My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
TO PONDER
Have you ever struggled to share about your faith because you feel like you don’t ‘know enough’ or don’t have the right words to say? Are you scared of stuffing up, or that you’ll say the wrong thing? I think we have probably all been guilty of that at times.
Today’s verse reminds us that we don’t need to worry about those things. When Paul went to Corinth, he lacked confidence too. In verse 3 we read ‘I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.’But that didn’t matter. Paul presented the gospel the best way he knew how, which wasn’t with fancy words and impressive arguments. He explained it as simply as he could, so that their faith was based purely on God’s wisdom and power. He was like a blank canvas that the Holy Spirit painted a beautiful picture of God on, and all the people could see it and understand it. Each one of us can be used by the Spirit too, we just have to trust God and allow it to happen.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, You know I struggle sometimes, and I get caught up on the little things that I can and can’t do. Help me to forget about trying to use fancy words and impressive arguments to share my faith with others. Let me be a blank canvas, just like Paul was, for your Holy Spirit to paint a beautiful picture on that those with eyes to see it will be in awe. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elysia McEwen, LifeWay Epping
Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
TO PONDER
Today’s verse touches on an encounter Jesus had with Nicodemus, who was a prominent teacher and Pharisee in Israel. Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night to question him privately about his signs and teachings. He recognised that Jesus was ‘a teacher from God’ and said to him ‘no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him’ (v2). But despite understanding this, Nicodemus still had trouble seeing the truth because the law and traditions he knew so well were getting in the way.
Even though the Pharisees knew a lot about the Old Testament, they weren’t willing to submit to the authority of Christ.
Are there times in your life when you have been like Nicodemus? Where despite knowing who Jesus is, you’ve struggled to see past the here and now and simply trust him and submit to his authority?
PRAYER
Dear Jesus, Thank you for never giving up on me, even when I struggle to submit to your ways. You are worthy of all praise! Help me to boldly share this love of yours that I know so well with those around me each and every day. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elysia McEwen, LifeWay Epping
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
TO PONDER
Talk about sharing boldly! This speech that Paul gave is known as ‘The Areopagus sermon’ and is said to be the most dramatic and fully reported speech of his ministry.
Paul had been waiting in Athens for Silas and Timothy to join him when ‘his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols’ (v16). So he started preaching everyday about the resurrection of Jesus. This caught the attention of the Athenians, who (as we read in verse 21) would ‘spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new’. He was then taken to the Areopagus to explain further. This was a hill in Athens where groups of respected local men discussed spiritual and philosophical ideas (similar to the Jewish Sanhedrin).
At the beginning of Paul’s speech, I can’t help but wonder if there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, as he comments on how ‘religious’ they were. Paul boldly calls them out on their ignorance. The very words inscribed on their altar ‘To an unknown God’ show that the Athenians themselves admit they don’t know who or what God is. They had been worshipping idols and objects, but Paul uses this opportunity to introduce them to a ‘new’ God - a personal God. I bet that would have been really hard for the Athenians to wrap their head around!
Is there someone you know who desperately needs to be introduced to a ‘new’ God – the one and only God? Will you take inspiration from Paul’s speech and be bold in sharing Jesus with them?
PRAYER
Dear Lord, Please give me the courage to be like Paul - bold in sharing who you are with people that desperately need to know you. Thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit, and help me to be aware of when it is nudging me towards opportunities where I can stand up and proclaim your love. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elysia McEwen, LifeWay Graphic Design and Communications
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
TO PONDER
Have you ever been put on the spot and asked to give a reason for the hope you have in Jesus, or for being a Christian? What would you say if you were put in that situation today? Maybe you have taken Peter’s advice and already have something prepared, or maybe just the very thought of being put on the spot gives you anxiety?
Whatever your situation may be, you can be assured and comforted by Jesus’ promise to provide the Holy Spirit to give you the right words. But that’s no reason for us to not be prepared. We are reminded about the importance of truly knowing God’s word so we can always be prepared to give an answer. And the best way to do that is to consistently read and study God’s Word.
PRAYER
Guide my heart Lord and give me the wisdom and knowledge to be able to give an answer to those that ask of you. I pray that with your help I will be an example of your living word. In Jesus Name, Amen
Today's devotion written by Josi Weiss, LifeWay Admin Co-ordinator
So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.
TO PONDER
‘Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, that’s life’
You might recognise these lyrics from the popular song ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ by 90’s band The Verve. I was reminded of this song when thinking about the illustration used in today’s verse.
When John eats the scroll from the angel, the taste is sweet at first, because it is God’s message, but once he internalises it, and understands all that it reveals, which includes judgement and condemnation, it becomes bitter and ‘turns his stomach sour’.
Have you ever thought of God’s word as being bittersweet? Bitter because of its news of sufferings and sweet for its blessings of forgiveness and salvation which we receive through Jesus?
PRAYER
Dear God, Thank you for the gift of your wonderful living word that feeds our souls. Help me to take it in, just like John so that I can proclaim your sweet message of the gospel to those around me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Elysia McEwen, LifeWay Graphic Design and Communications
All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
TO PONDER
Paul writes these words to the Christians at Thessalonica who have been experiencing persecution for their Christian faith. Paul brags about this community of Christians to other churches because even in the midst of suffering and persecution they continued to grow in their faith in Jesus and their love and kindness to one another.
It is often strange how suffering can bring out both the best and the worst in people. For some people it makes them more selfish and more determined to protect their own rights and their own resources. Like the "Scrooge" character in Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, the things we suffer in this life can make us bitter, resentful and self centred.
However, for those endeavouring to follow Christ, suffering can cause us to rely more fully on him and his promises leading us to deeper faith and trust meaning that we are more free to behave like we were always intended to live and behave; that is, in positive relationships with our God and with each other.
God calls you his child and has made you part of his family. His judgement is good and in Christ he has made you worthy of his kingdom, regardless of the suffering or trials that might come your way. What a joy and comfort to know that you are his!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, your ways are good and your judgements are always right, even if I can not always make sense of them. Help me to trust that in all things you are working for the good of those who love you, and help me to always consider and work for the good of those who do not yet acknowledge you. Amen
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
TO PONDER
It can be a strange thing having siblings. I am one of only two children in my family and my brother and I have had a very varied relationship. Growing up as young boys we had very different interests and personalities and were often fighting and arguing with each other. Yet despite sometimes wishing we were not related, that did not change the fact that we both belonged to the family and were heirs to all that entailed.
I'm glad to say that now, as adults, my brother and I very good friends as well as being brothers. We now appreciate many of those things about each other that used to annoy us.
I think this can sometimes be how it is with our maturity as Christians. When we first come into God's family some of what that entails can feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar. We might resent certain things or feel the loss of some of the patterns of behaviour that don't reflect our new status as God's children. However, as we mature as followers of Jesus and grow in our relationship with him, then we begin to realise the significance of what it means to be his brother or sister; to be co-heirs with him and to have access to all of who he is, King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End. What a privilege to be called brothers and sisters of such a person!
PRAYER
Jesus, brother and friend, Thank you that through your death and resurrection you have reconciled us and all things to yourself. Please help me to recognise and to celebrate all that it means to be a co-heir with you in both your suffering and your glory. Please help me to freely give to others all that you have first given me. Amen
Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
TO PONDER
Sometimes it can be easy to want to seek justice (or revenge) for ourselves. The comfort that we have in this Psalm is in recognising that Jesus will come in judgement and reconcile all things.
Perhaps you have seen those political adds recently which depict our Prime Minister announcing to the media, "that's not my job!" Whether he is right or wrong about that, our task in this life is not to judge others. That is Jesus' job. Our task is simply to trust that he knows what is going on and will take care of it. This frees us up to just get on with the task of sharing the good news of Jesus resurrection with others.
What a joy to be relieved of the burden of judging others and seeking revenge!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, please help me to be content leaving justice and judgement in your hands. Help me to be a bold witness to your grace and mercy. Amen.
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
TO PONDER
The 'corpse flower' is one of the largest flowers in the world and is native to tropical rainforests of Indonesia. It gets its name from the smell of rotting flesh which it emits to attract flies and bugs which help to pollinate the plant. Perhaps ironically, it is the stench of death which assures its survival.
Funny how Jesus' death also assures our survival. Yet the death of Jesus is sometimes the very thing that drives some people away. Many people struggle to come at the idea of a God who would kill his own son, or a God who is able to be killed. Yet this is the reality we are faced with; a God who brings life out of death. He does it with flowers and he did it himself for us.
Strangely, the corpse flower is celebrated for its impressive size and unique stink. Yet we still tend to baulk at the idea of suffering and death in our own lives. Perhaps there is room to re-assess our reaction to suffering and death in light of Jesus own death and resurrection through which he was crowned with glory and honour and through which we now share in that glory and honour?
PRAYER
Lord God, there are so many examples in nature and your created world of life coming out of apparent death and destruction. Help me to see the places where you are bringing new life out of struggle and pain, and help me to celebrate the joy of your salvation in every circumstance - even the ones that really stink. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle