Jesus said to him, "If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"[John 21:22]
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
A widow I know provided for her young son by washing and ironing people's clothes.
Both mother and child used to pray every evening before they went to sleep. Their prayers were humble petitions in which they asked God to support and help them. There is one other thing you should know about their prayers: they were always made as they knelt by their bedsides.
In other words, this boy was brought up in prayer and in church.
Sadly, later in his life, bad boys in the village became the friends of our Christian lad. Slowly he began to follow them; slowly he stopped following Jesus. One night as the gang was breaking into a neighbor's home, our boy found himself kneeling as he used a skeleton key on the lock.
It was then he remembered how he used to kneel in prayer. Confronted on how far he had fallen, the boy cried out and ran away into the night. Soon he was back home.
By God's grace, that boy -- now a man -- works with me as a Lutheran Hour Ministries' volunteer.
The story of the boy-who-ran-away-from-Jesus is the story of many believers. It is certainly the story of the apostle Peter. You know his story: how Jesus had called him and his brother away from their nets to a new and different life. In the years that followed they had seen many miracles, heard many wonderful truths being preached.
But then Jesus had allowed Himself to be arrested, tried, tortured and murdered.
Things had not turned out as they had thought they would. Not knowing what the future would hold, Peter went back to his former occupation. "I am going fishing," he had said, and some of the other disciples concurred by volunteering: "We'll go with you" (see John 21:3).
Subsequent events showed to those men that Jesus does not forget, nor does He desert those whom He has called. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the risen Redeemer recalled His disciples and set them on a path, which would bring light to those in darkness and the message of salvation to the entire world.
Jesus does the same sort of thing to His modern-day disciples.
Today, the Lord comes to us and asks, "Do you love Me?"
Our answer, like that of Peter, ought to be, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You" (see John 21:15-10). If that is so, and I pray it is, then know the Savior is trusting you to be His witnesses to those who are still lost. We who became the Savior's followers through water and Word are now reminded of that calling and our responsibility to feed, protect and care for the Savior's beloved lambs and sheep.
Today, give thanks as the Holy Spirit calls and recalls you to bring Christ to the nations.
THE PRAYER: Oh Lord, Your Word reminds us how we were called to faith and encourages us to share that faith with others. May Your Holy Spirit keep and strengthen us so that we, like Your first disciples, may show, "Lord, You know we love You." This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was authored by Pastor William David Zoulder. Reverend Zoulder is a pastor of the Malagasy Lutheran Church. After his graduation from Lomonossov State University in Moscow, he was appointed to the University of Madagascar as a philosophy lecturer. He graduated from the School of Theology of Natal University Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is currently a parish pastor and is involved with LHM's radio program as well as working as a translator for our Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC). He is married to Virginia, who is one of our accountants. Together the Zoulders have three children.
In this country of more than 22 million people, LHM-Madagascar (known in-country as Voice of the Gospel) utilizes radio as the most efficient means of reaching the citizens of this island nation. A 30-minute weekly FM radio program addresses cultural, spiritual and emotional topics, offering a Christian perspective to listeners. Through outreach conducted in both French and Malagasy, this ministry center -- established in Antananarivo in 1993 -- connects with rural communities through rallies and film showings, which often draw hundreds. Young people in high school and those serving time in detention centers also benefit from these films. As a way to strengthen believers' ability to share the Gospel, Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops provide relational tools, material resources, and trained instruction in conveying the Good News of Jesus Christ. More than 5,000 participants are active in its BCC program too.
Check out the brief story and pictures marking the 20th anniversary of a prayer group in a Madagascar hospital by clicking here.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhm.org/international.
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
A widow I know provided for her young son by washing and ironing people's clothes.
Both mother and child used to pray every evening before they went to sleep. Their prayers were humble petitions in which they asked God to support and help them. There is one other thing you should know about their prayers: they were always made as they knelt by their bedsides.
In other words, this boy was brought up in prayer and in church.
Sadly, later in his life, bad boys in the village became the friends of our Christian lad. Slowly he began to follow them; slowly he stopped following Jesus. One night as the gang was breaking into a neighbor's home, our boy found himself kneeling as he used a skeleton key on the lock.
It was then he remembered how he used to kneel in prayer. Confronted on how far he had fallen, the boy cried out and ran away into the night. Soon he was back home.
By God's grace, that boy -- now a man -- works with me as a Lutheran Hour Ministries' volunteer.
The story of the boy-who-ran-away-from-Jesus is the story of many believers. It is certainly the story of the apostle Peter. You know his story: how Jesus had called him and his brother away from their nets to a new and different life. In the years that followed they had seen many miracles, heard many wonderful truths being preached.
But then Jesus had allowed Himself to be arrested, tried, tortured and murdered.
Things had not turned out as they had thought they would. Not knowing what the future would hold, Peter went back to his former occupation. "I am going fishing," he had said, and some of the other disciples concurred by volunteering: "We'll go with you" (see John 21:3).
Subsequent events showed to those men that Jesus does not forget, nor does He desert those whom He has called. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the risen Redeemer recalled His disciples and set them on a path, which would bring light to those in darkness and the message of salvation to the entire world.
Jesus does the same sort of thing to His modern-day disciples.
Today, the Lord comes to us and asks, "Do you love Me?"
Our answer, like that of Peter, ought to be, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You" (see John 21:15-10). If that is so, and I pray it is, then know the Savior is trusting you to be His witnesses to those who are still lost. We who became the Savior's followers through water and Word are now reminded of that calling and our responsibility to feed, protect and care for the Savior's beloved lambs and sheep.
Today, give thanks as the Holy Spirit calls and recalls you to bring Christ to the nations.
THE PRAYER: Oh Lord, Your Word reminds us how we were called to faith and encourages us to share that faith with others. May Your Holy Spirit keep and strengthen us so that we, like Your first disciples, may show, "Lord, You know we love You." This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was authored by Pastor William David Zoulder. Reverend Zoulder is a pastor of the Malagasy Lutheran Church. After his graduation from Lomonossov State University in Moscow, he was appointed to the University of Madagascar as a philosophy lecturer. He graduated from the School of Theology of Natal University Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is currently a parish pastor and is involved with LHM's radio program as well as working as a translator for our Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC). He is married to Virginia, who is one of our accountants. Together the Zoulders have three children.
In this country of more than 22 million people, LHM-Madagascar (known in-country as Voice of the Gospel) utilizes radio as the most efficient means of reaching the citizens of this island nation. A 30-minute weekly FM radio program addresses cultural, spiritual and emotional topics, offering a Christian perspective to listeners. Through outreach conducted in both French and Malagasy, this ministry center -- established in Antananarivo in 1993 -- connects with rural communities through rallies and film showings, which often draw hundreds. Young people in high school and those serving time in detention centers also benefit from these films. As a way to strengthen believers' ability to share the Gospel, Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops provide relational tools, material resources, and trained instruction in conveying the Good News of Jesus Christ. More than 5,000 participants are active in its BCC program too.
Check out the brief story and pictures marking the 20th anniversary of a prayer group in a Madagascar hospital by clicking here.
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:
2 Chronicles 22:1 The people living in Yerushalayim made Achazyah his youngest son king in place of him, since the raiding party that had invaded the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older ones. So Achazyah the son of Y’horam king of Y’hudah reigned. 2 Achazyah was forty-two years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for one year in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name was ‘Atalyahu the daughter of ‘Omri. 3 He too lived after the example of the house of Ach’av, because his mother was his counselor in acting wickedly. 4 So he did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective, as had the house of Ach’av; because, to his destruction, they were his counselors after his father died; 5 and he lived his life by their advice.
660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
1-800-876-9880
www.lhm.org
___________________________
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
2 Chronicles 22:1 The people living in Yerushalayim made Achazyah his youngest son king in place of him, since the raiding party that had invaded the camp with the Arabs had killed all the older ones. So Achazyah the son of Y’horam king of Y’hudah reigned. 2 Achazyah was forty-two years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for one year in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name was ‘Atalyahu the daughter of ‘Omri. 3 He too lived after the example of the house of Ach’av, because his mother was his counselor in acting wickedly. 4 So he did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective, as had the house of Ach’av; because, to his destruction, they were his counselors after his father died; 5 and he lived his life by their advice.
With Y’horam the son of Ach’av, king of Isra’el, he went to war against Haza’el king of Aram at Ramot-Gil‘ad, where the Aramim wounded Yoram. 6 He returned to Yizre‘el to be healed of the wounds which they had inflicted on him at Ramah while fighting Haza’el king of Aram. Achazyah the son of Y’horam, king of Y’hudah, went down to visit Y’horam the son of Ach’av in Yizre‘el, because he was not feeling well.
7 Through Achazyah’s visit to Yoram, God brought about his downfall. After he arrived, he accompanied Yoram against Yehu the son of Nimshi, whom Adonai had anointed to cut off the house of Ach’av. 8 But it happened that when Yehu was executing judgment on the house of Ach’av, he found the leading men of Y’hudah and Achazyah’s nephews in attendance on Achazyah and killed them. 9 Then he went searching for Achazyah; they caught him where he had been hiding in Shomron, brought him to Yehu and killed him. But [his subjects] buried him, because they said, “He was the [grand]son of Y’hoshafat, who sought Adonai with all his heart.”
At this point there was no one in the house of Achazyah strong enough to rule the kingdom. 10 When ‘Atalyah the mother of Achazyah saw that her son was dead, she set about destroying the entire royal family of the house of Y’hudah. 11 But Y’hoshav‘at the daughter of the king took Yo’ash the son of Achazyah, stole him away from among the princes who were being slaughtered, and sequestered him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Y’hoshav‘at the daughter of King Y’horam, wife of Y’hoyada the cohen and sister of Achazyah, hid him from ‘Atalyah, so that he was not killed. 12 He remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years; during this time ‘Atalyah ruled the land.
Joel 1:1 The word of Adonai that came to Yo’el the son of P’tu’el:
2 “Hear this, you leaders!
Listen, all who live in the land!
Has anything like this ever happened in your days,
or in your ancestors’ days?
3 Tell your children about it,
and have them tell it to theirs,
and have them tell the next generation.
4 What the cutter-worms left, the locusts ate;
what the locusts left, the grasshoppers ate;
what the grasshoppers left, the shearer-worms ate.
5 Wake up, drunkards, and weep!
wail, all you who drink wine,
because the juice of the grape
will be withheld from your mouth.
6 For a mighty and numberless nation
has invaded my land.
His teeth are lion’s teeth;
his fangs are those of a lioness.
7 He has reduced my vines to waste,
my fig trees to splinters —
he plucked them bare, stripped their bark
and left their branches white.”
8 Lament like a virgin wearing sackcloth
for the husband of her youth!
9 Grain offering and drink offering are cut off
from the house of Adonai.
The cohanim are mourning,
those who are serving Adonai.
10 The fields are ruined, the ground is grieving;
for the grain is ruined, the new wine dried up,
and the olive oil is wretched.
11 Despair, you farmers; lament, vinedressers,
over the wheat and the barley —
the harvest from the fields is lost.
12 The vines have withered, the fig trees wilted,
also the pomegranate, date-palm and apple tree —
all the trees in the fields have withered,
and the people’s joy has withered away.
13 Cohanim, put on sackcloth, and weep!
Wail, you who serve at the altar!
Come, lie in sackcloth all night long,
you who serve my God!
For the grain offering and drink offering are withheld
from the house of your God.
14 Proclaim a holy fast,
call for a solemn assembly,
gather the leaders
and all who live in the land
to the house of Adonai your God,
and cry out to Adonai,
15 “Oh no! The Day!
The Day of Adonai is upon us!
As destruction from Shaddai
it is coming!
16 The food is cut off before our very eyes,
also joy and gladness from the house of our God.
17 The seed-grain is rotting in its furrows;
the granaries are deserted, the barns in ruins;
because the grain has withered.
18 How the animals groan!
The herds of cattle are perplexed,
because they have no pasture.
The flocks of sheep bear the punishment, too.
19 Adonai, I cry out to you!
For the fire has consumed the pastures in the desert,
and the flame set ablaze all the trees in the fields.
20 Even the wild animals
come to you, panting,
because the streambeds have dried up,
and fire has consumed the pastures in the desert.”
2 Corinthians 9:1 There is really no need for me to write you about this offering for God’s people — 2 I know how eager you are, and I boast about you to the Macedonians. I tell them, “Achaia has been ready since last year,” and it was your zeal that stirred up most of them. 3 But now I am sending the brothers so that our boast about you in this regard will not prove hollow, so that you will be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if some Macedonians were to come with me and find you unprepared, we would be humiliated at having been so confident — to say nothing of how you would feel. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go on to you ahead of me and prepare your promised gift in plenty of time; this way it will be ready when I come and will be a genuine gift, not something extracted by pressure.
6 Here’s the point: he who plants sparingly also harvests sparingly. 7 Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.[2 Corinthians 9:7 Proverbs 22:8 (Septuagint)] 8 Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause — 9 as the Tanakh says,
“He gave generously to the poor;
his tzedakah lasts forever.”[2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9]
10 He who provides both seed for the planter and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your tzedakah. 11 You will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous in everything. And through us your generosity will cause people to thank God, 12 because rendering this holy service not only provides for the needs of God’s people, but it also overflows in the many thanks people will be giving to God. 13 In offering this service you prove to these people that you glorify God by actually doing what your acknowledgement of the Good News of the Messiah requires, namely, sharing generously with them and with everyone. 14 And in their prayers for you they will feel a strong affection for you because of how gracious God has been to you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
____________________________
The Lutheran Hour660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
1-800-876-9880
www.lhm.org
___________________________
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