Is God In My Plans January 31, 2017

Matthew 28:20 (NIV)

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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

God. You may be blessed to have heard people talking about God since you were small.

Maybe God was one of the first words you had learned.

That is all fine and well, but the big question is this: "Is God part of your life?" By that I mean when you make plans or come to a decision, has the Lord been consulted and was He an important part of that process? Or is it possible that you, like so many other people, only think of and come to the Lord in times of danger and suffering?

As long as we are asking questions, maybe I ought to add is your Bible a nice, fine-looking volume, which is confined to a position of honor on your bookshelf? Is it a book you have intended to read, but never have gotten around to it? Or did you take a stab at it many years ago and then put it aside because you didn't understand anything and concluded the Scriptures were too complicated for the likes of someone like you?

It is my prayer that you know the Bible is the Word of God.

If that is the case, why not take advantage of this time to open the Bible and find out how it can be of service to you? Remember, it is through the Bible that God, our Creator, wishes to speak to our hearts. In the Bible we are told what price the Heavenly Father was willing to pay so we might be forgiven of our sins and be given eternal life.

It is in Scripture we hear of the Savior's life, suffering, death and resurrection. That the Savior was willing to leave heaven and suffer all the injustice and inequity this world could produce shows the depth of the Lord's love.

But that love does not end at the borrowed and empty tomb. In the Bible we also hear God's promise: "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15).

Again and again, God's Word tells us God wants to be involved in our lives. He wants to help.

When we feel pain, loss and suffering, our whole life is affected. Fear comes in those moments. Are you lost? Is there a solution? Yes, there is!

The answer to overcoming fear is hold on to Jesus. At such times we need to hear the Bible which says "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Trust in the promise of God, for He is faithful and remains prepared to help and to save you.

Thought for today: Do I acknowledge God in my plans before I start planning?

It Is Not Applicable January 30, 2017

1 John 3:1-2 (NIV)

3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

At the close of a battle in the days of World War I, a young man was found dying on the battlefield.

A fellow soldier stopped to render him some help. In gratitude, the dying infantryman said, "My father is a man of wealth. If I have the strength, I will write him a note, and he will repay you for this kindness."

This was the letter he wrote: "Dear father, the bearer of this letter made my last moments easier and helped me to die. Receive him and help him for your son's sake."

The war ended, and the soldier found it difficult to find employment.

Eventually, in tattered clothes, he showed up at the rich man's home in Detroit. The father, seeing such an unkempt ruffian at his door, refused admission to the ex-soldier. Before the door was shut, the soldier said, "I have a note for you in which, I believe, you will be interested, sir." He handed the dead soldier's father the little, soiled piece of paper.

The father quickly recognized his son's handwriting. His eyes softened as he read his boy's last message.

In a second, the father's attitude changed. He threw his arms around the ex-soldier and held him tightly. He invited the lad into his home as an honored guest. Anything he could do for his son's friend was done.

That, my friends, is a beautiful story.

But it's a poor story compared to what the Heavenly Father has done for us. In the story that man's son died on a battlefield. If the lad had been given his choice, he would have returned home, healthy and whole. But God's Son, our Savior, gave up His life, willingly, completely, totally.

Indeed, Jesus entered this world for the express purpose of living, dying and rising for us.

Now, because of what Jesus has done for us, the Holy Spirit brings us to the Lord. Now, because of what Jesus has done, the Heavenly Father cleans us up by forgiving our sins and then He adopts us as His very own children.

That, my friends, is also a wonderful example, isn't it?

Unfortunately, the comparison I have made here doesn't hold up.

It doesn't hold up because the soldier in the story was the one who initiated the brief, battlefield relationship. In our case, it was the Lord who reached out to those who didn't want Him and felt no need of Him.

The story doesn't hold up because the rich Detroit tycoon invited the ex-soldier into his house because that man had been kind to his dying son. In contrast the Lord invites into His home those who had once been enemies of His Son; He invites into His home those repentant souls whose sins had placed Jesus on the cross.

No earthly father would ever do such a thing, but our Lord is not an earthly father, is He?

Thought for today: Do I acknowledge the power of the cross?

Really Good News January 29, 2017

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the Daily Devotion readers have won the $1.6 billion Powerball lottery.

Now just because Pam and I didn't win those mega-dollars, that doesn't mean we didn't receive a lot of enjoyment from the lottery. After Christmas, as we drove back from Minnesota to Texas, we passed some of those miles by talking about what we would do if we were ever to receive such a fortune.

We spoke of paying off mortgages for our children, setting up trust funds for our grandchildren, and whether we would need bodyguards to keep us safe. We spoke of serious things and those which were more frivolous. We talked of lake cottages and trips we have not yet taken. We chatted about the cars we might like ('57 Chevy convertible) and how we would respond to all the folks who would show up on our doorstep asking us to invest in "get-rich" schemes.

But, as I said, you didn't win, and we didn't either.

On the other hand, John and Lisa Robinson from Tennessee did win and are receiving one-third of the prize. After they came forward, the Robinsons went to New York and allowed themselves to be interviewed on morning TV. Two of the questions they fielded were "How will your life be changed?" and "What are you going to do which is different?"

I was shocked to hear the Robinsons are going to continue to live in their modest home and, although they no longer need to, they will keep their current jobs. They said on the following Monday they intended to show up at work, as if nothing had happened.

I was surprised by their responses. On the one hand, I admired them for keeping their values and standards when many other people would have gone nutso. But I was also shocked. It occurred to me that life-changing good news should make a profound difference in their lives and the way they approached things.

The same ought to be said for those who have been given the great news of forgiveness and salvation that has been won for them by the Savior. We have been given the best news possible, and our lives and hearts should reflect that change in wonderful and powerful ways.

As St. Paul wrote, "if anyone is in Christ He is a new creature. The old has passed away and the new has come." It is a transformation which is more sweeping and should cause greater excitement than winning a temporary and, dare I say it, a paltry $1.6 billion.

Thought for today: Do I understand what it means to be in Christ?

Independence January 28, 2017

Proverbs 2:6-8 (NIV)

6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

The young man decided to take his car out for a spin on Highway 19 near Crystal River in Florida.

He was pretty excited. What young man wouldn't be? It was the first time he would be taking his car out on the open road all by himself. Sure, he had been on the highway plenty of times before, but on those trips dad had always been with him. This time things would be different. He was going to be independent and take control. That's why he didn't tell dad or ask for permission.

Although he thought he was completely ready and mature enough for such an excursion, he wasn't.

It didn't take too long before 911 calls were being made to the police. Squad cars were dispatched and they soon found the boy. He was surrounded by caring and compassionate onlookers ... people who were shocked at what they were seeing.

And just what were these folks seeing that shocked them?

Well ... they were seeing a three-year-old boy who had, while his father was in the bathroom, managed to climb on a chair, undo the door locks, get behind the wheel of his electric truck, and make a break for freedom. They were looking at a three-year-old who, clothed in diaper and T-shirt, had braved the 52-degree temperatures and gone for a drive. They were looking at a three-year-old who had managed to escape his father's detection and driven 500 yards to the highway, where he managed to get to the median, before someone stopped him.

They were looking at a three-year-old who had been saved by God's grace and some overworked guardian angels.

Oh, they were also looking at a three-year-old boy who is a fine example of the human race.

It's true, you know. We, like that boy, think we are mature and ready to be independent. We think we are prepared to tackle any problem that might come our way. Because we feel that way, we show our independence and disregard our Father's will and wishes. Feeling we know better than the Lord, we take the wheel of our lives and head out.

It is a disastrous choice. No matter how wise or mature we think we are, we ought to know the Heavenly Father knows best. When we are with Him and listen to Him, we are safe. If we choose to disregard and disobey Him -- if we ignore the Savior's sacrifice and salvation -- we are, like that little boy in Florida, on a collision path with disaster.

Far better to trust the Lord, listen to His Words, and put ourselves in His hands. When that happens, as the author of Proverbs said, the Lord will watch "over the ways of His saints."

Thought for today:  Do I commit fully to God?

Respect January 27, 2017

Revelation 7:11-12 (NIV)

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

Respect, that's a word and a concept, which has fallen out of favor.

Respect. Watch the evening news and keep tabs on what you see. Almost always the reports will begin with a lack of respect. There's the video footage of a mangled car where someone decided to disrespect the railroad crossing's flashing lights, ringing bells, and descending crossbuck barriers. There is also the story of the latest terrorist bombing where some religious fanatic has decided that his point of view is so important that he has a mandate to disrespect and destroy the lives of innocent men, women and children.

Those tragedies have one thing in common. They are all accounts that show no respect.

Most of our Daily Devotions folk will not argue when I suggest that today respect is in serious and short supply. Most of us remember President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was crippled by polio. No matter what you think of him as a leader, it must be conceded that he waged a heroic fight against that disease.

The media of his day respected that battle.

Although Roosevelt served as president longer than any other man, and was unable to walk, unaided during that entire time, there are only two known pictures of him in a wheelchair. Today, let a leader fall, become sick, or stumble in a speech, and a disrespectful press will gleefully gloat and splash the story across its front pages. It will suggest we judge that entire individual on the basis of that slip or stumble.

I imagine it's not the first time in history that respect hasn't, well, been respected. Here's what an observer of society once said: "... our youths love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority -- they show disrespect for their elders and love to chatter in places of exercise .... Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households."

Do you agree? Well, that was said by Socrates, the Athenian philosopher. He said those words almost 2,500 years ago. You see, lack of respect is nothing new. In fact, if you think about it, when Adam and Eve decided they knew better than God and ate the forbidden fruit, that choice was motivated by a lack of respect.

In contrast to those who elevate themselves, Christians should be different.

Because of the Savior's sacrifice, because we have been moved from darkness to light, because we have been forgiven, restored and redeemed, we should always show respect to the Lord. We ought to join our voices with those who stand before the heavenly throne and say, "Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

Thought for today: Do I speak of the things of God with reverence?

Deadbeats January 26, 2017

Psalm 103:9-11 (NIV)

9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

A "deadbeat dad" is not a deceased father who used to play the drums. In modern lingo a deadbeat dad is a parent who has failed to make court-ordered child support payments.

As of right now, the State of Arizona has recognized 421 deadbeat parents. These are mostly men who, over the last five years, have run up sizable amounts which they owe for the raising of their children.

The question Arizona has been asking is what to do with these negligent parents?

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey thinks he may have an answer. He says Arizona is going to publicly embarrass these "losers" (his words, not mine). That's right. Arizona is going to use a Twitter account to publish the photos and the names of these parents. In a public statement the governor gave notice, saying, "For too long, you've been able to remain anonymous, able to skirt your financial and legal responsibilities with no shame. If you don't want your embarrassing, unlawful, and irresponsible behavior going viral: man up and pay up."

Officials report that two dads have already responded: one of whom owes his family more than $170,000.

Now I don't know if such a course of action is wise, or fair, or if it is even legal. I do know I am glad the Lord doesn't treat His people that way. Think of how it would be if the Lord went on Twitter or Facebook and said something like

* "Last year I gave John Q. Christian a salary of $100,000. During that same time period he showed his appreciation by giving $5 to his church."

* "For the last decade I have, with the exception of a single bout with the flu and two colds, given John Christian good health. He complained about the sickness, but he never thanked me for his good health."

* "John was confirmed 30 years ago. Since that time his church has offered Communion over 1,200 times. During that same time period John has received the Sacrament 23 times, and none of those times has been in the last six years."

No, the Lord doesn't work that way. Instead, our God's steadfast love waits for His people to respond to the great gift of salvation Jesus made in His life, suffering, death and resurrection. Although God will not wait forever, He knows that those who have truly seen His redemption are going to have appreciative hearts.

He knows His people will never respond to Jesus by being deadbeat believers.

Thought for today: Do I honor God’s sacrifice in my actions?

Set The Captives Free January 25, 2016

Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,  19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

In The Lutheran Hour sermon this past weekend, I spoke about the way Jesus delivers us from spiritual poverty, captivity, blindness and oppression. And I told the story of an immigrant to the United States who was confined to an institution following a nervous breakdown in 1929. For more than 40 years she lived as a prisoner in that institution, unable to understand a word spoken to her in English, and finding no one who could communicate in her language. No one knew where she came from; the fact is, no one even knew her name.

Thankfully, few of us will ever face such lonely, oppressive captivity but, then again, you can have 25,000 followers on Twitter, and still find yourself all alone when struggling with illness, pain, broken relationships, or financial struggles.

But Jesus speaks of an even greater captivity that has a hold of every one of us: it is a prison house which is more inescapable than Alcatraz prison. It is our sin and guilt that imprisons us, leaves us destitute before God, blinds us to our desperate situation, and oppresses us with guilt and shame. In our broken position we are as powerless as that nameless immigrant to break free on our own. We can certainly try, but all our wits, money and effort can't take away God's fearsome wrath.

That is why Jesus came for you. "The Lord has anointed Me to proclaim Good News to the poor." The perfectly free Son of God became human to make Himself a slave in your place. The Lamb of God took away the sin of the world -- yours and mine -- by taking it upon Himself, and paying its fearful price on the cross in our place. He was bound, blind-folded, beaten, whipped and finally nailed to that tree. He suffered the overpowering wrath of God in your place: that you might live in peace, hope and perfect freedom.

Though we don't often feel the chains of our sins, they remain nevertheless, until Jesus comes and shatters them.

That's what happened to our immigrant woman. In 1972, fully 43 years after that nervous breakdown, she was assigned a new caseworker. He sat down with her and was able to talk to her; he actually understood her language. He learned her name, Mary Peischl, and finally in 1977 she was freed from that institution and given back her life: she was even reunited with her five children.

Jesus Christ came to set you free from sin, from guilt, from grief, from the power of Satan, from the flames of hell itself. By His death and resurrection He has won for you your complete freedom. Each time we experience recovery from an illness, relief from pain, or the easing of a financial strain, we get a glimpse into the true, eternal freedom which Jesus Christ has won for each of us -- and freely offers us in the Gospel. A freedom we will know forever when Jesus returns to take us home.

Thought for today: Am I living “institutionalized”?

When It Goes Bad January 24, 2107

Job 1:21 (NIV)

21 and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

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

These were Job's words when he lost all he had: his children, his business, and his health.

He, like many of us who have lived through hard situations, asked "Why do bad things happen to me?" While there are many answers to that question, the most frequent explanation has people blaming the Lord for having allowed bad things to happen to them. Indeed, it is easy for them to see the Lord as being angry, capricious and vengeful.

Still, that is hardly an answer, and it most certainly does not describe our gracious God.

So, why do bad things happen? Here is at least one answer from our own ministry in Turkey. Walid, a committed Bible student and a volunteer of our ministry, informed us about his neighbor Omar. As Walid told us, Omar had been despondent since the death of his youngest son Samir. Knowing that, we decided to put Omar on our visitation schedule.

Two days later we visited him. Omar's wife, Mirna, welcomed us with a smiley, inviting face. We sat down in the living room where Omar sat drooped over. His sad, quiet face was unresponsive as we started talking about Jesus. When we asked Mirna about his impassive reaction, she said, "Omar has been like this since the death of our youngest child, Samir."

Omar interrupted her, murmuring, "Why did God allow this to happen? Why didn't He intervene to prevent the crazy driver from running over my innocent child?" As he spoke, Omar cried.

At the end of our visit we left him a pamphlet with the schedule of our weekly Bible study and a small synopsis of the Gospel of John. As we left, we saw the wife holding her husband's hand. Knowing the cross Omar was carrying, we prayed and asked the Lord to lift the man's burden.

When we were having our next Bible Study, Walid's arrival, with Omar and his wife, surprised us.

We noticed a slight difference in Omar's attitude. As we were starting the session, Omar spoke: "Can we study the 11th chapter of the Gospel of John? I was reading it and it spoke to me. I want to know more about the spiritual reality of the eternal life. I do not know a lot about it; it is a revelation for me."

Today Omar is a member in our Bible study. He is also a changed man. He has experienced the joy of salvation. Echoing King David, Omar has said, "I will join the Lord one day and then I will see my son again. Meanwhile, I am living here with the knowledge that not even death can take away my eternal fellowship with Jesus who is the true life."

Why do bad things happen? In Omar's case, his son's death was the tragedy that allowed the Holy Spirit to bring this man to salvation. For this we give God credit -- and not the blame.

Thought for today: Can I embrace my blessings in the seemingly bad things?

Our Whipping January 23, 2017

2 Corinthians 5:20-21  (NIV)

20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

There are many Christians who don't know any English history, but still know the name of James I.

That's because James I is the fellow who was responsible for the translation of the Bible that bears his name. If he had done nothing else, for this reason alone, King James would be remembered. But James I is remembered for other reasons too. James, you see, was a double monarch. Not only was he James I of England, he was also James the VI of Scotland.

Wearing two crowns could easily go to a person's head. It certainly could if you believed, as James did, that the Lord had put you on the throne. Now, that's okay for the most part. But, where James' logic took him ... that's where the ice gets thin. James figured if God is behind me, then He is also behind my decisions. If God is behind my decisions, then if somebody doesn't like me or what I've done or what I've said or the laws I've enacted, then they're really not criticizing me, they're criticizing God. To criticize God is a very bad thing, indeed.

Now, that kind of thinking didn't make James the most popular kid on the block.

Because of this "divine right of kings" thing, James was disliked by a lot of common folk. I'm sure he was disliked by William Murray. Let me explain a bit about William Murray. James figured if God was behind him, God was also behind his son, Charles, which brought about a problem.

James didn't want his son to be a spoiled brat, but he also didn't want his son being spanked by some commoner. That's where William Murray came in. William was Charles' whipping boy. When Prince Charles got overly silly, sassy or lazy, William got punished. Then, when the punishment was over, the disciplinarian turned from William to Charles and asked, "Now, don't you feel bad?"

I don't know how Charles felt, but I imagine William Murray thought the whole thing pretty unjust.

What whipping boy wouldn't feel that way?

Actually, I know of one: Jesus Christ.

You see, Jesus Christ was our whipping boy. He is God's Son who was punished for our transgressions, who had to fulfill the Law for us, who gave His life upon the cross so we might be saved.

Yes, Jesus gave Himself so we might be forgiven of our sins and become not just better people, but God's redeemed people. And, amazingly, Jesus did it without complaining.

Go ahead, read the Gospels. Never will you hear Jesus gripe about how unfair His situation was. Yes, He did pray that if it were possible the cup of suffering might pass from Him, but that is hardly the same as accusing the Heavenly Father of being unfair.

Now, Jesus did what He did, He suffered and died as He did, so we might be forgiven, so we might be better. The question is -- are we? Are we better? I pray that each of us can answer that question and say, "Because of Jesus I have been changed. My thoughts, my speech, my actions are different because I have seen my whipping boy suffer for me.

Thought for today: Do I acknowledge the true purpose of the cross?

Redemption Ready January 22, 2017

Titus 2:11-13 (NIV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

The Bible verse says we should be ready and waiting for the return of our Savior. Elsewhere in Scripture it says it is imperative that we should always be ready. But how? How should we get ready? I believe we can learn from some people around us who always have to be ready. You know,

* people like those who are on the highway patrol. Their job demands they always be ready and watching the traffic. The officers are keeping an eye out for lawbreakers, accidents and breakdowns;

* firemen are always ready as they listen for the alarm bell to ring or the ambulance paramedics who wait for the phone to summon them. These folks must be prepared. They know the catastrophe that waits if they forget to be prepared.

Consider what happens if a supposedly ready person is ill-prepared. What would happen if an air-traffic controller should become too sleepy or too bored to keep a careful watch on his screen? What would happen if a bus driver becomes negligent or distracted for a second? Thirty high-schoolers could lose their lives. The screener in the airport dare not let a dangerous package slip by him undetected.

For these people to be unprepared is tragic, but their situation is not nearly as bad as that of a person who is not prepared to meet Jesus, the just Judge.

Are you ready to meet Jesus? You are if Jesus is your Savior. You are if you believe in Him who was, according to prophecy, born in Bethlehem. You are ready if you acknowledge Him as the Redeemer who never succumbed to sin and resisted Satan's temptations. Indeed, every day of His life, Jesus resisted evil enticements, which trip us up.

You know how when He was among us He was hated and harassed. He was laughed at by those who didn't understand Him and called names by those who wished to demean Him. He was misunderstood by the common people, deserted by His friends, and betrayed by a close associate. He was tried by men who purchased the service of witnesses who lied about Him. He was beaten, threatened and passed around from court to court.

The king of His home country asked Him to perform some tricks while He was on trial for His life, and the representative from Rome, even though convinced Jesus was totally innocent of any charges, eventually condemned Him to death. Add to these traitorous trials the sins you and I commit, and we cannot begin to understand the evil Jesus carried to the cross.

Jesus died and rose so you might be forgiven and saved. His gifts are free; they are for you, and they should be held as being of the greatest value. When we do that, we shall be -- and stay -- prepared.

Thought for today:  Are you ready for your calling?

Pruning January 21, 2017

John 15:5 (NIV)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Pruning may be good for roses and vines and fruit trees, but most people I know don't like to be pruned.

Not so very long ago, I was told about a woman who was in legal trouble. She had run up some gambling debts and then borrowed from the place where she worked. "Borrowed" -- that's what she called it. The company caught her, and although it didn't take her to court, it fired her and escorted her to her car.

She found some refuge in the bottle. In fact, she found a lot of refuge in the bottle. Drinking and driving had compounded her difficulties as she had been twice arrested for driving under the influence. Most recently, she had been arrested for a hit-and-run, during which a child had been seriously injured. She was worrying herself sick until she heard about a defense attorney who was a cross between Matlock and Perry Mason.

From jail she called him and he agreed to meet with her. The visit with the lawyer went well -- very well, in fact. He nodded during her story. He asked questions when they needed to be asked. Then he said, "You have the right to an attorney. But, in truth, the best attorney can only do so much. You will probably end up with some jail time. Then, during and after jail, the judge will say you will need to enroll in recovery programs like Gamblers Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous.

In outrage, the woman shot back, "I need a lawyer, not a lecture."

The woman is an example that people don't like to be pruned. People don't like to be directed, corrected, amended or adjusted. People want to be let alone to do what they want, how they want, when they want, the way they want. People don't want anybody, God included, to tell them what's wrong with them or how they can be made right.

It's that way today. It will be that way tomorrow. And it was that way at the beginning of time. Way back when, at the beginning of human history, "God looked at everything He had created and made and pronounced it very good. ..." (Genesis 1:31a). Our first ancestors were given a unique and harmonious relationship with that Maker.

But Adam and Eve didn't like being pruned. They didn't like the one law the Lord had given them. God's order seemed too confining, too arbitrary, too illogical, and when you got down to it, just downright wrong for them. They decided they wanted to be free of what they considered to be God's most unreasonable request. They rejected God, and embraced evil. At that moment, our ancestors became dead wood. They were good for nothing, other than to be thrown into the fire.

That is, of course, exactly what God said would happen (see Genesis 2:17).

Indeed, that would have happened, if the Lord hadn't intervened. The Lord promised to send His Son who would be the way humans -- through faith in Jesus as their Substitute -- could be grafted back into a loving relationship with their Maker. To explain God's plan in a way people could understand, Jesus talked about how He was the vine and His people -- the ones who believed in Him as Savior -- would be the branches.

It was that simple: Jesus is the vine who provides life. Believers are the branches that live because they are connected to Him.

Thought for today: Do I produce “good” fruit?

A Parable January 20, 2017

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight

Life had not gone well for 58-year-old James Roberts.

* Years before, Roberts had been arrested for a crime. He had done his time and had been released.

* That was over ten years ago, and since that time Roberts had been unable to find employment.

Now, because of an organization called America Works, he had been given a job interview at a company near LaGuardia. It was his big chance and, thinking his luck might have changed, Roberts used a free roundtrip bus pass to get him to the New York airport.

Well, Roberts luck hadn't changed ... at least not that much.

He found out that the place where he was to interview was miles away from the airport and he had neither the means nor wherewithal to get to his one o'clock appointment. It was then, as he was bemoaning his fate, a police officer came up to him. You should know, if you have done jail time, the appearance of an officer is usually not a good thing.

The officer asked Roberts, "What's wrong?" Roberts explained his situation and how it looked like he was going to miss an interview for a possible job. Having heard the man's situation, the officer said four words, "Get in the car." Roberts did as he was told and soon found himself standing in front of the business where he was to be interviewed. He had time to spare.

As the officer drove away, the last thing he said was "Good luck and God bless you."

That story, which happened earlier this month, could easily be used as a parable. We, of course, would be cast in the role of James Roberts. Like him, we had committed crimes. Unlike him, we were unable to pay for those crimes. But there are other similarities between the story of James Roberts and all of us. Like Roberts we were unable to do anything to change our sad situation.

Try as we might, things never worked out right. Until ... until our Savior, like that policeman, showed up. Like the officer, Jesus saw we were in trouble, and like that officer, Jesus decided to help. When we put our faith and confidence in our Redeemer, He forgives our sins and delivers us to the right destination.

Of course, there is one giant difference between the policeman and the Christ. While the officer put himself out for Roberts, it didn't cost him much more than a bit of time. In contrast, for Jesus to get us to heaven, He had to commit His entire life to that purpose. It is for that commitment to our salvation that we -- like James Roberts -- ought to be most thankful.

Thought for today: how committed to what I believe?

Warning Signs January 19, 2017

Acts 16:30-31(NIV)

30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Among the many skills I have not mastered is the driving of a semi-truck. Indeed, I am awed when I see those knights-of-the-roads squeeze their vehicle through narrow alleys, back them into unforgiving spaces, and navigate around drivers, who are far less wise in some of the decisions they make. Yes, these drivers are a special group of men and women.

Unfortunately, 23-year-old Mary Lambright is not one of them.

Let me explain. Lambright was driving her 30-ton truck in Paoli, Indiana. The vehicle was loaded with 43,000 pounds of water and was destined for the local Wal-Mart. Everything was going well until she missed her exit.

She tried to turn around in a nearby parking lot, but was unable to do so because the lot was filled with heavy-duty machinery. Not wishing to be conquered by adversity, Lambright looked for an alternative route. That was when she remembered a lesser-traveled road she had previously driven in her pickup.

It was a pretty fine idea: an almost brilliant thought. The only flaw in the plan was a bridge:

* a bridge with a six-ton limit,

* a bridge which was clearly marked with a sign which read "No Semis,"

* a bridge which had a rather low ceiling.

It was that bridge which became Lambright's Waterloo. As she drove on to the bridge, it peeled the top of her truck like a sardine can. The damage did not continue as room was made for the truck's roof when the bridge collapsed underneath the vehicle. She escaped without injury, except that which was given to her pride ... and the police charges of "reckless operation of a tractor-trailer, disregarding a traffic control device, and driving overweight on a posted bridge."

Spiritually speaking there are a lot of folks who ignore the Lord's posted signs. He has clearly told us that if we want to be saved, we need to "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ." He has told us that salvation comes only through Holy Spirit-given faith in the Redeemer. But they ignore those warnings the Lord has given and think they can get into heaven by an alternate route. They think they are going to pass through the pearly gates fully loaded with their tractor-trailer souls full of sin.

Well, it doesn't work that way, and because it doesn't work that way, you and I need to do our best to flag them down and let them know they need to believe on the Savior for salvation.

Thought for today: Do I study the word of God?

Finding Christ In Strange Places January 18, 2017

John 2:1-2 (NIV)

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

In The Lutheran Hour sermon this past weekend, I spoke about how strange it seems that the God and Creator of all revealed Himself in something as common and ordinary as a wine shortage during a wedding feast for an unnamed bride and groom in a small, forgotten town.

Doesn't it seem our lives are often dominated by common, ordinary things like reading assignments, writing papers, and taking tests for classes; or drudging off to work day after day; or struggling to pay all the bills each month; or going from one doctor's visit to another? Do you find it hard to imagine the God who governs the universe wanting to be found in the petty grind of your daily life?

It may seem strange, but Jesus' presence at the wedding at Cana shows precisely that. On earth our Savior didn't just participate in huge glimmering, historic moments when huge crowds gathered around to hang on His every word. But He stood shoulder to shoulder, side by side with the people going about their daily lives in the small towns and villages where He went.

So much of our lives are made up of unexciting, uninspiring moments like a hamster running on a wheel that keeps spinning round and round in his cage.

But Jesus knows exactly how that feels. From His older childhood until He was nearly 30 He labored in Joseph's carpenter shop in Nazareth. By the sweat of His brow He sharpened His skills and built His reputation (see Mark 6:3). But even when He set aside His carpenter tools to begin His ministry for us, Jesus didn't abandon the ordinary spaces of life. He entered the homes of tax collectors, and ate with prostitutes and other sinners. He preached in small synagogues and taught in crowded houses. He slept in boats and spent hours praying in solitary places.

Even as He made the sacrifice for our sins our Savior humbled Himself to be slapped, mocked, spat upon, struck, whipped, crowned with thorns and nailed to the cross between two condemned criminals. Not the kind of life we might expect from the Son of God, certainly not a death any of us would have anticipated. But it was precisely in this degradation and humiliation that Jesus revealed His great power to save us. His resurrection on the third day transforms our daily lives with the promise of His continual presence and the guarantee that we will live together with Him in heaven.

As we go about our daily lives, especially in our lowly, dusty service to family and neighbors, those unspectacular events that make up our daily lives, we glorify our God, demonstrating His love and concern through our words, actions and attitudes -- not just in the grand and glorious moments of life, but especially in the modest, simple, even boring moments.

Thought for today: Do I include God in my every day mundane?

Blessings In Abundance January 17, 2017

Genesis 12:2 (NIV)

2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

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



Blessings bring many opportunities and joys to our lives.

Those blessings come from many different sources: our parents, elders, pastors, teachers, etc. Properly given and received, those blessings are always real helps in our lives. Of course, it almost goes without saying the blessings of God remain the greatest, the most excellent gifts of all.

Scripture has many such examples of God's blessings being given.

For example, God selected Abraham and revealed Himself to the patriarch. Part of that choosing ended up with the descendants of Abraham, the Hebrews, knowing the true God. As long as the people appreciated the Lord's favor, that is, as long as they trusted in Him, they enjoyed favored lives. God's blessings resulted in them becoming a great nation.

Abraham received the promises of God and trusted in Him. In this way he became a forefather of believers and, centuries later, the Lord honored his name.

Over the centuries God has continued to bless His people. Truly, it is always a joyful thing to receive the Lord's heaven-sent bounties in our lives. But it is a double joy to be a blessing to others also.

After realizing he had reached a considerable age, Abraham gave a large share of his holdings, as well as many rights, to his relative Lot. Abraham passed on all the material gain he had won in his battles with his enemies and thereby gave Lot the tools to have a blessed and happy life.

Through this act, the fame of Abraham was increased. More importantly, in the form of blessings both old and new, the Lord continued to bestow His largesse upon the aged patriarch.

Stories like this from the Word of God help us understand that we are blessed not only through receiving the gifts we get from our Creator, but we are also blessed when we share those blessings with others.

Understand, here we are not talking about mere earthly things and stuff.

Our real blessings come via the sweet grace and special mercy of God. These are the Lord's never- tarnishing, never-failing gifts. When St. Paul took his problems to the Lord, God responded by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you" (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). It was that grace which sustained Paul through his trials.

It is the same grace by which, centuries later, our Lord blesses us by using us as good leaders to reach out to people and reflect His love to the lost -- as well as to each other.

In other words, in word and deed, we share the story of the Savior who gave His life, so all who believe on Him might be given salvation through the risen Redeemer.

Thought for today: Do I share my blessings?

Jesus Makes The Difference January 16, 2017

1 Corinthians 1:23-25 (NIV)

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

There have been countless TV specials and movies made about the Titanic.

In most of these presentations, no expense is spared to make sure the recreation is accurate and matches the original. Carpets match. Woodworkings are precise. But all too often, the storytellers forget to share the spiritual side of what happened on that ship. If you look closely, you will see the story of the Savior told again and again, in the lives of those who were there.

One after another, time after time, Christian men, motivated by the love of Jesus, looked their wives in the eye and said, "I love you." Then they put their wives into a lifeboat. They knew they would never see their spouse again -- not in this world.

One after another, time after time, fathers, Christian men, motivated by the love of Jesus, patted their children's heads in blessings and with a prayer, sent their little ones to be rescued, while they prepared to die.

Motivated by Jesus on the Titanic, nine women were saved for every man.

And without Jesus?

In 1996, a boat carrying thousands of passengers sank off the shores of Indonesia. As in the Titanic, hundreds died. As in the Titanic, there were not enough lifeboats. But without faith in Christ, without this example of care and compassion, women and children were pushed aside so the men could be spared.

There is a difference, and Jesus makes that difference. More than that, it's a difference I'm proud of.

In this world there are many religions, many atheistic and agnostic groups, many doubters who would silence Jesus and make fun of His followers. They would stuff the risen Redeemer back into His tomb and try to erase His memory and accomplishments. They laugh at us; they torment us; they persecute us.

Still, what do they offer that is better than the Savior?

When the English conquered Mount Everest they planted their flag at the summit.
One mountaineer from another country challenged, "Well, isn't this just one of many typical English glory ventures?"

Hearing the criticism, the British ambassador replied, "I'm not qualified to give an official opinion, but I can say this: if you don't like the flag flying up there, why not climb up and take it down?"

To the world that would silence Jesus and the salvation He gives to His appreciative followers, I can only say this: if you don't like the flag of Jesus flying at the top of our lives, why don't you go where He went and give us something better to believe in? Why don't you live a perfect life for me, carry my sins for me, climb up on the cross for me, and take His place?

Until you do that, everything you've got to say is foolishness.

Thought for today: Do I acknowledge the sacrifice of the cross?

Living Advertisements January 15,2017

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV)

20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This last October I was driving down the street and saw a giant gorilla doll.

This six-foot doll was placed out in front of a party store in our neighborhood. You know, this is the kind of store that rents costumes and all kinds of party paraphernalia for birthdays, anniversaries and holiday events throughout the year.

As I was passing by, I thought to myself, the owners of that store better watch out or someone is going to steal that gorilla. A gorilla like that would look good in a college dorm or a fraternity house.

I was just about past the store when the doll turned and waved at me!

Before I knew what I was doing, in shock, I waved back. That's when I realized that this particular gorilla wasn't a stuffed doll or robot. There was a real, live person inside that suit. The gorilla was a living advertisement for the party store. Although I get impressed easily, this was a pretty impressive thing.

Has it ever occurred to you that we are to be living advertisements for the Savior?

Now, I know some folks might object to the word "advertise" when it's used that way. If you are among those who feel that way, let me share that this word "advertise" originally meant "to turn toward." So, in its purest form, we are advertising or turning people toward Jesus.

That's something we -- and the rest of God's people -- should never be ashamed to do.

Read through Scripture and you will find many others who were God's living advertisements.

* Moses advertised the Messiah when he, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had foretold that the Savior, as He died for us, would have none of His bones broken (see Exodus 12:46; John 19:36).

* Suffering Job taught us all to cling to the promise that Jesus would be a Redeemer, the One who would, at the cost of His life, give us eternal life (see Job 19:25-27; Galatians 4:4).

* King David was a living advertisement to the Lord's resurrection when he wrote that God's Son would not, in death, see decay (see Psalm 16:8-10; Acts 2:27).

* Hundreds of years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Isaiah served as a living advertisement when He shared that the Shepherd would die for His sheep (see Isaiah 40:10-11; John 10:11). Of course, Isaiah went much further than that. He also wrote that Jesus would be scourged and spat upon (see Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67); rejected by His people (see Isaiah 52:13; Mark 15:3-4); that He would be silent when He was accused (see Isaiah 53:7; Mark 15:3); and that He would be crucified with criminals (see Isaiah 53:12; John 12:37-38).

The Old Testament is filled with living advertisements to Jesus. But so is the New Testament. From John the Baptist to John the apostle and evangelist, God has raised up people to point others to the Savior.

It is no different today as the Lord has raised us up to direct a lost world to the blood-bought forgiveness which is theirs because of the Savior. It is no different as the Lord has asked us to be His Son's living advertisers.

Thought for today: Is my life an advertisement?

The Theft Of Christmas January 14, 2017

Luke 2:16-20 (NIV)

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Most of you have seen the TV show, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Many of you may not be aware of the story which this devo has dubbed, "How the Grinch Tried to Steal Christmas from Wadena, Minnesota." That story begins with a large plaster Nativity set which had for many years been set up in the city park by the town council. Then the Grinch showed up in the form of a threatened lawsuit. The Grinch said, "No public group can put up a religious symbol in a public place." With reluctance the city fathers sold the crèche to a group of ministers who moved the display onto private property.

It seemed as if the Grinch had won.

If so, the Grinch underestimated the people of Wadena, Minnesota. Those folks thought the Grinch can steal a public Nativity, but he can't steal mine. Soon Nativities started to show up where Nativities had never been before. They appeared on front lawns and in storefront windows. From all over the country they showed up on the "Wadena Nativity Display" Facebook page, which the community set up. Although nobody did a Nativity head count, it almost seemed as if there were more nativities than there were people in this small town.

But the folks in Whoville ... I mean Wadena ... were still not done yet.

A son of the community, a man who had moved away years before, did a study of the community's laws. He realized that the Nativity-less city park didn't have to stay that way. Wadena's bylaws allowed for individual residents to rent the town band shell for a day.

Soooooooo ... the bandshell got booked by community members. Every day the people who made those reservations came in and set up a great, big Nativity, and every night they took it down and delivered it to the folks who were scheduled to set it up the next day.

Mayor Deiss, who has "eight or nine" Nativities set up in his own home, has said, "I'm really proud of my town. I'm hoping we lit a little spark and the rest of the nation will catch on."

This is why I'm sharing this grinchly story with you.

We can do something or else we can let the Grinch try to steal Christmas from us and our town next year. We've got over 300 days to decide what we're going to do.

Thought for today: Do I incorporate other things that detract from the greatness of God?

Living Nativity January 13, 2017

Luke 2:15-16 (NIV)

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

"Come and drive through our congregation's living Nativity."

That was one congregation's invitation to its members and guests. It was an invitation which Pam and I accepted. We were pleasantly surprised to see the church had put on a series of scenes from the Savior's birth. Congregation members held their poses as we were able to see Gabriel make his announcement to Mary, watch the couple being turned down for a room in the inn, and stand in awe as a heavenly host made a proclamation to the shepherds. The final scene showed both shepherds and magi offering their gifts and praise to the newborn King.

From the number of cars that were ahead of and behind us, it would appear that people were being most supportive of this wonderful witness, this living Nativity.

Of course, not all Nativities turn out the way the sponsoring congregation expects.

For example, there is a church in Yorkshire, England, that set up its Nativity. When an inebriated motorist crashed his MINI Cooper into a barrier, he tried to avoid arrest by the police. Looking for a place to hide, the man decided he would seek refuge in the congregation's manger scene. It didn't take long for the officers to distinguish his dress from the robes and sandals of the statues.

Then there was the janitor in New York City who thought he heard a baby crying. Listening carefully, the man found himself standing before the church's Nativity scene. There, placed in the manger he found a real, newborn baby ... a little boy with its umbilical cord still attached. As far as I know, the police are still looking for the parents of the child.

When I first read those stories, I shook my head in unbelief at people who would use a Nativity this way. It was discouraging and dangerous.

And then ... and then I had some second thoughts.

I started to wonder how wonderful it would be if every sinner, like that drunk, came to Jesus for assistance. How blessed it would be if all of us took our troubles to the Christ who was born, lived, suffered, died and rose so our lives might be changed.

I asked, wouldn't it be a grand thing if every parent brought their children to Jesus? How much more blessed would be our homes and our families if every little boy and girl knew the Savior who gave His life so they would be forgiven of their sins and granted eternal life?

All of these musings led me to wonder: wouldn't it be fantastic if all of us were part of a living Nativity which gave a grand witness to the wonders of Christ our Lord?

Well, why not?

Thought for today: When people see me do they see Christ?

Love Your Enemies January 12, 2017

Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Our Savior told us to "love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us." More than just saying the words, the Savior practiced what He preached. From the cross He looked at those who had put Him there and asked that their ignorant acts be forgiven.

Yes, Christians are supposed to love, but most of us must confess: forgiving isn't always easy.

Each day the newspapers carry stories about the most recent terrorist attacks, which are often done in the name of a hateful, horrible pseudo-deity. Hardly a week goes by without us hearing of the latest inhuman torture devised by ISIS and those who have sold their souls to the devil.

This is why this devotion is being written to share a most extraordinary event. The event took place last month on a bus traveling from Nairobi, Kenya. The riders knew it was a dangerous trip since last year two separate attacks on that bus route had left 64 people dead. Nobody was shocked when the vehicle, with more than 100 people aboard, was strafed by machine gun fire.

Ten militants boarded the bus and demanded the Christians identify themselves.

One believer made a run for it and was shot down. A truck driver who happened upon the scene was also murdered. Once again the terrorists demanded to know, "Where are the Christian believers?"

The Muslims on the bus replied, "If you want to kill us, then kill us. There are no Christians here."

It was a brave statement. It was also a lie.

The Muslims had hidden some Christians under the luggage and others they had clothed with Islamic garb so they would not be recognized. Disgruntled, the terrorists left, with government forces in hot pursuit.

Right now, in Europe and America, there is growing hatred toward Islam. Violence is begetting more violence and many are making unfair generalizations. You and I can understand why that would be.

It's difficult to keep turning the other cheek.

This is why this devotion asks us to remember two things: first, as Jesus commanded and demonstrated, we are to love our enemies and second, we need to remember not every member of Islam is a terrorist thirsty for the blood of infidels like you and me. We need to remember we serve a Lord of love who sent His Son to seek and save the lost, that is all the lost. It is that example which motivates our response to others.

Thought for today: Have I evolved in Christ ?

Three Thing Worth Knowing January 11, 2017

Galatians 4:4-6 (NIV)

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

You know, when St. Paul wrote to the Galatians about being adopted, he was referring to a Roman legal action. Although Roman adoption was familiar to Paul's original audience, there are some things you might want to know.

For example, you should know there were three things which happened at that formal ceremony.

First, the person being adopted left his old family and became part of a new one. That also happens to us when we are given faith in the Savior. Those who believe in Jesus Christ, who recognize His sacrifice, rejoice that the Spirit leads sinners from Satan's family of damnation and brings them into a new relationship with their Creator. By God's grace they become children in God's household of salvation.

Second, in the Roman world, an adopted son became a legitimate heir to the estate.

Nobody could take away the benefits which had been given to him. That's exactly what St. Paul says happens to us. In the book of Romans he writes, "For I am convinced ... (not) anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (see Romans 8:38-39).

In other words, once you had nothing to look forward to but death and the grave; but now, because of Jesus' sacrifice, you have become an heir of heaven.

Third, according to Roman law, when you were given a new life in a new family, your old life was wiped out. Your past debts were cancelled. You became a new person.

Because of Jesus' substitution, we who have been adopted also find our sins are gone. The debt demanded by the Law has been paid in full. We have been welcomed into a new life, a life filled with forgiveness and hope.

That's what St. Paul meant when he said to the Corinthian church, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

To make it possible for you to be adopted is why Jesus was willing to leave His throne in heaven. Now, all who have been given faith are adopted as children of God and have become inheritors of eternal life. The door to God's family has been opened, and for this we must give thanks.

Thought for today: Am I willing to connect with people?

Abandoned January 10, 2017

Matthew 27:46 (NIV)

46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

This story is taken from a devotional:

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 January 4, 2008, something happened when I expected it the least.

On that day my mother passed away, and for my brothers and myself, this sudden loss was most painful. Still, even in the midst of all the emotional turmoil, I could see the hand of God. It was His gracious will to bring all of us to her side so we might say goodbye and offer up our prayers of thanksgiving. How could we do otherwise when He had, through His Son, saved her soul?

The day we buried mother tears clouded the eyes of some of my brothers. That is not an unexpected emotional outpouring when someone has experienced such a great loss. I remember someone approached me in the time of burial and asked, "How are you, Ivan? How can you be so serene?"

I told him that God granted me that serenity through His Holy Spirit.

It was at that moment a biblical text came into my mind. That text was Psalm 27:10, where it says, "For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in." It was also at that moment I was given a deeper insight into what the psalmist was trying to convey.

He wanted believers to know that they would never be forsaken by their loving Lord because Jesus had endured that abandonment when He hung upon the cross.

I opened this devotion with the text which quoted Jesus praying to His Father and asking why had He been forsaken. Now, seven years after my mother's departure from this world, I am able to testify that the psalmist was most accurate.

Even though both my mother and my father are gone, none of us has been forsaken. They are with their risen Redeemer in everlasting joy, and I am always comforted that there will be a reunion in heaven for all who are washed in the Savior's blood.

Thought for today: Do I trust God to fill my emptiness?

Helping January 9, 2016

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Nine-year-old Brent was in second grade when most children his age were fourth-graders.

Brent was big for his years, a clumsy fellow, and learning was always a struggle, but Brent was also a kindly soul, a gentle boy, a child who would always defend the underdog. Wishing to give their boy self-confidence, his parents encouraged him to audition for the Sunday school Christmas service.

Brent wanted to be a shepherd, but he was given the role of the innkeeper.

The teacher in charge of casting figured Brent's size would lend believability to the role when he had to refuse a room to Mary, Joseph and the soon-to-born Jesus. Brent's parents helped with his lines, and Brent learned to be firm as he told Joseph, "There was no room in the inn."

The night of the service, no one was more caught up in the story than Brent. That's why, when Joseph knocked on the painted cardboard door of the makeshift inn, Brent was ready. He flung the door open and asked menacingly, "What do you want?"

"We seek lodging," Joseph replied.

"Seek it elsewhere," Brent said in a firm and deep voice. "There's no room in the inn."

"Please, good innkeeper," Joseph pleaded, "This is my wife, Mary. She is with child and is very tired. She needs a place to rest."

There was a long pause as Brent looked down at Mary. The teacher in charge of the service was prepared and whispered Brent's line: "No! Be gone!" Brent remained silent. In the best of acting tradition, the couple playing Mary and Joseph turned and began to slowly move into the darkness.

Seeing this, Brent called out, "Don't go! You can have my room."

Most people, when they hear that story, smile and are glad to see the kindness and compassion of this most special young man. They approve of what he did. But I wonder how many of us are ready to emulate Brent? How many would say and do what Brent did for the pretend parents of the Christ Child?

Each day we all receive requests for donations from needy causes. Some of them are good causes and some just look good. It is impossible for us to respond to all of them. Our purses and pockets are not deep enough to meet all of these needs.

But that doesn't mean we should ignore all of those needs.

We who have been blessed by the Savior's sacrifice need to remember that He entered this world to help the spiritual beggars of this world: us. We were helpless sinners: people who had no chance of escaping the terrible punishment that awaited us. But Jesus came and gave Himself to pay the price for our forgiveness and salvation.

Now we unworthies, who have been blessed by His largesse, ought to do our best to help others. It's our way of saying "thanks" and honoring the Savior who gave so much for us.

Thought for today: Do I share my gifts with others?

Priority Perspective January 8, 2017

Matthew 6:31-33(NIV)

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

This past Christmas season I was forced to return a gift I had purchased.

Rome may not have been built in a day, but that metropolis was put up in a shorter period of time than it took me to get permission to return that device. The automated phone assured me the company cared about me. It kept telling me my number in the line to talk to a real person (I started at 72). It notified me things were taking longer than usual, and it even played some music; it played that music again and again and again and again. Well, I finally got through and was making progress, and that's when the phone dropped the call.

As the process doesn't allow anybody to skip to the front of the line, I had to begin all over.

Most of us, when we have an important matter to take care of, want others to feel the same way. We want them to feel that way, but often they don't.

Maybe that's why the Police Department in the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is upset with one of its officers. It's upset because it appears Officer Morris has a different view about important matters. And do I hear you asking, "Just how different?"? Well, when he was a training officer, Policeman Morris often watched TV rather than supervising his charges.

That was bad, but what really got the department upset is that Morris was their communications officer. That means he was supposed to make sure policemen were promptly sent to where they were most needed. That was his job, but unfortunately

* Officer Morris put a hit-and-run caller on hold for 40 minutes, and
* he delayed reporting a shooting for nine minutes.

And what was Officer Morris doing?

He was playing a video game!

Sometimes the Lord must look down on earth and feel the way I felt about that company which kept me on hold -- the way those callers must have felt about Officer Morris. All must feel that somebody is neglecting an important matter.

In God's case, He sent His Son, gave His Son's life for the purpose of saving humanity from its sins. And what does humanity do with that story of salvation? Most do anything and everything other than pay attention to it. They debate the story; they ignore the story; they doubt the story, but they refuse to believe the story. This is why Jesus reminds us to seek first God's kingdom and the rest will fall into place.

That should be our proper priority.

Thought for today: Do I put the unction and calling of God on hold?