For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Ephesians 1:4
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
God holds our lives in His hands. I never quite understood this until I learned what God did for my friend Mary. I met her at a Christian homeless shelter. She had suffered horrible tragedies, more than most of us could imagine. Maliciously abused as a child, as a teenager she turned to drugs and alcohol. As an adult, she spent years in poverty and harmful relationships. Finally, she lost everything. It was then she went to the shelter so she wouldn't have to live in her car.
Soon after she arrived there, Mary heard the Good News about Jesus as her Savior. She immediately enrolled in the yearlong Bible study program. In time, she shared her own story. One day, it dawned on me that nearly every one of the women in the class had gone to church and read the Bible as children. They knew about Jesus and often prayed to Him when things went wrong. God worked behind the scenes to move them here and there. Eventually, due to one circumstance or another, He guided them to the shelter and renewed their trust in Him.
Fortunately, God's plan for most of us doesn't include what Mary suffered. Instead, many of us are blessed with Christian parents who love us dearly and tell us about Jesus from the time we're born. They take us to church and share God's remarkable salvation with us. Through the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, we trust and believe in Jesus as our Savior.
God knew His plan for you before He created the world. Today's Scripture passage makes it clear you are not an accident. God knows your life map before you were born. One vital stop on the highway of your life is the day you become His through faith in His Son Jesus as your Savior.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for calling us to be Your children and for giving us the gift of faith. Increase this belief through Your Holy Spirit who sanctifies us and makes us whole through Your Word. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Biography of Author:
Sosana Yousef is a volunteer and musician who assists Lutheran Hour Ministries with its work in Egypt - a country of nearly 80 million people. Established in Cairo ten years ago, LHM - Egypt shares the Gospel through Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) and by conducting Equipping the Saints programs.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Zechariah 13-14 Revelation 3-4
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