Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries - Friday, 31 January
2014 "The Great Opportunity"
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear His
voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in
the wilderness."--Hebrews 3:7-8
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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
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I can remember back to the 90s when modernism was history and
post-modernism was still trying to promote licentiousness and guilt-free sexual
promiscuity.
The epidemic of AIDS had been around for more than ten years. To
combat the disease every country had begun a campaign to control the spread of
the disease. Sadly, every program had proven to be fruitless.
I know because I had personally enrolled myself as a doctor who
voluntarily went around to speak at hospitals and offer support to those who
were sickened by AIDS. Again and again, I was confronted by sad situations
where the individual had been abandoned by society as well as by their own
family members.
They were left to their own fate.
Eventually, my country began to realize Christian values were
the best and most effective control to the spread of the illness. It was in
1999 that I heard about the work of Lutheran Hour Ministries in our country.
Here in Guatemala it is known as Cristo Para Todas las Naciones Guatemala
(CPTLN).
This group of dedicated believers were giving lectures in public
schools and seminars. Their presentations stood out as they tried to counter
the spread of AIDS with the message of life, hope, and salvation, which is ours
through faith in Jesus Christ.
It was a cause in which I readily joined. I knew this message
could reach and save thousands of youngsters in Guatemala. It could reach and
save their souls as well as their bodies.
What a contrast our message provided!
Patients who had come from a culture with a high level of sexual
promiscuity, who were surrounded by terminally ill patients, and were living
with the consequences of their sin were told God wanted to give them the great
opportunity.
Because of the work, the suffering, the crucifixion, and the
resurrection of our Savior we were able to share with these folks the sweetest
words they would ever hear: God loves you and His Son has done everything
necessary for you to have life and salvation.
Then, we would refer to the passage which serves as the theme
for today's Daily Devotion: don't harden your heart to the voice of the Lord.
Today, many years after I first began to make that presentation,
I have to acknowledge some things have not changed. AIDS is not controlled, and
there is still no medicine that will heal an individual who contracts it.
No, some things haven't changed, but some things have. Today I
am able to say that sin no longer is eternally fatal. The blood of Christ is
the medicine which can cure. It is free, abundant and, most importantly -- to
those who believe -- it is always effective.
That is the message we share, and it is always delivered with
this plea: today can be your salvation day; today can be your great, God-given
opportunity. Do not doubt, but believe.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your death on the
cross. Through Your blood which was shed, today we have a medicine that gives
forgiveness and salvation to all who believe. May the Holy Spirit touch hearts
with that truth so others may someday stand in Your presence cleansed from
every sin. In Your Name. Amen.
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Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written
by Dr. Elry Plinio Orozco Aguirre. Dr. Aguirre serves as a volunteer with the
Lutheran Hour Ministries' office in Guatemala (CPTLN - "Christ for all
Nations"). He lectures in public schools, represents our organization at
educational conferences, serves as a medical missionary, and is deacon in
charge of the Lutheran Church Mission La Santa Cruz in Guatemala. In this
country of more than 13 million people, LHM-Guatemala uses Project JOEL, Bible
Correspondence Courses (BCC) and Equipping the Saints (ETS) and a young theater
group, Kerigma, to spread the Gospel. You can check out Guatemala's blog at
englishcptlnguate.blogspot.com.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or
visit www.lhmint.org
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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center
St. Louis, MO 63141 United States
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