1 Peter 4:10-11 - As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies -- in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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

I know a young girl who worked for a publishing company.

That doesn't make her special. What makes her unique and fascinates her colleagues is that she always seems willing to help others. Indeed, one day one of her coworkers actually managed to corner her and ask why she was so willing to lend a hand to others.

Her reply was both unusual and beautiful. She said, "God has given gifts to everyone and He commands us to serve others." Then she added it was important for her to share her gifts with others so she could please and glorify the Triune God.

This young lady was a practicing Christian who knew the Lord is pleased when believers share what they have and serve others.

Now the person who had asked the question was the first to hear the young girl's answer.

That answer had a profound effect upon that listener. She began to do some soul searching. What she found didn't please her. A bit of self-examination revealed she was not the kind of person she wanted to be. In contrast to our young lady, this individual refused to share her skills and glorified herself by demanding she be praised for everything she did.

Only after she had looked closely at herself did the Holy Spirit bring her to repentance.

Today both young ladies understand that the Lord who has given the gifts can be glorified when we use those gifts to be of assistance to others. In thanks to the Christ who offered Himself for their forgiveness and salvation, these two unique souls have come together to serve Him and others.

If they had a motto, it would be found in the book of Romans, where God's people are reminded to offer themselves as a pleasing offering to Him and help each other because as the body has many members, and not all serve the same purpose, so we have to be united as one in Christ's body and support each other (see Romans 12:3-5).

THE PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the gifts You have given me in this life. Please let my life and attitude share the Savior with the other people around me. May they all see that, in so doing, I am trying to thank, please, and serve You. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.

Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Ismara Vallejos. She is a volunteer at our Nicaragua office. In that capacity she teaches Bible study courses and presents an orientation with Project JOEL at our public schools. Vallejos has also begun to work as part of our radio team.

Lutheran Hour Ministries-Nicaragua is known in-country as "Christ for All Nations" or Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones in Spanish. Launching its Gospel efforts in Chinandega in 1999, LHM-Nicaragua offers Project JOEL, an educational program helping children and young people make healthy lifestyle choices. High school and university students benefit from this program as well. Offering Equipping the Saints (ETS) evangelism workshops to facilitate Gospel conversations and Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) to build up and edify students of Scripture, inroads are being made into people's lives with the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. Based today in León, this ministry center produces a weekly radio broadcast and 30-second on-air spots. These are augmented with "Radio Cristo Nica," an internet and radio program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping others in this Central American country of six million people.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 13-14    John 4:1-26

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