WELS - Daily Devotions

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260130dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14 Renewed by the Light Before you go camping in the woods, be sure to check that your flashlights all work properly and the batteries are all new. You will be far away from the artificial lights illuminating the cities and suburbs. Many thick trees can block the natural light of the stars. Unforeseen clouds and rain might also douse the light of a campfire. Before facing a new day in this dark world, be sure to check that your spirit is recharged with the truth and grace of Jesus. We are still living far away from heaven’s glorious light. The things of this world that are supposed to bring us happiness are merely artificial lights that quickly burn out. Unexpected temptations threaten to plunge us into sinful decisions and right back into the darkness of fear and shame. We constantly need to recharge the lights of Jesus’ truth and love in our hearts. John tells us how: “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” The evil one still accuses, deceives, and seeks to destroy faith. Yet John dares to speak in the past tense: “You have overcome the evil one.” This victory is not based on present feelings or visible success, but on Jesus’ finished work. By his cross and resurrection, Jesus has already defeated Satan. Faith clings to that victory. In ourselves, we are weak. Our faith wavers, our resolve collapses, and our obedience is imperfect. But in Jesus, we are strong. Those who live in the word of God will have the word of God living in them. It will renew your faith in Jesus’ victory. It will continually rekindle the joy in your heart that Jesus has overcome the darkness of evil for you. Keep living in the word of God, and the word of God will live in you, reminding you daily that in Jesus, you are strong. Prayer: Jesus, Light of the world, shine in my heart. Forgive my sins and fill me with your love so that I may walk in your ways and love my neighbor as you have loved 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/20260129dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light. 1 John 2:8-10 Walking in the Light Anyone who has spent too long cooped up in one place knows what cabin fever feels like. At first, it’s comfortable, safe, familiar, and predictable. But slowly, irritation creeps in. Small things start to bother us. Our patience shortens. Our perspective narrows. The walls begin to feel closer. What once felt like shelter starts to feel like confinement. Spiritually, cabin fever can happen, too. When people remain inward-focused and demonstrate by their attitudes and actions that they love themselves more than others, darkness closes in. Our hearts become disconnected from loving relationships with God and with others. That is what the apostle John addresses in our Bible reading when he says, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.” The best way to overcome cabin fever is to step out of your place of confinement, breathe in the fresh air again, and, best of all, go where the sun is shining. John reminds us that the true light is already shining. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, continues to shine the light of God’s mercy and forgiveness into our darkened hearts. The good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead in victory, enlightens our hearts to believe that God’s love for us will overcome the darkness of evil. In the end, spiritual cabin fever fades when we remember that life in Christ was never meant to be lived in isolation or fear. His love replaces our impatience with peace. His Word and promise of life with him forever, replaces our weariness with renewed purpose—to love one another as Christ loved us. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light. Where Christ-like love is practiced, the darkness lifts, the cabin fever fades, and life opens up again. Prayer: Gracious Savior, you are the true Light shining in the darkness. Drive hatred and bitterness from my heart. Fill me with your mercy so that my life reflects your love to others. 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/20260128dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19 Come, Follow Me “Follow me.” Those two words changed Andrew and Peter’s lives forever. Up to that point, they were regular, ordinary men working at their job. But then, Jesus came to them and changed their lives forever. Notice that Jesus does not say to them, “Become something extraordinary, and then, come, follow me.” He does not demand specific qualifications, spiritual maturity, or proven obedience. Instead, he calls them as they are. And he promises that he will change them: “I will make you…” The power to change lives exists not in the disciples themselves, but in the Word of Jesus that creates what it commands. Just as God once spoke light into existence, Jesus now speaks faith to follow him into the hearts of fishermen. “Follow me.” Those two words continue to be heard in unlikely places by unlikely recipients. Jesus’ call continues to be passed down through the Word of God to reach the ears and the hearts of the most unworthy people imaginable—you and me. Jesus does not wait until we have sorted out our lives, cleared our nets, or resolved every spiritual question. He calls us as we are. He steps into the middle of our ordinary routines and says, “Come, follow me.” His call is an act of grace. Jesus’ call continues to change countless hearts, minds, and lives still today. “I will make you fishers of men.” This is the noble purpose Jesus has given to us in our lives. Notice again who does the work. Christian living is Jesus shaping us, through his Word, into people who naturally reflect his mercy and speak his gospel. The disciples left their nets, but they gained a Savior. They left their boats, but they received a life-changing mission. They left their security, but they entered the kingdom of heaven opened to them by Jesus. We, too, follow Jesus daily as he continues to call us through his Word of truth and grace. We trust him to continue forming us into his people and sending us out on his loving, life-changing mission. Prayer: Jesus, thank you for calling me by your grace. Give me ears to hear your Word, a heart to trust you, and hands willing to serve. Shape my life according to your will. 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/20260127dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 Turn to the Light Driving at night on winding, unfamiliar roads, we rely heavily on our GPS to get us where we need to be. On a recent drive, navigating the roads as they twisted and turned, I diligently scanned for deer and watched for broken tree limbs that might have come down on that windy night. I realized that the GPS guiding me was extremely important, but there was something else I was relying on. Without it, I would never have made it home. Even a perfect map would have done me no good if I did not have headlights to show me where the turns were, where the dangers were. Light is a good thing—it exposes the dangers around us that we need to avoid. It shows us where we are headed. The light of Jesus is very good. In Jesus, God himself came into the world and promised: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Believing in Jesus is the way to the kingdom of heaven. He is the one who endured sin’s curse for us, removing it forever. And he is the one who rose from the darkness of his own tomb, bringing to light the way to everlasting life. But until we reach heaven, many dangers still lurk in the darkness. Often, it feels like we’re driving at night with the lights turned off. So, Jesus preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” By calling sinners to repent, Jesus is urgently pleading with us: “Turn to me in faith! Turn on the Light of the world! I will expose the dangers around you. I will guide you on the way of peace and bring you safely to the kingdom of heaven.” When you are uncertain of where your life is heading, turn on the Light of the world. Turn to Jesus and trust his promise: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Prayer: Gracious God, thank you that your kingdom has come among us through Jesus. Turn my heart toward you in repentance and faith. Let your mercy and forgiveness guide my life today. 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/20260126dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16 The Light Has Dawned Spelunking in a massive cave takes a lot of courage. I don’t have that much courage, so I took a guided cavern tour instead. After venturing far into the cave, the guide stopped us in the deepest cavern and told us that all the lights would be turned off for one minute. As soon as he turned all of the lights off, I was paralyzed with fear. The darkness was so thick and oppressive that I could not see an inch in front of me. I felt that if I moved one step into the darkness, I would be lost forever. When the lights finally came back on, expressions of profound relief were clearly visible on everyone’s faces. We were safe again. The Bible describes an even deeper, more terrifying darkness covering all people living on this earth. It is actually the darkness that is within each of us. It is the terrible darkness of selfishness and greed, bitterness and hate, pride and self-glory, that covers our hearts and minds like a thick, weighted blanket. Living in this thick darkness is truly terrifying because deep down, we realize that we are living under the shadow of death. We will be lost forever. But our gracious God did not leave us in eternal darkness. He sent Jesus to shine the brilliant lights of God’s forgiveness and God’s truth for all to see and believe. We see the light of God’s loving forgiveness shining out from Jesus as he carried the evil of the world’s sins with him to the darkness of his crucifixion and death. We see the truth that Jesus is the true Light of the world as he rose from the dead. He lives to shine the light of God’s mercy and forgiveness, truth and hope into our minds and hearts. In our Bible reading for today, the apostle Matthew tells us, “On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” May you experience profound relief in your soul as you live and believe in the light of Jesus’ forgiveness. Prayer: Jesus, Light of the world, shine into the dark corners of my life. Turn my heart toward you. Help me trust in your mercy each day. 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/20260125dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23 Jesus’ Ministry Preaching, teaching, and healing. Those three actions pretty much summarize Jesus’ earthly ministry. He touched a lot of lives during those thirty-plus years. But he’s touched a lot more lives since, like mine. He’s touched my life in ways beyond counting. He’s forgiven my sins. And there are plenty to pardon! He’s given me the peace of knowing that I’m loved by the Father despite myself. He’s reconciled the two of us . . . put us back into a right relationship again. He gives me a fresh perspective and a whole new set of “eyes” with which to see others, the circumstances of my day-to-day life, and the problems I inevitably face as I go about my business. He put a song in my heart and a spring in my step because he has convinced me, by his Spirit, that no matter what happens, he’ll walk beside me, guiding and protecting me and working all things out for my ultimate good (Romans 8:28). Nothing in all creation can separate me from his love (Romans 8:39). It’s encouraging to begin each day knowing that because of Jesus and what he’s done for me, and continues to do for me, I’ll be more than just okay: I’ll be blessed beyond belief! Prayer: Dear Jesus, I thank and praise you for all the blessings with which you enrich my life. Teach me to dedicate my life to you in gratitude for all you give to me. Amen.   Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260124dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 Look, the Lamb of God! When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he could have pointed to the fact that this man approaching was the almighty God, the second person of the Trinity, “through whom all things were created!” Instead, he called him “the Lamb of God.” In most cases, a lamb is nothing to get excited about. A lamb doesn’t stand a chance against a lion or bear. A lamb cannot carry anyone on its back like a noble steed. However, John knew this Lamb had a higher calling, an eternal calling, a calling that would serve all people of all time, for all people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. John knew that Jesus came to sacrifice himself as a sin offering for all people’s sins—that includes yours and mine. By doing so, the Lamb would forever destroy the power of the devil. Unlike the Passover lambs, which were sacrificed year after year, Jesus would offer himself once for all! This Lamb is our Savior, and this is something to get excited about! His victory, which is ours through faith, will never become old, outdated, or surpassed by any other. As you look to Jesus today, hail him, sing his praises, and point him out to others as the one who has taken away all our sins. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for winning the victory over the devil for me and taking away all my sins. Help me each day to rejoice in the gift of salvation you have given to me. Strengthen my faith so that I may live for you and point others to you, for you are the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Amen.   Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260123dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 Keep Your Attention on the Lamb of God When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what did John want people to do when he said, “Look!”? The word he used means something like, “Hey, look over there!” It is a kind of interjection, a way to draw people’s attention to something important that they might have otherwise missed. If John hadn’t pointed out Jesus, most would not have given him a second glance. There was nothing about Jesus’ appearance that would make him stand out in that crowd. John’s whole ministry, however, was to get people ready for the coming of God’s promised Savior. Jesus was the one hope of salvation that sinners have. It was important they didn’t miss, or worse, ignore the Lamb of God who was standing among them. When John said, “Look!” it was more than just calling their attention to a quick curiosity or a momentary distraction. Jesus was to hold their permanent attention. The Bible says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Somewhere, at some time, someone pointed you to Jesus. You have (hopefully!) come to know him as your Lord and Savior, the one who died to set you free. Now, don’t let yourself be distracted away from him. Rather, continue to train your eyes on him and his cross, and tune your ears to his voice in the Scriptures. Through his word, he will strengthen your faith and change your heart. Let the model of his humble love and the certainty of forgiveness in his name occupy your thoughts and fill your heart with joyful service and thanksgiving. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Have mercy on me and keep my attention focused on you and 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.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260122dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 The Lamb Who Died for All When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does it mean that he took away the sin “of the world”? The beginning of the Bible tells us how God created the entire human race through one man, Adam. All eight billion of us, spread around the world, are descended from him—all the way to the last baby born just before Christ returns on the Last Day. Unfortunately, just as Adam has passed down his human genes to us, we also inherit our sinful nature from him. We see evidence of that sin everywhere we look—including within ourselves. The Bible says that “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). But Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Not only the sin of some or just a few, but every single descendant of Adam and Eve. The prophet Isaiah foretold what Jesus would do: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Note that all have sinned, and the sins of all have been laid on Christ. God’s Word is clear about the extent of Jesus’ work: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2). That includes you, of course! Your sins were also placed on Jesus as he suffered for all. Whoever you are, however insignificant in the eyes of the world, lost among the masses of humanity, you, too, are loved by God and redeemed by the blood of his Son. Prayer: Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world—including my own. Have mercy on 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/20260121dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 The Lamb of God Takes Away Our Sins When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does it mean that he “takes away our sin”? Sin is defined in various ways throughout the Bible. It is rebellion against God; it is failing to live up to God’s law of perfect love; it is every thought, word, and action that does not flow from a right relationship with our Creator. Sin’s corruption permeates every part of our lives. Not only does sin lead to needless pain and cause countless problems in every personal relationship, but it also separates us from the holy God who made us and who will be our judge. Finally, the wages of sin is death. As one preacher of the gospel, Martin Luther, said, there are only two places where sin can be: on the sinner or on Christ. Either we carry the weight of our disobedience ourselves and accept its consequences of eternal separation from God, or we rejoice in God’s work of placing our sin—all our sin—squarely on Jesus, the Lamb of God. This is the heart of the gospel, the good news of what Christ came to accomplish for us. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The result for those who turn to Jesus in faith is that God no longer treats us as our sins deserve. Although our corrupted nature still leads us to act contrary to his word, sin does not factor into how God sees us. Instead, he assures us that, in Christ, we have been forgiven. He gives us strength to live for him and joy in the knowledge that we are his dearly loved children through faith in Jesus. Prayer: Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Thank you for your mercy! 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/20260120dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. Colossians 2:9-10 The Lamb of God Is God Himself When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But in what way was Jesus the “Lamb of God”? First, Jesus was a sacrifice for sin that only God himself could offer. All the lambs and other animal sacrifices brought to the temple by Jewish believers would never be enough to reconcile sinners to a holy God. Rather, they served to prepare the people for the one Lamb sent by God who alone could make full payment for our sins. This is possible because Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was not only sent by God, he is God. The Bible tells us that “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” So, when Mary gave birth to her firstborn son in Bethlehem, we can say that God in all his fullness was laid to rest in the manger. And when that child grew into a man, it was God in all his fullness who was hung on the cross to die. What does that mean for you and me? There can be no doubt that the payment made on our behalf was sufficient—more than sufficient—to cancel our debt with God. The blood that was shed for us was divine and holy blood. The very God that we have offended is the One who came to redeem us to himself, and, in Jesus, his work of redemption is complete. God and man have been fully reconciled through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was both fully God and fully man. Resurrected from the dead and ascended to heaven, he continues to intercede for us before the Father. Our salvation has been brought to fullness. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you are the eternal Son of God and yet you came to die in my place. Because of your holy life and innocent death, my sins have been forgiven and my debt with God has been paid in full. May this truth bring me comfort and peace, as I trust in you, my perfect 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/20260119dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 Jesus Is the Lamb of God John the Baptist was appointed by God to point people to their Savior Jesus. When John saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But in what way was Jesus a lamb? For nearly fifteen hundred years before this, Jewish believers had been commemorating the Passover Festival with a special meal featuring the meat of a lamb. In this way, they never forgot how God rescued them from slavery in a foreign land. While the angel of death had passed from house to house throughout Egypt, he passed over the homes of all who trusted God’s promise by painting their door frames with the blood of a lamb. Years later, the prophet Isaiah compared the coming Messiah to a lamb who quietly and without complaint allowed himself to be a sacrifice for others. He wrote, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). These and many other prophecies from the Old Testament help us understand why John later called Jesus “the Lamb of God.” He was sent to be our substitute, sacrificed in our place. As innocent as a young lamb looks, Jesus was even more pure at heart. The Passover lambs did not complain as they were led to be killed, partly because they did not understand what would happen to them and could not have done anything to protect themselves, even if they had known. But Jesus knew very well how he would suffer and die—and he had all the power of the Son of God to prevent it, yet he quietly and humbly accepted all of it. As the innocent Lamb of God, he came to stand between us and the punishment we deserved. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice in our place, nothing stands between us and peace with God. Prayer: Jesus, Lamb of God, you came to take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on me. You willingly came to be my substitute, and with your death you became my 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/20260118dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 Closer than Cousins Jesus and John the Baptist were relatives. Their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, were kinswomen or “cousins.” This would make Jesus and John cousins. But their closeness to one another exceeded a blood relationship. John was a herald and forerunner, the announcer of Christ’s coming. To this day, he prepares our hearts to receive the Savior by preaching repentance and faith. He preaches not only law but also gospel: “All mankind will see God’s salvation” (Luke 3:6). Again, pointing to Jesus: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). How close this witness bearer was to Jesus! And Jesus was close to John, at whose hands he was baptized. In John 5:35, he calls John a “lamp that burned and gave light.” Further: “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). At that point in time, Jesus was still lingering in the background. Only after his baptism in the Jordan would he come to the forefront to begin his public ministry. And then Jesus would increase, but John would decrease. It’s tempting to be jealous of how close John was to Jesus. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be Jesus’ blood relative? But the truth is, every follower of Jesus is closer to him than we imagine. He loves us more than we can fully know. He is with us every moment of every day. When we receive the Lord’s Supper, we receive his true body and blood along with the forgiveness it won for us. You really can’t get any closer than that! Rejoice in how close Jesus is to you—closer even than cousins! Prayer: Jesus, walk with me this day as you have promised. May all I do and say be pleasing 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/20260117dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Matthew 3:13-15 Baptism Connects Here is an interesting question: If Jesus never sinned, why did he need to be baptized? The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus endured temptations but never succumbed to them. He never sinned—not once. Not a stray thought, not a rash word, not a single misdeed. So, why did he need to be baptized? Jesus needed to be baptized “to fulfill all righteousness.” Not his righteousness—ours. Every one of us needs to be baptized into Jesus, and his baptism connects us to him. We are washed just as he was. But the water that washes us is not just water, it is water connected with Jesus’ very words—”the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Martin Luther explained: “It is certainly not the water that does such great things, but God’s Word which is in and with the water and faith which trusts this Word used with the water. For without God’s Word, the water is just plain water, and not baptism. But with this Word it is baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of rebirth by the Holy Spirit.” The little words at the end of today’s Bible passage should tell us something about our life of faith: “Then John consented.” We do nothing to initiate our contact with God, but he invites us to receive faith as a gift. Our humble “consent” is not something we do actively, but something God gives us to do in response to his grace. What a great God we have! He has connected himself to us by becoming human like us. And he has connected us to him through this simple faith-creating act of baptism. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of baptism that connects me to you, my perfect Savior, and makes me a member of God’s family. Guard and protect me, body and soul, that I may experience your love and goodness always. 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/20260116dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 He Opens Heaven Have you ever been locked out? You get locked out of your house. You panic. What a relief when someone comes to the rescue. A friend with a key lets you in. What a dreadful thought to be locked out forever. When humanity first fell into sin, the door to paradise was slammed shut. Access to God was cut off because of sin. Do you sense it still today? Does it seem like the door to heaven is still closed? Do you ever wonder and even worry, “Will God be pleased with me? Will he let me in?” What a relief when the one who holds the keys to eternal life comes to the rescue and opens heaven. This is exactly what Jesus was sent to do: open heaven and unlock eternity for you and all who believe. These verses from Matthew chapter 3, mark the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. When Jesus was baptized, something amazing happened—heaven opened! God the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and God the Father spoke words of affirmation, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Jesus’ work on earth had one goal in mind: to undo sin and reverse its deadly grip on you. On the cross where he died, all debts for your sins were paid. At his empty tomb, when he rose from the dead, he declared that nothing now stands between you and God. Jesus gives these gifts in a personal way through baptism. When anyone is baptized, something amazing happens—heaven is opened! God gives his Spirit to comfort and strengthen. All sin is washed away. What God the Father declared about Jesus, he declares about everyone who is baptized, “This is my child! With this child of mine, I am well pleased!” This is what Jesus, your Savior, does for you. He opens heaven. Access to God, the loving Father, is granted now and forever. Prayer: God, our loving Father, thank you for sending your Son to be my eternal rescue. 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/20260115dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope. Isaiah 42:3-4 He Follows Through Those working in environments where there is a great deal of brokenness can easily become discouraged. Those in a caretaker role can easily become drained as they try to meet the needs of the ones they serve. Often, we strive to serve and accomplish a task with high ambitions, but over time, we run out of energy and become discouraged. The Servant of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, came down to ground zero to serve souls in dire need of saving and nurturing. He doesn’t get discouraged and give up. He follows through until the mission is accomplished. Before Jesus, the Lord sent many servants in the form of prophets, kings, and others who were to serve people. Some started strong but easily got discouraged. Some accomplished great things, but they had their limitations. Others served only themselves. They were only human, and none was able to follow through perfectly as servants of the Lord. Jesus is different. He’s not only human. He is truly God from eternity. Making a promise is one thing. Keeping it is an entirely different thing. There are likely times in your life when you have been the victim of a broken promise, big or small. There are times when you promised something with every intention of keeping it, but for whatever reason, you couldn’t or didn’t follow through. Jesus has the divine authority to make promises, and he has the divine authority to keep promises. God’s greatest promise was to save you from the brokenness and destruction of sin by declaring you not guilty. He promises to care for your soul for time and for eternity. Jesus followed through until his mission was accomplished and God’s promise was kept. This promise still stands today. It has endured thousands of years and has traveled thousands of miles. It has reached our distant shores and our troubled hearts and gives hope of life now and forever with the Lord. Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for following through on the greatest promise ever. Sustain me each day by your sure 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/20260114dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42:3 He Doesn’t Break, He Binds When something is just about broken or on its last leg in our house, my solution is often, let’s scrap it! It’s not worth the money to fix. I don’t have the patience and the time to breathe life back into it. For me, it’s much easier to start from scratch and buy or build a new one. My wife has a more restorative approach. She doesn’t so quickly give up on the worn-out thing. She has a knack for salvaging the broken trinket and turning it back into a prized possession. I’m sure it would be much easier for the Lord to look at the brokenness of the world and the brokenness of my life and just scrap it and move on. The reality for the world, and every person living in it, is that we were not just broken. We have broken God’s commands. We can’t mend our own brokenness. We can’t muster up enough strength to solve the problem of sin on our own. If you’ve ever tried, you eventually burn out and give up. But God doesn’t give up and move on. Why not? Because of his great love for us, he doesn’t break. He binds. He doesn’t snuff us out. He breathes in new life. Isaiah points to Jesus in today’s Bible verse. Notice your Savior’s approach to you. Sometimes you might feel like a bruised reed ready to break under the weight of pressure and guilt. Jesus comes not to break but to bind and mend. He took extreme care and effort to save and restore you, giving his very life on the cross. He has forgiven all your sins, all the times you’ve broken a command. He doesn’t break; he binds. He salvages and saves, and at the same time, he makes new those who believe in him. To souls once spiritually burnt out, he patiently fans into flame the gift of faith and gives new life full of peace, purpose, and hope. He restores what was once lost and makes that soul God’s prized possession. Prayer: Lord, Jesus, when I am bruised and ready to break, you bind up my brokenness and breathe in new life with your words of forgiveness and hope. May I always praise you for your salvation! 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/20260113dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42:2-3 He Speaks Gently Do you know someone with a voice that commands attention? If you are at a large family gathering and you need to quiet the crowd, there might be someone in your family with a deep and commanding voice to get everyone’s attention. Certain leaders are known for their distinct voice that can capture a nation’s attention with powerful words. If God were to speak to you to get your attention, what kind of voice do you think he’d use? Would it sound like thunder? In today’s Bible verse, the Lord’s Servant is depicted as speaking gently. He doesn’t rely on worldly rhetoric and a booming tone to catch people’s attention. He has a gentle voice that we might not expect at first. The Lord’s Servant is Jesus. It’s not the sheer volume of his voice that captures our attention. It’s what he speaks and how he speaks. He speaks gently. What a difference from the many voices we hear in the world around us. Sometimes the loudest voice we hear could be our own. When we are alone and in our heads, we dwell on something we’ve done or said. We can be very hard on ourselves because we recognize our shortcomings or failures. Psychologists call this self-talk, and when our self-talk is negative, they might suggest replacing it with more positive thoughts. That might be helpful, but here’s a more powerful way to change the way we think about or talk about ourselves—hear the voice of your Savior and listen to how he talks about you. Don’t look in a mirror. Look to your Savior and listen to what he has to say. He’s not shouting at you, saying, “Come on, how could you do that again?” He will not shout and cry out or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” With a sure and gentle voice, he says, “I love you. I forgive you.” Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me tune out the many voices of the surrounding world and calm my troubled heart so I can hear and dwell on your gentle words of pardon and peace. 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/20260112dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1 He Brings Justice “That’s not fair!” How many times do thoughts like that cross our minds? We object when watching the big game and the referee makes an unfair call. We see injustices in the world that are not so trivial, and we wonder, “Isn’t anyone going to do something about this?” We see things people do and say to each other. They hate, and they hurt. We want justice. We long for things to be right. We long for someone to make things right. Time and again, we have been let down by empty promises of those who vow to do what is right. We’ve looked to flawed humans as though they and their policies could make this world right and bring justice that would last. Only one person can do that, the one Isaiah pointed to. People in Isaiah’s day longed for justice. Leaders had let them down. Those who were supposed to serve and help were serving themselves. Those who were supposed to care for people’s souls cared only about themselves. But the Lord’s Servant would be different. Isaiah’s prophecy about the Lord’s Servant points to Jesus, the Lord himself. About 700 years after Isaiah’s word, Jesus would stand on the banks of the Jordan River and be revealed as the one who would bring perfect justice, who would right all that is wrong in the world. Normally, when we demand justice, it’s for others who have done wrong. However, we must admit that we, too, have been in the wrong. We deserved God’s just punishment. But Jesus brings justice in a very gracious way. Jesus rights all the wrongs of the world, and our wrongs too. He did that by always doing what was right as our perfect substitute and Savior. He fulfilled perfect justice by suffering under God’s just punishment on the cross to spare us from that wrath. In Christ, we are justified, that is declared not guilty. This is who Jesus is and what he has done! Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I see injustice in the world may I look to you as the answer. As I also recognize the wrongs that I have done, may I look to you as the answer. 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/20260111dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17 How’s Your Approval Rating? Whether it’s at work, school, or home, we are constantly graded, compared to others, and rated. The boss gives us our annual review. The teacher hands out report cards. The son informs mom that her Mac & Cheese isn’t as good as what Dylan’s mom makes. It is strange how these “ratings” can affect our day. If they’re good, we feel good. If they’re lousy, we feel lousy. If they’re nothing special, then we are tempted to feel that we’re nothing special. How’s your approval rating with God? How have you been keeping up with those Ten Commandments? Remember, they’re not God’s suggestions; they are his commands. How’s it going between you and your neighbor, all your neighbors? Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If we’re going to talk comparisons, why not go all the way and, as God says, compare ourselves to him. “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Yikes! Will I ever meet with God’s approval? Will God ever say of me, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”? This is what makes the Baptism of Jesus, as well as our own baptisms so special. God, in his grace, has connected me to Jesus. God has given me faith in Jesus as my Savior. Jesus has taken away all my sins. Jesus gives me his perfection and holiness. When God looks at me, he sees Jesus and he says, “This is my son, my daughter, whom I love! With him, with her, I am well pleased.” Approval ratings don’t get any higher than this. God be praised! Prayer: Dear Jesus, when doubts of my worth come, drown them in the waters of Baptism and remind me of your love for me in Jesus. 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.