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Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries: 8 October 2025

He Remains Faithful

2 Timothy 2:1-13 – You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.

I love the surprise ending of Paul’s poem at the end of this passage. He starts out by saying things we understand and expect: “If we have died with Christ, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him,” and so forth. And all of that makes sense—we are used to a world in which you get what you give, and what you plant is what you harvest.

But then Paul ends his poem with a twist—“If we are faithless, Jesus remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” Wait a minute! I was expecting him to say, “If we are faithless, Jesus will not keep faith with us”—but that would be wrong, wouldn’t it? Because we do evil, broken sinners that we are. But not Jesus. Even when we betray Him, He remains Himself—faithful, gracious, and ready to forgive.

This is our hope—because Jesus does not answer our evil with evil, the way we deserve. He answers our evil with good. It’s in His nature to be that way toward us—forgiving and generous, even to the ungrateful and untrustworthy. And so He came into our world to become our Savior.

What a wonderful God we have, who gives us life for death, and forgiveness for evil! Through His own suffering and death, He gives us the life that lasts forever. And now that He has risen from the dead, He gives us His Holy Spirit to live within us and to transform us to be more and more like Him—holy, loving, gracious, and merciful. God takes our evil and turns it into His good. Thanks be to God!

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You for Your endless patience and kindness towards me. I want to be with You forever. Keep me as Your own. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

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YMI -- ODB: 7 October 2025

ODB: What God Will Do

Oct 7, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

October 7, 2025

READ: John 16:31-33

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

During the Blitz on London on December 29, 1940, a bomb destroyed a warehouse near St. Paul’s Cathedral. When Biddy Chambers received the news that all 40,000 copies of Oswald Chambers’ books stored there were lost—which she had compiled and edited but not insured—she set down her teacup and remarked to her daughter, “Well, God has used the books for His glory, but now that is over. We’ll wait and see what God will do now.”

Perhaps Biddy was remembering what her late husband, Oswald, had written at the start of the First World War. He noted how Jesus had spoken to His disciples about “the inevitability of peril” so that when horrible things happened, they would “not be scared” because He was with them.

Jesus told His friends, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He wanted them to remain strong in their faith in His Father so they could withstand the trials and challenges they would endure.

Biddy’s quiet confidence in God carried her through, and eventually the books were reprinted and became classics for generations. We too can find encouragement and hope in Jesus’ promises that He has overcome the world. We know that He won’t leave us (14:18) and will give us peace (v. 27), no matter what we face.

— Amy Boucher Pye

How do you respond to Biddy’s reaction when she heard the devastating news of the books burning? How could you follow her example of trusting God?

Loving Jesus, please help me to “overcome the world” in my daily life as I share Your love with others.

Source: Our Daily Bread

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YMI -- ODB: 6 October 2025

ODB: Making Room for Others

Oct 6, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

October 6, 2025

READ: Philippians 2:1-11

In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

At electric vehicle charging stations across the United States, some drivers overstay their time at “fast-chargers,” which are designed to help drivers quickly charge their cars and get back on the road. To resolve this unkind behavior, one of the largest charging networks has implemented strict time limits at some of its busiest stations. When a vehicle’s battery charge reaches eighty-five percent, the driver must make room for the next car in need of a charge.

The apostle Paul encouraged believers in Jesus to humbly “value others above [themselves]” (Philippians 2:3). He addressed an issue that was grating the Philippian church—self-centeredness. The people desired recognition and distinction, not from pure motives but from “selfish ambition” (v. 3). Paul urged the believers to have the mind of Christ and to look “to the interests of the others” (v. 4). This didn’t mean that they should forget their own needs in an unhealthy way, but that they would care for others’ needs as those who “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (v. 5). The apostle encouraged the Philippians to empty themselves of pride and to humbly make room for others. The ultimate motivation for making room? Love.

As we seek to imitate Christ’s example each day (vv. 6-11), He can help us make room for others by viewing them with His loving eyes.

— Marvin Williams

How can you place others’ needs above your own? What does it mean to see others through God’s eyes?

Dear God, please help me empty myself and make room for others.

Source: Our Daily Bread

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YMI -- ODB: 5 October 2025

October 5, 2025

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:21-26

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

When I injured my ring finger, I expected months of pain before regaining its full function. As I practiced the prescribed exercises, the finger next to it began to throb, so I consulted my doctor. “Sympathy pain,” he said. A branching between the nerves of the ring and pinky fingers causes dependence on one another. If one finger hurts, the other aches in sympathy.

The apostle Paul uses the human body to illustrate the uniqueness and unity of God’s people. In 1 Corinthians 12:21-26, he reinforces how valuable each individual member is to the healthy functioning of the whole. Then he turns his attention to the unity achieved when we connect with each other: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (v. 26). His description of the church’s interconnectedness is echoed in these verses, as we ought to “mourn with those who mourn,” and “carry each other’s burdens” (Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:2).

Today, as I extend my hand to greet someone or grab a spoon to prepare a meal for guests, I notice the strain in both my ring finger and my pinky. The various parts of our physical bodies work together to express pain and to strengthen each other toward health. I thank God that He reveals our need for connection to each other in His spiritual body, the church, through sympathy pain.

— Elisa Morgan

How is God inviting you to suffer with another in order to strengthen you both? How have others suffered with you?

Dear God, please help me be open to Your invitation to suffer with my brothers and sisters that we might all be strengthened. Discover how to best help people through their pain.

Source: Our Daily Bread

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YMI -- ODB: 4 October 2025

ODB: A Migrating Savior

Oct 4, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

October 4, 2025

READ: Matthew 2:13-15

“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.” Matthew 2:13

In 1947, with the dissolution of the British Indian Empire, more than 15 million people migrated for religious reasons. The upheaval was worsened by monsoon flooding and the spread of disease. More than a million refugees died.

Throughout history, people have migrated—seeking freedom, safety, or a better life. The urge to move is ingrained in the human experience. The most famous example in Scripture is the exodus story of the Hebrews to the promised land. Migration wasn’t foreign to Jesus either. As a young baby, His parents fled to Egypt to protect His life from the murderous Herod. It’s ironic that, just as the Israelites fled to the promised land (Exodus 3:17) to get away from a king who killed young boys (1:16), Joseph is told to take Jesus “and his mother and escape to Egypt” to flee a tyrant who did the same (Matthew 2:13; see vv. 16-18).

Matthew tells us this journey was to fulfill the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 that “out of Egypt I called my son” (Matthew 2:15). But it’s also a reminder that Christ understands the human experience (Hebrews 4:15). We have a Savior who knows us and has experienced the same kinds of trials and tribulations we have. We can seek Him in our difficult moments. He listens and intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 4:14-16).

— Matt Lucas

How has migration impacted you personally? How might the story of Jesus be an encouragement to those who’ve had to flee for freedom or safety?

Dear Father, please protect those who are forced to migrate for safety. For further study, read The God Who Is with Us-The Difference the Incarnation Makes.

Source: Our Daily Bread

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YMI -- ODB: 3 October 2025

ODB: Representing Jesus

Oct 3, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

October 3, 2025

READ: 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, 14-20

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20

On the first day of a camp where Alan teaches teens entrepreneurial skills, a student said, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you? I can tell.” Before Alan said he was a Christian or wore his favorite socks and ties decorated with Christian symbols, the teen said he saw Jesus through Alan’s words, actions, and attitude. They discussed how they could better represent Jesus wherever they go.

Saying we’re Christian and wearing clothes with Christian messages are good things. However, the Bible teaches that the way we live and love as we share the gospel is the true identifier of those who follow Jesus. The apostle Paul and the other believers in Corinth were compelled, or driven, to please God by living with an eternal perspective while sharing Him with others (2 Corinthians 5:9-14).

When we’re committed to living for Christ instead of for ourselves, the Holy Spirit changes our perspective, character, priorities, and ways of interacting with others (vv. 15-17). Our new life in Jesus is intended to represent Him while we point others to Him, “as though God were making his appeal through us” (v. 20).

Empowered by the Spirit, we’re given the joy and responsibility of representing Christ wherever we go.

— Xochitl Dixon

How have others pointed you to Jesus by the way they lived? How has God’s transforming work in your life helped you become a better ambassador for Christ?

Life-transforming Jesus, please change me by Your Spirit so that I can better represent You wherever You send me.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Current Mood: thoughtful

YMI -- ODB: 2 October 2025

ODB: Remaining Teachable in God

Oct 2, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

October 2, 2025

READ: Proverbs 9:1-6, 13-18

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still. Proverbs 9:9

After Kat learned she was pregnant, she dropped out of high school to care for her daughter. Fifteen years later, Kat was a working mother of three who dreamed of becoming a licensed beautician. With humility and tenacity, she became a student again in a free GED support program. It was humbling to go back to school after so long. “This program changed my life!” Kat said. “My teacher was amazing and offered so much encouragement.”

Remaining teachable may be one of the most difficult things we can do. The Bible speaks of having a teachable heart that’s open to God’s wisdom. The poetry of Proverbs paints a picture of two women calling out to passersby—Wisdom and Folly (Proverbs 9:1-6; 13-18). Those who listen to Wisdom receive correction with grace. They “add to their learning” and become even wiser (v. 9). They habitually “walk in the way of insight” (v. 6) and seat themselves at Wisdom’s table for instruction. Their obedience leads to a full life (v. 11). In contrast, those who listen to Folly hate being corrected or criticized. They insult anyone who tries to instruct them (vv. 7-8). Humility comes from fearing God—acknowledging that He’s “the Holy One” and we are not (v. 10). It’s not easy to stay teachable, but it also brings freedom to admit we don’t know it all and we still need help. Wisdom calls to us. How will we respond?

— Karen Pimpo

What’s your default reaction to criticism? How could a humble response lead to growth and victory?

Receiving instruction doesn’t always come naturally to me, wise Father, but I trust Your ways.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Current Mood: thoughtful

YMI -- ODB: 1 October 2025

ODB: Out from the Dark

Oct 1, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

October 1, 2025

READ: Isaiah 9:2-7

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2

The tugboat sank twenty miles off the coast of Nigeria, turning upside down as it fell to the sea floor. Eleven crew members drowned, but the ship’s cook, Harrison Odjegba Okene, found an air pocket and waited. He only had one bottle of Coke for provisions, and both of his flashlights died within the first twenty-four hours. For three terrifying days, Okene was trapped alone in darkness at the bottom of the ocean. He’d begun to give up hope when divers on a mission to recover dead bodies found him hunkered and shivering deep in the hull.

The image of Okene alone in the dark for sixty hours is unnerving. He told reporters he still suffers nightmares from the horrifying ordeal. But can you imagine what he felt when he saw the diver’s powerful lamp piercing the darkness? What joy and elation, what hope. The prophet Isaiah foretold how, when the Messiah came, all “the people walking in darkness” would see “a great light” (9:2). Left to our own devices, we live “in the land of deep darkness,” but in Jesus, “a light has dawned” (v. 2).

Christ is “the light of the world,” and in Him we need never again fear the darkness for we “have the light of life” (John 8:12). We may feel trapped or hopeless, alone or in despair, but God illuminates good news. Jesus carries us out of the dark and into His marvelous light.

— Winn Collier

What darkness are you facing? How do you need Jesus to be your light and bring you out of it?

Dear God, I need Your light in my life. Please bring me out of my dark place. For further study, read Deceived by Disappointment.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Current Mood: thankful

YMI -- ODB: 30 September 2025

ODB: A Leap of Faith

Sep 30, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

September 30, 2025

READ: Ephesians 2:1-10

It is by grace you have been saved, through faith. Ephesians 2:8

A French sailor, along with his cat, was sailing from Dutch Harbor—located on an island south of Alaska—to San Diego, California, when his yacht was capsized by a huge wave. The vessel righted itself, but the mariner lost his rudder and rigging to the violent swells. He reported his dire situation to the Coast Guard, saying he was stranded, had no control, and his boat was “pretty much dead in the water.” Eventually the Coast Guard contacted an oil drilling ship nearby, and they came to the sailor’s rescue. However, he still had to make a literal leap of faith—with his cat tucked under his jacket—from his boat to the rescue vessel.

In Ephesians 2, Paul described the sinful and hopeless condition of humanity—dead in the water spiritually and separated from God (v. 1). Moreover, we were disobedient to all that He desires (v. 2) and depraved—unable to do anything to merit salvation (v. 3). But “by grace,” Jesus made it possible for us to be “saved, through faith,” and this salvation is a “gift of God” (v. 8).

We were all stranded in the raging seas of sin and death, but praise God that we have a Savior who made it possible for us to leap into His saving arms by faith. Christ alone can rescue us and carry us to safety.

— Marvin Williams

What is the means of the rescue Jesus has made possible? How are faith in Him and the salvation He’s made possible linked?

Dear Jesus, Your mercy and grace led me to-by faith-leap into Your saving arms. For further study, read What’s Wrong with the Sinner’s Prayer.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Current Mood: thoughtful

YMI -- ODB: 29 September 2025

ODB: Christ’s Resurrection Power

Sep 29, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

September 29, 2025

READ: John 11:38-44

Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out. John 11:43-44

Football fans were stunned when Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills collapsed on the field on live television after executing a seemingly routine tackle in January 2023. The twenty-four-year-old was in sudden cardiac arrest. His heart stopped beating but was restored by medical professionals while on the field. Amazingly, three months after dying and being resuscitated on the field, Hamlin was cleared to play football again.

Hamlin has stated that he’s grateful to God and the medical staff for saving his life. He plans to continue being an inspiration to others. In John chapter 11, Lazarus also had a remarkable recovery.

By the time Jesus had arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. His distraught sisters, Mary and Martha, witnessed Jesus’ power over death and that He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). “Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face” (vv. 43-44).

We’re also examples of Christ’s resurrection power. We were once dead in our sins, but we’re now alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11). As believers, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of us (8:10-11). Be encouraged. While we’ll all die a physical death, that’s not the end of our story. We’re promised eternal life with Jesus.

— Nancy Gavilanes

How does the gift of eternal life give you hope? How does Jesus’ resurrection power encourage you?

Dear God, thank You for Your resurrection power.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Current Mood: thoughtful

YMI -- ODB: 28 September 2025

ODB: God’s Way Home

Sep 28, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

September 28, 2025

READ: Luke 15:11-13, 17-24

This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. Luke 15:24

As I drove down the steep ramp into the parking lot, anxiety swept over me. I’d been in this exact place before—and I’d gotten lost that time. But now, as I began to walk to the door near the elevator, a calm feeling filled my heart. I knew the way! I walked through the door and found the set of elevators I was seeking and soon was where I was supposed to be.

My experience in finding my way through the maze of that parking structure reminds me that getting lost can sometimes help us find our way. Because I had gotten lost during my first visit, I recalled what had gone wrong and remembered the door that led to my destination.

There’s great joy in finding our way—something the “lost son” in today’s parable found to be true (Luke 15:24). “When he finally came to his senses” (v. 17 nlt), the wayward young man knew his way back home after having been lost in the world. He recognized all he had left behind and returned home where he received his father’s “love and compassion” (v. 20 nlt). The story says the father was overjoyed to receive his lost son and welcome him back, saying, “This son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found” (v. 24 nlt).

If we’re lost spiritually, let’s look for the familiar way home God has provided. He points us toward His loving light and to where we’re supposed to be.

— Katara Patton

How has God shown you where you’re supposed to be? How can you run after His light?

Compassionate God, please help me turn from the darkness of being lost and return to Your light and love.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Current Mood: thoughtful

YMI -- ODB: 27 September 2025

ODB: God Never Leaves Us

Sep 27, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

September 27, 2025

READ: Joshua 1:1-3, 5-9

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

In the Holy Land, we loved walking where Jesus walked. Now I can more easily imagine the sights and sounds from His earthly life. But climbing up and down the uneven stones of the churches and countryside left its mark, and I arrived home with sore knees. Yet my ailments were minor compared with those journeying centuries ago, who not only experienced aching joints but suffered greatly—and even died. But God was with them.

God called His people to follow Him and invited them to live in a flourishing “land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). He knew that as they entered the promised land, they would face danger from opposing armies and obstacles such as walled cities. God had been with them for forty years in their desert wanderings and wouldn’t abandon them now. He promised Joshua, the new leader, His presence with them: “I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). Joshua would face challenges and hardships, needing to be strong and courageous, but God would help him to do so.

We who believe in Jesus, whether we’re called to stay or to go, will face dangers, challenges, and suffering in this life. But we can hold on to the promises of our God who will never leave us. Because of Him, we too can be strong and courageous.

— Amy Boucher Pye

When you’ve faced hardships, how have you experienced God’s presence? How can you turn to Him today for help, love, and support?

Saving God, when You lead me through a barren land and I fear the terrors of the night, please reassure me that You’re with me.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Current Mood: thankful

YMI -- ODB: 26 September 2025

ODB: Beauty Out of Tragedy

Sep 26, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

September 26, 2025

READ: Genesis 2:8-9; 3:1-6

Through the obedience of the one man [Jesus Christ] the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

Coniston Water in England’s beautiful Lake District is a favorite vacation spot for families in the UK. The waters are perfect for boating, swimming, and other water sports. That beautiful setting, however, was also the site of great tragedy. In 1967, Donald Campbell was piloting his hydroplane Bluebird K7, seeking to break the world water speed record. He reached a top speed of 328 mph (528 km/h) but didn’t live to celebrate the achievement as Bluebird crashed, killing Campbell.

Tragic moments can happen in beautiful places. In Genesis 2, the Creator “took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (v. 15). The garden was a masterpiece, yet when placed in this paradise, the man and woman disobeyed God, bringing sin and death into His creation (3:6-7). Today, we continue to see the destructive effects of their tragic choice.

But Jesus came to offer life to us—people who were dead in our sins. The apostle Paul, referring to that, wrote, “Just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus Christ] the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). Because of Jesus, the most beautiful home of all awaits us.

Out of beauty came tragedy. And by God’s grace, out of tragedy came eternal beauty.

— Bill Crowder

When have you seen God bring beauty out of tragedy? How did you respond to that event?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the eternal beauty You alone provide. For further study, read A Season of Suffering: Meeting Jesus in Our Pain.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Current Mood: hopeful

YMI -- ODB: 25 September 2025

ODB: God, Our Trustworthy Refuge

Sep 25, 2025/in Our Daily Bread/by YMI

September 25, 2025

READ: Psalm 118:5-14

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. Psalm 118:6

One of my daughter’s most vivid childhood memories is the day her dad taught her to ride a bike without training wheels. At one point in their outing, my husband balanced his feet on the hubs of her rear wheel (while she kept hers on the pedals and they shared the handlebars) so they could coast down a small, gently sloping section together. She remembers her dad laughing with joy—a sharp contrast to her own fearful experience of the moment. The ride was so short that the entire episode happened too quickly for him to stop and empathize with her. As they reminisce about the incident today, my husband’s gentle response to her recollection is to reassure her that he knew everything would be okay.

Their story is an apt metaphor for the moments when we too experience fear in life. The “hills” might look big and scary from our vantage point, and the risk of being hurt can seem very real. Yet Scripture assures us that because “the Lord is with [us],” we don’t need to “be afraid” (Psalm 118:6). Though human help may fail us, He’s a trustworthy refuge when we feel overwhelmed by our struggles (vv. 8-9).

God is our “helper” (v. 7), which means we can trust Him to care for us during life’s most trying and fearful moments. Despite any falls, scars, and pain we might endure, His saving presence is our “strength” and “defense” (v. 14).

— Kirsten Holmberg

When have you been aware of God’s presence in the midst of difficulty? How has He helped you?

Thank You, Father, for being present in my life. Please help me to recognize Your nearness.

Source: Our Daily Bread