Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them.
I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
TO PONDER
I find this particular part of Psalm 41 a bit of a challenge because so often it can feel like my 'enemies' are triumphing over me.
Now when I say 'enemies' I don't mean it in the traditional sense. However, as a pastor and as a leader of a Christian church, it often feels like people and organisations who act in ways that are obviously in contradiction to the Word of God get the best of things in our culture and society today. It seems to me that often those who hold a position against Christianity or 'the church' usually receive a better hearing in the public sphere than those who would try to promote God's idea of the 'good life'. Sometimes, this can even be our closest friends or members of our own families.
I know there have been times, like there obviously was for the Psalmist, that I have wanted God to give me the opportunity to serve up a giant plate of humble pie to those who seem determined to put themselves in opposition to God and the spread of the gospel of Jesus. I want to 'repay' them for what I see as their attacks against the church. However, we also have to acknowledge that when 'the church' has taken it upon itself to 'repay' it's enemies all we have usually done is give them more valid reason to be against us.
The Psalmist's final verse here recognises that while people, institutions, groups, even the world, can seem against us that God doesn't let them have the final word. Even though they may score a few hits and win a few battles along the way, the final victory belongs to God and he will not let these 'enemies' have the ultimate victory. God has got your back - there is no need to retreat in the face of opposition, God has you covered. Instead, keep moving forward trusting that He will make a way.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you are with me in the battles of this life. Please help me to recognise that other people are not my enemies, they are people that you want to win into your kingdom. Instead help me to remember that my real enemies, sin, death, and the devil, have already been defeated by Jesus and his death and resurrection. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
TO PONDER
Perspective, it's an important tool when we encounter challenges in life. I remember as a child, when I would whinge about the vegetables that I had been served for dinner, my parents would remind me that there were children in other places around the world who were not able to find food for dinner at all and who would be so grateful for any of the food on my plate, even the Brussels sprouts. It often worked enough to guilt me into eating my veggies, but it didn't make me enjoy them.
Of course my parents had my best interests at hear too. They wanted to ensure that I consume a healthy diet of fresh protein, fruit and vegetables so that I would maintain good health and develop good eating habits. I know that now, but as a child I just didn't see why broad beans and Brussels sprouts were so essential when there were so many other vegetables I was happy to eat. They knew what was good for me, even if I didn't like it.
I think this is the kind of attitude Paul is encouraging the Roman Christians to adopt in today's verse. We are often so focussed on our immediate circumstances that we can fail to see or recognise what the challenges we face might be doing to grow and mature us in healthy ways. Like children who do not want to eat their vegetables, we can often be so concerned about our immediate comfort and security that our instant reaction to difficulties in life is to have a melt down like a child facing a plate of unwanted vegetables and insist that God just take them away.
However, if we can take a moment to try and gain the larger perspective and remember that our God loves us, has promised never to abandon us, and is always at work for the good of those who love him, then perhaps we can address the challenges of life with a different attitude. God's priority is not our immediate comfort, it's about helping us to forge a closer and more intimate relationship with him. Seeing things from this perspective doesn't make the hard things any more enjoyable (Brussels sprouts are still Brussels sprouts), but it can make them more endurable and it can remind us that we have a God who wants us to call on him and rely on him in our troubles rather than trying to deal with them on our own.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, for all my age I know I often still act like a child with you. I know that you are always at work for my good and yet, when I'm not comfortable or when life gets hard I can question your goodness and might even be prone to sulking and complaining. Please help me to see things from your perspective. Help me to see where I need to grow in my trust and relationship with you, and help me to see where you are calling me to help others in the same way. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”... Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
TO PONDER
Many of us will be familiar with the wider story of this text. Jesus is sharing the Passover meal with his disciples and at the same time he is trying to prepare them for what is about to happen to him. Jesus is under no illusions that he is about to be completely abandoned. Betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and ultimately - on the cross - forsaken by God the Father. Jesus knows about betrayal.
We may not often think of it this way but our sin is a kind of betrayal of Jesus also. Jesus died so that we could be made new. Sin is one of the ways we reject that new life which Jesus made available to us and continue to live in open rebellion to God and His ways. But the beautiful thing about Jesus is that our betrayal doesn't stop him from dying for us so that we can be restored to God the Father.
In that Last Supper, and in Holy Communion, Jesus comes to those who regularly betray, deny, abandon and forsake him and he says, "take and eat, this is my body this is my blood, I given myself for you." If Jesus can do that for Judas, he can do that for you.
PRAYER: Jesus, I am sorry for the various ways I betray and deny all that you have done for me. I thank you that despite my repeated attempts to return to my old life, you are willing to meet me where I am and give yourself to me again so that I can live with you. Please help me to live in you and with you today. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death
TO PONDER
I wonder if you have ever felt like that. I was talking just the other day with other LifeWay pastors and we were discussing the idea of feeling 'forgotten' by God. When we are struggling through some kind of trouble or feel abandoned and completely alone, despite how it feels it's not as if God is in heaven thinking, "Now what did I do with Mathew?... Oh, that's right I forgot I left him sitting in the middle of that problem, I had better go and do something about that."
God simply does not forget us. The problems we face we face for just the right amount of time for God to do exactly what he needs to do, not only for us but for everyone involved in the situation. Sometimes exactly what we need to be drawn deeper into a trusting relationship with God is to be shown how helpless we are when we struggle to get through in our own strength. other times we need to see God step in with some kind of supernatural and divine intervention.
We think we know what we need from God, but he actually knows exactly what we need in our difficult times. Like the Psalmist, we can call out and demand an answer, but ultimately God's answer will be known only if, and when, he knows it's the right time to reveal his plans to fulfil all his purposes. If it feels like God is hiding his face from you, don't panic, he has promised that those who seek him will find him, so just keep looking.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you have promised to be with us always, even to the very end of the age. Please help me to know that when I feel alone, you are still with me; that even when I cannot feel or see our discern you at all, you are always there for me. Thank you, Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
TO PONDER
I think the time I recall feeling most alone was when my dad was in hospital dying of cancer. It's not so much that I had been abandoned or betrayed by everyone like Paul seems to have been experiencing in today's reading. It was just that I had left my family on the central coast to finish celebrating Christmas and New Year together and flown back to Adelaide by myself, to pick up our car and then drive six hours to Western Victoria by myself, all the while hoping I would get there before dad passed away. It was certainly a lonely journey.
However, an hour or so in to my six hour drive I started playing some worship music on the car stereo. It reminded me that while I may have left my wife and family behind, I was not alone. The Lord was with me as I drove, exhausted, anxious, and grieving all the way from Adelaide to Warrnambool. He was with me in the weeks following my father's death as I prepared to preach my first public sermons at my childhood church just down the road in Portland, and he gave me the courage to stand up in front of all these people who had known and loved my dad as part of their church family and proclaim good news to them even in the3 middle of my own grief.
God had given me a job to do, and it turns out it was in much more trying circumstances than I was expecting. But God was certainly my strength in that situation and he will be that for all who put their trust in him.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to be like Paul and to find strength and comfort in you especially when things seem to be going against me and I feel alone or out on a limb, help me to know your presence and your strength. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
TO PONDER
The parallels between Joseph's story in Genesis and Jesus story are many. Their silence in the face of their betrayal by those closest to them is just one good example.
We don't ever see Joseph speak up or complain out loud about the injustice of his situation. Just like Jesus, in the face of those who were falsely accusing him and looking for a reason to crucify him, remained silent and gave no protest.
So what are we to do with that? What should a follower of Jesus do when we are personally confronted with injustice and betrayal?
I think there are two things we need to keep in mind. Firstly, Jesus was always quick to speak out against injustice when he saw it being perpetrated on others. He often spoke up for the sick, the poor and the marginalised and taught his disciples to do likewise. So we can, and should, regularly stand up for those who have need and are unable to help themselves. The people of God have, on balance, a good history of doing this.
However, when it comes to what to do when others mistreat us, the story is a bit different. Jesus tells his disciples to be quick to forgive, to turn the other cheek and to pray for those who pursecute them. We can, if we choose, go ahead and make a big fuss when someone wrongs us. We could whinge and moan and complain to anyone who will listen but that only serves to spread our negativity onto others. The way we glorify God and bring his grace and mercy to bear in the face of those who hurt us is to leave judgement and vengeance in God's hands, trusting him to judge rightly. Remember, all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, we are all equally in need of his mercy and grace.
PRAYER: God of Mercy and Grace, I thank you for the grace and forgiveness you have given me through your Son, Jesus Christ. Please help me to be patient and quiet when people treat me poorly and to also be able to offer forgiveness. Please grow in me the courage and the strength to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. In Jesus name, Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
TO PONDER
"I have a dream..." Martin Luther King Jr, is perhaps one of the most famous 'dreamers' in modern history because of his 'I have a dream' speech. His dream was a world where all people might be treated fairly regardless of race, and end to segregation, and an end to racism. Just like Joseph, his dream got people very upset with him. Unlike Joseph, Martins dream actually got his killed.
However there are two things to mention about Martin's dream. Firstly, I can't say for certain but I'm not sure that his dream was his own. Here's one section from his I have a dream speech,
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
I don't know about you, but I am convinced this was a man who believed God had given him a task to do. This leads me to my second point about his dream, While it may have caused some people to plan his assassination, it led many more to catch the vision and begin the work of reconciliation and justice. That's not to say that there is not more work to be done where racism and other types of inequality and injustice still occur, but even though Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, his dream lived on.
It's not so easy to kill a dream or the will of God. Joseph's brothers thought they had done it, Jonah thought he could evade it by running away, and those who crucified Jesus thought they had done it too. It turns out that not even death can stop the plans of God. So if you feel as though God has given your life a purpose and meaning, then don't avoid it or run away from it. Embrace it, even when it seems like the task is too big, God will hold you in his hand and be there with you to see his dream for youcomep to fruition.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you have had in mind, right from the beginning, a plan and a dream for my salvation through your Son, Jesus. I know your dream includes the salvation of all people and that you have a part for me to play in that dream. Please help me to know when and where and how to play my part so that your glory may be revealed to all people. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”.
TO PONDER:
Every day I get a message from Amazon.com.au informing me that they have “found something you might like” and its true, I do like it, I do want it and I can even get it delivered today, the same day I ordered it at no extra charge, so I am even saving money!
Finding that brown cardboard box left at my front door on the same say I ordered it, without having to drive to the shops brings me a special kind of happiness, I think I have GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).
Today’s verse reminds us to be on our guard against greed, to avoid GAS, to realise that maybe we don’t need that thing Amazon.com.au has found for us, and realise that the happiness we feel when we see that brown cardboard box left at the front door is not true joy and won’t fulfill my life, even if they fulfilled the order the same day it was ordered.
PRAYER: Almighty God, forgive me when I look for happiness in possessions when I place my faith and hope in acquiring more instead of you, help me realise that true joy can only be found in you Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay WestSide
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
TO PONDER:
I don’t know about you but I’m glad I’m not as bad as those other people, you know, the ones listed in today’s verses.
Do you ever sit in worship and think someone else needed to hear the sermon and then walked out satisfied that you are doing great compared to those other people?
Today’s verses mention the “obvious” things like witchcraft and debauchery and I think, since I have never even attempted to cast a spell on anyone and I am fairly confident that I haven’t "debauched", Paul is obviously talking, once again, to those other people.
In the list of dysfunctions mentioned by Paul he leads with the obvious, the “sins”, the lifestyle choices that require purposeful decisions to enter into, I don’t think its possible to stumble into an orgy (sorry Paul mentioned it first) but some of those other things, you know the grey areas he lists, like anger (rage), jealousy (envy), selfishness, and denominations (sorry I meant factions), I maybe have stumbled into once or twice, a long time ago, of course…
Just because we haven’t committed the “obvious” doesn’t mean we haven’t fallen into the other “less severe” dysfunctions of say factions or perhaps envy.
Martin Luther himself reminds us about the pedagogical use (the mirror) of scriptures like today’s verses which expose sin and drive us to Christ even if we never tripped into an orgy.
PRAYER: Forgiving Saviour, I ask for forgiveness for my pride and my idolatry of self, thinking I am better than those “others” who need to cry out to you due to their sin Jesus help me run to you daily. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside