Daily Devotions
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:11
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
By God’s grace I was able to keep my innocence until my wedding day. It was something which was beneficial to our family both spiritually and emotionally.
But I had never devoted time to sharing that choice with young people.
I had never thought what I had done could be used by God to inspire change in the lives of others. Along with that, I was far too lazy and too shy to speak openly about my choices with others. I kept a special distance from those who are younger, you know, the ones whom many think of as being perverted in their thinking and lifestyle. Amongst them, moral degeneration seems to be the in thing as young people encourage immoral behavior in each other.
Recently, the ministry center organized a behavior-change seminar for young people, and I was given an opportunity to talk to them about sexual abstinence.
You may well imagine that standing in front of those young people was frightening. I put in overtime as I wrestled about how I would share the topic with those who were so skeptical and cynical.
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I was able to gather up all my strength as I stood before a congregation of young people. By God’s grace I was empowered to share with them from my heart about one of the greatest joys of my life. When I was done, the Lutheran Hour Ministries’ center was able to reach some young people, who were led to a change in their behavior.
By the end of the seminar I could feel my heart melt as some of these youth individually came up to me and asked advice on how they could end their present immoral relationships. Each said they, too, wanted to have a life which they can live for Christ.
Seeing how, with just a few words, people’s lives were changed, I am now dedicated to being more bold in my witness.
If the Lord wills, I will continue to set aside my shyness and reach out to the younger generations and convey the hope that belongs to all who have been washed of their sins by the Savior’s blood.
No longer shall my feelings be confined to complaining about moral degeneration. Instead, I will take a stand about how God’s people can do more and be more when they are empowered by the Holy Spirit and touched by the grace which is theirs through the Redeemer’s sacrifice.
THE PRAYER: Almighty Father, I pray You will forgive us for having kept to ourselves the path which You would have Your people walk. Let us take a stand so they do not fall prey to the evil one. I ask You give Your saved people the strength to reach out to the lost and tell them how, in Jesus, they can be saved and have a life which is lived according to Your will. In the Savior’s Name I ask it. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today’s international devotion was written by Annet Birabwa of Uganda. Birabwa is married and a mother of two. She holds a degree in catering and hotel management and lives in Wakiso, located approximately15 kilometers from Kampala. She volunteers with the local ministry center in programs such as youth ministry, films shows, and hospital ministry. In this African nation of more than 35 million people, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Uganda, known locally as Lutheran Media Ministry, has connected with more than 250,000 individuals through print, broadcast, electronic and traditional media, including radio and television programming. Additional efforts include enrolling students in Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), distributing Bibles and topical booklets, and launching a biblical values-based peer education program designed for secondary school students.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.