If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. Proverbs 25:21

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




A woman once told me the wonderful story of love and patience she had for her sisters and brothers. Giving herself for the benefit of her siblings was her top level of living. She was the oldest child in a family of seven children. Her mother died when she was seventeen. She was attending high school but since her father was often gone due to work, she became more of a mother than a sister to her siblings.

This woman gave much of herself to her brothers and sisters. She was responsible for the home’s upkeep, supervising schoolwork, caring for the family during sickness, and looking after her siblings’ daily needs. In brief, she took care of them as if she were the mother. These demands impacted her own grades in school and, eventually, she had to forego her own education. She even declined all offers of marriage.

One after another, her brothers and sisters finished school, and married. Finally, when everyone was on his or her own and it was time for her to think about herself, she was more than forty years old. She remained unmarried. But did she regret what she had done for her brothers and sisters? Not at all! She knew that giving is the top level of living.

In the above account, this woman sacrificed much for her relatives. Would she do it for her enemies? Possibly, but perhaps not, it’s hard to say. Yet, there is someone who has gone the distance for His enemies—Jesus Christ! By our sinful natures, we are His natural enemies. But for us, He came down from heaven. He took our place on the cross and shed His blood for our sins. He is ready to receive us in His Kingdom. For Him, giving was everything.

THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You came down from heaven and gave Your all. Lead me, through Your Holy Spirit, to live a life in step with Your example of service and sacrifice. 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.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Numbers 9-11    Mark 14:1-26

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