In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
TO PONDER
A few weeks ago an old friend unexpectedly sent me a Facebook Messenger message and when I opened the message it was an audio-file, a punk song, with lyrics like “there is no God!”, “Christianity is a dead religion”, “if Jesus is like this, I don’t want him!”, the song was crying out in anger and frustration at God and His church.
So I answered the song with a question, “Did you do that, you did it all, you wrote the song, you did the singing, the instruments, the recording???”
He answered “Yes, this morning”. Then I told him how blown-away I was with his talent and how I wanted more. In fact, I wanted a whole album of the same, I even suggested a name for the album “Psalms”.
Today’s verses speak to us about our prayer life with God, about the times we try to pray and no words can be found, the times we are unsure how to talk to God, or the times where we are not sure if we believe God even answers prayers. The life moments where we can only aim our anger towards the heavens, shouting our frustrations at the seemingly absent God.
Paul reminds us that God’s Spirit, God Himself, is standing with us, in our anger, in the frustration, in the pilgrimage of pain.
My friend didn’t respond for a few hours after our brief exchange about his song and the reasons why he composed it but when he did the reply was another audio-file, another song but this time it was a song of contrition, of repentance, of thankfulness, a renewed discovery of God’s unfathomable grace because the Spirit was with him in his anger and frustration.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, Mighty God, I thank you that your grace is boundless, that when I am at my worst, when I don’t know what to say, what to ask for, or even how to ask, you are there with me, crying out beside me. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory
TO PONDER
This verse, together with our theme for the week, made me think of the 'child-parent' relationship as a variation of the 'master-apprentice' dynamic.
As a former teacher in a Christian school, I had the opportunity to work with lots of children from various family and cultural backgrounds, all with different levels of interaction with Christian faith and church communities. What you inevitably noticed when you reach that time of year when parent-teacher interviews happen, was children being formed into miniature versions of their parents. Suddenly, certain behaviours that you could not explain in the classroom suddenly make sense as you see the truth of the old saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
So then what does it mean for us to have a Heavenly Father? What does it mean to be God's children, if not that we should grow in bearing his likeness?
One of the strange things some members of my family have noticed as I have aged into my 40's, is that even though my father passed away about 8 years ago, I am beginning to display more traits and behaviours which I have obviously inherited from him. I think the best parents, the best mentors or masters or instructors are those whose influence remains even when they are not physically present. Jesus may have ascended into heaven, but if we are truely his brothers and sisters, co-heirs in the kingdom of heaven, the family resemblance should still be evident.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, you have made a way for us to once again be called your children and have adopted us into your family. Please help me to exhibit an obvious family resemblance as I go about my day today. May it be clear to others that I am one of your children by the way I love and serve those you place before me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
TO PONDER
Those you who read yesterday's devotion will appreciate how happy and excited I was to see today's verse. I always knew it was ok for Jesus to be an example to follow.
But that's not actually the compelling part of today's verse for me. What hit me as I read this was that the apostle Paul was able to say to the Corinthians, "follow my example".
Granted, he went on to say, "as I follow the example of Christ" but how confident would you be of the example you are setting to others both within our church and outside of it as to what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the world today? If Jesus is our example then how good a job are each of us doing of being an example to the rest of the world?
The idea of an apprenticeship is for an apprentice to one day become a master of whatever craft he has been apprenticed in and be capable of passing on his knowledge to the next generation of craftspeople. While we may not have the capacity to attain the same mastery of life as Jesus, this side of eternity, we are supposed to learn from Jesus example and to be an example to others.
So next time you are tempted to compromise your behaviour or your faith to 'fit in' with a group of friends or colleagues, consider being an example to them instead.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, even in the face of suffering and death, you did not compromise who you were or the purpose for which you had come. Please help me to be an example of your resurrection life in everything I do today. Amen
today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
TO PONDER
I have heard numerous pastors and theologians over the years admonish myself, and others, for referring to Jesus as an example for us to follow. Their concern is that if Jesus becomes an example, then we lose sight of his divinity and the significance of his death and resurrection as an atoning sacrifice for all humanity. Keep that in mind while I talk about Jesus being an example for us to follow.
While those pastors and theologians might have a valid concern, I don't think we can ignore the fact that Jesus tells us to follow him. Not only that, but he goes so far as to say, "take up your cross and follow me" - literally telling us to do what he is about to do. And he basically says the same thing in today's devotion verse. "As the Father sent me, I am sending you." Jesus is not just saying I was sent, now you are sent; he's saying, I'm now sending you in the same manner in which I was sent by the father. I am sending you to serve, not to be served. I am sending you to give your lives as a ransom for many. I and sending you to show my love to the world and tell them all the things I have done to make them my own.
If we are truely Jesus' apprentices, then we have to learn by watching what he does, how he lives and how he loves. Like any other apprentice we learn from our masters who model and demonstrate to us the right way to to the work we have been given to do.
Don't be afraid to make Jesus your role model or example - just also remember that he is also your saviour, redeemer and friend.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that I can look to you for guidance and inspiration as I try to follow you in my life. Help me each day to faithfully take up my cross and follow you wherever you lead me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
TO PONDER
What makes someone 'qualified' to teach? These days, you would need a four year bachelor degree in Education, or an equivalent in some kind of specialist field plus a diploma of education in order to be considered qualified to teach in a school but what about outside of a school? What makes you qualified to teach in an informal setting?
