"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 (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
Life these days is a rush. We have more things to do and less time to do them. How many times do we get impatient, expecting the Lord to operate in our time frame? Or, wishing He would follow a certain timetable, we get anxious for Him to respond to our pleas.
We ask, and He promises in due time. We beg, but He keeps silent. We get tired and desperate. We feel that everything is out of our control, but He stays strong, loving, and sovereign.
What would have happened if Noah had enough after 50 years of building an ark when no one had even seen a drop of rain? Annoying people surrounded him. They made fun of him and mocked his God, who apparently had not given any more signs.
What if Noah had said, "I've had enough of this! If You don't bring rain in the next few days, and let me prove these mocking sinners are wrong, I am going to quit!" What if?
God would still bring His plan to pass in due time.
There was a time when people waited for more than rain. This was before Messiah had come. Paul writes, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).
These days, though we scuttle here and there with our all-important lives and urgent needs, let us not forget that God has proven Himself through His Word and has accomplished our salvation-on His timetable.
THE PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, like in the days of Noah, we often have to wait for things to happen. Unlike Noah's days, however, the fullness of time has come. Born in a Bethlehem stable-the Savior of the world has become the mediator between God and men. It is His atoning blood that cleanses us from all sin. Wash us in that blood, dear Lord, make us whiter than snow. Amen.
Biography of Author:
Michel Matar is a guitarist in the Worship Band, a Christian music group performing since 1990 that has toured several countries with its Arabic, English, and French music. Formerly a performer in secular music, Matar's acceptance of Jesus' love and forgiveness radically changed his life in 1989. Since then, he has dedicated his life, his music, and his talents to serve the Lord. He and his wife Nuna-who sings and plays keyboards in the Worship Band-have five children.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 31, 35 John 11:30-57
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"