“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29 (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
People can be attracted to many things. These things can become like gods to us. They may be people, ideas, or goods that are used everyday. They are things in which young people, especially, place their trust, or invest their time and money.
In our modern day, technology is a powerful god. It controls every facet of our lives. It makes our lives livable. We can know what the weather will be many days in advance. We can communicate from anywhere to anywhere at anytime. The world has shrunk into a global village. The computer has revolutionized our everyday work and greatly impacted our lives. We tend to believe everything the computer puts before us.
Young people use computers as recreation. Video games, music, films, and all kinds of information can be found on them. To some extent, they occupy a large majority of their time and consume much of their energy and concentration. It is a god for them. This god applies its rules to them, and they become addicted to it. The god of technology shows itself as the solution for everything in life. But the God of Jesus Christ, that God who is our Father, is ranked as outside of its scope.
Football, basketball, and movies raise some stars to the level of gods. Young people swallow whatever they say and offer. Their glamorous lives are taken as models for living. Their clothes are quickly received as new fashions. Young people mimic what and who attracts them. They adore these fashion stars.
Our God, the Father of Jesus Christ, is the only true God. He is not like the gods of this earth who come out of human minds and human hands. He is the One who has been from the beginning and will be into eternity. He is the Creator of heaven and earth and has provided a Savior through His Son, Jesus Christ.
THE PRAYER: Jesus Christ, Son of God, take us away from the gods of our own making. Receive us and keep us in the household of God, our Father, through baptism. Amen.
Biography of Author:
Dr. Joseph Randrianasolo is pastor of the Malagasy Lutheran Church. He has occupied positions as Parish Pastor and Youth Chaplain and is currently the Dean of the Lutheran Graduate School of Theology at Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. He is a well-known and gifted preacher, lecturer, and spiritual counselor.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Job 5-7 Matthew 8:18-34
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