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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.

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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

Forgetting What Is Behind

Daily Devotion – April 12, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:12-14


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After a long day, that glorious moment has finally arrived. However, as your weary head sinks deeper into its pillow your mind begins reviewing the events of the day, and you find that sleep is not going to come as quickly as you would like. Unfinished tasks, disappointing events, words that you regret speaking. There are all sorts of things that happened during the day that you wish you could go back and change, but you can’t.

One of the most frustrating things in life is also one of the most solid truths. We cannot go back and change anything that has happened in the past. There is no time machine that allows us to go back and avoid making the mistakes we have made.

How awesome our God is! He does undo the past. He has erased those mistakes, not by using a time machine, but with the blood of his Son, Jesus. Every hurtful word spoken, and selfish decision made, all the sinful acts we have ever committed—they have all been erased by Jesus’ death on the cross.

Now we have been given a tremendous gift—a future. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross in our place, all our sin and guilt have been removed and by faith in Jesus we have been given eternal life in heaven. Instead of ending the day with a mind that is spinning, filled with the regrets of the past, we can rest in peace with our eyes focused on the wonderful future God has graciously given to us.

May the Holy Spirit graciously enable us to echo the apostle Paul’s words: “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.”

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, fill my heart with a faith that focuses on the eternal prize that Jesus, my Savior, has won for me with his blood. With my eyes focused on heaven, help me to live my life here on earth as the forgiven child of God that I am. 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

To Press On

Daily Devotion – April 11, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:14


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When word leaked out that Sylvester Stallone was working on yet another Rocky movie, many people groaned and rolled their eyes. After all, it had been thirty years since the original film and fifteen years had passed since the last installment, Rocky V, opened in theaters. Critics had panned Rocky V as nothing more than a thin, tired last gasp of a worn-out franchise.

Despite the guffaws, Stallone soldiered on. He believed Rocky Balboa still had something to say. He was right. The film, simply entitled Rocky Balboa, hit the big screen in 2006. And to everyone’s amazement, Rocky Balboa was good. Very good.

The climactic scene of the film is an emotional exchange between Rocky and his son, who, by now is a young adult. His son has just poured out his heart to Rocky, describing the difficulties and hardships he’s had to endure because of the ups and downs of his famous father. Rocky’s response is poignant and powerful. After describing to his son how brutal, unfair, and relentless life can be, he says, “[But] it ain’t about how hard you’re hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

The apostle Paul knew a thing or two about taking hits. Over the years of his ministry, he’d endured beatings with rods, imprisonment, stoning, angry mobs threatening his life, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst and lack of sleep. He’d endured the heartache and disappointment of people turning their backs on Jesus.

Nevertheless, Paul pressed on. But here’s the point: He pressed on not to make himself worthy of his heavenly prize. Rather, he pressed on because of what Jesus Christ had already done to secure the heavenly prize for him. Christ had already secured victory by living a life of perfect persistence in Paul’s place. He had already secured victory by going to the cross and washing away Paul’s many sinful stumbles and falls. Therefore, what drove Paul to persevere was God’s persistent love for him in Jesus.

And that is what drives us, too.

Prayer:
Lord, move me to press on, as you pressed on 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.

I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Philippians 3:8

Deepest Wish and Need

Daily Devotion – April 10, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:8


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Christian writer Tim Keller once quoted an author by the name of Cynthia Heimel. In her circles, Heimel got to know a lot of celebrities before they became celebrities. Then she got to watch them after they made it big. As a result, she said the following: “I pity [celebrities]. No, I do. They were once perfectly pleasant human beings. But now, their wrath is awful. More than any of us, they wanted fame. They worked. They pushed. [But] the morning after each of them became famous, they wanted to take an overdose. Because that one giant thing they were striving for, that thing that was going to make everything okay, had happened. And nothing changed. They were still them. Cynthia Heimel then went on to say, “I think when God wishes to play a rotten practical joke on you, he grants your deepest wish.”

How about you? It’s easy, of course, to pick on celebrities who find out that being famous does not make everything okay. But you and I are just as vulnerable. Sure, we may not pick fame as our deepest wish. Our deepest wish may be something entirely different. Perhaps it’s popularity or respect from others in your line of work. Perhaps it’s success, financial security, authority, and influence. Perhaps it’s living life with a minimum of trouble.

The problem is that our deepest wish can often miss the mark of our deepest need. When that happens, we will experience the same fate as Cynthia Heimel’s celebrities. We will find that even when we get our deepest wish, nothing changes. We are still us.

That’s what the apostle Paul discovered. When he looked back on all the ways he had fulfilled his deepest wishes, respect, success in his field, success, and power, all this power he now regarded as harmful distractions in comparison to his deepest need.

Jesus Christ filled that need. He washed away Paul’s sins on Calvary’s cross. He connected Paul to God. He’s here to do the same for you and me.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, my greatest need is you. Do what you must to keep me close. 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 people I formed for myself.
Isaiah 43:21

Connection

Daily Devotion – April 9, 2025

Devotion based on Isaiah 43:21


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In April 2020, a ten-part series entitled The Last Dance began to air on the sports network ESPN. It told the story of Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls, and their legendary place in NBA history. For many who love the game of basketball, the series reaffirmed their conviction that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.

But imagine, for a moment, the unimaginable. Imagine Michael Jordan going it alone, without a basketball team. Imagine him disconnecting from the league of teams known as the National Basketball Association. Imagine him disconnecting from the fan base that makes professional basketball possible. The very notion is absurd on its face.

In Isaiah chapter 43, the Lord says something that’s often easy to forget. He not only created us. He created us for himself. He did not simply manufacture us and plunk us into a universe of his own making. He created us for the express purpose of living life in profound connection with him.

This reality has huge ramifications. It means that my life has no independent value. It means that while I may drift away from God and convince myself it’s okay to dismiss him from my life, doing so empties me of the very purpose for which I exist. And while I may manage to deceive myself with a life of busyness, career, recreation, and pleasure, it means nothing. Nothing.

And yet, in your sinful madness and mine, you and I often try to give it a go. We fade away from God. We replace him with something or someone else. We disconnect from the very One for whom we exist.

But so precious is his connection with us that out of a love we cannot grasp, he did what he had to do to bring us back. He became one of us. He walked among us. On our behalf, he lived a life of perfect faithfulness to replace our lives of faithlessness. Then he took upon himself all our sins of abandonment and betrayal. He suffered and died for all of them in our place. He washed them all away.

All so that he, you, and I could be together again. Connected once more.

Prayer:
Lord, you made me for yourself. In Christ, I am yours once again. Thank 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.

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19

Desert

Daily Devotion – April 8, 2025

Devotion based on Isaiah 43:19


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You are driving on a remote stretch of highway in the Southwest United States. As you do, you pass through the Sonoran Desert. You’re playing your favorite tunes, your travel snacks are ready, and your minivan’s air conditioning is just right at 72 degrees. All is well.

Then, from your engine, there’s a rattle, a pop, and a bang. Your car slows to a stop. All you can do is pull off to the side. Your cell phone has no signal. You step out of your car and into an oven of 115 degrees. You look around and see—nothing, nothing but desert. And in that moment, a strange corkscrew sensation begins to wind its way up your spine.

These conditions are like the desert conditions God’s people faced in Isaiah chapter 43. As a result of their having drifted away from their Savior-God, they now found themselves surrounded by miseries of their own making—including an enemy nation that had dragged them from their homes and surrounded them in the desert.

Ever feel that way? Ever feel as though your sinful actions—or inactions—have dropped you into some terrible desert? If so, then you know the hopelessness and despair. You know the suffocating sense of futility and the raw fear there is no way home.

But there is a way. His name is Jesus. He has entered our desert and made his way to us. For him to do so came at great personal cost. As our substitute, he did all the things you and I have failed to do. In our place, he endured the suffocating heat and death of divine punishment for all our sins. And then he raised himself back to life.

And now, here he is. He has made his way to us. He brings the cool, refreshing water of forgiveness for us to drink. He brings shelter and shade from the terrible heat of God’s anger. Best of all, he brings the promise of eternal life with him in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I find myself in a desert of my own making. I look to you with a repentant heart. Refresh me in your promises. Embrace me in your forgiveness. Take me 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.

Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!
Isaiah 43:18,19

Glory Days

Daily Devotion – April 7, 2025

Devotion based on Isaiah 43:18,19


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“Glory Days” is a classic rock song written by Bruce Springsteen. It tells the story of people who believe their happiest days—their glory days—are behind them. For example, there’s a man who was a standout in amateur baseball. Now his old baseball stories are all he talks about. There’s a woman who was one of the most popular girls in high school. Now, however, her marriage has ended, and she struggles to raise her kids as a single mom. The song goes on to say, “When she feels like crying, she starts laughing, thinking ’bout—Glory Days.”

Does this hit home for you? Perhaps you are in a stage of your life where your present difficulties convince you that your best days are behind. Marriage problems, heartaches in the family, financial stress, dissatisfaction at work, health concerns, wasted opportunities, personal setbacks, regret, anxiety, grief, loneliness—all of these can conspire to tell you that life has passed you by, that your significance has faded, that memories of happier days are all that remain.

Your Lord disagrees. True, in comparison to some past period of your life, your present may be oozing with setbacks, disappointments, difficulties, and pain. This is part of the human experience. This is part of living in a broken, sin-filled world.

But that’s why Jesus came into this sinful world of unfulfilled promise, bitter regret, and unforeseen disaster. On our behalf, he lived the life we should have lived but have failed to live. And in our place, he carried our every sinful failure to Calvary’s cross.

And three days after his death, he raised himself back to life. He did so not only to demonstrate that he is who he claims to be and has done what he’s promised to do. He also did so because he is not just the God of your past but the God of your present and future. He sees you and carries you. He is impacting other souls through you. Savor such a life. Because that’s a life that matters.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when my days grow difficult, remind me you are right here, with precious work for me to do. 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

Don’t Look Back

Daily Devotion – April 6, 2025

Devotion based on Philippians 3:12-14


See series: Devotions

When you drive your car, you have a large windshield that lets you see straight ahead. You have a few small mirrors to see what’s behind you. They don’t take up much of your viewing space. That’s because you mostly need to see where you’re going, not where you’ve been.

Before Paul was a missionary for Jesus, he worked hard to stop the good news of Jesus from spreading. He didn’t mind at all if Christians died. But that had been a long time ago. He didn’t let his past wicked sins keep him from now looking forward to heaven with Jesus. Jesus had changed his heart. He repented of his sins. He enjoyed the forgiving love of his Savior.

The guilt and shame of past wrongs can stay with you for a long time. They can keep you from enjoying life. Worse, they can keep you from seeing that the joy of heaven is coming. Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead. He removed your guilt and shame by his death. His resurrection from the grave guarantees eternal life in heaven for you. That’s the prize Paul mentions. That’s the prize Jesus has won for you, too. Don’t look back. Repent. Enjoy Jesus’ forgiving love. See heaven as your eternal future.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, keep my eyes focused on Jesus, who removed the guilt and shame of my sins so that I can look forward to the prize of eternity with 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.

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

The Only Thing of Importance

Daily Devotion – April 5, 2025

Devotion based on Romans 8:10


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John Bacon was a sculptor. And he was a good one. Even during Bacon’s lifetime, Great Britain recognized him as a genius. Some of the most famous places in England eagerly commissioned him to work his magic. Today his astounding sculptures live on. They continue to awe and inspire, from Oxford to Bristol Cathedral to Westminster Abbey and beyond.

John Bacon died in 1799. His 58-year-old body found its final resting place at the Whitfield Tabernacle in London. It’s said that above his tomb are words that Bacon wrote for his epitaph before he died. Everyone walking past his grave will see these words: “What I was as an artist seemed of some importance to me while I lived; but what I was as a believer in Jesus Christ is the only thing of importance to me now.”

As you read or listen to this devotion, what’s important to you? Perhaps you’re a student trying to make it through the final quarter or working in an office and rushing to meet a deadline. Perhaps these words are reaching you at night after you’ve worked two jobs and put the kids to bed. Or you’re retired and battling poor health. No matter where you are in your life, there are matters that are urgent and pressing for the here and now.

But never let the urgent overshadow the important. What’s important is your relationship with Jesus Christ. God’s forgiveness of your every sin at Calvary’s cross is the only thing that will matter the moment your life on this earth comes to an end.

John Bacon worked hard to use his talents to the best of his ability. The Lord wants us to do the same. But as you do, keep in mind “The Only Thing of Importance.” It’s your bond of faith with the Son of God.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there are so many pressing matters in my life. Give me focus. Empower me to rivet my eyes of faith on what is truly important. Move me to fix my eyes on 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.