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
In recent years I have been concerned when I see the lives of teenagers and youth.
I am concerned because of the easily accessible immoral content of the Internet. You and I know that much of the information they receive is not appropriate for adults and, most certainly, should not be digested by the young. Television programs no longer educate ... except for educating and encouraging people to live immoral lives. Mass media makes it so many people feel that if they do not follow what the media is presenting, they are outmoded.
I also regret the weak supervision carried out by parents and churches.
Parents and congregations are the people who are supposed to show God's path to the members of their families. They have often failed to do so. Sadly, all too often parents and churches remain silent and do not lead in the area of morality and encouraging obedience to the Lord's wishes.
With those feelings, I wondered if anyone would come forward to provide the ongoing guidance that would be beneficial to the young people of our churches. My wondering was put to rest when, one day, I heard that my church was going to host a seminar called "Love, Sex and Dating." The seminar was going to be taught by Jangkar Kehidupan; this is the organization which you know as Lutheran Hour Ministries.
I immediately signed up for the seminar which was held on April 8, 2015.
Today, months later, I can share it was an excellent seminar. At the class we were told how we are God's beloved creatures who had been created in the image of Him. The leader told us that our bodies are the temple of God -- sacred and holy. Then he shared that while our bodies are one of God's gifts to us, how we used those bodies is part of our gift to the Lord.
I became increasingly aware that the Lord had been very good to me.
Even more, I was shown that my life ought to be a thanksgiving. Part of that was to get involved in a study that was put out by Jangkar Kehidupan. It was a study designed to get me closer to the Lord. In the months since that class, I discovered how to conduct myself in a dating relationship.
Today I am able to explain what I learned to my brothers and sisters who are entering their teenage years. Moved by the Savior who gave His life for us, I am able to teach them to honor their Redeemer by the way they lead their lives.
I want you to know that I offer thanks to the Lord for using Jangkar Kehidupan for their shared materials.
By God's grace, I pray the Holy Spirit will increase the scope of their work. May the message they share bless people all over Indonesia and especially our neighbors in North Sumatra. For the Savior's message of salvation and for those who share it, may God's blessing and my thanks rest upon them!
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, may we always be grateful for the abundant blessings You have given to us. Teach us always to use those gifts so we may be a witness and a blessing to others. Unto You we pray and are grateful. Amen.
Biography of Author: The author of today's international devotion: my name is Mariana. My family name is Sipahutar. Yes, I am from Batak's tribe from North Sumatra Island, Indonesia. I live in Hutaraja, Sipoholon, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra.
Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia made up of more than 13,400 islands; it is home to 250-plus million people. The ministry center of Lutheran Hour Ministries-Indonesia, known locally as Anchor of Life, has its ministry center in Jakarta. It utilizes radio and TV broadcasting, mobile device messaging, print resources, children's and adult programs, and evangelism training as it takes the Gospel to this part of the world. Using staff and trained volunteers in making connections to Indonesian communities, it puts on puppet shows, works with Sunday school teacher training, holds local sporting events, and offers topical school programs -- all as a means to move the Gospel forward.
Bible Correspondence Courses (
BCC) and
Equipping the Saints (
ETS) workshops educate Indonesians on the Scriptures and train them to share the Good News of God's grace and love, as found in Jesus Christ, with their family and friends.
You can read about the youth ministry that's going on at LHM-Indonesia by
clicking here and visiting its blog.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click
here or visit www.lhm.org/international.
