I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His Name. 1 John 2:12
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 of The Lutheran Hour
Recently I read a strange news story which carried the title, "The Substitute."
The narrative told of a man who had served the sentence for a crime his brother had committed. Some time after the innocent man's release, he explained: "I gave myself up before the law to give my brother an opportunity to change his way of life. He is my only brother. I love him and I have hope that he will change and be a better man."
Most of the folks who read the story thought any person who would do such a thing had to be lying or crazy or he had to be guilty of the crime. "After all," they reasoned, "our sinful world has no room for such a selfless individual."
Christians know that opinion is correct.
More than 2,000 years ago, humankind encountered such an individual.
Jesus was sent by His Father to pay the price for our sins, to take the death sentence which our transgressions had deserved.
The Innocent was hated and hounded, despised and detested. Then, after the prophecies had been fulfilled, after His work was over, Jesus was nailed to the cross. The Innocent had lived, suffered and died for the guilty.
In Romans 6:23 the Lord inspired Paul to sum up the Savior's life and purpose: "The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life which comes to us through Jesus Christ."
Now, by the Holy Spirit's power, God calls us to Him, invites us to the forgiveness which will change our lives, which will reconcile us to Him, which will allow us to enjoy His love, His mercy and His grace.
And He invites us to enjoy these things as His blood-bought sons and daughters.
THE PRAYER: Gracious Father, we come to You with praise and thanksgiving for sending Jesus to pay the price for our sins. Help us serve You in all we do, even as we thank Him for all He did. In Jesus' Name we ask it. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's devotion comes from the Lutheran Hour Ministries office in Russia. Lutheran Hour Ministries as LHM-Russia has been spreading the Gospel since 1993. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, LHM's many outreach ministries refer their audiences to pastors, lay leaders or volunteers in their areas.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 28-29 Luke 23:26-56
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