And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
TO PONDER:
I am pretty confident that most people have heard of the term “Confirmation Bias” but maybe I am wrong, that could just be my confirmation bias peaking through…
Well, what about “False Consensus Effect,” or “Social Proximity Effect,” or “Information Filtering,” or what about “Group Identity”? All of these terms give an explanation into how most of us arrive at our belief structures.
So basically, we tend to believe what the people we hang out with believe. I know, you have come to your beliefs through deep thought, study, exploration, and struggle through doubts. But most people don’t really “believe” what they believe, they borrow others belief structure.
Today’s verse says we have to believe God exists and we have to earnestly seek him. The Greek words used here translated to “faith” and “believe” are the noun “pistis” and the verb of the same word “pisteuō” which carry more than just intellectual, or passive “belief,” the word signifies confidence, trust, reliance on, adherence to someone or something with the implication of actions towards that trust.
All of the above is to build into the crux, the essence of the required (strong word for a Lutheran) belief needed; to “earnestly seek,” not a passive acceptance, not a borrowed thought from a friend but an active trust, an earnest reliance in God, a belief structure that has personal cost, refined through struggle, inspired by grace.
PRAYER:
Almighty God, I repent for my lack of faith, for my passive belief, for not trusting you with my all. I thank you for your grace shown in my weakness, when my faith is passive and weak your love for me holds strong drawing me deeper into your loving embrace. Amen.
Today’s devotion is written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. (NLT)
TO PONDER:
A few years ago I wanted to “challenge my faith”, so I set out to read some of the most popular books written by Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, two of “The Four Horsemen of New Atheism”, and spoiler alert, I was VERY disappointed.
“God is not Great” by Christopher Hitchens left me even more sure of my faith. And then I moved onto “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins and literally threw my hands in the air with, what I considered to be, a very shallow set of beliefs (or lack of belief).
Today’s verses are from Paul’s debate in the Areopagus with some of the leaders of the city of Athens where he challenges their many religions and introduces them to “the Unknown God”, the God who “gives life and breath to everything”.
He argues that their many beliefs/religions are a response to this Unknown God’s immediacy to themselves and the rest of humanity.
Paul then nails his thesis of God’s proximity to the door with the statement of God’s proof, raising Jesus from the dead.
The shallow faith of the man-made gods in Athens and “New Atheism” are further proof of the existent of the “Unknown God”, the God in human flesh spoken of by Paul. The shallowness of those faiths can’t explain the meaning and purpose of life which can only be filled by the Unknown God being known in Jesus and is the only one who can explain why.
PRAYER:
Almighty God, I thank you for never being far from me and your proof of Jesus who was born, lived amongst us, died on the cross to restore your relationship with humanity, and was resurrected as proof our eternity with you. Amen.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. (NLT)
TO PONDER:
Recently, if you got up in the middle of the night, we got to experience the moon turning red as it was eclipsed by the earth. I was one of the sleepless ones who got to experience the shadow of the earth moving across the brightness of the moons surface (and have the photos to prove it).
While I understand the science behind the phenomenon of a “Blood-Moon” and was not filled with a foreboding as the glow of the full moon, slowly masked in shadow until it was covered in blood, I still stood in awe and amazement (enough to risk waking my sleeping wife to share in the experience).
In Sunday’s post I talked about the fine-tuning phenomenon of the cosmos and how that, in my opinion, points to a designer, a creator.
And the Blood-Moon of September 7th proclaimed God’s glory, displaying his craftsmanship, especially if you know the science behind a blood red moon.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, As I stare upon your craftsmanship, as I wonder in your creation I am in awe of who you are realising all of these amazing phenomena are tiny a glimpses into your glory. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. (MSG)
TO PONDER:
Have you ever asked a question related to the hiddenness of God, wondered why God was not obvious, or even cried out in desperation “Where are you God?”
Well today’s verse doesn’t help with those questions, in fact the verse can, in a sense, rub salt into the times where God’s hiddenness is tangible, biting, hopeless.
Jesus himself cried out in despair towards that same hiddenness of the Father when he uttered “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?) while he hung dying on the cross.
And that can be the point of this verse, God himself became “flesh and blood,” leaving eternity to walk amongst us, experiencing the full gamut of human emotion, from joy to betrayal, from feasting to hunger, from love to heartache, from deep communion with the Father to experiencing the seemingly hiddenness of the one who says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Jesus, God in the flesh became our neighbour to walk beside us in those times of hiddenness, in those times when we cry out “Jesus where are you?” His generous love is there with us.
God himself, took the impossible step to restore relationship with Deity and humanity in the struggle of hiddenness when He walked in the garden crying out to humanity “where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).
PRAYER:
Almighty God, I thank you for moving into the neighborhood, becoming flesh and blood to restore the relationship between you and me. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay Westside.
For in him [Jesus Christ] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
TO PONDER
Scripture is also full of passages like this. Verses that tell us we were created by God and for God, that we belong to him, that we are his people, his children, and he is our God.
I know it seems obvious, but I also know that I need reminding of this on almost a daily basis, so the constant reminders, while sometimes irritating, are also kind of necessary.
Have a look at the world today, and you will likely see people busy living life as if their life is theirs to do with as they wish. That, after all is what our Western, hyper-individual, culture and world view seems to be promoting. Phrases like, "You do you" or "Live your best life" reinforce the idea that the purpose of life is for you to do what you want, for you to be happy all the time.
Many theologians and philosophers have speculated that service and worship is a natural human state, that we are naturally wired to worship and serve something. The only choice we actually have then is what we choose to worship and serve. Many people seem to be choosing to worship at the alter of self and it's not having a great result. I remember even within my own fairly short lifetime when people who were self absorbed or overly self focussed were not looked on with much favour or good will in their communities. These days they are the kings and queens of social media empires and all the world adores them.
