“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
TO PONDER
Whether they are in our workplaces or our classrooms, our sports teams or our social groups, we all know these people. The ones who will say yes to your face to stay 'in' with the group or in favour with the boss or teacher, but then when no one else is looking would also be the first one to stick a knife in your back. We might call them 'fake friends' or 'fair weather friends', they only stick around when there is something for them to gain from the situation.
So let me ask you a difficult question, are you a fair weather friend of Jesus? Now I know most of us will immediately say, "No! Of course not!" but I want you to think deeply about this for a moment. Are you only friends with Jesus, do you only follow him because of what you get out of it?
Just sit with that question for a moment. Don't get me wrong, there are certainly some significant benefits and promised rewards for those who follow Jesus and put their hope and trust in him as their Lord and Saviour, but is that the only reason you believe? Let me put it this way, if you were convinced that Jesus was the son of God, but that was it - no salvation, no atoning death, no promise of the Holy Spirit or eternal life, would you still follow Jesus just because of who he is?
Jesus is worth following simply because he is Jesus, the son of God and all power and authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to him and he loves us. Fortunately for us, his love for us also means he has invited us to share in his victory, to receive his resurrection life for ourselves and to participate in his mission to bring that life to all the world by proclaiming the good news of his death and resurrection. Only when we accept that invitation completely, both the benefits and the work of participating in his mission, do we really begin to experience now, all that Jesus has for us.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I'm sorry for the times that my relationship with you is completely one-sided. When I expect to receive everything from you but fail to do or offer anything to you. I know your gifts to me are offered freely as gifts of grace and there is no obligation to earn them, but I pray you will help me to show my thanks and gratitude for all you have done as I strive to follow you each day in humble obedience. For you alone are worthy of all glory, honour, and praise. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
TO PONDER
"Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching"... I wonder if you are as challenged by this words as I am at times.
I want to say two things about this today. Firstly, we have numerous sayings and idioms in English that capture the idea of children being like their parents. For example, 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree', or maybe 'like father, like son', or maybe you are more of a 'chip off the old block' as the saying goes. Most of us can't help but reflect something of our human parents, maybe it is something in out looks and appearance, maybe it is some peculiar turns of phrase or language that we have picked up from them, perhaps it is certain beliefs or world views tat we have adopted and behaviours that go along with them. Most of us become like our parents for 2 reasons. Firstly we love them and look up to them when we are young and so we try to emulate them. But secondly, even if we did not think much of our parents, we spend so much time with them, that they can't help rub off on us.
I think Jesus is saying something about this in today's reading. If we really love Jesus, then we will want to spend time with him and to emulate him, to do things the way he does them and try to do the things he tells us (obey his teaching). When obedience or submission come from our love and high regard of another person, it does not feel like a burden to follow in their footsteps and to put into practice the things they teach us, it happens almost naturally as we are drawn deeper into our relationship with them.
That's what Jesus is inviting us to discover for ourselves. To love him more deeply and to trust him more completely so that our lives and will begin to align with his more naturally as we are drawn deeper into his love for us.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Thank you for demonstrating your love for us through your suffering and death. Thank you for demonstrating your victory over sin and death for us through your resurrection. Please help me to love you more deeply and learn to obey you more completely so that others might see you more clearly. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
TO PONDER
I love the way God's word always turns human wisdom on it's head.
Most of us think of submission as a sign of weakness, yet here, God tells us that when we submit to him, we will have the strength to resist the devil, and that in fact, the devil will 'flee from us'
As a fan of fantasy and epic adventure stories, I often had a mental picture in my head as I grew up, of myself dressed in the armour of God doing battle against hoards of demons until they turned and fled. The problem being, that victory in these kinds of spiritual battles is not won by taking the fight to the devil but in submitting to the will of the Father. He does not want you to be snatched away from him, so the key is to submit to him, draw closer to him. Understand what God wants from you, your love, devotion and submission, and you can be confident that whatever trials and temptations you might face, he will see you through it.
You're not scary or strong enough to fight all the battles that come your way on your own, so 'give up the fight' and let God do battle for you, then you will see the devil flee.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that in your death and resurrection, I can now have assurance of your victory over sin, death and the power of the devil. Help me to live today confident in that knowledge and turn to you and to submit to your ways not only when things get tough, but also in times of joy and celebration. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
TO PONDER
Most of you know I used to be a middle school maths and science teacher. One thing that both mathematicians and scientists have in common is their love for observable and repeatable patterns. The reason these are so fascinating, and from my perspective, almost addictive, is that they offer us what I think is the closest thing to being able to see into the future.
Now those of you who never appreciated maths or perhaps even science the way I did, and still do, will probably think I'm being a bit ridiculous at this point but bear with me. If you can identify a regular and repeating pattern, then you can usually guess, with a decent level of certainty, what the next occurrence in the sequence is going to be. It is literally like being able to tell the future (admittedly in a very limited capacity). And of course, unexpected events can change or disrupt even the most regular and dependable of patterns.
This is kind of what Jesus did. When Jesus came to earth to live, die, and be raised to life again, he disrupted the previously established pattern of the world. No longer did people have to remain separated from God and have their standing with him mediated by a high priest who offered blood sacrifices for their sins in the temple. No longer was God only claiming the people of Israel as his own, but he was inviting all of creation to be reconciled to himself through Jesus. No longer was death the end, but resurrection and eternal life had been won.
Many people rejected the new paradigm. They had found something comfortable in the old pattern. Some had found a way to use it to their advantage and gain power and position for themselves over others. Some simply found the ew way to challenging to even consider. Some found that the cost of adopting this new paradigm and pattern that Jesus had established was just too big for them. And yet, once you see the way things are now because of Jesus, you can't simply ignore it. It's too beautiful. It's like one of those beautiful repeating fractal images where no matter how much time you take to explore it's patterns and beauty, there is always another level to discover.
So don't let your mind simply be conformed to the boring and obvious patterns of this world. Submit your mind to Jesus, let him upgrade your programming so you can identify the new pattern of resurrection life he has established for you and you will find his will good and pleasing.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Help me each day to reject the unhelpful and distracting patterns of this world and help me to see more clearly the pattern of your will for me and my life. Help me to walk in that each day, in Jesus name, Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
TO PONDER
When I first read this verse, I could not help but hear my father's often repeated words to me as a young boy when I stupidly followed the negative suggestions or influences of my friends, "And if they told you to jump off a cliff, I suppose you'd do that too?"
I got the point he was trying to make, Just because all your friends are doing it, doesn't make it a wise choice. For the most part, this has been pretty good advice for life. My biggest issue with it though is when it comes to Jesus.
Sometimes I feel like the man in our verse for today. I have said the same thing to Jesus, "I want to go wherever you lead me Jesus, Let's go!". Sometimes that's easy. However, at other times it's like Jesus is asking me to jump off that proverbial cliff. At times like that, other voices like those of my father, pop back into my head and suddenly my commitment to following Jesus wherever he leads me, seems to shrink and sometimes even vanishes altogether.
The problem is that the same logic doesn't apply, because the things Jesus asks his disciples to do don't line up with what the world considered to be wisdom. Love one another as I have loved you. Serve one another as I have served you. Humble yourselves and lift others up. This is not the way of the world even today.
A number of our friends and family were very concerned about Elise and my decision to give up both of our permanent full time teaching jobs in Canberra, to move to Adelaide to study at Australian Lutheran College with no work lined up for Elise so that I could study to become a pastor. In the eyes of the world and certainly from a financial perspective, that decision was the equivalent of jumping off a cliff. But we were convinced that it's what Jesus was asking us to do, so we did it, and I have to tell you, we have been blessed in so many ways as we pursued that adventure together with Jesus.
So let me finish today's thought with a variation of the same question my dad use to ask me, "If Jesus told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it?"
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to grow in the courage to put all of my life in your hands, so that when you ask me to make a difficult choice or do something hard, trusting you is my first and most natural response. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
TO PONDER
There was an American Funk Metal Band in the late ‘80’s to the early 90’s called Extreme, who released an acoustic rock ballad, breaking away from their regular musical genre, called “More Than Words”.
If you’re old enough, I suspect it would be the only song you would know by Extreme as it became a world wide hit song, The band had to fight with their record company to even have the song included on the album as it was so different, their lead guitarist even quit the band (temporarily) in protest to get the song included. The band wanted the song included because they felt it had a message which needed to be heard, as the lyrics emphasized that actions spoke louder than words in expressing love.
Today’s verses (I added verse 4 without asking, sorry Pastor Mat) express an important truth about the gospel, an often neglected/forgotten reality of the good news message of Jesus and the cross. The truth of the gospel is that it is more than words, the message of the gospel is powerful, Holy Spirit power, expressed through actions, through God inspired good works (Ephesians 2:10).
Going to church worship isn’t the gospel, reading the Bible isn’t the gospel, being baptised isn’t the gospel, words are not the gospel, good works are not the gospel. I guess they are part of the gospel, related to the gospel, as the gospel is communicated through how we live with the Holy Spirit.
Words alone are not enough to communicate the gospel, our lives and our love, empowered by the Holy Spirit and together with God's word become the gospel, and that's the message the world need to hear, see, and experience.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I commit my life again, to living out your gospel daily; to listening to you, hearing your inspiration, and walking with you. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.
