The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
TO PONDER
I was visiting a church where I hadn’t been at for over 17 years but I still recognised a bunch of familiar faces. One of the familiar faces was the music director at the church and when he noticed me in the congregation he gave me the head-nod of recognition.
During a break in the songs, he publicly welcomed me from the stage as ‘an old friend’ but although he got the name correct he introduced me as the ex-Worship Pastor from the church we were part of some 20 years before. The problem was I don’t play an instrument or have any musical ability whatsoever, I was the ex-Youth Pastor not the ex-Worship Pastor.
John’s public introduction of Jesus in today’s verse is perhaps the last time someone identified and recognised Jesus for who he really was.
Even the people Jesus travelled with, shared meals with, shared accommodation with, was closest with for 3 years, his own disciples, misunderstood who he really was or what his mission was even though he told them. The issue we see throughout the Gospels is that people saw Jesus as who they wanted him to be, or for what they needed from him, not for who he really was, even John the Baptist sent his own disciples some time later to ask Jesus who he really was.
Do you see Jesus for who he really is or for who you want him to be for you?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I repent for the times I have made you into the god I wanted you to be not the God who you really are. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
TO PONDER
Listening to radio and chat show television recently, there have been a number of debates about "the right time" for certain things. When is the right time to take down your Christmas decorations? Is it too early for hot cross buns to be appearing on the supermarket shelves? Is it the right time for another interest rate rise? We may have some power over some of these things and a lot less over others.
In fact, when you look through the Bible, it is often when people are completely powerless that God acts most powerfully. Joseph, attacked by his brothers and sold as a slave, becomes second in command over all Egypt and saves not only Egypt, but his own family from famine. Moses, after fleeing Egypt as a murderer, is called by God to free the Israelites. David, the young shepherd boy slays the giant Goliath and eventually becomes King over Israel. Jesus, born in a manger, to a humble and lowly carpenter and his young wife came into the world to become its saviour at just the right time.
God moves in our weakness so that we will know it is Him who has done great things and that we will give him the glory. In the midst of your sinfulness, Christ died for you. What makes you think that in the midst of your insecurities, doubts and fears that God won't show up, especially now that you are his dearly beloved children in Christ?
PRAYER
God, I am so often guilty of thinking that I am doing life on my own. I can often overlook the fact that you are with me and that with you, all things are possible. Please help me in my insecurity and deficiencies, to remember that in your power is made perfect in my weakness. Help me to trust that when I follow where you lead, you will supply all my needs. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
TO PONDER
All of my schooling was done in Lutheran and other Christian schools and universities. While it was not my favourite subject I was made to study History for most of my high school years. We learned about the great kingdoms and civilisations of the past. Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, Ancient Mayan and Aztec civilisations, The colonial expansions of the British, Dutch and Spanish. We learned all about the reasons for the rise and fall of these nations and empires; over extended military, technological advances in scientific knowledge and weaponry, the rise of other nations and civilisations, financial mismanagement and excessive lifestyles. But nowhere did any teacher ever suggest that God might have had something to do with the rise and fall of empires.
Much of the Old Testament historical writings deal precisely with this idea that God even uses the kingdoms and nations of men to achieve his purposes. Sometimes, in the midst of those circumstances seeing God at work can be difficult. Even the Israelites sometimes struggled to see God at work on their behalf as they walked through the wilderness or were held in captivity and exile in Babylon and yet, on this side of History we can see how God shaped his people and led them in such a way as to bring about salvation for all humanity through them.
Our world is still shaped to a large extent by the rise and fall of powerful leaders and nations but we can have confidence that whatever happens, God is sovereign over even those things and that their times are limited and that God has boundaries set even for them.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, when you see the news it is hard to imagine any sense or purpose to what can only be described as the chaos of the world around us. So today I pray for those who have been appointed as leaders, may they find wise counsel in faithful people who have you as their true leader. May they become aware of the reality that they are indeed tools in your hand, meant to serve the good of those they lead and not their own selfish ambition. And amidst the chaos, give me confidence to trust that you are still in control. Amen
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
TO PONDER
You know what strikes me about this reading is that the message Jesus is proclaiming, "the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe" is not very different from the message that John the Baptist, now imprisoned, was also proclaiming, "repent and be baptised for the kingdom of God is at hand."
The thing that was different about Jesus message was that first phrase, "the time has come". It was time for him to take over the role that John had been playing. There was no more time for preparing the way of the Lord because the Lord had come it was now Jesus' time.
Sometimes I think we get caught up or deceived by the kind of thinking that says, "I'm not ready" or "I can't do evangelism like that person so I'll just leave it up to them". John had a part to play in God's plan and he played that part faithfully until that part was finished. Although he recognised Jesus superiority, he didn't say, "well Jesus is coming and he's so much better than me I'll just let him do it." God has a purpose for your life and tasks he is asking you to see to. The time has come, your time has come! God has called you up and put you in the game, are you going to play your role or just walk back to the sidelines and spectate?
PRAYER
Lord God, sometimes it is hard to see the game plan the way you see it. Sometimes I have no idea the role you want me to play and at other times I might know very well but feel too afraid or unprepared to do the things you ask of me. Please forgive me and help me to trust you more so that I might see more clearly the times and place you are calling me to play my part. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
But when the set time had fully come,God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
TO PONDER
Many people have speculated why God came to earth in the middle of the reign of the Roman Empire. I suspect that there are many more reasons than we could ever guess at but I suspect that at least one of the reasons was the roads. One of the reasons the Roman Empire was so successful was the way in which they connected even the furthest flung parts of the empire with well maintained and regularly patrolled roads. Roads which any Roman citizen was supposed to be able to travel in safety and freedom.
So, after Jesus resurrection, his disciples were able to travel freely across the Roman Empire spreading the news of what had happened to Jesus. In a similar way, Martin Luther's rediscovery of the gospel was not entirely unique to Luther, there had been others before him who had raised som of his concerns but without access to the printing press, they could not easily disseminate their ideas like Luther did and so Luther gets most of the credit for the Reformation.
What are the things that make our time unique? What thing of God might the time be fully right for today? Maybe today the time will be fully right for that person you have been praying for to come to faith in Jesus. Maybe today the time will be fully right for God to break through in a specific situation in your life or the life of one of your friends or family. God is the only one who knows when the time is fully right so trust that he knows what he is doing even when things seem uncertain.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You have a plan which you bring about in the fulness of time. Help me to learn to pay attention and see what you are doing so that I can play my part when the time is right. Amen
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
TO PONDER
This verse may not seem like much to us but it was a HUGE thing for Jesus to say. Israelites and Samaritans had been arguing for generations about whether you had to be at the Jerusalem temple for your worship and sacrifices to be valid. Jesus is basically saying, "now that I am here, none of that matters any more!"
We can often be guilty of thinking about the Bible as a book full of old stories (and that is certainly part of what the Bible contains) but the reality is that the Bible is a book which speaks to us today just as it did to those who first wrote and read the words those thousands of years ago. See how Jesus says, "a time is coming and has now come" - that means now. The time has come, Jesus has come into the world and because of that we don't need temples, we don't need to go find God in a temple or a church, because he has come to us. All that's left for us to do is worship him in spirit and in truth.
Now's the time - Let's worship him!!!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You are worthy of all our thanks and praise. May every time be an opportunity to praise and worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens
TO PONDER
What season or 'time' do you feel you are in at the moment? This verse seem like common sense. We know there are seasons for things; periods of time when we do some tasks and avoid others. My dad always seemed to know when it was the right time to go fishing. He was very picky about when he would take my brother and I out fishing in his boat. One day would bee too rough, the next too calm. Then the tides would be no good and the moon would be too full. However, having said that, we rarely went fishing with dad and came back completely empty handed.
Knowing the right time or the right season is important. Sometimes we can get frustrated with our lives or ourselves because nothing seems to be happening. But like a dormant tree in the winter, it's not dead, it's just preparing for the spring when it bursts to life and colour again. Sometimes our life of faith can feel like that. Sometimes we feel like growth or progress is hard to come by. But God uses even those seasons to prepare us for what he wants to do with us next.
So whatever season you are in, whether you are bursting full of new life or feeling overwhelmed and stuck, remember there are times and seasons for these things. Make the most of them, even the winter or difficult seasons because you never know what God might be preparing for the next season.
PRAYER
Lord of the Harvest, you know when the season is right to grow, to prune, to harvest. Help me to trust that whatever 'season' I might find myself in, I might know that you are with me nurturing and protecting me and preparing me for whatever comes next. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
TO PONDER
Does life sometimes feel like a wasteland or a wilderness to you? Sometimes I feel like celebrating another new year is just another opportunity to reflect on the things that I didn't accomplish last year. Some surveys suggest that only about 10% of New Years resolutions get kept or are successfully completed across any given year and that people make the same resolutions year after year and make no progress whatsoever. Talk about wandering in the wilderness!!!
But God invites us to join him in doing something new this year. Not just a repeat of the past, doing the same things over and over which can feel like a wilderness. But to journey with him into new territory. To do something new. Have a look around you, can you perceive it? God is at work in you and through you to do something he has never done before to grow his kingdom and reach people and bring them into his kingdom.
Now is the time.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, please help me to be aware of you as you work in me and through me to do a new thing both in my life and the lives of those around me. Make me always ready to join you on a new adventure. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
TO PONDER:
It was one of those incredible ‘wow’ moments of life. Under sail in the middle of the night, surrounded by the vast waters of the ocean, a little 40-foot blip under the twinkling canopy of stars. So awesome. So humbling. I have never felt more insignificant in the bigger scheme of God’s great design.
Yet the real ‘wow’ moment was not how insignificant I felt, but how the all-powerful and all-creating God of the universe should still love me, care for me, watch over me, hold me, guide me, have a purpose for me, want a relationship with me. That is what was truly awesome. As you reflect on the past year, what ‘God moments’ left you breathless and in awe of God’s leading, guiding, protecting? What moments of beauty, love and grace had God’s fingerprints all over them. What left you marvelling at his goodness, overwhelmed by his mercy. For from the start of 2022 to its end, the Lord, your Lord, was with you. Every breath. Every step. Every moment. Every joy. Every hardship. Every struggle. Always.
Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! If God is for us and with us, bring on 2023! Spend some time reflecting on the ‘God moments’ that stand out for you in 2022? Thank him.
PRAYER:
Lord of the seasons and years, you are constant in your love and mercy. Thank you for your presence and help in 2022. Guide and lead me in the year ahead. 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. Amen.