives. Among the greatest is calling us to faith in Jesus. Through him, we have forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me take responsibility for my sins, and lead me to trust in you for forgiveness. 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.

[Jesus said] “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:37-39

A Loving Relationship With God

Daily Devotion – July 2, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 10:37-39

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Jesus wants us to be happy. He wants us to experience the greatness of his love and a life with God that gives us happiness that comes only through a relationship with him. That’s why he teaches that a loving relationship with him is more important than any other loving relationship we have with others.

It’s not always easy, though, to love Jesus more than any others. It is not easy to be a Christian when we are put down, disregarded, or rejected because of our faith.

It’s tempting to try and walk an easier path than the one that follows Jesus. But before we go down that way, listen to what Jesus says: “Whoever finds his life will lose it.” If our lives are driven to find satisfaction only in the people and things around us, then we will lose our connection with Jesus. And what a great loss that would be!

Jesus loves us dearly and wants the very best for us. By the connection we have with Jesus through faith, we find life—a life filled with his peace, his presence, his promise. We live with the assurance that our sins are forgiven, that Jesus is always with us, and that we can count on his sure promise to take us to be with him in heaven.

That’s the happiness that Jesus wants us to have and is worth everything to follow him faithfully all the days of our lives.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me see you more clearly, follow you more nearly, and love you more dearly. 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.

You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. . . . But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. . . . Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
Jeremiah 20:7,8,11,13

You Cannot Lose With the Lord

Daily Devotion – July 1, 2023

Devotion based on Jeremiah 20:7,8,11,13

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Jeremiah was given a very difficult task. God sent him to preach to the people of Judah—God’s chosen people. He was to warn them that if they did not repent of their sin, God was going to send the Babylonians to conquer them and take them captive. So this is what Jeremiah proclaimed.

As you might imagine, his message was not well-received. People do not like being told they are doing wrong. One of the leaders of Judah even had Jeremiah arrested and put in stocks. It was a difficult time for Jeremiah.

So he complained. He poured his heart out to the Lord, saying this was not right and this was not fair. Why should God’s enemies seem so successful while his servant suffers?

You know how Jeremiah felt, don’t you? You know how frustrating it can be to follow the Lord and receive ridicule in return. It can seem so unfair. And it can appear that you are on the losing side.

But you are not. Neither was Jeremiah. He had the almighty God on his side. What he prophesied came to pass. He was vindicated.

Remember this the next time you are ridiculed for your faith. Remember this the next time it seems you are on the losing side. You have the almighty God with you. He is like a mighty warrior. When you are on his side, you cannot lose.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, sometimes it seems so unfair when I follow you. You know how frustrated I am at times. When I begin to lose heart, send your Holy Spirit to strengthen me with the reminder that you are on my side and will ultimately give me the victory. 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.