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
This is a true
story about our brother, a native Kazakh, by the name of Bakhtiyar. It
is a story of someone who has put his faith and trust in the Lord.
Bakhtiyar was caught by the Kazakhs in his own village and taken to
the local leaders with tied hands.
The crowd was shouting and
demanding he be punished for betraying Islam and becoming a Christian.
Bakhtiyar looked in the eyes of the people and saw hatred, anger and
disgust. One of the village masters asked, "How much did they pay you to
betray our religion?" It was a serious challenge, which enraged the mob
even more.
Bakhtiyar looked around for any way he might escape
but, surrounded by people and cars, there was none. All he could do was
pray: "Dear Lord," he said, "for the sins I have done, please forgive
me. And forgive these people who want to kill me. You know I have done
nothing wrong to them. Jesus is my Savior, and somehow they think that
means I betrayed them."
Suddenly, another village elder pushed
him and demanded an answer. Bakhtiyar replied, "I betrayed no one. I
have only trusted God's invitation which says, 'For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' All I have done is
believed in Jesus, Son of God." (See John 3:16.)
For a moment the
crowd was silent, but then it exploded in swearing and shouting.
As Bakhtiyar prepared himself for the worst, he heard a very quiet
voice: "Don't be afraid. I am with you."
Bakhtiyar looked around,
but couldn't see anyone who might have spoken those words of comfort.
No, all he could see and hear were the shouts of those who were
demanding he be taken to the village court while others said he should
be executed right there. That group was divided: some wanted to stone
him, and others wanted to hang him.
The argument escalated and
the crowd began to fight among themselves. It was then that the ropes on
Bakhtiyar's hands were loosened and fell off. A quick inspection
revealed no earthly helper. As he stood, the voice spoke to him again
and told him he was "free to go."
With the mob arguing and
fighting about how to murder him, nobody paid him any attention. As the
voice had said, Bakhtiyar, freely and without challenge, walked through
the crowd. No one seemed to notice his escape. Bakhtiyar immediately
went to a pastor's house and shared what had happened.
Divine
deliverance? In more ways than one.
Not only was Bakhtiyar
delivered from the mob, others were delivered as well. You see, a week
later some young men came to the church and asked for Bakhtiyar. Not
knowing what to expect, it took some faith for Bakhtiyar to go out and
greet them. Hanging their heads in shame the men asked for forgiveness.
Then they added, "We would like to be with Jesus, just as you are!"
This history is based on true events told to me by our brother
Bakhtiyar. You may make of that story what you will. As for me, it has
reinforced the truth that says our living Lord Jesus is with His people
... and through their suffering He will save souls from hell.
THE
PRAYER: Dear Lord, we live in a scientific age where many people demand
proof. May they come to realize the empty tomb is proof of Your love.
Let them know the same Savior who can free a man from an angry mob wants
to free every soul from the fires of hell. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by
Alexandr Starchenko. He has been the director of the Lutheran Hour
Ministries office in Kazakhstan since February of 1998. As an educator,
he has received many awards from the secular world. As our director, he
is much appreciated as he spearheads media ministry, which promotes the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. A husband, father and grandfather, Starchenko is
a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Almaty. He supervises the writing
and preparation and delivery of Lutheran Hour Ministries materials. In
this Central Asian country of nearly 17 million people, people from all
walks of life are impacted by LHM-Kazakhstan's broadcasting of
television and Internet radio programs. Reaching young people via its
online community known as Pure Line, this ministry center offers
youth-based programs that address real-life situations often encountered
by younger men and women. Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) are also
popular with many and are part of the outreach materials supplied to
those who are in prison.
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission
