Month: April 2025

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51,52

Raised Imperishable

Daily Devotion – April 22, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:51,52


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Our bodies wear out. We know this all too well. We see it in the mirror as wrinkles form. We feel it in aching joints. We watch it in our loved ones as disease, disability, and dementia take their toll. Sin has infected not just our hearts and minds but our flesh. Every human body is subject to decay, disease, and death.

But listen! The apostle Paul reveals a mystery. “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” In an instant, everything will be different. When Jesus comes again, the dead will be raised imperishable. That means no more sickness. No more disease. No more weakness. No more death. The perishable will be clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality.

Imagine a body untouched by sin’s curse—no cancer, disease, dementia, pain, aging, or death. Every tear wiped away. Every sorrow erased. This is not just wishful thinking. This is the promise of God.

How can this be? How can bodies that have been buried, decayed, or turned to dust be raised anew? Because Jesus lives. His resurrection is the guarantee of our own. He took on our sin, suffered in our place, died our death, and then conquered the grave. His resurrected body was real—touchable, recognizable, perfect. And through faith in him, we are connected to his resurrection.

What joy this brings! We grieve now when we watch loved ones suffer. We mourn as we feel our bodies growing weaker. But we do not grieve like those who have no hope. We know what is coming. We know who is coming. And when he does, we will be changed. We will be raised imperishable.

This promise comforts you in sickness, strengthens you in sorrow, and fills you with anticipation. Because when Jesus returns, our perishable bodies will be no more. We will be changed—forever whole, forever alive in him.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of resurrection and the hope of bodies made new. In Jesus’ name. 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.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” . . . But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55,57

Death’s Sting Is Removed

Daily Devotion – April 21, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:55,57


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If you’ve been stung by a bee or a wasp, you know it is not a pleasant experience. The stinger doesn’t just pierce your skin, but the venom causes lasting pain. For that reason, many people have a fear of bees and wasps. But what if you knew that the bee or wasp didn’t have a sting? Well, take away the sting, and you take away the fear. Remove the sting, and the power of that flying insect is gone.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he took away the sting of death. Death had a powerful sting. Death is coming for everyone, and it casts a shadow over all of life. No matter what joy you experience, it won’t last because death is coming.

Death stings because it robs you of your loved ones. All the people you love will one day die. Death separates you from them. There is no FaceTime or phone calls with the dead. They’re gone.

Death stings because everyone has this gnawing feeling deep down that after death, there will be an accounting, a judgment. You are accountable to someone for your deeds and actions. There is a certain sense of fear and uncertainty of what that might be like.

Death stings and its venom can choke out even the best moments of life. The sting of death looks like ultimate defeat. But when Jesus rose from the dead, it meant a stunning reversal. Death no longer held the victory. Death no longer had its sting. Instead, Jesus gives the victory to all who put their faith in him.

Jesus has already undergone the judgment and punishment for sinners. His believers don’t have to fear a final reckoning with God. Jesus promises that those who die believing in him are not lost forever but alive in heaven. You will see them again. And Jesus’ resurrection means that death is not the end of the story for his believers. They will rise to an eternity of perfect joy and love.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for robbing death of its sting. Your resurrection means you have given me the victory. 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.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4

A Resurrected Life

Daily Devotion – April 20, 2025

Devotion based on Colossians 3:1-4


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He had lived all his life on the streets. His skin was weathered. His hair was a tangled mess. His clothes were tattered and stained. He slept on cardboard and under garbage bags. He dined in the alleyways from restaurant dumpsters. Days he spent squatting on sidewalks, begging from passersby.

One day someone stopped, lifted him, cleaned him up, dressed him, and gave him $10,000 a week to live on. But months later, the pauper-turned-prince was still living on the streets. Once a week, he’d clean up. Once a month, he’d dine in a restaurant. He was not taking advantage of his new-found life.

The Bible says that through faith we have been raised with Christ. But are we living the resurrected life? Not if we only focus on Christ’s resurrection one day a year, Easter Sunday. The blessings of a resurrected life are life-changing. Take advantage of it!

A resurrected life is a life that looks up. Guilt can’t consume us because we find daily rest in Christ’s payment for all our sins. The world can’t fool us because we have God’s wisdom for making good decisions. Bad days can’t stop us because we have confidence in a better eternal tomorrow. Happiness is never out of reach, because it’s already in hand as we imitate the humble servant-life of our victorious Savior, Jesus Christ.

A resurrected life is a life connected to Christ. Your conscience may condemn you and Satan may accuse you. Let them! You have been set free from the guilt of sin. You are a redeemed child of the Father, purchased by the blood of Christ.

A resurrected life is a life with a glorious future. You may be overcome by the world’s hatred and hardship. But remember, what is over your head is still under Jesus’ feet. And one day, you will reign with Christ forever.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, keep my eyes fixed on you and the heaven you won for me rather than on the things of this world. 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.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:3-5

Attitude

Daily Devotion – April 19, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 2:3-5


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How has your attitude been lately? Have you gotten short-tempered with your children, spouse, or employees? Have you been disrespectful to your parents, teachers, or boss? Have you been a little self-righteous and unconcerned about the people around you? How has your attitude been toward the people you run into on a regular basis?

Now think about this: How is your attitude toward God? You may be happy with God when life seems to be going well, but it’s easy to blame God when things don’t go as planned. You may find yourself getting angry at God when there are difficult times in life—when you attend a funeral, miss a promotion, fail the exam, or have an illness. You may think that you know better than God, even though he is the Almighty and will judge all people one day.

We so desperately need Jesus. His attitude was always to glorify God and to love others. Jesus always displayed a humble attitude. He came to serve, not to be served. That is clearly seen when Jesus died on the cross to suffer the punishment for our sins so that we may live with him in heaven. Jesus even died to forgive you for the times when you had a bad attitude toward God and others!

Jesus’ forgiveness and love for you will change even a bad attitude into a life of love and service toward God and your fellow man.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me to improve my attitude toward others that I may be more like you. 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.

All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” . . . Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Galatians 3:10,13

The Curse Is Ended

Daily Devotion – April 18, 2025

Devotion based on Galatians 3:10,13


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The plot of many fairy tales focuses on trying to end a curse, to break the spell cast by the story’s villain. In the end, you know that the hero will eventually appear, end the curse, and save the princess or even the entire land.

That plot is more true-to-life than we might like to admit. The Bible says, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Who can claim to have done everything required by God’s Law? We can’t even rightly claim to have kept a single one of God’s laws.

God’s Law demands actions that always step up to help and never cause hurt. His Law demands words that only build up with truth and love and never tear down. His Law demands hearts and minds that are perfectly pure and never polluted with hatred, greed, envy, or lust. And anyone who doesn’t live up to everything written in God’s Law is under a curse. Because of our sins against God’s law, we deserve death. We earn an eternity of God’s wrath in hell. “Cursed” hardly seems to be a strong enough word.

But what happened on a dark Friday afternoon nearly two thousand years ago changed all of that. Christ redeemed us from that curse by becoming a curse for us. He accepted our guilt—all of it. And he received the curse that it deserved—all of it.

Jesus was hung on the cross not only to suffer man’s wrath but the wrath of God and to pay the price demanded for our souls. With his life, he redeemed us. He paid the price to set us free from sin and guilt, from death and hell. Nothing less could have ended sin’s curse. Jesus paid that price in full. The curse is ended forever! And that’s why we call this Friday “good.”

Prayer:
What wondrous love is this! You paid the awful price for my soul! 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.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23

Faithful to His Promises

Daily Devotion – April 17, 2025

Devotion based on Hebrews 10:23


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Today, Christians celebrate Maundy Thursday or, as it is also called, Holy Thursday. The shadows of this night stretch back 3500 years. The descendants of Abraham had been forced into slavery in Egypt. But the Lord had promised that they would one day live in their own land where, through one special descendant, all nations on earth would be blessed.

The Lord kept that promise. Through a series of powerful miracles that you can read about in the Bible’s book of Exodus, the Lord rescued Abraham’s descendants from their slavery and brought them into that Promised Land.

Along the way, the Lord appeared to them with a covenant, a contract that said, “Obey me, and I will bless you.” But almost immediately, the people broke their side of the deal. And they continued to disobey and rebel against the Lord.

But the Lord gave a greater covenant to his people—a promise that didn’t depend on their obedience. A promise of forgiveness and deliverance from disobedience and death, just as he had delivered them from slavery and death in Egypt.

Every year, the people of God celebrated a special meal called the Passover. That meal remembered God’s rescue in Egypt. More importantly, it foreshadowed God’s future rescue, when he would make good on that promise of forgiveness and deliverance for all people.

Jesus came to fulfill that covenant promise. As he ate the Passover meal with his disciples, he was just hours away from giving his life to win a home in a heavenly Promised Land for all people. That night, he gave them a special meal to recall the covenant he came to fulfill. He fed them his own body and blood with bread and wine in a miraculous meal we call Holy Communion. It was their assurance, and it remains ours today, that God is faithful to his promises to unfaithful sinners like us.

No matter how unfaithful we have been to God, God’s faithful love gives us hope. Sure hope that, because God never breaks a promise, every one of our sins is forgiven through Jesus. Sure hope that one day, we will celebrate an even greater feast with Jesus in heaven.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me hold unswervingly to the hope that your faithful love gives to 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.

He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:8

Obedient All the Way to Death

Daily Devotion – April 16, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 2:8


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People are willing to put up with a lot if they think it will be worth it in the end. Many athletes and high achievers in various fields will endure long hours of grueling training, decades of preparation, financial sacrifice, and the high demands of professors, coaches, and bosses along the way. But there is a limit to what people will do.

Recently, there’s been a trend in sports of athletes retiring earlier. Sometimes, it’s because athletes are bigger, faster, and stronger, so the effects of age more quickly leave them unable to compete. Other times, it’s because the toll competing takes on their body is not a price they are willing to pay for long.

Do we ever get that way in our walk with God? God’s law makes demands that we just aren’t willing to meet. Undivided devotion? No way. Love for our enemies? That’s a big ask. Complete trust when it seems like God has forgotten us? That’s a pretty hard road to stay on.

When Jesus entered the world on a mission to save, he knew the price that would be demanded of him. Not just long hours teaching and healing, days traveling on foot, or seemingly endless opposition along the way. Jesus knew that death would be required of him. A most shameful death by crucifixion on a Roman cross. Knowing what was coming, when his Father said, “Go!” Jesus went.

When Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, how good it must have felt to hear the crowds shouting his praises. How easy it would have been to take a different path. Grab onto the glory and chase after the power and greatness. It was there for the taking.

But love for you and me led Jesus to surrender to his Father’s will and give himself over to death. For the times we have considered the cost of obedience too high, the price of following Jesus too great, Jesus willingly paid the price with his life. Because of his surrender, the end of the road for us is not death but life, not pain but paradise. We can surrender all to follow him, knowing that the end will be worth any price.

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for giving up everything 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.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.
Isaiah 42:3,4

Pursuing Justice

Daily Devotion – April 15, 2025

Devotion based on Isaiah 42:3,4


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Some of the greatest heroes in history are those who have fought for justice. In American history, the emancipation of slaves, the fight for women’s suffrage, and the 20th Century Civil Rights Movement are all times when great men and women have made great sacrifices in pursuit of justice. Stirring speeches have encouraged those who listened not to give up the cause until there is justice for all.

The Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah about the work that the Messiah, the Savior, would come to do. He said that he would bring justice. And he would not give up, falter, or be discouraged until it was finished.

But if we look at ourselves honestly in the mirror of God’s law, justice is a frightful thought. True justice not only pursues the end of unjust oppression, but it also pursues proper punishment for those who have done wrong. God’s justice says that the proper punishment for disobeying even one of his laws is death and unending suffering in hell. To let the lawbreaker off without a penalty would not be just and make God’s law meaningless.

Jesus came to bring justice, but not in the way we might expect. Jesus came to bring justice by surrendering himself to justice in our place. Because we could not go free without justice being carried out, Jesus assumed our guilt and surrendered to the just penalties we deserved. There was no plea bargain, no legal loopholes. He faced every charge and suffered every punishment.

One hymn writer put it this way: “Many hands were raised to wound him; none would intervene to save; but the deepest stroke that pierced him was the stroke that justice gave.” In love, Jesus willingly suffered horrible things at the hands of angry human enemies. Even more, in love, he willingly suffered the stroke of God’s justice, the punishment of hell for you and me.

Because he did, the punishment for our sins has been carried out. Now, we are justly counted as innocent in God’s eyes. And only the reward of eternal life remains.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for facing God’s justice for me so that I will always be free. 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.

Christ Jesus . . . being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing.
Philippians 2:5-7

If You Want It, Go Get It

Daily Devotion – April 14, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 2:5-7


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If you want something, you have to go get it. That’s the kind of advice a parent, grandparent, coach, or mentor might have for a young person. Success doesn’t just come to you. Opportunities don’t just appear with no effort on your part. You have to get out there and make something happen and seize the opportunities when they come. You have to go get what’s yours.

In most cases, it’s probably good advice. But it doesn’t seem like advice that Jesus heard or accepted. He had it all. He had the power and glory. He was God. He could do anything he wanted to do. But he gave it all away.

“He made himself nothing,” the Bible says. He gave up comfort and ease. He set aside power and authority. He gave it all up to live as a human being, to live life as a lowly servant in this world. In utter humility, Jesus was counted among the worst criminals and sentenced to death. He was crushed under the weight of God’s anger over sin and disobedience.

Instead of selfishly seizing greatness, he surrendered to lowliness. Why? Because of the greatness of his love.

You see, there was something that Jesus wanted. He knew it wouldn’t happen on its own. He had to go out and get it. He seized the opportunity and sacrificed everything to get it. What was it? It was you. It was me.

Jesus surrendered to lowliness and suffering to seize you from the grip of death in which your sins held you. He gave up everything to give you life and riches that you could never earn or achieve for yourself. Riches that will outlast every achievement and reward this world can offer.

Jesus seized the opportunity to surrender what he had to give you what was his—a place in the family of God and an eternal home. That’s what this week that Christians call “Holy Week” is all about.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, no one loves me as much as you love me. Thank you for coming to earth and giving up everything to give me life with you in heaven. 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.

The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke 19:37-40

Can’t Keep Quiet

Daily Devotion – April 13, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 19:37-40


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As spring warmth returns to the northern regions, choruses of birds greet the morning sun. They can’t keep quiet. Rather, they praise their Creator.

As Jesus came to Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds raised their voices, shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” They couldn’t keep quiet.

And we have an even greater reason not to keep quiet. Because we know that God is not only our Creator. We know that Jesus did more than perform miracles.

Praise him because you know why he came to Jerusalem. He came to die for sinners, to die for you and me.

Praise him because you believe in him, your King. You, like me, were once a slave to sin. But the King ransomed us to be his blood-bought people. His death on the cross redeemed you, so that by faith, you confess that he is your King. What’s more, one week after he entered Jerusalem, he proved himself our victorious King. He conquered death by rising from the dead. He broke sin’s chains and crushed Satan’s head. His resurrection makes our faith sure. So, praise your victorious King.

Praise him because he has taken our hearts that were once stone-dead in sin and made us spiritually alive. How powerless we were! But through his word in baptism and the Bible, he entered your heart and established his throne. Through his gospel, he reigns in you. Your faith holds on to this good news: You have peace with God in heaven above because Jesus reconciled you to him by his death on the cross.

Yes, now we, who were once like stones, can’t keep quiet. We cry out: “Glory to God in the highest, who gave up his Son to bring us peace. Glory to our Savior-King, who reigns forever and ever.”

Prayer:
I praise you, Jesus, for all you have done and continue to do as my King! 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.