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 yesterday’s Daily Verse post I talked about my return to an analogue notebook system and alluded to how often I talk about it to random people, just so you understand the depth of what I am talking about, the notebook system I am using is a “Traveler’s Notebook”, sorry if the mention of TN has triggered some of you.
I would say do a quick Google search for it but I don’t want to risk anyone else joining, what I call, the “cult” of the Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebook as the journey into the wonderland that is the customizable, modular notebook system featuring a durable leather cover, for those who enjoy a free-spirited, analogue lifestyle is a rabbit warren of Japanese designed fantastical oddities and wonders…
All that aside, the return to a “free-spirited analogue lifestyle” has had enough of a positive effect (or is it affect) on my life, albeit without spell check, to tell others about the Traveler’s Company Traveler’s Notebook system, even if most people using it are ladies, in a manly way.
Today’s Verse is a reminder to tell that guy on the bus (see yesterday’s post) about how your relationship with God has helped your everyday, to tell the barista at your local cafe about the amazing things Jesus is doing in your life.
Paul is not saying to not (does that make a double negative) be ashamed of telling people about your theology, or the doctrine of the trinity, or share an exposition of free-will compared to determinism but rather to tell people the gospel, the good news, the good things God is doing in your life.
I think we aren’t really embarrassed about telling people about God but embarrassed about not knowing what to say but the good news (not a pun) is telling someone something you are excited about and then taking every chance you get you talk about it.
Anyone else a TN fan? Let’s chat!
PRAYER: Awesome God, I thank you Lord for all the good and perfect gifts you shine on me, help me tell others of your wonderful acts. Amen.
Today's devotion brought to you by Danny Brock (and his Traveler's Notebook.) LifeWay WestSide.
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
TO PONDER
A lot of you would know I have returned to an analogue notebook system, I say a lot of you because I tell everyone about it. If I actually “caught” a bus I am sure I would tell the stranger on the bus about it.
One of the advantages of my return to the use of pen and paper to help plan my life, is that I have started to keep a “thankfulness” log; daily writing down 3 things I am thankful for but it is harder than I thought to come up with new things everyday without repeating the same things too regularly.
Today’s verse is a challenge from Joshua to the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel (all the bigwigs) to stop sitting on the fence when it came to serving God.
He begins the challenge by reminding them of their shared stories of the past and how God was faithful to them throughout their journey to the promised land. He begins all the way back with Abraham’s dad, through to the exodus and everything God did for the Israelites on their long journey.
Joshua wasn’t using the memories of God’s faithfulness to “guilt-trip” the leaders into choosing to serve God, he wasn’t saying God did all this for you, so now you owe him, but rather he was reminding them of God’s loving kindness, his faithfulness towards them throughout every circumstance.
He was challenging them not to choose God out of fear or obligation but as a grateful response to his grace-full faithfulness, to respond out of gratitude and thankfulness.
Yesterday my list of 3 things on my thankfulness log only had 2 things recorded. It seems like I, just like those Israelite leaders, need help with responding in gratitude.
PRAYER: Faithful Father, I repent for my lack of gratitude and my selfishness and thank you wholeheartedly for the abounding grace you show to me daily, help me be a more thankful person. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
TO PONDER
A long time ago if I said to you “Wax on, wax off!”, you would have instantly recognized the lesson I was alluding to, as your mind perhaps drifted to your personal attempts at learning “karartay” or karate by pretending to wax a car and paint a fence. You may have to hunt down and watch the OG “The Karate Kid” movie for this introduction to make sense but suffice to say the original Karate Kid was instructed to complete seemingly inconsequential, menial tasks to learn the ancient art of karate by not learning karate.
Today’s verse is from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, the church he planted, a church primarily composed of Gentiles, a hodgepodge community from different backgrounds, different faith experiences, a plethora of traditions and ancient history all united by the gospel Paul preached (see verses 1-2).
This gospel Paul describes earlier in his letter as “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1:23) is the very same thesis Paul is challenging the church to build their life on.
Paul tells them to wipe the wax on and then off again and again, even though it seemed foolish (even seemingly a waste of time?), to practice their faith so they could stand firm in their faith.
After practicing “wax on and wax off” and “paint the fence” for over a month I didn’t know karate and was not able to block a punch thrown by my older brother. But after many years of practicing faith, even when I was mocked and called a fool I can now brag, like Paul, that “I can do (survive) all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) through battling chronic illness, life shattering loss, and complete and utter joy, I have stood firm through Christ.
PRAYER: Father, I thank you that the foolishness of the gospel is indeed the power of God and brings life and joy, which I can then regift to everyone around me daily. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.