“Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say…”
TO PONDER:
I’m sure we’ve all boasted or bragged at some time during our lives about what we’ve done, where we’ve been, about our children or grandchildren and so it goes on. And yes, we’ve probably suffered regret and accusations over some of the decisions we’ve made, but if we compare our journey to Paul’s we should realise ours has been like a walk in the park on a quite windy day.
Remember that Paul suffered continually – he was imprisoned, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, faced opposition, accused of many different things. Even going through all these trials, Paul only boasted about one thing. It wasn’t about the good work he had done, he didn’t need or want to be placed on a pedestal … the only thing he mentioned was his weakness (2 Cor 12:5) that helped him to be humble and be content in all things, “the thorn in his side” (2 Cor 12:7).
I oft times think of the journey I’ve travelled with God by my side when I read this verse. He has always gone before me, opened the doors that were meant to be opened and closed those that needed to be closed … even though I had doubts about some (human nature). He has placed me in places I never even thought would be possible in my journey, the things I witnessed, the good and the bad, the love and acceptance, and the accusations.
Just like Paul, none of us need to be placed on a pedestal. What we do when we’re out there doing what He has commissioned us to do; it should be for His glory not ours. I know without a doubt that all I’ve accomplished would not have been possible without Him working through me.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father. I just want to thank you for the journey I’ve travelled so far with you as my strength, my guide, my rod and my staff, my healer, my friend and Abba Father. I thank You that you never gave up on me or left me to journey on my own, that you led the way, always. I pray Lord that I always remember that whatever I do, or when I speak of the adventures we’ve had together, that I never lose that humbleness and that I always give you the Glory. AMEN
Today's devotion written by Noeline Brock, LifeWay Online
But he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” Therefore, I will boast even more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
TO PONDER:
When I was in Timor Leste for a while, the team decided they wanted to climb the “hill” at Culuhun Dili to see The Christo Rei of Dili (giant statue of Jesus Christ standing on a world globe 27 metres tall). It took about 15-20 minutes to get there (LOL). Along with the extreme heat and the path which was steep with a mix of (500-600) concrete steps and steep inclines between, once you got past the first set of steps. By the time I struggled to get to the top, embarrassed, most of my strength had been sapped out and I was quite week and could hardly breathe. Well, that (young) team didn’t try to belittle me, and point out how weak I was, but they showed me so much encouragement and grace in my weakness, just as God does with us. By God’s grace I made it to the top … when I am weak, then I am strong … with their encouragement and God’s grace I made it.
We need to remember these words in our lives. They may sound so far off the board to some, but joy in suffering and peace beyond our ability to fully understand and absorb, do come with His grace when we trust and believe in him.
Grace – His grace is sufficient for us in our weakness. Just reflect on ways God has shown you His grace and truth in your life.
PRAYER: Dear Lord I have so much to be grateful for. Your grace that has seen me through struggles over the years, and yet even in my doubting you never let me down, you never walked away. I ask that you continue to open my eyes and help me understand how to be content in any situation. Lord without you and your grace, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I ask you Lord to help me to live the way you lived so that others can see you in my life. Your grace is certainly sufficient for me. AMEN
Today's devotion written by Noeline Brock, LifeWay Online
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
TO PONDER
In his introduction in his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul explains that he has long wanted to visit them and share the Good News with them. But since he has not been able to visit them, he uses his letter to achieve that purpose. And we have been blessed by having this letter handed down to us since it provides a clear presentation of what it means to be a son or daughter of Father God, to be a brother or sister of Jesus and to be infused with Holy Spirit to guide us in living as God’s children.
Paul saw that this Good News was so important for everyone to know that he took every opportunity God gave him to share it. When we read the Acts of the Apostles, we see that Paul was guided by Holy Spirit in how and when he shared this good news, but he was always sensitive to the people he was sharing it with in how he presented it. But Paul was never thinking about himself and any impact on himself as a result of answering God’s call to share the good news. His focus was on those he was sharing with and on the guidance of Holy Spirit in what to say and how to say it.
Notice, however, it was not Paul’s message in itself that people responded to, but the power of God, delivered through Holy Spirit, that brough people to acknowledge that they could not, by themselves, solve their problems and bring peace into their lives, but that they needed the transforming power from God to bring them the peace and healing they sought.
When God brings people into our lives that have issues (and don’t we all), we can entrust them into God’s care while we ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance in how to be the expression of God’s love to them. It is very unlikely we have any practical answers for their specific needs, but we can point them to the One who does have all the answers. And then we can let Holy Spirit do His on‑going work, which may or may not still involve us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You have adopted me into Your Family and invited me to be part of Your work of bringing more people into Your Family. Thank You that You have not given me the responsibility of “converting” anyone, that being the responsibility of Holy Spirit. However, I surrender all I am to You for You to use us as the human voice, hands and feet to express Your love to those Holy Spirit is working with. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?
TO PONDER
Psalm 27 is a confession of King David’s faith that he is in God’s care and protection. As we read the biblical books of Samuel and the Psalms, we see that this is a characteristic of David through all of his life, from a young lad caring for his father’s sheep, to working for King Saul and then being hunted by King Saul and finally becoming King himself.
David wasn’t perfect (he was guilty of adultery and murder and seeking to take credit himself for what God had achieved for him), but he always acknowledged his failures and his complete dependence on God.
In this psalm, David talks about God being his light and this light taking away his fears. I’ve experienced total darkness a few times in my life. The scariest one was in an underground city in Cappadocia during a holiday in Türkiye. When the tour guide turned the lights out, it was absolute darkness, and there is no way I would attempt to move an inch (or cm) since I didn’t know what I would bump into. And, of course, if the lights didn’t come back on, there was the very scary prospect of trying to find my way out of there, with tunnels going off in all directions, and it being very easy to lose one’s sense of direction. And I did feel a sense of panic.
Coming back to seeing God as providing light, there are two aspects of this: the light to guide us out of difficult situations; and the light to guide us as we follow the leading of Holy Spirit in doing what God is calling us to do. In many of the psalms, David addresses this first aspect of God’s light, guiding and protecting him when he is being attacked in many different ways.
But, in our theme for this week, we are focusing more on the light God provides us to see the way forward as we follow the leading of Holy Spirit. Many of us would like God to shine His light to illuminate the future so that we could see the big picture of where He is leading us, but I suspect that if we saw it, it would scare the daylights out of us and we would curl up into a foetal position in absolute fear. Rather, our Heavenly Family wants us to learn to trust Their love and commitment to us, so the light They often provide is just for the few steps ahead so we can go safely forward, guided by Holy Spirit beside us, encouraging and guiding us along the way. We end up getting to where God is leading us, without being frightened or distracted by what is happening around us.
Prayer: Heavenly Family, thank You for all the ways You reveal Your truths and purpose for our lives. Thank You that Holy Spirit is always providing the light to illuminate the paths You are guiding us in taking. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
TO PONDER
Let’s visualise the background to today’s reading. Over a million Israelites are camped on the eastern side of the Jordan river. 40 years earlier they had left Egypt where they had been living as slaves, and they had spent the intervening years wandering through the deserts in the Sinai Peninsula. Now they were going to be led by Joshua across the Jordan to take over the land promised to Abraham and his descendants. However, this land was occupied by fierce warlike people living in heavily fortified cities. So not a simple task for these desert nomads.
One of the first challenges for us with this picture, is the idea of the Israelites attacking the current residents of Canaan without provocation. They were about to begin a program of ethnic cleansing. I wouldn’t be surprised if you found this clashing with your 21st century sensibilities. However, there are two things to remember. The Canaanites, and the other tribes living in Canaan, had become quite degenerate and God had decided to wipe them out; and the task given to the Israelites was directed by God Himself and it wasn’t something the Israelites decided by themselves to do. In fact, they were quite frightened by the prospect of what God was leading them to do.
Now, I am not suggesting in any way that God is directing any nation today to practice ethnic cleansing on any other nation. And the love that Jesus lived and showed guides us in loving our enemies and working to draw all people into He saving love. But some of the situations God may be inviting us to be involved in may be just as scary to us as for the Israelites about to enter Canaan.
Going back to the Israelites, their first battle was at Jerico, where God did most of the fighting. Joshua led the soldiers around the walls of the city for 7 days at which time the walls of the city fell down and the inhabitants of the city were easily defeated.
God helps us in the battles we face in much the same way. He fights the battles, but asks us to turn up and do uncomplicated things such as marching around the walls of the city for 7 days.
Another way we can look at what God is asking us to do is like being asked to deliver a valuable gift to someone. The task is not hard, but the blessing to the recipient may be awesome, and we have been there to see the blessing and healing brought to someone by the amazing love and grace of God.
Prayer: Heavenly Family, You have assured us that You will never ask us to do something You haven’t already equipped us to do. Please help us to believe this promise whenever You call us to go with You and be part of the work of Your Family. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
TO PONDER
If you have read The Chronicles of Narnia, you will be familiar with Aslan, the central lion figure. After the Pevensie children enter Narnia and go exploring, they meet all sorts of characters, and eventually have to confront Aslan. In attempting to learn more about Aslan, before they actually meet him, they ask Mr Beaver if Aslan is safe. The response is: "Safe? "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”
In thinking about C. S. Lewis’s selection of a lion figure to represent the Christ‑like figure in the Narnia Chronicles, I must admit I couldn’t think of a more appropriate animal. Lions are not referred to as the “kings” of the jungle for nothing.
In every sense, the members of the Heavenly Family are not “safe”. If you don’t believe me, read the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. God will not let us play games with Him. On the other hand, when we acknowledge the awesomeness of the Heavenly Family, and give them our allegiance, Holy Spirit comes to us to release His awesome power in our lives.
But that power is not to big note ourselves so that we become “influencers” to others, but that power is aimed at changing us to become more like Jesus in the way we relate to others and to the Heavenly Family, AND that power is aimed at enabling us to carry out the tasks God is calling us to (although in reality, it is not us doing anything for God, but God working through us to achieve His will).
The way I like to see how Holy Spirit works through us, is when we go where God calls us to go, listen to what Holy Spirit whispers to us, see what Holy Spirit calls our attention to and respond with what Holy Spirit prompts us to say or do. Then when we see amazing things happen, we can freely acknowledge that it was all the work of Holy Spirit, and we were just there as the instrument He used. Notice that the results are not our responsibility. The Heavenly Family is in full control of the activities we are invited to join in, not as spectators, but more like apprentices, learning how to live and work as children of the Heavenly Family.
Prayer: Heavenly Family, we are almost blown away but the thought of what You are doing in our lives when we surrender ourselves to be used by You in sharing Your love with people desperately in need of experiencing how much You love them. We ask that You would continue to grow us in being receptive to the guidance of Holy Spirit in living as Your children. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
TO PONDER
First, some background to today’s reading. Peter and John had healed a crippled man begging at the temple entrance. When a crowd gathered, Peter and John used the opportunity to present the gospel message to them, but the religious authorities took exception to being accused of murdering Jesus and to the suggestion that they were no longer the authorities on how to have a relationship with God. So they put Peter and John in jail overnight and had a sort of kangaroo court in the morning telling them to stop preaching about Jesus. Beyond that, they were not punished and were allowed to go back to report to their fellow Christians. Following their report, the assembled Christians broke out in prayer, ending with the two verses immediately before our verse for today, above:
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
As these Christians surrendered their goals and dreams to what were God’s goals and plans, and made themselves available for God to use, Holy Spirit honoured their servant attitude and used them to be bold and brave in carrying out God’s plans for them in growing the infant church.
I have experienced it myself, seen it in others and read about it in church histories how Christians have had great ides and bravely sought to carry out their dreams for God, asking God’s blessings on their endeavours, only for the project to end in failure and disappointment. I have also read about amazing productive lives for God, where the people involved relied solely on God’s leading for their activities.
The point I am trying to make is that there is no use being bold and brave doing our thing for God, but if we are doing the tasks God is calling us to do, and we willingly and bravely follow where He leads us, He will obviously bless His own work.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we look into the immediate future, we see many challenges for our personal lives and the life of Your church. But in saying this, we have to confess we are forgetting that You are in complete control. And as Your children, You are always beside us through Holy Spirit to protect, guide and encourage us in boldly following where You are taking us to serve as members of Your Family. Thank You. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
TO PONDER
Our reading for today is from Peter’s appeal to the gathered audience on the first Pentecost, and he is quoting from the prophet Joel (Chapter 2, vs 32). Joel was an Old Testament prophet who lived 100s of years earlier. This excerpt is from the end of a section of prophesy where Joel talks about the future outpouring of Holy Spirit on the people and the signs and wonders which will follow. Part of these signs and wonders will be judgement on those who refuse to accept God’s offer of His restoring work (salvation, if you like). But Peter (and Joel) assure the listeners that the offer of a new relationship with God is freely open to all.
But what does Peter’s instruction to “call on the name of the Lord” mean? First of all, it requires recognition that God is who He claims to be and that He is able to come to our aid. It also involves submission to the answers that God provides, trusting His love for us and that His answers to our cries are the answers we need to accept. We keep coming back to the fact that God created this vast universe and the intricate complexities of life and He knows what is best for us. Add to that, the relationship he wants to have with us is based on His sacrificial love for us, demonstrated in the life of His Son Jesus.
When we “call on the name of the Lord”, we are committing ourselves into a personal relationship with the Heavenly Family, and to be guided by that Family in how we live our lives and relate to one another. And, because we are committed to grow in that relationship, we will set aside time to hang out with the Heavenly Family to get to know them better. And we will also not be afraid to be involved in the work of the Heavenly Family, knowing that Holy Spirit is always with us to guide us in whatever we are asked to be involved in.
There is another aspect to “calling on the name of the Lord”. There is the sense of publicly declaring which team you are on – like when you go to watch a football game and you wear the colours of your team.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Family, thank You for coming to us when we call out to You. Thank You for all You have done so that we can know the way into Your family, and thank You that Jesus removed all barriers to us coming to You. Thank You now for the Guidance of Your Spirit in how to live as Your children so that our lives demonstrate Your transforming power to others, especially to those who don’t yet know You. Amen
Today's devotion write by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
TO PONDER
One of the things I have been pondering recently is that everything Jesus did or said was part of His Father’s plan and purpose for Him. Never once did Jesus do anything for His own benefit. Nor did He say anything to bring honour or glory to Himself. Remember that Jesus would regularly go off by Himself in the early mornings to plan out His day with His Father – so that He was specifically doing the things that His Father had planned for Him to do in getting His message out about Their purpose in rescuing humanity from its selfish self.
However, His disciples were regularly thinking about themselves and what was in it for them. Jesus regularly had to explain to them that being His followers was about humble service in obedience to God’s will and purpose.
So when the day of Pentecost arrived and Holy Spirit entered the disciples, a change occurred. They lost their self‑centred focus. They were no longer afraid for their own safety and security. They had surrendered their lives to God’s plans and purpose for them. They opened their mouths and let God speak His message through them. And a miracle occurred in that they were speaking in languages that they had never spoken before.
One point we can take from this miracle is, it wasn’t to give any honour or glory to the disciples, but showed how God could used low class, despised people (and Galileans at that), without any theological training, to be the means of bringing God’s message to others. In effect, God is perfectly able to use us, in spite of our insecurities, to bring His saving message to others.
As we grow in our relationship with the Heavenly Family, we grow in trusting God’s promises that Holy Spirit is always with us and guiding us in achieving God’s plans for us. We learn to let go of all the things we are afraid will go wrong, and we learn to let go of our own superior ideas in how God should be working in our lives, and we come to experience the excitement and joy of seeing God working through us to reach others. And then we spend time in praising God for what He has done so that we don’t get puffed up with pride by what we just did.
Prayer: Heavenly Family, thank You all for what You are doing to grow me in trusting Your love and promises so that Holy Spirit can live out Your love for others through me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping