I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. Isaiah 63:7
Mercy and Compassion
A highly respected running coach was once asked what he would do if he wanted to make his own son an Olympic runner. He responded, “I would get him a coach that believed he could be an Olympian.” After all his years of training runners, this man had learned that having a coach who believed in his runner was a key component to helping that athlete reach his true potential.
Isaiah describes the Lord looking at his people and saying, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me.” How could the Lord say this when Israel had turned its back on him again and again? It wasn’t that God thought he could make his people better simply by believing in them. No, God calls Israel his people because in his love and mercy, he made them his people. “He became their Savior.”
A coach might help an athlete achieve his greatest potential by believing in him, but God has done much more for us. Simply believing in us would not have been enough, because left to ourselves, our only potential was to go our own way and stray further away from him. So, God in his love and mercy redeemed us. By sending his only Son, he bought us back from our destiny of being sinners forever separated from him. This truth causes our Christmas joy to overflow every day of the year. In his loving kindness, the Lord has made us his people, who are given the righteousness and obedience of his Son.
What’s our response to such mercy and compassion? We can join with Isaiah in saying, “I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us.”
Prayer:
Merciful and compassionate God, I thank you for being my Savior. You have made me your child through the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ. Help me to speak of your kindness, of all that you have done for me. Amen.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:22-25
God With Us
Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah that he would be born of a virgin. God inspired the apostle Matthew to write about the fulfillment of that prophecy. Joseph had no sexual relations with Mary until Jesus was born. Joseph was not Jesus’ father; God was.
Isaiah said that “they will call him Immanuel”—(which means, “God with us).” The baby born of the virgin Mary is God with us—God became a human being because we are unable to save ourselves. We are unable to keep his commandments. We are unable even to do the one thing he requires of us: “Be holy” (Leviticus 19:2). The baby born of the virgin Mary is God with us—God became human to be one of us. To feel like we do. To eat and drink like we do. To walk and talk like we do. To go through what we go through.
He didn’t do this because he needed to, but because we needed him to; so that “God with us” would show us that a human could do what God demanded. And so that “God with us” could suffer and die, and in doing so, pay for our sins. Since he is human, he could die. Since he is God, his payment is for all of us, for all time.
Joseph gave him the name “Jesus.” His name declares his great purpose for coming from heaven to be with us on earth. He is our Savior who came to take us from earth to heaven!
Prayer:
Jesus, you came down from heaven to be with us. Your life and death accomplished my salvation. I worship and honor you for your great love. Come again and take me to be with you in heaven. Amen.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2
He Has Spoken by His Son
When people want to know God’s will, they often search for a voice. Some look for signs in nature, others for whispers in their hearts. Some chase after visions or dramatic experiences. But the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that we don’t need to guess where God speaks. We already have his clear Word.
Long ago, God spoke through prophets like Moses and Isaiah. Their words were true, and they pointed forward to something greater. All those voices prepared the way for the day when God would speak through his Son.
And that day has come. In Jesus, God has spoken once for all. Do you want to know how God feels about you? Look at his Son. See Jesus reaching out to touch the untouchable leper. Hear his voice calming the fearful. Watch him carrying your sins to the cross. Listen as he cries out, “It is finished!” That is God’s message to you. No uncertainty. No guesswork. God loves you, forgives you, and calls you his child.
Notice also how Jesus is described. He is the heir of all things, the One through whom the universe was made. This is no ordinary messenger. When he speaks, it is not merely advice or suggestion. It is the voice of the eternal Son of God. And that means you can trust his promises with complete confidence.
So, when doubts arise, when your heart longs for assurance, you don’t need to wait for a special sign from heaven. You already have the greatest sign: God has spoken by his Son. Open the Scriptures. Hear him there. His Word is living and active, still speaking forgiveness and peace into your life today.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are the final and full Word of God. When I am tempted to look elsewhere for assurance, turn me back to you. Let me rest in your promises, for in you I hear God’s love loud and clear. Amen.
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9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingship and patient endurance in Jesus, [1] was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. [2]
10 I was in spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard a loud voice behind me, like a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write what you see on a scroll and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
Jesus Appears
12 I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was clothed with a robe that reached to his feet, and around his chest he wore a gold sash. 14 His head and his hair were white, like white wool or like snow. His eyes were like blazing flames. 15 His feet were like polished bronze being refined in a furnace. His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand. A sharp two-edged sword was coming out of his mouth. His face was shining as the sun shines in all its brightness.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last— 18 the Living One. I was dead and, see, I am alive forever and ever! I also hold the keys of death and hell. [3]
19 “So write what you have seen, both those things that are and those that will take place after this.
20 “The mystery of the seven stars, which you saw in my right hand, and the seven gold lampstands is this: The seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Footnotes
Revelation 1:9 Some witnesses to the text read Christ.
Revelation 1:9 A few witnesses to the text add Christ.
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants the things that must soon take place. Christ expressed this revelation by means of symbols sent [1] through his angel to his servant John. 2 John spoke as a witness to the word of God and to the testimony about [2] Jesus Christ, that is, to everything he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and hold on to the things written in it, because the time is near.
Greeting
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia: [3]
Grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and who is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed [4] us from our sins by his own blood 6 and made us a kingdom and priests to God his Father—to him be the glory and the power forever. Amen.
7 Look, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. And all the nations of the earth will mourn because of him. Yes. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” [5] says the Lord God, the one who is, and who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.
Footnotes
Revelation 1:1 Or Christ communicated these things by sending them
Revelation 1:2 Or of
Revelation 1:4 Here Asia refers to the Roman province of Asia (located in what is now Turkey), not the continent of Asia.
Revelation 1:5 Some witnesses to the text read washed. (“Witnesses to the text” mentioned in footnotes may include Greek manuscripts, lectionaries, translations, and quotations in the church fathers.)
Revelation 1:8 Some witnesses to the text add the Beginning and the End.
Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise him in the heights. 2 Praise him, all his angels. Praise him, all his armies. 3 Praise him, sun and moon. Praise him, all you bright stars. 4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters which are above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, because he commanded, and they were created. 6 He caused them to stand forever and ever. He gave a decree, and it will not pass away.
Praise From the Earth
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, great sea creatures and all the depths, 8 fire and hail, snow and fog, storm winds that obey his word, 9 mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, 10 wild animals and all cattle, crawling creatures and flying birds, 11 kings of the earth and all peoples, officials and all judges on earth, 12 young men and also young women, old people with young people. 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. 14 He has raised up a horn [2] for his people— the praise of all his favored ones— for the children of Israel, the people close to him. Praise the Lord.
Psalm 149
Praise Him, All His People
1 Praise the Lord. [3]
The Church Triumphant
Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praise in the congregation of his favored ones. 2 Let Israel rejoice in its Maker. Let the people of Zion celebrate for their King. 3 Let them praise his name with dancing. With hand drum and lyre let them make music to him. 4 For the Lord is pleased with his people. He adorns the humble with salvation. 5 Let those he favors rejoice in honor. Let them shout for joy on their beds.
The Church Militant
6 May high praise of God be in their throats, and a two-edged sword in their hands, 7 to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with iron shackles, 9 to carry out the judgment written against them. This is the glory of all his favored people. Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150
Praise the Lord!
1 Praise the Lord. [4]
Where?
Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in the expanse that shows his might.
Why?
2 Praise him for his acts of power. Praise him according to his abundant greatness.
How?
3 Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn. Praise him with the harp and the lyre. 4 Praise him with hand drums and dancing. Praise him with the strings and the flute. 5 Praise him with the sounding cymbals. Praise him with loud cymbals.
Who?
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Footnotes
Psalm 148:1 Hebrew hallelu Yah
Psalm 148:14 The word horn is a reference to power. Here it refers to the Messiah.
How good it is to make music to our God. Yes, praise is pleasant and fitting! 2 The one who builds Jerusalem is the Lord. He assembles the outcasts of Israel. 3 He is the one who heals the brokenhearted and who bandages their wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power. To his understanding there is no limit. 6 The one who sustains the humble is the Lord. He pushes the wicked down to the ground.
The Creator Loves His People
7 Respond to the Lord with thanksgiving. Make music to our God on the lyre. 8 He is the one who covers the sky with clouds. He determines rain for the earth. He makes grass sprout on the mountains. 9 He gives their food to the cattle and to the young ravens when they call. 10 He is not impressed by the strength of the horse. He is not pleased with the legs of a man. 11 The Lord is pleased with those who fear him, those who wait for his mercy.
The Creator Reveals His Word
12 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem. Praise your God, O Zion, 13 because he strengthens the bars on your gates. He blesses your children within you. 14 He brings peace to your borders. He satisfies you with the best wheat. 15 He sends his message to the earth. His word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool. He scatters frost like ashes. 17 He sends his hail like pieces of bread. Who can stand in the face of his cold winds? 18 He sends his word, and the ice melts. He breathes on the snow. [2] The waters flow. [3] 19 He reveals his words to Jacob, his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 20 He has not done this for any other nation. They do not know his judgments.
Praise the Lord.
Footnotes
Psalm 147:1 Hebrew hallelu Yah
Psalm 147:18 Or he sends his wind on them
Psalm 147:18 The words ice and snow are added to clarify the antecedents.
Praise the Lord, O my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will make music to my God as long as I exist.
No Help in Humans
3 Do not trust in human helpers, [2] in a mortal man who cannot save you. 4 His spirit departs. He returns to the ground he came from. On that day, his plans have perished.
Help in the Lord
5 Blessed is everyone who has the God of Jacob as his help. His hope is in the Lord his God, 6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything which is in them. He is the one who stays faithful forever. 7 He obtains justice for the oppressed. He gives food to the hungry. The Lord releases prisoners. 8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. The Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the aliens. The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but he turns aside the way of the wicked.
An Eternity for Praise
10 The Lord reigns forever. Your God, O Zion, rules for all generations. Praise the Lord.
Footnotes
Psalm 146:1 Hebrew hallelu Yah
Psalm 146:3 The Hebrew word refers to rich people who have the willingness and the means to help the needy.
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Tornadoes, hurricanes, heavy rainfall, forest fires—it’s been a busy fall for WELS Christian Aid and Relief, which responds on behalf of WELS members to reflect Christ’s love to people facing […]
Julie K. Wietzke Different histories, one future When we talk about reaching out to other cultures in the United States, we can’t ignore the amazing opportunities God is providing for […]
The synod’s new long-range plan, entitled “Christ through us,” has four main priorities. One of those four involves bringing Christ to the nations through our world mission efforts. Rev. Larry […]
Leaders from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) gathered last week near Jacksonville, Fla., for two days of theological […]
During 2025, WELS has commemorated the 175th anniversary of its founding, 175 years of God’s work among us and through us. Resources have been produced and presentations given. This year […]
The Synodical Council met Nov. 7–8 for its fall meeting at the Center for Mission and Ministry, Waukesha, Wis. The Synodical Council (SC) is the group of lay leaders and […]