Philippians 3:13b-14 - But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
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
What are you living, studying, and working for? What is your purpose for living? Maybe you want to be a famous person, a movie star, a pop star, or a top model. Or, perhaps, you want to be someone with a very high position in society, or earn just enough money to live comfortably. More ideally speaking, maybe you want to be the one who serves others. That’s all right, but whatever your purpose is, it will surely end one day when you pass away. What will you have at that time? Nothing. Saint Paul once said, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Your life doesn’t end when you die, so your purpose of living and what you have been doing will continue to have influence. It is no good for you to live on this earth without a purpose. However, it is worth nothing to you if your purpose focuses only on this life. Have another look at Paul’s message. He had a very clear purpose for his life when he said, “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26). He did not run aimlessly and did not beat the air because he had spent all his lifetime, his health, and his wealth on that purpose. Some people have spent their whole lives on what they considered to be an ideal. When they reach old age, they take time to think back on all that happened in their lives and realize a lot of it was wasted.
Think back on Paul. He never felt sorry for the path he had chosen but was willing to give up his own life for that purpose. “However, I considered my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me –the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).
If you want to make your life more meaningful, trust in Christ Jesus in all aspects of your life. Then, you will not run aimlessly but truly have a purpose.
THE PRAYER: Dear God, my heavenly Father, I want to live under Your guidance. Please forgive my past sins and help me to live a meaningful life by helping others come to know You. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Biography of Author:
Nguyen Huu Dung is a volunteer preacher working at the Trang Bang congregation about 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City. He is a member of our Advocacy Board.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Esther 3-5 Revelation 12
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