Faith made beautiful
by Anita Foster
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… so that in everything they may be an ornament to the teaching of God our Saviour (Titus 2:10b).
Read Titus 2:1–10
In this passage from the Book of Titus, Paul writes to a new Christian community in Crete about living in a way that increases the attractiveness of the gospel message and makes it credible. He uses the words ‘ornament’ or ‘adorn’ to describe the way the lives of believers can make the gospel message beautiful.
In the text, Paul addresses the actions of people of different ages, genders, stages and stations of life. He speaks about self-control: being sound in faith, love and endurance; being reverent; not slandering or being enslaved to too much wine; teaching what is good; being loving partners and children; and being kind and good managers of the household. These things are part of the everyday-ness of life – the ‘in everything’ of life. We’re not talking about big, dramatic acts of faith or super-intelligent or influential arguments, but the fact that faithfully living a life of integrity is a crucial part of witnessing to the gospel.
People in our world are so sick of hypocrites and being disappointed by leaders. A prominent Christian writer was recently exposed as having an eight-year extramarital affair. We understand that none of us are exempt – we are all tempted by sin and fall short of God’s glory – it’s part of the human condition. We also know that God’s grace extends even to the darkest parts of life. But when recognised Christian writers or speakers behave in a way that is incongruent with a life of faith, it casts a shadow over the credibility of their teaching and their proclamation of the gospel.
To be clear, Paul is not saying that our actions save us – earlier and later in Titus, he asserts that salvation comes from God’s grace alone. But once received, grace can reshape a life. The Greek verb kosmeo, translated in this verse as ‘ornament’ or ‘adorn’, does not just relate to decoration or appearance. It means to arrange, put in order or make something beautiful by fitting it well. A life that is ordered or arranged by grace truly becomes a thing of beauty. Not to draw attention to itself, but to point to Jesus.
God of grace, we thank you for your incredible gifts to us. We ask that your Holy Spirit order and shape our lives in ways that reflect the beauty of the gospel, becoming a living testimony to the transforming work of Christ. Amen.
Anita Foster lives in Melbourne’s outer east with her husband and three teen and tween daughters. She is the Director of Faith and Formation at Luther College in Croydon, and she loves teaching, theatre, being in nature and finding new ways to express her creativity.
How much does it cost?
by Anita Foster
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So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions (Luke 14:33).
Read Luke 14:31–35
Wow! Jesus is bringing out the big guns … again. This time, it refers to the cost of being a disciple. Reading this passage, I am reminded of the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian, pastor, seminary teacher and resistance operative against the Nazis during World War II. Bonhoeffer’s work calls Christians to embrace ‘costly grace’ and warns against ‘cheap grace’.
Bonhoeffer says that ‘Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance … Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate’.
Bonhoeffer explains that by contrast, ‘Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a [person] will gladly go and sell all that [they have] … it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves [their] nets and follows him.’
This kind of grace is costly, because it calls us to follow. However, it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ – the one who offers true life. Costly, because it asks us to pick up our cross, and it cost God the life of his only Son. Bonhoeffer says it is grace because ‘God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us’.
Sometimes, it can be tempting to leave the gospel at the nice, warm, fuzzy feeling of being loved and forgiven. Or to leave it for a Sunday morning church service. But true discipleship is costly. It inspires commitment, obedience and sacrifice, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, is transformative in our lives. By embracing spiritual growth in community over personal comforts, we can experience a grace that enables us to live a life in response to the amazing gift we have been given. This true life that Jesus offers is worth the cost.
Lord God, free us from clinging to comfort, and lead us into the true life found in Christ. Holy Spirit, strengthen us to walk the path of costly grace with faith and courage. Amen.
Anita Foster lives in Melbourne’s outer east with her husband and three teen and tween daughters. She is the Director of Faith and Formation at Luther College in Croydon, and she loves teaching, theatre, being in nature and finding new ways to express her creativity.
Seasoned for peace
by Anita Foster
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Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50).
Read Mark 9:42–50
The start of this passage in Mark can be quite confronting! When it warns about giving in to the temptation of sin, it’s graphic and straight to the point. Once again, Jesus encourages us to reflect on our actions and how they might impact others’ faith. The extreme language Jesus uses emphasises how deeply God cares about the things that can damage and corrupt life, faith and community.
The final verse of the passage utilises the image of salt, a recurring picture in Jesus’ teachings. Have you ever added too much salt to a dish you’ve cooked? When making butter chicken during the COVID-19 lockdown, my husband accidentally read a teaspoon of salt as a tablespoon in the recipe. Let me tell you, the dish was intense! But what about when something is lacking in salt or flavour and is just bland? Asian flavours often have the perfect blend of sweetness, sourness, spiciness and saltiness. Jesus affirms that salt is good – especially in those days, when it was used as a seasoning, a fertiliser, an antiseptic and a preservative. Salt brings the flavours of foods to life and keeps them good for longer.
But it can lose those salty properties. If salt is exposed to moisture or diluted, it can become less salty. Particularly in Jesus’ time, rock salt could become contaminated by pollutants, like gypsum dust from the Jordan River Valley, rendering it less salty and therefore useless. Salt was also highly valued and used in Jewish grain offerings and to demonstrate friendship and covenant.
How can we, as disciples, stay salty? What is Jesus saying when he encourages us to have salt in ourselves and to be at peace with one another? It would likely involve living a life that stays connected to God’s gracious covenant relationship with us. To act in ways that avoid the corruption and damage of life, faith and community.
To be at peace with one another is a significant final note – it shows the value Jesus places on humility, forgiveness, service and not arguing about who is best. (A tiny bit earlier in Mark, we hear about the disciples arguing on the road about who is the most important.) By coming together in unity and peace, we can proclaim the gospel of Christ to the world in a way that brings out its ‘God flavour’ most effectively.
God of covenant, preserve us in your love so that we may bring life and peace to others. Teach us to live in unity, reflecting the flavour of your kingdom in the world. May our lives be seasoned with grace, humility and peace. Amen.
Anita Foster lives in Melbourne’s outer east with her husband and three teen and tween daughters. She is the Director of Faith and Formation at Luther College in Croydon, and she loves teaching, theatre, being in nature and finding new ways to express her creativity.
Out of the basket
by Anita Foster
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… Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket or under the bed and not on the lampstand? (Mark 4:21)
Read Mark 4:21–25
I have a basket in my house. A rather large one, perhaps even the size of a bushel basket – I’m not sure! This basket is the place where I quickly hide clutter in our house when I want the place to look tidy. It’s where things go when I don’t have time to sort them out yet or put them in their proper place, but when I also don’t want the contents of the basket on display. My children sometimes do the same thing when I ask them to tidy their room, hiding things away under their beds.
This passage about light and hearing is found amid Jesus’ use of parables to teach about the kingdom of God. It follows the Parable of the Sower and Jesus’ explanation of both the parable and his use of parables with the disciples.
Jesus asks whether you would hide away a lamp under the bed or under a basket. It’s a bit like the ultimate rhetorical question or appeal to our common sense. Would we? Of course not! Because the purpose of a lamp is to shed light, not to be hidden.
I wonder then, what that looks like for the purpose of God’s word in our own lives? Is the Living Word shining and on display in our homes and lives? Is it an active and lived part of us, listening to God and seeking to understand more about the kingdom of God?
Or perhaps there are times when it is more convenient for God’s word or our faith life to stay hidden away in the basket, the shelf or under the bed. Shoved away or compartmentalised. Applied in certain situations but not others.
Can people see Christ through our actions? Do we seek to bring God’s word to life in ways that others can understand, as Jesus does through these parables? I wonder what simple, faithful words and actions could allow God’s goodness to shine through you today?
Lord, help us not to hide our faith, but to live it openly and faithfully each day. Give us courage and strength to let your light be seen. Amen.
Anita Foster lives in Melbourne’s outer east with her husband and three teen and tween daughters. She is the Director of Faith and Formation at Luther College in Croydon, and she loves teaching, theatre, being in nature and finding new ways to express her creativity.
A light that changes things
by Anita Foster
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In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Read Matthew 5:13–20
Light changes things. It can change a mood and help us and others to see things more clearly, especially those things that are hard to find or see in the dark. We talk about ‘shedding light’ on situations. In fact, we need light for our eyes to function properly.
On 22 January 2026, Australians were encouraged to light a candle on doorsteps or windows as a message of hope, unity and remembrance in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack. An action that provides a hopeful glimmer of light after a distressing time.
When Jesus discusses light in this passage, it comes from the famous Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches that we are light in this world. Light to help others see God more clearly. To bring the hope and light of Christ into every situation we find ourselves in.
When Jesus speaks of letting our light shine, it emphasises the purpose of God’s word and the Holy Spirit’s work of faith in us as not just for our own benefit, but for those around us.
Jesus was very familiar with the Jewish rituals involving the lighting of candlesticks and lamps. The simplicity of these everyday items often mirrored the spiritual lives of people. People lit lamps to illuminate their homes, guide their paths and keep darkness away. Lighting a lamp was a sacred act in many households – especially before Sabbath or during worship. The light served as a reminder of God guiding the wilderness journey of his people with a pillar of fire and that God had promised to send a light – the Light – into a world darkened by sin. It wasn’t just about seeing, but welcoming in the peace, safety and presence of God.
In the same way, Jesus calls us to be a presence in the world that offers a guiding light to him, welcoming the peace and presence of God into our surroundings.
Lord Jesus, let your light shine through us today, so that others may see hope and give glory to you. Amen.
Anita Foster lives in Melbourne’s outer east with her husband and three teen and tween daughters. She is the Director of Faith and Formation at Luther College in Croydon, and she loves teaching, theatre, being in nature and finding new ways to express her creativity.
God is at work through us
by Josh Hauser
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They have distributed freely; they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever (Psalm 112:9a).
Read Psalm 112:1–9(10)
This week, we have been asking: Where is God at work?
God is at work in the waiting. God is at work in the giving. God is at work in the truth. God is at work in faithfulness. God is at work in hope.
And today, we see where all this leads. That God is at work through us.
Psalm 112 sits alongside Psalm 111 in the Scriptures. Psalm 111 describes who God is: gracious, compassionate, righteous, faithful. Psalm 112 describes the person who fears God. And the words are almost identical.
God is gracious and compassionate (Psalm 111:4). The one who fears God is gracious and compassionate (Psalm 112:4).
God’s righteousness endures forever (Psalm 111:3). The righteousness of the one who fears God endures forever (Psalm 112:3,9).
Do you see what is happening? The person who walks with God begins to look like God. What God is, we become. What God does, we do.
‘Good will come to the one who is generous and lends freely, who conducts their affairs with justice’ (Psalm 112:5).
‘They have distributed freely; they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever’ (Psalm 112:9).
God gives freely to those with empty hands (Isaiah 55). And those who receive from God become people who give freely to others. God’s work flows through us.
This is where the week has been leading. God is at work in the waiting, and we learn to wait with others. God is at work in the giving, and we become God’s givers. God is at work in the truth, and we speak God’s truth. God is at work in faithfulness, and we stand with God alongside those who are struggling. God is at work in hope, and we hold out God’s hope to those in despair.
God is at work. And God is at work through us.
We are not the source. We are the overflow. What we have received, we pass on. What has been given to us, we give to others.
Therefore, let us be gracious, because God has been gracious to us. Let us be compassionate, because God has shown us compassion. Let us give freely, because we have received freely.
God is at work. Through us.
Dear God, thank you for all the ways you are at work. Thank you for meeting us in the waiting, the giving, the truth, the faithfulness and the hope. Now work through us. Make us generous, compassionate, and just. Use us to bring your love to others. Amen.
God is at work in faithfulness
by Josh Hauser
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But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:13).
Read 1 Peter 4:12–16
Reading the world news can be overwhelming, can’t it? We see a world that is hurting. War, invasions, persecution and racism invade our news feeds continuously.
1 Peter is a great way to answer where God is in these moments. It was written to Christians living across Asia Minor who were experiencing the same things we are seeing in the world today – persecution, rejection and suffering because of their faith. These believers were a small minority in a wider Roman culture that did not understand or accept their way of life. They faced social exclusion, public criticism and, in some cases, legal trouble.
In verses 12–16, Peter tells believers not to be surprised when they face hardships because of their faith. ‘But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed’ (verse 13). This persecution should be met with joy because we are suffering with Christ. Peter’s message is clear: keep going. Stay faithful because God is faithful to us.
God is at work in faithfulness. God’s faithfulness to us.
This is the promise that runs through all of Scripture. In Deuteronomy, Moses tells Israel: ‘He will not fail you or forsake you.’ In Joshua, God repeats it: ‘I will not fail you or forsake you.’ Isaiah declares: ‘Do not fear, for I am with you.’ Jesus echoes it: ‘I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ And Hebrews reminds the Early Church: ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’
Peter’s readers were suffering. They were isolated. They may have even wondered if God had forgotten them. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed, forgotten or alone. If that is the case, then remember God is faithful and at work in that. This faithfulness means God’s promises are kept. It means God does not abandon people. It means that when we have nothing left, God is there, still holding us and always present.
God is faithful, God is at work, and God loves you.
Dear God, thank you for your faithfulness; help us to trust that you are with us, especially when we feel alone. Amen.
Josh lives in the western suburbs of Melbourne with his wife, Alice, and their two children. Josh enjoys time with his family, the beach and sports of any kind. Josh works at a school, where he feels it is a privilege to share the gospel with the next generation.
God is at work in the truth
by Josh Hauser
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God’ (Luke 6:20).
Read Luke 6:20–26
We have all done it, probably when we were kids.
‘Mum, can I have a chocolate?’ you say.
‘No,’ Mum says.
‘Dad, can I have a chocolate?’
The scam is as old as time. When we can’t find the answer we seek, we look elsewhere to get the answer we want.
We call it confirmation bias now. We tend to seek out voices that align with our own. We surround ourselves with people who think as we do. Social media learns what we want to hear and feeds it back to us. It feels good. It feels right. But it is an echo chamber. It makes us feel comfortable and insular, preventing us from hearing truth and growing.
This confirmation bias was around in Jesus’ time – think about the crowds of people that followed Jesus. Some wanted healing. Some wanted a political revolution. Some wanted their assumptions confirmed. People came looking for a messiah who matched their expectations. People wanted a king.
Luke 6 tells us about a time when Jesus came down from the mountain, stood on a level place and was surrounded by a large crowd. Luke tells us that Jesus looked at his disciples and said:
Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you because of the Son of Man.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are full now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
For many in the crowd, this is not the confirmation bias the people would have wanted. Jesus starts verse 27, ‘But I say to you who are listening …’ This suggests that Jesus knew people switched off and that the truth of the situation didn’t match expectations, so they were already not listening. That is what the truth does to us at times – it makes us uncomfortable. If we don’t sit in that discomfort, then we can’t grow.
As Christians, we believe that God is active in the word; God is active in the truth. We believe that we have the ultimate source of truth available to us in God’s word.
Let’s not shy away from truth. Sometimes, we spend so much energy looking for the answers we want to hear. The challenge for today is to stop, listen and let God speak what is true, even if it disrupts what we want to hear. God is working in that uncomfortableness, so we grow into who God desires us to be.
Dear God, help us to listen to your word, trust the truth you speak and rest in the work you are doing through it. Amen.
Josh lives in the western suburbs of Melbourne with his wife, Alice, and their two children. Josh enjoys time with his family, the beach and sports of any kind. Josh works at a school, where he feels it is a privilege to share the gospel with the next generation.
God is at work in the giving
by Josh Hauser
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1b).
Read Isaiah 55:1–5
Isaiah 55 was written to people who had lost everything. The Jewish exiles in Babylon had watched their city burn, their temple fall, their identity as God’s people called into question. They had been living in a foreign land for decades, wondering if God had abandoned them.
Into that space, the prophet speaks in verse one: ‘Hear, everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.’
As a sentence, it almost doesn’t make sense. Come to this place where you can buy food and eat for free! It’s almost like we are waiting for the catch: ‘Free food … right … and what do we have to do?’
We often carry that same mentality because we spend our time trying to earn things. We try to prove ourselves. We try to show that we are worthy of help, love or attention.
However, Isaiah’s words show us a different picture. God gives to people before anything is proven. God gives to those who arrive empty-handed. God speaks. God invites. God gives. In every act of giving, in every moment of grace, God is at work, meeting the needs of those who come empty-handed.
Martin Luther described how the psalms talk about our life as ‘simul justus et peccator’ – that we are both broken and beloved at the same time. In this truth, God meets people where they are and offers what they need, just as he did for the exiles in Isaiah 55. The ‘waters’ and ‘wine and milk’ would have carried deep meaning for them, gifts of life offered freely by God. People in an arid land, who knew thirst and scarcity, now heard promises of abundance and life. These promises find their fulfilment in Jesus when he proclaims, ‘I am the bread of life’, and ‘Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
The same God who called the exiles to come and eat now calls us. The same gift. The same open invitation. The same grace given to empty hands.
God is at work in the giving. And the gift is Jesus himself.
Dear God, we thank you for your generosity. Help us to see that you are at work in all the gifts we receive. Help us to show our thanks to you in our thoughts, words and deeds. Thank you for the greatest gift of all, Jesus. Amen.
Josh lives in the western suburbs of Melbourne with his wife, Alice, and their two children. Josh enjoys time with his family, the beach and sports of any kind. Josh works at a school, where he feels it is a privilege to share the gospel with the next generation.