Month: March 2025

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:1,2

No Replacements for Grace

Daily Devotion – March 31, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 15:1,2


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When it comes to how we view sin and immorality in the world, there are two extremes. One is to celebrate and condone. The other is to judge and condemn hypocritically. The way of our world is often the first extreme: to deal with sin and those caught up in it by condoning and celebrating it as something good. Others with a more accurate moral compass, or those who don’t struggle with certain sins, can easily fall into the other extreme: hypocritically judging and condemning those who sin differently.

Jesus perfectly avoided both extremes and opted for grace in place of hypocritical condemnation and grace in place of condoning and celebrating. Grace is God’s undeserved love. Grace leads God to give the gift of forgiveness, not earned but freely given through Jesus. Jesus was often criticized for interacting and ministering to people who were publicly known as “sinners.” Those who fell into the extreme of hypocritically judging and condemning had replaced grace with works and outward displays of holiness. They wrongly viewed Jesus’ interactions as condoning sin because they didn’t understand grace. Jesus came not to condemn nor condone but to save and forgive. That’s grace!

Jesus was not shy in calling sin what it was. He was not stingy in offering grace and forgiveness to those who knew they needed it. This is good news for us! We have likely fallen into both extremes at times. We’ve opted for something else other than grace. We’ve approached God or others with something other than grace. But grace calls us back home to our Savior, who forgives our sins on both extremes and everyone in between. That’s grace!

There are no replacements for the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Instead, Jesus shows us grace in place of what we once deserved, in place of things that might distract us from the gift of his forgiveness.

Prayer:
Lord of grace, you are not ashamed to draw near to me and welcome me into your family. Preserve me from any extreme that undermines your grace and renew me daily by your forgiveness. Amen.

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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.

If Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:10

Out From Under the Crushing Weight

Daily Devotion – March 30, 2025

Devotion based on Romans 8:10


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From time to time, we hear of people doing extraordinary things, like the woman who managed to lift the end of a 3,600-pound car off her son when the jack slipped. In extreme emergencies, people have been known to reach back into a resource of hidden physical strength and mental resourcefulness they didn’t know they had. Can they do this all by themselves? Or is this a miraculous help from God?

The author of the book of Hebrews devotes his 11th chapter to Old Testament men and women who were heroes of faith. It was from God that they drew their strength. In one dimension of life, however, human strength cannot avail. It does not enable us to save others or ourselves from the power and punishment of sin. By the labors of our hands, we cannot fulfill God’s demands, earn salvation, or pull ourselves out of the dilemma of doing things we don’t want to do and not doing the good God demands.

What is more, the psalmist declares, “No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them” (Psalm 49:7). The ransom demanded would be entirely too great. But what we can’t do, our Lord Jesus did for us. He gave his life as a ransom for the whole world of sinners so that all who believe in him as the Savior are freed from the burden of unpaid spiritual bills, from the fear of death, from the crushing weight of sin. Only God could have done for us what we could never have done for ourselves.

Prayer:
God of heaven and earth, please stand near me with your strength that makes me perfect in my weakness. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Live for the Glory of God

Daily Devotion – March 29, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 10:31


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When evil strikes and kills, when people are terrorized and suffer unjustly, they are often united to bring the perpetrators to justice.

About 1,000 years before Jesus was born, a young man’s blood started to boil when he heard the challenge of Goliath that terrorized his nation (1 Samuel 17). Young David didn’t even consider his own comfort and safety but only thought of the cause. No one was going to slander the true God, defy his power, and get away with it. So, he went into combat with Goliath, knowing the battle was the Lord’s and the victory would be for God’s people. Gigantic Goliath fell dead at the hands of the small, courageous David.

Does your blood boil when God is defied and slandered? Realize that the glory of God has shown brightly in sending his Son to fight for us. It is not only others who have defied God’s glory. We have joined them with our own sinful attitudes and actions. But Jesus put aside his heavenly glory and died on the cross to keep us from being terrorized by God’s justice and sin’s power. When we truly comprehend that wonderful truth and come to appreciate all that Jesus did for us, we are inspired to take up our Christian cause of living for the glory of God in whatever we do—both in the small and big things of our lives.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to always live to your glory showing my great appreciation for all my Savior, Jesus, accomplished for me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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 [Jesus] told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Luke 13:6-9

Lord, Give Me Patience!

Daily Devotion – March 28, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 13:6-9


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I struggle a little bit with being patient with other people. When I see things not being done as I would do them or when I give instructions to my kids, and they don’t do what I say, that frustrates me.

You might wrestle with this, too. We want to be patient. We know that we should be. But man! People can make that difficult, right?

