The Appointment in Galilee January 23, 2015 (The young man in the tomb said) But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you. Mark 16:7 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 Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour One Sunday afternoon this year, I went to visit a patient lying in hospital. I was quite surprised to see the staff of the neurology division and some family members overcrowding the patients small room. After my prayer, one of the patients relatives who works for LHM-Madagascar put on a CD, and everyone in the room listened to The Lutheran Hour radio program. The theme was about arrogance and humility. During the listening, the patient wept and at the end he said, Today, I met Jesus. Today, some of the neurology staff follow the LHM Bible study and listen to its radio program. Before His death and resurrection, Jesus told His disciples that He had an appointment with them. Because Jesus had laid the foundation of a future meeting is why the angels merely had to remind the women at the resurrection tomb that the disciples were to go to Galilee. This they did, even as they went back to their same ole, same ole routine. Yes, they went back to fishing. Well, Jesus wasnt going to let that stand. That is why He kept His appointment with them, along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus began the appointment with a miracle. Then, with His credentials properly established, the Lord began commissioning them to be under-shepherds of His flocks. The goal of this appointment in Galilee was to prepare Peter and the rest for the work of fishing for people. It is a work that is ongoing. It is a legacy which is ours. Now I know we have never physically met the Redeemer on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Even so, the Lord has continued to fix places where He will meet us. Quite likely there have been many such moments when the Lord has come to you and given you a direction and a purpose ... given you His direction and His purpose. That direction and purpose is for believers to tell the world that the Savior is raised, and there is salvation for all who are brought to faith and forgiveness. Jesus was put to death for our trespasses and rose for our justification (see Romans 4:25). The road to the lost paradise has become opened again. Now the risen Lord wishes to meet us in His Word and Sacraments and in the fellowship of His church. The patient of our story was brought to Christ by the power of Gods Word, as preached on the radio. Jesus had kept His appointment with that man. He wishes to do the same thing again and again and again, with every person in this lost and sinful world. To do that, He asks that we help. THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we thank You that You have fixed an appointment place for us too. We are blessed to have our Galilee where You have met us. To and for You, we offer our thanks. Amen. Biography of Author: Todays international devotion was written by the Reverend William David Zoulder. A graduate of the Lomonossov State University in Moscow, the Malagasy Lutheran Church appointed him as a French lecturer at their Graduate School of Theology. Pastor Zoulder graduated from the School of Theology in Natal, South Africa. Since then he has served his Lord as a parish pastor. His language skills have been of great value in our Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) and our radio programs. Pastor Zoulder is married and has three children. In South Africa, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Africa is known as The Lutheran Hour. Established in Johannesburg in 1961, this ministry center employs emerging technologies in its innovative social media and text-message ministries. It also uses LHMs BCCs and Equipping the Saints (ETS) in its work of building up and strengthening Christians in the faith. Areas of ministry specialization include work in prisons where LHM staff and volunteers regularly visit inmates to share the Gospel. Dramatic presentations are used to engage people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Placing ads in newspapers, which invite people to call for counseling, topical booklets, or prayer, has been effective in establishing valuable relationships. To learn more about our International Ministries, visit lhmint.org.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 00:02:37 +0000
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