For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

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 Sunday 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

On one of my Sunday travels from church to a mission located 10 kilometers away, I had the sad experience of watching an accident that resulted in the death of two individuals.
Thinking about the accident, I came to the realization that every day, regardless of age, people lose their life in unexpected and surprising ways. Indeed, if there is something that unites human beings -- both wise and foolish, rich and poor, from north or south -- it is that we can be 100 percent certain we are going to die.

Everybody understands that death is a natural part of life.

Yes, people agree that death is real. How could they not? But that's where the agreement ends. People disagree strongly about what death is.

* Some believe that death is the end of everything.

* Others believe it is a step to a new life reincarnated in another body.

* Many others believe, well, it can get really weird as to what people believe.

But wait, what does the Word of God say?

The Bible informs us that it is destined that man will live once and after that -- the judgment (see Hebrews 9:27). Passages like that were terribly frightening to Luther who was convicted of his sins and terrified of what was coming after he died.

From a child he had been taught we truly are subject to the laws of sin and death, along with God's just judgment. Later in life, by God's grace, he was also given the eternity-changing truth that God has good news for us.

In the Person of His Son, God has paid for our spiritual ransom with the life of His only Son, Jesus. The long-awaited Redeemer is the Messiah sent by God. With credentials undeniable, Jesus tells us, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (See John 11:25-26).

These are words we need to remember anytime we may be affected by the disturbing reality of death. These are the blood-bought words that have taken the sting out of death and the victory out of the grave.

Luther's great discovery was death does not have the last word.

Jesus does.

Now He offers us His forgiveness, and by means of His death and resurrection, we receive a new life through faith. Ours is a new life that says those who are forgiven by the Redeemer will live eternally in heaven with Him.

Now, in Christ, we can join with Paul and say, "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

THE PRAYER: Beloved Father, we thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to fulfill the Law and die in our place, to thereby deliver us from sin and the power of death and thus have eternal life. In the Savior's Name we give thanks. Amen.

Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Pastor Edgar Martin Coronado of Venezuela. Pastor Coronado is supportive of Lutheran Hour Ministries' work in his country, and we thank him for his devotions. Currently, he is serving at La Fortaleza Lutheran Church in Maracay, and as a missionary pastor in Aragua State. He is also professor of philosophy at Pedagogico de Caracas.

Known in Venezuela as Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones ("Christ for All Nations"), LHM-Venezuela uses Equipping the Saints (ETS) and Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) to reach out to South Americans with the Gospel, in this country of more than 30 million people. Additionally, this ministry center produces radio messages like A Moment with Godand Perspectives to deal with life's everyday issues. Also its website is accessed by many, and visitors can opt to receive Christian devotional messages, as well as inspirational e-mails or text messages.

You can read the latest ministry story from LHM-Venezuela by clicking here to visit its blog.


To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhm.org/international.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Jeremiah 27-29    Hebrews 5

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