Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the one who trusts in man ...." Jeremiah 17:5a

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 Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour



Manuel became ill and had to stay in the hospital.

Since the pastor of the congregation to which he belonged was out of town, they told him he could call the pastor of a nearby city to come visit him.

However, Manuel was ungrateful and with brutal manners, said, "If the pastor of the church which I attend can't come, it will be useless to have another one praying by my side. I already know that I am in big trouble!"

Manuel's attitude is like that of the individual who doesn't trust in God for everything, but in human beings. The fact of turning away the pastor of a nearby city clearly showed a weakness in his faith.

To Manuel, it was his pastor who had the power to help, and since his pastor was not able to come and visit him, he became hopeless.

To respect, love or trust in other individuals more than in God Himself is what disguised idolizing is about.

Pitifully, many individuals act this way without realizing the following admonition that God told Jeremiah to write down in his book: "Cursed is the one who turns his heart away from Me, who puts his trust in men."

Christians trust in individuals, of course.

However, they can never trust in any individual more than they trust in God. They visit their doctors but pray to God in order to receive His blessings, so their doctors will prescribe the appropriate drug for their illnesses.

And in such matters they always add the following: "Father, do to me according to Your will."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, send Your Holy Spirit so my faith in Jesus might always be increased. Grant me the ability to come to You so I can always say, Loving Father, stay always by my side with Your love so I can love, trust and confide in You with all my heart. In Jesus' Name, I ask it. Amen.

Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by our co-worker and friend, Pastor Egon M. Seibert, who is representing the Lutheran Hour Ministries office in Paraguay. Established in Asuncion in 2000, LHM-Paraguay operates as Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones and is active in door-to-door ministry, radio programming, Project JOEL, Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), and Equipping the Saints (ETS) training. The ministry center there is also active in small group ministry, using Bible studies to connect with groups of 12 to 30 people in this South American nation of more than 6.5 million people.


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: Song 1-3    Acts 6

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