To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds…The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. Daniel 1:17,19-20
The Way God Made Me
I am six feet four inches. I sometimes get asked, “Why are you so tall?”
The answer is simple: “That’s just the way God made me.”
Daniel could have said the same. He was a young man from Israel, taken captive to Babylon, far from home. After three years of training, the king found him and his friends ten times better than any other adviser. But what looked like a self-made success story was really God-given grace.
Our world loves self-made success stories. It tells us to prove ourselves and claims we are only worth what we accomplish. But your mind, your strength, your skills, and every open door in your life are gifts from God. Effort matters, but God is still the giver.
God’s greatest gift wasn’t a talent at all. It was his Son. Jesus lived and died to forgive every wrong we’ve done, including the pride and worry that come from trying to prove ourselves. Because of Jesus, God calls you his dear child, loved and forgiven. You don’t have to prove yourself to him.
Wherever God has placed you, you are free to serve others with the gifts he has given you. So use them today with gladness. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if you were working for God.
And when people ask you why you are the way you are, answer them: “That’s just the way God made me!”
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts and abilities you have given me. Teach me to serve faithfully where you have placed me without forgetting that I belong to you. Amen.
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 then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food.” . . . At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. Daniel 1:8,12,13,15
God Honors the Odd One Out
When I was three, my family moved overseas. I realized I was in the minority. That’s an uncomfortable feeling.
Have you ever been the odd one out?
Daniel was too. As a young man, he was taken from his home to a distant land with a different culture. The king of that land wanted Daniel and other young Israelite nobles to serve in his palace. So, they were trained in Babylon’s language and literature and commanded to eat from the royal menu.
To Daniel, eating the royal food meant dishonoring God. So Daniel, already an outsider, chose to stand out even more. He respectfully asked to live on vegetables and water, and God honored his choice. After ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than everyone else.
God’s people still face pressure to fit in—to speak, act, and think in ways that don’t honor God. But the Bible says: don’t let the world change you; let God change you.
He changes you through the power and promises of Jesus Christ. Jesus never gave in to the sinful ways of the world around him. Even when faithfulness cost him his life, he gave it freely. He died to forgive your sins and to send you his Spirit, who gives you power, love, and self-control to honor God.
Whatever the world offers you today, don’t just remember Daniel. Remember Jesus, your Savior, who now rules from heaven’s throne, and give God what is his: your praise, honor, trust, and life. That may be hard, but it is worth it. God honors those who honor him, even when no one else is watching.
Prayer:
Lord, give me courage to honor you with faithful choices. When I’m tempted, remind me of the feast you are preparing for me in heaven. Amen.
Then [Jesus] said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’ Matthew 22:21
What is God’s?
A question I sometimes ask people is “What belongs to God?” After asking that question—and enjoying the befuddled looks on their faces as they try to think it through—I rephrase the question, “Is there anything that doesn’t belong to God?” And with great relief, they answer, “No.”
Everything belongs to God: The shirt on our back, the car that we drive, the place where we live, the people in our life, the world in which we dwell, the rain, the snow—God made them all, and they all belong to him.
This means that God has also made us. The Psalmist writes, “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Ps. 139:13). Or, to put it another way, you are not a product of chance or an accident. You are truly a one-of-a-kind, specially designed, creation of God who chose to give you life at a particular moment in history and who preserves that life in this world, at least until today.
You belong to God. He is your life-giver and life-preserver. He knows what you need in this life. He also knows that you need a Savior from your wrongdoings that would separate you from him for time and eternity. So, he gave his Son and punished him on the cross in order to save you from wrongdoings, guilt over them, and their eternal consequences.
What belongs to God? You do!
Prayer:
God, help me to respond to your wonderful love by seeing all that you have given me so that I might use everything to serve you. God, help me to always joyfully give to you what is yours. Amen.
Fall 2026 meeting update from WELS Conference of Presidents The Conference of Presidents (COP) met at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha, Wis., October 6-9, for its annual fall meeting. Although the COP met virtually during […]
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Home Missions faces $2 million reduction in spending The work of WELS Home Missions has always involved balancing aggressive efforts to plant new churches and reach the lost with wise and diligent stewardship of the resources God provides. […]
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Fifty writers begin work on theology curriculum: video update In the fall 2026 video update, Melanie Giddings, WELS Lutheran Schools curriculum coordinator, shares progress on the theology curriculum project. Watch the video to learn more about the four writing […]
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Luther Preparatory School – October 2026 update Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis., is investing in building a new music center. Matt Crass, president, describes what the “Magnify” project entails and how it will help enhance the […]
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew? Or what benefit is there to circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Indeed, above all else, they were entrusted with the messages of God.
3 Now what if some did not believe? Their unbelief [1] will not nullify God’s faithfulness, will it? 4 Absolutely not! God must be true, even though everyone is found to be a liar, just as it is written:
So that you would be justified whenever you speak, and win the case when you judge. [2]
An Absurd Conclusion
5 Now if our unrighteousness demonstrates God’s righteousness, what shall we say? God is not unjust in bringing his wrath on us, is he? (I am speaking from a human point of view.) 6 Absolutely not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 For example, [3] someone might say, “If by my lie the truth of God increases all the more to his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?” 8 And why not say (as some slanderously claim we say), “Let us do evil so that good may result.” Their condemnation is deserved.
All Are Guilty of Sin
9 What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all! In fact, we have already made the charge that all (both Jews and Greeks) are under sin. 10 Just as it is written:
There is no one who is righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who searches for God. 12 They all turned away; together they became useless. There is no one who does what is good; there is not even one. [4]
13 Their throat is an open grave. They kept deceiving with their tongues. The poison of asps is on their lips. [5] 14 Their mouth is filled with cursing and bitterness. [6]
15 Their feet are quick to shed blood. 16 They leave a trail of destruction and suffering wherever they go. 17 The way of peace they did not know. [7]
18 There is no fear of God in front of their eyes. [8]
The Law Condemns Everyone
19 Now we know that whatever the law says is addressed to those who are under the law, [9] so that every mouth will be silenced and the whole world will be subject to God’s judgment. 20 For this reason, no one [10] will be declared righteous in his sight by works of the law, for through the law we become aware of sin.
Footnotes
Romans 3:3 Or some were not faithful? Their unfaithfulness. . .
Romans 3:4 Psalm 51:4
Romans 3:7 A few witnesses to the text read And. (“Witnesses to the text” mentioned in footnotes may include Greek manuscripts, lectionaries, translations, and quotations in the church fathers.)
17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and you find your comfort in the law, and you boast in God; 18 and if you know his will, and you approve the things that really matter, since you are instructed by the law; 19 and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, and a teacher of infants (since you have the essence of knowledge and truth in the law)— 21 now then, you, the one who is teaching someone else, do you fail to teach yourself? You who preach, “Do not steal,” do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law bring shame on God by breaking the law. 24 Yes, as it is written, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” [1]
Does Circumcision Make a Difference?
25 Indeed, circumcision has value if you observe the law. On the other hand, if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So, if an uncircumcised person keeps the righteous requirements of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be credited to him as circumcision? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker, even though you have the written law and circumcision.
28 In fact, a Jew who is merely one outwardly is not really a Jew, and circumcision that is only outward in the flesh is not really circumcision. 29 Rather, a real Jew is one on the inside, and his circumcision is of the heart—a spiritual circumcision, not one based on carrying out the letter of the law. That person’s praise does not come from people but from God.
1 Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who judges someone else, because by judging the other person you also condemn yourself, since you, who are judging, are doing the very same things. 2 And we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth.
3 Are you thinking that you will escape God’s judgment, you who judge those who do such things and then do the same things yourself? 4 Or do you have so little regard for his rich kindness, his restraint, and his patience, that you ignore the fact that the purpose of God’s kindness is to lead you to repentance? 5 As a result of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God will reveal his righteous judgment.
6 God “will repay each person according to what he has done” [1]— 7 eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality by persisting in doing what is good, 8 but furious anger to those who out of selfish ambition are disobeying what is true and obeying what is wrong. 9 There will be trouble and distress for the soul of every person who does what is evil—for the Jew first and for the Greek— 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good—for the Jew first and for the Greek. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
12 Indeed, all people who have sinned without law will also perish without law, and all the people who have sinned in connection with law will be judged by law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who will be righteous in God’s sight, but those who do the law who will be declared righteous.
14 In fact, whenever Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires—even though they do not have the law—they are a law for themselves. 15 They demonstrate the work of the law that is written in their hearts, since their conscience also bears witness as their thoughts go back and forth, at times accusing or at times even defending them.
16 This will happen on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people’s secrets through Jesus Christ.
18 Indeed, God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who try to suppress the truth by unrighteousness. 19 This happens because what can be known about God is evident among them, because God made it evident among them. 20 In fact, his invisible characteristics—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, because they are understood from the things he made. As a result, people are without excuse, 21 because, even though they knew God, they did not honor him or give him thanks as God. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless heart was darkened.
22 Although they claim to be wise, they have become fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human, or like birds, four-footed animals, and crawling things. 24 So, as they followed the sinful desires of their hearts, God handed them over to the impurity of degrading their own bodies among themselves. 25 Such people have traded the truth about God for the lie, worshipping and serving the creation rather than the Creator, who is worthy of praise forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God handed them over to disgraceful passions. Even their females exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 And, in the same way, their males, after abandoning natural sexual relations with females, were consumed by their lust for one another. Males perform indecent acts with males and receive in themselves the penalty that is fitting for their perversion.
28 And since they did not consider it worthwhile to hold on to the true knowledge of God, God handed them over to a corrupted mind to do things that should never be done. 29 They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and malice. They are gossipers, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent mockers, arrogant boasters, and loudmouths. They dream up evil things. They disobey their parents. 31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, and merciless. 32 Even though they know God’s righteous decree that those who do these things are worthy of death, such people not only continue to do them, but also approve of others who continue to commit such sins.
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised in advance through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3 This gospel is about his Son—who in the flesh [1] was born a descendant of David, 4 who in the spirit [2] of holiness was declared to be God’s powerful Son by his resurrection from the dead—Jesus Christ, our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and the call to be an apostle on behalf of his name, to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, 6 including you, who were called by Jesus Christ.
7 To all those loved by God who are in Rome, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s Desire to Come to Rome
8 First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ concerning all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 To be sure, God, whom I serve with my spirit by proclaiming the gospel of his Son, is my witness to how constantly I make mention of you. In all my prayers, 10 I always ask if perhaps at last a way might be opened, if God wills, for me to come to you. 11 I certainly long to see you, in order that I may deliver some spiritual gift to you, so that you are strengthened— 12 that is, when I am with you, that we will be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, yours and also mine.
13 I do not want you to be unaware of the fact, brothers, [3] that I have often planned to come to you but have been prevented from doing so until now. I wanted to have some fruit among you in the same way as I did among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I have an obligation both to Greeks and non-Greeks, [4] to the wise and to the foolish. 15 That is why I am eager to proclaim the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
The Power of the Gospel
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes—to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed by faith, for faith, [5] just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.” [6]
Footnotes
Romans 1:3 Here flesh is a reference to Christ’s state of humiliation. See 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18.
Romans 1:4 Here spirit is a reference to Christ’s state of exaltation. See 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18.
Romans 1:13 When context indicates it, the Greek word for brothers may refer to all fellow believers, male and female.
Romans 1:14 Or barbarians
Romans 1:17 Or from faith to faith, or by faith resulting in faith
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“The 2025 Statistical Summary & Analysis does not tell a simple story,” says Jonathan Hein, director of WELS Congregational Services. “There is good news. There is hard news. And there […]
The Conference of Presidents (COP) met at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha, Wis., October 6-9, for its annual fall meeting. Although the COP met virtually during […]
The work of WELS Home Missions has always involved balancing aggressive efforts to plant new churches and reach the lost with wise and diligent stewardship of the resources God provides. […]
In the fall 2026 video update, Melanie Giddings, WELS Lutheran Schools curriculum coordinator, shares progress on the theology curriculum project. Watch the video to learn more about the four writing […]
Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis., is investing in building a new music center. Matt Crass, president, describes what the “Magnify” project entails and how it will help enhance the […]