The answer is quite simple - you are qualified to teach if you know something that someone else doesn't. I might have mentioned that I have recently taken up guitar building classes. My 'teacher' is actually just a long term student of the luthier (guitar maker) of the guy who owns and operates the school. He doesn't hold some kind of fancy degree or formally recognised qualification, he just knows more about building guitars than I do and so he is able to teach me.
Same is true for Christians. You don't have to be a pastor with a 5 (or 7) year tertiary theology degree behind you in order to be qualified to teach people about Jesus. You just have to know something more than the other person does. The good news (or not so good news) is, if you know Jesus, then you know more than 2 out of every three adult Australians. This means you have something to teach people - you are qualified. You may not have all the answers, but simply sharing what you do know might begin the journey for someone to their own discovery of who Jesus really is. You have heard it from reliable teachers, people entrusted with the task to pass the faith on accurately - now that you have been taught, you are also qualified to teach.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you taught your disciples many things about life, humanity, and God the Father's love for his people. Things that have been taught and passed down from generation to generation right down to me. Please help me to have the confidence to share what I know of you and to trust that what I don't know, I will learn as I take up the task of teaching others all that you have shown me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
TO PONDER
I want to offer you three things to think about from the reading today...
- God's co-workers receive a reward - we are given God's grace and forgiveness. This is what God dives us freely when we become part of his 'crew'. We should not expect more or less than this. Anyone who claims that someone who is doing the work of God should expect material blessing or prosperity is adding to what God has promised. We absolutely can be confident of his grace and mercy, and his provision of our daily needs. But many of us think we need much more than we actually do, and we can get bent out of shape if we think we deserve more from God than what he has already given us in Jesus. God's grace and mercy is already so much more than we deserve.
- . Paul is implying that God's gift of grace has a purpose and that we should not receive it in vain. Yes God's grace to you in Jesus saves your from your sin but it also saves you for a purpose! What purpose has God given you his grace for? Maybe spend some time thinking about that today.
- God has given you his grace and forgiveness not just as an insurance policy against death in the future, but as something to be utilised and relied upon for today, right now. We are not supposed to sit on our hands and wait for the day of God's favour and salvation - we are supposed to live in it right here and now. How will you do that today?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you invite me to live today in your grace and favour. Thank you that your mercy and grace are not a far distant promise but a daily reality which allows me to live and experience this life in relationship with you. Help me not to receive your grace in vain, but to live fully in it each day so that others may also be drawn into your mercy and grace. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
TO PONDER
Any building is only as good as its foundation. In my previous career as a middle school maths and science teacher, I have seen many drinking straw structures fail because not enough attention was given to their base or foundation. It didn't even matter if we used something other than flimsy drinking straws, something with more substance and rigidity like a popsicle stick, it was always a wonky foundation at the heart of the problem.
I didn't realise until sitting down to write this devotion that when I thought those lessons as a science teacher, I was also teaching a Bible lesson. Paul is using the exact example I demonstrated with my students to proclaim a profound truth. If we are careful to build only on Jesus, then we are building something that will last. However, the minute we start building off the sure foundation of Jesus, we end up with instability.
We always build on what has come before us. People teach us and model for us what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Some of their examples are good, others might be 'a bit off' and not something that we want to build on, but we don't build alone. WE are co-workers in God's service - all of us together. So let's build carefully and help one another as we build, that way each of us can be confident that we are building on the careful work of those who work with us as workers in God's service.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to make you the foundation and cornerstone of my life. Only when I build on you can I be sure that everything will hold together until you come again in glory to make all things new. Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:
TO PONDER
We had a particularly clear night at our house a couple of nights ago. The moon was full and bright, and while the lights of the city washed out many of the stars, there was still something grand about looking up into the night sky that evening. It was one of those nights you can't help but feel small when you consider the size of the universe and our tiny little part of it.
And yet, today's reading from Psalm 8:4-6, reminds us that while we might feel insignificant, we should remember that our God, the creator of the universe, considers us to be his best work. We are not insignificant to him. In fact, you could argue - as many other parts of the Bible do - that all creation, the entirety of the universe, God created for us. A world full of mysteries to explore, wonders to admire, problems to solve, beauty to enjoy.
Take some time today or if you can, every day this week, to notice something about the world around you and remember that whatever you notice - no matter how small or insignificant it might seem to you - that God notices you too.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you cared enough for me, and for all humanity, that you did not leave us to suffer in the mess we made of your creation. Istead you came down into our mess and made a way for us to get cleaned up through your son Jesus. Help me to remember that I am not insignificant to you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
TO PONDER
A steward is a person responsible for another’s resources. We don’t have the right or the power to give grace to anyone, but we are to share the grace that God freely gives us.
We also have not earned our gift, this is also given to us by God and the Spirit empowers us to use it to the full. We are also not to hide our gift away under a bowl, put it on display on the lamp stand so everyone can benefit from it. Because we all need to help each other.
We are also ambassadors of God and as Jesus has given us the awesome power of the Holy Spirit, we are to represent Him with our words and serving of others. In doing this, our neighbours will get to see the love of Jesus.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for allowing me to be your ambassador. Help me to use my gift to point towards you.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside.