by Maria Rudolph
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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).
Read James 1:16–27
When Martin Luther translated the Bible and later wrote commentaries on the books of the Bible, he called the Book of James the ‘epistle of straw’. It was his way of expressing his concerns that the Book of James emphasised ‘good works’ too much over the saving grace of God.
The core of Luther’s understanding of Scripture lies in this passage from St Paul: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ’ (Romans 3:23,24). For Martin Luther, the concern with the Book of James was that people could be misled to understand salvation through good works if they didn’t know much about the Scriptures. Applying the gospel lens each time we read the Bible was important for Luther, and it needs to be important to us. What is the gospel lens? It is simply that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, nothing more and nothing less. There is no new or different gospel.
If you should ever hear the words, ‘The church has stepped away from the gospel’ (or to that effect), check whether or not the church still holds to and teaches being saved by grace through faith in Christ. Nothing more and nothing less is required. According to our Lutheran Confessions, this is the essence of our faith as Christian people. Every other matter on how we live and structure our church, offices and lives is not a core part of that pure gospel message.
That is where the Book of James is helpful by reminding us to put our faith into action. We do this not by telling each other off about how to interpret the gospel but by actual deeds: to look after orphans and widows in distress and keep a tight rein on one’s tongue (James 1:26,27).
What James is really saying is this: Faith in God, which saves us, automatically produces good works in us. When we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, we cannot help but do what he says. So, let us go forth and bless the people around us with our good works today!
‘Lord Jesus, we belong to you, you live in us, we live in you; we live and work for you – because we bear your name.’ Open my eyes to the needs around me, so I can put my faith in action today to bless others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria is overjoyed to be a candidate for ordination as a pastor of the LCANZ while serving the St Johns Perth congregation and supporting the ministry of her pastor husband, Michael, at Concordia Duncraig congregation in Western Australia. They are parents to three children who are busy with primary and secondary schooling. Maria also serves the church as a member of the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
by Maria Rudolph
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You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (James 1:3).
Read James 1:1–15
Has your faith ever been tested? We may, at times, get into situations where being a Christian is uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing for us. If you have lived in Australia for all of your life, I doubt you would have been threatened with death or bodily harm for possessing or teaching the Bible or attending or leading worship.
My friend from Persia has a different reality to face. If I so much as mentioned their name or even gender here, they would be fearful of their government’s actions. After the glorious day of their baptism in Australia, they were unable to take any of the Christian literature or items they received as gifts back home for fear of what might happen to them or their family if border security discovered these items in the suitcase.
St James’ words bear great similarity to the words of St Paul in Romans 5:1–4:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
My Persian friend’s hope in Jesus is unwavering through the trials that come from following Jesus. My hope in Jesus remains unwavering, too, even though I am not tested in the same way.
Some refer to internal church theological disagreements as a testing of their faith. This is not the context of ‘faith testing’ in Scripture. Disagreements among people who are free to express their faith and follow the same Lord Jesus Christ are different from Christians being persecuted for their faith by non-believers. Faith is salvation by grace through faith.
Instead of focusing inward and endlessly pondering and analyzing internal church affairs, St James and St Paul call us to look outward and encourage each other to be witnesses to our hope in Jesus to those who don’t yet know him. Isn’t the current Advent season the perfect opportunity to do just that?
Loving God, strengthen us by your Holy Spirit so we can stand firm when our faith is tested. Shine the Light of Christ through us to be beacons of your hope to the world around us this Advent season. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Maria is overjoyed to be a candidate for ordination as a pastor of the LCANZ while serving the St Johns Perth congregation and supporting the ministry of her pastor husband, Michael, at Concordia Duncraig congregation in Western Australia. They are parents to three children who are busy with primary and secondary schooling. Maria also serves the church as a member of the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
by Charles Bertelsmeier
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No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them (Ecclesiastes 1:11).
Read Ecclesiastes 1:1–11
Although I can remember the names and a little about the lives of my grandparents, I would struggle to tell you the names of all my great-grandparents or anything about their lives.
Then I think about my grandchildren and realise they know virtually nothing about my parents and previous generations. I’m sure we could all agree with the sentiment expressed in today’s verse.
We will spend today and the next four days looking at the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. Before you open your calendar app and set a reminder to resume reading LCA devotions next Saturday and skip these five days, let me encourage you to persevere. God has put every book of the Bible there for a reason and has a message for us. I pray that God has a message for you in what he gives me to write. You may also like to read the whole book before we proceed with these devotions.
The first verse of this book indicates that the author is King Solomon. God blessed King Solomon to be one of the wisest people in history. He is also believed to be the author of the biblical book Song of Songs and to have collected many proverbs.
In Ecclesiastes, the author conducts a series of scientific experiments to find the meaning of life. In reflecting on this, I think we are all doing the same, but probably not as scientifically as Solomon. As young children, we are absorbed in play. As teenagers, we are trying to discover who we are. As young adults, we seek acceptance through our friendship circles and employment. Then, we aim to perpetuate our identity through our children, moving on to get ourselves financially secure and finally retiring to contemplate what we have achieved with our lives. Maybe we will even write up our life stories to perpetuate our legacies.
Solomon tries a range of activities to find meaning and fulfilment but comes up empty each time. Most of these things are things we also do to try to discover meaning and purpose. Spoiler alert: The conclusion Solomon comes to is that we only find that meaning and purpose through our relationship with God and by surrendering our lives to the plans he has for us.
Most of us, me included, didn’t want to hear that when we were younger and tried looking elsewhere. I thank God he didn’t give up on me and gently led me to accept Solomon’s conclusion.
Heavenly Father, I accept that life without you is meaningless. Please help me to listen to your Spirit as we dive into the Book of Ecclesiastes and to find meaning and purpose in your plans for us. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
by Charles Bertelsmeier
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Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life (John 5:24).
Read John 5:21–29
Jesus healed a man who had been living with disability for 38 years. He performed this miracle on a Sabbath (or holy day), so he was roundly chastised by the religious police for breaking God’s law. Jesus used this opportunity to explain to the religious police, and the watching crowd, that we cannot achieve the relationship our Heavenly Father wants to have with us by religiously keeping a set of rules.
Our relationship as God’s dearly loved children is now, not some time in the future. Jesus confirms this by saying we have already ‘crossed over from death to life’. When Jesus died on the cross, we died too. And when Jesus came back to life after three days, we were born again into a new life as God’s children, into the heavenly family. This was confirmed in our baptism when we were given our new birth certificate, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So now we no longer have to worry about whether we are doing everything we must do to keep in God’s good books. As children of the heavenly family, the Holy Spirit is working within us so that we become more like Jesus in our care and concern for one another.
A challenge for us is to daily review our motivation for what we do and how we respond to situations. I recently heard an episode on the radio about a man complaining about his wife. When he made a cup of tea or coffee for himself, he would ask his wife if she would like one, too, and she mostly did. But she would drink only half the cup before it got cold and unpleasant. Later, she would ask for another cup, even though she still had a half-full cup. This irritated the man to the extent that he was prepared to ring a radio station to have a whinge.
Now, I can imagine that those reading this are thinking about ways to solve the situation. However, the point I would like to make is that the man could decide that his wife has done nothing wrong, so he has no right to be irritated with her. He could pray about his negative feelings and ask God to lift this chip off his shoulder. Then, each time he brings his wife a cup of tea or coffee, he offers it with love, making it just the way she likes it. And having been given the gift, she is free to use it how she likes to.
Having just written that I am now pointing a finger at myself.
Holy Spirit, thank you for the ways you are working in our lives to change the way we react to situations. We especially ask for your help in not finding the faults in others but instead seeking how we can bless them, motivated by your love for us. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
by Ruth Olsen
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Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity (Psalm 93:2).
Read Psalm 93
This short psalm is so full and rich! Can you hear the sounds, watch what is happening and join in the worship of the living Lord? Declaration after declaration. No matter what happens in our earthly realm and the plans and schemes of the evil one, the world and our fallen nature, the Lord reigns! Eternally!
In and through Jesus, the Lord comes to us:
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life … no-one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no-one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:27–30).
Cupped and secure in his hands.
Sheep need leading; otherwise, they can easily end up in BIG trouble! But in following their Shepherd, they can be led to green pastures, places of rest and restoration, healing and transformation (Psalm 23). That’s what the Lord who reigns is like, revealed to us by the Spirit in and through Jesus. He desires a deepening relationship with us. He desires his self-giving love to flow through us to a hurting world, even one person at a time.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:22,23:
And God placed all things under the feet of [Christ Jesus] and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, and fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Gentleness, majesty and authority, all in One!
We bless you, Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20,21).
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.
by Ruth Olsen
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I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow (Jeremiah 31:13b).
Read Jeremiah 31:10–14
What is your favourite season of the year? Of course, that depends on where you are and whether there are four seasons or two (dry/wet – tropical).
The readings for this week have focused on the impact of famine in Egypt in the time of Joseph. The Hebrews flourished in Goshen but, otherwise, Egypt became barren. Today’s verses from Jeremiah give hope and promise from the Lord regarding what he loves to do. When we humble ourselves and pray, he can make us like a well-watered garden, with abundant new spring growth, colour and vibrancy (Jeremiah 31:9). The cycle of seasons helps replenish the earth’s resources; it reminds us of who is ultimately in control (verses 10 and 11).
Jesus tells us: ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33). In our fallen world, when we turn our backs on the Lord, we cut ourselves off from walking in his blessing. Jesus invites us to a different pathway: ‘Come to me, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you …’ (Matthew 11:28–30).
Jesus invites us into a deepening personal relationship with him. That involves spending time in his word, praying, listening, reflecting and much more. It’s not easy – there are weeds to be pulled, new plants to grow, tend, prune, reshape when needed and nurture – you name it. Yet there’s also adventure, even as we deal with pain, shame, guilt or grief … But he leads us, by the power of his Spirit, gently healing and restoring us from the inside out. At the right time, he will turn our mourning into gladness, giving comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Will you let him?
Holy Spirit, remind us daily to come to Jesus, to deeply drink the living water he gives, speaking of you flowing in and out through us (John 7:37–39). Amazing! Amen.
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.
by Ruth Olsen
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Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land shall be in bondage to Pharaoh (Genesis 47:19b).
Read Genesis 47:1–21
Drought and famine are a part of life in Australia. It’s a dry country. We need to be prepared and ready to deal with its effects. Of course, we don’t know when, where or how long – months or years. Wise stewardship of water and other resources can help; however, if proper care is not taken, we can end up in dire circumstances. Ignorance is not bliss!
The Lord had enabled Joseph to prepare well. I can imagine Joseph was receiving insight, understanding, vision and strategies for whatever was needed along the way, both for his blood relatives and the Egyptian people. That’s some assignment from the Lord. Even the current pharaoh wanted any of Joseph’s relatives with special ability to be put in charge of Pharaoh’s own livestock (47:6). No longer detestable? (See yesterday’s devotion.)
Soon, all the money of the Egyptian people was used to buy food from Joseph. The next year, they sold their livestock to him in exchange for food. I’d guess that livestock was moved to Goshen to thrive there. Then, the people sold themselves. They were famished. Desperate.
Was God being mean to the Egyptians? No, floods and famine were also part of the ‘broken’ world then. There are times when he lets us ‘come to the end of ourselves’, our abilities, before we finally wake up, recognise and acknowledge our need for him. In our fallen pride, we like to believe we can manage life perfectly okay ourselves. Humility asks for help, as 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us. A humble heart is teachable, not full of itself, but open, receptive and discerning. That’s not what our fallen nature wants, nor what Satan wants. But Jesus has overcome the power of the devil, the world and our fallen nature. Walking with him in his life, death and resurrection is available every day.
