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
I grew up in South West Victoria, in a region that has a few defining industries, forestry, fishing, and aluminium smelting to name a few but it was, and still is, predominantly driven by agriculture. There is one Lutheran high school in the area, it was a one hour bus ride from my house and it is where my parents sent me to school. It was actually a great school, I'm certainly not complaining, but one of the specialty subjects of this school was Agricultural Science.
I was amazed when it came to learning about orchards, fruit trees, and the process of 'grafting'. For those unfamiliar with the process it simply involves taking a branch or cutting from one tree, inserting that branch into a small incision in the trunk of another tree, binding the area around the incision to guard the tree from infection and insect infestation and, if the process goes well, the branch is integrated into the host tree. That's an overly simplified explanation of the process, but the cool thing about it is, provided that you stay within closely related fruit families, you can graft a pear tree branch to an apple tree, and end up with a tree bearing both apples and pears. Perhaps you prefer stone fruit, then try grafting a branch from a nectarine tree onto a peach tree. Perhaps citrus is your thing, why not go for an orange tree that will also produce lemons, limes, and grapefruit?!
In many ways, this is a good way to think about fruits of the Spirit. On our own we are not very good at producing any of these things. And yet, God the gardener does this amazing thing where he unites us with His Holy Spirit which taps into our capacity to bear good fruit and helps us to do exactly that. We can strive all we like to be more loving, have more joy, be at peace and so on, but without being grafted with the Holy Spirit, we just don't have it in us.
Discipline and practice are important and worthy pursuits, but growth only comes are we remain in Jesus the vine, apart from him, we can do nothing.
PRAYER: Jesus, you are the vine and I am only a branch, I cannot live without being connected completely to you. Help me and my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and when I find that I have grafted myself to things that are not you, draw me back to you by your Holy Spirit and graft me back into your light and life. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
TO PONDER
We are currently serving as 'dog sitters' for friends of ours. They have a lovely dog, a beagle named Holly. Looking after Holly is a joy, and if I'm honest, dog sitting Holly also gets my family off my back for a while about getting a dog of our own, so it is a 'win-win' situation for everyone.
However, it got me thinking about the text for today. My family almost always had a dog when I was growing up and walking the dog was a regular family activity. I always wondered why our dog would always want to race ahead and often pull on the leash. It seemed to me that it couldn't be very comfortable. Now our dog was generally a quiet and well trained dog (and so is Holly) but bring out the leash and the energy bubbles to the surface and excitement visibly builds until you open the front door and head outside and they take off. Hundreds of new scents to sniff, expanded territory to claim, neighbourhood cats to bark at, there is just so much for a dog to do on a walk and they want to do everything all at once. It's the leash that keeps them from running off, and when they do, it's the leash that reigns them back in. A walk means freedom, but freedom within limits.
It made me think about being led by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I want to race ahead of God and get things done in my time rather than his. This has never worked out well in my life and usually leads to some pretty uncomfortable situations, just like a dog straining against the leash pulling it's collar tight against its neck. At other times I can be like a dog who has found an interesting smell and simply does not want to continue walking where its owner is leading, this too leads to an uncomfortable but gentle 'tug' on the leash.
The best walks, for both pet and owner, are when the dog walks in step with the owner, right along side them where there is no tension on the leash, just a secure connection to the one who sets the pace and has marked out the path which is to be walked. Walking in the Spirit is having that secure connection to God as he leads us through our walk through this life and into the eternal life he won for us through Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you do not allow me to run off completely without having a means to call me back to yourself. Forgive me for the times I do run off and want to do things my way or get distracted by the world around me. Help me, by your Holy Spirit to walk more in step with you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
TO PONDER
These are great words to open up the story of the book of Acts. If you have never read it all the way through before, I highly recommend it. It is basically the story of exactly how the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus disciples and some of the other early Christians to empower them exactly as Jesus had said he would, to be a powerful witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in all the ends of the earth.
So what now? It would seem the job is not done yet - so where are the powerful acts of the Holy Spirit who has come upon us as a gift of God in our baptism, to empower us to live for him and bear witness to Jesus in all the world?
Look closely at the stories in the book of Acts and you will see that in almost every act or demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power, there is a person acting in obedient faith, trusting that they have heard the prompting of the Spirit and responding to that prompt, trusting that God would show up and make himself known in the situation.
The Holy Spirit is still here prompting God's people to the tasks he has prepared in advance for us to do. The job of bearing witness to Jesus through all the world. Maybe the reason we do not see so many 'demonstrations of the spirit' is because we have stopped doing the work he was sent to empower us to do?
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, please help me to grow in faith and trust that you can use me to draw people to Jesus. Please help me to see the ways that you use me each day to bear witness to Jesus in the things I do and the words I say. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
TO PONDER
Do you ever find yourself frustrated at how often you don't seem able to live up to the Word of God? Do you, like me and so many other Christians, find yourself striving to resist temptation, to treat others with love and kindness even your enemies, to turn the other cheek when others hurt you? Don't worry too much, you are in good company.
The reality is that this is not something we were ever supposed to do in our own strength. That's when all the problems started, when Adam and Eve decided to go out on their own and make the rules up for themselves.
Originally they walked in the Garden in the presence of God who talked and walked with them in the world he had created, they had physical proximity to the fulness of God who informed their sense of right and wrong, and whose presence enabled them to live the way he had planned for us to live, in harmony with one another through relationship with himself.
Now, through Christ, the barrier to that relationship has been dealt with. Once again God is with us by his Holy Spirit, walking and talking to us as we journey through life, empowering us to live as he had always intended, in harmony and love toward one another, through a personal relationship with himself, the God who created you, redeemed you and now lives in you. Listen to and follow the Holy Spirit, that's how you live the new life you have in Christ.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that you have dealt with the the things that stop me from having a relationship with you. Please replace my heart of stone and replace it with a heart that beats for you and help me, by your spirit, to follow you in all I do. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."
TO PONDER
Do you ever stop to marvel at these words of Jesus? "As the Father has sent me, Now I am sending you."
It really is quite a profound statement, especially when you put it alongside other things that Jesus said to his disciples. Things like, "those who believe in me will do the works I have been doing and they will do even greater things that these." (John 14:12).
In yesterday's text we heard Jesus say he had been sent and anointed with the Spirit of God to proclaim good news to the poor, bring recovery of sight to the blind, proclaim freedom to the captives and release for the prisoner. If that is how the Father sent him, then that is how Jesus is now sending you.
Just sit with that for a moment, God sent Jesus to do all that, and now Jesus is sending you to do the same and even greater things.
Now think about this, Jesus also said, "I have come so that they may have life in all it's fulness" (John 10:10). Now he sends you so that others may have life in all it's fullness.
Try this one, "For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him." (John 3:17). Now Jesus is sending you into the world, not to judge and condemn it, but to save it through you.
Think about it too hard or too long and it becomes an overwhelming burden. However, Corrie Ten Boom put it like this."Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you."
Don't exhaust yourself trying to make these things happen, but just as importantly, don't exhaust yourself trying to resist the ministry of Jesus from flowing out of you, both are an exercise in exhaustion and futility. Instead just look for what God is doing in you and around you, expect to see God do things as you follow the leading of his Holy Spirit. after all, it's what Jesus said would happen. So just trust him and expect to see him do things through you.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that you have given me the Holy Spirit to help me continue the work that you started.Please help me to grow in my faith and trust that whatever tasks you have for me to do, you have empowered and equipped me with your Spirit to see it through. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him [Jesus]. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
TO PONDER
I think I'm sometimes guilty of thinking of Jesus as a "one trick pony". I mean really Jesus is all about his death and resurrection isn't he???
Maybe there is an element of that kind of thinking that has some truth to it. After all, the freedom that he's talking about in this reading, and the blindness, and the good news, are all somewhat brought about by his death and resurrection so there is that.
But is the freedom here only talking about spiritual freedom from sin? I know multiple people who would say that Jesus has freed them from slavery to various addictions. Is recovery of sight for the blind just talking about spiritual blindness? Didn't Jesus literally heal of heir physical blindness also? I don't know any formerly blind people who have been healed like that, but I certainly know various people who say Jesus has miraculously healed other physical illnesses and ailments.
In today's reading, Jesus says that, "the Holy Spirit is upon him because he has anointed me to..." the Holy Spirit was upon Jesus to help him do all the works that the Father had sent him to do. Whether we talk about Jesus or the Holy Spirit, it's pretty clear that what the Holy Spirit is not a one trick pony. He does not just call us to faith in Christ for our own salvation, but He also remains with us to equip and empower us to do all the works that God has planned in advance for us to do. Maybe that is to heal the sick and deliver the captives in very literal, practical and miraculous ways. Maybe it is also more simply to enable you to love as Jesus did, forgive those who persecute you, and proclaim the goodness of of God to others.
Whatever it is, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you because he has anointed you to...?
PRAYER: Lord God, I know you have made me for yourself and that you have plans for me and things that you have in mind specifically for me to do, to build your kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Please help me to notice and follow the leading of your Spirit so that I may go where you call me to go, love whom you call me to love, and serve who you call me to serve, in Jesus name, Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
TO PONDER
I am very tempted to leave this verse of the day as just the verse alone and the recommendation to read it again and again but I will not but really read the verse a bunch more times, I will pause here…
Did you know that God does't only 'not condemn' us but as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12), God’s forgiveness is aggressive (Romans 5:20 MSG) as in; the greater and farther we fall, the greater the forgiveness (it’s right there in Romans 5).
Grace is, after all, forgiveness to the power of eternity through/in Jesus.
When you get the chance Google (yes it is indeed a verb) the story of the song “Amazing Grace”! It’s a tearjerker.
PRAYER: Loving Saviour, I give you praise for your amazing grace that you lavish on me, I once again ask for your help to show your aggressive forgiveness to everyone around me. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Dany Brock, LifeWay Westside
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
TO PONDER
Have you ever wondered; “Why am I not experiencing the overflowing life Jesus talked about in John 10:10?" Well, I have. So, even if no one else reading this has, I’ll just continue as if I’m not alone in asking this question…
Today’s verse opens with “He has saved us and called us "to” (italics added) which indicates action required by Timothy, and by extension us. This action is a result/response to what he has already accomplished for us.
The required action in response to what Jesus already accomplished for us, is to live “a holy life”, even when suffering, especially suffering for our faith. And we can do that, not just because the Apostle Paul tells us to in this letter to Timothy, but because Jesus has already accomplished the 'holy life' for us.
Not being a seminary trained scholar like Pastor Mat, I tend to try to dumb things down to its simplest form and so here I tend to read “live a whole(y) life”, a complete life, an undivided life, an overflowing life even while suffering, made available by the 'holy' life of Christ who now covers us in his Righteousness and holiness.
That's the good news, that the whole(y) life is available to us “because of his own purpose and grace”, the grace that was given to us “before the beginning of time”.
The whole(y) life, or the John 10:10 life, is not a reward to be earned but a life to walk in, through faith and by grace.
Remember, grace is getting what you don’t deserve so start living out your whole(y) life today.
PRAYER: Loving Saviour, I thank you for your amazing grace and the life that is afforded to me by grace, help me to walk daily in that life by saying yes and amen to you and your commands. Amen
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, Life Westside
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
TO PONDER
One of the first times I drove a car I was in a friends car. The car owner sat in the passenger seat as another friend sat in the back, both giving me support, encouragement, and helpful instruction.
The impromptu lesson was going very well up until the brake and accelerator got confused as I carefully steered the vehicle around a corner and the confused pedals caused the car to jump the gutter and forced an innocent “No Standing” road sign not to stand.
Now, for the learned lesson from that experience, I never paid for the damage caused to my friend’s car (fairly minimal) but somebody did.
Today’s verse reminds us that there is a cost, a price to be paid for our sin -the wrong that we do- and that price has to be paid.
In my many conversations with people this topic often comes up, “If God truly is a loving God, why doesn’t he just forgive everyone?” and in those conversations I use the above driving experience.
Everything we do has a price, a cost to be paid, and somebody pays that price. Whether good, bad, or non-consequential (if there is such a thing) it costs someone, when we do something nice for a friend/stranger, at minimum, it costs you time and energy, when we respond in anger to a family member damage has been done and somebody needs to bare that cost.
Today’s verse tells us that Jesus bares the cost we owe, he paid the price of our sin, by grace (gift) so we don’t have to pay the price of death (there is a lot more to say here but we don’t have the time or space in this post).
My friend, the owner of the car, paid to fix the damage I was responsible for, the damage I created, the damage that was a result of my actions. That's what Jesus does for you.
PRAYER: Forgiving God, Thanks for paying the price of my wrongdoing, the cost I owed, the debt I was unable to pay because you love me. Help me share the grace you freely have given me to others. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside