"Believe in Jesus and You Are Saved"
May 7, 2017
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
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 a sunny day in the Gardnerville community.
The Lutheran Hour team had embarked on a Bible Correspondence Course recruitment in that Muslim-dominated community. That being the case, we were not surprised when we met a Muslim man. His name was Konneh, and we explained to him the reason we were in his community.
We talked to him about Jesus.
We also talked to Konneh about the Bible Correspondence Course ministry through Lutheran Hour Ministries-Liberia. He liked the idea of the courses but said he did not have money to pay for them.
A member of the team explained, "We do not charge money for the courses. They are offered for free. Only your willingness to do the course is the price you pay."
The man quickly read through the first lesson and said to us, "My religion tells me nothing like this." Quickly, a stream of questions poured out of his mouth (and heart):
• Is love and forgiveness possible through Jesus Christ?
• Are you saying I have sinned against God and He sent His only Son to die for me?
• Can God beget a Son?
Konneh could not easily understand our answers to his many questions. That did not stop him from signing up to do the Bible lessons.
He also could not understand why we took interest in him doing the courses.
The team told him that these classes and our support are an extension of God's love, which we reflect to him. The Lord wants everyone to know His Word for their salvation and why He sent His Son to die for sinful humanity.
"I will read and answer the questions to see if there is any good news in it for me" was Konneh's verdict that day.
At a follow-up visit, we found Konneh and his daughter had taken a deeper interest in the lessons and had completed the first two booklets. We encouraged them to continue with the courses and rejoice in the loving words and acts of the Triune God.
At this writing Konneh is doing just that. This is why we invite you to join us in praying for him and for the others in this world who are dying because they do not have the true knowledge about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The church needs to reach out to non-Christians with the message of truth to save the lost.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may You always cause Your Words to bring people to faith in Your Son, so they may be given forgiveness and eternal life. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Edward T. Bryant. He joined the ministry center volunteer team through the ministry's community evangelism program. He has since been connected to the UHP Evangelical Lutheran Church and presently serves as an evangelist on the volunteer team.
Based in the capital city of Monrovia, Lutheran Hour Ministries' Liberia ministry center reaches out across the country through a weekly interactive radio program aired over a national radio station. Listeners are invited to sign up for the center's Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), which are currently offered in English but will soon be presented in two native Liberian languages, Krahn and Bassa.
Lutheran Hour Ministries-Liberia was established in 2013. Emerging from years of civil war, this country of 4.5 million people is served by a ministry center that airs a weekly radio program that invites listeners to sign up for BCC training. Working with area congregations, LHM-Liberia presents films, outdoor concerts, and dramatic performances as a way to connect with local communities and invite people to know more about Jesus. Ministry partnerships with area congregations help recruit and cultivate volunteers and open doors for scheduling Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops to train individuals to witness to their faith.
