For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
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
Man has been trying to earn, buy, or manipulate his way into God's favor from the beginning.
This is futility at its utmost.
We cannot be good or rich or generous enough to be worthy of God's favor and eternal life. Eternal life is a free gift of God for His people, which He has given through the suffering, death, and conquering resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
In our relationship with God, we need a Savior. For although the war is over and salvation has been won, the battle remains as long as the earth endures. But thanks be to God -- Christ is our Savior, our Champion! His sinless life and sacrificial death satisfied God's wrath against sinners. By faith we are declared righteous before God through Jesus' victory over Satan. Taking our sins to the cross, Jesus did what we could not do; He bridged the chasm separating God and mankind that sin produced.
Through baptism, God grants His children an eternal victory over sin, death, and the devil. Those who cling to the cross in faith can be confident in Christ and the final outcome. Jesus said, "I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28).
THE PRAYER: Our Lord and Savior, we thank You for paying the price for our sins and giving us eternal life without us paying anything for it. By Your Holy Spirit move us to share this message of victory with a world in dire need of a Savior. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Biography of Author: This devotion is based on a text submitted by John Donkoh, director of Lutheran Hour Ministries' office in Ghana. Established in 1993 in Accra, LHM-Ghana is known locally as Lutheran Media Ministry. Utilizing traditional music, dance, and storytelling is The Harps -- a group of men and women sharing Jesus through song. Equipping the Saints (ETS) is another way local Christians are trained to spread the Gospel in this ethnically diverse West African country.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 27-28 Acts 19:1-20
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