Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect. 1 Peter 3:15

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



My 12-year-old son is in eighth grade. Recently, one of his classmates, a boy who was goalkeeper for the class soccer team, died while he was playing in the river.

When my son heard that bad news, he was very sorry for his friend and for the team, which must keep on playing, even as they mourn their deceased teammate. My son shared that his friend had not been a Christian and wondered if he could still go to heaven.

In reply, I asked, "My son, did you tell your friend about Jesus and His salvation before he died?"

Maybe you've noticed there are many people around us, people who are close to us, who have still not heard the Good News. These people have not heard because, even though we love them, we never got around to telling them about the Savior.

That was the situation for my son and his friend. For months they had known each other. They had played with each other, sat next to each other, laughed with each other, and competed as teammates. They loved each other. In spite of all this, the Gospel was never shared.

I feel terribly sorry for my son who has, at an early age, come to the sad realization that there are some opportunities that can never be recaptured. He now knows that time is not unlimited, and we need to make our witness when and while we can. Yes, my son has learned a painful lesson.

Now, I ask that you will excuse me for asking, have you also learned to make use of every God-given opportunity to share the Savior? Is it possible you still believe the calendars of those around you are filled with an unlimited number of days, weeks, months and years?

My friends, time is going fast. We dare not let these folks finish their lives, without them hearing the Good News story of salvation, which comes to us through Spirit-given faith in Jesus Christ.

Understand, you don't need to be a missionary, a teacher or a pastor to make such a presentation. What you say doesn't have to be a formal presentation shared with fancy theological words.

In Myanmar, the Lutheran Hour Ministries' team called Word of Hope pays monthly visits to children in the hospital. Whenever we are there, we show puppet stories; we sing Christian songs for children and their parents; we give cookies and milk to those who suffer from a myriad of diseases. We always pray for them and tell them how Jesus loves them and wishes to save them.

May I tell you, I'm glad we do? Why? Because by the time we come the following month, some of these children are already home with the Savior.

THE PRAYER: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your one and only Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sin. Please give us the courage and time to share this good news with our people. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Zin Mar Lay who is the coordinator for Word of Hope, our Lutheran Hour Ministries' office in Myanmar. The story she shares about her son is both poignant, painful and demonstrates the intense need to share the Savior's story of salvation, while there is still time. In Myanmar, a Southeast Asian country of more than 60 million people, LHM utilizes Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) as well as a successful radio program entitled "Hope for Youth," which appeals to both youth and young adults.


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: Isaiah 28-29    Romans 1

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