"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
TO PONDER
I sometimes think we undervalue the gift of God's Holy Spirit. Perhaps I can demonstrate this with a simple question, how often do you pray and ask God to be renewed/refilled with his Holy Spirit? I know I have prayed for healing for myself and for friends and family on numerous occasions, some have been healed, others have not. I know I have prayed often to God to help me through difficult circumstances, and whether I recognised it at the time or not, I am still here today and doing okay, so I suppose God answered those prayers in some way or another, but certainly not always as I had hoped.
Yet when Jesus talks about fathers giving good gifts to their children, he connects that to God giving the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. There are two things I want to say about that.
Firstly, when we ask God for good things, we have to remember that he has already given us many good things. Our salvation through Christ's death and resurrection surely first among them but also shelter, food, friends and family...God already gives us so many good things, many which we take for granted, many that we simply do not recognise.
But secondly, it seems that there is something about asking that is also important. "God is pleased to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" is what Jesus said. Wouldn't it be sad if you missed out on the fulness of what God has for you simply because you did not ask? Don't get me wrong, there have been times in my life when I have felt as though I were being explicitly led by the Holy Spirit, and other times when I am ashamed to admit, I have failed to God where the Spirit of God might have been leading me. Being led by the Spirit of God is not always the easy path, but it is always the best one after all, the Holy Spirit is one of God's good gifts to those whose faith and trust are in Jesus.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Today I ask you to renew me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to be aware of Holy Spirit's leading and prompting me throughout the day and give me the courage to follow where your spirit leads so that I might not miss the good things you have in store for me, and so that my presence might bring your good things into the lives of others. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
TO PONDER
I know there are a lot of people who find prayer difficult. The either find it difficult in general or they find it more difficult when praying out loud or in a group. It's as if they have some kind of fear that if others hear them say the wrong thing or speak in a way that maybe is too formal or perhaps not formal enough, that they will be reprimanded or told they are doing it wrong. If that has ever happened to you, I'm sorry. The way you speak to God is a matter between you and him and should always be defined by your relationship with him.
But I do want to encourage you to grow in confidence because Jesus tells us we can be confident when we come before the throne of God. God the Father is almighty, he is the creator and sustainer of all the universe but he is still God our Father. We can come to him and have complete confidence and assurance that he loves us and want good things for us. So come to him and lay your burdens at his feet because he cares for you. (even if you say the words wrong!!!)
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that I can come before you as your child and be confident that you hear me because of the sacrifice of Jesus for my sake. Help me to live each day confident in your provision and protection. Amen
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Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate.
TO PONDER
This ungrateful son had demanded his portion of the inheritance. Essentially saying ‘I wish you were dead’; relationship severed. But as we know well, his perspective changes after some trying times and he goes back to admit his errors to his father. He was prepared to maintain this relationship to work as a hired servant, he would no longer be his son and heir. And yet, the father did not lose hope that the son would come to his senses and return. Despite the huge financial and relationship damage he caused, the son was forgiven and restored.
We deserve to be left to be disowned by God, for all the terrible things that we have done. But all we need to do is say sorry, and He will come eagerly running to pick us up and renew our place in the family.
Through the death of Jesus, we are restored to His family. As sons and daughters, we will inherit all the glory and power that Jesus gives.
PRAYER:God, you are always patient for us to turn back around and admit our mistakes. Thank you that there is always a place for us as your beloved child.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
TO PONDER
When they were younger, Jacob deceived his father, and stole the firstborn blessing of abundance and respect, off Esau. Understandably, Esau had a grudge, and vowed to kill his brother over this trick. Jacob fled, and over twenty years was blessed with a large family and vast livestock.
Jacob is due to travel and reunite with his older brother Esau, but is stricken with fear over the 400 men that will come with Esau. So he sets up huge groups of his livestock ahead of him as gifts and a buffer of his family to hopefully appease his avenging brother. Jacob hasn’t forgotten what he deserves. Have the years changed his heart? Will the gifts appease him?
He sees Esau run towards him - he did not expect a warm embrace of love! The old animosity has been washed away and they both weep because the past has been forgiven. Thank God for forgiveness!
PRAYER:Lord, our hate for others tears us apart, help us to see how forgiveness will restore our love for your family.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
and through him [Jesus] to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
TO PONDER
Again, we are reminded that God has given us such an incredible gift through Jesus. God wants to absorb us into Himself, not to be cut off and separated from us. We have the opportunity to be seen as holy, spotless and blameless; perfect.
When you think about it, nothing in our world is really perfect. No song, no project, no institution, no person. It’s an impossible task. Everything and everyone has their flaws. But Jesus is perfect, and here we read that we can be the same in God’s eyes because of what Jesus did for us on the cross!
PRAYER:Lord, we deserve to be cut off from you, but you don’t want that. You made the way to make us holy. Remind us of this as we move through our imperfect lives.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
TO PONDER
A brand new life! A brand new perspective! Through Jesus, we get a glimpse of the way that God sees all people. We have been invited to be a part of his Kingdom and plans. God has defined reconciliation and forgiveness, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we have the privilege to share it to all the people in our lives who need to hear it.
God has enough love for everyone, and we need to be this way too. All the not-yet-Christians in our lives are waiting to hear the Good News, so we must speak to them and turn them from the ways of the world.
PRAYER:God, you lovingly made the way for us to turn to you. Give us the courage to tell this to others.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
TO PONDER
This passage goes on to detail increasing levels of people to assist with pointing out a sin or an error of someone of the church family. This is to be done with compassion and love, and gives a chance for the wrongdoer to reconcile their error. But if they are stubborn and hardheaded, it will lead to removal from the church.
The easy thing to do is to imagine yourself as the person pointing out the sin of someone else, then getting support from other members. But don’t forget that you could be in the position of the sinner. So take a breath, say sorry to your brother or sister, and to God, and rejoin the Body of Christ.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to see when I have done wrong. And help me to forgive those who have wronged me.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
TO PONDER
This servant in this story owed the king ten thousand bags of gold. Ten thousand. An eye-watering, un-fathomable and impossible sum of money. There is zero chance that this man has any ability to pay this amount in his lifetime. The king knows this, so the manager ordered that the man, with all the possessions and family he loves, to be sold and to become slaves.
We also deserve this.
Yet, this servant has the audacity to ask for a chance. Amazingly, he is given his freedom! Then promptly goes to crush his fellow servant for a trivial sum. This earns him torture in jail until he could pay it all back. (An endless amount of time. Sound familiar?)
But, we know what Jesus did to cancel our debts. Our compassionate King has this power if we ask for it.
PRAYER: Jesus, we deserve to pay our impossible debts, but your love frees us.
Today's devotion written by Joshua Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside.
Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
TO PONDER
Here Jeremiah is in despair about the sin of his nation, and their rejection of God. He gives graphic descriptions of the destruction that will be brought on this people.
They were ‘backsliding’, and it is easy to do this. So when we choose to turn back to God, He is always ready to reach out and pull you up. He is endlessly patient and willing, and his love is relentless.
When we turn back to God and place our obedience back with Him, we become ambassadors of God. In turn, we can forgive others, and live and speak in a way that others will notice; while not slipping into the ways of the world.
PRAYER: God, your power and patience amaze me. Help me turn back to you, and turn others to you.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside