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https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261111fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. You see, God did not appoint us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9 (EHV) Not Surprised In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You just get done pouring yourself a tall glass of orange juice. You walk out of the kitchen doorway, when all of a sudden your brother is in your face and yells “Ahh!” to scare you. It works. You now have orange juice all over your face and shirt. You stand there stunned with juice dripping down into a puddle on the floor. Grrr . . . your brother is quite a prankster. He tries to pull this stuff all of the time. If only you had remembered that and had been ready. Did you know that people walk around all day and go about their lives unaware of the surprise that’s coming on the Last Day? And on that day, orange juice won’t be all over their faces, it’ll be shame. And this is no prank. This is something God has warned and told the world about for a long, long time. He will judge the world. He tells people to be ready for it. Yet so many ignore the warnings, and they’ll be in for a big surprise someday. Will you? As Christians, we too can fail to pay attention, we get distracted, and we ignore the warnings God gives. Instead of being ready, we can let the fun things in this life take our focus away from God. We can fall into a pattern of sinning, thinking it’s no big deal and that there’s no real harm. We can go about life as if there’s plenty of time to turn back to God and be ready. And then— “Ahh!”—the Last Day comes and it’s judgment time for God. Will that be you? Not if you remain alert. And how do you do that? By “putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (1 Thessalonians 5:8). This is a picture of battle armor. As sin and the world fight against you to take your focus off of Christ, your faith and hope in Jesus can protect you. By remembering the threat of your sins and by trusting in what Jesus did for you, you can be ready for the Last Day. You have the sure hope that God has saved you. This means that you won’t sit there on that day with a look of surprise and shame on your face. Instead, you will have a big smile because the salvation you were waiting for has finally arrived! Prayer: Holy Spirit, continue to work in my heart so I can always be alert and ready for Jesus’ return. Protect my heart and mind with faith in my salvation and always point me to Christ as I await that day. In his name I confidently pray. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Why is it important to listen to warnings? Who do we have faith in, and what did he do to save us? Questions for Elementary Age Children What will God do on the Last Day? What are some things you can do to stay alert and ready for that day? Questions for Middle School and Above What will happen to people who aren’t ready for Jesus’ return? In what ways can we help our family and friends stay alert and be ready? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261109fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 52:1-6 Wake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O Zion. So on that day they will know that I am the one—the one who is saying, “Here I am!” Isaiah 52:1,6 (EHV) The Nightmare Is Over . . . I’m Here In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Aurora’s mother went running into her daughter’s room. She had heard Aurora crying and moving around in her bed. Aurora’s eyes were closed, and her mother knew she was having a nightmare. Her mother gently shook Aurora’s shoulder and said softly, “Aurora, wake up. Aurora, you’re having a dream. Wake up, dear.” Aurora woke up suddenly, and she was so filled with fear she hugged her mother tightly. “It’s ok, my dear. The nightmare is over. There’s nothing to fear anymore. I’m here. You’re going to be fine.” Nightmares are no fun. Just ask the Israelites in Isaiah’s time. Because they turned their backs on the Lord, they would have to face a tough punishment: They would be taken away to another country and live under a different kingdom. They would lose their freedom as a nation, and they would be embarrassed in front of the whole world. And the worst part about it? It was their own fault. They had let themselves get spiritually drowsy and tired until their faith fell asleep. So, they were in a nightmare of their own making. We can find ourselves in a nightmare of our own making too. We can become spiritually drowsy and tired when we ignore our conscience again and again. Our faith can get “sleepy” when we’re not in God’s Word regularly. That’s when we can find ourselves trapped by our sins, filled with great fear over God’s judgment, and embarrassed because it’s like a nightmare of our own making. But God comes to us just as he came to Israel, and he says, “Wake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength” (Isaiah 52:1). God shakes us awake from our nightmare as he did for Israel, and he comforts us with his presence: “I am the one—the one who is saying, ‘Here I am!’” (Isaiah 52:6). The God who created us and loves us also tells us that he is here to save us. The nightmare is over. There’s nothing to fear anymore. Why is that? Because Jesus has taken our embarrassment. Every sinful moment when we were spiritually drowsy and tired, Jesus took that upon himself. Jesus took the nightmare of our making so that we could be awake and safe in God’s arms. So do not be afraid. Thanks to Jesus, the nightmare is over. Through Jesus you can cling tightly to God, and he himself assures us, “I’m here. You’re going to be fine.” Prayer: God Almighty, you show your power over all things, even my sleepy sins. Continue to be with me each day, and when I’m afraid always assure me of my forgiveness through Jesus. In him I pray. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What are some things you’re afraid of? Who will always be with you? Why? Questions for Elementary Age Children For what reasons might we doubt God’s presence in our lives? What is the ultimate proof that Jesus loves you and is with you? Questions for Middle School and Above What parts of your everyday life can make you spiritually drowsy? Think of one word to describe the feeling you get knowing that Jesus has taken away your embarrassment. Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261106fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 5:1-12 [Jesus said] “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” Matthew 5:11-12a (EHV) It’ll All Be Better in the End, Trust Me In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You got a bad scrape on your arm a couple of days ago, but Dad says now’s the time. It’s time for the worst part, the moment we dread the most when getting a scrape or a cut: it’s time to rip off the sticky bandage. You don’t want to do it! It’ll probably rip some hair out as it’s pulled off and your skin will be sore and raw. Dad says, “C’mon, you’ll be fine. It’ll be quick. It’ll all be better once it’s done. Trust me.” But you’re having trouble trusting him. You know it’s going to hurt! You often face difficulties far worse in your life of faith. People can make fun of you because you’re a Christian. They can say mean things about God, about the Bible, and about the things you believe. They might even threaten to hurt you because you have faith in Jesus. And as you go through those things, Jesus reassures you, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11). Like a dad reassuring his child when needing to rip off a sticky bandage, Jesus tells you, “You’ll have a bit of pain now, but it’ll all be better in the end. Trust me.” But it’s still tough to trust him because we don’t like to go through the pain! What if your dad also tells you, “If you go through the pain of removing this bandage, I’ll give you ice cream each day for the rest of your life”? Now that changes everything! It’d be much easier for you to go through the pain, knowing what you’ll receive afterward. That’s why you can be thankful that Jesus tells you just how blessed you’ll be after going through the pain of being a Christian in this life. He says, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12). This is way better than ice cream every day! This is the greatest blessing you could ever receive! You will not only get to be in heaven because of Jesus, but in his grace, Jesus will even reward you for being faithful to him through the pain. It doesn’t get better than that! So you can rejoice and be glad and fully trust your Savior even in the midst of the pain you face because you’re a Christian. You can do that because, while it’ll hurt a bit now, you know it’ll all be much better in the end. Trust him. Prayer: Jesus, forgive me when I doubt you and your reassurances. Build my trust in your words by reminding me every day of your eternal, abiding love shown in the cross. In you I pray. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Why does a sticky bandage hurt when pulled off? What does Jesus tell us when we’re in pain? Questions for Elementary Age Children What are some painful things we go through because we’re Christians? How do we know for sure that we’ll have a reward in heaven? Questions for Middle School and Above What are some reasons that our trust in Jesus might waver? If someone is making fun of you because of your faith, what can you remind yourself from Jesus’ words? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261104fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! The world does not know us, because it did not know him. Dear friends, we are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he is revealed we will be like him, and we will see him as he really is. Everyone who has this hope purifies himself just as Jesus is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 (EHV) We Will Be Like Him?! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Timothy always looked up to his big brother Joshua. Everything Joshua did, Timothy wanted to do. Everything Joshua was, Timothy wanted to be. Joshua was a wonderful big brother. He was kind, caring, and protective. He was a great example of wanting to do the right thing in every situation. He was exactly the kind of person someone should want to be. Timothy wanted to be just like his big brother. You probably know what that’s like. Even if you don’t have a big brother in your family, you do have a big brother in God’s family. We have been adopted into God’s family, and we are his children. That means we do have a “big brother”: Jesus. And Jesus is the perfect big brother! He is exactly the kind of person we want to be like. John even calls him “pure” here in this letter. Jesus never sinned, always did what was right, and always showed the kind of love that a person should have. We want to be just like our “big brother” Jesus. But when we look at ourselves, sometimes we don’t seem to be like Jesus at all. We have thoughts and emotions that show we’re anything but pure. We don’t always love as Jesus does. Many times, we can be mean, uncaring, and selfish. We know we don’t deserve to be God’s child. We can even question if we’re a part of God’s family at all. We want to be like our big brother, but we’re not. So, what does John tell us to do in this letter? “See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). He points us to the love of the Father that made us his children. In fact, that’s exactly why Jesus became our brother—and why he’s the best big brother! He lived a pure life as a human being so that he could give that purity to us through faith. That’s why John says, “We are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he is revealed we will be like him” (1 John 3:2). While we have to battle our sins now, when Jesus returns, we will get exactly what we want: to be pure like our big brother, Jesus. Prayer: Heavenly Father, though I am not pure, you have made me your pure child through faith in Jesus. Help me to live in perfect love like he did. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who is our perfect “big brother” in God’s family? In what ways do we want to be like Jesus? Questions for Elementary Age Children Give at least three ways God our Father has shown his fatherly love for us. When will we be perfectly pure like Jesus forever? Questions for Middle School and Above What impurity of sin are you most looking forward to having removed when we’re fully “made like Jesus”? What piece(s) of “big brother” advice do you think Jesus would give you as you live for him? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261102fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Revelation 7:9-17 These are the ones who are coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14 (EHV) Stains Washed Clean In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever gotten a stain on your clothes? Maybe it was a bright red tomato sauce stain on your shirt from that meatball that fell off your fork at dinner. Or maybe it was that grass stain on your ball uniform as you made a diving play in the outfield. Some stains come out very easily, but other stains are very difficult to get out. You have to scrub and scrub and scrub, and sometimes they never fully come out. Oh no! They’re ruined! Did you know that you can’t have a single stain if you want to enter heaven and live with God forever? I’m not talking about stains on your clothes. I’m talking about stains on your heart and on your soul. Our hearts and souls can be dirty with sin. If each sin we committed left a stain on our souls, how dirty would our souls look? That time you said something mean to your friend, that other time you didn’t listen to your mom or dad, the time you were filled with anger toward a classmate, and on and on and on with every single sin. With all of our sins, our “spiritual clothing” would be filthy through and through. Worse yet, we could never remove them! We can’t scrub our sins away by doing good things for others. We can’t cover up our sins with excuses or by saying the word “sorry.” No amount of scrubbing could ever remove our sinful stains. Yet even just one sinful stain means we can’t go to heaven? Oh no! We’re ruined! But there was one who could wash away our dirty, sinful stains. He had something powerful enough to remove even the worst stains. Our Savior Jesus, the Son of God, became the Lamb of God, and through his blood he has powerfully and completely washed away every spot. There’s not a stain of sin left on your heart and soul! All of your small mistakes and even big, big mistakes are gone! Your spiritual clothing has been washed as white as can be. So guess what that means now, thanks to Jesus, you can enter heaven and live with God forever! Your “robe” has been washed completely by the blood of the Lamb, and someday you will get to be in his loving presence forever, never worrying about sinful stains ever again. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for washing me clean. Continue to scrub me clean of sin and guilt every day and help me to live in honor of the white robe you’ve gifted to me. Keep me clean by your grace until that day I will get to praise you before your throne. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What do you do when your clothes get dirty? What did Jesus do to wash us clean? Questions for Elementary Age Children How are sins like stains on clothes? How could Jesus’ blood make our “robes” clean? Questions for Middle School and Above What sinful stains do you most often need Jesus to wash away from your heart? How could Jesus’ blood be powerful enough to wash us clean? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261030fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 10:16-23 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Matthew 10:21-23 Never Alone In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever been the only person who didn’t join in? Maybe others were laughing at someone, and you knew it was wrong. Standing apart from the crowd can feel lonely. Throughout history, Christians have faced challenges because of their faith in Jesus. Those hardships have looked different depending on the time and place, but they have always been part of following Christ. We may face them too. Today, many children are growing up surrounded by fewer Christians than their parents or grandparents did. Jesus tells us not to be surprised by this. Earlier in this chapter, he says he is sending his disciples out like sheep among wolves. Imagine a sheep surrounded by hungry wolves. That sheep needs a shepherd! As followers of Jesus, we may be teased, left out, or treated differently because of our faith. Sometimes those challenges may even come from people we know and love. The good news is that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He loved us so much that he gave his life for us, paying for all our sins—including the times we’ve been afraid to follow him. He rose again and continues to watch over and care for us. When we are hurt or discouraged, we can turn to his promises, knowing that he is working all things for our eternal good. He may not take away every hard thing, but he will never leave us to face it alone. We can also pray for those who don’t know Jesus, asking God to bring them to faith. God has also given us another wonderful gift, our Christian family and friends. Who helps you learn about Jesus? A parent, grandparent, teacher, pastor, or friend? Thank God for them! The fact that you are reading this devotion with your family shows that they care about your faith. Each time you gather with your church family, God strengthens you through his Word and surrounds you with fellow believers who encourage you. What a blessing it is to know we never follow Jesus alone! Jesus never promised that following him would always be easy. But he does promise, “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). We don’t earn heaven by being brave. Jesus has already paid for our salvation. Through his Word, he strengthens us to keep trusting him. When following Jesus feels lonely, remember: your Good Shepherd is beside you. He will bring you safely home to heaven. With Jesus, you are never alone! Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Forgive us when fear keeps us from following you. When it is hard to follow you, remind us that you are always with us. Strengthen our faith through your Word and thank you for the people who help us trust you. Keep us close to you until we live with you forever in heaven. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What are some things that make you scared? Who is always with you even during hard times? Questions for Elementary Age Children Has it ever been hard to do what is right because of what others might think? Who are people in your life that help encourage you in your faith? How could you thank one of them? Questions for Middle School and Above How could you show Jesus’ love to someone who makes fun of your faith? When might you need help from a trusted adult? How does knowing that, through faith in Jesus, your place in heaven is certain give you the courage to face challenges as a Christian? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261028fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 3:19-28 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24 The Best News Ever In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If a parent announced, “I have good news!”, what would you hope to hear next? A surprise trip? Your favorite supper? Today’s Bible reading has even better news. This week is important to Lutherans. More than 500 years ago, God used Martin Luther to remind the church of the Bible’s most important message. Through his careful study of God’s Word, including our reading from Romans, Martin Luther came to see that people are saved not by their good works but by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace means God’s love that we don’t deserve or earn. This truth changed Martin Luther’s life and helped him share the good news with others. For many years, Martin Luther believed he had to earn God’s love and forgiveness. He thought that if he did enough good works, God would accept him. We can easily fall into the same trap. We may think that if we do enough good things, God will love us more, or if we fail, he will love us less. That kind of thinking leaves us with doubts, guilt, and uncertainty because we can never do enough to earn God’s favor. Even our best efforts cannot erase our sins. Instead, God points us to the same wonderful truth of the gospel that he revealed to Martin Luther. God knows exactly how sinful we are, yet he still loves us. How do we know? He sent his one and only Son, Jesus, to live the perfect life we never could and to die on the cross to pay the full price for our sins. All the blessings Jesus won for us become ours through the free gift of faith, which the Holy Spirit works in our hearts through God’s Word. As baptized children of God, we can live with confidence that heaven is ours, not because of anything we have done, but because of everything Jesus has already done. Luther shared this good news through his preaching and writing. We can share it with our families, friends, neighbors, and classmates. We can tell them, “Jesus died and rose again for you. You don’t have to earn God’s love. Salvation is his gift!” A surprise trip ends. A favorite supper gets eaten. But Jesus’ gift of life with him lasts forever. That’s the best news ever! Prayer: Dear Lord God, thank you for your Word, which teaches us that Jesus has saved us. Thank you that we don’t have to earn your love. Thank you for sending your Son to live, die, and rise again to take away our sins. Help us trust your promises and tell others this best news ever! Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What do we call it when we break God’s commandments? Who is the only one who can save us from our sins? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why can’t we earn our way to heaven by doing good works? What has Jesus done to give us heaven? Suppose you feel guilty about something you did wrong. What good news about Jesus can you remember? Questions for Middle School and Above What Bible passage gives you the greatest comfort? Why? If a friend asked you to summarize the gospel in a couple of minutes, what would you say? How would you explain that faith is God’s gift rather than something we do to earn salvation? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261026fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Daniel 6:10-12,16-23 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10 Courage Through Christ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pray to God—and be thrown to the lions. That was the danger Daniel faced because of the king’s new law. What would you do? Stop praying? Hide? Daniel went home, got down on his knees, and prayed, just as he had before. How could he be so brave? Many years later, Martin Luther faced a frightening choice too: take back his teachings from God’s Word or risk his life. Martin Luther was the central figure of the Reformation. He helped people hear the good news that Jesus saves us by grace, not because we earn it. Martin Luther wrote 95 statements about problems he saw in the church. He hoped church leaders would read them and discuss them so the church could teach God’s truth more clearly. In the years that followed, Luther was ordered to take back his teachings, and his life was threatened. Yet rather than deny the truth of God’s Word, Martin Luther stood firm. He knew the wonderful truth that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus alone. In today’s reading, Daniel was also staring death in the face. He faithfully served King Darius. But the king had signed a law: anyone who prayed to someone other than the king would be thrown into the lions’ den! Daniel kept doing something he had done for years: taking time each day to talk to the one true God in prayer. Most of us do not face dangers like those Luther and Daniel faced. Even so, there will be times when living out our faith is not easy. Classmates may laugh at you for going to church or praying before a meal. Friends in your neighborhood may not want to include you because you choose not to join in activities that go against God’s commands. You may even have to miss an activity because your family chooses to put worship first. These challenges can hurt. Sometimes those moments tempt us to hide our faith or go along with the crowd. Sometimes we give in. But Jesus never did. He perfectly obeyed his Father and went to the cross to pay for our sins—even the times we’ve hidden our faith. He forgives us! Just as God was with Martin Luther and Daniel, he is with us too. That doesn’t mean life will always be easy, but through his Word, the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith and gives us courage to follow Jesus. As we stand firm, we point others to the wonderful truth that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus alone. We don’t have to face hard things alone. Our Savior is with us. That’s courage through Christ! Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for always being with us. Forgive us when we hide our faith or follow the crowd. Thank you for sending Jesus to save us. Through your Word, give us courage to follow him, even when it is hard. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children How do you feel when someone is mean to you? Who loves you and stays with you, even when you feel afraid? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why do you think Daniel kept praying even though he knew he could be thrown into the lions’ den? What are some ways you can live out your faith at school, with your friends, or on your team? How does knowing Jesus is with you help? Questions for Middle School and Above Daniel and Martin Luther remained faithful even when it was difficult. Where did they find the courage to do that? How does God strengthen your faith today? When is it hardest to live your faith instead of following the crowd? What comfort does Jesus give you when you have given in? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261023fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 22:15-22 [Jesus said] “Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Matthew 22:19-21 In God We Trust In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “Have you stopped cheating at games?” If you say yes, it sounds like you used to cheat. If you say no, it sounds like you still do! “But I never cheated!” That’s a trick question—it tries to get you into trouble either way. Trick questions can be very hard to answer. Somone tries to trap you: whether you answer “yes” or “no,” you lose. The Pharisees and Herodians thought they had found a perfect trick question for Jesus. Should the Jewish people pay taxes to the Roman government? If Jesus said “yes,” they could turn people who hated Roman rule against him. If he said “no,” they could report him to the roman government as a rebel. Either answer could get Jesus into trouble! How foolish these two groups were to think they could trap Jesus. He asked them to bring him a coin. Whose picture and name were on it? Caesar’s! Jesus told them to give Caesar what belonged to Caesar. They needed to pay their taxes, even if they did not agree with the government. Having answered the earthly part of their question, Jesus then taught them, and us, an important spiritual lesson. He added, “give to God what is God’s.” The coin used connected Caesar with Rome’s religion and encouraged people to view him with a loyalty that belonged only to God. Jesus was teaching that while Christians honor their government, pay taxes, and obey laws, they give their praise, worship, and trust to God alone. What does it mean to give to God what is God’s? We need to look no further than the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods.” Martin Luther explains this commandment by saying that we should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Earthly leaders should receive our respect. However, our government cannot take God’s first place in our hearts. But do we always put God first? Sometimes we care more about winning a game, having new things, or pleasing our friends than listening to him. We have sinned and need his forgiveness. Thankfully, Jesus, lived the life we never could and saved us. He always put his Father first and obeyed his earthly government perfectly. He paid for every time we haven’t, through his sacrifice on the cross. Because of Jesus, God forgives us! His love moves us to turn from sin, listen to his Word, and love others. As citizens of two kingdoms, we honor and respect the government God has placed over us. But our hearts belong to the Savior who bought us with his blood. Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for caring for us through our government. Forgive us when we put other things ahead of you. Help us honor our leaders. Above all, help us trust your love and listen to your Word. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Whose picture was on the coin Jesus asked to see? How can you show that God is the most important person in your life? Questions for Elementary Age Children What are things in your life that you are tempted to put ahead of God? How has Jesus forgiven you for those times? What is one way you can honor your government? What is one way you can worship God? Questions for Middle School and Above What are some things that compete for your loyalty and trust instead of God? How can you tell when something is becoming too important to you? What are some practical ways you can stay connected to God and his Word throughout the week? Choose one your family could do together. Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261021fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 13:1-7 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:1-2 Earthly Leaders, Heavenly King In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever had to follow a rule you didn’t like? Maybe you thought, “Why should I listen?” Paul wrote this letter while living under the rule of the Roman government. It was a powerful and often harsh government that eventually put Paul to death. So how could Paul tell Christians to honor and obey their government? He explains that God himself gives governments their authority. This year, America is celebrating an exciting milestone: 250 years as a nation! The history of our country is full of both successes and failures. For 250 years it has been led by imperfect people making imperfect decisions. Yet Paul reminds us that our government, like all governments, has been established by God. That does not mean God approves of everything leaders do. But he wants us to respect the authority he has given them. God works through government to bless us. Laws help keep us safe. Roads help us travel. Emergency workers help when danger comes. In our country, we are especially thankful for the freedom to worship the one true God. Still, we don’t always show respect. We break rules or make mean comments about leaders. These sins disobey God’s Fourth Commandment, which teaches us to honor our parents and others God places over us. Thankfully, we have a Savior who never failed to keep the Fourth Commandment. Jesus lived a perfect life in our place and went willingly to the cross to pay for all our sins, including our sins against the Fourth Commandment. As forgiven children of God, we want to thank him by obeying his commands. We can speak respectfully about our leaders, obey our country’s and community’s laws, and pray for our leaders. We can pray for the well-being, peace, and safety of our nation. What will the next 250 years look like in our country? Only God knows. But we can be certain that he will continue to work all things for the good of his church. Earthly leaders make mistakes. Our heavenly King never does. Jesus rules with perfect love, and his kingdom will never end! Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing us through our country and the freedoms we enjoy. Forgive us when we disrespect our leaders. Help us honor them, pray for them, and obey your Word. Watch over our leaders, keep our nation safe, and help us trust in Jesus, our perfect King. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who are some leaders God has given to help and protect us? What is one way you can show respect to a parent or teacher today? Questions for Elementary Age Children What are some blessings God gives us through government? Which one did you use today? Why does God want us to respect those in authority? Does respecting a leader mean agreeing with everything that leader does? Questions for Middle School and Above Why can it be difficult to honor and respect government leaders? How can Christians show respect even when they disagree with a leader’s decisions? When should Christians obey the government, and when must they obey God instead? How could they do that respectfully? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261019fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Daniel 1:3-21 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:7-8 The Name Change In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Imagine walking into school and hearing, “You can’t use your name anymore. We’ve picked a new one for you!” How would you feel? That is exactly what happened to Daniel. Babylon gave him a new education, a new home, and even a new name. But the people who changed his name wanted to change something even more important: his faith in God. The Babylonians hoped if they changed Daniel’s surroundings, they could change his heart as well. They wanted him to forget the Lord and become more like them. But Daniel remembered who he was. His name had changed, but his identity had not. He served an earthly king, but he belonged to the heavenly King. He respected the king, but when the king’s wishes went against God’s Word, Daniel obeyed God. Christians live in two kingdoms too. God places us under earthly leaders and laws. We respect the authorities God gives us. But through faith in Jesus, we also belong to God’s kingdom. Our worth does not come from popularity, success, possessions, or fitting in. Our worth comes from Jesus. Still, we often forget. We want others to like us. We compare ourselves to others. We might think, “If I had those shoes or looked like that person, then I would matter!” Too often we believe those lies. When we do, we can ask God for forgiveness. Jesus never forgot who he was or why he came. He lived perfectly in our place and gave his life on the cross for us. Because of him, our sins are forgiven and we remain God’s beloved children. In Baptism, God placed his own name on us, the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and made us his children. Led by the Holy Spirit, we can honor the authorities God has placed over us while remaining faithful to God’s Word. One day, God will call us to live forever with him in heaven. Until that day, remember Daniel: people could change his name, but they could not change whose child he was. Whatever others call you, through faith in Jesus, you are God’s beloved child! Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for making us your children through faith in Jesus. Forgive us when we care more about fitting in than following you. Help us remember that we belong to you. Give us courage to obey your Word each day. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Ask your parents: Why did they choose your name? God made you his child in Baptism. Whose child are you? Questions for Elementary Age Children What would be the hardest part of having to move to a new country? What would comfort you about belonging to God? Suppose a friend asks you to do something God says is wrong. What could you say? Questions for Middle School and Above How can social media make people feel that their worth depends on their looks, belongings, or popularity? What does Jesus’ love tell you about your worth? How does knowing that God placed his name on you in Baptism help you remember who you are when others pressure you to fit in? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261016fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Matthew 22:1-14 ’Friend, how did you get in here without wearing wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. Matthew 22:12 (EHV)   Wear Your Wedding Clothes! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. On July 3, 2026, singer Taylor Swift married Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce in a ceremony at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Lots of fans would have loved to attend! But you couldn’t just walk through the doors. Only invited guests could enter, and security officers helped keep others out. Imagine how exciting it would have been to receive an invitation! In the gospel reading, Jesus tells of a wedding banquet with room for many guests. The king who’s throwing the party sends messengers out multiple times to bring still more people to the feast. The original guests rejected the king’s kind offer to join the party, just like the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus as the Promised Savior sent from God. So, the king sent out his messengers to take his gracious invitation to the people in the streets, inviting everyone they found. God’s good news is for all people too! But when the banquet hall was full, the king noticed someone wasn’t wearing wedding clothes he provided for all the guests. The man had come to the party, but he refused to honor the king. So out that man went into the darkness, where there was crying and pain. “For many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). So, what’s the point? When it comes to our place at God’s heavenly wedding banquet, it’s only by the King’s undeserved love that we’re invited. And we cannot come dressed in our own goodness. We need the perfect goodness of Jesus. Because of our sin, we should spend eternity on the wrong side of the door, begging to be let into God’s presence. But in God’s kingdom, he’s the one who invites us in. He sent Jesus to win our forgiveness. Through faith in him, his perfect goodness covers us like wedding clothes. He keeps inviting, over and over again, seeking and saving the lost. But there’s still room at the party! Clothed in the wedding clothes of Jesus’ perfection, we are sent into the world with his gracious invitation— “Everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet!” Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you not only for inviting us to the heavenly wedding banquet, but also for doing everything necessary to get us there. Your blood and righteousness cover us. Help us always to rejoice to be found clothed in your perfection. In your name. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children How would you feel if you were invited to a super special party? How do you feel knowing that you’re invited to God’s heavenly wedding feast? When you get dressed in the morning, what other set of clothes does Jesus give you to wear? Questions for Elementary Age Children Read Matthew 22:1-6. What did the invited guests do instead of coming to the feast? How do people today reject God’s invitation to come to his wedding feast? Questions for Middle School and Above What are some pictures from this parable that you could use as you tell a friend about Jesus? How does this story show God’s strong desire for more and more people to come to his feast? How could your family share his invitation this week? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261014fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Romans 1:16-17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 I Am Not Ashamed! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Do you find it odd that Paul says he’s “unashamed” of the gospel? Paul had a lot in his past to be ashamed of—he had hurt people who followed Jesus. But why would he ever be ashamed of the good news of sins forgiven in Jesus? The message of the cross tells us that God became human in Jesus and died to pay for the sins of the world. That message can sound foolish or even make people angry. Our sinful hearts want to believe we can earn God’s love by being good enough. Yet Paul was not ashamed of this message because this promise brought salvation to everyone who believes. Your sin is forgiven! You’ve been clothed in Christ! That’s not a cause for shame, but for rejoicing! But maybe that’s not your issue. “I’m not ashamed of the gospel; I’m just bored with it. I’ve heard it all before.” Or, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel; I’ve moved past it. Give me something harder to learn than ‘Jesus loves me.’” Or maybe you’re not ashamed of the gospel; you’re ashamed of yourself. “If anybody knew what I’ve done—or the good things I haven’t done—they wouldn’t want me around.” You might even wonder whether Jesus wants you. In despair, I say, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel, I’m just not worthy of it.” The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to show us how much we need Jesus. He also uses that Word to show us how completely Jesus has rescued us and to give us faith in him. Paul said, “In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last” (Romans 1:17). Righteousness means being right with God. We cannot earn it. Jesus gives us his perfect goodness as a gift, received through faith. Now you can admit your sins instead of hiding them. You can rejoice that Jesus came to rescue you. Your sins do not have the final word—your Savior does. Jesus removes the shackles of sin from your hands, and you’re free now. That’s the gospel. You never outgrow your need for it, and you never need to earn it. Christ’s righteousness is yours through faith. Because of Jesus, you can face each day forgiven and unashamed. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for taking away our sin and shame. Bless us with confidence in your undeserved love and the gift of righteousness that you give us. Help us to live every day unashamed of your tremendous grace to us. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What do you do when you feel sad about doing something wrong? Who forgives you? Wrap yourself up in a big blanket. Just as the blanket covers you, Jesus’ perfect goodness covers all your sins. Because of Jesus, how does God see you? (Hint: “clothed in Christ”) Questions for Elementary Age Children Why might someone who thinks they can earn God’s love get upset when told they need Jesus to save them? Why is it so important to keep returning to the simple truth of Jesus’ love for you—even when you’ve heard it many times? Questions for Middle School and Above Bored with the gospel, feeling you’ve outgrown the gospel, or feeling unworthy of the gospel: which is the biggest temptation for you? How does this devotion answer it? How does the promise that Jesus makes you right with God as a gift set you free to live joyfully in this world? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20261012fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 25:6-9 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. Isaiah 25:6 Come to the Feast! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sadly, it seems feasting has gone out of style. Big family meals can be hard to fit into our schedules. The excuses are predictable: there’s too much food, it’s unhealthy, too much work, and not enough time. With school, sports, homework, and busy family calendars, it’s not too surprising that we struggle to gather around a table and enjoy a meal together. Isaiah uses the picture of a banquet to whet our appetites for the feasting we’ll get to do forever in God’s glorious presence. The Lord has sent out the invitations, planned the party, and set the table himself for our heavenly wedding banquet. The menu? The best of meats and the finest of wines—more good things than we can imagine! But what makes this party truly special is what won’t be there: death. “On this mountain [the Lord] will swallow up death forever” (Isaiah 25:8). Have you ever missed someone at a family meal because that person had died? It’s why there is sometimes an empty chair at even the best earthly parties. Death has stolen some of our joy, but Jesus walked out of his tomb alive and defeated death once and for all. As we wait for that heavenly feast, our God still sets the earthly table for us with a full menu—his good news in the Bible, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. But who’s got time for it? Our Savior invites us to feast on his promises to us, but we’ve got other stuff going on. We skip hearing his Word because we’re busy—or because we’d rather do something else. We’re missing the food our faith needs to grow because we’ve allowed other important things to crowd out what we need most: Jesus and his Word. Without him we wither and die. Rather than let us spend eternity apart from him at a table by ourselves in hell, Jesus did something. He made you his priority. Going all the way to a cross and out of an empty tomb, Jesus let nothing crowd out the eternally important work of saving you, forgiving you, loving you, and preparing for you a feast in heaven. Then we’ll say with all God’s people for all eternity: “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us” (Isaiah 25:9). Jesus has made a place for you. Come to the feast! Enjoy his promises today and look forward to being with him forever. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving us from our sins and for preparing a place for us at your heavenly banquet. Until we arrive there, help us always to feast on your good news in the gospel and invite still more people to come to the feast with us! In your name. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Did you get to pick dinner on your birthday? What made that special? When you pray, “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,” how does that help us remember the heavenly party Jesus is planning for us? Questions for Elementary Age Children Re-read Isaiah 25:6-9. What good things will be at God’s feast? What sad things won’t be there? How did Jesus “set the table” for us at his feast in heaven? Questions for Middle School and Above What activities sometimes crowd out your time with God’s Word? What could help you make time to hear his promises? How can the certainty of God’s promised heavenly feast help you when you face hard times in life? Download Family Devotions     Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.