It was early in the morning, and the radio was predicting the future...
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
"Lucky Day"
November 5, 2017
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
~ Romans 8:28 (ESV)
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
It was early in the morning, and the radio was predicting the future, according to the horoscope.
The taxi driver who was taking me to school paid special attention when the radio host came to his sign. After hearing what was said, the driver seemed very much concerned about his fate. Still, according to the DJ, there was some hope. My driver could head off the bad stuff if he did certain good stuff.
While all this was going on, I was quietly reading my devotional.
At the end of my day, by the kind of coincidence only God can arrange, the same taxi driver showed up to take me home. Remembering the ride in and the radio warning, I thought I would do some exploring. As my day had been exceptional, I thought I'd run the risk and ask, "So, tell me, how was your day?"
He answered me that he was still somewhat concerned because of the morning's horoscope predictions. What a shame. Nothing bad had happened to him since I had seen him earlier. Even so, his entire day had been wasted worrying about all the disastrous events the stars might send his way.
That man is not alone.
Just like the taxi driver, many other people's lives are built on luck or chance or even what a total stranger might say to them. It seems a precarious way to live, especially when it is contrasted with what the Bible tells us. You remember -- all things work together for the good to them that love God.
That verse gives us a different perspective: God's perspective.
All the events and experiences which take place in our lives -- either good or bad -- depend not on luck, but on the relationship we have with God. From the beginning, God wants to establish a loving relationship with us and, according to His will, He will present to us what He knows is best for us.
Now that doesn't mean we will not encounter difficulties, problems, pains, and hurts. In a sinful world, those things come to everybody. But it does mean that with the loving Lord on our side, we will be taken care of.
And even the worst of things life offers can be redirected by our loving Lord. We know that the Lord who has given His Son to rescue us from hell is not going to turn His back on us now.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, be with those who have other gods beside or ahead of You. Let them learn to listen to You and trust in the grace which is ours through the sacrifice of the crucified and ever-living Savior. In His Name we pray. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Porfirio Franco Cortés who is our Project JOEL coordinator at the Panama office of Lutheran Hour Ministries. He also coordinates the drug use and abuse program from a Christian perspective in Panama's public and private schools.
With its ministry center in Panama City since 1995, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Panama makes Gospel connections with others through printed materials, live events, mass media and the internet, holistic outreach, and other means. Using Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), individuals are instructed in the basic tenets of the Christian faith and how to put them into operation in their lives. Through Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops, laypeople are instructed in sharing their faith with others, in order to build bridges via the Gospel. Helping young people make healthy lifestyle choices is the role of Project JOEL, a program teaching faith-based values that has been successfully integrated into the curricula of public schools, giving teachers a valuable resource to help them foster and promote positive values. Ministry center volunteers play an important part in LHM-Panama's outreach efforts as well, supporting ministry staff and telling others about Jesus in this Central American country of nearly four million people.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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