(Jesus said) "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20b
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
Whether it's Panama or Paris, people get depressed. Sometimes that depression causes them to do things they never would have considered in their right minds -- things like suicide.
While it's typical for people to have moments of crisis and, at times, even profound anxiety, it's not normal for these mood states to drive people to suicide. Those who contemplate such dire measures unfortunately live in a world of shifting sand. In weighty moments of loneliness, when friends or family are unavailable -- or unwilling -- to help, the results can be catastrophic.
How many people suffer a similar anguish throughout the world? Are you one of them? If so, how can you survive in this confusing world? Do you have a spiritual foundation based in God, your Creator? Or do you search without finding and live without purpose?
Jesus Christ says, "Come, follow Me" (Luke 18:22b) to us today, even as He did to the ruler who inquired about inheriting eternal life centuries ago. Jesus alone is the true Way, the best guide, the supreme purpose, and the only source of life - both temporal and eternal.
If you are looking for the meaning of life and if you want to find true love and peace with God and within you, then grasp the nail-scarred hand of Jesus Christ, who offers His grace and forgiveness to any who seek Him.
THE PRAYER: Lord, though the future is unknown to us, Your love is dependable and without end. As a result, I know I can count on You. How good it is to know the things I can't control, You can, because You love us! Amen.
Biography of Author: This devotion was based on a text submitted by Marcos Kempff, a volunteer with Lutheran Hour Ministries in Panama. In that country of more than three million people, LHM operates as Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones (CPTLN) -- "Christ for all Nations." Using Equipping the Saints (ETS) training, Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), and Project JOEL, the LHM-Panama staff shares the Gospel with individuals throughout this Central American country.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: Numbers 23-25 Mark 16
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