Whenever I feel myself getting riled up and impatient with others, I try to remember how patient God has been with me. My goodness! How many times have I messed up? How many times have I pledged to God that I wouldn’t do that sin again, only to find myself reoffending? I try to be good. I try to honor God with my life, but there are episodes of my life where godly living would be hard to see.

Thank God, he sent us Jesus! Jesus lived the life that we never could—a perfect one—and he gave that life of perfection to pay for all the times we have frustrated God with our foolishness.

You might find yourself getting impatient with others like your parents, your spouse, your kids, or whomever! Remember the patience God has shown you and mirror that patience with them.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, I have not always lived as I should. I am sorry for all the times I have gone my own way and done my own thing. Thank you for opening my eyes to see the forgiveness that Jesus has gifted me. Thank you for being patient with me. Help me as I seek to show that patience with others. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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 he [Jesus] told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Luke 13:6-9

God Is Patient

Daily Devotion – March 27, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 13:6-9


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For years, I trimmed and clipped. I watered and fertilized. But despite all my best efforts, I couldn’t get our lemon tree to produce. My patience wore out. I gave up the fight. And I finally chopped it down and cut my losses.

If you have ever tried to grow your own food, you know some of those same frustrations. You spend your time, your efforts, and your money trying to get something to grow, but sometimes, it just doesn’t.

People can be like that stubborn fruit tree. They don’t change their ways. They don’t produce God-pleasing words and actions. That is because we have been infected with something so deadly. The Bible calls it sin. You see, God is holy, he’s perfect. And sinful beings can’t stand before God. We deserve to be chopped down and tossed into the burn pile of hell. But instead, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for sin that should have been ours upon himself. And through the blood of Jesus, our rottenness, guilt, and sin are covered.

God is the ultimate spiritual gardener, and his heart is filled with patience. He tenderly and lovingly prunes, waters, and cares for us, his children. That care comes through his Word—warning us to turn from our sin and telling us the news of our forgiveness.

Friend, God wants to see this change in you! Confess to God your sin and, with joy and confidence, know that in Christ you have forgiveness!

Prayer:
Dear God, I am sorry for my sin. I know that I deserve your full punishment for it. Thank you for sending me my Savior, Jesus, who has rescued me from death. Thank you for being patient with me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Luke 13:1-5

Repent!

Daily Devotion – March 26, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 13:1-5


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Charlie is in prison. He might be there for the rest of his life. He hurt people, and that’s how he ended up in a cell. He doesn’t like it in prison. However, he is glad that he got caught. It woke him up to see that he had a problem. Charlie has since acknowledged not just the sins that landed him in the penitentiary but all the sins in his heart that warranted him a sentence to hell for eternity. By the grace of God, he knows that Jesus has taken away all his sins, and because of Jesus, he will one day live free forever in heaven! He thanks God that he discovered this before it was too late.

Pain and punishment are, at times, blessings from God. They shake us to our senses. People had come to see Jesus because they were in pain. And when they did, Jesus told the people a vital truth that we all need to remember—we need to repent. We need to acknowledge our faults before God and confess the sin that deserves the full wrath of Almighty God. But then, with joy, we need to turn to the one who has paid the price of our sins. We need to turn to Jesus!

I pray that you don’t end up in prison like Charlie. However, if God allows pain to strike your life, perhaps God is using it to call you to repent. And when you do, he is there with open arms, full of mercy.

Prayer:
Dear God, I confess to you the sins I know and the sins I am unaware that I have done. I beg for your mercy, O Lord. Trusting in my Savior, Jesus, I rest in your grace. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Luke 13:1-5

What a Tragedy!

Daily Devotion – March 25, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 13:1-5


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When my daughter was five, she asked, “Daddy, why do you watch the news? It’s always so sad.” I don’t even remember what tragedy was on the TV that night, but her observation rings true more often than we would like.

It seems that every time you tune in to find out what is happening in the world all you hear about are fires, floods, accidents, death, etc. Senseless tragedies.

This is not new. One day some people brought a recent tragedy to Jesus’ attention. A multitude of people had been killed during a church service. This was in addition to a construction accident that had taken the lives of eighteen in the neighboring town. Those left behind in this wake of destruction were struggling with the chill of death’s touch.

Why? Haven’t you ever found yourself asking that question? I’m sure you have. Honestly, we can’t always answer that question. But if you ever find yourself reeling from a tragedy, look to the cross of Jesus. On the surface, it doesn’t make sense. You see a thirty-three-year-old man spiked to two pieces of timber. You see the death of an innocent person. You see a tragedy.

