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.
Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”
TO PONDER:
"We have only five loaves here and two fish.' Have you had a "five loaves and two fish" kind of day? When the problems of life, the struggles in your family, the circumstances before you, or the needs confronting you have caused you to say, "I have only five loaves and two fish".
'A five loaves and two fish' day is a day that is overwhelming, a day where things feel desolate and hopeless. A day where you feel powerless and helpless. A day when you think you cannot either make a difference or deal with what is in front of you. What is your five loaves and two fish day at the present time?
The problem with a five loaves and two fish day, Jesus says, is not a lack of resources, but a lack of imagination and vision for our lives. "...you give them something to eat" Jesus is inviting us to see the circumstances, situations and problems of life in a new way. Where the disciples see limitations, Jesus sees opportunity. Where the disciples focus on the impossible, Jesus imagines the possible. Where the disciples see the problem and look to move it on, Jesus sees the need and moves toward it with compassion.
Jesus is asking us today to reimagine the five loaves and two fish moments of our lives and move with compassion for the crowd (the world) before us. When we wonder if we can make a difference, Jesus says, 'you can" Look around with compassion. Look up in prayer and move with the grace of Jesus to bless those in your midst today. You just don't know what Jesus will do, until you start to feed the crowd!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, in every moment today when I don't feel I can make a difference, help me to reimagine with your eyes and move with compassion toward the problem with trust in your unfailing grace. Amen.
He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
TO PONDER:
'What just happened?' Have you ever had one of those moments where you woke up and wondered 'what just happened?' You wake up the day after you're married and wonder, "what just happened?" You hold your child in your hands for the first time and wonder "what just happened"? You experience or witness an event either good or bad that leaves you speechless and asking, "what just happened"?
I imagine Peter, James and John were asking themselves that very question after their experience on the Mount of Transfiguration. In a short space of time, they had heard Jesus tell them that he must suffer and die, that they must follow him on the way of the cross, and then they are given a vision of Jesus that is so glorious, so wonderful that leaves James and John speechless and Peter scrambling for something to say.
What these disciples were given was a gift for the changes that lie ahead; a gift for when they were frightened and struggling to understand. A gift when moments of life were too great for them. A gift when things when change in life was too overwhelming for them. A gift when the noise of the world and the voices of the world confuse us and demand from us.
The gift? The voice of Jesus that speaks more powerfully and gloriously in the midst of changing moments. "Listen to him", God says. His voice is one of hope. His voice is one of life. His voice is one of clarity. His voice is one of healing. His voice is full of love and compassion. His voice gives courage in the midst of things that are overwhelming, confusing, mind boggling and which cause us to say or think, "What just happened?"
"Rise, do not fear" - Jesus says. In every change, in every confusion, in every challenge, rise. Take the first step, the next step with courage as you listen to me. Where do you need to hear that word today?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, in every moment of change, give me courage to rise and take the next step with you. Amen.
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
TO PONDER:
Have you ever felt that God is silent in your life? Have you ever felt you are living in a time where things are changing and you have no control over it? Where life is a battle and full of disruption? Where you feel marginalised and alone?
The people of God experienced the same thing. Taken into captivity, they were removed from everything that was important to them, their home, their people, their place of worship. In exile, everything had changed. A whole new normal had been imposed on them with new rhythms and patterns in life. God seemed far away...their prayers seemed to remain unanswered.
The book of Ezra reminds us that in those moments, God is still moving. God is still faithful to his promises. The people of God had been in exile for 70 years. But God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah that they would return home, and God moved the heart of a pagan King Cyrus, to make that happen. Then God moved or stirred up the hearts of a remnant of people to return home, to accomplish what God has purposed. Not only did God move the hearts, he provided the resources to fulfil what he was moving hearts to do!
Where is God stirring your heart? Where is God moving you forward, nagging away and putting a burden on your heart to do something that will accomplish his purposes in the world? Is God putting a person's name on your heart that God needs you to have a conversation with? Is God nudging you to a new ministry that brings life to those who are stuck, hope to those who are discouraged, his presence to someone who feels alone? Will you respond to God's push, as enormous and overwhelming as it may feel, knowing that God will resource and bless you with what you need to accomplish it? When God stirs, he is calling you to move and act!
PRAYER:
Lord prepare my heart for what you have for me next and give me a heart of faith to go where you call me to go, and to do what you call me to do. Amen.
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.
TO PONDER:
This last Friday I had a fascinating conversation with my Uber driver in Melbourne. He was Ethiopian, in his early 30’s; a former banker who spoke four languages. He hated working in the banking sector and now works as a translator most of the time. When he needs a break from the intensity of the work, he works as an Uber driver. It was a fascinating story. But what struck me about his story was the burden he had for helping his people rebuild their lives after the last two years where Ethiopia has been at war with itself.
The fighting has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more. My driver had personally lost 67 close family, friends and work colleagues. One of the real issues has been how to get financial aid to people when the banking system has been shut down. The only way to transfer money currently is through blackmarket bankers and they are taking a 50% cut of any funds transferred. This former banker was now working with NGO’s to set up a system where the money sent actually got into the hands of those who need it to rebuild. It’s a heavy burden he carries; a burden that is moving him to go home in a couple of months to help.
Nehemiah also carried a burden for his people. The Persian King Cyrus had issued an edict to allow the Israelites to return home to Jerusalem after decades in captivity. The people of God were finally free. But as Nehemiah heard the story of what was happening, his heart was burdened for those who were free but not living in freedom. He was heartbroken for those who had settled for complacency amidst the chaos. They had given up and it caused Nehemiah to weep and to pray and repent on behalf of his people. God placed on Nehemiah’s heart a burden for his people…a burden that would not go away unto he acted.
What is the 'burden' in our community or world that is heavy on your heart or causing you to weep? Like Nehemiah, God may be giving you a burden for the part of the puzzle of his vision that he needs you to work on or contribute to. The burden you bear often reveals the purpose God is calling you to passionately pursue for his glory. So what may that be for you today. Where is God calling you, moving you to act?
PRAYER:
Lord God, I believe you have placed me in this world for a reason, to play my part in your greater plan. Help me recognise the burden you are placing on my heart, and give me the courage to act, that your will may be done. Amen.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
TO PONDER
By definition, Christians are to love one another and offer loving service to Christ as the peace of God enters into our hearts and rules our lives. We can deploy our God given abilities in many and varied ways in our professions, our families, our neighbourhoods and communities but we don't always use them to serve God or others. With the peace of God directing us, we should use our skills and abilities in ways that serve God well. God calls all Christians into His peace and into one body, one church through which he uses us to bring his light and life into all the world.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me not only to put off those attitudes and behaviours that separate me from you but also to clothe myself with attitudes and actions that reflect who you are to the world. Help me to be thankful for all that you have done for me and to daily work towards unity and peace with others. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping.
“Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise.”
TO PONDER
Christians are all enlightened by Christ and are charged to live our lives attentively and with wisdom. We have to be careful and examine how we live. We are to live as children of light through complying with the truth. We are not to be spiritually foolish, but wise. A wise person will spend the time to understand what the will of the Lord is. A wise person will acquire wisdom from God’s Word and be led but the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Truth. What is considered wise in this world ranges day after day, but the truth of the Word of God is eternal and unchanging.
PRAYER
Lord God, you are the source of all wisdom and truth. A wise life is to live according to your word. Help me to put aside the wisdom of this world and live in your wisdom and truth so that I might honour and obey you in all things. Amen
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping.
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.”
TO PONDER
Although Christians have received new life from our Lord Jesus Christ, we still live in a world that does not honour or even know God and whose moral outlook is darkened by their ungodliness. As Christians we have an obligation to influence the moral standards of our society. But influence happens both ways. Christians can be overwhelmed by waves of ungodly trends popular in the society. We, as Christians, should not behave according to the commonly accepted practices of society. Ungodly people, through repeatedly ignoring the warnings of conscience, can easily lose those feelings of guilt that conscience produces. They then live solely to please themselves, without thought for others. Christians, by contrast, should act according to the teaching and example of Jesus. We must put off attitudes that belong to their former way of life. We must have a new way of life, where our thinking is changed and our practices examined in the light of our new life in God.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I pray that you would help me to work honestly, help others, control my tongue, and empower me with your Holy Spirit so that my life might be characterised by love, kindness, compassion, understanding and forgiveness. Amen
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
TO PONDER
To say to live is Christ, obviously is not of our natural life, but of the life received through Christ. Life means Christ. Christ is our life. Life carries no meaning apart from Christ. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was helping them to see that the only goal worth living or striving for was Jesus Christ. That is why Paul can say, at the end of this life, when the sinful desires of our flesh are finally put to death along with our earthly bodies that we have not lost, but rather gained the one thing we sought in life - Fulness of life in Christ. That is why even our death would be our gain if we die in Christ because we also will be raided with him to full eternal life.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, living has no meaning apart from you. May you always be the primary motivation, inspiration, and goal of my life. May I always be prepared to lose everything if it means holding onto the surpassing greatness of knowing you as my Lord. Amen
Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping