Friday Devotion:"Christ, My Companion"

Most people do not like being alone. Some people want to keep away from other people, groups, functions, or programs, but most people want to identify themselves with other people or groups.

The real situation that prevails among people is loneliness. Even though loneliness can become unbearable, it can also provide an experience of calmness and contentment for many.

Our Lord Jesus Christ often took time to be by Himself in silence and loneliness. According to John 7:53 and 8:1, everyone was leaving to go home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. He spent His alone times with God.

New ideas and useful thoughts about life and the future come when we spend time with God. For example, many of our great leaders were raised in God-fearing families. We can also stress the fact that, without the companionship of God, we can do nothing and we are nothing.

In the beginning, God created man and woman. God felt it was not good for Adam to be alone so He created Eve to be a companion, partner, and helper. How many of us feel this way? Many young people shout, "Leave me alone!" as they struggle with tension and confusion about finding a true companion.

Many of us fail to realize we are not alone. God, our heavenly Father, gave His son Jesus Christ as our companion. He is with us always. Jesus is also named "Immanuel, which means God with us" (Matthew 1:23b). God sent His Son in the flesh, however, not merely to be our companion but to be our Savior. Without Christ's sacrifice, without His all-atoning work on the cross on our behalf, we would be lost forever -- friendless and doomed by our sins.

But God through His Son has made a better way -- an eternal way that begins in faith in Jesus' work and trusts He will never fail or forsake us. Our Lord also says, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b). Since Christ is with me, how can I say I am alone?

Dear friends, let us determine who should be our best companion today. The companion we decide upon must be sufficient for us in every aspect of life. Christ is the only one who can dispel our loneliness.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for being our constant companion and for sending Your one and only Son to conquer our loneliness. Teach us to trust in You. Amen.

Biography of Author:
Rev. E. Eben Titus has pastored three Lutheran churches during a 25-year ministry in India. He assists Lutheran Hour Ministries-India at the Christian Media Centre in Chennai. Using radio and television broadcasts, Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), Equipping The Saints (ETS), and rallies, the Gospel goes forth in this country of more than one billion people.

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India Youth Volunteer Group Holds Eye Clinic

The Salem District of Tamil Nadu, India is a very poor area whose residents are faced with a number of problems including joblessness, and a very high percentage of people affected by various diseases including HIV. For this reason, Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM)—India’s volunteer Youth Club found Salem to be an ideal place to share the love of Christ by caring for the elderly.

Much of the older population in the district suffers eye ailments like cataracts, but do not have the money or ability to travel to the eye clinic. So the LHM volunteers arranged for a free eye clinic with the support of local health authorities.

More than 200 people registered for the clinic in which medical checkups and treatment were given free of charge. Doctors were also on hand and, as a result, 15 people had their eyes operated on to remove their cataracts.

“Through this act of love, people who came to the clinic experienced the concern of Christians for their neighbors as we also shared the Good news of salvation through Jesus Christ along with the free treatment,” said LHM—India director, Rev. David.

Lutheran Hour Ministries—India staff have established youth clubs in several different areas over the past year. The clubs, known locally as Vaan Malar Youth Clubs, have been well received by church congregations in these communities because they engage young people and equip them to share the Word of God.

Your continued prayers and support for LHM allow outreach programs to have an impact all around the world. We ask that you prayerfully consider a gift to our International Ministries today.

To support this ministry click here or call us at 1-877-333-1963.

CNH Volunteers Prepare to Return to India

Two days from now the first team of volunteers will embark on a short-term mission trip to India. They will be continuing the work begun last year, in support of LHM ministry in India by helping to refurbish the 50 year-old Christian Media Centre (as LHM is known in that country). The trip was organized as part of the Global Impact Volunteer program and the group consists of volunteers from the California-Nevada-Hawaii District.

Over the past year, funds were raised, and a team selected and trained. Now we ask for your prayers that everything goes well on this trip.

India is a country of 1.2 billion people, yet fewer than 4% of them are Christian. The world’s largest democracy, and yet just earlier this year dozens of Christians were martyred, hundreds of churches burned, and thousands of homes destroyed in violence against their faith. 86% of the population lives on less than $2.50 a day. Yet, God is at work in India – today.

We invite you to follow the journey at www.cnhindiamission.org, where you can read updates on the blog, see pictures, and watch videos as team members post about their experiences and impressions in the amazing country of India. On the left hand side of the home page, under the fundraising thermometer, is a place to sign up for email updates from the blog, if you wish. You’ll even have opportunities to make comments and ask questions of us while we’re there.

A Day Out for the Blind

On February 28 LHM—India, working in cooperation with The Prayer Fellowship of the Blind, held a gathering for a number of blind people living in the south Chennai area. People from all age groups, most of them non-Christians, and many blind from birth, gathered under a banyan tree at a church campus.

“The lives of these people are really hard, it’s unbelievable,” commented Rev. C. David, director of LHM—India. “Being an unprivileged and suffering section of the society they need some help for their livelihood.”

Each of the 80 blind people who attended the event received a little over 2 pounds of plastic wire (many of them earn a living weaving plastic garden chairs), as well a cassette tape of Gospel materials. Everyone enjoyed a full day of sharing songs, messages and testimonies.

LHM—India Completes Christmas Distribution

LHM—India celebrated the birth of Christ with residents of some poor villages and also with some evangelists living and working around Chennai city.

On December 18th they distributed candy, gift bags and new clothing to 50 villagers, both young and old. The money to purchase the gifts was donated by one of the Ministry’s supporters specifically for this purpose.

LHM—India staff and volunteers also distributed new clothing and a small financial gift to 15 evangelists and their families. This gift was specially given by members of the Madras Korean Church for the above purpose through our Ministry.

Each year, LHM—India broadcasts a telecast on Christmas day. This past Christmas, in addition to the regular broadcast channel, two more channels came forward and each donated a half-hour programming time for the telecast. LHM—India has received appreciation for the program and messages.