All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
TO PONDER
I sometimes have to laugh when I read this verse because it reminds me of my own attempts at physical training. People in Newcastle will have to forgive me for repeating stories that I am sure I have already shared with them but I love the idea of physical training and improving my fitness but I often require the help of a personal trainer or a training partner to get me motivated and keep me accountable.
The thing that makes me laugh is how often I hear people say, my faith is just something between God and me, it's personal and private. And look, in some ways they are right. Faith is a personal thing and personal devotional time and bible reading is important. But just imagine that statement in a physical training setting. "my personal training is a private thing between me and my trainer." That might also be true but anyone looking will easily know whether I am actually doing my time at the gym. My training regime and personal fitness goals might be between me and my trainer but the results are on display for the whole world to see.
Our faith is like that too. Yes, we might have a deeply personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, but the results of that life changing relationship are on display for all to see; and when the results give us away, when our hearts remain hard and unforgiving, when our motives are selfish and our words are hurtful, then God gives us his word, and the church to hold us accountable and train us in righteousness. Just like physical training it's not always easy, sometimes it hurst for a while, but when we act on the words of the one who set the path for us, we do see results.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to take the journey of discipleship seriously and commit to reading your word daily so that through it you may train me in righteousness and that my life may bring glory to you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
TO PONDER
I am not much of a gardener, but I have carried 3 babies and am constantly in awe of what God does in that process. The little person begins so small that you can’t even see it. It is easy to even forget it is there, and yet God is knitting together all the parts they will need to survive. There is really nothing you as the mother can do to make the baby develop, God is in charge. What a beautiful gift it is! In the same way a seed grows, and so also does faith. God does not call us to make faith grow and develop in others, or even ourselves. Instead we are to be like gardeners, faithfully sharing the hope, joy, love, peace and grace our Jesus gives us. Let us never tire of sharing what Jesus has done for us, and let our amazing God grow faith in those who hear it!
PRAYER: Loving Father, thank you that you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you that you saw me then and you see me now. Help me to be bold in sharing all you have done and are doing in my life. Help me to trust that you will grow the faith of those who hear your Word, Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
TO PONDER
Have you ever gone for a walk at night? Maybe when you were camping and needed the bathroom. It can be dangerous to walk a path you are unfamiliar with, and even more treacherous when you can’t see where you are going. There are obstacles you might miss, you might swerve off the path without even noticing. A torch or lamp is a necessity when you are camping! It lights the way and allows you to stick to the path, reaching your destination safely. It also allows you to avoid obstacles that might trip you up or cause you harm. It is the same in life. There are many things that can cause us to stray from the path of Jesus. There are obstacles that can trip us up, tempting us to live a way different to our calling as children of God. But, the word, the Bible is our lamp. It lights the way of Jesus and helps us to resist temptation and stick close to the path he has set out before us.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you that I have your word, to guide me and instruct me and comfort me. Help me to love your word and to use it to light the path of my everyday life. Thank you that your ways are good. Amen.
Today's devotion by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
TO PONDER
This morning on the news I saw reporting from Adelaide, coverage of the Adelaide Fringe Festival. This festival was a relatively new thing about 10 years ago when my family and I first moved to Australian Lutheran College for me to begin my pastoral studies. The fringe festival, is supposed to be a celebration of minority cultures from around the world and to the organisers credit, one of the matriarchs of the LCA who was known for how she 'spun a yarn' even did a stand up comedy gig once during the festival a few years back before she passed away. I guess now the Lutheran church is a fringe/minority culture so it fits the theme.
However the main attraction for the festival is called 'the garden of unearthly delights' and while I never attended it, the promotional material suggested that it really was just a vent to see things that decent people probably don't need to be seeing, and to drink and indulge the senses in almost any way imaginable.
Too often the world around us seeks to derail our walk as disciples of Jesus by appealing to our senses, appealing to those things that 'delight' us. Yet for the writer of today's psalm, the Word of God, His laws and commands were where he found delight. And why not, there is so much that is delightful about God's word and what he has revealed to us about himself in that word.
He is our Loving Heavenly Father, rich in mercy and abounding in steadfast love for those who love him and walk in his ways. Isn't that the kind of walk in the park of 'unearthly delights' that we should be looking for?
PRAYER: Lord help me to recognise and experience the delight that comes from walking with you and doing things your way. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’a]”
TO PONDER
If you could choose the ultimate meal what would it include? This question is a hard one for me to answer, because eating special food is something that brings me great joy. I love a special meal, with many courses, maybe even paired with wines selected by the chef to match and enhance the food. But, sometimes there is also nothing better than a good burger and perfect fries, finished off with an ice cold soft drink. I spend a lot of time thinking about food; what will my family eat this week? What will I have for lunch? Is there a chocolatey snack I can enjoy after dinner? Food is a big part of our lives, but Jesus points out here that it is not enough to sustain us. We can be physically fed well, but unless we are tasting and enjoying the Word of God then we will never be truly satisfied or live a full life. Let’s challenge ourselves in this Lenten season to hunger after God’s Word and to think on it and find joy in it.
PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for the bible, the way you speak to me and reveal yourself to me through it. Thank you also for Jesus, the Word made flesh. Help me hunger to read and understand your word. Thank you that when I open the pages you will speak to me. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
TO PONDER:
As I prepared to go through security at the airport last week, it struck me again how conformity is such a powerful force in our lives. Those simple barriers that funnel us down a certain path, snaking back and forth until we get to the front of the line where we are then directed to one of the security scanning lines. Conformity is easy. It requires little effort. All you need to do is follow the path where it leads. It happened at the Tennis and the standing for the National anthem. It happens when we join the line at the checkout in any store. It happens as we follow local customs in countries that we visit in order to fit in. Conformity is easy. Every day the culture in which we live has an impact on us. It subtly squeezes us into its mold of living, thinking, acting.
Paul says, as people who are alive in the Spirit, as people who have received the mercy of God, we are called to live a reimagined life. To daily walk in newness of life. When Paul says, be transformed, he is saying, 'let God continue to transform you'. Let God continue to shape you and mold you. It's not a once off thing. It's a daily occurrence.
Let God shape you in the decisions you make today. Let God's will form you in the actions that you take today. Let God's heart inspire and motivate what you do today. That's hard work. It requires effort. And it always involves radical change. It's walking up the escalator when everyone else is going down. It's being prepared to take a stand for truth, when everyone else has subscribed to Groupthink. It's consciously choosing to see the world through God's eyes. And when we do that Paul says, we will find ourselves being changed by that, we will start living reimagined lives that will begin to impact the world and culture in which we live, move and have our being.
PRAYER:
Lord God, transform my thinking and my actions today, that in everything I am and do, I may consciously choose to live the reimagined life you have graciously given to me. Amen.
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.
TO PONDER:
The Swiss Army knife. It's a great travel companion. It can help us build things, put things together, fix things, find our direction, get us out of challenging situations. I didn't realise that there are over 800 different tools that have been included in a Swiss Army knife over the years. The largest one has 73 different functions meaning whatever you face on your adventure, you'll have what you need to get you out of challenging situations - a blade, a screwdriver, a magnifying glass, a wood saw, a can opener, a hook, a corkscrew, a wire stripper, tweezers, scissors, pliers, fish scaler, nail file, ruler, hex drive just to name a few.
In our verse today, Jesus promises his disciples something even better than a Swiss Army knife. Jesus called him the helper or as it's translated in the NIV, the advocate. But the word used is parakletos; a word that means a whole lot of things, that performs a whole lot of functions. As an Advocate the Spirit is always by your side revealing God's great vision for your life. He is your Helper, He calls, gathers, enlightens, emboldens you as you carry out Christ's mission...you are never called to help yourself. The Spirit is your Counsellor, providing wisdom and insight about yourself, about Jesus, bringing clarity in difficult and confusing situations, reminding you of who you are. The Spirit is your Encourager; reminding you of who you are in Christ, revealing the beauty of Christ in the world to you to fill you with courage and hope to push on. The Spirit is your Comforter, ever present when the pain of life confronts and overwhelms you.
The Parakletos, greater than any Swiss Army knife, is yours for the journey. There is not a situation or a moment in the adventure of discipleship that Jesus has called you to, where he is not present to give you what is needed to not only survive, but thrive as you follow Jesus Christ. The Spirit is Christ's gift to you; he lives in you. Enjoy today's adventure.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of your Spirit, my companion for the adventure you have called me to embark on in your name today. I step into this new day with courage with the Spirit who lives in me forever. Amen.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
TO PONDER:
When it comes to life, we all have ways of doing things. Our rules of life. How we fold the sheets. How we hang up our clothes. How we go about cleaning the house. How we mow the lawns. How we stack the dishwasher. How we unload the groceries. Chances are you don't think about it much, until someone does it different from you! So are you a one-trip uploader or a multi-trip un-loader? Do you load far more on your arms that you should, grabbing hold of so many bags that some of the handles cut into your arms, that you struggle to close the boot, that you have to awkwardly navigate your way into the kitchen, only to put it down and exhale a breath of relief when the load is removed? Do you find yourself calling to the nearest person, "Can you come and grab this before it drops and break'?
I wonder whether many of us are one-trip carriers when it comes to our way of life spiritually. We carry too much on our own. We try to deal with all the things that life loads up on us, on our own. When life is a struggle, when life is hurting, we just think to ourselves, 'I can do this...I can make it a little further'.
Jesus never meant us to do life that way. He has a way of life that is really quite simple. Jesus says come to him, Take his yoke. Learn from him, And find rest in him. That's discipleship...it's a way of life that leads to an abundance of joy. Are you willing to learn a new way of life? Are you willing to come...today...to Jesus? To leave your self-reliant, I do this myself, efforts. To let Jesus carry the baggage of sin you hold that will do permanent damage? To hand over the weight of shame, guilt, disappointment, struggle that is painful and leaving marks on your soul and weighing you down so much that it is making your journey awkward and unbearable?
A new way of life begins just by coming to Jesus. Jesus says it's not complicated. Come + take + learn = a rest you never thought possible. That's his promise and invitation to you today.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I need a new way of doing things, of living. Help me hear your invitation and to come to you today, for I long for the rest you alone can give. Amen.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
TO PONDER:
Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is big business. Retailers love it, so do restaurant owners!. It's all about showing love, whether it's penning a few words that express your deepest feelings in a card, buying flowers or chocolates or both to give to someone you love. But today is also Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent where tonight, ashes will be placed on our head to symbolise the dust from which God made us. The ashes also symbolise grief - the grief caused by sin and the the resulting separation that occurs in our relationship with God. It's a time of reflection...as we remember who we are, and more importantly who God is.
Yet in many ways, it is fitting that they both come together on this day...for the cross of ashes on our head also points to the deep love of God that could not let us go. God gives you his heart forever. He gives you unfailing love, a love that would pay the ultimate cost to make you his forever. A love that would stop at nothing, not even death, to reveal his love, to demonstrate his love, so you could experience the fullness of his love. It's a love that is yours, not because you deserve it, but because you are worth it. Whether you get flowers, chocolates, a card or not, you have God's heart, a love that is patient and kind, a love that always trusts, always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. A love that will never fail you. There is no greater demonstration of that love, than the love God declared in his Son who was nailed to a tree for you. Happy Valentine's Day to you...with love from God.
PRAYER:
Wow God, I struggle to comprehend the lengths to which you have gone, to demonstrate your love for me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I receive that love and will step out embraced by your love for me today. I love you too. Amen.