For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

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



Russian legend speaks of a town which decided to institute a new set of laws for its citizenry.

Those laws were simple, so simple everyone could understand them. For example, it was against the law to kill, steal, ruin a person's good name or take someone else's spouse.

If you were caught breaking any of these laws, there was only one punishment and that punishment was death.

You may rightly imagine that people in that town tried to live very, very good lives. Knowing human nature you may also be aware that it didn't take too long before everybody in town was condemned to be executed.

Try as they would, everyone fell far short of what the law demanded.

Sadly, such a story is our reality. When humanity sinned, we rejected the gracious life God wanted us to have. Instead of obedience to God, our disobedience said we preferred to live under the law -- the law which said each and every sin ended up with our punishment, one punishment: death.

Thankfully, sin, death and devil do not have to be our final and ultimate masters.

Because of the Savior, we can be freed from such tyranny. Because Jesus resisted temptation, lived a perfect life under the Law, and rose from the dead on the third day, all who believe on Him are rescued and adopted into God's family.

In this family there is forgiveness, grace, peace and hope. And the punishments for our sinful infractions? Well, they don't apply anymore.

That's the message we share in all of our ministry work in Russia. We do our best to tell our people that Jesus changes things. Please pray for us, and pray that the message is heard and souls may be saved.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us to live a life of obedience to You. May we be thankful for the forgiveness You have given us through the death and resurrection of Your Son. And may many others be brought to faith in their Savior, Jesus. In His Name we ask it. Amen.

Biography of Author: This devotion was written by a member of the Lutheran Hour Ministries-Russia ministry team. With a base in St. Petersburg, the Russia office is reaching out in numerous ways to the people of the biggest country in the world. Just some of those programs you support are radio programs, YouTube messages, CD and DVD productions, newspaper and magazine ads and Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) for adults, youth and children. Please remember them in your prayers.


To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 27-28    Mark 1:23-45

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