When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
TO PONDER
This is a wonderful Psalm, I'd encourage you to open up your Bible and read the whole thing - it's not too long! But the thing that I marvel at every time I read it and it is captured to an extent in the above verses is that the God who created us, actually created humanity, specifically Adam and Eve, as the pinnacle of his creation, to rule with Him over the things of His creation. There is in this language, and in the language of Genesis chapters 1-3 in which the first humans were made to work alongside God in bringing order to the chaos that existed prior to God's creative acts.
This kind of 'working together' is then re-affirmed by Jesus who constantly reminded his disciples that he was giving them his authority to go and do the things they had seen him do, to proclaim the kingdom of heaven, to heal the sick, cast out evil spirits and to care for the need of others. He even said, you will do even greater works than what I have done when you receive the Holy Spirit.
How incredible to think that the God who created the entire universe, wants and calls you to partner with him in his work and to be part of His mission to the world!
PRAYER: O Lord, our Lord how majestic your name in all the earth! What a privilege it is to be called your child and to be invited to join you in the work of calling others into your kingdom. Please help me to grow in my faith and in my capacity to partner with you in all the plans you have for my life both now and in eternity. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
TO PONDER
What does healing a paralysed man have to do with forgiveness of sins? You kind of have to read the whole story (Mark 2:1-12) to get what's really going on here. Jesus is making a point to those gathered around him, particularly the religious leaders, that he has the authority to forgive sins. He sets them up with the following statement, "Which is easier, to say to this man 'your sins are forgiven' or to say, 'take up your mat and walk'. That's when we get to the verse for today.
The thing about the works of Jesus is that they are not always obvious or what you might expect. The friends of this paralysed man brought him to Jesus to be healed physically of his paralysis but the first thing Jesus does is forgive him of his sin, then makes a point to the gathered crowd, and then heals the mans paralysis.
Sometimes what God wants to achieve in a situation is different to what we want or might expect. The key is to approach every situation in pray, trusting and asking Holy Spirit to guide and lead you into the works God wants to do through you. Sometimes it might very well be to pray for miraculous healing, other times it might be to sit and listen and help someone come to repentance and to announce the forgiveness of God to them, other times it might be to speak a challenging word to them about a misconception they have about God or faith.
Remember we are called to be disciples, or followers. We are no good as disciples if we are not watching and listening carefully to the one we are supposed to follow. By all means, tell him your agenda, but always be prepared to submit to his.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you gave your disciples authority to cast out demons and to heal in your name. Help me to be aware of your agenda as I go through my days. Help me not to get so caught up in my agenda, that I forget to address the work you have for me to do. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
TO PONDER
When you think of world conquerors from history such as Attila the Hun, Adolph Hitler, Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great, what is the first thing that comes to mind? I suspect it might not be very positive.
You might be thinking that these people amassed large tracts of land and built empires, usually by war with large armies and mass violence. You may be thinking that these people have made such an impact, their influence remains to this day.
We are conquerors, in fact more than conquerors, which means we can have an influence, or an impact on those around us. We are allowed to. In fact, we are called to! Because of the conquering work of God through Jesus, we can transform future history and the world around us, by our actions and reactions and words and lives. In Christ, We can transform history and affect the future, and make sure His influence remains to this day!
PRAYER: Ruler of all, thank you for loving us into your kingdom. Thank you for winning the war against the evil one and letting us continue those winning ways. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping.
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
TO PONDER
Are you ready to trample on snakes? Australia has plenty, so it might be possible. This text reminds me of the snake handling churches in the USA, that accept the alternative ending of Mark’s Gospel. This text permits followers whose faith is strong to handle deadly snakes and drink poison. (By the way, one of their leaders died recently…of snakebite).
But here Jesus is promising protection from evil while we are engaged in spiritual warfare. The previous verse has 72 missionaries returning from some ministry stuff, ‘with joy’. They are gushing about how they could work wonders through the power of Jesus. And Jesus is giving them, and us, a safe passage and protection from every assault of the enemy. Because the more ministry activities we are involved in, the more we become vibrant disciples, the more the enemy will try and sabotage it.
God remains in charge. God has the final authority. God has defeated the evil one once and for all, meaning we too have an agenda for rejoicing.
PRAYER:In our work and play Lord, continue to watch over us. Forgive us for the times we let the enemy get in the way of your work. Thank you for the protection you constantly provide. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
TO PONDER
Interesting enough, it was Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher, and atheist, who first coined the phrase ‘what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger’. It’s a phrase often used and is even a hit song by Kelly Clarkson.
Our text hints at this as well. …after you have suffered a little while…and we do.
As a follower of Jesus, pretty well anything can happen. You think life will be easier being a follower of Jesus? Think again. You think there will be endless joy being a Christian? Nup! We’re not immune to the tough things that life throws at us. Christ-followers (that’s you and me) get cancer, bury children, and battle addictions. It’s not the absence of storms that sets us apart. It’s who we discover in the storm. For us people of faith, it’s how we act, and react, and handle life. Faith doesn’t make things easy; it just makes things possible. Being a Christian doesn’t mean you won’t fall. It means you won’t stay down when you do.
The final verse above tells us that the best is yet to come. We will be restored! That is something to rejoice in.
PRAYER: God, we know that life can sometimes be cruel. We know that there will be suffering ahead for us or for our loved ones. Reassure us that spending eternity will far outweigh the hassles we sometimes have on earth. In our discipleship walk, give us the words to say to those who don’t know what you offer. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
TO PONDER
Some of the ‘resisting the devil’ has been done. Most of you won’t remember it, but your Godparents certainly can. It was at your baptism, when your parents and Godparents responded to the questions by the pastor to renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. And then soon after, the miracle occurs with the promises of God through water and word. Splashed with promise. That can be comforting for us.
If the devil can’t get a foothold, he’ll back off. He isn’t weak and insignificant, but because you are now joined to God, his chances are diminished. This God who claimed you, and who has written your name in the book of heaven, and who watches over you even when you forget, is in control of all things over your life. Sometimes we need to remember to let him!
PRAYER: God who is in charge, thank you for offering us a refuge – a place we can go and be still – a safe place where you will fight off all that life sometimes throws at us. Bless our journey of walking with you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
TO PONDER
When I played cricket, we had a weapon to repel that hard cricket ball coming at us. The weapon was a bat. If you had a good eye, that’s all you needed. The bat stopped the ball getting you out or hitting you. But if you didn’t have a good eye, there was more amour available. I was very thankful then for pads to protect your legs, a thigh-pad, padded gloves, and later in life, a helmet. There were a couple of other protective pieces of equipment that could be used if you were a little wary of the opposition. In the competitive world or sport, this gear protects you from the enemy.
As followers of Jesus, we also have some protection against the enemy. And one of the best items of amour is the Word. The Word of God withstands all bombardment. When the pastors of Lifeway do a pre-baptism visit, we encourage the families to know, and repeat The Lord’s Prayer (or the Our Father) out loud, whenever they are in strife, or can’t sleep, or are tempted.
It's a good reminder that the closer we are to God, the further we are from the devil. It’s an easy piece of amour to have close to you.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the amour you provide for us when the going gets tough. Keep reminding us that with that protection, you have our back, you are in control, and you will lead us through the battle. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
TO PONDER
What trap? What’s the psalmist talking about here?
Hidden traps, that will often appear. Trap such as temptation. Now, it’s not a sin to be tempted, but falling to the temptation is where we can get caught.
So we ask God to watch over us in everything we do. To keep an eye out for the things we’ll miss. To remind us that he’s in control anyway, despite us often forgetting or not caring.
And do you recognize the last part of the verse? Where have you heard that? ‘Into your hands I commit my spirit’…
Look at the readings for Good Friday, and the Words Jesus says on the cross. It’s some of his final words on earth, before the great awakening of Easter Sunday morning. It’s some end words before death is defeated forever. It’s the last bit before life begins again.
Our reading today is a plea for God to keep watching over our lives, whilst being reminded that we have a faithful God, and he will turn up – no matter what our circumstances.
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for turning up. Give us a watchful eye to avoid those things which get in the way of walking with you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
TO PONDER
‘If? There are no ifs among believers’, says another translation. Sometimes we have doubts. Sometimes we’re unsure. Sometimes we’re nervous, especially if it’s talking about our faith to others. That can be scary!
And in your Christian walk, in your journey of discipleship, you might also be thinking, ‘I’m not worthy’. I’m not good enough’. Or ‘I should be a better Christian’. You can stop thinking that, because there isn’t such a thing in the vocabulary of our Christian faith. Here are some reassuring facts. You are a Christian. Full stop. That happened at your baptism. You belong to the kingdom revealed in Christs transfiguration. The truth is that the more we concentrate on the saints that we are through Christ, the more we will act like the saints that we are! That’s what a vibrant disciple is. Acting like the saints we already are. So, you’re halfway there. God has already set you free. We who are Gods people are the ones who are free to be vibrant. Only by God’s grace are we set free never to have to justify our existence – we never have to prove to others that we are wonderful. We are declared important, beautiful, saints – by Gods’ forgiveness and reconciliation. Therefore, you and I can go out from wherever we are, and begin to change the world, and not have to worry that we’re not good enough. All things then, are possible.
PRAYER:Thank you for that gift, Lord, that gift of grace we don’t deserve but you give us anyway! What a wonderful present you’ve given us. Help us to share that gift with others. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping