He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
TO PONDER
I don't know how many of you have ever taken the time to make your own bread. It's one of the things I like about summer holidays, Elise and I have the time to make our own fresh baked bread and we often do. The biggest problem being that a fresh baked loaf of bread is usually half eaten before it has had time to cool.
The thing that is cool about the whole process is physically being able to see the effects of the yeast on the dough. There is almost nothing as exciting in the bread making process (except eating the finished product) than seeing the dough 'come to life', often more than doubling in size as the yeast gets to work on the gluten and does its job as a 'rising agent' by introducing gas bubbles to give that fluffy bread texture.
This is another image that Jesus used to describe what the Kingdom of God is like. It is like yeast in the dough, it expands the dough, it works its way through the whole batch and makes it ready to bake and pleasing to eat.
As part of God's kingdom, as His sons and daughters, we also should be like yeast in the dough. God equips and prepares us with his Holy Word and Holy Spirit, to His bring life to those around us. Our presence in the world should be something that permeates the communities in which we live, that spreads to those who we encounter regularly and that brings a 'light and fluffy' texture to those whom God brings us to love and serve.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Thank you for my daily bread, for the way that you provide for all my needs. Thank you also for your Son Jesus, the Bread of Life. Help me to be a 'rising agent' in your world, bringing the love and life of Jesus to all those who cross my path each day. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
TO PONDER
I have heard this parable explained in multiple ways, but the one that resonates for me the most is to think of the church as the mustard seed and God as the man who plants it.
It is easy for us to lose sight at times of how big the church of God really is. because it is not just about us in our 'little' LifeWay churches. It's not even about the whole Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand; nor is it about only Lutheran churches or in fact people who regularly go to any church.
Luther sometimes talked about the visible and invisible or 'hidden' Church. He recognised that there are people who regularly attend church services and who appear to be 'members' of a church but who have failed to grasp the good news of salvation through faith in Christ alone. He also recognised that there are likely people who the Holy Spirit has called to faith, who regularly read Gods word, and pray and trust that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is all that is necessary for their own salvation, who have never set foot inside a church. The point being, we may never know exactly how big the church of God really is, but it is supposed to grow, to advance, to take up an ever increasing amount of space so that birds of all kinds (ie, people of all nations) will come and perch in its branches, find shelter in it, and a place where they can find rest and safety.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you are Lord of the church, you know where your people are and how you want us to bring your peace and comfort to all the world. Help me when I see data and statistics that show church decline in our society. Help me to trust that you are advancing your kingdom here on earth, and help me to play my part as a member of your body. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
TO PONDER
Simeon was a man who God had promised would live to see his promised messiah. When he held the child Jesus, he instantly knew that what he held in his hands was the fulfilment of God's promise of redemption.
Yet the Holy Spirit also gave Simeon the insight to recognise that the path forward for Jesus and also for Mary, was going to be a difficult road, one which involved social ad political upheaval, personal slander and rejection and ultimately pain and suffering.
Jesus' birth is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a new chapter. Jesus had to grow up, become a man, makes disciples, teach the kingdom of God and lay down his life so that we might truely live.
In the same way, our coming to faith is not the end of the story, it is the beginning of a new chapter of a continuing adventure. Now that we have passed from death to life through faith in Christ we have to live that new life. It's a life modelled on the example of Jesus. A life of growing and maturing in our faith, of making disciples, of sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God, and of service to others. This is how our lives, our stories, and the story of God-with-us moves forward and advances into all the world.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you that your story and adventure for me continues, that as long as I walk upon this earth you have adventure planned for me. I thank you that the path you have set out for me is to advance your work both in me and through me to all the world. Please help me to keep this in mind when the excitement and joy of Christmas fades and the routine of everyday life takes hold. In Jesus' name, Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
TO PONDER
It's a troubling passage of scripture, I know. Not really one that helps you maintain the 'joy' of Christmas, and for that I am sorry.
However, we are quick to deplore the violent and atrocious reaction of Herod to this news that a new 'King' had been born. But I wonder if our reaction is really that much different.
I'm not suggesting that any of us have gone out and been responsible for mass infanticide the same way Herod did, but our response to the 'threat' of a new Lord of our lives, a new 'king' in our hearts is sometimes no less destructive.
The harsh words we speak when motivated by frustration and anger rather that the love our Lord calls us to show, the deceptions and lies we offer ourselves and others in order to cover our own failings rather than speaking the truth our Lord calls us to speak. The acts of violence and vengeance expressed when our Lord calls us to mercy and forgiveness. Each of these (and you may think of others) diminish life when, Our Lord and Saviour and King who came to bring life and life in all its fulness asks us, his people to do likewise.
Herod messed up. No question about that. The question is do we really to that much better? How will you bring life into the world today?
PRAYER: Jesus, I confess I have not always granted you the seat of 'Lord of my life' or 'king of my heart'. Help me to move aside and let you take your rightful place. Lord have your way in me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
TO PONDER
Our theme this week has been the 'perilous adventure'. I don't know if it's right to think of anything as being 'perilous' for God; but if there was ever a plan or situation that was, the birth of Jesus into the world of humanity would surely be it.
Think about it for a moment. The infinite, eternal, creator of all things puts aside all that power and infinite glory and majesty, and willingly makes himself a part of his own creation because it is the one shot He has to put things right between himself and the creation which he loves so dearly. Yet it is not a sure victory. Here in John 1, we hear the reality of the situation. "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. This may have always been God's plan but it was not a plan without risk.
Max Lucado put it this way, “Jesus humbled Himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping in straw. From Holding stars to clutching Mary's finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier. Why? Because that's what love does.”
To borrow a phrase from the world of poker, God went 'all in'. He put it all on the line so that you could be united and restored to himself. It may not have been a gamble, God knew how things would work out, but even so, dying for all people while knowing that some would reject that act of love and mercy makes the life, death and resurrection of Jesus even a more profound expression of God's love for us, don't you think?
PRAYER: God, I can't begin to imagine the fullness of who you are or even begin to understand the enormity of what you did by sending Jesus into the world to bear the pain and punishment of our sins so that we could be restored to relationship with you. I simply ask that you would help me each day to grasp a little more how deep and high and vast and wide your love is for me. Amen
Today's devotion was written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
TO PONDER
Did you ever stop to think about the danger that the baby Jesus faced? Not only is the paranoid king Herod looking to Kill the infant Jesus, but we hear later in the gospels, that the demons and evil spirits the Jesus encountered recognised who he was. I'm sure that Satan was at work right from the very beginning seeking to put an end to God's only son.
And not much has changed. Life this world is dangerous for those connected to or following Jesus. This should not surprise us, Jesus said it would be like that. But have you stopped to really think about How Jesus was kept safe until the appointed time of his. death on the cross?
The short answer is faithful obedience. God told Joseph to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt and so he did. God knows how to keep us safe, he wants to keep us safe. He has already told us much of what we are to do in order to live with relative safety and freedom in the laws and commandments He gave to Moses. The primary thing that stop us from experiencing God's protection is our own disobedience. When we don't go where he calls us, when we fail to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and insist on doing things 'our way' then we put ourselves at risk.
Think of it this way. When a parent tells their child not to touch a hot stove, the child can heed the warning and hence be kept safe, or ignore the warning and experience the pain and injury of a bad burn. As a child of God, what is your response to his instruction going to be?
PRAYER: Lord God, I am sorry for the times when I fail to seek your will and your ways, especially those times when I then want to complain about the poor outcomes or challenges I end up facing which are often the result of my own, well intentioned efforts. Help me to listen to you when you call and help me to trust that your path is always for my good. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
TO PONDER
It often amazes me how God seems to go to great lengths at times to get the attention of certain individuals. He knows we all respond to different kinds of messages. He sent angels to the shepherds, but announced the birth of Jesus to this group of magi by placing a new star in the sky. They saw the star and somehow, according to their ancient wisdom and arts, knew what it meant.
I remember an old school friend of mine telling me how, as a young child, he had come to believe that God answers prayers. One day as he was playing in the sandpit in their family's backyard. He decided that his experience in the sand pit would really be enhanced if he had a Tonka Truck, to move the sand around. As he had no money of his own and felt sure his parent were not likely to respond positively to this request, he turned to God in prayer, as many young children do. Less than a minute later, a Tonka Truck bulldozer appeared to fall out of the sky. What an answer to prayer!?
What my friend didn't realise at the time was that his dad was up on the roof of their garage cleaning out the gutters and found this truck that my friend's older brother had owned and thrown up their months earlier. It was only years later that he heard the truth of the story.
While we might laugh at a story like this, God used that situation to spark faith in my friend at a very young age.
You might feel at times like your attempts at sharing Jesus with others are uninspiring, or ineffective. However, If God can use a 'miraculously' appearing Tonka Truck to spark faith in the life of one of His children, He can surely use you. In fact, when he asks you to share his message, he knows that you are the exact right voice in the exact right place that will engage the ear and grab the attention of those he is calling to himself.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me to remember that you are the one who calls people to faith. Help me to trust that when you call on me to share the Good News of Jesus, that you do in fact know what you are doing and that you will use my meagre efforts to bring about your saving grace in the lives of others. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
TO PONDER
I always wonder why we have such fond and treasured memories of past Christmases, and such excited anticipation for future ones. I mean gathering together with friends and family is great (if your family all get along ok.) The fancy food is nice, but let's be honest we have access to all the foods that make Christmas special all year round. Gift giving and receiving can be a joyful experience, but again, it's not something we can only do at Christmas.
The thing that is unique about Christmas is Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. And that too is something that we have all year round.
Mary was able to recognise the fulfilment of God's promises in the birth of Jesus, and while she may not have been aware of how things would ultimately play out with His death and resurrection, she took the joy of being involved in God's advent-ure to redeem the world with her when all the excitement of the angels, shepherds, the birth, the manger and stable were well behind her.
As people who have become part of God's advent-ure, the things we feel, the things we treasure about Christmas should go with us into the year ahead. The advent-ure and joy of Christmas do not end when Boxing Day sales and Sydney to Hobart races start. We can celebrate and rejoice in them all day, everyday.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to take the joy and excitement of your Christmas with me into each and every day. Help me to treasure the story and adventure of Christmas in my heart all year long so that others might see you alive and at work in me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
TO PONDER
What is it about shepherds? God pulled Moses away from shepherding his father-in-law's sheep to shepherd his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. God took David from shepherding his father Jesse's flocks to make him king over all of Israel. Now, years later and the Messiah, the Good shepherd is born in a manger in Bethlehem, and the first people to find out besides Mary and Joseph are a bunch of shepherds. Perhaps the wise men from the East got an idea on that night as they watched the night sky, but they had a long way to travel to actually encounter Jesus. The shepherds were there on the scene they were the first to meet Jesus.
Sometimes I think we forget how privileged we are to know what we know about Jesus. We are in many ways like those first shepherds who were told the news and then were the first to encounter Jesus. Now 2000 or so years later we can't say we were the first to encounter Jesus, and yet there are so many people in the world today who do not yet know Jesus, who have not hear or have maybe heard the news but not yet actually had a personal encounter with their Lord and Saviour Jesus.
Maybe that's the thing about shepherds, they know a good thing when they see it. They know where the watering holes are, they know how to lead their flocks to green pasture and safe waters. How will you shepherd the people God has given you towards an encounter with their saviour?
PRAYER: Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Please help me to be a faithful steward of the gospel and a good shepherd to the people in my life. Help me to lead people to an encounter with you so that they too may be another place where people might encounter you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle