He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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
There is a little audio clip that plays on the Christian radio in Newcastle which is an advertisement for a regular program on the station. The preacher on the clip says something like the following and I can't help think it was based on today's verse. He says, "Stop worrying about if, when, or how Jesus is going to come back, and start worrying about what you're doing while you're waiting!"
I think this is a problem for many of us in the affluent society in which we live. On the one hand our wealth often affords us too much 'free time' to contemplate abstract existential questions which actually distract us from the task of living the new life we have in Christ - a life which is supposed to be marked by our witness to Jesus, not our 'supposed' internal wisdom or understanding, but our external expression of what it looks like to be a follower or disciple of Jesus.
On the other hand, our pursuit of wealth and financial security can make us so busy chasing the next promotion or pay rise, that we are too exhausted, or too short of time and energy to be much of a useful witness to Jesus because our only thoughts and efforts are in pursuit of the almighty dollar, not the almighty God of all creation.
The good news is that it is the Holy Spirit at work in us who draws us back into line with God's will and intent for us. We can't effectively witness to Jesus on our own, but it is by the equipping and empowering of the Holy Spirit of God that we can be effective witnesses to Christ wherever we are.
So whatever you find yourself doing today, take some time to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guid you throughout the day and help you to bear witness to Jesus in all that you do.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to your people to equip and empower us to bear witness to you to the ends of the earth. Holy Spirit lead and guide me today so that in all I say and do, I might bear witness to Christ Jesus my saviour. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
TO PONDER
I was in my first year at seminary before I ever stopped to read these opening words from Luke's gospel. They are often overlooked as they serve as a kind of preface to the 'real story' which comes in the following verses. Two things stuck out to me when I was first asked to consider it carefully.
- Theophilus is a Greek name which translated means basically 'Friend of God' (Theo=God, Philoi=friend), there is much debate as to whether this 'Theophilus' was an actual person, or whether it is the assumed title of anyone who reads Luke's gospel as a 'friend of God'. I chose the latter interpretation because that means Luke wrote this gospel account so that I would know the truth of what had been taught.
- When I read the gospel of Luke, I have a document researched and compiled by an educated man (Luke was a doctor) and an amateur historian. He assures us, his readers, that he has gone to great lengths to ensure, as much as possible, the accuracy of what he is reporting. It is not just here-say and conjecture.
What stories do you have, what eye witness accounts have you heard of the work that God is still doing in the world today? Do you reflect on them and analyse them in the light of scripture to test their voracity and share them with others? This is part of the role of a disciple who bears witness to Jesus. Our lives should be a curated display of what God has done, available for all to see. On our lips should always be ready a response for those others who could be called 'Friends of God', those who are looking for him and have question or need some answers.
How might you undertake to draw up an ordered account of the things that Jesus has fulfilled in your life and amongst us, his church?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to be aware of the way you move in the world and the part you invite me to play in your work of transforming the world and bringing new life to it. Help me, like Mary, to treasure up in my heart the things I see you doing and help me to be bold in sharing them with others. Amen
Today's devotion by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
TO PONDER
I've been interacting with a number of older people lately how have been asking a similar question, "What is God's plan for me at this stage of my life?"
Many of these people are confused or frustrated because their aging bodies no longer allow them to participate or contribute to the life of the church in the ways that they used to. Many are sad or concerned that their own children have moved away from the church and often from faith in Jesus.
This was something that was lamented at our recent district synod, the fact that across Lutheran churches of the ACT and NSW, many of our congregations are empty of young people. While that is undoubtedly a sad situation, one of the things I love seeing at Newcastle is the way our older people take seriously the task of passing on the faith to the next generation. It doesn't really take much. In fact, it is precisely what the psalmist is talking about that has kept our kids engaged. When we adults take the time to get to know the children and share with them what God has done in our lives and create space for them to share with us what God is doing in their lives, then we can be mutually encouraged and help each other to see the might acts of God - even if we are old and grey
PRAYER: young people in our churches andthey in our wider communities. Help me to be an encourager and supporter of people younger than myself. Help me to proclaim your might deed to all those who come behind me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
TO PONDER
We don't use the word 'zeal' much any more these days. I guess we tend to have 'passion' for certain things or we become 'fans' of particular people or things. But I wanted to ask, when was the last time you felt a real 'zeal' for something; a deep passion for a particular thing or cause?
Recently we have, like every other family with teenage daughters, been experiencing a 'Taylor Swift' obsession in our household. Strangely, before she came and toured Australia we rarely heard her music or anything about her around the house. Now it's all 'Taylor this and Taylor that'. Zeal for Taylor seems to have gripped our daughter.
Likewise, the AFL has started again and zeal for the Adelaide Crows has returned to our house with a vengeance.
To an extent, these 'zeals' or 'passions' are relatively harmless. However they prompt the question, 'when was the last time you felt zeal or passion for the things of God?'
God has given us the things of this life to enjoy and to take pleasure in, but He is still to be our first love, the thing/person for which we hold the greatest zeal and passion. So if you are really into football (whichever code you prefer), or if you have some other passion that you just can't help tell others about, perhaps take a moment from time to time to check which passion your talk about the most. If it's not God and what he has done for you through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, then maybe you want to ask him to help shift your priorities.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts of this life, the things in which we find pleasure and delight. Please help me to always find my greatest delight in you and be prepared to show my zeal for you at every opportunity. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
TO PONDER
In my humble opinion, the verse for today is the best finishing line of any of the gospel accounts of scripture. What it does is it almost allows us to become part of those 'other things' that Jesus did as well. I mean let's be honest, it is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that makes us Christians who we are today. Our faith in him is something he has given, something he has called us to, by His Spirit and by His Word. And what's even more incredible is that Jesus is still at work in and through us doing things in the world today.
Despite our lack of training or preparedness, despite our tendency toward sin and rebellion, despite our own fears and concerns Jesus is at work in and through us still doing tings that we can notice. Still giving us encounters and stories of him which we carshare with others. They may not be written down in the canon of scripture, but that doesn't mean Jesus is not the one behind them. It doesn't mean we should not share them.
So what are some of the things you have seen Jesus do in your life or in the lives of others? Who have you told, How have you shared and proclaimed the might deeds of the Lord our God?!
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to remember you are still doing things. Not only do you work via your Spirit in the hearts and lives of your people but you intercede for us before the Father as our great high priest. May I never cease to be amazed at all you do and all you have done for me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
TO PONDER
This verse really leaves a sour taste in my mouth and I think it raises the same question in me as it does for many Christians today. Why do I not see God doing these things among his people today? Is it because we do not have enough faith? Is it because we simply do not trust or believe in God enough? Is it because there is a flaw in my theological reasoning? The reasons we could come up with would easily fill an entire library. However I suspect the real reason is because we are scared.
Are we scared that Jesus might actually show up and make our comfortable little lives a bit less comfortable? Jesus was also talking here about the Holy Spirit that would be a helper to the apostles and enable them to do even greater works than Jesus did as he himself ascended into heaven. We have seen what the Holy Spirit did at pentecost. We can see all the way through the book of Acts, the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those that Jesus called to follow him.
He has also called you and me to believe in him and to keep up the works that he was doing. So are you?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to know when and how you are asking me to do your works so that I might be bold in proclaiming your name to those you place in my life. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
TO PONDER
There are a few different ways you might write a job description for a disciple of Jesus. The above verse might not be a bad way to start.
I think these days we often tend to lower expectations so that we, or others, are not too disappointed if we fail to reach our goal. We use phrases like, 'discipleship is about becoming more like Jesus." Now that's not wrong, but when most Christians say it they mean things like, having more patience, being 'nice' to others and being more generous with their time and money.
Again, none of that is wrong, But Jesus also commanded the wind and the waves to calm the storm, he cast out demons, and healed the sick. If we are going to become more like Jesus, shouldn't we be doing all the works of Jesus, including some of the ones just listed?
Jesus gives his disciples authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal the sick. Maybe, just maybe, there is more to being a disciple than learning to be 'nice'.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you are the source of my life and the model of what my life should look like as your disciple. Help me always to know all the ways that following you leads to fulness of life both for me but also through me to those around me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
TO PONDER
I know, I know - it's a long reading for a short devotion, but let me ask you this, what would you leave out? This story has everything, it starts with a command from Jesus, then a question or perhaps an expression of doubt from Martha. Isn't this how most of us relate when Jesus asks us to do something? "Surely you don't really want me to do that Jesus".
Then come Jesus' words of assurance, "did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" The glory of God is the reward for those who believe in Jesus. It may not always be immediately visible or perceivable, but it is the promised reward, and God always keeps his promises.
Then there's the act of obedience, in other words, assured by the promise, the people do what Jesus asks. This too is to be our response - we may question at first, but once reassured by the promise we are to respond with obedience.
In their act of obedience Jesus brings life where there was death. Notice though how their obedience did not give them life. Their obedience brought life to someone else. This is the work of Jesus, to bring life where there is death. He asks us as his disciples to help with that work by obediently following him and his instruction so others may encounter the Glory of God through us.
PRAYER: Lord God, you bring life, even when we are surrounded by death and not able to see how you could turn things around. Forgive me when I doubt what you can do and help me to obey you in all things so that others may see your glory. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
TO PONDER
What is Jesus willing to do that you may not be? We all know how a leper was viewed by their community at the time of Jesus; they were 'unclean' according to Jewish religious laws and as such were shunned from their communities. No one else would have been willing even to approach this man, but Jesus just reached right out and touched him and brought healing.
I sometimes wonder if Jesus is willing to do more with us than we are willing to do. What if Jesus is saying to you, "I am willing to heal this person - would you reach out your hand in my name and pray for their healing?" Or maybe Jesus is willing to break someone free of an addiction and wants you to be the one to deliver that freedom in his name. Would you be willing? Would you be prepared to trust that Jesus might actually do something and to be the one through which he does it? That is, after all, what being a disciple of Jesus is all about - following him and his direction.
Is he directing you or are you unwilling to to do the works he has prepared in advance for you to do?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for being willing to go to the cross to bring me life, healing and forgiveness. Help me to be willing to serve others with the same kind of sacrificial service with which you have already served me. Amen