WELS Daily Devotions

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260308dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 True, Lasting Peace Amidst the struggles and hassles of our lives, there is a longing for true, lasting peace. If only there could be the peace that existed in the Garden of Eden. Our first parents lived in perfect harmony with God. They were his friends. And out of that peaceful relationship flowed a warm relationship with one another. The tragedy of sin was that it shattered both the peace between God and people and the peace among people. Quickly after the fall into sin, we see the rise of doubts and fears and hostility, which people directed both toward God and toward one another. True, lasting peace was lost. It’s not hard to point to examples in our lives that demonstrate the truth of this: the envy in our hearts, the lust of our eyes, and the hurt that we cause by wayward words and selfish actions. For all these sins and the many more we do, we truly deserve God’s eternal wrath and the pronouncement of his condemnation. Yet the remarkable thing is that God loves us, and he demonstrated his one-of-a-kind love by reestablishing peace between himself and his sinful, rebellious world of people. Listen to the words again: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Every teaching of Scripture rests upon this truth. Though all people are undeserving sinners, Christ sacrificed himself in their place to win peace between God and us. Peace was reestablished through the death of Jesus Christ for “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” (Isaiah 53:5). God’s righteous wrath against sin was directed at Jesus, and he paid the deadly price for sin with his own precious blood and his innocent sufferings and death. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Prayer: O Jesus, by humbling yourself and dying for me, you rescued sinners from the condemnation I deserved. Comfort me with the true, lasting peace which comes from knowing and believing that you are my precious Savior. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260307dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-2 Making a Name for Yourself More than one has dreamed of it. Some have been lured by its promise. Others have cursed its lack of fulfillment. We call it many different things: “making it,” “success,” “winning.” Striving for it is as American as Mom and apple pie. It all comes down to making a name for yourself. People have gone about it in different ways, from getting an advanced degree to destroying personal relationships. “How much do you want it?” seems to be the strategy of success. Abram was already a success in the eyes of the world. He was married and wealthy. Then God changed everything. God promised Abram even more. God promised Abram a name so great that generations would remember it. Abram believed God’s promise, left his home, and went to a land he had never been to before. God makes a promise to you, too. His promise is that your name will be great—maybe not here on this earth, but certainly in the roles of heaven. God will make your name great, too. How much do you want it? Believe in Jesus. Abram did. That’s the way God marks success. Prayer: Savior, may your promises fill my heart with eager anticipation to see your glory forever 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260306dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Abraham] is the father of us all. Romans 4:16 Abraham’s Faith One of the giants of the early Christian church was John Chrysostom. He served as a pastor about 300 years after Jesus rose from the dead. Trained in classical rhetoric, John easily could have made a comfortable life for himself in various professions. Instead, he devoted his considerable gifts to the proclamation of Jesus Christ. Like many a Christian before him and after him, John Chrysostom read from the Old Testament about Abraham. He read how God called Abraham to leave the familiarity of his homeland and live as a permanent stranger somewhere else. He read how Abraham, surrounded by a godless and calloused culture, publicly proclaimed the name of the Lord. And he read how Abraham heard God’s promise that the Savior of the world would one day come from his family, and how Abraham believed that promise. As he thought long and hard about Abraham, about the profound faith Abraham possessed, John Chrysostom said this about Abraham, “He asked no questions, demanded no signs, but trusted the promise alone.” Let’s read that again. Of Abraham, John Chrysostom said, He asked no questions, demanded no signs, but trusted in the promise alone. It is no coincidence that the apostle Paul calls Abraham, “The father of us all,” the father of all of us who believe in Jesus as our Savior. He says this because Abraham embodies what it meant to trust the gospel promises of God. Paul marveled at Abraham’s faith. So did John Chrysostom. So did Martin Luther. How could he do it? How could he trust so fully, without question? Was it his innate strength of character? Was he simply a better, more spiritual, kind of person? That cannot be it. The Bible makes it clear that Abraham was born a lost, broken sinner just like the rest of us. In the end, the answer does not lie in Abraham. Rather, it lies in the power of the promise itself—the promise of full forgiveness in Jesus alone. It is the same promise that feeds your faith and mine. Prayer: Lord Jesus, feed my faith by the power of your promise. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260305dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3 The Same It’s about thirty years after Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. His followers have eagerly shared the Good News of what Jesus has done. As a result, many have come to faith in Jesus as their Savior from sin. New congregations are forming. There is even a gathering of Christians in the capital city of the Roman Empire. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul sits down to write a letter to these Roman believers. What Paul writes is a letter that outlines some fundamentals of the Christian faith. As he does so, he quickly takes on one of the oldest assumptions people make about their relationship with God. That old assumption is this: I assume that, somehow, some way, I have it in me to set things right with God. Sure, I know I’m not the person I should be or could be. But if I keep improving myself, if I make up for the bad in my life by doing good, if I can live a life that’s a little better and more spiritual than most, then I’ll be in a proper position to receive blessings from God. It’s an old assumption that never dies. If Paul were to have a chance to tour our twenty-first century society, nothing would shock him. Even secularists are using the same old tools: Trying to find peace, meaning, fulfillment, identity in what I do. As old as this assumption is, Paul asserts that it is wrong. The answer to “ultimate meaning” lies not in me. It lies only in Jesus Christ. And all he has won for me—forgiveness, peace, meaning, identity, fulfillment—all this is mine through Spirit-created faith in my Savior. Faith alone. To prove it, Paul points back 2,000 years. He points back to Abraham. After God gave Abraham a cluster of promises, at the heart of which was the promise of the coming Savior, the Bible records that “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). For Abraham. For Paul. For us. The answer is the same. The answer is Jesus. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the temptation comes to look inward, move me to look to 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260304dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Abram] … pitched his tent there, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and proclaimed the name of the LORD. Genesis 12:8 Proclamation “I can worship God at home. I can read the Bible at home. I can pray at home. And so, I really don’t get what the difference is between my worship at home and my worship at church. Isn’t it all the same thing?” Yes. And no. Can I praise my Lord in the privacy of my home? Yes. By myself, can I let the Word of my Lord speak to me? Yes. When I am all alone, can I talk to my Lord in prayer? Absolutely. And thank God for the privilege. But if I then conclude that there is no need for me to gather with others to do what I can more conveniently do at home, then I have overlooked something; something big. Then I need to sit down for a moment and watch Abram. Abram had just completed a journey. In this journey, he left his homeland far behind. Throughout this journey, he did not know where he was going. But now God has made it clear where Abram is to live. He is to pitch his tent in the land of Canaan; a land, God says, he will give to Abram’s descendants. And so, Abram pitches his tent. He, his family, along with the families of his shepherds, herdsmen, and laborers—they all set up camp. But the episode does not end there. Surrounding Abram’s household is a Canaanite culture that is calloused and often shocking in its ungodliness. And so, what does Abram do next? He builds an altar and proclaims the name of the Lord. He proclaims the Lord. Publicly. Openly. He does not just have a quiet devotion in the privacy of his tent. He does not just meditate on God’s Word by himself. He does not just pray to the Lord when he is all alone. He builds an altar and proclaims. For all to see. For all to hear. He publicly proclaims the only Savior from sin the world is ever going to have. Like Abram, let’s take advantage of every opportunity to publicly proclaim the name of the Lord. Prayer: Lord Jesus, you’re the only Savior there is. Move me to proclaim you with my fellow believers. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260303dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD had said to Abram, “…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1,3 A Promise Let’s imagine the life of Abram—this famous figure from the Bible. In our imagination, it’s easy to presume God is coming down every other day to perform a dramatic miracle. It’s easy to picture Abram living a life bursting with high drama, a John Williams soundtrack swelling in the background. And because you and I already know how everything turns out, it’s easy to suppose that, somehow, Abram does too. These presumptions, of course, are wrong. Ninety-nine percent of Abram’s life had no high drama at all. It was mundane, ordinary, filled with problems, filled with headaches—those made by others and those of his own making—filled with the logistics of finding food and water for his flocks and herds, filled with the complications of caring for his not-always-happy family. And Abram did not have a crystal-clear vision on how everything was going to turn out. All he had was a promise. The Lord promised to bless him. The Lord promised to take care of him. The Lord promised to do wonderful things through him. And most of all, the Lord promised that, through Abram, he would bring the Savior into the world. And that was it. That’s what Abram had. Throughout his most ordinary life, Abram possessed an extraordinary promise from God. With few exceptions, our lives are not lives of high drama. The London Symphony does not follow us around playing a movie score. Our lives contain much that is mundane, ordinary, filled with trouble, bouts of pain, and unresolved problems that need our management. It’s part of living in a broken world—a world broken by your sin and mine. And all we have is a promise. A promise that the Lord will bless. A promise that the Lord will take care of us. A promise that the Lord will do wonderful things through us. But here’s the thing. Such a promise is more than enough. It’s more than enough because it’s a promise sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ, the very blood that has washed our sins away. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the mundane problems of my life overwhelm me, remind me of the extraordinary promise I possess in 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260302dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1 Leaving Leaving is hard. You empty out your home until it’s nothing but vacant rooms. Once you’re on the road, the rhythms and routines of your old life cease to exist. And when you reach your destination, you know that, for a while, you and your family are going to be the new people—the people no one knows. When Abram had to leave with his family, however, his sources of stress were far worse. At that time, leaving your homeland meant more than leaving the place where you grew up. It meant leaving your sense of identity. It meant leaving those who knew you and your family through generations of shared stories, traditions, inside jokes. It meant leaving a place where you knew the people you could count on. Abram left all that—for what? Permanent camping. Living in a tent. Uncertainty. Unknowns. Always the stranger. Never fitting in. Humanly speaking, that’s what Abram had for the rest of his life. But leaving the familiar happens to you and me, too. We leave the carefree days of school, when easy laughter with friends was the norm. Many of us have had to leave a workplace where we felt appreciated. Through illness or injury or age, many of us have had to leave behind the days when our bodies were quick and strong. And when death strikes, many of us have had to leave behind those moments when we were never alone for the evening meal. Leaving is hard. Thankfully, Abram had the LORD. He had the One who would already be there, waiting for him, when his future arrived. He had the One who would be his constant. He had the One who would never change. He had the One who would keep his every promise. He had the One who would bring to Abram a kind of fulfillment and joy he could not even imagine. All this Abram possessed through faith in the promise of a Savior from sin. You and I have the same. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I leave the familiar, remind me that you never leave. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260301dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14 A Sure Cure Bronze has been known to cure snake bites. At least it did in 1500 B.C. God’s people figured their God was taking longer than he should to get them from Egypt to the Promised Land. So, they complained about his leadership, just like they had been complaining for the last forty years. This time, God allowed them to experience a little bit of life without him. Immediately poisonous snakes in the wilderness started to bite people, and many died. The people were sorry for their sinful disobedience against God and pleaded for the snakes to be taken away. God directed Moses to make a snake out of bronze and hang it on a pole. God promised, “Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live” (Numbers 21:8). It seemed ridiculous, but it worked. Snake-bitten people who looked at the bronze snake did not die. How could bronze be an antidote for venom? God’s promise made that piece of bronze cure a snake bite. We have our own “snake bites.” We lose our temper and hurt the people we love. We trade news about people we know—news that wounds reputations. Make no mistake—these “snake bites” are more deadly than those snakes in the wilderness. Our sinful disobedience leads to eternal death in hell. Our heavenly Father gives us a stronger cure than bronze. He put his Son on a pole—a cross. God promises that his death takes away the poison of sin. By looking at Jesus and believing in him, we will not die but live forever in heaven. Jesus, the Son of Man, was lifted up on a cross. Because of him, your sins are forgiven. Because of him, you have life with God—now and forever! Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being the sure cure for my sins. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260228dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 In Harm’s Way There are people who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way. These people recognize the serious nature of their commitment and understand the potential consequences. They are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of others. There is a special debt of gratitude these people deserve—military personnel, firefighters, members of law enforcement, and emergency medical technicians. Without their willingness to serve and readiness to sacrifice everything, our lives would be much more difficult. The same can be said about Jesus, and the debt of gratitude we owe him. When we read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ temptation, we might wonder, “Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil? Why would he put Jesus into harm’s way?” The answer has everything to do with our rescue from sin and freedom from the controlling power of the devil. Because we are sinners from birth, it is impossible for us to defeat the devil. So great is his power over us that we would always succumb to his attacks. It is because of our weakness that God the Father had his Son come to this earth, take on flesh and blood, and become our substitute. This meant Jesus had to live under all of God’s righteousness requirements. It also meant Jesus had to put himself into harm’s way. To free us from the devil’s control, Jesus had to subject himself to temptation. Every cunning act, every lie and deception, every powerful ploy, Jesus undertook on our behalf. What was impossible, Jesus accomplished perfectly and without sin. He overcame the devil’s attacks and secured complete victory. He now offers us the ability to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life. We can be at peace with God through our Savior’s perfect obedience. We are safe and secure because Jesus put himself into harm’s way to rescue us. Prayer: O blessed Jesus, you are my refuge, my strength, and my never-failing help. Daily be with me to protect and bless me through your victory over the devil. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260227dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 Who Will Win? Right in the middle of the wreckage, God speaks a promise. Adam and Eve have disobeyed. Trust is broken. Shame has entered the world. Everything good now feels fragile. And before the humans say a word—before they apologize, explain, or promise to do better—God talks to the serpent, “He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” It’s a strange moment. God isn’t giving instructions. He’s declaring an outcome. This isn’t advice. It’s a verdict. Evil will not win. That promise matters because, if we’re honest, it often feels like evil is winning. Sin feels strong. Guilt lingers. Death feels permanent. We see brokenness in the world and in ourselves, and we wonder if it’s too deep to fix. We wonder if what’s broken can really be made right. God’s promise answers that question. Yes. And not because people improve, but because God intervenes. From the very beginning, God makes it clear that rescue will come from outside us. An offspring. A deliverer. Someone who will step into the fight we’re losing and win it for us. That promise runs like a thread through the entire Bible and leads directly to Jesus. When Jesus is nailed to the cross, it looks like the serpent has won. Jesus suffers. Jesus bleeds. Jesus dies. It looks final. But the cross is not defeat—it’s the decisive blow. Sin is paid for. God’s justice is satisfied. Satan’s accusation is silenced. And Jesus’ resurrection confirms it. The serpent struck Jesus’ heel, but Jesus crushed the serpent’s head. Death did its worst and still lost. That victory changes everything. It means your sin, real as it is, is not stronger than God’s grace. Your past, heavy as it may feel, does not define your future. Fear and guilt do not get the last word. Jesus does. Paradise was lost in a garden, but it was promised on a cross and procured at an empty tomb. God keeps his promises—even when everything seems broken. God’s answer is always bigger than our questions. Prayer: Lord God, thank you for keeping your promise to defeat sin, death, and the devil. When I feel overwhelmed by guilt or fear, remind me of Christ’s victory. Give me faith to trust in what Jesus has done for me and peace to live in the hope he has won. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260226dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:13 What Is This You Have Done? This question forces us to slow down and face reality. Sin isn’t just a mistake. It has consequences. It breaks trust. It damages relationships. It ripples outward in ways we don’t expect. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. We’re not very different. We blame circumstances, upbringing, stress, or other people—anything to avoid the weight of responsibility. But excuses don’t heal what’s broken. God’s question isn’t meant to crush. It’s meant to confront. Because healing can’t happen without honesty. The Bible doesn’t minimize sin. But it also doesn’t leave us stuck in it. God names the problem so he can address it. And before humans ever ask for forgiveness, God promises a solution. That’s the heart of the Christian message: God takes sin seriously—and he takes sinners seriously too. Instead of demanding that we fix ourselves, God steps in to do what we can’t. Jesus takes the consequences of sin on himself. The cross is where God’s justice and love meet. We don’t answer this question by pointing fingers. We answer it by looking to Jesus and saying, “Lord, have mercy.” And God does. Prayer: Lord, I admit that my sin has caused real damage. I confess that I often try to excuse myself instead of turning to you. Thank you for loving me enough to confront me—and for forgiving me through Jesus. Help me live in the freedom of 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260225dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Genesis 3:11 Who Told You That? Before sin, Adam and Eve had nothing to hide. After sin, they were suddenly aware of their flaws. Shame entered the picture, and with it came a new voice telling them, you are not enough. God’s question exposes something important: shame doesn’t come from God. God didn’t tell them they were worthless, broken, or beyond hope. Sin did that. The lies did that. Those same voices are still loud today. You’re not good enough. You’ve failed too badly. If people really knew you, they wouldn’t accept you. God couldn’t love someone like you. God asks, “Who told you that?” The world defines us by success, appearance, and performance. Our own hearts replay regrets and failures. But God defines us differently. He sees sinners worth saving. He sees broken people worth dying for. The truth is, we are more flawed than we want to admit—but more loved than we ever imagined. Jesus didn’t come for people who had it all together. He came for people weighed down by shame. On the cross, Jesus took not just our sins, but our disgrace. He was mocked, rejected, and exposed so that we could be covered with forgiveness. When God looks at those who trust in Jesus, he doesn’t see shame. He sees his beloved children. So when the voices rise—when shame tries to tell you who you are—listen instead to the God who asks, “Who told you that?” Then hear what he tells you instead: You are forgiven. You are loved. You are mine. Prayer: Father, I confess that I listen to voices of shame instead of your truth. Forgive me for believing lies about myself and about you. Thank you for Jesus, who removes my guilt and gives me a new identity. Help me believe what you say about 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260224dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9 Where Are You? God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were. He knew they were hiding. He knew why they were afraid. So why ask the question? Because this wasn’t a question of location. It was a question of relationship. After sin entered the world, the first human instinct wasn’t confession—it was hiding. Shame does that. Guilt convinces us that if God really knew us, he wouldn’t want us. So, we hide behind excuses, distractions, or even religion. We stay busy. We avoid quiet moments. We tell ourselves we’ll deal with God later. But God doesn’t wait for sinners to come looking for him. He comes looking for them. “Where are you?” isn’t an angry shout. It’s a grieving invitation. God is saying, “Why are you hiding from the one who loves you?” Sin separates us from God, not because God stops loving us, but because fear replaces trust. That separation is something we can’t fix on our own. We can’t hide well enough, behave well enough, or promise to do better enough to restore what’s broken. That’s why God steps into our hiding place himself. In Jesus, God enters a world full of shame, fear, and brokenness. Jesus takes our guilt onto himself at the cross. He dies exposed, so we don’t have to hide anymore. He rises so that fear doesn’t get the final word. Christianity isn’t about working your way back to God. It’s about realizing God already came to you. If you’ve ever felt distant from God—because of regret, doubt, or failure—this question is for you: “Where are you?” Not to condemn you. But to bring you home. Prayer: God, I admit that I often hide from you when I’m afraid or ashamed. Thank you for seeking me instead of abandoning me. Thank you for Jesus, who removes my guilt and invites me back into your presence. Help me trust your grace and stop hiding. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260223dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 Did God Really Say? The question sounds innocent enough. Almost helpful. “Did God really say…?” It doesn’t sound like rebellion. It sounds like curiosity. Like someone double-checking the fine print. That’s how temptation often works. Rather than kicking the door down. It knocks politely. The serpent doesn’t start by denying God. He starts by reframing God. He takes something God said clearly and bends it just enough to make God seem unreasonable. Restrictive. Suspicious. Suddenly, the problem isn’t disobedience—it’s whether God can be trusted at all. That question still works today. “Did God really say that… about sex? About money? About forgiveness?” “Would a loving God really care?” “Isn’t that a little outdated?” The doubt sounds modern and thoughtful. But underneath it is the same old lie: God might not be as good as he says he is. And if we’re honest, we’ve listened. We’ve assumed we know better. We’ve trusted our instincts more than God’s Word. And the result hasn’t been freedom. It’s been guilt, broken relationships, and a quiet sense that something isn’t right. That’s what sin does. It promises more and delivers less. What’s striking is what God does next. He doesn’t disappear. He doesn’t give up on humanity because they doubted him. Instead, he keeps speaking. He keeps acting. He keeps moving toward the people who just moved away from him. The entire Bible is God answering the serpent’s question. And the clearest answer is Jesus. Jesus shows us what God is really like. He doesn’t withhold good—he gives himself. He doesn’t manipulate—he sacrifices. At the cross, God proves once and for all that he is not holding out on us. He’s giving everything to rescue us. So, when you hear that question—Did God really say? —listen closely to God’s answer. The answer is, ‘Yes.’ He really does say, “You can trust me.” Prayer: Lord God, I confess how easily I doubt your Word and goodness. Forgive me for trusting myself more than you. Thank you for showing me your heart through Jesus. Help me trust what you say and rest in what you have done 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260222dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The tempter came to [Jesus] and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:2-4 Temptations We don’t know how many temptations the devil flung at Jesus in the wilderness. But both Matthew and Luke record three. First, we see the devil picking up exactly where he left off with Adam. Even the three temptations that are mentioned are echoes of the way the devil had once tempted Eve: “The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food” (Genesis 3:6). Now the devil pricks at Jesus’ need for food by tempting him to command “stones to become bread.” Perhaps Jesus’ hunger was the most obvious weak spot to begin with. But rather than listen to his stomach, Jesus listened to God’s Word. And although Jesus is truly God, he didn’t speak a new Word. He simply used what had already been written through Moses, “Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Food isn’t the only important thing we need, nor should it be at top of the list. A person who starves but who has faith in Jesus will live forever. But a person with a full stomach and no faith will die in eternal torment. When we focus on God through his Word, God promises to bless us. Few of us know someone who is genuinely starving for food. Do you know people who are starving for the Word? Feed them! Prayer: Lord God, increase my spiritual appetite for your Word and satisfy my hunger with its promises and blessings. Help me see opportunities to share the bounty of your Word with others that many more may be fed and filled with the abundance of its truth. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260221dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. Exodus 24:9-11 God invites Us to His Dinner Party Imagine that you’ve been invited to a dinner party. The menu has things that you enjoy. Also, the time and the date work for you. But then you come to realize that you don’t know anyone else who’s been invited to the party, and you have absolutely nothing in common with the people who are going. Would you still be as excited to go? I’d guess most of us wouldn’t be as excited. After all, what really makes a party fun is being with people we know and enjoy. Can you imagine a dinner party with God? It’s hard to imagine! And at first glance, it’s probably a scary thought. After all, God is perfect, holy, and eternal; we’re sinners. What in the world do we have in common with God, or he with us? And yet God chooses to invite us to his dinner party. God chooses to socialize with us. We read in today’s Bible verses of how he allowed the leaders and elders of Israel to dine in his presence. What an experience! He did it in an even more wondrous measure when Jesus came to this world and lived our human life. He continues to do it today, promising that he’s with us always, to the very end of time. And he’s preparing a place for us at the eternal “banquet feast” in heaven. But why would God want ME at his party? I’m a sinner! Ah, true. But Jesus lived, died, and rose, thereby paying for your sins in full. And so, you’re a welcome guest through Jesus. What a wonderful party it will be! Prayer: Savior Jesus, thank you for inviting me to the party, the eternal party. Fill me with longing for the day you take me there. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260220dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 2 Peter 1:16-18 Faith Rooted in Fact People sometimes speak about Christianity as if it’s a comforting legend. It’s nice, meaningful, and inspiring, but not necessarily true. Like a story you tell children at bedtime. Or like something people invented long ago to explain life and ease fear. But Peter wouldn’t let anyone talk that way about Jesus. He says clearly: “We did not follow cleverly devised stories.” In other words, “This wasn’t a made-up tale. We weren’t passing along rumors or religious myths. We were there.” Peter and the disciples personally saw Jesus’ glory on the mountain. They heard the voice from heaven declare: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” That moment wasn’t imagination or metaphor. It happened in real time, in real history, before real eyewitnesses. And Peter was willing to stake everything on it. He didn’t benefit from telling that story. He wasn’t paid or celebrated. He was opposed, imprisoned, beaten, and eventually killed for proclaiming what he had seen and heard. That’s what makes the Christian faith so different from mere “belief systems.” Christianity doesn’t begin with people reaching up to God through feelings or philosophy. It begins with God stepping down into our world so that we could know him in truth. So, when guilt weighs on your heart, or suffering raises questions, or doubt whispers that it’s all too good to be true, remember this: your faith rests on something that happened. Not clever stories, but eyewitness truth. And the Jesus they saw is the same Jesus who still reigns in power and still calls you his own. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that my faith is grounded in truth, not imagination. Strengthen my heart with your Word and help me trust what you have done 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260219dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:5 Listen to Him Peter was talking. He was excited. He was making plans. He was telling Jesus what he thought should happen next. And then God interrupted him. Matthew says, “While he was still speaking…” Before Peter could finish, God the Father spoke from a bright cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love… Listen to him!” We need that interruption, too, because we’re good at talking. Good at planning. Good at deciding what we think God should do. But God doesn’t tell you to listen to yourself. He tells you to listen to Jesus. I met with someone recently who told me he hadn’t been to church in a long time. Then he added, “But it’s okay. I pray twice a day.” I told him I was glad he prays. That’s a good thing. But then I asked him a question he hadn’t considered: “When do you make time to listen to Jesus?” Because prayer is talking to God. But God’s Word is how God talks to you. Listen when life is going well. Listen when it isn’t. Listen when you’re calm. Listen when you’re anxious. Listen when you don’t know what to do because Jesus doesn’t just give advice. He gives promises. He says you are forgiven and that God is with you. He says death won’t win, and eternal life is yours. So, if you feel pulled in ten directions today, start here: Listen to him. Prayer: Father, quiet my heart and my mind. Help me listen to Jesus and trust his promises, especially when life is hard. 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260218dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 17:6-7 Ashes and Hope Today, the season called Lent begins. Lent is the forty-day journey leading up to Easter. It’s a season when Christians slow down and focus on why Jesus came. We examine why he suffered, why he died, and why he rose again. Lent starts with a day called Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday reminds us of something we don’t like to think about. That we are dust. And to dust we will return. That sounds grim. And it is. But it’s also honest. Jesus’ three disciples had an honest moment, too. When they heard God’s voice on the mountain, they fell facedown, terrified. They couldn’t handle it. And then Matthew gives us one of the most comforting sentences in the Bible: “But Jesus came and touched them.” Jesus didn’t stay far away. He didn’t wait for them to get brave. He came close. And he said, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.” That’s what Lent is about. It’s not about you proving yourself to God. It’s about Jesus coming close to you. And then Jesus did something even bigger. He came down from the mountain because he had another hill to climb. A cross to carry. He went there for sinners. For weak people. For dust-people like us. Ash Wednesday reminds you that you will die. But Jesus reminds you he died and rose again for you. So, the ashes aren’t the end of your story. Jesus is. Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this Ash Wednesday, remind me that I am dust, but I am not forgotten. You came close, you carried my sin, and you defeated death. Give me hope in your unfailing 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260217dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Matthew 17:4 Jesus Is with You Movie previews can be dangerous. You go to the theater for a film, but then the previews start. And one of them looks so good you find yourself thinking, “Wait… why am I here for this movie? I want that one!” That’s a little like what happened to Peter on the mountain. Jesus’ face shone like the sun. His clothes were bright as light. Moses and Elijah appeared. It was a glimpse of glory—a preview of heaven. So, Peter said, “It is good for us to be here.” He even offered to build shelters so they could stay. But Peter wanted the glory without the suffering. He wanted Jesus shining and without the cross. And honestly, don’t we? We love the part of faith that feels uplifting. Peace. Joy. Hope. Blessings. But when life gets heavy, when grief comes, when fear rises, when our prayers don’t seem answered, then we start longing for a quick escape. We want mountaintop moments. We want out of the valley. We want the preview to become the whole story. But Jesus didn’t stay on the mountain. He came down. Because the glory Peter saw could only be ours if Jesus first went to the cross. And he did for you. Here’s the comfort: when Jesus came down, he didn’t come down away from his disciples. He came down with them. Into the crowds. Into the mess. Into the hard days. Into the valley. So, if life feels low right now, don’t assume Jesus is far. The Savior who shines with glory is the same Savior who walks beside you in pain. He has not left you. He knows the valley. And he will bring you through it. The preview, heaven, is coming for all those who put their faith in Jesus as their Savior. And right now, Jesus walks with you in the middle of real life because he came down the mountain. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I want comfort without struggle, remind me that you came down the mountain and went to the cross for me. Give me strength to follow you, trusting your love. 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.