Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
TO PONDER
One of the things I think puts many people off about Christian faith and following Jesus, is misunderstanding verses like this one. After all, in the fast paced, super charged, succeeed at any cost, world in which we live today, who wants to be given another burden or another cross to carry?
The problem is simply this, we don't realise that Jesus is not giving us another burden, he's offering to replace the ones that we have burdened ourselves with and replace it with something lighter. That's why in Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest...for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Notice that Jesus doesn't offer a burden free life - he simply offers a lighter burden. Most of us have been carrying around the weight of burdens we were never meant to carry for most of our lives and often don't even realise it. What is silly about that is we often find ourselves running from the cross of Jesus because we are too attached to the other crosses and burdens we have created for ourselves. The burden of supplying the financial and physical needs of our family, the burden of anxiety caused by the constant pressure to perform and move forward in your career, the burden of global conflict, rising cost of living, global warning, poverty, loneliness - many people carry all that on their shoulders, and more, every day but never show it.
Jesus is saying, "Give that to me. Stop running from me and hiding the things that burden you and lay them hear at my feet and simply hold onto me and my cross, because here you will find rest for your burdened soul.
So, I don't know what your day holds in store for you but whatever it is and whatever burdens in brings with it, remember that taking up the cross of Jesus and following him is always the lighter way.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you that you know my burdens and have offered me a simpler way, a way based on trusting you to take care of the things beyond my control and to simply accept the burden of your heart towards those who do not yet know you. Please give me the courage to stop running from that call, to stop chasing after my own needs and agendas and to follow you more closely each day. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
TO PONDER
Have you ever seen a small child try to do a 'magic' trick for an adult. It usually involves trying to quickly (but not subtly) hiding something behind their back to make said object "disappear". Two of my own three children thought they were very clever when they first discovered this trick, and as an encouraging parent, I played along and acted surprised when their magical items mysteriously vanished in that magical place that exists somewhere behind each of us.
Of course I knew the items were still there, and while my kids perhaps thought they had deceived me, the reality was that I knew what was going on.
This example may seem childish, but it's to a lot different from what Jonah did or what many of us do on a daily basis. Problem is, when we try to fool God, the only ones we end up fooling are ourselves. We can decide not to do what God wants, and try to 'make up for it' in whatever way we might imagine, and fool ourselves that our disobedience doesn't really matter because we did all this other stuff - we hide our disobedience behind our 'good works'. But that doesn't fool God.
We convince ourselves, and try to convince God that we are really following him. After all, it doesn't really matter if one step is out of place if we get the other 9 steps right does it???
The reality is that even all our 'good works' don't hide the sin and disobedience from God. We'd be better off facing the reality that we have stopped following Him and asking him to help set us straight than to continue with the charade.
Of course, the other part of this Psalm is also a wonderful blessing - no matter where we find ourselves or how much 'hiding' or 'disappearing' we might have tried, God's presence never leaves us. In fact, he promises that he will never leave or forsake his people. So the only decision then is simply this, keep trying to uphold the illusion or get busy accepting the truth and allowing God to do His work in and through you?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you that there is nowhere I can go to hide from you; no place I can run to escape your presence. I know that doesn't stop me from trying at times. Please help me to remember today, that you are with me and you know my heart. Please give me the courage to drop the facade and to accept the reality that I cannot do this life without you. Help me to embrace the reality of your lordship in my life and life today for your glory. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
TO PONDER
Do you ever find yourself in the same dilemma as Jonah. That situation where you know exactly what God wants you to do but you just don't want to do it?
Whether it's showing generosity to someone in need, forgiving someone who has hurt us, or even just reading your Bible and spending devotional time with God himself, so often we 'know' what we should do but just want to do something else.
I wonder why that is. When I reflect on my own life, it is easy to see that the times I have followed through on what I felt or believed God was asking me to do thinks have turned out well. It's consistently when I choose to do things my own way that life gets a bit more challenging.
It's not always easy to see in the midst of those difficult circumstances, but often those challenges we encounter while doing things our way serve two purposes. Firstly, they serve to remind us that we are not as capable and independent as we think we are, and secondly - if we are open to it - they also serve to lead us back to a deeper trust in God and His way. That's what happened for Jonah, the more he ran from God, the more resistance he encountered until he realised the only option was to turn back to God.
God loves us enough to allow us to choose whether we follow Him or not, but he never stops reminding us that we are better off with him than without him.
Maybe you are already walking closely with God in His way, perhaps you have been wondering why Life is so difficult at the moment and been trying to fix it on your own. Why not let the story of Jonah be a reminder that God is still there for you and inviting you to try doing things His way and see what he can do?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the one who sees and knows all. I know I often believe that I know better and stubbornly insist on doing things my way. Please help me to always remember that you are with me and loving me, even when I do things and I think I am doing them on my own. May I walk with you today in all that do. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
“Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
To Ponder:
I was about 13 yers old when I first felt very strongly that God wanted me to be a pastor. However, I was 35 when I went to ALC. One of reasons was because I felt that I was not ready, there were still things about me that needed addressing. However, as our reading I have come to see that God doesn’t call finished people; he calls people willing to be cleansed and set apart. Being “useful to the Master” begins with turning away from what harms your relationship with God and choosing to live his holiness.
What if God really could use you? This verse says he can, especially when we are willing to let him cleanse us and make us ready. Uour usefulness isn’t about perfection; it’s about being willingess, being available, holy, and set apart for his purposes.
Prayer:
Lord, cleanse me from anything that keeps me from being fully yours. Make me holy and useful to you, prepared for the good work you have planned. Help me to turn away from what harms my heart, so that I may be ready to serve you in any way you choose. Amen.
Today's Devotion is written by Pr Nich, LifeWay Epping
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
To Ponder:
When I was young, I really believed that God wanted me to try harder. Do better. Be more. Most of the time I felt like I just did not have stregnth to do what he was wanting me to do. In our reading for today it struck me that we don’t have to manufacture the strength or even the desire to follow God on our own. God himself is working in us, creating both the will and the ability to fulfill his good purpose.
That means when we feel weak, unmotivated, or unsure, we can still trust that God is at work within us. What if God really could use you? This verse assures us that he not only can, but he is already helping you want to and do what he calls you to.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that you are working in me even when I feel weak or unmotivated. Help me to trust that you are giving me both the desire and the strength to do what pleases you. Shape my will, strengthen my heart, and guide my steps. Let my life reflect your good purpose and your glory. Amen
Today's devotion is written by Pr Nich, LifeWay Epping
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”
To Ponder:
Isaiah’s “yes” to God came after he was confronted with God’s holiness and his own need for cleansing. Isaiah had to be challenged. He needed to understand that what was happening and about to happen was only about him. He was not the centre of the world. That reminds us that God calling is not first about being impressive, but about being willing. God still asks for available hearts, no perfect ones, because there are pefrect hearts not matte what it looks like on the outside. .
What if God really could use you? Isaiah 6:8 shows that when God wants to work in us, the right response is trust, and readiness to go where he sends, because he is the one who cleeanses us and prepares for what he wants us to do..
Prayer:
Lord, open my heart to hear your call. Cleanse me, shape me, and make me willing to obey. Give me courage to say, “Here am I. Send me,” even when I feel unworthy or uncertain. Use my life for your purpose and your glory. Amen.
Today's devotion is written by Pr Nich, LifeWay Epping
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
To Ponder:
One of the things about our Christian faith is that we know that we are not here by accident, and our lives are not meaningless. God has shaped us with purpose, and he has already prepared good works for us to walk in. This means uour identity comes before what we do for God: We are first of all God’s handiwork, as as result of this we are called to live out the purpose he has given us.
What if God really could use you? Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that he not only can, but he already has a plan. Even the small, unseen acts of faithfulness can be part of his greater purpose.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that I am your workmanship and not a mistake. Help me to believe that you have created me with purpose and that you have good works prepared for me to do. Give me eyes to see where you are leading me and a willing heart to walk in it. Use my life for your glory. Amen.
Today’s devotion is written by Pr Nich, LifeWay, Epping
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”
To Ponder:
One thing that I have come to learn after many years of being a Christian is how God does not choose to work in people because they are the most impressive, gifted, or confident. Sometimes we are tempted to think that he does. However, the truth is he often chooses the ones who feel small, overlooked, or don't know what they are doing, so that his power can be seen more clearly. That means our weaknesses are not the end of the story. They may be the very place where God wants to show his strength.
What if God really could use you and me just as we are? Not after we become perfect, but right now, with our doubts, our limits, and our ordinary lives. God delights in using unlikely people so that everyone knows the work belongs to him.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that you see me differently than the world does. Help me to stop focusing on what I lack and start trusting what you can do through me. Use my weakness, my story, and my life for your glory. Teach me to walk in humility and faith, knowing that your power is made perfect in what I cannot do on my own. Amen.
Today’s devotion is written by Pr Nich, LifeWay Epping
“The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’”
To Ponder:
As I read this reading in Judges, I can Identify with Gideon. I know the things in me that I see and know that make me unsituble to do this things that God sks me to. Yet God did not tell Gideon fo focus on these things. He did not tell him to wait until he felt stronger, braver, more prepared, or more ready. Instead, He said, “Go in the strength you have.” Gideon did not have much stregnth at this point. But this did not matter to God.
This means what we have right now, our current abilities, our small faith, even our imperfect courage is enough for God to begin working through us. God does not ask for perfection. He asks for willingness.
Sometimes we delay stepping out because we think we need more: more confidence, more clarity, more resources, more training etc. But God’s starts where we are, trusting that he will provide what we need along the way.
What if the strength we already have, no matter how small is exactly what God wants to use?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to stop waiting for the perfect moment and to trust you with what I have right now. Give me the courage to step out in faith, even when I feel unready. Remind me that you are the one who sends me and strengthens me. Use my life for your purpose, just as I am. Amen
Today’s devotion is written by Pr Nich, LifeWay Epping