Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and was one of their number, asked, “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”
TO PONDER
I used to work in an institution where the culture challenged my Christian values on how I treat and respect those less fortunate than myself. I didn’t want to lose my job which I really enjoyed; to speak up I felt would have had negative results. So, I prayed for some way to manage and then the idea came to learn of the history of the place, if I could understand that, perhaps I could find the right way to speak up.
In today’s devotion, we see Nicodemus being a little bolder and speaking out against the behaviour of the Jewish leaders as they plan to arrest Jesus. I think it is safe to assume that Nicodemus had been quietly reading and questioning and was beginning to believe, his faith was in its infancy and trust may have been a stirring new emotion. His reward for speaking up was a personal attack against him; maybe he saw that coming, maybe not.
I eventually spoke up too and God created a pathway for me to help change the culture and practices in my workplace. “You are never too old to learn” is a very popular saying which we should embrace as we seek to have a stronger faith and trust, which will give us the confidence to speak out against injustice and always answer those who question so they too, may believe and grow in faith and trust in his grace and forgiveness.
Prayer: Lord Jesus forgive me for the times I haven’t spoken up in situations that needed the calming and healing balm of your word and love, when I have been too concerned about me than another person’s crisis. Please give me the ability to recognize early when a situation or a person is in need of hearing about God’s healing love and grace. Amen
Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
TO PONDER
Nicodemus wanted to know more about Jesus. This man, Jesus, whose actions and words had his fellow members in the Sanhedrim in a bit of a tiz, because of the rising number of people following him, so he visited Jesus secretly at night. He begins by praising God and uses the word “we” to make it seem like a general inquiry, but as he so often did, Jesus turned the focus on Nicodemus, his spiritual condition and the need for him to be born again, a lengthy discussion over that followed.
Nicodemus had no faith but he was questioning. Our faith is not a done deal, it is not a noun but a verb - we have to work on it. Nicodemus was unknowingly on that road; he was asking questions. As those questions are answered we begin to believe and from this our faith grows.
We all want to walk closer with God, to live a life like Jesus modelled, to have complete faith in God and his ways so we still need to question so that our faith can grow.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for your Word, pastors and teachers and people who work on Bible versions, devotions and commentaries so that I can find an answer when I have a question, for those light bulb moments when I can grasp a deeper meaning to what is, quite a familiar section of your Word. Enable me to be bold and ask questions even if it seems silly to those around me, help me grow in my faith and be closer to you each day Amen
Today's daily devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
TO PONDER
Do you remember the Bobby McFerrin song from the 1980's, 'Don't Worry Be Happy'? It had a pretty positive message and was a popular hit while I was growing up but I can't help but think it still misses the mark a bit for those of us with faith in Jesus, and it doesn't express the reality of life with Jesus.
Many people have the misguided understanding that when you start following Jesus he makes life smooth sailing for you. Anyone familiar with the Apostle Paul's life and missionary journeys (read the book of Acts if you want to know more) will know that his life was not smooth sailing, neither figuratively or literally. He was arrested and imprisoned multiple times, persecuted for the faith, literally shipwrecked at one point and yet in the midst of all those things, the things he is referring to in the reading, he always saw God at work guiding him through those experiences. Life was not easy for him, it was full of challenges. I am sure he wondered at times if his time was up, I'm sure he also questioned what God was up to in the midst of those circumstances. I do not believe that he was always able to 'not worry and be happy', but what he was able to do was have peace and hope.
Peace in the knowledge that if it was the end of this life for him, that his Lord Jesus was waiting to welcome him into the next. Hope that God may still yet make a way where there seemed to be no way.
Walking with Jesus doesn't make life no worries and all happiness. Jesus doesn't remove that hardships, but he will walk with you through them.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you that you came to earth to walk with us, to endure and understand suffering, to save and redeem us. Please help me to remember that you are with me when life brings trials and struggles. Help me to remember that you have a place for me in your kingdom, both now in this life and in the next. May that knowledge bring me peace and hope in all circumstances. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
TO PONDER
Have you seen the movie, "Waking Ned Devine"? It's a great movie, if you don't mind a little bit of 'colourful' Irish language. The story goes that an elderly local man, Ned Devine, has won a massive lottery jackpot, but it appears the shock of the win causes him to have a heart attack. A couple of his old buddies realise what has happened and begin the process of trying to convince the lottery board that one of them is Ned Devine. Of course the other local villagers begin to realise something is up until eventually the whole town is promised a share of the winnings if they will play along with the ruse.
I mention this movie because it reminds me that just like the two men in this movie could not carry off this fraud by themselves, neither can we do much on our own. It was only as the two men in the movie began to realise they could not pull this thing off themselves, that the strength and unity of the community came to the fore. What Paul is getting at here in 2 Corinthians is similar, it is only when we come to the end of our own strength and realise that we cannot do much on our own, that we really begin to rely on Christ. It's at that point, when we make space for God and rely on him, that we are able to accomplish those wonderful works that God has planned in advance for us to do.
So where do you need to rely on God today?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you that when life is getting overwhelming I can rely on you to bring me through. Please help me to rely on you at all times, even when things are going smoothly and to remember to always praise and thank you for everything you have done, and will continue to do for me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
TO PONDER
I was fortunate to be able to attend the 'Better Blokes' camp down at Warrambui on the King's birthday long weekend. One of the speakers at that camp was talking with us about why we don't live as victorious sons of the King (I suspect you ladies could also say daughters, but remember it was a men's camp). He said this, "ultimately it's the panic that gets us." And you know what, I'm sure he's right.
So often I think Christians panic and freeze in the face of their friends questions about faith, or God, or Jesus. It's like we think we could never offer a plausible answer or give an account of our own faith and so we close up like a clam. But notice what happens to Stephen in today's verse, the Spirit gave him wisdom as he spoke. Stephen wasn't full of wisdom all the time, it's not like all his friends were lined up outside his house waiting to lean some bit of divinely inspired wisdom every time he opened his mouth, but when the situation required it, He spoke and the Holy Spirit provided the words.
There is no reason to believe it would be any different now. You may not feel qualified or able to speak, don't let the panic get you, God might just be waiting for you to open your mouth so he can use it to speak his wisdom, but you'll never know if you don't take the courage to open your mouth and trust God to be at work.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I know there are times when I forget that because of Jesus, you are at work in me and through me. Help me to learn and trust that when I need your wisdom to speak into a situation, you will be with me, and that if no words come out, then perhaps all you need me to do is listen. Help me to remember that you are my helper and guide. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me.
Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
TO PONDER
I don't know about you, but I'm not sure I always feel like God delivers on this psalm in my life. I know of a couple of old schoolyard bullies who, according to Facebook, seem to be doing pretty well for themselves. I'm not seeing too much subduing and I'm not feeling particularly exalted above said enemies at this point in my life.
It's at times like this that I realise I'm thinking about the wrong enemies. Other people are not my enemies. In fact, even if they were, Jesus told his followers to love those who hurt you and to pray for those who persecute you. It's then that I remember that, despite how badly sin may have distorted the image, that these people who I might consider my enemies are made in the image of God, just like I am. How could I do anything but love them, just like Jesus commanded.
Sin, death, and the devil are the enemies we face as Christians today. It is sin that makes me see other people as the enemy. It is death that Christ has exalted me above, raising me with himself to eternal life, its the violent and deceitful plans of that 'ancient foe' from which Jesus has rescued us. In fact, our rescue and God's vengeance against our real enemies is total and complete. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and praise the Lord among the nations, sing praises to His holy name.
PRAYER: Jesus, I know I misinterpret the mission parameters all the time. I often see those you have called me to love as 'the enemy'. Sometimes I freeze or cower in fear when you call me to act. I worry about saying or doing the wrong thing and losing a friend or making more enemies. Help me to remember that the only enemies I need to fear, you have already conquered, and you invite me to share in your victory. Help me to live courageous and victorious every day. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
TO PONDER
The phrase 'be strong and courageous' appears 6 times in scripture; 3 times in the book of Deuteronomy and 3 times in the book of Joshua. They are words spoken at a transition, at the end of Moses' time leading the Israelites and the handover to Joshua as the next leader. This was also a transitional time in terms of God's people shifting from a nomadic, desert wandering people, to a people coming into their inheritance and taking possession of the land God had promised them. There was a lot of change going on.
Sometimes I think that we forget that our God is a God, not just of creation, but also of re-creation and restoration. Just because he has done things one way in the past, does not necessarily mean we can expect him to do things the same way now. The one consistent thread though through all the amazing stories of God's interactions with His chosen people (which now also includes you and me) is that God does big things when his people are strong and courageous in trusting Him.
So look out for opportunities today where you can be strong and courageous in trusting God and see what He does with your courageous faith in Him!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes it's easy to pray the words "Your kingdom come, Your will be done" but then fail to do anything about it. Your kingdom can feel so far away and my faith and courage can feel so small. Please make me strong and courageous in trusting you to always be there with me and to never forsake me, even when you ask me to take a leap of faith into new territory and unknown places. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
TO PONDER
Doing the right thing, in other words doing the will of God, often draws opposition. There are plenty of people who do not want to hear the message of hope that Jesus offers, some of them are happy enough to just ignore Christians, others can get quite direct and aggressive.
Nehemiah encountered that kind of opposition while he worked at rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Those who didn't want the walls rebuilt worked to discredit Nehemiah, to sabotage his work plans and undermine his authority. His response in almost every situation is to down tools, pray to God and then put the situation in His hands.
Yet often we do fail to act when an injustice is done or a fridge door is left open or a toilet seat left up, preferring to whinge and moan about the problem rather than do something about it. God is inviting you today to step out of the shadows and get involved in the work he has four the church do do. And whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God the Father. Amen
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you say all power and authority in heaven and on earth has been given to you and you send us out as your people with that same power and authority. Help me to trust that you are at work through me and my life. Please help me to see today all the places I should be making a stand. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
TO PONDER
Sometimes doing what God asks you to do gets you "stuck in the mud", at least that's what happened to Jeremiah. He was given a difficult message to deliver to the king and people of Judah and the people living in Jerusalem. When the locals heard the message, they didn't like it and threw Jeremiah to the bottom of a muddy well.
To most outsiders it might have seemed like God let Jeremiah down. here was a guys who faithfully delivered the word of God and what does he get in return? He just gets thrown in a well and forgotten about... or so it seams.
Even in the dark and damp mud of the well, God had a plan for Jeremiah's safety. He used an outsider, a man from Cush (modern day Ethiopia), to rescue Jeremiah from the well. Yes, following God's will and plan led to a time of darkness and trial, but it also ended with God bringing about a safe solution for all involved.
God tells us himself that he will not ask more of us than we can handle (1Cor 10:13), so why not be courageous and take on the tasks God puts before you and let him surprise you with what you can achieve when you do things with Him.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you have given me so many good things, like grace and forgiveness, my friends and family, my house and clothing all good things come from you. Help me to remember your goodness, especially when life gets tough and my situation is less than ideal. In Jesus name, Amen