Daily Devotions
(Jesus said) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
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 of The Lutheran Hour
The son of an English ship’s captain had been confirmed on a Palm Sunday morning.
That evening, the father and son sat in the captain’s quarters and reviewed the events of the day. Wishing to underscore and deepen the conviction of his son’s confirmation vows, the father said, “My boy, light this candle. Go out onto the deck, and return to me with the candle still burning.”
“But, Father,” the boy replied, “if I go up on the deck, the wind will surely blow out the flame.”
At the continued urging of the father, the son did as he was told.
With much shielding and maneuvering the lad succeeded in keeping the flame burning. With a sense of accomplishment he returned the burning candle to his father.
It was only then the father explained: “My son, your faith is like this candle. You were confirmed today. Your faith is small and frail right now. From here on out, you will be going into a big, tempting world. That world has dedicated itself to snuffing out the flame of your faith. It will most certainly succeed … if you don’t take pains to properly shield it.”
The father gave good advice. Most people don’t put much thought into their confirmation or, more importantly, their baptism.
They often view the promises and covenants which were made as things which happened a long time ago, things which really have no meaning for today. People feel that way because they have received adoption into the family of faith by God’s grace and not by their own works.
That’s an important thing for us to remember.
Even though we didn’t have anything to do with the benefits and blessings which Baptism brings, those blessings are still real. In Baptism the Father comes to us; in Baptism the forgiveness Christ won upon the cross is given to us. In Baptism we are adopted into the family of faith, and in Baptism we have the assurance — no matter what happens to us — that our salvation is secure.
Truly, such blessings are worth protecting and shielding.
THE PRAYER: Dear Father, I thank You for adopting me through the cross of Christ. Help me to remember my baptism each day, so I may be given strength to stand against the gale-force winds of life. In Jesus’ Name I pray it. Amen.
Biography of Author: This devotion has been shared with us by Stephen Klinck, director of the Lutheran Hour Office in Canada. We thank our old friend for his many years of faithful service and the thought which has gone into this devotion. The Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada was established in 1967 and shares the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ through TV and radio programs, audio and video tapes and topical booklets.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.