Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
TO PONDER
I think we can sometimes make the mistake of thinking of worship and sacrifice as a similar, if not the same, thing. After all, most of the gathering and worship in the Old Testament temple system centred around animal sacrifice. I want to offer us a different way to think about it.
Here in Romans 12, as in just about every other epistle he wrote, the apostle Paul begins his admonition by reminding his readers of what God has already done for them. This is the first thing I think we forget.
I can't tell you the number of people who, over the years, have explained their attendance at church every Sunday as part of their 'sacrifice' to God. That somehow missing out on a Sunday morning sleep in is a sacrifice that somehow impresses God and demonstrated their dedication to God. They speak of it in a way that sounds as if they expect something more from God because they 'turn up'. Paul is saying that's wrong. We don't turn up because we need to earn something from God, we turn up because of what he has already done.
Any time we have the attitude that we have to do something to "keep God happy" something is out of order in our thinking. We offer ourselves to God because of what he has already done for us. This is how we demonstrate to God our gratitude for what he has done. It is how we demonstrate the 'worth' (from worthship) which we place on what God has done and communicate that to those around us.
Being dedicated to God simply means to be set apart for His purpose, to put aside our own interests and selfish desires and allow him to be the one to set the direction and the agenda. That is how we worship him.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know that my motives are often selfish. Sometimes even my involvement at church or other community groups is motivated more by what I get out of the arrangement that what I might contribute or provide for others. Please help me to grow in your understanding of what it means to serve and worship you with all of my life. Help me to make my life a living sacrifice to you in light of all that you have done for me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”
TO PONDER
This is perhaps my favourite part of the whole book of Joshua. It reminds me of Simon/Peter the disciple and it also reminds me of myself. When Joshua asked the assembled people of Israel to "Choose this day who you will serve..." they gave the response from today's reading. Joshua didn't believe them.
If you read on through the verses following this, Joshua asks the Israelites at least three times to affirm their commitment to serving God and he makes them accountable to one another as witnesses to the fact that they had promised to dedicate themselves to serving God. But someone like Joshua who had led those people for so many years and who had walked with them years earlier while he was still Moses' apprentice, knows that they will not keep this promise. Joshua knows it, God knows it, we know it. The continuing story of the Israelites is one of a people who consistantly back out of their commitment to God.
However, it is also a story of a God who, despite the people's lack of commitment and dedication to him, always remains steadfast and dedicated to his people.
Which is why I don't want to separate today's reading too much from yesterday's. Joshua asked the people of Israel to "choose this day who you will serve..." The joy of living in Christ on this side of his death and resurrection is that we can confidently answer that question anew every day, regardless of how we badly we have succeeded or failed at serving God the day before. It's what Martin Luther called "daily baptismal living". It's waking up each day completely free from the failures and disappointments of the previous day and being able to dedicate each new day to following Jesus more closely.
So don't let your failure yesterday determine your answer today. Choose this day to serve the Lord God and obey him. And when you fail, get up and choose to follow him again tomorrow.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You prayed just before you were arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, "not my will but yours be done" and set your face towards the cross for me. I am sorry for the times that my dedication to following you is not as strong, for the times that I fail to serve you love others the way you would have me do. Thank you that you have opened up the way for me to repent and come back to you when I realise I have lost my way. Please help me keep my steps in line with yours and help me to pray devotedly those same words, "yet not my will but yours be done". Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
TO PONDER
One of the things I think people get confused about these days is 'freedom'. People seem to think that freedom should mean being able to do whatever you want to do without experiencing any negative consequences. It's one of he common complaints you sometimes hear about God. Many people these days will describe him as a bully because he only allows those who believe in him and follow him into his kingdom.
Now there's a number of misconceptions in that previous statement, but let me just address one today. What our individual freedoms obsessed culture often perceives as the 'exclusive' bullying of God, is in fact a God extending to us the most complete expression of freedom that we experience in our lives. God says, "I have made a way for you and it is open to all who wish to walk it - no one is excluded" The problem is, many people don't choose to walk it. They want what God promises at the end of it, but they want to get there their own way.
That's kind of what Joshua is saying to the Israelites in Joshua 24. He reminds them of everything God has done to get them to this point. He reminds them that without God they would still be slaves in Egypt. Yet even at this point, God does not demand their allegiance. They are free in this moment, to choose to follow the gods of other nations. They are free to make a choice to abandon the one who has brought them this far. But in making a choice they also have to recognise the consequences.
Today 'other gods' may not look like tiny household shrines or statues of mythical beings, but we do still have a choice each day who we will serve. Our own selfish desires, the expectations of others, the demands of a world that has largely turned it's back on the one who created and sustains it, or will we, with Joshua dedicate ourselves to serving the Lord, even when everyone around us seems to have made a different choice?
PRAYER:Lord Jesus, You often told your disciples that following you would be difficult; that the world would hate them because of you. We experience that in many different ways on any given day. Please help me each day to conciously follow and serve you. Help me to lead my household, my workplace, my social networks and people in all places where I have influence to know your love and the joy of serving you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
TO PONDER
I have to confess that, to date, my understanding of this verse has been on the exclusiveness of Jesus as the means of gaining access to our Heavenly Father. We can become God’s children (and have eternal life) only because of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection. I have glossed over the “truth” and “life” claims of Jesus. This is understandable to some extent since Jesus had been talking about the ‘way” to where He was going to prepare a place for them. When His disciple, Thomas, said he didn’t know the “way”, we have Jesus confirming that He was the “way”, the “truth” and the “life”.
When Thomas said he didn’t know the way to where Jesus was going, Jesus could have just said the He was the “way”. Why did He add that He was also the “truth” and the “life”?
When we talk about how to get from one place to another, we older people would usually reference a physical map to find a way. Now we would reference a GPS based app on a phone or one provided by our vehicle. It basically gives impersonal directions.
But when Jesus says He is the way, He is saying come with me and I will take you along the way. So instead of getting on the highway and just going as fast as possible from A to B, Jesus offers us the scenic route where we experience life with Him while we journey from today to the last day of our life on this earth. Jesus is there with us as we face challenges and obstacles along the way. He is also there as He takes us on little side excursions to grow in knowing Him and learning His truths. The mental picture I have here is Jesus sitting with His disciples in a field of wild flowers while He teaches them and tells them how to live life as His disciples.
Prayer: Dear brother Jesus, thank You for not only showing us the way, but going with us on the way, to encourage and support us on our life’s journey. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
TO PONDER
Psalm 37 is a list of contrasts between those who commit themselves to following God’s leading in their lives and those who think that they have it all under control themselves. But verse 23 takes it beyond just following God’s leading, but actually delighting in God. I felt challenged by what this actually meant so went off to do some research.
To stay healthy in my retirement, I have organised a roughly hour‑long exercise regime for each morning. I don’t particularly enjoy it, but I do it to stay healthy. I have also included a time of prayer and bible reading into my morning schedule to stay healthy spiritually. I generally don’t approach this spiritual exercise time with much more enthusiasm than my physical exercise time. For both of these there is a sense that if I don’t do them I will deteriorate in my physical and spiritual health.
A few weeks ago, independently of writing this devotion, God challenged me to look on our times together with more joy and anticipation. When thinking about this, I realised that I mostly came away from my times spent with God spiritually uplifted, and sometimes almost blown away by what God had revealed to me during our times together. Yet I had still seemed to sometimes have to push myself to get started. So, I prayed about my attitude and asked God to help me look forward to our times together as a special time of fellowship. I guess a bit like meeting up with a best friend over a favourite drink.
I also think back to a time when our grandchildren were much younger. Whenever we went to visit, they would come running, first to get a big hug and then to tell us the exciting things happening in their lives. I’m sure this is more like the relationship our Heavenly Father wants to have with us, one that is so enjoyable that we look forward to our times together with great anticipation.
Having this sort of relationship with the Heavenly Family (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) will change our attitudes to a lot of things and will align us more closely with God’s plans for our lives, not reluctantly but with joyful anticipation of how God will be using us to share His love to others.
Prayer: Heavenly Family, we apologise to You for the low expectations we often have about the times we spend with You. Thank You for the wonderful surprises You give us when we do put the effort into finding time to be with You. Please help us to look forward with anticipation of the times we dedicate to spending with You. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (New Living Translation)
TO PONDER
Our devotions this week are really trying to impress to us that God has plans for our lives, and He is inviting us to come to Him and learn what those plans are. We do have to acknowledge, however, there is a lot of advice flooding our lives, suggesting how we can find the fulfilment and purpose we crave. An immediate example. I have a website open on my computer while writing this devotion. It’s called Bible Gateway and I use it to look up different bible translations for the text of the day. This website also uses adverts by Google to help cover the costs of providing the website. And just now I see, “Explore the world freely without any restrictions, do whatever you like.” Now I am not suggesting in any way that this advertisement is evil – it was just advertising a travel website, but it is an example of the myriad suggestions on how to make sure we don’t miss out on the enjoyment of our lives. We even have an acronym for it: FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out.
I can really relate to this. Due to restrictions placed on what our bodies can cope with because of age and medical issues, Diane and I are somewhat restricted by how much we can travel. In our retirement village, we regularly hear from other residents about the wonderful experiences they have just had during some recent travels. There is a real temptation to feel jealous.
However, God is opening opportunities for both of us to be involved in activities that bring blessings to others as well as being blessed ourselves.
It comes down to trusting God’s love for us and trusting that He knows what is best for us at this point in our lives. We can concentrate on feeling disappointment over what we are missing out on or we can surrender ourselves into God’s plans for us and experience the joy and fulfilment He provides us from going with Him where He calls us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You know what is best for me (well You did create me). I want to grow in trusting Your purpose for me. Thank You for the wonderful sense of peace and fulfilment You give us as we answer Your call to go with You in living out Your love to others. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
TO PONDER
If you get to read the whole of chapter 30 of Isaiah, it begins with God chastising the Israelites for going to Egypt for a defense alliance to protect them from the Assyrians, under Sennacherib, who were threatening the Israelites. God, through Isaiah, warns the Israelites that the Egyptians will not come to the rescue. Instead, they should have relied on their God, Yahweh, to protect them. So, the Israelites will suffer the consequences of their rejection of God’s plans and purposes for them. However, in His great love for them, He will be there to pick them up from the mess they have got themselves into, when they acknowledge their mistake in rejecting God’s guidance.
Then God, through Isaiah (from verse 19), describes the new relationship the Israelites will have with their God, when He comes to be close to them. They will see Him at work in their lives and hear His guidance in how to live their lives. Although we have to be careful in how we interpret prophecy, I can clearly hear parts of this prophecy being fulfilled by Jesus and the work of Holy Spirit in our lives today.
When we face challenges in our lives, God is inviting His children to come to their Heavenly Father who loves them dearly and to seek His advice on how to respond, so that they respond in a way that demonstrates that God’s ways bring healing and renewal and also demonstrate His love and commitment to all people.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your love and commitment to us. Please help us to take time to spend with You so that we can learn from You how to grow as Your children and live out the reality of being Your children. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
TO PONDER
One of the things that really impresses me about King David, who wrote this psalm, is his amazing understanding of God’s grace and the relationship God wanted to have with him. David was no saint and he was well aware of his failings. He had learned through his life that when he gave in to living to please himself things would invariably go wrong and people would suffer – both others and himself. But he also experienced wonderful joy, peace and fulfilment when he gave himself over to God’s purposes for him. David therefore wanted to know more and more, what God’s purposes were – for all people in general, but also specifically for himself.
I would like to share a few verses from further down in the psalm (vs 8 to 11):
"Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great."
Can I suggest that getting to know God’s “ways” for our lives is going to take a little effort. Have you ever had the experience of trying to explain something a little complicated to someone, but they were distracted either by something happening nearby or by something they were doing that they thought was more important. You were wasting your time unless that person gave you their full attention. I suspect that God feels the same frustration with us when trying to get his message through to us. However, His love for us is so great that He never gives up (which I am sure we would do rather quickly).
So, if we are to get to know God’s plans and purposes for us, we are going to have to take time out from our busy lives and spend time sitting at Jesus’s feet (or maybe a better illustration would be sitting in a quiet corner with Jesus while we shared a coffee (or our favourite drink) together). And there would have to be no distractions – our full attention would be on the wonderful spiritual food being provided by Jesus.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we often pray to You asking for Your guidance for ourselves, our families and our communities, and then run off to busy ourselves with our lives and not give You the time to reveal your answers to us. We apologise and ask for Your help in setting aside regular time to spend with You to be fed Your spiritual food. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
So be very careful to love the Lord your God.
TO PONDER
How do you understand what is here Joshua’s directive to the people, to be very careful to love Yahweh, their God? The directive from God himself was to (see Deuteronomy 6:5): “Love Yahweh (the LORD), your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”.
Do we see this love as similar to the love between parents and children, or between marriage partners? Or maybe similar to the commitment we have for a philosophy or life style or our social tribe? Or even as basic as wearing the brand, “Christian”?
When we delve into what the Israelites understood by this directive to love their God with heart, soul and strength, we discover:
Loving our God with all our heart means aligning our minds, plans and desires with His;
Loving our God with all our soul means surrendering our very existence and life source to Him; and
Loving our God with all our strength means surrendering all our resources – wealth, physical energy and mental ability – into the service of our God.
Ooh, that does sound a bit heavy.
But in our Loving Heavenly Father asking this of us, He is not trying to put a straight jacket on us so as to spoil our enjoyment of life, but to get us to enjoy life as He designed us to live, and that is as His dearly loved children enjoying the many blessings He has given us.
Maybe one example will help. You may have seen on TV, shows where a famous person gets a roasting. Usually, these shows are quite entertaining for those watching, but the jokes can be very hurtful to the person being roasted, even though they usually act as if they are also enjoying the experience. Our society generally sees this as acceptable sport. But if we surrender our lives in love to our God, we are changed by Him to only ever seek to build up and encourage others and not find fault with them.
It is interesting that if we commit ourselves to following this first and greatest commandment, it automatically follows that we will keep the second greatest commandment, to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Prayer: Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for designing us for relationship with you as Your dearly loved children. And thank You for the way Holy Spirit is working in our lives to change us so that our lives reflect Your love to us and the whole world. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping