I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
TO PONDER:
"Why does life have to be so hard?" It was a question that a newish Christian asked me recently as they struggled with some of the things that were happening in their life. It's a good question and one that Paul addresses in our verse today. Does life sometimes seem like a struggle to you? Do you find there are times when you lack courage or when you lose heart? Have you ever experienced sickness or failure? Have you encountered depression, doubt, loneliness or grief in your journey? This is the Christian life that is lived in the body. But it is not the whole story.
We also live by faith in God, the God who is with us, the God who is for us, the God who loves us and gives himself for us. It's Emmanuel, God with us, Christ's presence in us that makes it possible to live in the body with all its difficulties. It's Christ living in us that gives us strength to step into the day ahead boldly and full of hope, for there is nothing that you can encounter in your life today that is bigger than that God who loves, who gives himself for you and promises to be with you every step of the way.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, be the reason that I live boldly today whatever I encounter. Amen.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
TO PONDER:
Have you ever seen a person glow? Maybe it was a pregnant woman. Or a bride on their wedding day? I've seen it in people who are love. The other day, I saw it in the face of someone who had just found out that they had secured a new job. I've seen the twinkle in the eyes or a man riddled with cancer but content because he knows Jesus. I've seen the light emanating from children as they come to the Lord's table for the very first time full of excitement? I've seen the light shine in teenagers, young adults, and matured aged people who emit a warmth as they serve those less fortunate than themselves. I've seen the the visible glow in eyes and faces of those who've sat many times at the feet of Jesus. I've seen the radiance in those who will meet Jesus face to face in a short time.
It's not something that can be manufactured. It's a glow, a warmth, a light that is carried deep within that breaks through the skin, shines through the eyes and radiates from a heart that is filled with the love of Jesus. You can't hide it...it's unmistakeable. When others see it, it brings a warmth to their heart, a joy to their face and adds a beauty to their lives. May that glow be seen in you today because you carry Jesus.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, may the light of your presence that I carry within, shine brightly through me today. Amen.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
TO PONDER:
God works in ways that we would never expect and through people whom the world easily discards.
It's a truth, I have seen at work in so many ways throughout my ministry. Through Bob with his wooden walking stick, through Nola and her humble service of cleaning, through a young child who climbed into the lap of a grieving woman and gave a hug, through the lisp of a teenager who struggles to form words right. No-one special in the eyes of the world but ordinary, flawed people through whom the power of God has shined so brightly.
In the world in which we live, we have been taught to despise the ordinary and to hide weakness. We devote our lives to camouflaging our brokenness and flaws and to cover them up with polish and pretense, so that what others see is the appearance of a perfect vessel; a vessel that is well made and acceptable. But maybe, as Paul tells us today, maybe it's time to acknowledge our cracks, our flaws and to trust that these are the very things that God uses to allow his glory, the light of Jesus to shine through. What if it is through this brokenness and imperfection that the power of God is on full display in the world. Would we look at others differently? Would we see ourselves differently? Would we understand God differently? Just a thought? What do you think?
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, here I am, a cracked and flawed and even broken vessel. May your glory and power be revealed to the world through me. Amen.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
TO PONDER
"I can't believe we are in December already. This year has just been a whirlwind." So commented a person that I was talking to in the last week. Even as she spoke those words, you could see her mind flipping through the mental photo album of the past year, recalling all the experiences and happenings that had occurred. Sometimes life gets so busy and we are swept along in the flurry of activity that we don't stop to treasure what has happened or think deeply about how all the things connect together like a jigsaw puzzle to form a picture that reveals God's purpose and plan for our lives.
But what strikes me in reading this verse again today is that throughout the whole of Luke chapter 2, Mary doesn't say a word. She treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Mary is silent, reflecting, meditating, pondering the whirlwind she has been caught up in. She takes a deep breath and holds the Christ-child close to her breast, being present in the moment, treasuring the experience, reflecting on the experience and holding the memories deep within her. It's like she is just pressing pause on life for just a minute to gather herself, to prepare herself for when the play button is pressed and life moves on again.
Has your life been a whirlwind this year? One thing after another? Highs, lows, interruptions, blessings and heartache? How does it all fit together? Have you taken the time to ponder the experience: What has God been doing within me? How has God been inviting me to grow? Where is He calling me to repent and change? What gifts is He calling on me to use more fully? Who is He calling me to give myself for? How has he been faithful to me through it all? Would you be willing to press pause for a moment, take a deep breath, say nothing and just treasure up all the things that have happened and think deeply in your heart about what it all means and carry that into your Christmas celebration? It will transform the experience.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, in the whirlwind of life, help me to press pause for a moment, treasure the experience and ponder the incredibly difference your presence makes in my life. Amen,
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
TO PONDER:
"Impossible! "Never happen!" "Not in my lifetime!" Have you ever uttered those words. Thought those words? Will I ever get over this grief? Will things ever change in my marriage? Will we ever become parents? Will we ever get on top of things financially? Can I ever let go of my past? Can I ever find forgiveness to that thing I did? Will the impossible ever become possible? You are not alone if you have ever asked those questions.
Abraham and Sarah said it when they were told they would become parents at an age that is well past retirement. Israel said it collectively when they found themselves between the rock of Pharaoh's armies and the hard place of the Red Sea. King Saul of Israel said it when a giant named Goliath marched up and down in front of the armies of Israel demanding a fight to the death for the right to reign. "Impossible! "Never happen!" "Not in my lifetime!"
Is there any power on earth that can break open such impossibilities?
When the impossible interrupts our lives – the message comes to us, "...nothing shall be impossible with God." Impossible means without power, without the ability to accomplish. Possible comes from the same root word as "power". The angel tells Mary how the impossible becomes possible, by God's power. The Holy Spirit is at work, the full presence and power of God will be on display, God is breaking open the impossible in his holy Son, Jesus. That changes everything. Every 'impossible' thing is now possible when we let God do his thing. Will you trust that? Marvel in that? Believe that in every impossible moment?
PRAYER:
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, when things seem impossible, help me to trust your Word that tells me that nothing is beyond the realms of your possible making power. Amen.
So be prepared because you do not know what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not let his house be broken into. So also, be ready because the Son of Man will come when you do not expect Him
TO PONDER
Be prepared … on returning home one night in winter after being out, I walked through my house, not bothering to turn on the lights. This was my home, my haven, a place of security. And I also knew my son and father were in the house. I got to the kitchen and went to turn on the light and a long blond haired, youngish guy jumped out at me shouting boo and raced for the back door, which he must have opened as soon as he had gained entry through my front bedroom window …. he was prepared. Be prepared …. a hard lesson learnt. Always close and lock things.
Be prepared and ready for what God has for us. Focus our mindset, what is His plan, how does He want to use me, what is His purpose for me? We must be empty of things that are irrelevant in our lives to allow God to come in. Be prepared. If we want to be effective, we need to decrease those things in our lives that are irrelevant, to allow Him to increase in us. Extend your boundaries, otherwise we limit God. We need to increase, stretch our thinking, self-concepts, take opportunities – be they large or small, make mistakes - it is a lesson and we can learn from this.
Remember: You are a a child of God. Be prepared.
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for always being there for me, even when I haven’t been prepared in the most difficult and taxing times. Help me to let go of those things I cling to. As your word says, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to be prepared. Amen
Today's devotion written by Noeline, Danny Brock's mum, LifeWay Online
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.”
TO PONDER
As a child I used to love playing 'Hide and Seek' until I was emotionally wounded in a Hide and Seek accident. I Became trapped in a wardrobe which had toppled over, face/doors down on the floor with me hiding inside, just as the seeker cried out ‘Ready or not, here I come!”
My screams, I’m sure, echoed throughout the neighbourhood and were sure to have drowned out the usual protestations of “Not fair I’m not ready!” given in answer to the seekers announcement (don’t worry I did survive…physically at least).
Today’s verses remind us to always be ready for when God shows up, to always keep the lights on in preparation for the “un”-expected arrival of Jesus.
The reason for saying “un”-expected is that even though we expect Jesus to be at our worship (Matthew 18:29) and expect his Second Coming, God always shows up when we don’t expect it… even though we should expect it… um… unexpectedly.
I don’t want to get go too deep theologically here; only to say that God “finds” us, we don’t “find” him. After all, when we were still God's enemies, hiding from Him, he found us (Romans 5:10) but being a follower of Jesus is not passive, faith is not a spectator sport, grace demands a response.
Are we playing a game of “Hide and Seek” with our lives trapped within a wardrobe called Church, called belief, called religion?
Today’s reading tells us that God has called out “Ready or not, Here I come!”.
PRAYER: Almighty Saviour, I thank you that you found me, even when I was hiding as deep, as far as I could to get away, you still removed the wardrobe I was trapped in. Mighty God help me respond to the amazing grace you show me daily and share it with the world around me. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock (Hide and Seek survivor), LifeWay Westside.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
TO PONDER
We mostly live in an age and place of abundance in Australia, and yet mental health is in crisis.
In 2021, it was reported that 19% of Australians had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or another serious mental illness, epidemiologic evidence suggests that these mental health issues have risen dramatically over the past century.
A consensus for why this is the case has been difficult. Many experts attributing the rise in mental health issues to our modern lifestyle, including things like social media, the “need” to always be “connected”, competing for the curated “instalife” (Instagram), and “FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out), all adding to a performance culture.
In today’s verses we read a story of juxtaposition between two sisters, two friends of Jesus, Mary and Martha. Martha had invited Jesus into their home and then got busy preparing for guests while Mary sat at Jesus feet listening to what he said. When Martha realised she alone was doing all the preparation she became angry and demanded that Jesus tell Mary to get up and do something of value, to perform to at least help with the preparations.The answer Jesus gave probably surprised Martha when he said Mary was doing exactly what she should be doing, she was doing what was important.
Martha was too busy preparing for hospitality to actually be hospitable, she was too busy preparing for life instead of maybe living life.
This story reminds me of some of our Christmas experiences, when we spend so much time preparing for the perfect Christmas that we forget sharing the Christmas story is not a performance but rather an experience to take time out to enjoy with others.
This Christmas hear the reply Jesus gave to Martha, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (MSG) - The main course is to experience the true Christmas story.
PRAYER: Loving God, I say sorry for when I have turned Christmas into a performance, when I have stressed about making it happen instead of experiencing Christmas as a celebration of life, and grace. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
TO PONDER
I remember when I realised, as a child, that if I went to bed early on Christmas Eve, Christmas would come faster. However, there was a floor with my brilliant plan, how to actually sleep with the thoughts of presents floating through my young, over active mind, imagining what they were going to be.
In today’s verses James (the brother of Jesus) tells us to be patient, not to be in a hurry for the conclusion of the Christmas story, for the ultimate promised Christmas gift.
James was specifically talking about being patient in difficult times, he even brings in Job, the archetype for human suffering, as an example of endurance. Job had lost everything, family, health, riches, and even his faith until he realized he needed to trust God regardless.
Job apologised to God, apologised for his lack of faith, for his lack of trust and he was remembered, finally, as an example of endurance (verse 11).
While James is addressing patience through difficult times his advice is not negated in good times where we can grow complacent in our salvation/baptism, forgetting we have a role to play in the harvest. Patiently waiting is not a complacent act; its an active faith, a belief with action, a responsive waiting. The farmer doesn’t sow his crop and sit back and wait for the harvest, the farmer watches and responds to the circumstances and cares for the crop through every season.
As a child, Christmas was not a time for sleep, especially as the day drew closer and closer. Christmas was a time for excited expectation, a time for dreams, a time to imagine, a time to share the Christmas experience with anticipation and joy.
PRAYER: Amazing God, I give you thanks through every season of life, I give you my trust in the good times and I give you my trust in hard times, help me patiently wait on you. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside