Daily Devotions
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed; behold all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
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
Imagine if one day a person disguised himself as a doctor and began to treat patients!
Until he was discovered, those who came to him would look up to him with hope, imagining him to be the person who would heal them. Sadly, there is little doubt many of these same people would suffer and some might die as a result of him having prescribed the wrong medication. Quite rightly, this individual, when caught, would end up serving a bitter sentence for his actions.
This is a position in which I recently found myself when I participated in a youth program.
Allow me to explain: I come from a Christian background where both my parents are ministers in the church. At home and in church I had to be obedient and do what I was told. In spite of my parents’ best intentions, I — like many young people — felt misunderstood.
Things changed in college. There I was free to do as I wished, and what I wished wasn’t good. I led a gang of peers who loved to move from one night club to another. We smoked, drank to excess, and partied with the boys. There were a number of times I was so intoxicated I couldn’t make it to class.
That was the life I had chosen, but it was not the life Christ had in mind for me.
I could not have imagined that the Savior was still by my side. Not so long ago I was embraced with an opportunity to volunteer with LHM-Uganda. There I had a life-transforming experience, which came from the grace of God.
The Lord had met me on my journey of meaninglessness, where I had been chasing nothing but the wind. Unexpectedly, He gave me a platform to reach out to young people and explain to them the need to find a purpose in life. As I taught others, the Lord taught me.
Realizing that the Lord, without me ever knowing, had made me a role model, I was changed. As I counseled these young people, I ended up being counseled myself. The message of the Savior’s grace spoke loudly to me and I found that
THE HUNTER HAD BECOME THE HUNTED.
Since I have been volunteering with the ministry center my life has completely changed. I am now a different person who has taken on the responsibility of counseling my peers. My style is not harsh or strongly judgmental because I fully understand what they are going through.
After all, I had walked that road before. Still, if the Lord wills, sinful souls will be touched with the Savior’s love, and they, like me, will be changed.
THE PRAYER: Father, help me to tell Your love story. Make me an effective servant to those whose dark world does not know Jesus’ light. And to my fellow believers may I reflect the loving light I have received from my Savior. In His Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today’s international devotion was written by Lillian Nassiwa. She comes from a family of eight where both parents are ministers in a local church in a Kampala suburb. She is currently pursuing a degree in the study of humanities and has volunteered with LHM-Uganda as part of her education internship. In her school recess Nassiwa ministers in the choir in her local church, and for the past three months she has been volunteering with the LHM local ministry center. She has been involved with programs for youth, film shows, and the Bible study course. Known as Lutheran Media Ministry in country, LHM-Uganda distributes Bibles, topical booklets, and other Christian literature in its outreach efforts. Respondents often participate in Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), with more than 130,000 having enrolled in these courses since the ministry center’s establishment in Kampala in 1996. Films, puppet shows, and music/drama performances often draw sizable audiences and share the Gospel with literate and illiterate people alike.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.