It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found. Luke 15:32
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
There are many young adults today who no longer want to live in their parents' home or follow their rules. They want their own freedom without commitment or responsibility. They don't value the warmth of a home or the affection of their parents until they have thrown it all away. Many forfeit true happiness by looking for moments of pleasure.
This is like the parable of the prodigal son. He left his home to seek the freedoms this world has to offer. With money in his pocket, but no commitments or responsibilities, the son splurged it all on temporary pleasure. But there soon came a time when the money ran out and, then, so did the pleasure. At his lowest point, he was sharing food with pigs.
It was then, the son decided to return to his father where he knew there was still security and love.
Through His Word, God reaches out to bring us back to Him, too. He loves us so much that He paid for our rescue with the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.
Like the father in the story Jesus told, God the Father is waiting with open arms for us to return as well.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much and calling us back to You when we stray. Amen.
Biography of Author:
Pastor Laureno Sitzmann was born in Capitan Miranda, Paraguay. He received his bachelor in theology degree from Concordia Seminary in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is now the senior pastor of Parroquia Santa Trinidad in Iruna, Alto Parana, Paraguay. He and his wife, Loide Sonntag, have two daughters, Lorena and Cristina.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Jeremiah 43-44 Hebrews 11:20-40
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