When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
TO PONDER
Eight years ago, my congregation at the time hosted a Lutheran Charismatic Convention. The planning was covered in prayer constantly and the team experienced ‘heaven opening’ over us many times. We also had personal experiences. For me, it was not long before the conference that I sat down in a café to read a book by the keynote speaker, ‘Surprised by the Spirit’, by Pastor Edgar Mayer. I sat with people all around me and opened the book, the Spirit of God came upon me. I would have fallen had I not spread my feet wider on the floor and my arms on the table. God wanted me to know something deep in my soul that I had, to this point, kept only in my head. Because Jesus is the beloved Son of God, all those who have been baptised into Christ Jesus, are the Father’s beloved sons and daughters.
Heaven is open over us, whatever we faithfully ask for in his name he will supply.
As we proactively follow the Spirit that has taken up residence within us through baptism, we will experience heaven opening for us. We will experience God’s kingdom near us and within us.
When we pray ‘give us this day our daily bread’, the New Testament Greek more fully states that this daily bread is ‘supersubstantial’. That is, heaven is open to those who have faith and trust that God is at work supplying, transforming, and raising up his people every day. He makes our souls buoyant by bringing hope alive.
PRAYER
Father, in Jesus mighty name, give us your church, our daily, supersubstantial supply, that the kingdom may be seen and experienced by many. May the power of your Spirit and the life of your Word take root in each of us more deeply so that our lives will reveal us as your children. Amen.
Today's devotion provided by David Schuppan, LifeWay Illawarra Site Pastor
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
TO PONDER
As this new year starts, what is your goal? Give up a bad habit? Start a new hobby? Renew an old passion? Goals are helpful, they keep us focused and on the right track. So, when it comes to our faith, what is our goal? In some ways this is a difficult question, because God has individual paths for each of us. However, there are a few things we know we should not be aiming for. Jesus warned his disciples against fame and power and instead called them to love and serve others. He didn’t encourage people to earn money, instead he often warned about the corrupting nature or riches. This is because our prize is in total opposition to what the world says we should be aiming for. Our prize is a life daily changed and eternal life with our Heavenly Father.
PRAYER
Jesus, I ask you keep my eyes fixed on the prize you have called me to. Keep me from becoming distracted by what the world says I should aim for, but instead pressing on towards you. Amen.
Today's devotion provided by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Youth and Family Ministry Co-ordinator
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
TO PONDER
Cool Runnings, a classic movie from the 90’s, tells the story of a Jamaican bobsled team. You might have guessed it is a comedy!!! Initially the team is simply excited they have made the Winter Olympics and are fooling around, however as the movie progresses they start to take things seriously. As the team speed down the hill so quickly the pilot of the bobsled needs to know and anticipate the turns. Before each competition they sit with photos of the track, visualising the entire run and practising the turns. To win, you need to visualise the race. It is the same with our faith. We have a God who has set a race out for us. To know what it is we can simply ask, and He speaks to us and makes it clear to us so we can run it successfully.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you your faithfulness. Thank you that I don’t run the race of life by myself, but instead run it with you. Help me to listen to your voice so I can run in a way that gets the prize. Amen.
Today's devotion provided by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Youth and Family Ministry Co-ordinator
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
TO PONDER
As a teacher one of the biggest lessons I have taught my students year after year is to endure and not give up. I have often found myself saying to them ‘Anything worth doing is hard work, it will take time and effort.’ When we stop and think about it we know this is truth, but often we become frustrated and defeated when things don’t fall into place quickly. We can have an aversion to suffering. In some ways this seems logical, I mean, who wants to suffer? But, in Romans Paul tells us to glory in our sufferings. Why? Because suffering produces perseverance. He goes on to explain that perseverance produces character, and character, hope. Suffering is a part of life and sometimes a part of our faith walk, but rather than avoiding it, if we can remember that there is purpose in suffering, and through it a deepening of our faith and trust in Jesus, then perhaps we can begin to glory in it.
PRAYER
Jesus, I know that you endured great suffering in your life. You didn’t run from it though, instead you saw its purpose and endured it. Help me to remain close to you in my suffering, that it might grow my relationship with you. Amen.
Today's devotion provided by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Youth and Family Ministry Co-ordinator
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
TO PONDER
Cycling might seem like an individual activity, but it is a team sport. Professional cyclists require a team to be successful. The rider gets the glory, but they don’t get there without their support crew. A support crew takes care of practical things like maintaining the equipment, but it is the moral, emotional and motivational support that truly get the cyclist over the line! The cyclist is never alone, they know when they are feeling low or exhausted, their support team will be there with a word of encouragement to give them the push they need. Our journey through life is the same. Hebrews tells us we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. These are those people of faith who have lived lives of example. They were able to overcome and endure, and therefore we can too. We also have the privilege of the body of Christ to encourage us day to day. Even more, we are the support crew for other believers around us.
PRAYER
Lord, I thank you for the gift of those who have walked the faith before me. I ask you to help me to lean on my support crew around me, and also to be a support for my faith family. Help me to fix my eyes on you and run the race marked out for me. Amen.
Today's devotion provided by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Youth and family Co-ordinator
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
TO PONDER
Reading maps and knowing your way around is becoming a lost skill. When I was younger it was a badge of honour, however now we rely so much on our navigation apps and not our own memories of how to get from point A to point B. I experienced this in a very real way a few years ago. I was travelling interstate, without my husband, but with our then two small children. I had decided I would use Google maps to get me there safely. As we were happily heading down the freeway the GPS instructed me to exit. This direction didn’t seem correct to me, but I thought perhaps the happy voice knew something I didn’t and so I did exactly as she ordered. This, I soon realised, was a big mistake as I found myself driving down dirt paths, without internet or phone signal, or the voice to guide me. I did eventually make it to me destination, but it was the most stressful trip I have ever experienced. I was led astray from what I knew to be true. Jesus is the truth and we can always rely on what he says.
PRAYER
Jesus, I know that you never lead me astray, you light my paths and make them straight. Help me to remain on your right road, with a heart that desires all that you have for me. In your name I pray, Amen.
Today's devotion provided by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Youth and Family Ministry Co-ordinator
not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
TO PONDER
Grace is a free gift! There is nothing you can do to earn it and nothing so bad that you are not worthy of it. This is a foundational truth of our faith, that we read in Ephesians 2:8-9. Verse 10 also lays out some foundational truths; we are made by God, not an accident, but carefully and lovingly formed and we were created to do good works, which God has already prepared us for. It is important we read verses 9 and 10 together, because this work is not done to earn or buy our salvation, if it was none of us would ever be able to do enough good works!!! At the same time, we are meant to simply wander through life, waiting for Jesus to take us home. God has prepared things for us to do, and they are good and exciting things He has equipped us for. And, by doing these things others might be drawn to their Saviour, Jesus, and receive and experience the incredible weightlessness of His love, forgiveness and grace.
PRAYER
Father God, I thank you for the indescribable gift of grace that comes to me freely through Jesus. I also thank you that you made me and equipped me for every good work you have planned for me. Help me to see the places you want me to be and the work you want me to do. Amen
Today's devotion provided by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Youth and Family Ministry Co-ordinator.
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
TO PONDER
There are many, many things I don’t like about social media and the internet, but one thing I do love is my local community Facebook page. Here you will find lots of people trying to help each other out in really practical ways. Lost keys or wallets, free plants or second-hand furniture. We even offered some meal-prep kits we were unable to use. Small, practical ways that people show love, care and concern for their neighbours and strangers. It makes me think of a line from an old hymn, ‘And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.’ There are people all around us who have real needs and we have been blessed with gifts that God wants us to share. Sometimes we are called to DO something and it can be through us giving practical help and care that people experience the incredible love of Jesus.
PRAYER
Jesus, thank you that you showed me how to love in practical ways, by meeting the real, everyday needs of those around you. Help me to see the need and meet it with the gifts you have given me. Amen.
Today's devotion provided by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Youth and Family ministry Co-ordinator
For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
TO PONDER
Psalm 9 is probably written by King David, and is mainly a Psalm about thanks and praise and blessing. However, there are a few verses which remind us of the other roles God has. The Old Testament, or as some people call it, The First Testament, has many examples and stories of a judging God. Verse 5 above suggests that the Creator forgets those who fall outside the bounds of His Grace. He blots their name out forever. They are erased from history.
God does forget, after he has forgiven. Some years ago the Catholic Archbishop of Manila was pestered by a woman who came along to his weekly audience, saying she had a message from God for him. Eventually he said to her, ‘Look, we have strict guidelines about visions, so I need to test if it’s true. Go back, and ask God about a certain sin I recently confessed in private. If you ask God and he tells you the answer, I’ll know your vision is genuine’. Next week she returned, and the Archbishop asked her ‘Well, did you ask God about my sin?’
‘I did’ she replied.
‘And did God answer?”
‘Yes, he did’.
‘What did he say?’
‘God said that he couldn’t remember’.
Us humans find it difficult to forget a wrongdoing, especially if it is something done to us, but God doesn’t. Why not aim to make 2022 the year you forgive, without conditions?
Prayer
God of all, thank you for continuing to put-up with us. We don’t always get it right, but we know you give us a chance on a chance on a chance. Help us to shorten all the chances you give us, and to live a life worthy as your children. Amen
Today's devotion provided by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping