"When They Pray"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®

To Listen In Audio

                                                                                               

Listen to the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive. 1 Kings 8:30

Here's an all-points bulletin.

The First Amendment Center has reported that a majority of Americans think students should be able to share their faith freely in public schools.

That's right. Three-quarters of U.S. citizens want to see students able to speak freely when it comes to their faith. And there's even more: 52 percent of the non-religious people in the U.S. also think that's the way it should be.

· That doesn't mean people want the barrier torn down which separates church and state.

· It doesn't mean they want teachers dictating their own personal beliefs to a student.

· It does mean they believe students should have free speech when it comes to expressing their faith.

It is my hope those people who are in authority pay attention to that figure. For far too long I have had students who attend state colleges and universities tell of how they are unable to share their beliefs, make Christian comments in class, or put what they believe into their coursework.

Indeed, they tell me that in many instances they are automatically downgraded or their work completely rejected because of their commitment to Jesus.

Now, while I applaud these students for weathering the battle and obeying God rather than men, I still believe their brush with persecution shouldn't be necessary.

After all, freedom of speech should not be just a right given to foul-mouthed comics and obscene pornographers.

It ought to belong to those who wish to reflect the love they have received from their crucified and ever-living Redeemer. For these young people we pray:

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, bless and be with those students who witness to Your love and Your Son's sacrifice upon the cross. May they be kept from persecution and any pressure to deny their faith in the Redeemer. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

* The subject for this Daily Devotion was suggested by Mr. Ian Adnams, director of Communication for Lutheran Church -- Canada.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

 

 

 

 

Pastor Ken Klaus

Speaker of The Lutheran Hour

Lutheran Hour Ministries

(Used with Permission of The Lutheran Hour)

"Life's Purpose"

     

"But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you My power, so that My Name may be proclaimed in  all the earth."
(Exodus 9:16)

Almost all of us have dreams for the future, don't we?

Some of those dreams will become reality; some we will never see attained. Knowing that, I was fascinated to hear about the dream of a very successful man: Robert Woodruff.

Woodruff is not a household name, but the product he endorsed is.

Woodruff was president of Coca-Cola from 1923 to 1955, a 32-yr span. His dream, which he stated immediately after World War II, was this: "In my lifetime I want everyone in the world to have tasted Coke." Nobody can say that he didn't shoot high in his aspirations.

But I wonder if wanting everyone in the world to taste colored, sugared, flavored water is the best thing to which a human being can aspire. Certainly there are people who have smaller goals, and there are more than a few who have no goals at all!

But that's not the way I, or you, ought to live our lives. It's not the way the Lord wishes us to pass our days which He has given to us.

He wants His people, in thanksgiving to His Son, to leave the world a better place than they found it. He wants them to exit this world having accomplished something. He wants them to share the story of salvation they have been given in Jesus.

How did the Lord say it? He said, "For this purpose I have raised you up, to show you My power, so that My Name may be proclaimed in all the earth."

So, where does this short devotion lead? With all due respect to Robert Woodruff, might we not be forgiven if we were to modify his dream just a little? This seems an honorable motto: "In my lifetime, I want everyone in the world to meet the Savior. To that goal, I am willing, every day, to pray for one specific person who does not know Jesus."*

Now, that's a dream worth dreaming; that's a goal to which a Christian can work. Won't you join me?

From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to make it my goal to tell others about You and share the story of Jesus' sacrifice with them. May the Holy Spirit touch their hearts so they may repent and become one of Your saved children. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

*You need not have a specific name of an individual to agree to this idea. Just select a city -- any city on any map -- and pray for an unbeliever in that place whom the Lord knows and you do not.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

(Used with permission by Lutheran Hour Ministries)

 

 



Smiles for Jessica Blog Hop

Greetings :-) This is a request for all who'd like to join in on Smiling for Jessica. Jessica is a lil girl who could sure use some of our smiles! I'd like you to hop on over to Riggs Family Blog to read about Jessica & why they have started this blog hop. But first, it'd like to say a few words...

Jessica ~ you are a BEAUTIFUL Princess!!! A gift from God that your mommy & daddy adopted you from China. Your eyes draw attention to their natural beauty, which is really good because people should look at your eyes when they are communicating to you. I'm so happy that you got to go to Disney World & extra good to get your photo up on their website -- you really are one BEAUTIFUL Princess Jessica. Keep Smiling - it looks GREAT on you! :-) Love you lil one!

Here's the link to Riggs. http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com

Take Care & God Bless,
~Joni