"But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." Mark 8:29

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



People can be attracted to many "things."

These things can, if we pursue them long and hard enough, become like gods to us. These things may be people, ideas or goods that are used every day. They are things in which young people, especially, place their trust or invest their time and money -- things like technology.

In our modern day, technology is a powerful "god."

It controls every facet of our lives. It makes our lives livable. We can know what the weather will be many days in advance. We can communicate from anywhere to anywhere at any time. The world has shrunk into a global village. The computer has revolutionized our everyday work and greatly impacted our lives.

Sadly, people tend to believe everything the computer puts before them.

Young people use technology as a mode of recreation. Video games, music, films and all kinds of information can be found on it. For many it occupies a large majority of their time and consumes much of their energy and concentration.

It is not an over-exaggeration to say that for some, technology has become a god. This god applies its rules to them, and they become addicted to it. The god of technology proclaims itself as the solution for everything in life. This is a claim it cannot fulfill.

Football, basketball and movies raise some stars to the level of gods. Young people swallow whatever they say and offer. Their glamorous lives are taken as the model for everybody. Their clothes are quickly received as new fashions. Young people mimic what and who attracts them. They adore the fashion stars like gods.

In contrast to all this foolishness we have the Triune God. He is the only true God.

He is not like the gods of this earth who are here today and gone tomorrow.

No, our Lord -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- have been from before the beginning, and they will continue to be into eternity. To the Triune God we owe our life, our redemption and faith in the Christ, which brings forgiveness and salvation. To Him be praise.

THE PRAYER: Jesus Christ, Son of God, take us away from the gods of our own making. Receive us and keep us in the household of God, our Father. This we ask in Your Name. Amen.

Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Dr. Randrianasolo, pastor of the Malagasy Lutheran Church. Having occupied positions as parish pastor and youth chaplain, he is currently the dean of the Lutheran Graduate School of Theology in Madagascar. He is well-known and a gifted preacher, lecturer and spiritual counselor. In this island nation of 22 million people, LHM's efforts have been fruitful, providing topical booklets and Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) in both French and Malagasy to a population where fully half the people live below the poverty line. Television programs like This is the Life and holiday programs are aired, while FM radio -- the newest addition to LHM's programming -- spreads the Gospel through village and city alike.


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: Psalms 99-100,102    Acts 17:16-34

To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"