Daily Devotions
Then I’ll say to myself: “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” … (Jesus said) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:19, 34
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
I was with some friends the day when someone rang the bell, which hangs by their door.
Almost simultaneously one of the cows outside started lowing. It was not a coincidence. My friend explained that the cow remembered the person who feeds her everyday rings that bell. That’s what caused the lowing.
It all shows how eagerly that animal looked forward to her all-important feeding.
The rich man from the passage above is quite different from the cow. His daily wants have long since been taken care of. He believes that he has, all on his own, managed to gather enough riches to take care of himself. He has no need for God; more than that, his life has no room for God.
That is not the way we Christians are supposed to be. The psalmist says we are to be like a hind in deep thirst for living waters. Like my friend’s cow we are to wait eagerly for our master to bring us precious food.
The truth is in Jesus’ day or today, there are two paths which men walk. One is that of supposed self-assurance and self-security; the other is a life which is reliant upon the Redeemer.
The rich man in Jesus’ story had reached that point where he believed only he was the guiding authority of his life. All that mattered was that his interests, his wants, his economic future should all seem to be secure.
Seem to be secure.
That’s an important concept. That’s the concept Luke and the Savior want us to understand. Looking to his wealth alone, on the best of days, the richest of men can only seem to be secure. The reality is, at any given moment, all can be taken away, and at that moment the richest of men has become the poorest of souls.
Understand, according to the Gospel of Luke, riches are not evil — not in themselves. On the contrary, the Lord expects His people to make good use of the earthly wealth He has entrusted to them.
If we use those gifts rightly, we will end up benefiting our neighbor and glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered Himself for us. This leads me to ask, do you know where your true treasure lies and upon whom your security ought to rest?
Of course, you do.
But there are many who don’t know that true and lasting security can be found only in Jesus Christ and His blood-bought forgiveness. It is for them that we pray.
THE PRAYER: God our Father, grant my reliance may be on You and not myself. Further, I ask that You use me to help others see that the trust they place on themselves is false, foolish and fading. Only in You and Your Son can we find what we need. In His Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today’s international devotion was written by Pastor Herimino who works with the Lutheran Hour Ministries office in Madagascar. FM radio has recently come to Madagascar, and LHM is working with these new FM stations to share the Savior, as we broadcast our programs in both French and Malagasy. Additionally, LHM-Madagascar uses national and private TV stations to broadcast shows such as This is the Life as well as holiday programs. It also produces a Sunday program, featuring local speakers and singers.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.