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.
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. (NLT)
TO PONDER
My 'smarter than I' wife, a few days go saw something while we were together that was algebra, I think it was a+b=?, it did have an answer but I can’t remember what it was and then to make matters even more embarrassing she asked me, ”Isn’t that wrong, it should be…!”, again I can’t remember what her answer was because I returned to my finger painting and pointed towards the truck driving by and shouted “truck!”
Algebra doesn’t make sense, there should be no letters in math, only numbers, 2a+2b equals a Swedish band not a mathematic formula!!!
Today’s verse is the opening line of what is known as the “Hall of Faith” chapter, where Paul lists a group of ancients from the Bible who walked by faith into uncertainty.
While the verse is a good definition of faith and can be quoted verbatim when someone asks what faith is (personally I quote the verse from the KJV) but does the verse, standing alone, really help or does it make some of us want to point at a truck and shout “TRUCK!”?
So, this is one of those verses that needs to be read as a full chunk, read in context and perhaps even read some of the stories about the people mentioned to get a more in depth understanding of this simple definition.
To spare us all a lot of time, the “Hall of Fame” includes people who doubted, people who were flawed, people who often questioned God’s call, even trying to make things happen without God and blew it badly!, but they still (even if it was eventually) stepped out and did it anyway, they put belief into action, they acted on their deeply held convictions.
When my wife asked isn’t the answer…? I wholeheartedly agreed with her because she, unlike me, understands algebra so my belief in her intelligence, education, and past experience gave me the all the evidence I need that she was right.
PRAYER: Almighty God, I thank you that I can be convinced of who you are, placing my hope in your promises, even though they may be unseen for now, I can place my wholehearted conviction in your faithfulness. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay WestSide.
Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
TO PONDER
I have a confession to make, I sat with the “stoners” in High School, we sat at the edge of the school’s “Demilitarized Zone”, that area delineating the school and the “real-world”, there was a strip of bushland in that zone where a group of miscreant students could sneak off for a quick cigarette (etc) out of the site of authority figures, but that is not my confession…
My confession is; I have never been drunk, stoned, or even smoked a whole cigarette in my entire life, and my parents knew who my friends were and what they were doing. They knew because I told them and they trusted that when I said I didn’t partake they trusted me.
However, when I became part of a church my church family didn’t trust me, especially after I pierced my ear to match my glorious mullet (it was the 80’s). I would often hear the statement “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft!” and it was suggested that I perhaps shouldn’t share in communion.
Today’s verse is addressing a huge issue within the early church, some people were not practicing their faith the proper way, they were celebrating the wrong day as the holy day, they were eating the “wrong” food, or were eating the “right” food while others were not… etc, etc, etc.
All of this was way worse than sitting with the stoners, having a mullet, and piercing ones ear, comparatively speaking, or was it?
Christianity, at the time of Paul’s writing this letter to the church in Rome, was a Jewish sect, barely branded (check with Pastor Mat on the dates when “Christian” became a brand) so, the arguments were based on how things were always done, whether actions were important, whether style of worship mattered, perhaps even whether it was OK for women to be pastors?
Paul continues in his letter in verse 13 (because he numbered all the verses in his letters); “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”
I removed my fake diamond stud earing because of my obvious rebellious attitude (the struggle was a chicken and egg argument) until I read Exodus 21:6 and had chapter and verse to prove that my action was in fact covered by grace after all.
My snarkishness aside, the “stumbling block” is an obstacle both for the one who considers the diamante stud sin and the one who thinks the stud is not in fact an act of rebellion.
To sum the passage up, I would say “you do you for others!”
PRAYER: Loving God, I thank you for your unfailing love, the love that moved into our sinful neighbourhood to redeem us and our fallen world demonstrating your amazing grace, to me a sinner. Help me choose your love over the diamante stud every time. Amen.
Today’s devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.
Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!”
TO PONDER
At our weekly LifeWay Westside Men’s Bible Study on Saturday, I made the statement that “Christ” was not Jesus's (that is the correct possessive of a singular noun) surname.
I realise most of you reading this post would probably think something along the lines of “Obviously!” but you would be in the minority in today’s culture. And, chances are, even those who know “Christ” is not a surname don’t understand why Jesus was called that…
In today’s verse during a prayer meeting, Jesus asked his disciples who people thought he was with various replies. Jesus then turns the question back to the disciples, back to those who should have known him best, those who had travelled, eaten, shared temporary accommodation, talked and joked with for at least several months (I think probably years) asking them who they thought he was.
Peter responded, seemingly, with the correct answer of “Messiah” (Christ) but based on what happens as we continue reading Luke’s biography of Jesus, Peter was wrong while being right.
Even though Peter and the other disciples grew up in a culture and age where “everybody” was talking of a messiah, they desperately needed a Messiah, a Christ, a Saviour, they hoped Jesus was it….
The expected Messiah though (they thought) was going to be a revolutionary, a political leader, who would stand against the occupying force, leading a "YHWH" inspired uprising.
Peter’s conviction of the hoped for Messiah was wrong and came crashing down in the Garden of Gethsemane when the Messiah not only surrendered to the enemy but sternly halted his (Peter’s) attempt at following a deeply held conviction of the role of the Messiah via the sword.
Peter’s identification of the Messiah was correct however his conviction was aimed towards his created, wrong messiah.
PRAYER: Almighty Saviour, I thank you for coming as the Messiah to restore your Kingdom to this fallen world, I repent for all the times my convictions have
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
TO PONDER
I watched an interesting documentary the other day. It was about a group of individuals who had found different ways that their various modes of artistic expression (music, painting, sculpture, writing, etc) helped them to process and manage their emotional state through periods of serious anxiety and depression. I remember vividly something that one of the visual artists said, "I never finish any artwork. None of them are perfect, I could probably work on any one of them forever. All my art is a work in progress. Sometimes someone takes a particular liking to whatever stage one of my works is at and they offer to buy it. I usually let it go because even artists need to make a living."
But he also explained that it was this 'unfinished' nature of his art that helped him to recognise himself as an unfinished work and therefore to work through some of his mental health challenges. I thought that was profound, especially in a world which is so obsessed with the perfect life and presenting a perfect image to the world through social media. Many people do a good job of pretending they have everything together, but rarely is it actually true.
You are a work in progress, you are not perfect (despite what your parents might have told you). But that's not the point. The point is God is at work in you changing and re-making you into the person he always meant for you to be. You might not be there yet, but having the assurance that this is the path God is leading you on and that it is his job to bring it to completion has to bring you some level of comfort.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Creator in me a clean heart and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirt from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51). May your will be done in me and through me and may you bring that work to completion. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle