(Jesus said) "Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:15-16

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



In our country many people do not have access to electricity.

Many use candles which they have made themselves from the fat of a zebu, the local, large-humped ox. There are others who have managed to purchase an oil or paraffin lamp. Yet others light their homes by taking the small bulb of a flashhlight and mounting it on a conventional light stand. This style of battery-powered light, when properly mounted, can produce a dim light for an entire small-sized room, and the rooms here are seldom large.

That is a wonderful example of the work of witnessing, which the Lord asks us to do when He in His grace cares about us and connects us to His mighty source of energy. Then He places us in such a place where our light can shine to the maximum.

You see, in the Gospel of Matthew, we are told that Jesus is the Light, and we are the lamp. Please note that the lamp does not do anything, God acts and does all the work. All the lamp has to do is hold up the light. And what follows in the rest of this devotion, my friends, is the message of light He would have us share. He wants us to tell the sin-darkened world ...

Dearly beloved of God, the Triune God cares about you, even though you are not aware of it. His love is strong, absolute and passionate. Because of the sacrifice His Son made for you in His life, death and resurrection, a person can see that the Lord loves him freely, without conditions, even before there are any responses.

When the light of faith in Jesus as your Savior is placed within your heart, as a token of your gratefulness and thanks, you can strive to be what He wants you to be: a child of light, striving to reflect Jesus' light to all those around you, to all whom you pass on your way.

Two thousand years ago the Christ came to meet you, forgive you, and to make you fit to be God's children. He has accomplished all things necessary for you to be forgiven. He has even laid down His life on the cross so the Holy Spirit may make you, by His saving grace, into one of His children of light.

Now, in order to thank Him -- you, I, all of us -- let us come to Him every day, so He may empower us to share Christ's light with all whom we know.

THE PRAYER: Dear God our Father, thank you for the light of the Savior. Let our faces be bright, for our light has come, and God's glory is shining in us and through us. In Jesus' Name we ask it. Amen.

Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Pastor Herimino who works with the Lutheran Hour Ministries office in Madagascar. FM radio has recently come to Madagascar, and LHM is working with these new FM stations to share the Savior, as we broadcast our programs in both French and Malagasy. Additionally, LHM-Madagascar uses national and private TV stations to broadcast shows such as This is the Life as well as holiday programs. It also offers a Sunday program, featuring local speakers and singers. In this island nation of more than 20 million people, LHM-Madagascar, known locally as the Voice of the Gospel, provides outreach materials that connect with a wide range of people, including youth offenders in detention centers. Using Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) and Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops, LHM-Madagascar reaches out with God's message of hope in Jesus to a population where roughly 50 percent live at or below the poverty line. You can check out Madagascar's blog at lhmmadagascar.wordpress.com.


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 19-20    Matthew 27:27-50

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