Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
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
One of the most remarkable things that accompanies salvation is the new life God gives us through faith in Jesus Christ. What Jesus accomplished for us on the cross is the only work necessary - and sufficient - for the forgiveness of our sins. We can't earn salvation; we can't add to it with our good works or lofty intentions; we can't resolve to become a person worthy of God's redemption. It is God's free gift. And it is available to everyone only through Christ's sacrifice on the world's behalf.
As believers, our lives should exhibit God's love. We should be examples of Christ's compassionate living as set forth in the New Testament. If, however, we live our lives in darkness, we have no right to claim to be children of God. Scripture is plain on this matter. "If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth" (1 John 1:6).
Our faith cannot in any way be taken as a license to do as we please. Christ bore our sins -- once and for all -- through His suffering and death on the cross. The Father put His seal on His Son's perfect work on our behalf by raising Him from the dead. Through Jesus' resurrection, we, too, are raised to new life. By faith we know this; by faith we live our lives as new creations in what Jesus has done for us.
As individual believers in Christ's all-sufficient work of salvation, the power of sin has no hold on us. Through the Holy Spirit, we are given spiritual strength to resist the enemy's attacks. If you are in Christ, you also are a new creation. We should live our lives then as God's redeemed people, holy in our conduct, knowing the price paid for our heads was "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1:18b-19).
THE PRAYER: Oh, God, You created in us a new life through Your Holy Spirit. Guide us and embolden us to lead a life pleasing to You. Strengthen us against the power of the devil and let our lives -- through Your Holy Spirit - be a truthful witness to others. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
Biography of Author:
Rev. C. David has been the director of LHM-India since 2003; he has worked in this country of more than one billion people since 1994. From its office in Chennai, ministry efforts include radio and TV programming, staging rallies and performing arts presentations, and using Bible Correspondence Courses and Equipping the Saints.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
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Today's Bible Readings: Job 20-21 Matthew 11
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