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1 John 3:16-18

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

TO PONDER

I hope you will forgive the slightly longer verse today. But I think I'll make up for it with a shorter than usual reflection.

We often talk a lot about love. We say "I love you" easily and use the word 'love' to talk about food, sporting teams, pets and people.

Love in the Bible is not a noun, it's not simply a thing you have. In the Bible, love is a verb. It's a doing word, an active thing that requires deliberate participation.

So let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. Let's see what that kind of love can do in the name of Jesus.

PRAYER: Jesus, teach me to love the way you love. Help me live a life of love in action. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle

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Hebrews 13:2

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

TO PONDER

Back in the 1990's the Christian music group, 'Newsboys', had a song called "Entertaining Angels". It captured some of the sentiment of this verse and also the idea that Heaven rejoices over 1 sinner who repents (Luke 15:7,10).

More important than the angels though are the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40 when he says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

It is often too easy to forget that as we welcome, support and show love and hospitality to others, we also serve our Lord Jesus. Maybe next time you're inclined to respond to someone out of tiredness or frustration, you might do well to pause and consider Jesus standing in your shoes or in theirs and ask yourself, "How would Jesus react to this other person?" or, "How would I react if this other person were Jesus?" Either way, there's a good chance your response might look different if you can train yourself to think this way.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, you always had time for others and responded to their needs with graciousness and love. Help me to show that same love and compassion for others, even when I might feel like responding in more selfish ways. Remind me that whenever I serve others I am also serving you. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle

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Romans 12:13

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

TO PONDER

Let me summaries a story I heard on a leadership podcast recently. A restaurateur in New York, Daniel Humm, owner and Head Chef of Eleven Madison Park, explained that he realised that all the fine food, top notch silver service, and restaurant ambience in the world was not going to set his restaurant apart from all the other world class restaurants doing exactly the same thing. He decided that generous hospitality was going to be the distinctive element of his restaurant.

On the podcast he shared stories of listening to the conversations happening at tables in his restaurants and learning the needs of his customers and doing whatever he could to meet those needs. Things like sending wait staff from the restaurant to feed a diners parking metre so they did not have to rush out at the end of the meal. One time he heard a group of people who had been on a food tour of the USA and finished their trip with a meal in his restaurant, lamenting that they probably did not have time to find a NYC street vendor hot dog before heading to the airport. To make sure his guests did not leave with any regrets he took himself to a hot dog vendor he knew a couple of blocks away, had his chefs 'tizzy' them up a bit on a fancy plate and presented them with a complementary New York hotdog before leaving. All of this in what is supposed to be one of New Yorks best fine dining restaurants. Anyway, his outrageous hospitality has made his restaurant one of the top 10 in the world.

I'm not sure hospitality always comes naturally. Certainly not that kind of generous hospitality. Perhaps that's why Paul tells the Romans, and us, to practice it.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you always listened and heard people and saw their need. You also always found just the right way to meet their needs. Help me to be generous in showing hospitality to others. Help me to soo those who are in need and to recognise what abilities you have given me to meet those needs in your name. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle

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James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

TO PONDER

We recently celebrated 'R U OK' Day here in Australia. For those who aren't familiar with it, it's a day dedicated to raising awareness and prevention of mental health issues and suicide. The idea being that we remember to ask our friends and family, "Are you okay?"

Now it's a nice idea but consider this... how many times has someone asked you how you're going or if you are okay and your response has been something like, "yep, I'm fine thanks", while somewhere just below the surface you have a whole world of burdens you are carrying which you do not want everyone else to see?

In today's reading from James we are encouraged to consider the community of faith to be a place where we can openly admit and confess to one another that we are sinners. That doesn't mean that there are no consequences for sin in the Christian Community. When we hurt or betray one another with our words and actions, trust can be broken and can need time and help to be mended, but that healing doesn't even begin until things are aired out in the open.

Consider today what your part is in making your church community a place where people are free and comfortable to share not just the joys and successes of life but also confident in sharing their failures and struggles knowing that they will receive support and encouragement as they seek reconciliation and forgiveness.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, so often it is easier to judge others instead of listen and support them. Help me to play my part in making my church community a place where people can feel safe to really share their lives with one another in both the good times and the struggles. Help me to listen without judgement, to forgive as you forgive and to love as you love. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle

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Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching.

TO PONDER

Life is hard. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good things that happen in life and it can be filled with fun and good times too, but every day there are choices to make, things to do, obligations to meet, goals to achieve. How do you fit it all in?

I've noticed, particularly since covid, that many people have prioritised 'family time'. Now again, don't get me wrong, prioritising family time is a great idea but the challenge for us is to not prioritise our family time over God's family time.

What seems to be happening now that life is picking up pace after Covid, people want to maintain a bit more space and time in their lives and they are finding it by ditching church. And you often hear excuses like, "Well you don't have to go to church to be a Christian", or "My faith is just something between me and God anyway and I can watch all sorts of preaching on line these days anyway." These people are not technically wrong, but they are missing something. Who is encouraging them? Who is supporting them? Who is asking them the tough questions when they are tempted to further compromise their faith, when faced with the pressures that the world consistently throws at us?

Don't be tempted to give up your church community for 'extra time'. Make it part of your family time, integrate church and faith time into fun family activities. Incorporate it into your social time and invite some of your church family toning out with your work friends. Let's not see 'church' as an extra thing, but as the central thing that supports and encourages us in the other spheres of our lives.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of being part of your family. Help me not to turn my back on the gift of my church family in preference for other things. Help me to be an encouraging and supportive member of my church both among its members and among the community you have given us to serve. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle

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Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

TO PONDER

I remember the 'kids' camp song, "cast your burdens" perhaps you know it but it's basically a repeated refrain of the words, "Cast you burdens onto Jesus, for he cares for you".

The way we care for and support each other in community is one of the ways we show the love of Jesus to the world. But how can we care effectively for each other if we are not open to sharing with each other the struggles, trials and disappointments that life throws at us. We live in a world that is increasingly obsessed with projecting only the positive parts of our lives and increasingly seems to encourage us to keep the bad parts hidden. But despite what Facebook, Instagram and TikTok might be showing you the data suggests a different reality.

Various studies suggest that approximately 20% of the adult population in Australia has or will suffer from a stress or anxiety disorder in their lifetime. And about 16% of Australian adult experiences feelings of acute loneliness which impacts negatively on both their mental and physical health. How do we know if we can not create a safe and welcoming place where people can openly share the reality of their life without fear of judgement? How can we offer the help and comfort of Jesus when we have no Idea where that help is needed most.

Let's be a place where people can openly share their burdens and in doing so, encounter the non judgemental love and grace of Jesus.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes it is difficult not to judge when I encounter people who are different and see things differently from myself. Please help me to see others the way you see them. Help me to care and to listen and to respond with your love. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle

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Acts 4:33

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.

TO PONDER

There's two interesting things going on in this passage from the book of Acts, the gospel message of Jesus was faithfully and powerfully being proclaimed and God's grace was at work in all the people.

These two things together make a powerful witness to Jesus. We can be charitable, speak kindly about and to others, get involved in the community and serve people in all sorts of ways, but without the gospel message of Jesus, we are just a bunch of 'nice', community minded people. Conversely, we can talk about the gospel message of Jesus, but if those we are talking to do not see how that makes any difference in our lives, then it's often not a very compelling message in today's world.

It is when the people of God together, in community, get busy sharing Jesus in both word and deed, that their witness to Jesus becomes powerful and effective. If you are part of the community of believers, you have a role to play!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to remember that I am an integral part of my church and how I live my life as one of your disciples, affects the mission of our entire church community. Give me strength and courage to get involved with the gifts and talents that you have given me. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle

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Philippians 2:3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.Rather, in humility value others above yourselves

TO PONDER

Does anyone want to be at the top, to be a star or idol? Is it your desire to be important? Yet words like “top,” “idol,” and “star” do not describe the joyful Christian’s life. What is more important? To be a celebrity or to imitate Christ? Genuine joy is expressed in Christlike humility. Humility is difficult but practicing selfish pride sows seeds of death in the midst of life. Why do we tend to measure self-worth against the perceived success or failures of others? Is it because we think life’s ultimate goal is personal fulfillment or that living life at another’s expense will stir feelings of joy? Is that not why Jesus made himself nothing, humbled himself, and become a servant? Surely if the Son of God can come to us to serve us, we can serve him by serving those who He brings into our lives?

PRAYER

Dear Lord, I praise you that human dignity is a gift of your grace. Protect me from pride and make me like Christ so that I will sow the seeds of your joy in others. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping

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Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others upaccording to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

TO PONDER

Everyone should always tell the truth. But one important ingredient in telling the truth was sometimes left out. We should speak the truth in love. We may have told the truth without any regard for how it might hurt the other person. We should say only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. We should ask the Lord to set a guard over our mouth. We all need God’s wisdom in how to speak and how not to.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, thank you for the gifts of speech and communication. But Lord, please set a guard over my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips. Help me to learn to speak the truth in love. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping

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