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Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

TO PONDER

Have you ever played one of those ‘follow the ball’ games. The ones where there are 3 cups that you can’t see into and the person running the game places a ball under one of them. They then shuffle them around and if you can find the ball you win the prize. Now, these games usually have an element of trickery or cheating in them, so you don’t find the ball or win the money, but the idea is to keep your eyes on the ball to win the prize.

This verse from Hebrews is urging us to fix our thoughts on Jesus. As we go about this walk of living life as a follower and reflector of Jesus it can be difficult to know how to do this. What should our lives look like, sound like and feel like, not just to us, but to those around us? Here we are given the answer to these questions; think about Jesus. When I was going through youth group, we were encouraged to wear bracelets that said, W.W.J.D, What Would Jesus Do? This is in essence what we are being encouraged to do in this verse. The word apostle means “person sent”. Jesus is God, sent down to earth to show us what a life focused on God and His will looks like. So, as we go about our lives we fix our thoughts on Jesus, asking ourselves, “What would Jesus do”. Despite our inevitable shortcomings, we can be assured that we are joined with Jesus in a heavenly calling, one that He walks with us each day.

PRAYER

Jesus, thank you that you showed me what it means to live a life devoted to God’s will and purpose. Help me to fix my eyes and thoughts on you today. Open my ears and eyes to see the needs around me, and give me the courage to share your love, mercy and grace with those you place in my path. Amen.

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

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1 Corinthians 1:26

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

TO PONDER

I find writing job applications and sitting interviews difficult. In the application process you are presented with criteria or questions you need to answer proving your suitability for the job. I find it difficult to put into words and offer examples from my past that prove I am the right person for the job. Sometimes I am sure I would be able to do the job well, and yet I still struggle to explain to someone else why. Occasionally there is a question asked that I am not sure how to answer. This is especially stress inducing when it is done in the interview. I quickly search my brain for an example in my previous job of accomplishing that task, or how I handled that particular difficulty.

Why are you the right person for the job? Prove it to me, convince me.

Our walk with Jesus is nothing like this process, and thank goodness for that! If I were to sit down at a table with Jesus and list off my credentials for being a disciple, a representative of Jesus here on earth I know my mind would quickly fill with my shortcomings, and the times I have failed, the areas I fall short. But, as 1 Corinthians reminds us, Jesus isn’t looking for perfect, complete people, with all the right credentials. If He were He would find no-one. Instead, he uses imperfect people to do his perfect work. We can trust these words as truth because they are the only people he has ever used! Think about the famous characters of the bible; all of them flawed, all of the with their own shortcoming. So know, Jesus isn’t waiting for you to become a little bit more, a little bit better, before He will use you to speak to others through your life. He wants to come alongside you today, and show you the ways you can touch other’s lives with His love today!

PRAYER

Jesus, thank you that you use imperfect people like me to do your perfect work here on earth. Help me to trust that I am enough today. Would you use me to share your love, grace, forgiveness and hope with those around me today. Amen.

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

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Ephesians 4:1

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

TO PONDER

There’s an old folktale of a young boy named Arthur, where he lived there was a sword stuck in a stone. It was believed that only one worthy to carry that sword could remove it from the stone. Knights and nobles who believed they must be worthy due to their acts of bravery or simply the family they came from tried and failed to remove it.

Then a young boy, Arthur gripped the sword and pulled. The sword came away from the stone. That young boy then grew up to be the King Arthur of legend and there are many stories of his exploits. There are also many stories like this in the Bible. David, a shepherd boy is anointed as the future king of Israel. God speaks to a young boy, Samuel, not the priest who is caring for him. Jesus calls fishermen, tax collectors and other riff raff to journey with him, learn from him, and begin and lead his church.

God is in the business of calling those who don’t seem worthy, because honestly, none of us are. However, God also does not ask us to live this life, or walk the walk of faith alone! He sent His Son Jesus who makes us worthy, and He sent the Holy Spirit, who goes with us in this life. So, if you read Ephesians 4:1 and wonder if you are living a life that is worthy, if you are wondering if you are worthy to do God’s work here on earth then know you are worthy because of Jesus, not because of what you do! Also know that you are not alone in this journey of faith, you have an ever-present companion, the Holy Spirit of God!

PRAYER

Jesus, thank you that you make me right with God, help me to live a life that brings Him glory! Thank you that you invite me to do your work with you here on earth. Open my eyes today to see the need and the courage to be your hands and feet. Amen.

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

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Matthew 4:18-20

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

TO PONDER

Have you ever been given an offer you can’t refuse? Something too good to pass up? I must admit I often find myself tempted to take up a super bargain, even if I do not truly need the item, simply because it is such an amazing deal. Why is that?

There is a fairly recent term which has become popularised, FOMO, Fear Of Missing Out. This innate desire many people seem to have to miss out on something can be very motivating! In the account of Jesus calling Peter and Andrew, we read the words, ‘and at once they left their nets and followed him.’ Peter and Andrew don’t need time to think about it, they don’t need to create a Pros and Cons list, they simply need to leave their old life behind and follow Jesus. A life with Him is an offer too good to refuse!

We receive this same offer each day. Jesus says to each of us, “Follow me. Live your life in step with me”. This offer is not too good to be true, it is an offer of more life, more love and more understanding. What is your response today?

PRAYER

Jesus, help me to hear your call today, to follow you. Help me to leave behind my old life and instead walk daily with you. Thank you that you offer me a life full of meaning. Help me to understand more each day who you are, who I am and the calling you place on my life. Amen.

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

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Ecclesiastes 12:13

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

TO PONDER

I remember, as a young child, laying on the top of the hill outside of our house on a sunny day staring at the blue sky and watching the clouds as they drifted slowly past when I was overcome with a sense of awe at the expanse of the sky. I really was overcome, the magnitude of the sky struck me to the point of fear, it was too big, I felt too small, I remember fleeing inside to escape the expanse.

For some, today’s verse may trigger a case of PTSD, filling us with images of a judgemental God with a big stick ready to smite us as the filthy sinners that we are, so we want to flee inside. But others will read today’s verse on the other side of grace, overcome by the aggressive forgiveness of the almighty God, the God carrying the ‘stick’ of grace ready to forgive us as the filthy sinners that we were before Jesus made us saints through his blood.

The Amplified Bible puts the verse this way; “fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God]”. Awe-filled reverence is how we should respond to God from the other side of his aggressive forgiveness, from the other side of his grace which hunts us down reminding us we are forgiven and loved.

My challenge for us all today is to lay out on the top of the proverbial hill staring up at the expanse of God’s unrelenting grace and allow His love for us to overcome us.

PRAYER

Saviour God, I thank you for your aggressive forgiveness you lavish upon me, that in the deepest darkest parts of my heart your grace is made all the brighter. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.

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Isaiah 55:11

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

TO PONDER

Imagine being introduced to Jesus and he looks at you and gives you a new name. That’s what happened to Simon the fisherman, the day he met Jesus Simon was told that his new name would be “Cephas” (translated to Peter) which means “rock” changed Simon’s name to Peter because he saw who he really was. Jesus spoke the truth of Simon the fisherman’s identity before he actually was the “rock”, some 3 years before the fisherman became the rock Jesus would build His church on!

We are told that before God invented time he chose us to be called family, before he spoke the world into existence he already named us as family, he already changed our identity before we existed.

Today’s verse tells us that when God speaks his word will accomplish what he says.

God said the fisherman would be a rock where great things could be built on, God said since before time we would be family, a family with a purpose.

PRAYER

Almighty God, Before you spoke the world into existence you already had given me a name, you had already given me an identity, you had already named me as your child, I ask you to help me live the truth you have spoken even when I still feel like a fisherman. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.

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Philippians 2:13

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

TO PONDER

Trigger warning; This post is about works, God inspired good works, Ephesians 2:10 works!

In 1988 ‘Nike’ launched a very successful add campaign ‘Just do it’ targeting everyday people regardless of age, gender or physical fitness level to inspire them to get up and try, to attempt the impossible, to do better than you thought you could do, and, yes, to buy Nike shoes.

The slogan went viral (before viral was a major thing) and Nike’s market share went from 18% to 43% within 10 years.

Paul wrote to the Philippian church to thank them for their support and to encourage them to stay strong in the faith even in hard times. Today’s verse is from Paul’s encouraging ‘Just Do It!’ section of the letter.

The Amplified Bible says it this way; “For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.”

Let me paraphrase it into church planting language; ‘It’s hard to start a church from nothing, its tiring to have to talk to total strangers and share the Gospel at every opportunity, you really don’t have the talent, ability or the stamina to do it but God does have all that and more, so Just Do It, keep doing the work and let God move!

Grace isn’t anti works, grace is anti earning! Just Do It!

PRAYER

Almighty God, I thank you for having our backs, I thank you that what you order you pay for, I give you honour and glory that when I can’t do it you can and do. You are the God of the impossible and I am humbled that you choose us and our weaknesses to partner with to accomplish the impossible. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside

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Acts 2:46

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

TO PONDER

I have met a surprising number of people in my life journey who have told me they don’t go or need to go to church to be a Christian, that their walk with God is ‘personal’.

In yesterday’s verse we looked at the two questions we all face during life; “who am I and what am I here?” We really only answered the first question and looked at our identity. We are a child of God, our identity is in Him. Today’s verses explore the second of those questions; “What am I here for?”

Today’s verses demonstrate a truth about our identity, the truth about who we are as a child of God. See God didn’t stop at Jesus as an only child of God, he made a way for us to be children of God. God doesn’t have only ‘childs’, God doesn’t have grandchildren, God doesn’t have fatherless children, God has a family that we are part of.

The word ‘church’ used in the bible is the Greek word ‘ekklēsia’ which is ‘a group of people gathered together’. The early church met together in the temple courts, in their homes and shared meals together, they became church, they didn’t stay alone, hidden away in their own homes, they became church together. They knew you couldn’t be church on your own.

As a result of fulfilling the “why’ of the “who” they discovered God’s purpose. They discovered that if they became church, became family others would notice and want to become family too.

PRAYER

Father God, I thank you that my identity and purpose are in you as I have been adopted into your family and as I live in this identity, loving as you loved, others will see and become family. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside

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Ephesians 1:11

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

TO PONDER

Who am I and why am I here?

These are two questions that we all face during our lives. They are studied in some way in most Academic Fields from Philosophy to Quantum Physics. They are often claimed to be solely owned by the realm of religion. There is a case to be made that the story of Adam and Eve was a story of identity and purpose.

So let me ask you those questions again but pointing them towards you; Who are you and why are you here?

Today’s verse talks directly to these questions, the Message translates it this way “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”

Verses 4 and 5 lay the foundations of the idea of ‘predestined’, before time even existed God already chose us to be family. Our identity and purpose are found in God. We are all a child of God adopted through Christ to be part of His family since before there was a before.

PRAYER

Almighty God, I thank you that my identity and purpose can be found in you as your adopted child. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside

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