WELS Family Devotion

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260313fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: John 4:5-26 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” John 4:7,9,13-15 The Picture We Can’t Live Without In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever heard someone say, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? It means that sometimes showing a picture is better than trying to explain it with words. For example, I could describe a famous painting for a long time but seeing it in person makes it so much easier to understand. When Jesus taught people, he loved to use pictures like that to help them understand really important truths. One of his favorite pictures was water. Why water? Because we literally can’t live without it! A human body can only survive about three days without water. Water is essential for life. One day, Jesus met a woman at a well. She had come to draw water to drink. Jesus used that every day, important water to teach her about something even more important: spiritual life. He said: “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Jesus wasn’t talking about water you guzzle from a bottle that quenches your thirst for a little while. He was talking about the gift of salvation—forgiveness of sins and eternal life—something that lasts forever. We all look for things in this life to make us happy. The woman at the well thought the right person in her life would make her happy. We might think games, friends, screens, or even AI will satisfy us. The problem is those things never fully satisfy us. They leave us wanting more. They leave us feeling empty. Jesus gives us what we can’t find anywhere else: Forgiveness when we foolishly look elsewhere for fulfillment. Peace with God for the moments we need it most. Eternal life to someday replace this life. And the best part? He fully satisfies us with salvation! We don’t need to keep going back and trying over and over—Jesus already gives us everything we need. Jesus even gave us a picture of this truth: his cross. Look at it, and you see the gift of salvation, love, and forgiveness—all in one picture. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for helping me understand how important your gift of salvation is for me. May your gift always satisfy me and make me truly happy. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What happens to a person who doesn’t drink water? How is that like what happens to someone who doesn’t know or believe in Jesus? When you see a picture of a cross, what does it make you think of? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why was the woman at the well so surprised that Jesus talked to her? What does that show us about Jesus? How is spiritual life like drinking water? How is it different? Questions for Middle School and Above Name three other things people sometimes look to for happiness or fulfillment. Jesus used a normal, everyday thing (water) to teach a spiritual truth. Can you think of something in your life that could help you teach someone about Jesus? How would that look? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260311fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 5:1-8 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:1,6,8 The Price of Our Peace Has Already Been Paid! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Do you like peace and quiet? If you have a little brother or sister, or a new baby in the house, you know exactly what I mean. You probably love it when everyone is calm and happy, right? But sometimes it feels impossible. Little siblings whine. Babies cry. And suddenly it seems like peace and quiet will never come back! Jesus promises peace too—but not just quiet in your house. He promises peace with God—and that’s even more important. Here’s why: God is holy and perfect, and we are not perfect. The Bible says we are enemies of God because of our sins. Normally, enemies try to get peace by fighting until one side wins. But that’s not how we get peace with God. Paul explains it like this: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). “Justified” is a big Bible word that simply means: God says, “You’re not guilty!” He says we are not enemies anymore, no matter what wrongs we’ve done. Think about your siblings for a minute. How do you try to make peace with them? Give them a snack if they’re hungry? Give them a toy if they’re bored? Let them take a nap if they need it? Sometimes that works. But sometimes it doesn’t! They might still cry, still fight, or still be unhappy. Jesus didn’t leave peace up to chance. He wanted to guarantee it for us. Paul says: “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). Even though we deserved the punishment, Jesus took it for us. He defeated the real enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Because Jesus won, peace with God is now ours—forever! That’s why he’s called the “Prince of Peace!” Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me peace with God that I couldn’t have on my own. Thank you for dying for my sins and defeating sin and death. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children How does it feel when two people aren’t getting along? The Bible says that Christ died for the “ungodly.” Who does that include? (Hint: it means everyone!) Questions for Elementary Age Children Why can’t anyone earn peace with God on their own? The Bible often says “grace and peace” together. Why do you think that is? Questions for Middle School and Above Can you think of a Bible story that you think does a good job of showing what real peace looks like? (Helps: Jesus calms a storm, Jesus’ birth—“peace on earth”, after his resurrection, Jesus greets frightened disciples, “Peace be with you.”) During Lent, we remember that Jesus paid the price for our peace. How does thinking about that help us appreciate Jesus more? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260309fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion The whole Israelite community . . . camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?” But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. Then Moses cried out to the LORD “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The LORD answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” Exodus 17:1-7 (selected verses) Worth More Than Water In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever been REALLY thirsty? Like after recess? Or soccer practice? Or playing outside on a super hot day? Without food, a person can live for quite a while. But without water? Only about three days! That means water isn’t just nice to have. It’s something our bodies absolutely need. Most of us can just turn on a faucet and—splash!—there’s water. We use water to drink, brush our teeth, shower, wash dishes, water plants, and even have water balloon fights! We have LOTS of water. But not everywhere is like that. Some places are called deserts. A desert is a place that gets very, very little rain. One of the driest deserts in the whole world is called the Atacama Desert in Chile. It is said to be 100 times drier than Phoenix, AZ. Some parts of the desert have gone years without rain! Imagine waiting years for rain! Plants that grow there have to survive with almost no water. But people? People can’t survive like that. Now imagine the Israelites. They had just left Egypt, and they were traveling through the desert. It was hot. It was dry. And they were thirsty. Very thirsty. They started to complain. But they forgot something important: They were not alone. God was with them. And God promises to take care of his people. So God told Moses to do something amazing. He said, “Strike the rock, and water will come out of it.” Water. From a rock! And it worked. God gave his thirsty people exactly what they needed. But God didn’t just give them water. And he doesn’t just give us water either. God gives us food, water, homes, and families. But he gives us something even more important. He gives us salvation. Just like a desert can’t make its own water, we can’t make our own salvation. We can’t be good enough to earn heaven. We can’t fix our sins by ourselves. And when we complain like the Israelites did—or forget to trust God—that shows us how much we need a Savior. And God gave us one. He didn’t just bring water from a rock. He sent Jesus. That is worth more than water. That is worth everything. Let’s never forget it. Prayer: Dear Lord, you alone provide everything that I need for my body and life. Most of all, you provide what I need for eternal life: Jesus. Thank you! Now help me to trust you and not complain. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Where were the Israelites traveling that made it hard to find water? We need water to live physically. We need God’s Word to live spiritually. How is the Bible like water for our faith? Questions for Elementary Age Children The Israelites complained to Moses—but who were they really complaining against? What does that teach us about complaining? In your own words, what did Jesus do to save you? Why couldn’t we save ourselves? Questions for Middle School and Above Where do you complain the most (Homework, chores, siblings, bedtime)? God gave the Israelites water in the desert. Water can remind us of Baptism. How does your Baptism show that God has already given you forgiveness and made you his child? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260306fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: John 3:1-17 [Jesus said] “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 Faith Doesn’t Have to Make Sense In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. When something doesn’t make sense, we often feel frustrated. Maybe it’s homework that seems confusing. Maybe it’s when someone is sick and the doctor doesn’t have clear answers. We like knowing what’s going on. When we don’t have answers, we can feel worried or upset. We try hard to figure everything out so it makes sense. This can also happen when we think about faith. The Bible does not explain exactly how the Holy Spirit puts faith in someone’s heart. It simply says that faith comes from hearing God’s Word. That might leave us with questions. Why do some people hear about Jesus and still not believe? How do we know the Holy Spirit is working if we can’t see him or feel him? If the Holy Spirit feels hard to understand, you’re not alone. A man named Nicodemus was confused too. When Jesus said people must be “born again,” Nicodemus thought Jesus meant being born from their mother all over again! He was trying to make God fit into his own way of thinking. But God is bigger than our brains. If we try to figure out everything about God on our own, we will only get more confused and frustrated. We cannot fully understand God, because he is greater than we are. Here is the good news: you don’t have to understand everything about God in order to believe in him. Faith is not about knowing every answer. Faith is trusting Jesus. Jesus lived, died, and rose again. That is proof that God loves you. The Holy Spirit works in your heart even if you can’t see how he does it. And because of Jesus, you can be sure that you belong to God and will live with him forever. Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit to work faith in my heart. Remind me of the certain truth that you love me, even when life becomes uncertain. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children How do you usually feel when you don’t understand something right away? What can you be sure of because Jesus died and rose again? Questions for Elementary Age Children What happens when we try to fit God into our own small way of thinking? Why is it good that God is bigger and wiser than we are? Questions for Middle School and Above What things in your life feel confusing or unsure right now? What promises of God help you feel safe and secure when life feels confusing? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260304fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 4:1-5,13-17 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. Romans 4:4-5 Salvation Is Not a Chore In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Would you rather earn $5 by taking out the trash, or just be handed $5 as a gift? Most of us would rather get the gift! If you earn it, you have to grab the smelly garbage, tie the bag, carry it outside, and put in a new bag. You worked for that money. You earned it. But if someone gives you $5 as a gift, you don’t have to do anything at all. You didn’t earn it. They just gave it to you because they care about you. Now think about something even bigger—salvation. Would you rather earn your way to heaven, or receive heaven as a gift? We might say “gift,” but sometimes we act like we have to earn it. “If I’m good enough, God will love me more.” But that’s not true. The Bible says even our best good deeds are like dirty rags because we still sin. No matter how many good things we do, we can’t earn heaven. Your sin makes your good deeds look like rotten trash. Here’s something that is worth praising God! You don’t have to earn salvation at all. Jesus already did the work for you. He died on the cross and rose again, so your sins are forgiven. Heaven is a gift. God gives it to you because he loves you—not because you earned it. And now, when you obey God or help others, you’re not trying to earn anything. You’re simply saying, “thank you.” Serving God isn’t a chore. It’s a joyful way to show love back to him. Prayer: Lord, I praise you for giving me your salvation without expecting anything in return. Inspire me to live for you and others, not out of obligation, but out of thanksgiving for all you have done for me. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children How has God shown his love to you? Does Jesus ask us to pay him back? Why or why not? Questions for Elementary Age Children “All our righteous acts like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Why can’t our good deeds earn us heaven? What makes salvation different from earning money for chores? Questions for Middle School and Above When does obeying or helping feel like a chore? How does knowing heaven is a gift make you want to live for God and others? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260302fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Genesis 12:1-8 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:7 God’s Best Gift Is Yet to Come In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The candles are blown out. You can still smell the cake. You’ve opened your presents, and it feels like the best birthday ever. Then your parents say, “Wait! There’s one more gift.” You can hardly sit still. This must be the best one! But then they say, “You can’t open this gift until you grow up and have a family of your own.” What? That doesn’t make sense! If it’s your gift, why can’t you enjoy it now? God once gave a special gift to a man named Abram. But Abram had to wait for it. In fact, he would never live there himself. God promised that Abram’s children and grandchildren would receive a special land called the Promised Land. The Bible says it was “flowing with milk and honey.” That means it was a wonderful land with plenty of food and good things. But Abram did not have a home of his own. He moved from place to place in tents. If Abram would never live in that land, why did the promise matter? But Abram did not complain. He did not get angry. Instead, he worshiped God. Abram knew who God was. God was his loving Father. And God always keeps his promises. If God said it would happen, Abram believed it would happen. Abram trusted that God had an even bigger plan. One day, one of Abram’s great-great-great-grandchildren would be Jesus, the Savior, who would take away the sins of the world. God has given you an amazing gift too. Because of Jesus, your sins are forgiven. That means you belong to God right now. And God has another gift waiting for you—heaven. Heaven is already yours, but you are waiting for the day you get to live there forever with Jesus. That is a gift worth thanking God for every day. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving my sins because of Jesus. Thank you for keeping your promises. Help me trust you when I have to wait for good things. Thank you for the gift of heaven where I will live by your side forever. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What gift did God promise to Abram and his descendants? How did Abram show that he trusted God? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why is waiting sometimes hard for you? How could Abram trust God, even though he wouldn’t live long enough to receive the promised gift? Questions for Middle School and Above Name at least two gifts God has blessed your life with this week? How can you thank God for these amazing gifts? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260227fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 Use God’s Tools for Success! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever wondered how Jesus beat Satan when Satan tried to trick him? You might think, “Well, Jesus is God—of course he won!” And that’s true—Jesus is fully God. He could have stopped Satan right away. But listen to this: Jesus chose not to use his special God-power. Instead, he became fully human—just like us. He got tired. He got hungry. He depended completely on his heavenly Father. So how did Jesus fight Satan? Jesus didn’t argue. He didn’t show off. He didn’t use superpowers. He used God’s Word. Every time Satan tempted him, Jesus answered with words straight from the Bible. He trusted what his Father said more than what Satan promised. That’s important for us too. We might know Bible verses—but doing what God says can still be hard. Satan isn’t trying to make us forget Bible stories. He tries to trick us into thinking we can handle temptation all by ourselves. He whispers things like, “You don’t need God’s help.” But that’s a lie. Jesus chose to be tempted on purpose—not because he might fail, but to show us how to win. He wanted to give us the right tools to fight temptation. Jesus understands what it’s like to be tempted, because he was tempted too. And because he won, we can fight temptation the same way—by trusting God and using his Word. God’s tools for success aren’t muscles or willpower. They are every word and promise that comes from our heavenly Father’s mouth. When we listen to God’s Word, it gives us strength—every time. Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving me your Word, which helps me fight temptation. When I feel weak or confused, help me trust you instead of myself. Use your Word to guide me and keep me strong. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who did Jesus trust when Satan tried to tempt him? What did Jesus use to defeat Satan—his power or God’s Word? Questions for Elementary Age Children What can happen when we try to fight temptation all by ourselves? Why does it help to know that Jesus understands what it’s like to be tempted? Questions for Middle School and Above What do you think Satan wants when he tempts people? Can you name a Bible truth or promise that could help you when you’re tempted to do something wrong? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260225fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 5:12-19 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Romans 5:17 Righteousness Is Unfair In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Is it fair to get in trouble for something someone else did? Most kids would say, “No way!” If your sibling breaks something, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. If a stranger does something wrong, it wouldn’t make sense for you to get punished instead. That’s how many people think about sin too. They think: “Big sins should get big punishments.” “Small sins shouldn’t matter as much.” “Surely lying isn’t as bad as hurting someone.” But God looks at sin differently. The Bible teaches that even one sin breaks God’s rules. Everyone has sinned—by thinking, saying, or doing things God tells us not to do. Even before we make our own choices, we are born with sin in our hearts. That sin has been passed down all the way from Adam and Eve. Because of Adam’s sin, sin and death entered the world. That means everyone is guilty before God. That part might not feel good—but it is fair. But here’s the surprising part. What’s NOT fair is what God does next. Instead of giving us the punishment we deserve, God gives us a gift. He sends Jesus. Jesus never sinned—not even once. But on the cross, Jesus took all our sins and the punishment for them. God treated Jesus as guilty so he could treat us as forgiven. That’s not fair. That’s grace. Jesus gives us something amazing: his righteousness. That means God looks at you and sees Jesus’ goodness instead of your sin. You didn’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. It’s a free gift. Praise God for his unfair mercy! Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for giving me the gift of righteousness that I did not earn, instead of punishment that I did earn. Thank you for Jesus, who took my sins and gave me new life. Help me share your love and mercy with others, just like you shared it with me. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Do you think it’s fair to pay for someone else’s mistakes? Why or why not? How did Jesus pay for our mistakes? What did he do for us? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why does God say everyone has sinned—even if their sins seem different? What does it mean when God says we are “not guilty” because of Jesus? Questions for Middle School and Above Can you think of a time when someone forgave you or showed you mercy when you didn’t deserve it? What is one way you can show God’s undeserved love to someone else this week? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260223fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Genesis 3:1-15 The LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” [Adam] answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And [God] said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Genesis 3:9-11 Let God’s Truth Win! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Adam and Eve knew they had done something wrong. God had given them one clear rule: do not eat fruit from a certain tree in the Garden of Eden. But they disobeyed. Why? Because Satan tricked them. He told them a lie. He made them think God was holding something good back from them. Satan said that if they ate the fruit, they would be like God. But the lie didn’t make them happy. It made them ashamed. Right away, Adam and Eve realized they had sinned. Instead of running to God for help, they hid. They even tried to hide behind bushes! Then God came looking for them. Not angry. Not yelling. God asked a sad question: “Who told you that you were naked?” Before sin, Adam and Eve trusted God completely. They didn’t need to hide from him. But sin broke that trust. The devil had lied about God, making them think God wasn’t good or loving. Satan still tells lies today. He whispers lies like: “God won’t forgive that.” “You messed up too badly.” “God doesn’t really care.” When we believe those lies, we feel ashamed and want to hide from God. We might stop praying or think God is disappointed in us. But here’s the truth: God already knows every sin you’ve ever done. And he doesn’t come to destroy you. He comes to save you. God sent Jesus. Jesus defeated Satan by dying on the cross and rising again. That means Satan’s lies lose. Your sins are forgiven—completely. The Bible says God throws our sins far away, and Jesus takes our shame with him to the cross. So don’t hide. Run to God. God is your loving Father who wants you back. Let God’s truth win. Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, forgive me when I believe lies about you. Thank you for loving me and taking away my sin and shame through Jesus. Help me trust you and remember that you always do what is best for me now and forever. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Why did Adam and Eve feel ashamed after they sinned? What did God do when Adam and Eve hid from him? Questions for Elementary Age Children What are some lies people sometimes believe about God? How does Jesus show us that Satan is a liar? Questions for Middle School and Above What are some ways Satan tries to trick us today? What helps you remember the truth about God—like the Bible, prayer, family, or church? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260220fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 6:1-6,16-21 [Jesus said] “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:5-6 Me First! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “ME FIRST!” Have you ever said that—or thought it? Maybe it was about the first slice of cake, being first in line, or getting a turn with something fun. Sometimes it even happens at school or on the playground. Kids aren’t the only ones who think this way. Grown-ups do too—even if they don’t say it out loud. Adults like to be noticed, thanked, or chosen first too. That “me first” feeling sneaks into all our hearts sometimes. But Jesus was different. Jesus lived with a “you first” attitude. He didn’t think about himself first—he thought about others first. As we enter Lent, we see this clearly. Jesus knows he is going to suffer and die, but he still spends time teaching his disciples. He patiently helps them learn how to serve God with humble hearts. Jesus teaches them something important: Don’t do good things just so people notice you. Don’t chase things like money, popularity, or being number one. Those things don’t save you. What matters most is loving God and trusting him. That’s a great lesson—but it’s also a hard one. Just like the disciples, we mess this up a lot. We put ourselves first. We get upset when we’re not noticed or chosen. When we realize that, we see how much we need Jesus’ forgiveness. So we come to God humbly. We don’t brag or show off. We pray honestly. And God does something amazing. He forgives us, loves us, and promises us a home in heaven. Not because we earned it—but because Jesus already did the work for us. This is why Ash Wednesday is important. We come together to admit our sins—not to show off, but because our hearts are sorry. We stand with other believers and say, “Yes, we need Jesus.” And then we hear the best words of all: “You are forgiven.” Prayer: Dear God, help us notice when we put ourselves first instead of you or others. Keep us humble. Help us say “I’m sorry” for our sins and trust your forgiveness. Fill our hearts with joy so we can share your love with others and put them first! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children How does it make you feel when someone says, “Me first!” and won’t share or take turns? Jesus puts others first. What is one small way you could put someone else first today—at home, at school, or with a friend? Questions for Elementary Age Children When we say Jesus had a “you first” attitude, what does that tell us about how he treated people? Why do you think God cares more about what’s in our hearts than about how things look on the outside? Questions for Middle School and Above Why is it sometimes hard to put others first, even when we know we should? During Lent and on Ash Wednesday, how can saying “I’m sorry” to God help us remember how much we need Jesus? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260218fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 59:12-20 The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. Isaiah 59:15b-17 What a Mess In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have your parents ever walked into your room, looked around, and said, “What a mess! Who is going to clean this up?” Uh-oh—that’s never a good sign. Maybe toys are everywhere and clothes are on the floor. It’s as if everything just exploded! Or think about this: you worked really hard on something—maybe you cleaned your room or finished a school project—and then later it’s messy again. That can feel really frustrating. You might think, “Hey! I already fixed this! How did it get messed up again?” God knows what that feels like. God created the world perfectly. When he finished, the Bible says God looked at everything he made and said, “It is very good.” The project was done. No mess at all! But then sin entered the world. Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Their relationship with him was broken. The world itself became broken too—people got sick, argued, and died. This was not how God wanted things to be. The perfect world he loved was now a mess. So God asked the big question: Who is going to clean this up? The Bible says in Isaiah, “He was appalled that there was no one to help . . . so his own arm achieved salvation.” That means God saw that no person could fix the mess of sin. People tried—but failed. Kings made bad choices. Prophets were ignored. God’s people kept turning away from him. So God did something amazing. He cleaned up the mess himself. God sent his own Son, Jesus, to rescue the world. On Ash Wednesday, we start the season of Lent. Lent helps us to remember how serious sin is—but also how great Jesus’ love is. During Lent, we think about how Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to forgive our sins. Sin made a huge mess—but Jesus didn’t walk away from it. He stepped right into it to save us. Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to clean up the mess of sin. Use the season of Lent to remind me how serious sin is, and how much Jesus did for me. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children How do you feel when you clean something up and it gets messy again right away? Jesus fixed the biggest mess—sin. What is one thing you can thank Jesus for today? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why couldn’t people fix the sin problem by themselves? What does Lent help us remember about Jesus and what he did for us? Questions for Middle School and Above Why is it important to know that only God—not people—could save us from sin? During Lent, what is one way you can remember Jesus’ love in your everyday life (at school, at home, or with friends)? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260216fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 17:1-9 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!” 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 17:5-7 Who Are You? In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Who are you? If someone at school asked you that, what might you say? You might say you’re a student, a son or daughter, a brother or sister, or a friend. You might say you love soccer, art, music, or video games. You could even describe your hair, your favorite hoodie, or your shoes. Jesus also asked a big “who” question. He wanted people to know who he really was. The disciples had heard God speak at Jesus’ baptism and say, “This is my Son, whom I love.” Now something amazing happens. Jesus takes a few of his disciples up a mountain. While they are there, Jesus changes right in front of them! His face shines like the sun, and his clothes become bright white, like a flashing light. They even see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus! This was a huge clue—Jesus wasn’t just a teacher. He really is God’s Son. Peter is so excited that he blurts out an idea. He wants to build shelters so they can stay there longer. He doesn’t want the moment to end! But suddenly, a cloud covers them, and God speaks: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” The disciples are terrified. They fall down in fear. Why were they so scared? They weren’t scared because Jesus was mean. They were scared because they were standing in front of God’s glory. They knew they weren’t perfect. Have you ever done something wrong and wanted to hide or say, “Please don’t look at me”? That’s how they felt. But Jesus doesn’t leave them afraid. He touches them and says, “Do not be afraid.” Jesus is showing them something important: even though God is holy and powerful, Jesus came to save sinners, not scare them away. So—who are you? You are a sinner. You mess up sometimes. But you are also forgiven. Jesus went to Jerusalem, died on the cross, and rose again to take away your sins. That means your biggest identity isn’t what you do or how well you behave. You are God’s child. And God says about you, “I love you.” Prayer: God, when I forget who I am or feel unsure about myself, help me remember who I am to you, a perfect redeemed child of God! Thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and calling me your child. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What is one thing you enjoy doing or something you think God made you good at? Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” What is something that makes you feel scared, nervous, or worried sometimes? Questions for Elementary Age Children What was so amazing (and maybe scary) about seeing Jesus shine on the mountain? How does it make you feel to know Jesus forgives you and calls you God’s child? Questions for Middle School and Above The disciples were afraid when they saw Jesus’ glory because they were sinners before a holy God. Why is it important to remember that we sin—but that Jesus always forgives us? If someone asked you, “Who are you?” how would being “God’s child” help you answer that question? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260213fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 5:13-20 [Jesus said] “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 Northern Lights In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever seen pictures of the northern lights? They are also called the aurora borealis. They look like colorful ribbons of light dancing across the night sky—green, pink, purple, and blue! The northern lights happen when tiny bits of energy from the sun hit the air around the earth. Something interesting about them is this: they are happening all the time, even during the day. We just can’t see them unless the sky is dark. In the very beginning, when God first made the world, everything was perfect. God’s world was full of light. Adam and Eve were perfect, and their friendship with God was perfect. But then sin came into the world. Sin brought darkness—sadness, anger, fighting, and hurt. We still see that darkness today: arguments at home, problems at school, and people being unkind to one another. But God didn’t leave the world in darkness. He sent Jesus—the Light of the world. Jesus lived perfectly, died on the cross, and rose again. That means the darkness did not win. Jesus won the victory! Even though Jesus has already won, we still live in a world with darkness. That’s why God tells us something very important: He says you are a light. You might think, “My light is small. Does it. really matter?” But think about the northern lights. When you show kindness, tell the truth or talk about Jesus, your light shines brightly—just like the northern lights in the night sky. Prayer: Dear God, thank you for a beautiful creation, with wonders like the northern lights. Remind me that I am part of your creation, with an important job to do—letting my light shine. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What did today’s devotion say you are? (light) Jesus is called the Light of the world. What is one way you can shine God’s light by being kind to others? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why can we see the northern lights better when the sky is dark? What are ways someone your age can be a light for Jesus (at home or at school)? Questions for Middle School and Above The devotion explained the good of light and the scariness of darkness. Where do you see that struggle of light and dark in the world or in your own life? If God calls you a light, how does that make you feel about yourself? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260211fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 1 Peter 2:9-12 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 Big Changes In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Do you know how big you were when you were born? Most babies weigh about as much as a big bag of flour—only seven or eight pounds! So little! Babies are so helpless, they need their parents and grown-ups for everything: eating, getting dressed, changing their diapers, staying clean, and staying safe in their car seats. Parents love their babies so much. And now—look at you! You’ve grown bigger, stronger, and able to do many things on your own. That’s a big change! The Bible tells us something surprising about our hearts, too. Before God saved us, we were like babies—but even more helpless. We couldn’t fix our sins or reach God on our own. The Bible says we were “dead in our sins”—we couldn’t save ourselves. But God didn’t leave us that way. He loved us and rescued us. The Bible says: “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:10). God chose you to be his child. He gave you faith—maybe you have pictures when you were baptized as a baby. That’s when God started faith in your heart. You may remember hearing Bible stories when you were little, or when you learned about Jesus later on. However it happened, God was the one doing the work. As you grow, God helps your faith grow too. He tells you who you are: chosen, royal, holy, and special. Because God loves you, you get to live for him. You come to church to hear about Jesus. You listen to your parents and teachers. You show kindness and tell others about Jesus. We don’t do these things to earn God’s love. We do them because we already have God’s love. Prayer: Dear God, my human nature often tempts me to do or feel or say the wrong things. Please forgive me! Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children When you were a baby, who took care of you and helped you with everything? How did they show you God’s love? God loves you and chose you to be his child. What is one way you can say “thank you” to God today? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why does the devotion compare us to babies when it talks about our faith and salvation? Can you name one way you can show thankfulness to God for choosing and loving us? Questions for Middle School and Above The devotion says we were “dead in our sins.” Why is it important to know that we cannot save ourselves—but God saves us? If God calls you chosen, royal, holy, and special, how does that change the way you live out your faith (especially how you treat others at home or at school)? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260209fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Exodus 19:1-8a “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Exodus 19:5-6 My Favorite Thing In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let’s pretend for a moment. A loud bell rings and you have to leave your house right away. You can only grab one or two things. What would you take? Maybe it’s a favorite stuffed animal, a blanket, a book, or a toy you’ve loved for a long time. Those things are special to you—even if they don’t seem special to anyone else. We call those things treasures. In today’s Bible verses, God is talking to the people of Israel. He had already rescued them from slavery in Egypt and helped them cross the Red Sea. But the people were not perfect. They complained. They worried. They made mistakes. So why did God call them his “treasured possession” and his favorite people? It wasn’t because they were so good. It was because of who God is. God chose them because he loved them! He is a God of love. The Israelites did nothing to deserve his love. They were sinners who needed forgiveness and grace. He promised that one day a Savior would come from them. God chose them to be his special people. They were a holy nation, not because they were perfect, but because Jesus, the coming Savior, would be perfect for them. God blessed them and led them to the Promised Land. Here’s the really good news: You are also God’s treasured possession! That means you are very special to him. Sometimes you might feel left out or not good enough. Sometimes you might feel sad about something you did wrong that makes you feel unlovable. But God says, “You are my child. You are my treasure.” You are God’s favorite—not because you earned it, but because he loves you! He will always be with you here on earth and someday will bring you to live with him in heaven. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for rescuing me from the slavery of sin and always staying with me. Help me remember that I am your treasure. Lead me to share this good news with others. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What is one thing you would grab if you had to leave your house quickly? Why is it special to you? How does it make you feel to hear that God calls you his treasure? Questions for Elementary Age Children The Israelites complained and made mistakes. Why do you think God still loved them? When you feel left out, sad, or not special, what can you remember about God’s love for you? Questions for Middle School and Above God loves us because of who he is, not because of what we do. What does that tell us about how kind and forgiving God is (his grace)? If you are God’s treasure, how does that change the way you see yourself? How does that help how you treat other people like they are treasures too? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260206fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 5:1-12 [Jesus said] “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 Bad or Good? In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Devon was having a rough morning when he came down to breakfast. He hadn’t slept well because of all the thunder and lightning from the storms last night. And then his morning got worse when he looked out the window and saw his favorite tree lying in pieces on the ground. Devon was ready to cry until his dad said something surprising: it was a good thing the storm caused the tree to fall down. Devon didn’t understand how his dad could be glad about a tree falling down. What a mess! Yes, Devon’s dad explained, that was true. But the tree was old and rotted. It needed to be taken down because it could have easily fallen on the house or on power lines. Instead, the tree fell in a way that didn’t hurt anybody or cause any major damage. So, what looked like a bad thing to Devon was actually a good thing. Jesus taught his disciples lots of things during their three years together. Some of those things were surprising—like the Sermon on the Mount. In this special sermon, Jesus talked about people who are blessed (or happy). How surprising when Jesus identifies them as the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and so on. He then says something even more surprising: that his followers are blessed when people insult them and mistreat them and tell lies about them because of him. Not only are they blessed when these things happen—they should even rejoice and be glad! Thankfully, Jesus also explains why his disciples should rejoice and be glad. Everything bad that might happen to them because they believed in Jesus was only temporary. Yes, life would be hard for them on this earth because they followed him, but that was only for a short time. They had something much better to look forward to—an eternity in heaven where they would receive their reward. You likely won’t be treated badly in the same way Jesus’ disciples were. But what if someone makes fun of you because you believe in Jesus? What if they say you spend too much time at church or that going to church is stupid? Even though it hurts when people are mean to you, remember this: you can rejoice and be glad, because someday you will see God face to face, and that will be your greatest reward! Prayer: Dear Jesus, it can be hard when people make fun of me for believing in you. Thank you for reminding me to be glad in those hard times and to look forward to my reward in heaven. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What did Jesus tell his disciples to do when people made fun of them for believing in him? What could Jesus’ disciples look forward to? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why can we rejoice and be glad even when people are making fun of us? Sometimes our reward in heaven seems so far away. Name one thing that helps remind you of heaven. Questions for Middle School and Above Matthew 5:1-12 is called “The Beatitudes” or series of “Blessings.” Read the whole section. Which “blessed are you” statement stands out the most to you? Why? When you endure something humiliating because of your faith, why is it important to remember your greater reward in heaven? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260204fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27 Striving to Be Foolish and Weak In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Foolish. Weak. What do you think of when you hear these words? Do you feel like you want to be foolish and weak, or would you rather be wise and strong? That’s a silly question, isn’t it? You go to school every day so that you can be wise instead of foolish. You eat healthy foods and get enough sleep so that you can be strong instead of weak. Who would want to be foolish or weak if they could be wise or strong? The apostle Paul gives us a surprising answer to that question. He says that God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Why? Why would God choose weak or foolish things when he could have something strong or wise instead? Does God actually want you to be foolish and weak? Yes . . . and no. God doesn’t want you to stop going to school so that you can be foolish. He doesn’t want you to eat junk food all day and stay up all night so that you can be weak. He does want you to remember where your strength and wisdom come from, though. Trying to be wise and strong on your own apart from God isn’t going to get you very far. Instead, that attitude will bring you to shame sooner or later. You’ll eventually run into a problem you can’t solve or a task you can’t tackle, a problem or a task where your own wisdom or strength just isn’t good enough. But when you turn to God for your wisdom and strength, you can be confident that he’s walking alongside of you and giving you everything you need to live a life of faith. Relying on God for your wisdom and strength might make you look weak and foolish to those around you. They might say that it doesn’t make sense to believe in God. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus must have looked foolish and weak to the world when he was hanging on the cross, but that’s how he saved us. So when you appear foolish and weak to the world, when you turn to God for your wisdom and strength, you’re doing exactly what God wants you to do. Without God, you have nothing. With him, you have everything! Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being my wisdom when I am foolish and my strength when I am weak. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Would you rather be foolish and weak or wise and strong? Who should you rely on for your strength and wisdom? Questions for Elementary Age Children Agree or disagree: God wants you to be foolish and weak. Why might you look foolish or weak to the world when you rely on God? Questions for Middle School and Above In Philippians 4:13, the apostle Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Explain what he means. How can you live during your time on this earth so that your life will truly be finished at its end? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260202fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:11-13 Seek the LORD, all you humble people of the earth who have carried out his commands. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. Zephaniah 2:3 (EHV) Give Thanks for the Little Things In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. What’s something you’re really good at? Maybe it’s a sport where you’ve helped your team win trophies and championships. Maybe it’s a musical instrument where you’ve played a really hard piece perfectly at a recital. Maybe you’re good at school and can solve hard problems. When you’re good at something, you naturally want to tell someone about it. You want your friends and family members to come watch your game or concert or listen to what you’re learning in school. It’s fun when people compliment you on something you’re good at, when they give you recognition and praise. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of things you’re good at and accomplishments you’ve worked hard to achieve. But in today’s reading, the prophet Zephaniah reminds us that there’s something else we should be good at. He says to be a humble person and “seek humility.” It means not bragging about things you’re good at. But when you’re good at something, you naturally want to share that with people! So how can you be both proud and humble at the same time? If you rely on yourself, you can’t. If you think you’re really good at something just because you worked hard and practiced, you can’t. But if you remember where your abilities came from, if you remember who made you good at something in the first place, then you can be both proud and humble. You are special to God. He made you just the way he wanted you to be and gave you exactly the gifts and talents he wanted you to have. Without God, you wouldn’t be good at anything. So when you remember you’re only good at something because of God, when you remember to say thank you for your successes, when you get your strength from God rather than from the things you’re good at, then you’re being humble and proud at the same time. Thank God for what you’re good at. Thank him when you do something well. Remember that all your abilities come from him, and then you’ll be both proud and humble. Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the special gifts and abilities you gave me. Remind me to always give you thanks for all the things you equip me to do well. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What’s something that you’re really good at? Who gave you the gifts to be good at it? Questions for Elementary Age Children What does it mean to be humble? How can you be both proud and humble at the same time? Questions for Middle School and Above Agree or disagree: It’s wrong to appreciate recognition and praise when you do something well. When you do something well, what is something you can say or do to show people around you that you’re thankful to God for your success? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260130fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 4:12-23 Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23 (EHV) The Good News of Epiphany In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Each year has its own seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Which is your favorite? Each church year has its own seasons, too. We just finished the Christmas season, where we celebrate Jesus’ birth. Now we’re in the Epiphany season (say it like this: ee-PIH-fuh-nee). Epiphany is an old word. It means “to show” or “to be made known.” It can also mean a big “aha!” moment—when something suddenly makes sense. People long ago used it to talk about the moment one of their gods appeared. That helps us understand the church season of Epiphany. During Epiphany, God shows us who Jesus really is. Jesus is not just a baby in a manger. He is God’s Son, sent to save the world. The Bible tells us that Jesus traveled through Galilee, just like the prophet Isaiah said he would hundreds of years earlier. He taught in synagogues (that’s like a Jewish church). And what did Jesus teach? He taught “the good news of the kingdom.” That means God loves sinners, forgives them, and welcomes them into his family. Anyone who is sorry for their sin and trusts in Jesus belongs to God’s kingdom. Jesus didn’t just say these things—he showed them. He healed sick people. He made blind people see and hurting people well again. The Bible says he healed “every disease and sickness.” Only God can do that. So Jesus clearly showed who he was. And yet . . . some people still did not believe him. They saw the miracles. They heard his words. But they still said no. Before we wonder how they could do that, we should think about ourselves. You believe in Jesus. You know who he is. But sometimes we don’t act like it. Jesus told people the good news everywhere he went—but sometimes we stay quiet about our faith. Jesus helped people who were hurting—but sometimes we don’t want to help when it’s inconvenient. When that happens, we deny Jesus with our actions. So here’s the big question: Will Jesus deny us? No! That’s the good news of Epiphany. Jesus, the Son of God, appeared to forgive sinners—people like us. If you trust in him, you are forgiven. Now God gives you a special job: May people who see you have their own “epiphany.” May they see Jesus’ love, kindness, and forgiveness shining through you. Prayer: Lord, thank you for sending your Son to appear to us. May we be a mirror that reflects his love and forgiveness. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Why are you happy that Jesus came to earth? If you could talk to Jesus face-to-face, what would you want to say to him? Questions for Elementary Age Children What does epiphany mean? (Try explaining it in your own words.) What are some ways Jesus showed that he is the Son of God? (Think about miracles, teaching, forgiveness, resurrection.) Questions for Middle School and Above Why do you think some people still rejected Jesus, even after seeing miracles? Why is it important for the church to celebrate the Epiphany? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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/family-devotions/20260128fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 1 John 2:3-11 The one who says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and nothing causes him to stumble. 1 John 2:4,10 (EHV) The One Who Loves His Brother In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Imagine saying to a police officer, “I know you! I like you!” But then you grab his hat and run away laughing. Imagine saying to a teacher, “I know you! You’re the best!” But then you cheat on a test in her classroom. Imagine saying to your brother or sister, “I love you!” But then you punch them in the arm or say something mean. People would say, “That doesn’t make sense.” You can say you love someone a hundred times, but if your actions don’t match your words, people won’t believe you. That’s what the apostle John was teaching when he wrote, “The one who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commands is a liar.” John was talking about Jesus. If someone says they know and love Jesus but never listens to him or never tries to do what he says, their words don’t match their actions. That can feel a little scary. Have you always listened to Jesus? Have you always been loving? Kind? Obedient? John also writes, “The one who loves his brother remains in the light.” So think about today: Were you kind to your brother or sister—or did you say something mean? Did you listen to your parents and teachers—or argue and complain? Did you treat classmates and friends with love—or ignore them or hurt their feelings? These questions help us do something important called repentance. Repentance means admitting we have sinned and being sorry about it. But repentance doesn’t stop there. Repentance means taking that sin and sadness to Jesus. And here’s the best part: Jesus forgives. Always. Jesus is the one who perfectly loved his brothers and sisters—us! He showed that love by going to the cross and taking the punishment for our sins. Because Jesus loves you and forgives you, you really do know him. And because you know him, you want to listen to him. That’s what it means to be “the one who loves his brother” and “remains in the light.” God forgives you. Jesus is with you. And one day, he will raise you to live forever. That’s why, even when we mess up and stumble in sin, don’t stay stuck—keep walking in the light! Prayer: Lord, as you first loved us, inspire us to love one another. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children When is it hardest to love your brother, sister, or parents? (What usually causes arguments or hurt feelings?) How did Jesus show that he loves you? (Think about the cross, forgiveness, and promises.) Questions for Elementary Age Children What does it mean to “know Jesus”? (Is it just knowing facts—or trusting and following him?) What are some ways you can show others that you know Jesus? (At home, school, or with friends.) Questions for Middle School and Above What is repentance? (Try to explain it in your own words.) Why do we need repentance every day—even when we’re believers? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. 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.