Well, while that might have changed, the ultimate reality has not, we still have been made by God and for God. If you have to worship something, why not the God of all creation who created you for relationship with himself.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that all things in heaven and on earth are ultimately yours to command and control. Please help me to trust you more deeply and to walk in your ways. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
TO PONDER
This verse reminds me of the one we heard on Sunday from 1 Peter 2:4-10. It said, "as you come to Him, Jesus Christ, the living stone..."
All this talk of identity and purpose all begins only when we are 'in Christ'. The image of the vine, or a fruit tree of any kind, is a helpful picture for us.
The purpose of any fruit bearing plant is to produce fruit. But we all know that a branch, broken or cut from the tree or vine is not going to be producing anything unless someone does some fancy horticulture and grafts the branch back into the life of the tree or vine.
Likewise, our life's purpose is to produce fruit for the Kingdom of God. If we remain 'in Christ' connected to the vine then he bears that fruit in us, all we need to do is remain in him. The moment our connection to Jesus gets tenuous, so does our fruit production. Suddenly it's not just something that God works in us through his Son, it becomes something we have to work at ourselves and it becomes an effort and a burden and ultimately it doesn't work anyway because we have been cut off from the source of all the fruit bearing energy.
If you are going to put your effort or energy into anything, don't make it bearing fruit. Make it remaining in Jesus...the rest will take care of itself.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to remember that the most important thing I can do is stay connected to you and to remember that my life is in you. The fruit of my life is not my wealth or the inheritance I leave behind me, but rather the other people who have come to know you because they have seen you alive in me and recognised that my life was found in you. Help that reality to be increasingly obvious in my life. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do
TO PONDER
I had the privilege of joining the team at LifeWay Westside for worship this past Sunday. In his sermon, Danny reminded us that, "even before there was a before", God had each of us in mind and a plan and purpose for each of our lives. I think that's what this verse from Ephesians is trying to remind us of.
Nothing about you is an accident. God had you and his plans for your life and how you would fit into his great grand plan for the universe. Isn't that something incredible to think about?
It is a thought that has brought me great comfort on numerous occasions when I have either been told I'm not good enough or been rejected for a role or a Job I thought I might be good at. It has given me a perspective check in those times when I have somehow managed to convince myself that I am not good enough for God.
If I trust that God knows what he is doing, and he knew before the beginning of time, that I would be here right now, at this moment, writing this devotional thought, then I have to accept that he has some kind of plan and purpose for whatever it might be that I manage to get down on the paper (or computer).
It doesn't matter whether I think this is the best devotion I have ever written or if I think it is a bit lacklustre compared to normal. It doesn't matter if I don't think mine are as good Danny's devotions, or Charles' or Maureen's or Pastor Nich's - if I really believe that this is one of those tasks God prepared in advance for me to do, then I can have confidence that God will make something come of the words you are reading right now.
So please let me encourage you, whatever you do for work, who ever you feel God prompting you to talk to whether its a random stranger on the train or bus, a colleague from work, the same supermarket staff member who you always bump into at the deli counter, you neighbour, your teacher, your friend, your enemy; God knew the moments you would face and he has gifted you everything you need to be exactly who he needs you to be in every circumstance. Just listen to him and trust that he knows what he's doing.
PRAYER: Gracious Heavenly Father, I know I sometimes feel like I can't do the things I feel you asking me to do. Please help me to trust you more so that I can more confidently step out into each day and declare, "this is the day that the Lord has made" and know that you have set the path before me every step of the way planned out and prepared for before the beginning of time. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle (with some help from Danny Brock)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
TO PONDER
It is interesting, when the Bible talks about what we are supposed to do. Here in Micah, and in many other parts of Scripture we are told that God has made his plans for us pretty clear. "He has shown you..." means that God is not hiding his purpose and plans and desires for us.
What's interesting then is why we, as humanity in general, spend so much time looking for alternatives or trying to discover it for ourselves as if God has not made it clear in his word already.
So, what does the Lord require of you? Here it is in fairly plain and simple language.
- Act justly - be honest, don't cheat, treat others with dignity and respect
- Love mercy - when others don't do #1, then we are to do #2, in other words, be ready and quick to forgive those who mistreat you, be eager to practices forgiveness and mercy whenever there is room to do so (and even when there isn't).
- Walk with God in humility. Recognise the persistent presence of God in your life and practice living with him beside you in every circumstance. However, remember that HE is God you are invited to walk with him, you don't tell him where to go or expect him to go wherever you want.
That's it. 3 pretty simple steps. What do you think the world would be like if more people lived out just those 3 simple principles or a more regular or consistent basis?
PRAYER: Lord God, you have already said what you want and expect from us. Thank you that you have made that clear. Please help me not to lose sight of the simplicity of these three things and to life them out more and more each day. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay, Newcastle
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
TO PONDER
Ecclesiastes is not a book of the Bible many people go to often these days, and it's a shame because it has a lot to teach us.
The writer of the book essentially sets out to determine what a wise person ought to do with his or her life. He experiments with lots of things, chasing more wisdom and learning, wealth and fame, parties and good times, hard work and productive efforts... in the end he determines they are all meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Our verse today, is the final conclusion of this wise man's contemplation. He comes to the conclusion that trusting in God and seeking to do his will are the only things that bring meaning to any part of life. Jesus said the basically the same thing in a different way in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you also."
If we can seriously make the pursuit of God and his ways the number one pursuit of our life then we can be confident that every part of our life will be filled with meaning and purpose. Why not do your own little experiment and try that hypothesis out for a few days and see what God does with your life when you place it squarely in his hands?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me today, to seek your kingdom first in all that I do. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.