WELS - Daily Devotions

What About Jesus
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WELS delivers a daily podcast devotional message Monday through Friday each week.

  1. Return to the Shepherd – May 2, 2026

    13H AGO

    Return to the Shepherd – May 2, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260502dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. I Peter 2:25 Return to the Shepherd From time to time, the Bible calls us “sheep.” That isn”t very flattering, is it? If a wolf is bearing down, how could a single sheep protect itself? The score every time is: Wolf 1, Sheep 0. If there is a drought, where would the sheep find decent water and grass? And the very worst? If a sheep goes astray into real but invisible danger, they have no way of escaping it. How incriminating it is to hear the apostle Peter tell us, “you were like sheep going astray.” Perhaps you thought you could handle a little temptation on the computer. Or you thought you could get drunk just once and then get behind the wheel. Or, you thought you deserved the right to stay angry at so-and-so. The danger became oh-so-real, oh-so-fast. It’s time to return to the Shepherd. No more excuses. No more wandering. No more thinking that you can stare temptation in the eye and handle it alone. No more thinking that you can solve all your problems. No more being deceived into thinking that you’re in control when you are not. Return to the Shepherd! Let him be your Overseer. Let his promises guide your way. Listen to him as he tells you, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). There you are safe for eternity. Prayer: Dear Shepherd, I don’t want to wander from you. Please watch over me that I might never go astray and be safe under your 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.

    3 min
  2. With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Home – May 1, 2026

    1D AGO

    With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Home – May 1, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260501dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Home By the time David was finally crowned king of Israel at the age of 30, he had spent nearly half of his life on the run from the jealous King Saul, who saw him as a rival to be eliminated. At one point, David pleaded with the king to give up this pointless manhunt, saying, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?” (1 Samuel 26:18). Although the king relented that day, it would still be some time before David could settle down in one place. How exhausting it must have been to be constantly hounded that way for so many years! You likely do not have a mortal enemy like young David did. But maybe you have felt chased in a more metaphorical way—constantly pursued by memories of past mistakes, of words or actions that make you blush or inwardly moan just to think of them years later. Hounded by a guilty conscience, we may even begin to doubt whether God will forgive us. David had that experience too, after making some terribly sinful choices later in life. He wrote in Psalm 51: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” In the closing verse of what is probably David’s most famous psalm, he writes of a very different kind of chase: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me [literally, pursue me] all the days of my life.” David had learned that no matter how great our sin, the Lord’s love for us is even greater. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, pursues his wandering sheep and gently restores us to himself. During our life on earth, the Lord invites us to find shelter in his house of worship; and when we depart from this earth one day, he will welcome us into his heavenly home, where “the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd…. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17). Prayer: (CW, 552:6) And so through all the length of days Your goodness fails me never; Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise Within your house forever! 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 min
  3. With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Honored – April 30, 2026

    2D AGO

    With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Honored – April 30, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260430dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Am Honored The story arc of Psalm 23 moves fast enough to make your head spin. It begins with David identifying with a lowly sheep, content to recline in the presence of the Lord, his loving Shepherd, knowing that plenty of green grass and clean water are available. Then Shepherd and sheep are up and walking, and the paths seem right—until suddenly all is dark and scary. Fortunately, David is aware that the Shepherd is with him in that shadowy valley, fending off unknown and unseen assailants on every hand. One verse later, the darkness is lifted, revealing the enemies before him, but the tables have turned in an unexpected way. The lowly sheep from the pasture is now the guest of honor at the Lord’s own Table. Those who meant harm to him can do nothing but watch in humiliation and defeat, as he receives every sign of hospitality and honor. Perhaps this sequence of events reflects the way King David looked back on his own life. He went from a young man tending his father’s sheep to a giant-slayer to being hunted by the king as a traitor to being anointed and crowned king himself. How could a young shepherd ever imagine receiving such honor? In gratitude for all these blessings and more, David prayed, “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” (2 Samual 7:18). He knew better than anyone that it was only by God’s grace that he was blessed in this way. Jesus Christ—both David’s descendant and his Lord—is the Shepherd King who displays lavish hospitality on us, the sheep of his flock. He took our shame and lowliness upon himself, dying in our place, so that he might share his glory with us. When Satan points out our sin, Jesus stuns him into silence, graciously inviting us to his Table where our Lord’s own body and blood assure us of forgiveness. Jesus, our Shepherd, welcomes us as honored guests, anointing us with joy and the Holy Spirit. Prayer: (CW, 552:5) You spread a table in my sight, A banquet here bestowing; Your oil of welcome, my delight; My cup is overflowing. 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 min
  4. With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Safety – April 29, 2026

    3D AGO

    With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Safety – April 29, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260429dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Safety A young couple, seemingly blessed in so many ways, learns that their daughter has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer, and the prognosis is not promising. How did this happen, they wonder. What is God’s plan in this? In verse 3 of Psalm 23, King David confidently states that the Lord guides him “along the right paths.” One verse later, however, he finds himself walking through the darkest valley—in some translations, “the valley of the shadow of death.” How did he end up here when just a moment ago he was resting in green pastures? The truth is that the Lord often leads his people into dark and dangerous times in life. These can take many different forms of suffering, loss, hardship, and trials, which may affect both body and soul. And yes, one day death too will cast its shadow over our lives. Although some of these may correlate to bad choices we make along the way, it is never a matter of the Lord leading us wrong or leaving us alone along the path. The darkness of the valley may prevent us from seeing clearly, but it doesn’t keep our Lord from remaining in control. Even in those dark days, we can join with David in saying, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Jesus, our Good Shepherd, watches over us and powerfully protects us from our greatest enemies: sin, death, and the devil. Not even death can separate us from the love of God, which is ours in Christ Jesus. “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom 8:28). Prayer: (CW, 552:4) In death’s dark vale I fear no ill with you, dear Lord, beside me, your rod and staff my comfort still, your cross before to guide 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.

    3 min
  5. With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Rest – April 28, 2026

    4D AGO

    With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Rest – April 28, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260428bdev.mp3 Listen to Devotion He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:2-3 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Have Rest In classical Greek and Roman literature, an idyll was a short poem about shepherds. Later, the term was broadened to include poetic depictions of peaceful countryside settings in general. The “idyllic life,” so to speak, was supposed to exist somewhere between the untamed wilderness and the bustling city, in the quiet green meadows where the grass is soft beneath your feet, and the wind softly rustles in the branches above your head. Can you picture yourself as the shepherd gently resting there with his flock? It may have taken a little hike to reach the spot, but once you’ve arrived, you can linger and lounge and maybe even find yourself dozing off. In such a tranquil setting, there is no hurry, no threat, no pressing need. A bubbling brook with clear, cool water is nearby, should you get thirsty. And there’s plenty of grass for the sheep to nibble on, should they get hungry. Surely, shepherds and sheep can tarry in such a place for a while. King David, a former shepherd himself, may have longed for such simpler days later in life. But even in the worst of times, David knew where he could find rest. The Lord himself would refresh his soul with promises of love and forgiveness. When your soul is weighed down by sin and all its nasty consequences, Jesus gently invites you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). See, your guilt has been removed in your baptism in the name of the Triune God! When your conscience is stirred up by the memory of your many failings, insisting you need to make things right, you need to make it better—look to your Lord Jesus, who has already given you his own righteousness so that you stand before God holy and blameless. He gives you strength for the journey and refreshes your soul with his Word and sacraments. Calm your heart and rest in the Lord! Prayer: (CW, 552:2) Where streams of living water flow, My Savior gently leads me, And where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feeds 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.

    3 min
  6. With Jesus My Shepherd, I Lack Nothing – April 27, 2026

    5D AGO

    With Jesus My Shepherd, I Lack Nothing – April 27, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260427dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1 With Jesus My Shepherd, I Lack Nothing What is missing in your life? In the context of reading this devotion and having just been reminded of the opening verse of Psalm 23, you might quickly confess with David, “Since the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.” But as the day goes on, the week progresses, and you look at your bills, deadlines, relationships, health, and responsibilities, you might feel there is something missing. There may be something lacking in your marriage, job satisfaction, daily routines, or life in general. Maybe you could name that missing thing right away. Maybe even talk for an hour over coffee with a friend about what your life is lacking. So why have countless generations of God’s people had these words of David on their lips, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want”? Is it a calm expression of trust in God’s providence? Is it to remind themselves to be content, despite their feelings of loss, frustration, or fear? Or is it a prayer, asking the Lord to keep their minds focused on his love for them? You likely would not be surprised if I suggested it was all of the above. It’s true that some things people long for flow from misplaced priorities. The human heart, darkened by original sin, may have you desiring things that are not yours or that are not for your good. The Lord calls you to repent and to return to him, finding in his forgiving grace the one thing you truly need in this life. In other cases, what seems missing may be a truly God-pleasing thing, a blessing only he can give, but for some reason seems elusive to you right now: like peace, safety, contentment, or hope. The Lord invites you to trust his love for you and his promises, which are all fulfilled in Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He bound himself to you and laid down his life for you. You can confidently say with David, “He is my shepherd. With him, I have everything I will ever need.” Prayer: (CW, 552:1) The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness fails me never; I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine forever. 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 min
  7. Through Christ Alone! – April 26, 2026

    6D AGO

    Through Christ Alone! – April 26, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260426dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.” John 10:9 Through Christ Alone! “I just don’t know. I’ll have to think about it some more.” That was all John could say. He wasn’t sure if he could agree with what Paul had told him. Paul had just told his friend about the way to heaven. He wanted to make sure John knew it was only through Jesus that he could be saved. This concerned John and made him ask, “Then, what about everyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus? Will God exclude good, moral people if they don’t believe?” The debate still lingers. People like John still feel there are various ways to enter heaven. However, Jesus reveals something completely different. There is only one way to enter heaven, and that is through him. When he says, “I am the gate,” there are only two things that can happen. The door into heaven will be opened, or the door will be closed, and the only way the door will be opened is through Jesus Christ. In spite of what Jesus says, there is still the desperate hope that other alternatives exist. I may even hope that there are other ways which God would find acceptable. Unfortunately, everything else fails because entry is only through Christ alone. Jesus is the only way because he did what was needed for me and for all people to enter heaven. Jesus offered his Father the perfect, obedient life that was required, which I could never live. Jesus paid his Father the full price, which was required, and which I could never pay. Without Jesus, I may desire to be in heaven, but I will never enter it. This is why I need to look to Jesus alone. He makes it possible for me to come into heaven, where he gladly welcomes me. Then I will have everything I need and will live in never-ending joy. How truly blessed I am to know that I am saved through Christ alone. Prayer: O dearest Jesus, my Lord and my Savior, you have provided the way to heaven, and you have called me through your word to enter eternal life. Give me the faith I need to trust that I am saved through you alone. 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 min
  8. It Has to Happen – April 25, 2026

    APR 25

    It Has to Happen – April 25, 2026

    https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260425dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” Luke 24:25-26 It Has to Happen Jesus spoke these words to two of his followers walking to Emmaus the day he rose from the dead. But these two didn’t understand that Jesus HAD TO be alive. Why did he have to be alive? Because that’s what God through the prophets said would happen. These two must have heard the prophecies before that Jesus would die and rise again. They must have heard Jesus say that he would die and rise again. But what they didn’t understand was that what God says has to happen. This is such a huge concept for us to understand as well. There are times in our lives when it seems the wheels are coming off. It’s one problem after the next. Yet God says to those who believe in him, “I have plans to prosper you” (Jeremiah 29:11). God says he will prosper us. And what God says has to happen. We ask God to help us, but feel he isn’t. Yet he says in Psalm 50:15, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you.” God says he will deliver us. And what God says has to happen. We confess our sins to God and ask him to forgive us. But we don’t feel forgiven. We still stew on and feel that guilt. Yet God says in 1 John 1:7, “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” God says he has washed away every sin with Jesus’ blood. And what God says has to happen. Our own words and the words of others aren’t always reliable. But what God says is fail-proof. It is reliable. We can completely trust that whatever he says and promises WILL HAPPEN. Prayer: Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith so that I trust that what you promise will happen. 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 min
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About

WELS delivers a daily podcast devotional message Monday through Friday each week.

Information

  • Creator
    What About Jesus
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019 Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. All Rights Reserved. www.wels.net
  • Show Website
    WELS - Daily Devotions

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