The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and waves obey him!”
TO PONDER
Because of its geographical position, the Sea of Galilee was prone to sudden squalls and gusting winds which whipped up the waves to dangerous heights. If ever you have been on a small boat when an unexpected weather change occurred, you may be able to imagine how people may have felt each time they set out, pretty apprehensive I’d say.
The day the disciples set out to cross the lake with Jesus, one of these storms blew up and it seems it was a bit wilder than usual, the disciples worried whilst Jesus slept. Eventually their fear caused them to wake Jesus, he gently chastised them for their lack of faith and then bade the storm to settle and suddenly there was complete calm. For the disciples this was another facet of the man they loved and followed, for us a way to manage the unexpected squalls in our lives.
We spend a lot of time and energy ‘making plans’ from a weekend away to our retirement, and review them until we are convinced that they are foolproof. We don’t consider the unexpected, the squalls of life, and when they happen, our behaviour suddenly becomes a bit chaotic, tossing blame hither and thither, which only adds to the storm. Jesus isn’t asleep as we fearfully flounder, he is just waiting for us to call him. Jesus, who with a few words can calm any storm, is the safe port for us to flee to. Jesus, whose power we too, marvel at. We should have a note above our plans, ‘include Jesus and be sure to make sure he is the one to call on when the squall hits.’
Prayer: Amazing Lord Jesus, I know that you are my safe haven when the storms of life engulf me, but please forgive me, for the times I forget this, I rave about unfairness, and ask “Why me?” and am ashamed by my behaviour. Thank you for your gentle reprimand, “Where is your faith?” that helps me get back on track. Amen
Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself, or someone else? Then Philip began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
TO PONDER
This is another Bible story that set my childhood imagine busy. I considered Philip a very obedient man, or perhaps, like me, he didn’t want to cause as fuss as I learnt was best when mother took me from ‘a really important daydream’ to do something she wanted done.
God had a task for Philip but first he had to change direction; he must have recognised that the angel was God’s messenger and took the possibly harder and lonely desert road. When the carriage with the important Ethiopian appeared, Philip again obeyed and approached knowing, because the Holy Spirit had told him, that the Ethiopian was reading from the book of Isaiah. I used to think the carriage must have been travelling slowly so to make it easier for the Ethiopian to read and so allowed Philip to catch up and ask what he was reading which gave the Ethiopian the chance to ask the question that led to Philip sharing the good news of Jesus. I recognised that this meeting was no accident and it had to be planned and only God could do that.
I see it today as a lesson for us, we don’t know God’s plans, or if we feel something is from God we're not always brave enough to follow his prompting. We can easily find reasons enough not to follow through, forgetting God is walking with us and knows our feeble excuses. One of the most used one is, ‘What if a Bible verse is quoted and I don’t know it?” Philip knew the eunuch was reading from Isaiah but didn’t talk about that, instead he spoke of the good news of Jesus that Isaiah was pointing to.
We should listen carefully when people ask questions about God’s word, we might not be able to cite the chapter and verses being quoted or find another one to provide a suitable response, but there might be a clue that gives us opportunity to speak of the work of God in our lives, or to recall other stories of God that illustrates our explanation. When we find ourselves being asked questions about our faith, we can be sure God wants us to speak to that person or situation. He has set the stage, He has cast you in that moment as his lead actor. He will send us the prompts and be beside us, we just need to recognise and trust God’s call and be brave and courageous and step out in faith.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know that you want me to help spread your word so that the whole world learns about your love and saving grace. You send people into my life that I might tell them the good news of Jesus. Forgive me when I don’t recognise this, or, when I fear getting it wrong or think myself inadequate for the task. Remind me that you are on the journey beside me. Please give me the strength to speak and act boldly and answer questions when asked. Amen
Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
So I say to you, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
TO PONDER
As a little girl, I used to wonder why Jesus said these things, it seemed common sense. When we knocked, if people were home they opened the door; if something was lost we search until it was found and if I was sent to the lady who grew seedlings or the one who made my hair ribbons to ask for ribbons or seedlings I was given them. Money was exchanged and I used to wonder why Jesus didn’t mention that.
That’s God’s gracious gift to us, he doesn’t ask for payment when, in prayer we seek his help. We are not long past Easter when he gave us the greatest gifts of all, his dearly loved son, Jesus, who died on the cross that we can have forgiveness of sins and a close relationship with God and look toward eternal life with him, and also his Holy Spirit who helps us to understand God’s Word.
Can all this really be at no cost? Well it may be at no cost to you and me but it cost Jesus his life. A life he willingly laid down so that we could receive all these wonderful gifts. All we are told to do is ask. He invites us to persist in prayer seeking his help for what we need, help with what troubles us, and what direction to take with big decisions. He invites us to be bold and persistent; as was the man in the story Jesus told before the verses above. We are invited to seek out his Word persistently so that we always have the examples of how to live in the fullness of life he has set before us in Jesus. He will respond to our prayers, not always as we might wish, sometimes we may not even perceive an answer at all, but this wonderful God of creation just wants us to be BOLD when we ask for these things and trust he has it in hand.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am always in awe of who you are and the intricacies and perfect detail of your creation and at times I think “Can I really bother God with this?’ I thank you for your assurance that I can come to you in prayer and you will hear my petition and act. It is very humbling that, as great as you are, you will listen to me, even when I come boldly and persistently. Please strengthen my faith and trust so I can gain the strength to act as you ask. Amen
Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who had earlier visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was accordance with Jewish burial custom.
TO PONDER
When I realised I had to speak out against the culture in my workplace, I knew God was with me. So, whatever the outcome, he would be there; it would be o-kay. And it was! None of the fears that had initially held me back came about. I was not sacked in, fact when my contract was finished it was renewed so I could work on the task force to get the institution ready for accreditation which in turn meant improvement in all areas.
Today we meet two men, who by their actions, boldly said “We believe this man was God’s son. He is deserving of an honorable burial according to Jewish custom.” Joseph, a believer fearful of the Jews and Nicodemus who has moved from questioner to believer, their belief has given them trusting confidence. They did what they believed was correct with boldness, and God protected them as they carried out this act of love and respect.
There might be a time when you have to face a situation that requires you to consider your position and consequences if you act, remember God is always with us and gives us his protection when we speak out against injustice or other behaviours that are not the way Jesus Has taught us. It doesn't mean it won't be tough, but he will be with you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I need your strength each and every day so that I have the boldness to speak against issues that are not helping but diminishing people. Forgive me when I worry about my inadequacies before I realise you are always there no matter what the result of my boldness may be, you are far greater than any earthly issue. Amen
Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and was one of their number, asked, “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”
TO PONDER
I used to work in an institution where the culture challenged my Christian values on how I treat and respect those less fortunate than myself. I didn’t want to lose my job which I really enjoyed; to speak up I felt would have had negative results. So, I prayed for some way to manage and then the idea came to learn of the history of the place, if I could understand that, perhaps I could find the right way to speak up.
In today’s devotion, we see Nicodemus being a little bolder and speaking out against the behaviour of the Jewish leaders as they plan to arrest Jesus. I think it is safe to assume that Nicodemus had been quietly reading and questioning and was beginning to believe, his faith was in its infancy and trust may have been a stirring new emotion. His reward for speaking up was a personal attack against him; maybe he saw that coming, maybe not.
I eventually spoke up too and God created a pathway for me to help change the culture and practices in my workplace. “You are never too old to learn” is a very popular saying which we should embrace as we seek to have a stronger faith and trust, which will give us the confidence to speak out against injustice and always answer those who question so they too, may believe and grow in faith and trust in his grace and forgiveness.
Prayer: Lord Jesus forgive me for the times I haven’t spoken up in situations that needed the calming and healing balm of your word and love, when I have been too concerned about me than another person’s crisis. Please give me the ability to recognize early when a situation or a person is in need of hearing about God’s healing love and grace. Amen
Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
TO PONDER
Nicodemus wanted to know more about Jesus. This man, Jesus, whose actions and words had his fellow members in the Sanhedrim in a bit of a tiz, because of the rising number of people following him, so he visited Jesus secretly at night. He begins by praising God and uses the word “we” to make it seem like a general inquiry, but as he so often did, Jesus turned the focus on Nicodemus, his spiritual condition and the need for him to be born again, a lengthy discussion over that followed.
Nicodemus had no faith but he was questioning. Our faith is not a done deal, it is not a noun but a verb - we have to work on it. Nicodemus was unknowingly on that road; he was asking questions. As those questions are answered we begin to believe and from this our faith grows.
We all want to walk closer with God, to live a life like Jesus modelled, to have complete faith in God and his ways so we still need to question so that our faith can grow.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for your Word, pastors and teachers and people who work on Bible versions, devotions and commentaries so that I can find an answer when I have a question, for those light bulb moments when I can grasp a deeper meaning to what is, quite a familiar section of your Word. Enable me to be bold and ask questions even if it seems silly to those around me, help me grow in my faith and be closer to you each day Amen
Today's daily devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
TO PONDER
Do you remember the Bobby McFerrin song from the 1980's, 'Don't Worry Be Happy'? It had a pretty positive message and was a popular hit while I was growing up but I can't help but think it still misses the mark a bit for those of us with faith in Jesus, and it doesn't express the reality of life with Jesus.
Many people have the misguided understanding that when you start following Jesus he makes life smooth sailing for you. Anyone familiar with the Apostle Paul's life and missionary journeys (read the book of Acts if you want to know more) will know that his life was not smooth sailing, neither figuratively or literally. He was arrested and imprisoned multiple times, persecuted for the faith, literally shipwrecked at one point and yet in the midst of all those things, the things he is referring to in the reading, he always saw God at work guiding him through those experiences. Life was not easy for him, it was full of challenges. I am sure he wondered at times if his time was up, I'm sure he also questioned what God was up to in the midst of those circumstances. I do not believe that he was always able to 'not worry and be happy', but what he was able to do was have peace and hope.
Peace in the knowledge that if it was the end of this life for him, that his Lord Jesus was waiting to welcome him into the next. Hope that God may still yet make a way where there seemed to be no way.
Walking with Jesus doesn't make life no worries and all happiness. Jesus doesn't remove that hardships, but he will walk with you through them.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you that you came to earth to walk with us, to endure and understand suffering, to save and redeem us. Please help me to remember that you are with me when life brings trials and struggles. Help me to remember that you have a place for me in your kingdom, both now in this life and in the next. May that knowledge bring me peace and hope in all circumstances. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
TO PONDER
Have you seen the movie, "Waking Ned Devine"? It's a great movie, if you don't mind a little bit of 'colourful' Irish language. The story goes that an elderly local man, Ned Devine, has won a massive lottery jackpot, but it appears the shock of the win causes him to have a heart attack. A couple of his old buddies realise what has happened and begin the process of trying to convince the lottery board that one of them is Ned Devine. Of course the other local villagers begin to realise something is up until eventually the whole town is promised a share of the winnings if they will play along with the ruse.
I mention this movie because it reminds me that just like the two men in this movie could not carry off this fraud by themselves, neither can we do much on our own. It was only as the two men in the movie began to realise they could not pull this thing off themselves, that the strength and unity of the community came to the fore. What Paul is getting at here in 2 Corinthians is similar, it is only when we come to the end of our own strength and realise that we cannot do much on our own, that we really begin to rely on Christ. It's at that point, when we make space for God and rely on him, that we are able to accomplish those wonderful works that God has planned in advance for us to do.
So where do you need to rely on God today?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you that when life is getting overwhelming I can rely on you to bring me through. Please help me to rely on you at all times, even when things are going smoothly and to remember to always praise and thank you for everything you have done, and will continue to do for me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
TO PONDER
I was fortunate to be able to attend the 'Better Blokes' camp down at Warrambui on the King's birthday long weekend. One of the speakers at that camp was talking with us about why we don't live as victorious sons of the King (I suspect you ladies could also say daughters, but remember it was a men's camp). He said this, "ultimately it's the panic that gets us." And you know what, I'm sure he's right.
So often I think Christians panic and freeze in the face of their friends questions about faith, or God, or Jesus. It's like we think we could never offer a plausible answer or give an account of our own faith and so we close up like a clam. But notice what happens to Stephen in today's verse, the Spirit gave him wisdom as he spoke. Stephen wasn't full of wisdom all the time, it's not like all his friends were lined up outside his house waiting to lean some bit of divinely inspired wisdom every time he opened his mouth, but when the situation required it, He spoke and the Holy Spirit provided the words.
There is no reason to believe it would be any different now. You may not feel qualified or able to speak, don't let the panic get you, God might just be waiting for you to open your mouth so he can use it to speak his wisdom, but you'll never know if you don't take the courage to open your mouth and trust God to be at work.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I know there are times when I forget that because of Jesus, you are at work in me and through me. Help me to learn and trust that when I need your wisdom to speak into a situation, you will be with me, and that if no words come out, then perhaps all you need me to do is listen. Help me to remember that you are my helper and guide. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle