WELS Daily Devotions

WELS
WELS
  • 4.7 (13)
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Find inspiration, comfort and spiritual growth each day in these 5 to 10 minute devotions from God’s Word.

  1. 2h ago

    A Friend of the Cross of Christ – October 6, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20261006dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:18-20 A Friend of the Cross of Christ Are you a friend of the cross of Christ? That might seem like an unusual question. After all, who would want to be friends with a cross? The cross was an instrument of suffering and death. Yet for Christians, the cross is the place where we see God’s greatest love. The apostle Paul warns us about those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ.” They may not look like enemies. They may be religious. They may be successful. Others may admire them. But their lives are centered on themselves. Their god is their appetite. Their glory is found in things of which they should be ashamed. Their minds are fixed on earthly things. Does that sound familiar? It can be easy for us to become enemies of the cross without realizing it. Whenever we make our own desires more important than God’s Word, we are turning away from the cross. Whenever we measure our worth by possessions, achievements, popularity, or pleasure, our hearts are looking in the wrong direction. Whenever we imagine that we can make ourselves acceptable to God, we have forgotten why Jesus went to the cross. The cross tells us the truth about our sin. Our sin is serious. We could never make things right with God by ourselves. But the cross also tells us something far greater: Jesus has made things right for us. At the cross, Jesus took our sin upon himself. He suffered the punishment we deserved. He gave his life in our place. He did not save us because we were good enough. He saved us because he is merciful. That is why Christians are friends of the cross. We do not love the cross because suffering is good in itself. We love the cross because Jesus was there for us. The cross is where God’s justice and mercy meet. It is where our Savior paid the price for our salvation. Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me to look at the cross and see the heaven you won for me. Amen.   Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

  2. 1d ago

    Heading Toward the Goal – October 5, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20261005dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12 Heading Toward the Goal Where are you headed? That may be a simple question, but it is an important one. Every day, we are headed somewhere. We have appointments to keep, work to finish, errands to run, and places to go. The same is true of our life with Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote, “I press on.” He knew where he was headed. Yet Paul was also honest enough to admit that he had not arrived. He had not already obtained everything God had promised. That is good news for us because we have not arrived either. Sometimes we may look at our Christian life and become discouraged. We still struggle with the same sins. We still lose our patience. We still worry. We still put ourselves first. We still fail to love God and our neighbor as we should. If our goal were perfection by our own effort, we would have no hope. But notice Paul’s reason for pressing on: “because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Jesus is the reason we keep going. The Christian life is not a race in which we run fast enough to earn God’s love. Jesus has already accomplished what we could never accomplish. He lived the perfect life we have failed to live. He died on the cross to forgive our sins. He rose from the grave to give us the certain hope of eternal life. Through faith, we belong to him. That changes how we travel toward the goal. We do not press on to become Christ’s own. We press on because we already are Christ’s own. So today, keep heading toward the goal. When you stumble, hear God’s promise of forgiveness. When you become discouraged, look again to the cross. When you are tempted to turn aside, listen to Jesus’ Word and follow him. When the road seems long, remember where you are going. Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep my eyes on the finish line as I follow you through life. Amen.   Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

  3. 2d ago

    Repent and Live! – October 4, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20261004dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” Matthew 21:28-32 Repent and Live! By sharing this dramatic parable, Jesus was being quite gracious. He was calling his hearers to repentance. These were people who claimed to be willing to obey God but weren’t doing so. They put on a good show. Jesus wanted them to understand that what God is looking for is not lip service. He is looking for repentance. He is looking for people to admit their failure to follow God’s will, trust that he will be merciful, and then truly follow his will rather than merely make empty promises. As we listen to this parable, remember God is giving us the opportunity to consider which of the two sons we are. Through the Holy Spirit, we are led to see our sin, to repent, to confess our sin, and to trust Jesus as our Savior. Such is the only path that leads to eternal life. May we realize this each day and rejoice in our gracious Savior. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for leading me to repent of my sins. Help me to turn from sinful thoughts, words, and deeds so that I reflect my love for you in all I think, say, and do. Amen.   Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

  4. 3d ago

    Unimaginable Humility – October 3, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20261003dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus Christ] humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11 Unimaginable Humility A homeless man sits next to the exhaust vent at the local dry cleaners. It’s a good spot, one of the best in town for staying warm through a brisk fall night. As a local lawyer arrives to pick up his suits from the previous week, he reaches into his pocket and hands the homeless man a $20 bill. A couple of hours later, an investment banker comes by and invites the man to lunch. He spends a good hour talking to the man, and of course, picks up the tab. Later in the day a woman pulls up in her Mercedes and sees the man taking a nap. She gently nudges him on the shoulder and asks him his name. She then gives him the keys to her Mercedes and tells him that the garage door opener is on the visor and that her purse with all her cash, credit cards, and account numbers is on the passenger seat. He can have it all, if only she can have his cardboard seat cushion and spot next to the exhaust fan. The first two scenarios are believable. The last one is unimaginable. Yet, Jesus Christ did something even more inconceivable. He left God’s side in the heavenly realms to be born into our world as a human being. He made himself nothing so that we could be something. He took on our nature, carried our sins, and suffered on the cross, so that we could be with him forever. Jesus did this not only to be the greatest example of humility, but to offer his life for sinners—to give his righteousness for our unrighteousness. Jesus has done it all. Now those who live in his kingdom of grace and mercy are called to imitate his humility in their lives. How might you do that today? Prayer: Dear Jesus, send your Holy Spirit into my heart and comfort me with your love, so that I can imitate your humility in my everyday life. Amen.   Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

  5. 4d ago

    There’s No Denying It! – October 2, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20261002dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11 There’s No Denying It! “There’s no denying it. He’s the best there ever is, the best there ever was, the best there ever will be.” Do you ever find yourself making statements like this? It happens all the time with sports fans. For example, who is the greatest basketball player of all time? Jordan? Kobe? LeBron? Fans will argue whatever data fits their side. “He had more championships” or “The league was tougher during that era” or whatever else they can think of. But whether we’re talking about sports, military generals, brainiacs, or business tycoons, there isn’t anyone that EVERYONE agrees is, was, and always will be the greatest of all time. To be honest, the same is true even when it comes to religion. Every religion promotes its teaching or its figurehead as the best. As a Christian, it’s not a secret that I say that about Jesus. Hands down, without a doubt in my mind and heart, Jesus is the best. But let me plead my case. Jesus did what no one else could possibly do. Jesus lived a flawless life, a life of complete perfection, a life that he gave up so that his perfection could be gifted to you and me. However, Jesus didn’t stay dead. After three days, Jesus rose from the grave and walked out of his tomb, alive. He defeated death, an enemy that no man could but he, the God-Man, did. Until Jesus returns, religious people will continue to make their claims about their side being right and others being wrong. But there will come a day when there will be no denying it—Jesus is the best. Prayer: Dear Jesus, keep me faithful in confessing your name until the day when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that you are Lord. 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.

  6. 5d ago

    A Name Above All Others – October 1, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20261001dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. Philippians 2:9 A Name Above All Others A podcast I listen to regularly takes the time every week to read a Medal of Honor citation. The Medal of Honor is given for acts of valor, acts so heroic that the recipient often lost his life for his actions on the battlefield to save his fellow soldiers. I appreciate taking the time to hear those names and what they did. It allows me to reflect and give thanks to God for the many who have sacrificed so much for my peace and prosperity. In our Bible verse today, we are reminded of a name that cannot and will not be forgotten, a “name that is above every name,” the name Jesus. This name literally means, “God saves.” Jesus saved you and me not just with one act of valor. No, it was a lifetime! He did what we couldn’t even imagine. He lived his life perfectly. He never allowed his heart to lust. He never took something that didn’t belong to him. He never threw a punch in a burst of anger or even uttered a word out of hate. He never told a lie to hide imperfection. He didn’t have any. He never whispered gossip about another to make himself feel more important. Not once. He was and is perfect. But then he did something even more amazing: he let himself be killed on a cross so that his perfect life would be gifted to you and to me. He died so that when God looked at us, God wouldn’t see our guilt and shame. No, he would only see the perfection of Jesus. Talk about an act of valor! What a name! What a Savior! What a gift we have been given! May we cherish Jesus every single day! May we never forget that because of his sacrifice we have been saved from an eternity of pain. And with each day God gives us, may we honor him in the way we live. Prayer: Dear Jesus, you humbled yourself for me and are now exalted above all. Keep me humble in service and confident in your victory. Amen.   Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

  7. 6d ago

    I Yield – September 30, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260930dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8 I Yield When my kids were little, I loved roughhousing. ‘Daddy! Daddy! Let’s wrestle!’ they would squeal and giggle. I would body slam, clothesline, piledrive, you name it, and they would tackle and tug with all the might and strength a toddler could muster. Usually, once I tuckered them out, they would pin me down and declare themselves the kings and queens of the ring. I miss those days. Just for the record, and you’ll have to take my word for it, I could’ve beaten them any time, every time. I outweighed them by two hundred pounds. If it were a real fight, they wouldn’t have had a chance. But I yielded. I let them win. I let myself be overpowered. When I read our Bible passage today, I think back to those times when I would roughhouse and wrestle with my kids. Jesus didn’t need to submit himself to torture and execution. Jesus didn’t need to let himself be swallowed up by death. But Jesus allowed himself to die so that you and I would be saved from eternal death. He allowed himself to “lose” so that you and I could shout with joy that victory over the grave is ours! He yielded. That’s the best news you’ll hear all day! In your relationships, reflect the attitude of Jesus. Because Jesus has served you by saving you, serve others. And when they ask why, you can tell them what Jesus has done for you and for them. Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are true God, yet you made yourself nothing and went to the cross for me. Forgive me for my stubborn pride. Fill my heart so that I may have the same mindset you displayed—willing to serve, willing to put others first, willing to follow you in humble 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.

  8. Sep 29

    How Can I Help? – September 29, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260929dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 How Can I Help? ‘What do I get out of it?’ ‘What’s in it for me?’ ‘When do I get mine?’ Do you ever find yourself thinking that way? Of course you do! Everyone does. Since we were little, we have been wired to look out for me, myself, and I. I think one of the first words my children ever spoke was ‘mine.’ People are selfish. It is in our nature. But is that how God would have us live? No. The author of today’s Bible reading tells us that God has a different way, a better way for us to interact with others. He tells us to humbly put others above ourselves. Put others first? Yes! Imagine what your relationships would look like if you did that every day. Imagine what that would look like if husbands and wives put each other’s needs and desires before their own. Imagine what that would look like if parents and children always looked to serve one another. What a happy home that would be! But think if everyone did that outside of the home as well. How blessed our communities and country would be! What would make someone want to do that? The author explains that the answer is simple: Jesus. Jesus’ life was about putting you and me above himself. His mission in life was to save us, and he did that by always putting us first in his heart, to the extent that he shed blood and gave up his life for you and me. Follow Jesus’ lead, rather than asking, “What’s in it for me?” ask, “How can I help?” Remembering how Jesus served you, is there someone you could serve today? Is there someone you could put before yourself? Give it a try! Be that blessing to them! Prayer: Dear Jesus, you humbled yourself to save me. Forgive my selfish ambition and vain conceit. Create in me the same humble mind that is in you, so that I value others above myself and look to their interests in 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.

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Find inspiration, comfort and spiritual growth each day in these 5 to 10 minute devotions from God’s Word.

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  • Channel
    WELS
  • Creator
    WELS
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © WELS 2021 Copyright. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    WELS Daily Devotions

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