so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
TO PONDER
As my wife and I start to think about retirement and what this means for us, we are seriously contemplating a move north of Sydney to the beautiful Port Stephens region where we have frequently spent many wonderful times and family breaks. We may be biased but we think it is a truly picturesque place full of inviting glistening and pristine waterways surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. For us, it really beats the city rat-race full of non-stop hustle and bustle. So, we will likely go from our part-time stints in Port Stephens, to settling down as members permanently living in the local community.
St. Paul prays for Christ to dwell in Christians hearts. Two ancient Greek words convey the idea “to live in.” One has the idea of living in a place as a stranger, and the other has the idea of settling down in a place to make it your permanent home. Dwell uses the ancient Greek word for a permanent home. Jesus wants to settle down in your heart, not just visit as a stranger.
Paul also prays that we are rooted and established in God’s love. Just like the Seekers hit (We shall not be moved’) we are to remain deeply rooted and grounded together as Christians in God’s love – “Just like a tree that’s standing by the waterside” (as the lyrics state).
To do this, we need to understand God’s unfathomable love for us. Know His love from experience not just in words. His love has width and includes absolutely everyone. It has length as His love lasts for eternity. It commenced before we were even born, it continued through to our own Baptism as His Child and will continue on for every second of every minute on earth and then during our life with Him in Heaven in our eternal home that He has prepared for us. God’s love has depth to the extent that He came to earth to serve human-kind and then died for us on the cross to save us. His love has height. High enough to take all believers to Heaven to be with Him.
God yearns for a personal relationship with us so He can take up permanent residence and dwell in our hearts forever.
PRAYER: Earthly and Heavenly Father. Help me to open my heart and mind to Your unfathomable love. Grow my relationship with You daily, so I know you more personally and so You are not a visiting stranger but a permanent dweller in my heart. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.
TO PONDER
Nike have been using the slogan ‘Just do it!’ for 37 years this year. Inspiring millions of people to take action and pursue their fitness goals. We indeed live in a society where too often we are told that we need to look after ourselves first and foremost. ‘Make it happen!’ we are told. If you don’t, no-one else will. This form of messaging is even mirrored by some people toward others who are less privileged or marginalised - ‘Why don’t they do something to help themselves?’ The people that make this statement about the misfortunate amongst us, are at the same time likely ‘bragging’ about their own actions and successes to ensure they haven’t ended up in that position or situation. It’s a sad human trait, to want to boast.
Today’s verses from Ephesians couldn’t be further from this thinking and the too often flawed rationale that our society lives by. The Apostle Paul knew of our sinful and boastful nature as he makes very clear that none of what God has done for us is even partly earned by our own actions or works!
We are saved and have salvation through the gift of grace from God. In fact, 2 Corinthians 4 :4 tells us that even our faith is a gift from God. We cannot believe in Jesus unless God does a prior work in us, for we are blinded by our own deadness and by the god of this age.
God knows us inside-out. He loves us dearly to the extent that every hair on our head is numbered (Luke 12 :7) and His actions for us mean that we are His children and that we will be taken care of both here on this earth and when He calls us from this life to our Heavenly home. We are invited (called) to follow Him, read His word, deepen our relationship with Him and to readily share His gracious gifts to us with others, (perhaps even boasting to others about what God has done for us) - so they too, come to know Him.
PRAYER:Gracious God, keep me ever mindful that I have nothing to boast about, other than everything that You have done for me. Help me to continue to grow my relationship with You daily so that I may share your graciousness and gifts with others around me to help grow Your Kingdom here on earth. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping
For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the prophet says,
“People are like grass that dies away; their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of wildflowers. The grass withers, the flowers fall away. But the word of the Lord will last forever.”
And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
To Ponder
I think we are all aware, especially those who have ‘been around for longer’, just how quickly life seems to pass by, and our bodies “wither” and our beauty fades.
In contrast, God’s Word is eternal: His Word was powerfully present at creation, when he spoke and the power of his Word brought light, earth and life into being; his Word is living in Jesus (Once again we see the power of the Word: eg. “Your sins are forgiven, ...take your mat and walk” (Matt 9:1-8); “Be still” (Mark 4:35-41); “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:38-44)); and we are assured that his Word is eternal. The power of God’s Word does not fade with time!
In the reading today, Peter emphasises that we see the eternal power of God’s Word in each of our lives: Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we who believe in him are born again, with eternal life. This is the Word of the Lord! (spoken over us in our baptism, and God reminds us of this truth in the written Word). Thanks be to God!
Prayer
God, your Word is so powerful! Thank you for speaking new life into my broken, sin-riddled existence. Thank you that my new life is eternal – with you! Help me never to lose the awe of this wonderful Good News.
Today’s devotion written by Julie Kitchen, Lifeway Epping
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
To Ponder
It is clear from today’s passage that God sees his Word as 100% reliable: it always achieves what he intends it to achieve.
Furthermore, this passage helps us see that God doesn’t just “scatter” his Word and hope for the best. No, did you catch the last phrase in the reading? God sends his Word into the world (into our lives) with a very specific purpose.
God sent Jesus, the Word made flesh, into our world with a very special and specific purpose: to provide a way for us to be reconciled to God. And Jesus accomplished exactly what God desired!
Each day as we read his Word, God also sends that Word into our lives with a very specific purpose: to point us to Jesus; to grow us in relationship with him; to refine us; to guide us; possibly even to send us, speaking or enacting his Word to others.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that we can trust your Word to achieve what you want it to. Holy Spirit, open our hearts to keep humbly hearing and receiving your Word whole-heartedly, so that you can accomplish what you desire, in and through us.
Today’s devotion written by Julie Kitchen, Lifeway Epping
"Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."
To Ponder
“God-breathed” is an interesting way of describing Scripture. Throughout the bible, the breath of God (the creation of Adam; Jesus “breathing on them” when he appeared to his disciples after his resurrection etc) is associated with the Holy Spirit and life. The Holy Spirit is certainly at work through the living Word (as we pondered yesterday), and the work he does brings us life. In today’s verse we are given examples of ways in which the Holy Spirit works through Scripture: showing truth, exposing our rebellion (ouch!), correcting our mistakes, and training us to live God’s way. We need all of these!
It is a great encouragement to hear that despite our mistakes and rebellion, our tendency to believe lies and wander away from God, God declares that because of Jesus we are worthy of his Kingdom. So much so, that he has prepared Kingdom tasks for each of us, and he is using his Word to shape us so that we are ready and equipped for those tasks.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you for accepting me because of Jesus. Thank you for seeing me as worthy of your tasks. Continue to grow and shape me through your Word so that I am fully equipped and ready. Open my eyes to recognize, and my heart to embrace, the tasks you have prepared for me today.
Today’s devotion written by Julie Kitchen, Lifeway Epping
"For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are."
To Ponder
How amazing is God’s Word!! I realise that I am probably speaking mostly to the converted here, but God’s Word IS “living and active” as it says in the NIV translation.
For those of you who enjoy the Fantasy genre of books or movies, you can probably imagine a book which is “living” or magic, in which the words change, depending on who is reading it. God’s Word is not magic. The words themselves do not change. However, the way it speaks to our hearts DOES change. The same words can speak differently to our hearts in different situations; Different parts of a verse or passage will challenge or encourage or speak to us at different times. If you are a reader of God’s Word, regularly or irregularly, I am sure that you will have experienced this too. This is the “living power” mentioned in today’s verse.
The truth that God’s Word “cuts deep” and “exposes us” sounds uncomfortable, something to avoid. However, it is my experience that when God needs to reveal something ungodly in our thoughts, attitudes or actions (and he often does!), he is a very gentle and accurate surgeon. We don’t need to fear his spiritual surgery. In fact, when we humbly receive his Word, the results are always a lighter spirit and a closer relationship with him.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, Thank you that your Word has living power. Keep drawing me to your Word. Open my heart to hear and receive the message that you need to speak to me today.
Today’s devotion written by Julie Kitchen, Lifeway Epping
"For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you. The correction of discipline is the way to life"
To Ponder
When this verse is read in the context of the previous verses, it can be seen that it refers to the commands and teaching of parents. Most of us will admit that, even when we disagree with our parents (and for many of us that happens a lot as teenagers, when we are starting to feel our own way in life, to hold our own opinions), our parents’ lived experience and advice or teaching is valuable for guiding us through life.
How much more so the teaching and commands of our Heavenly Father: He made us. He knows us. He understands our weaknesses: the struggles we face and the wrestle that we have with sin. And he knows our needs, particularly our need to be in relationship with Him. Our Heavenly Father provides his teaching and commands for us through his Word. His Word does light the way, making the right path clear.
When we choose to walk a different way to the one our Heavenly Father lights up for us, we will suffer the consequences, including a fractured relationship with our Father. These consequences are a form of discipline, and repentance (a U-turn) is needed to get us back on the correct path.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you that you lovingly guide us through life. Thank you that you also allow consequences when we stray from your good path, so that we recognise the need to correct our route. Give us humility, to admit when we are wrong. Thank you for being ever ready to forgive us and welcome us back into relationship with you.
Today’s devotion written by Julie Kitchen, Lifeway Epping
“This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.… Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose even the whole world would not have room for the books.”
To Ponder
When we talk about the Bible being reliable, it’s not about every tiny detail lining up perfectly—it’s about God’s big-picture story. Take John’s Gospel—he’s basically saying, 'I saw it with my own eyes!' but also makes clear the Spirit guided what got written down (John 20:30-31). What we have isn’t random. Every story, every letter points us straight to Jesus’ work of salvation: the cross, the empty tomb, the hope we can’t find anywhere else.
Think about it like this—if I tried to write down everything Jesus did, the world couldn’t hold the books! (That’s actually in John 21:25!). But what we do have? It’s like God handpicked exactly what we need to know him and be changed by him. From Adam to Revelation, it’s about God making broken things whole through Christ.
And here’s the thing his Word is still works. Lives are still transformed by its message. When doubts creep in, we remember—the same God who kept His promises to Israel keeps his Word alive today. We don’t trust the Bible because it’s a magic answer book, but because it keeps pointing us back to the one who said, 'I am the Way' (John 14:6). It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about knowing the answer."
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the gift of the bible—tested, true, and sufficient. Strengthen my trust in your Word, knowing it leads me to Christ, my rock and redeemer. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Nich Kitchen, LifeWay, Epping
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
To Ponder
Sometimes people wonder if the Bible can really be trusted because they hear about supposed contradictions or little differences in the ancient manuscripts. They point to these as proof that the Bible isn’t true. But the Bible’s reliability doesn’t come from humans being perfect—it comes from the one who inspired it. Jesus, the eternal Word, confirms its truth by fulfilling its promises and living out its message.
When doubts about the Bible’s accuracy come up, instead of getting caught up in arguments, we focus on the heart of the Bible: Jesus Christ. His resurrection is the ultimate confirmation that God’s Word is trustworthy (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The same voice that created the universe still speaks life through His Word today. This message isn’t just about proving facts; it’s inviting us into a relationship with the triune God.
Yes, scholars acknowledge there are variations in ancient manuscripts, but over 99% are minor and don’t change what we believe at the core. We have to remember why the Bible exists—to clearly point us to Jesus, who is the answer to every question and doubt. When we talk with people who struggle to trust the Bible, we can follow Jesus’ example: ask gentle questions and share the good news. Just like the Word that called Lazarus out of the tomb, God’s Word still brings hearts to life today—and no human mistake can ever silence that voice.
Prayer:
Lord, give me courage and grace to speak your truth with gentleness. Strengthen my confidence in Jesus, the living Word, and let my words reflect his love and light. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Nich Kitchen, LifeWay Epping