And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
TO PONDER
Remember, but not as the world does. Remembrance in worship and especially during Holy Communion is not merely remembering the story of Easter. The Hebrew notion of remembering, that Jesus is speaking of, is to boldly claim that story as our own, and remember my part in it. Sinner to saintly disciple.
It’s also the story of the cosmos and everything in it. We remember that it is the story of God’s undying love for us and the entire creation. It’s the story of God redeeming us all, conquering death and evil and saving us for a life with meaning and purpose.
This is the ‘why’ of baptism. Through water and the Word, Jesus’ story becomes our story too. Remember Jesus body broken for you, and claim His story as your own every day, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER
I thank and praise you Lord Jesus for bringing me into your life so that I may have such a heroic story for my own. I thank you Father, that you sent your Son to find and retore me. I Thank you Holy Spirit that you are equipping me, through Word, Sacrament, and service, to be an important part of this story, may I serve in such a way as to bring others into your story too, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen
Today's devotion written by David Schupann, LifeWay Illawarra Pastor
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
TO PONDER
Pious, false humility comes easily. What is necessary for a full life, however, is the discipline of genuine humility, which is the giving of self completely, even to menial service. It is the gentle and willing acceptance of service to God and his creation.
In humility, Jesus does as his Father directs him, commissioned to act on the Father’s behalf, but the authority of God and the power exercised within that authority has its foundation in humility, in the washing of feet.
As with Jesus, we too are commissioned to do the things Jesus did. Most, recoil from any notion that God would use us to love people in those ways, because we don’t believe we have the capacity. We don’t. I can’t heal myself, why would I think I could heal someone else? Yet, this is the exact commissioning we received in baptism, ‘Go. Therefore’. I can’t go in my own strength to speak God’s Word or perform signs and wonders. But with Jesus, and in genuine humility, anything is possible.
PRAYER
Father, grant me the humility to accept that as God, you can do anything through me. That with you, all things are possible, even the redemption of my ego and the rebuilding of your Church. Here I am Lord, send me. Amen.
Today's devotion written by David Schupann, LifeWay Illawarra Pastor
Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
TO PONDER
The only authority that God shares, is for serving lovingly. The authority of God is marked by compassion, wisdom, and service. Those who exercise authority to demand servitude, gratitude and loyalty from others are tyrants, and have made themselves gods who rule over those around them. Today, we call this abuse because that’s what it is and that’s how it’s experienced.
This kind of tyranny can be experienced from governments and corporations, at home and in the church. Exploiting the trust that is invested in genuine authority can make tyrants of husbands and wives, parents exercising tyranny over their children, and pastors misusing power and authority for their own benefits.
The gift of authoritative, loving service that has been passed to us, comes from Jesus via the cross. Its benefits are humility in mutual submission, respect, and honour. Love in action.
PRAYER
Father grant that I may not seek to be served so much as to be your servant in your world. Amen
Todays devotion written by David Schupann, LifeWay Illawarra Pastor
Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
TO PONDER
The Jewish elite were trying to kill Jesus, but the oppressed Jewish working class hung on his every word.
The elite wanting nothing from Jesus other than for him to go away and leave the crowds adulation for them.
Jesus wanted none of the adulation but simply wanted to ‘bring Good News of great joy for all people’ (Lk. 1:10). The people hung off every word of his Good News, en-joying what they were receiving.
‘A people walking in darkness had seen a great light’ (Matt. 4.16). While the leaders of the Sanhedrin were planning Jesus’ death, Jesus was giving life to all those who came seeking it. There is light and life, it seems, in Jesus words.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, may the words of your mouth bring light and life through the still quiet meditations of my heart, as I hang on every word, again today. Amen
Today's devotion written by David Schupann, LifeWay Illawarra Pastor
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
TO PONDER
We have an advantage here. We read this with both the benefit of a hindsight provided by St. Luke, and from this side of the crucifixion. The Bible records who Jesus really is; God’s Messiah, Son of God, like all the kings of Israel before him. But we know something the Palm Sunday crowd didn’t. Jesus is YAHWEH, he is God from the beginning. The crowd of disciples don’t work that out until after his resurrection. Even so, our faith often falls short of acknowledging Jesus’ divinity.
We have the knowledge stored up for a Sunday School response when queried, but do we truly know the divine Son of God, or are we here for the loaves and fishes, and the signs and wonders just like that ancient crowds. Food and wonders will pass away, as they are for this life only. A friendship with Jesus is for eternity. Be thankful for food and miracles but live to praise and glorify the Saviour and learn to know him for who he is, not only for what he gives.
PRAYER
We praise and glorify your holy name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We thank you for all that you provide to keep body and soul together, including the signs and wonders that raise our spirits and encourage our hope in what you are yet to do. Increase our intimacy with you Jesus, so that we may be thankful for you, the giver and not merely the gifts alone. Amen
Today's devotion written by David Schupann, LifeWay Illawarra Pastor
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
TO PONDER
Sometimes in our walk with Jesus we can feel we are not doing enough, not sharing enough, not being generous enough, and a whole host of other things. Where does this idea come from? What is enough? For sure we can all always grow in our relationship with Jesus, and God constantly puts people in our lives who need to hear the truth of His love and grace and forgiveness, but this verse reminds us that we don’t actually do the work. We need to remember that we are in partnership with Jesus, as we are only called to do our part! It is not our job to grow the seed. This verse also reminds us that we are not supposed to do this work alone. Paul did his part, and then Apollos continued it. We are to work together, performing the unique tasks God has called each of us to, and then allow him to grow his garden!
PRAYER
God of all creation, you called all things into being and created the entire universe. Please help me to remember that when it comes to causing things to grow, I am simply a tool in your hands. Help me to work joyfully in your harvest field, free from the burden of having to 'make' things grow. Help me to simply relish the opportunity of being used by you in the process. Amen
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay youth and family ministry co-ordinator.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
TO PONDER
Have you ever been fruit picking? I remember as a child, climbing up plum and apricot trees to pick fruit for my grandmother to make jam! The thing about fruit is, it’s only good to you once you pick it. Fruit left on the tree doesn’t remain good, it over-ripens and goes bad. When we received the Holy Spirit we also received all the gifts. If you read this list again, I am sure there are some (perhaps many) there that you would like to have more of in your life! The truth is we have access to this fruit, the orchard goes with us through life, we just have to reach and pick the fruit! So, if you see an area of your life where you are in need of some fruit, call out to the Holy Spirit and receive!
PRAYER
Holy Spirit of God, thank you for grafting me to Jesus the true vine. Please continue to work on me, and in me, so that my life might produce even more fruit and even more people be drawn into the kingdom of Heaven. Amen
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay youth and family ministry co-ordinator.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot
TO PONDER
There are some things in life that we like to talk about. Exciting new beginnings, like a new job, new house, new baby or marriage. There are other things we don’t like to talk about, like deaths, endings of friendships, or people moving away. Endings are often hard and accompanied by grief and loss. Beginnings are exciting, they have hope and promise. Ecclesiastes teaches us that there is need for both though. There is a time for everything! Sometimes things must come to end. Perhaps because they have run their course and achieved their purpose. Perhaps people or resources need to be released to begin something new. When we move into what God has for us, the truth is that endings are not truly the end, they are the beginning of something new.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I thank you for all that you have given to me and to my church family. Please help me and my church be prepared to let go and release people into your mission field so that even more people can be blessed by all that you have done for us. Amen
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay youth and family ministry co-ordinator
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
TO PONDER
If you were given $100 today, how would you spend it? What about $1000? What about 1 million? As the amounts got bigger, perhaps your dreams or hopes did too. Perhaps, the more you had the more generous you were willing to be? We might pay a bill with $100, but might buy a car or go on an amazing holiday with friends and family with 1 million. I love the story of the ‘sower’ that Jesus told. He goes out and scatters seed. When I picture this he is carrying a large bag, full of seed and he is grabbing large handfuls and throwing them out, a bit haphazardly. We read that not all of them find the good soil, but that doesn’t stop him from sowing them! He is sowing generously! We can sow into people’s lives by living authentic, faith-filled lives that shine the light of Jesus. God calls us to do this generously, and then to look back in wonder as we see what he grows!!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, please help me to have a generous heart. Help me to be generous with my time and my money and sow into the lives of those around me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay youth and family ministry co-ordinator