Author: Kerry

But our citizenship is in heaven.
Philippians 3:20

Goin’ Home

Daily Devotion – March 19, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:20


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In 1922, the American composer William Arms Fisher wrote lyrics to one of the most haunting melodies in the history of music, the opening theme of the Largo from Anton Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” Fisher entitled his song, “Goin’ Home,” its words describing a person’s departure from this world to “the world beyond.” Set in the style of an old American spiritual, Fisher penned, “Goin’ home, goin’ home, I’m a goin’ home; Quiet-like, some still day, I’m jes’ goin’ home. . . Mother’s there ‘spectin’ me, Father’s waitin’ too; Lots o’ folks gather’d there, All the friends I knew.” The song was popularized when it was played after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death in 1945. Since then, it has been used regularly in connection with the funeral services of U.S. presidents, dignitaries, and soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The song is certainly sentimental, but it’s not really biblical. There is no mention of sin against God or one another, nor its consequences: death (Ro 6:23). Neither is there any reference to our desperate need for divine forgiveness. The lyrics simply assume that everyone who dies goes “home” to heaven, no questions asked, greeted there by their dearly departed family and friends who have gone before them. There is no suggestion of true salvation; no pointing to the only One who freely grants it: Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).

It makes sense that Fisher’s song would be so affectionately adopted by the people of this world who desperately look for some hope and comfort in the face of death. Sadly, however, they refuse to look to Jesus their Savior, who gives certain hope and comfort by his death and resurrection from the dead. He’s conquered death forever! Instead, they chase after sappy sentimentality.

But at least Fisher got one thing right with his lyrics. He suggested that heaven is home. For God’s people—those who put their trust in Jesus—this is most certainly true. But it won’t only be true someday. The apostle Paul reminds us that even now “our citizenship is in heaven.” We are but strangers here; heaven is our home. And, oh, how God’s people long to be home with Jesus!

Prayer:
Jesus, teach me to flee from faulty hope and comfort and to rest all my confidence in you. 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.

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:18,19

Watch out: Enemy Crossing!

Daily Devotion – March 18, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:18,19


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The best roads are built with safety in mind. That’s why freeways are normally multi-lane, same-direction thoroughfares without cross-traffic. They’re made as straight as possible; the valleys are raised up, and the hills are made low. The fewer obstacles there are, the better.

If only the road to heaven would be free of every danger! If only there were no twists or turns, ups or downs, no cross traffic. But the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh are not that cooperative. They constantly throw obstacles in the way in a concerted effort to throw us off course. The last thing our spiritual enemies want to see is us arriving home to heaven safe and sound.

And sometimes, those enemies come in ways you wouldn’t suspect. When, for instance, the apostle Paul laments the fact that “many live as enemies of the cross of Christ,” he’s not necessarily referring to people outside the church. Yes, even people who claim to be children of God—faithful followers of Jesus and his Word—too often live as enemies of the cross of Christ. How? By falling into the temptation and promoting the false idea that we should expect our lives as God’s people in this world to be filled with success. They cling to a theology of glory rather than proclaiming a theology of the cross. “Their mind is set on earthly things,” and Paul warns, “Their destiny is destruction.”

We need to watch out for this enemy crossing because we’re all tempted to forget what Jesus made so clear about the life of true discipleship: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mk 8:34). While we may want to think our lives in this world should be filled with one clear victory after another, Paul knew from experience that a Christian’s reward comes not now but in heaven. But what a reward it will be!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me fix my heart on things above and cling to your eternal promises. 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.

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
Philippians 3:17

Follow Closely

Daily Devotion – March 17, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:17


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When was the last time you needed to follow closely behind someone to arrive at your destination? That was sometimes necessary in the “olden days” because most maps didn’t provide street-level detail. So, if your group was too large to fit into one car, the driver who knew where he was going would carefully lead the other driver to their destination. If you were following, you needed to stay close, so you didn’t get separated and lost. But with the advent of cell phones and GPS technology, finding your way to unknown locations is now a snap. Your phone tells you where to turn and when. Following someone closely is unnecessary.

But have you ever asked your phone to give you directions to heaven? It doesn’t work; I’ve tried. If you and I can’t get to heaven by asking our phones the way, how can we ever get there? By closely following others who know how to get there.

There was a time in the apostle Paul’s life when he was totally lost. He thought he knew how to get to heaven. Simple; follow the rules, he thought. But then he discovered God doesn’t just require us to try our best or be better than the next person. No, to enter the gates of heaven, we need to be perfect. No missed turns, no sin, ever. Like us, Paul couldn’t manage that. He was lost.

But then Jesus found and rescued him. As the world’s Savior, Jesus did what we could never do. He’s perfect! More than that, he freely forgives our sins and gives us his perfection as a gift. Through faith in him and by following him closely, our destination is certain. We’re on the road to heaven, everlasting life!

Paul learned to follow Jesus closely in faith. Now, he urges us to follow his example and do the same. If we try to get to heaven on our own, we’ll never arrive. But by placing our faith in Jesus and following his life-giving direction closely, we’ll show up safe and sound. Forever.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me follow you in faith to my heavenly home. 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.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: 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 3:12-14

Swifter, Higher, Stronger

Daily Devotion – March 16, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:12-14


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“Citius, altius, fortius” is a Latin phrase meaning, “swifter, higher, stronger.” It is the motto of the Olympic games and does well to embody what our calling in Christ pursues.

Christ has placed us on the path of righteousness but still lets us run. Swifter, we flee from temptation. Higher, we stretch ourselves to practice Christ-like love. Stronger, we stand in the midst of suffering in this world. A shining example of this kind of fortitude was revealed in the 1968 Olympic games in Mexico.

A Tanzanian marathon runner named Akhwari was the last man to finish the marathon race. He arrived in the stadium staggering, limping, and finished his race long after the winner did. This, of course, prompted all kinds of post-race questions as to why he continued when he had no chance of winning.

He simply replied, “My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish the race.”

A Christian who knew why God saved him and set him apart, the apostle Paul also spoke in similar terms, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me . . . I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12,14).

Through the sacrifice of his Son, God set the prize of heaven before us. Now in our life of faith in Jesus, we press on to take full possession of that for which God has taken hold of us.

Run, Christian, run. Finish the race.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me finish the race. Guide my feet to follow the way that you speak in your Word. Extend my arms to reach others in love. Wipe my tears of sorrow so that I can better see the path. Lead me on, Lord. Lead me on. 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.

[Jesus said] “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 23:37-39

The Extent of Jesus’ Love

Daily Devotion – March 15, 2025

Devotion based on Matthew 23:37-39


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The entire chapter of Matthew 23 is several stern warnings that Jesus spoke against those who rejected him in unbelief, especially the religious leaders. If you read through those passages, you will see that Jesus spoke very strongly against those who opposed him. His reason for the woes he pronounced was not to antagonize his enemies. No, he spoke as firmly as he did because he truly loved them! He wanted them to see that the confidence they were putting in themselves for salvation was very dangerous. They could not save themselves from condemnation in hell by their attempts to live as righteously as possible. Jesus wanted to correct them. He wanted them to put their faith in him as their Savior so they would not fall under the eternal judgment of God. He wanted them to have eternal life with God by trusting in him as their Savior.

Oh, the great extent of Jesus’ love for people! He wants all to come to the knowledge of God’s truth and be saved from the curse of sin. He reaches out to gather people into the protective care of his boundless goodness and fills them with the fullness of life. He calls upon them to turn away from the emptiness and hopelessness they have without him. How sad and sorrowful he is when they refuse because when judgment finally comes, they will be separated from God forever.

Jesus is our Savior. His death was the sacrifice that God accepted as payment for all our sins. There’s nothing more for us to do for the forgiveness of sins and the joy of life with God. Jesus did it all. Believe it.

Prayer:
Jesus, how greatly you love me to willingly die to take away the guilt of my sins. Fill my heart with confident trust in you alone for salvation and eternal life. 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.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
Luke 4:1,2

He Leads the Way

Daily Devotion – March 14, 2025

Devotion based on Luke 4:1,2


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There is something good about being with other people. If you are traveling to a new city, it is more fun to have a friend to go with you. Cheering on your favorite team with 100,000 other fans is more fun than sitting in the stands by yourself. If you have a difficult doctor’s appointment coming up, it is good to take someone with you.

At the beginning of his ministry, God the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness of Judea. There, in that wilderness, he faced the devil. Forty days and forty nights, Jesus endured the devil’s twisted truths, his easy solutions, and his deceptive offers. Through the power of God’s Word, Jesus was victorious and did not sin.

We are not in the wilderness across the Jordan but in a wilderness of sorts. We aren’t alone among the wild animals, but we face all sorts of dangers and difficulties. As Jesus was tempted, we will face temptations as well. The same twisted truths, easy solutions, and deceptive offers are on our minds and in our hearts as well.

Jesus goes with us and leads the way through this wilderness, too. We find great hope in knowing Jesus will keep us safe. We find comfort in knowing when we fail to resist temptation, Jesus stands ready to rescue us. He forgives our failures to remain faithful and removes the burdens of our guilt. He encourages us with his reassuring promises to retake our stand on God’s Word and truth. He renews us with his victory to prepare us for whatever temptation we face next.

As Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, so Jesus goes with us and leads us through the wildernesses we find ourselves in. He goes with us and leads us as we are tempted.

Prayer:
Lord of all, thank you for sending Jesus to be with me and to lead me. Help me to look to him for rescue and strength. 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.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15

Like Us but Better

Daily Devotion – March 13, 2025

Devotion based on Hebrews 4:15


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Modern travel has a way of making things impersonal. When driving, you notice the cars but pay little attention to the people in those vehicles. You don’t know anything about them, and they are forgotten as soon as you pass them. Riding in an airplane causes you to pass over homes, but you don’t stop and wonder who lives there or what their lives might be like. We pass by thousands of people, and we give little thought to who they are or what they are experiencing.

As we travel through life, we can feel like God is just one more person who is far away or removed. It can be easy to think of Jesus as someone who is near but doesn’t really understand what we are experiencing.

The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus was tempted in every way that you are tempted. He can sympathize with you in your weakness. He knew hunger and had tears running down his cheeks. He had his friends leave him and knew what a long day of work feels like. He was tired, hungry, betrayed, and sad.

The next time you pray, remember that Jesus has experienced all the joys and pains that you have, but in all of this, he did not sin. He is like us but better. In good moments, he never fell into the sin of pride or failed to give thanks to God. In sad moments, he did not lose hope or fall into anger or despair. He faced our challenges and was tempted in every way yet was without sin.

We do not have an impersonal Savior. He knows us and gets us. He has been through what we have been through. He was tempted but was without sin. We have one who is like us but better.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you made your Son to be like me. When I am tempted, make me run to him, knowing that he has been tempted as I am, yet he is without sin. 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 then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Not Embarrassed but Confident

Daily Devotion – March 12, 2025

Devotion based on Hebrews 4:16


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I think we’ve all had that embarrassing moment when for whatever reason you couldn’t afford something. Maybe you were standing in line at Walmart when the cashier announced the total; you were thumbing through the cash in your wallet only to discover you were a little light. Or maybe it was a waiter coming back to you at a restaurant telling you your card has been declined. Whenever this happens, there is always panic and a scramble. We are looking for another payment method or need to ask someone if they can lend us money or try to put something back.

How should we approach God when he says that the payment to enter his perfect presence is to be perfect ourselves? We can look through our own life and hope to find enough perfection, but we will always end up a little light. We can scramble and quickly try to clean up our act some. We can panic and despair that there is no way we can be saved.

Or we can turn to Jesus.

Jesus has made the payment with his perfect life. He is the payment for our sins. Through faith, God credits us with the perfect life of Jesus so that we can have what is needed to enter his perfect presence. Jesus paid for all our sins and the sins of the entire world. For this reason, we can be sure that our debt is paid and that God forgives us all our sins.

Though we did not have enough ourselves, we have received grace and mercy because of Jesus. Therefore, we approach God’s throne of grace in faith and prayer with full confidence. There is no panic or embarrassment. There is no doubt about how God feels about us. God hears us and loves us because what we owe has been paid.

We are confident before God because of Jesus.

Prayer:
Gracious God, make me confident before you because of Jesus. Give me faith to grasp the full assurance of love and forgiveness that is mine. 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.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Hebrews 4:14

What Everyone Is Looking For

Daily Devotion – March 11, 2025

Devotion based on Hebrews 4:14


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You can go and see all of it—garments, instruments, and furniture. An organization called The Temple Institute of Jerusalem has, at tremendous cost and utmost care, recreated everything needed to begin regular temple worship in Jerusalem. Carefully embroidered clothing and special furniture covered in gold are all there and need only one more thing: They need the next great high priest to be appointed.

Of course, that isn’t going to happen.

People have poured their hearts and souls into finding a high priest. Some do it by recreating expensive priestly garments and furniture like The Temple Institute of Jerusalem. Others aren’t as flashy but are trying to create a new priesthood just the same. They hope that through some series of good deeds, right prayers, or other efforts they are being made right with God.

We are all searching for a high priest—someone who will make us right with God.

The good news is that we already have that person who has made us right with God. We have a Great High Priest in Jesus Christ. He didn’t do it through his work at the temple or by saying the right prayers. He did this at great cost, but not with gold or silver. He is the Great High Priest because he made the perfect sacrifice of himself for the sins of the world. He is the one who even today is interceding for us in heaven, saying to God the Father, “All their sins have been paid for.”

Everyone is looking for someone. In Jesus, we have the Great High Priest who makes us right with God.

Prayer:
Merciful Lord, you have made Jesus to be the Great High Priest. Make me look only to him and his work for the perfect assurance that I have been made right with God. 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.

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
1 Samuel 17:32

A Volunteer for Us All

Daily Devotion – March 10, 2025

Devotion based on 1 Samuel 17:32


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There are some jobs no one wants. When the break room is messy, no one wants to be the one to clean it up. When the school is looking for volunteers to take the closing shift on the concession stand, volunteers are hard to come by. When it is time to clean out the long-neglected storage closet at church, few people are willing. Though many benefit from these things, few are willing to do them.

In our Bible story today, we discover a job no one wanted to do. Goliath, a Philistine and giant of a man, had made a clear challenge to God’s people: Send out a man to fight, and the winner would take all. It would be a battle to the death, and the man left standing would take as slaves the army of the other nation. None of the soldiers in the Israelite army wanted this job.

Until David stepped forward and volunteered. He was the one who did the hard thing that no one else would do or could do. He won the day and provided victory not just for himself but for all the people of God.

While there is something to be learned from David’s bravery and willingness to fight the big man Goliath, the more important lesson is seeing David win a victory for all. Though others did nothing, they still received the benefit of David’s work.

In this way, David is a picture of what Jesus would do for us. God is clear in his Word that what needs to happen is for us to perfectly keep his law, but we failed to do the job. Since we did not do what needed to be done, Jesus took our place and did the work, and we receive the benefit of his victory.

Jesus did it all for us, and the victory is ours.

Prayer:
Father of all, thank you for sending Jesus to take my place. Help me to treasure that his victory is my victory. 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.