Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Called to Love Our Neighbor" for Friday, November 20, 2015

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Called to Love Our Neighbor" for Friday, November 20, 2015

(Jesus said) "The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."[Mark 12:31]
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
In this Bible passage our Lord Jesus was emphasizing the important aspect of love.
Our God has called us as His own children because He loved us. Once we were in the darkness and we did so many things against Him, yet He loved us by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins on the cross and to give us a new life and a new hope.
At times, some Christians only think about themselves. Unfortunately, they often fail to think about the lost ones around them. God's love is for all humankind of this world, and we are called to be Christians to serve others and to live for others. God is expecting from us to show His love to others by our deeds. This worldly life is not eternal, and we are living here temporarily.
We often forget this, and God is reminding us of this through His words.
The reason is Satan does not like the repentance of a sinner. We are experiencing this in our ministry in Sri Lanka as we carry out the message of Christ to the unchurched in our country. We thank God for sending His Holy Spirit to use us to reach the lost ones in our country, through various programs.
One of those programs has been especially blessed in reaching the tea plantation people. In these company towns and neighborhoods, we use street dramas, which incorporate the Gospel message in an interesting and different way. Last year, in October, we performed this type of drama in upcountry, and nearly 300 people were gathered to watch these dramas eagerly.
The story we acted out was that of an old man who was carrying a heavy burden as a result of his sins. We showed how he sought advice from several people. No one was able to give him the correct answer on how to get relief from his sinful, heavy laden burden. Finally, the Lord sent a pastor to give the man the right message.
The minister explained how God sent his only begotten Son to die on the cross to empty the load of sins from our lives.
Before we have a prayer after the performance, we take the opportunity to explain the most important parts of our faith. In simple terms we explain how much God loves, cares and forgives a sinner, even if he or she had committed a murder, or adultery, etc.
This time a person came forward asking our team to pray for him.
With tears he told us that he had, a few years ago, committed murder and had spent time in prison. Indeed, he had just been released. Though the man had been set free from jail, his heart was without peace. We prayed for the man, and God touched his heart.
If the Lord allows, we will share that same message with the millions of others around us whose hearts are without the peace and joy that Christians know. It is a great responsibility and opportunity, which we have been given in this mission.
We rejoice that the Lord has entrusted us to share His love with those around us who have many similarities with the person whose story I have just shared.
THE PRAYER: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love towards us. Help us share that love with our neighbors and all whom You give to us. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by: Mr. S. Sathiyabalan who is director of the Lutheran Hour Ministries office in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, we are known as Lanka Hope Media. There we have been proclaiming the Savior's Good News through radio programming, Bible Correspondence Courses(BCC), and dramas since 2001.
In this island nation of more than 20 million people off the southern tip of India, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Sri Lanka is known as Lanka Hope Media. Relying on staff and volunteers, LHM-Sri Lanka distributes Gospel-related material to thousands, employing literature displays and rallies. Using BCC in Sinhalese and Tamil, this ministry center teaches people essential truths of Scripture they can use in their everyday lives. Additionally, puppet shows, youth-oriented concerts, and video screenings are used to promote Bible courses, and devotional songs and short sermons are offered. Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops are used to strengthen local groups of believers and help foster outreach efforts. Use of the Internet and e-mail are helping LHM-Sri Lanka share the Gospel as this technology is becoming more widely available throughout the country. To connect with people on cell phones, automated messaging is proving helpful in reaching the unchurched.
You can read about the student gathering in Sri Lanka, by clicking here to visit its blog.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhm.org/international.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Ezekiel 14:1 Then certain of Isra’el’s leaders came to me; and while they were sitting with me, 2 the word of Adonai came to me: 3 “Human being, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, thus setting in front of themselves the stumblingblock that leads to sin. Should I let them consult me at all? 4 Therefore speak to them, and tell them that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Everyone in the house of Isra’el who takes his idols into his heart, thus setting in front of himself the stumblingblock that leads to sin, and then comes to the prophet, I myself, Adonai, will answer him in a manner suited to his many idols, 5 in order to grab hold of the house of Isra’el in their hearts; since, through their idols, they have all fallen away from me.’

6 “Therefore say to the house of Isra’el that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Repent! Turn yourselves away from your idols, turn your faces away from all your disgusting practices! 7 For everyone, whether from the house of Isra’el or a foreigner living in Isra’el, who separates himself from me and takes his idols into his heart, thus setting in front of himself the stumblingblock that leads to sin, and then comes to the prophet, asking him to consult me for him, I myself, Adonai, will answer him. 8 I will set my face against that person, make him a warning sign and an example, and cut him off from my people. Then you will know that I am Adonai.

9 “‘Now, whenever a prophet is enticed into speaking a word, it will be I, Adonai, who will have enticed that prophet. I will stretch out my hand over him and destroy him from among my people Isra’el. 10 The prophets will bear the guilt for their sins — the sin of the prophet will be the same as the sin of the inquirer — 11 so that the house of Isra’el will no longer wander away from me or defile themselves with all their crimes; rather, they will be my people and I will be their God,’ says Adonai Elohim.”

12 The word of Adonai came to me: 13 “Human being, when a land sins against me by dealing treacherously with me, so that I stretch out my hand over it and break off its food supply, sending it famine and eliminating both its humans and its animals; 14 even if these three men were in it — Noach, Dani’el and Iyov — they would by their righteousness save only themselves,” says Adonai Elohim.

15 “If I unleash wild beasts on the land, and they kill its children and desolate it, so that no one can pass through because of the animals; 16 even if these three men were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither sons nor daughters; only they themselves would be saved, and the land would remain barren.

17 “Or if I bring the sword down on that land, saying, ‘Let the sword pass through the land,’ so that I eliminate both its humans and its animals; 18 even if these three men were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither sons nor daughters; only they themselves would be saved.

19 “Or if I bring a plague into that land and pour out my fury on it in bloodshed, so that I eliminate both its humans and its animals; 20 even if Noach, Dani’el and Iyov were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither a son nor a daughter; they would save only themselves by their righteousness.”

21 For here is what Adonai Elohim says: “Even if I inflict my four dreadful judgments on Yerushalayim — sword, famine, wild animals and plagues — to eliminate both its humans and its animals; 22 there will still be left a remnant in it to be brought out, including both sons and daughters. When they come out to you, and you see their way of life and how they act, then you will be consoled over the calamity I have brought upon Yerushalayim, over everything I have done to it. 23 Yes, they will console you when you see their way of life and how they act; and you will understand that it was not without good reason that I did what I did in [Yerushalayim],” says Adonai Elohim.

15:1 The word of Adonai came to me:

2 “Human being, why should wood from a grapevine be better

than some other kind of wood,

than some branch that one might find

among the trees of the forest?

3 Its wood can’t be used to make anything,

not even a pin on which to hang a pot.

4 So now it is thrown in the fire as fuel,

the fire consumes both ends of it,

and the middle of it is singed —

is it useful now for making something?

5 When it was whole, it was good for nothing;

so how much less, when the fire

has consumed it, and it is singed,

will it be useful for making something!

6 “So Adonai Elohim says this:

‘Like wood from the vine among the trees of the forest,

which I consign to the fire as fuel,

so I give those living in Yerushalayim.

7 I will set my face against them —

they may have escaped one fire,

but the fire will consume them yet.

When I set my face against them,

you will know that I am Adonai.

8 I will make the land desolate

because they have dealt so treacherously,’

says Adonai Elohim.”

2 Timothy 1:1 From: Sha’ul, an emissary of the Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, which holds forth a promise of life through being united with Messiah Yeshua

2 To: Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and shalom from God the Father and the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.

3 I give thanks to God, whom, like my forbears, I worship with a clean conscience, as I regularly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 I am reminded of your tears, and I long to see you, so that I might be filled with joy. 5 I recall your sincere trust, the same trust that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice had first; and I am convinced that you too now have this trust.

6 For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God’s gift, which you received through s’mikhah from me. 7 For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline. 8 So don’t be ashamed of bearing testimony to our Lord or to me, his prisoner. On the contrary, accept your share in suffering disgrace for the sake of the Good News. God will give you the strength for it, 9 since he delivered us and called us to a life of holiness as his people. It was not because of our deeds, but because of his own purpose and the grace which he gave to us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. He did this before the beginning of time, 10 but made it public only now through the appearing of our Deliverer, the Messiah Yeshua, who abolished death and, through the Good News, revealed life and immortality.

11 It was for this Good News that I was appointed a proclaimer, emissary and teacher of the Goyim; 12 and this is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know him in whom I have put my trust, and I am persuaded that he can keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound teachings you have heard from me, with trust and the love which is yours in the Messiah Yeshua. 14 Keep safe the great treasure that has been entrusted to you, with the help of the Ruach HaKodesh, who lives in us.

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia turned away from me, including Phygelus and Ermogenes. 16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he was often a comfort to me and was not ashamed of my being in prison. 17 On the contrary, when he came to Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me. 18 May the Lord grant it to him to find mercy from Adonai on that Day. And you know very well how much he helped me in Ephesus.

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