Holy Spirit, increase our discernment of God’s ways and our ways. Show us where we are famished and lead us into Jesus’ truth in that area of life so that we can flourish, to the Father’s glory!
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.
by Ruth Olsen
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You should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock … all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians’ (Genesis 46:34).
Read Genesis 46:1–7,28–34
Joseph’s brothers had been tending livestock since their boyhood (Genesis 37:16; 46:6). Israel (Jacob) now tells them what he will say to Pharaoh about their occupations. Goshen is a region east of the River Nile delta, very fertile and ideal for raising livestock. Along the way to Egypt, the entourage stopped at Beersheba, where Israel, like his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, had worshipped the Lord (Genesis 21:33; 26:23–25). There, the Lord had appeared to them, giving reassurance and promise of blessing.
Earlier, in Genesis 43:31,32, when Joseph had a meal served to his brothers, we are told: ‘They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with them by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews for that is detestable to Egyptians.’
The taboo was probably based on ritual or religious reasons (Exodus 8:26); however, the Egyptian refusal to associate with shepherds was likely based on social custom.
Do you stop to think about what you do, when you do it, why you do it that way and its purpose? Sometimes, our customs are full of rich meaning. Other times, they may be hollow and empty. Perhaps the Lord is calling us to change our thinking, desiring to lead us to rest beside still waters for a time. Others may not understand and even ridicule us. But, here, being detested became a huge blessing of abundance from God’s provision for the Hebrews, where they could flourish and thrive.
Something may be happening in your current circumstances, causing people to turn away from you. That happens. Yet do you ask the Lord to enable you to see that situation from his perspective? Perhaps he is trying to prepare you to work with him to bring his love, life and forgiveness into that very situation. Talking with him over time, listening to the Spirit’s leading and holding onto his word as our anchor will likewise enable us to grow where he has planted us for now.
Lord Jesus, you didn’t do your own thing, neither does your Spirit. Teach us to walk with you in the Father’s ways, by your Spirit’s power, even if it means we are detestable to some people. Amen.
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.
by Ruth Olsen
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Then he sent his brothers away … [saying] ‘Don’t quarrel on the way!’ (Genesis 45:24)
Read Genesis 45:16–28
As Joseph’s story continues, his brothers were generously welcomed by Pharaoh and his officials to move their families to Egypt. Abundant provisions were made for them to take back to their father, Israel (Jacob), and their community. Grace upon grace, given freely to them. Overflowing.
So why would Joseph say, ‘Now don’t quarrel on the way’? What do we do when we experience guilt, shame, or feel backed into a corner or confronted with something we do not want to acknowledge?
We instinctively blame others! Unless we have painfully learned to humble ourselves and acknowledge our culpability. Only when we finally accept our responsibility, repent and ask for help from the Lord does the truth of forgiveness dawn on us. We discover what Jesus meant when he said, ‘the truth will set you free'. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’ (John 8:32,36). That truth is liberating! The load is lifted and gone. Amazing!
Pride was Satan’s downfall. The Book of Proverbs often speaks of pride:
- ‘When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom’ (Proverbs 11:2).
- ‘Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice’ (Proverbs 13:10).
- ‘Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech’ (Proverbs 8:10–13).
Father, surely you desire truth in the inner parts; by your Spirit, you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Thank you for welcoming a broken and repentant heart and enabling us to come to you in and through Jesus at any time (Psalm 51:6,17). We bless you! Amen.
Tough things happen in life for each of us at some stage. Currently, Ruth is on a health-issue journey with Jesus in a ‘winter season’. For helpful insights into seasons, she recommends Pastor Rolly Stahl’s teaching series, ‘Seasons of the Soul’, available on YouTube.