But remember why Jesus went to that cross and allowed himself to die. It was so that he could deliver a cure for this world that has been so sickened by sin. It was so that he could take the punishment that rightly should have been executed upon us because of our guilt. It was so that one day, he could take us away from this world of death and violence to a paradise of peace.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, be with those who are grieving and may the news of your victory bring them peace and comfort. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Luke 13:1-5

Go to Jesus With Your Troubles

Daily Devotion – March 24, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 13:1-5


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“The toilet is broken! We’re out of milk! I need help with my homework!” My wife and I hear our kids say things like this on a weekly basis. They know that when there is a problem or a need, they can turn to their parents, and we will help. We have a proven track record of doing so. For years they have come to Mom and Dad, and time after time, we have come through.

However, there are some things in life that are out of a parent’s hands. After all, I couldn’t resuscitate Finn, our kids’ pet fish, when he floated to the top of his bowl. I couldn’t blunt the pain of the comments from the bully at school. I couldn’t make the fever or tummy ache vanish with the snap of my fingers.

Pain had struck a community of people. A cruel politician had cut down some people in cold blood while they worshiped. People lost loved ones. They were beside themselves and couldn’t make sense of the pain. Thankfully, they did the best thing they could do—they took their troubles to Jesus!

There are some things beyond a parent’s control. But Jesus? There isn’t anything that is beyond him—not even death! The fact that Jesus rose victorious from the grave is the greatest proof of all that he has defeated our greatest trouble. So, when those troubles come, turn to the one who has the power. Turn to Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, although you already know what is troubling me, I bring to you the burdens of my heart. Give me the strength to stand firm through my days of darkness. Comfort me through your Word. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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 whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Is God in It?

Daily Devotion – March 23, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 10:31


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My children often ask questions like, “Are there raisins in it?” or “Are there onions in it?”

How often do we ask, “Is God in it?” That sure sparked up a battle recently when an atheist didn’t want to have his child say the Pledge of Allegiance because “God” was in it. But even if we keep the words in the Pledge, we have to look at our country and ask, “Is God in it?” Are those just empty words or does God really reside here? What do you think when you look around you?

The Bible assures us that, whether we acknowledge him or not, he is everywhere at all times. And where his Word and people are present, he is present in a special way. He comes to bring us to repentance and to lead us to depend on his all-encompassing forgiveness won for us in Jesus. He is there in our lives to make us more like him. And God promises his believing children that even the seemingly difficult things will turn out right because God is in it to turn it into a blessing.

The question remains, however, in relationship to your thoughts, words, and actions. “Is God in it?” We don’t have to look back very far to see God was not the focus in what we listened to, looked at, bought, did, or said. Knowing what he has done for us and how essential our relationship is to him we want to look for him to be in everything we do—as eagerly as my children look for the chocolate chips in the cookies. Let him be the source and focus of all you do.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may everything I do bring you glory. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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 press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14

Press On

Daily Devotion – March 22, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:14


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She was tired, sore, and feeling more than a little discouraged. The years of training had taken their toll on her body, and her latest visit with the doctor resulted in the strong encouragement to take some time off so her body could heal.

Now the voice in her head telling her to just give up and withdraw from the competition was getting stronger. “It’s not worth it. The pain, the struggle, it’s too much. Besides, you’re never going to win. None of your times have been good enough. You simply set your goal too high. Why waste all this time trying to win a prize that you’re never going to get anyway?”

Have you ever heard voices like that—not about the urge to give up training for a race, but the temptation to give up on being a Christian? “It’s not worth it. The lifestyle, the ridicule—it’s too much. Besides, you’re not good enough. Look at all the mistakes you’ve made.”

If these thoughts, or any like them, have entered your mind, please recognize them for what they are: lies straight from the devil. The truth is that the prize of heaven has already been won for you by Jesus. It’s not a prize that you need to win by leading a certain kind of life. Jesus led that perfect life for you. Then he gave up his life, shed his innocent blood, and died as the price demanded for your sins. His resurrection from the grave guarantees that the prize of eternal life in heaven is yours.

Don’t give up on following Jesus. Keep pressing on toward the goal of heaven. It’s hard. The rest of the world will continue to ridicule you, and the devil will continue to whisper lies in your ear. But that’s just what they are—lies. The truth is that the prize has already been won and given to you by your loving Savior, Jesus.

Rejoice in that unchangeable fact and make the apostle Paul’s words your own.”I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer:
Jesus, my Savior, thank you for winning the eternal prize of heaven for me. Help me to keep my eyes focused on that prize and give me the strength to press on even when following you is a struggle. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

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.