I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.
TO PONDER
They say diamonds are a girl's best friend and this verse seems to suggest there is something to that saying. There is something about getting dressed up, putting on your best clothes and going out into the world.
This verse specifically talks about dressing for a wedding. I remember the day I married my lovely wife. I had a casual job at Myer at the time, as we were both just finishing our teaching degrees. I worked in the menswear department and had helped to size and fit a number of wedding parties who had hired their suits from the formal hire company that leased a space on the Myer menswear floor. I remember the buzz of excitement as the group of mates would come in, point out which one of them was getting married and then, as Australians tend to do, start making all sorts of jokes at his expense to communicate their affection for him. I remember even more specifically when it was me turning up with my mates.
I had never felt so proud, happy, excited or terrified to be standing in the church that Saturday afternoon in the fancy suit that had been given to me for that special day. (I imagine it is the same for brides in their wedding dresses).
That feeling (for those of you who have experienced it) is something like what I think we should feel when we remember that we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. The only difference being that it is not just for a special occasion. Jesus wants us to be clothed in his righteousness, every day. Jesus wants to send us out as the best dressed people in all the Land because he wants people to see how much he loves us, to know how much he has done for us, and to see what a difference he makes in our lives.
We should be dressed like that every day, full of the same kind of joy and pride a bride or groom takes on their wedding day,' dressed to the nines'. That's the kind of joy Jesus wants us to have everyday.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, sometimes it is hard not to feel like I am wearing anything but dirty rags. Please help me to be aware of your righteousness and salvation which you give me to wear each day. Help me not to leave the house without being conscious of the fact that you have clothed me in everything I need to face the day with Joy and confidence. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
TO PONDER
I will always remember the adage that was shared with me by almost every lecturer I had as I studied my education degree; you probably know it yourself, "those who can't do, teach". It always bothered me that I might be expected to ask students to do something that I myself may not be able to do. It probably didn't happen so often as a teacher but it happens all the time now that I am a pastor.
This verse from Psalm 16 is a challenge to all of us. It say's, "God will show us the way of life and grant us the joy of his presence and the pleasures of living with him forever."
He has shown us all of that in Jesus. Yet how often do we want to try and find those things for ourselves. We try to decide and plan how our lives will play out and usually only get ourselves stressed out and anxious when our plans go off the rails. We look for joy in so many other things that are not God, our relationships with others, parties, travel, shopping, the list is endless. We try to earn our way into God's presence by our good behaviour or good works and yet don't want to live with him in every moment, especially those moments when our sinful and selfish desires get the better of us.
I can show you where the Bible says that all this comes from God. I can tell you that there is nothing any of us can do to earn or deserve any of this. I can tell you (and already have) that all these things come from Christ who was born to us at Christmas; but just like the adage says, 'Those who can't do, teach'. I would not want anyone to think for a second that I find this easy to do. I know I am encouraging and asking you to do something that I myself often fail at. But the real joy comes at times like this when we can be reminded that it does not rely on us, but that all we need is found in Jesus, the Son of God, born to us At Christmas.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Please help me to start living with you forever now. Help me not to wait until I die to begin my eternal life with you. Please help me to be aware of your presence with me in every season and to live in the joy of knowing your presence with me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
TO PONDER
Sometimes keeping the joy alive from a special event can be a challenge. We take photos and videos and maybe take the time to look back at them and it reminds us of the joy we experienced but it doesn't really bring the joy back.
The Israelites, particularly in the Old Testament, had a kind of different thinking about participating in these kinds of festivals and commemorations. The Passover meal for example, is a meal of remembering what God did to rescue the people from slavery in Egypt, but it is also a kind of active participation in the events of that first passover. That in participating in this meal, God's judgement will passover their houses also.
This is something like what Holy Communion should be for Christians today. It's a way of keeping the joy alive in our lives every week when we once again receive and participate in Christ's sacrifice for us as we receive his body and blood in the bred and wine of Holy Communion. We remember, but we also participate and are joined with him in his death so that we might also be joined to him in his resurrection life. That's a life of joy for every day, so let's get living.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Thank you that you have given yourself for me and also given a meal to commemorate and participate in your death and resurrection. Help me to live each day in the joy and hope of your resurrection live and to always know that you are with me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
TO PONDER
Is your following Jesus bringing you joy? I don't mean an absence of difficulty or challenges, Jesus didn't say that would happen, in fact he told his disciples to expect almost the opposite. But do you find following Jesus a joy? If you find it's more of a burden, then you might not be following Jesus.
Many people today, including many Christians, think that following Jesus is about following a bunch of rules and regulations and performing the right rituals and services, having the right theology or belonging to the right 'group' of Christians. Those things all have to do with following a religion and sometimes, only sometimes do they overlap with actually following Jesus.
Following Jesus means loving others, even when it hurts. Following Jesus means having him beside you as your best friend and supported at every moment of every day, despite the circumstances. Following Jesus means listening to him and trusting that when he says we should do something that it is for our good that we do it. Loving others, caring for neighbours, reading your Bible, praying to the Lord, all these things - even when we fins them difficult or challenging are the things that Jesus says can bring us joy. They bring us joy because when we do them we know we are following Jesus and we know he is with us. There is no room for doubt or guilt, because we are walking in his footsteps so there is no room for the enemy t accuse or confuse us off the path, because we are firmly planted in Christ who steps the path out for us.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to follow you every step of every day. Today when the hard or challenging steps come, take my hand and lead me so that there is no room for the enemy to snatch me from you hand or lead me off your path. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.
TO PONDER
If you were in church at Newcastle yesterday you would have heard me say this but I'll say it again for the benefit of all our other devotion readers, "God was pleased to be born as the baby Jesus".
I don't think many people often hear or read this part of the introduction of Paul's letter to the Colossians. If they did, I think we would make much more of this tiny little verse and the reason for me thinking that is simply this, I have always been led to believe that God did this because he had to, he had no other choice, this was the only way that he could save us. Much of that might be true and yet God did have a choice and it pleased him to make this one. To be born as a human baby and to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus so that he could purchase us as his own Christmas present.
So many Christmas presents each year get returned or regifted so that people can actually use the refund or store credit to purchase something they actually want. God gave us everything He had, so that we could be his. We are what he wanted for Christmas. Isn't that an incredible thing to consider?!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you gave everything to make me yours. May my life continue to be one that pleases you because of your son Jesus. Help me to always follow him and to know every day that I am yours. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Long ago, God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.
TO PONDER
There are a few people whose voices I recognise almost instantly; my wife, my children, my mum. When they call me on the phone, I don't need to ask who it is, their voice gives them away.
Jesus once said to his disciples and those gathered with them, "I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep listen to my voice."
Our verse today is concerned about how God communicates or speaks to us. Traditionally, we would say he speaks through his Word, the Bible and he absolutely does. But Jesus is the Word made flesh, God's powerful and creative word in human form, surely he is not limited or contained to just a book. The writer of Hebrews suggests that God has spoken in various ways throughout history. And He still speaks in various ways today.
Our verse says, 'through the Son he created the universe'. I know many people who say they have had profound experiences of God while enjoying his creation. I know in the following weeks, many of us will be enjoying the wonders of God's creation during the Australian Summer. Whether it's the power of the waves crashing on the shore at the beach, the colours of a summer sunset, a walk in the rainforest or some other natural wonder. Why not keep your ears open and see if you can recognise God speaking to you as you enjoy the world he created. (but don't stop reading your Bible!!!)
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You created all good things. As I enjoy the good gifts of your world over this time of summer and holidays and New Years celebrations, help me to hear your love expressed to me in each of these good gifts. May I help point out your goodness to others. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
TO PONDER
The feet were important. ‘Shoes of peace’ Paul calls them in the armour of God. Transport in Jesus days was mainly Shank’s Pony. (Now, all those under 50 years of age will need to look up Shanks Pony).
And after a day or so of walking, travelling from town to town, the feet needed a good wash and massage.
Our message (after the massage) is to share the good news. Now. Often. Immediately. We are the privileged ones, who have been sent. LifeWay worship finishes the service with it every week. Send us, Lord. Get our feet going. Give us the impetus to preach to those who haven’t heard the news of Christmas – and there are many who have not!
A colleague in a rural congregation wondered why one of their new members didn’t worship over the Christmas period. When they contacted him, he said that he thought, like many businesses, the church closed over Christmas. He didn’t link the Christmas message with the message about Jesus he heard on Sundays. He was wondering what Jesus has to do with Christmas. We have work to do people!
People like him, will welcome your preaching, will rejoice at your witness, and love your enthusiasm…smelly feet or not.
PRAYER:We don’t often get the preaching bit right Lord, so give us the right words to say, especially at this time when many have never heard the real Christmas story. Give us boldness to tell others the good news we know! Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
TO PONDER
What’s the role of an ambassador? An ambassador is a high-ranking diplomatic representative who is appointed by a country's government to represent their interests in a foreign country. The primary role of an ambassador is to establish and maintain diplomatic relations between the two countries, facilitate trade and commerce, and promote cultural and educational exchange programs. Thanks, Google for your wordy definition! Allow me to put it in the vernacular.
An ambassador helps keep the peace. Our peace-loving God would like us to do the same. When there is conflict, show peace. When there is anger, be calm. When there are hurtful words, be prepared to step in and stop them. When the mood is dark, let us shine our Jesus lights to brighten things. When there's sadness, bring comfort and joy. When there is dislike, turn it into respect.
So the role of a Christian ambassador is so much more, and we get a chance to do that, not just this Christmas season, but every day of our lives.
PRAYER: Make us Father, a channel of your peace. Use us to help solve some of the terrible problems the world has. Give us the strength to tackle the negative thoughts the world leads us on. Guide us to take the straight paths, and not wander from you or your word. Bless our lives and time and journey on this earth. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
TO PONDER
Our reading is from John. An old John when this was written. The only disciple, according to tradition, that died a natural death. John was possibly fifteen years old when he began to follow Jesus. He would have been in his teens when he became a disciple. And John wrote this gospel, well after the other three were written, when he was old, probably over eighty five years old. This was unique especially as the life-expectancy was under 40.
So when John has recorded Jesus telling him to let other people know about Him, because he’s been there from the start – it is accurate! John was there.
When you were baptised, and for many it was as a baby, Jesus was with you at the start too. Jesus has been with you from the beginning. Sometimes we forget that, or disregard it, or don’t care, or couldn’t be bothered, or don’t find the space or time to let Jesus get a look-in. But Jesus continues to care about us no matter what. Jesus continues to love us no matter what. Jesus continues to get us ready (usually via others) to spend eternity with him.
The Christmas season, which goes until January 6, is an ideal time to hear the words of Jesus, to hear other writers testify about him, and to listen out for your name to be called again and again.
PRAYER :Thank you, Lord, for those writers who have told your story to us. Thank you for the way in which your story becomes our story. Thank you for the printers that can bring your story to us in many and varied forms. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping.