Read: Luke 11:33-36 “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:15 (NIV) I was recently talking to my mother (born 1928 in the Barossa) about her childhood and only having candles, lamps, and lanterns to see in the evening. She told me of a story of her childhood in the 1930’s when she had to bring the cows in to be milked every night. It was winter and it got dark early and the cows, to keep warm, used to gather in a dry creek bed away from the wind. She told me that she and her sister used to take a lantern, crunch through the frozen grass, and swing the lantern side to side as they went to the creek to find the cows. When the cows saw the light they would follow it, with the other sister chasing to get home. They saw the light to lead them to safety and a warm shed. After dinner, a lamp would be lit in the middle of the dining room table. At this table the younger children (mum and her sister) would do their homework, the older sisters would do mending and darning, granny would be reading her Sunday school lesson or doing crochet work and grandpa would be reading the paper. One lamp allowed all to see (read Matthew 5:15 above). At bedtime, this would be extinguished, and each would take a candle to their rooms. In John 1, we read a couple days ago that Jesus is the light that has come into the world to help everyone see their need for forgiveness and a Saviour. In Psalm 119:105, God’s Word, the Bible is likened to a lamp which guides us wherever we go and helps us to see. We don’t have the same sort of darkness as they did years ago, due to electricity and everything giving off little bits of light – charging phones, clocks, modems, streetlights - but remember that darkness is the absence of light. To not have the light of Jesus means to be in total darkness. Shine your light into people’s darkness this Advent and share the light of Jesus. Prayer: Lord, your light gives encouragement and purpose for me. Guide me as I talk with others and share your light and love with those around me to help them see you. Amen.
Read Luke 1:26-38
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) Humility is not considered the most important quality these days. To get anywhere we must put ourselves forward and be open and brash about declaring our own greatness. Greatness is not found in sitting in a corner. However, some have made it to greatness through being humble. Mahatma Gandhi embraced humility. Even though he was a lawyer and extremely learned, he spent his life serving the poorest of the poor. He carried human soil on his head, cleaned his own rooms, fasted weekly and spun his own cloth for clothes. He served others in a spirit of giving. He said that ‘one must become as humble as the dust before you can discover the truth.’ Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of the Saviour of the world. She wasn’t very old, about 14 and she was already engaged to Joseph. Jewish law demanded that the woman must be a virgin to marry; otherwise, the woman will be known as a harlot -- a prostitute and despised -- and possibly even stoned. For Mary to hear the words from the angel that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit would have been incredibly hard to hear, but we see her humility and acceptance of the facts. Mary rejoiced at this news and called herself blessed by God and in her song (Luke 1:46-55) she praised God for bestowing on her this honour of being the mother of the Son of God. She didn’t go around telling people that she was bearing God’s Son, rather in humility we see her acceptance: “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’” (Luke 1:38a NIV). Mary’s example can be one for us also. Her acceptance and humility in hearing God and knowing what He wanted of her, produced an incredible strength and love. May we also accept God’s mission for our lives with much humility and strength so that others may be drawn to knowing God for themselves. In humility we see greatness! Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have charged me with the mission to share your love and grace with others. Help me to serve you and others with humility. Amen.
SEEING Recognising the Light 1st Sunday in Advent Read: John 1:1-14
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9 (NIV) Recently when travelling up the coast of Queensland, we happened to come across some amazing caves just outside of Rockhampton – the Capricorn Caves. They are Queensland’s oldest tourist attraction, opening to visitors in the early 1880’s.
These limestone caves are privately owned and are truly a wonder with many adventures – rock climbing, abseiling, fossicking and caving. Not that we did all these things, but what amazed me was the Cathedral Cave that had been set up as a chapel. Pews had been set up and with the natural acoustics the music played for us was ‘heavenly’. Many weddings are held here, and orchestras and music bands hold events in this room. When the lights were extinguished and music was played my senses took a tumble. The absence of light was filled with the presence of music.
When one sense (sight) was deprived, the other senses (hearing, smelling and touch) took over. Many times, we take for granted our senses that fill our lives with a certain quality of life. God gave us these senses to fill our lives and give us quality experiences. In the Book of John, John begins not in the normal way with the story of the nativity, but rather fills our senses with the understanding of who Jesus really was and why He was coming into the world.
Jesus is referred to as the light and it is through being in the light that we see Him best. In the darkness we cannot recognise anything well and can make mistakes and have accidents, but it is when we are filled and surrounded with light, the light of Jesus, that all becomes clear. “Life was in him [Jesus], and that life was the light for all people.” John 1:4 (NIRV) Jesus is our light, and it is when we see everything through the lens of Jesus, that we can live our lives to the full. Experience Jesus this Advent through seeing who Jesus is and why He has come into the world. Live in the light of Jesus! Prayer: Thank you Father for filling my life with your light. Through this light may I be able to see and understand your love and grace that comes to me every day. Amen
Experiencing Jesus Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and continues to Epiphany on January 6th. The season of Christmas is almost a time of sensory overload. We see all the lights and the decorations - do we see the little child in the manger? We smell all the amazing food that is prepared; the biscuits baked, the plum pudding soaking and the turkey cooking – do we smell the hay or the animals in the stable or the smelly shepherds? We touch the presents and wrap them under the tree – do we feel the softness of a newborn baby? We taste and speak of holidays and culinary delights – do we speak of God’s Son born for the world? We hear the carols and Christmas songs and the laughter and the Ho Ho Ho of Santa – do we really hear the words of the Christmas songs sung of Jesus’ birth? Each week of these devotionals, the focus will be on a different sense to experience all that God gave to us in the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. May you use these devotionals to experience Christmas in a different way and help you understand why we worship such a tiny baby. May they strengthen your faith and grow your understanding of God’s immense love. Each devotion contains a short reflection, Bible reading and prayer. I would encourage you to read the Bible readings with the devotion as you see, smell, touch, taste/speak and hear God’s grace through “Experiencing Jesus”. May you experience Christmas with your family in a different way this year!
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 21).
Read Jude 17–25
The news hasn’t got any better today. Not only are nations still hating each other, destroying the planet, and putting money before people, but people are also laughing about God (verse 18).
It’s not easy being a Christian today. There are so many varieties that you have to define yourself, so people know which ‘camp’ you are in! And people are laughing about – and at – God. What hope is there? Well, as yesterday’s verse told us, love, mercy and peace are yours!
And that’s re-iterated at the end of this short letter from Jude. Remain in God’s love; wait for the mercy of Jesus. But perhaps our immediate thought is that of the many psalmists: How long, O Lord? How long do we have to wait? How many tragedies, disasters and wars must occur before your mercy arrives and takes over?
I take great comfort in the fact that Jesus only lived as a human being on earth for 33 years, and his ministry took place in three short years. It would seem to me that there would have been a bit of waiting at that time. Waiting for the opportunity to use his divine power. Waiting for the disciples to get it! Waiting for the Pharisees to become humble. Waiting to be arrested (and sweating blood while praying, in the meantime). Waiting to die!
How are you at waiting? I’m not so good (although hopefully I’ve improved as I’ve aged!). Waiting can be painful. Waiting can be the pits. Waiting can seem useless. How long, O Lord? But waiting reveals mercy. Waiting allows for re-creation. Waiting brings new life. Waiting brings hope. Waiting brings peace. Waiting reveals love in action.
In fact, waiting lets us know that mercy has been present all along. God has been walking with us – waiting with us (or perhaps for us). Jesus did die eventually! And, of course, rose again, so the mercy he had demonstrated during his time on earth could continue to be a sweet salve for each of us for all time.
Thank you, Jesus, for your mercy; thank you, God, for your patience. Amen.
Peter is often out tending his garden – with 83 fruit and nut trees and extensive native bushes, he says there is a lot to do! Other times, he will be walking his dog, reading (too many books at a time), enjoying his family (15 grandchildren!), and occasionally writing – poetry, opinion pieces, devotions! To keep out of mischief, he is currently teaching himself to play the piano and is writing a paraphrase of each psalm. You can read these on his website, Creative Walking www.creativewalking.com.au/psalm-reflections.html
Mercy, peace and love be yours richly (Jude 2).
Read Jude 1–16
If you read this whole Jude passage, it is easy to be horrified at what was happening. Today, it is easy to be horrified at what is occurring in the world. As I write, the horrific happenings in Israel and Gaza are headline news, there’s been another mass shooting in the USA, and civil war continues in Sudan. Closer to home, we have political lie after political lie; we continue to treat fellow human beings seeking asylum monstrously; governments continue to approve coal mines as the West Antarctic Ice reaches melting point; another Indigenous youth has died in captivity; three women have been killed in Australia this week by their partner (making 51 so far this year). If we are not horrified at the world we live in, we are not alive!
But mercy, peace and love still exist! Gifts of safety (verse one) from God through Jesus. Despite the horrors of the society in which we live – and possibly in your own personal world – there is still mercy, peace and love.
Mercy lets us know that no matter our situation, how bad we feel, or how awkward we are with others, the God of steadfast love shows mercy and brings mercy into our lives. Mercy restores and refreshes us. Mercy re-creates who we are. It keeps us safe in Jesus.
Peace is far beyond all human understanding (Philippians 4:7). Peace – shalom in Hebrew – encompasses wholeness, courage, a life worth living, generosity, confidence, community – and much more. Peace from the Prince of Peace. It settles any anxiety and doubt and helps us move on in life.
Love is the greatest of all (1 Corinthians 13). Love binds us together; love looks beyond mistakes and offence; love so freely given to us; love available to share with no limits. It allows us to act in positive ways we did not even know we had in us. Love conquers all.
It’s okay to be horrified by the things happening in the world. It’s easy – and sometimes we are too quick – to pass judgement. Remember, mercy, peace and love are yours – to encourage and strengthen you and remind you of the Creator’s love; they are also yours to share – with anyone and everyone.
I think I would rather share mercy, peace and love than judgement.
Lord God, we can become overwhelmed by many things; keep us safe; help us to live in your mercy, peace and love – and share them widely. Amen.
Peter is often out tending his garden – with 83 fruit and nut trees and extensive native bushes, he says there is a lot to do! Other times, he will be walking his dog, reading (too many books at a time), enjoying his family (15 grandchildren!), and occasionally writing – poetry, opinion pieces, devotions! To keep out of mischief, he is currently teaching himself to play the piano and is writing a paraphrase of each psalm. You can read these on his website, Creative Walking www.creativewalking.com.au/psalm-reflections.html
My dear friend, it is good that you help the brothers and sisters, even those you do not know (3 John 5).
Read 3 John 1–14
Who are our brothers and sisters? In the context of 3 John, they are our fellow followers of Jesus. And so, it is good that we help congregations, working groups, the wider church, overseas missions, and so on. Some of these people we will know well. Others we will not know. We may have only heard of their work. But living in truth, with life in Jesus, we support them anyway.
But is there not a wider context? If there is any truth in the prayer we prayed yesterday, ‘Christ in mouth of friend or stranger’, then surely God is at work wherever the Holy Spirit moves. There are numerous incidents in the Bible where God chooses to use people who do not recognise, acknowledge or understand God’s power and presence (for example, Cyrus in 2 Chronicles 36, the woman at the well in John 4, or even some of the disciples!).
God does indeed work in mysterious ways, with wonders to perform. How often do we miss out on witnessing those wonders when we limit God to our little worlds or put God in a box of our own making?
So, it is good to support our sisters and brothers – all who are doing God’s work, whether they recognise it or not and whether we recognise it or not. God is not limited to the LCANZ or the wider church. The wind blows where it wills – a description to describe the work of the Holy Spirit. So, in good faith, let’s allow the love of Jesus to flow through us and support those who are putting mercy into action, seeking justice where there is injustice, empowering the marginalised, and perhaps living in truth, without even realising it!
Lord God, through your Holy Spirit, you work where you will. Help us acknowledge this and look for opportunities to support your work in all sorts of places. Amen.
Peter is often out tending his garden – with 83 fruit and nut trees and extensive native bushes, he says there is a lot to do! Other times, he will be walking his dog, reading (too many books at a time), enjoying his family (15 grandchildren!), and occasionally writing – poetry, opinion pieces, devotions! To keep out of mischief, he is currently teaching himself to play the piano and is writing a paraphrase of each psalm. You can read these on his website, Creative Walking www.creativewalking.com.au/psalm-reflections.html
Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it (Mark 16:20).
Read Mark 16:9–20
Today’s text begins with the 11 remaining disciples refusing to believe Mary Magdalene and two others who have announced to them that Jesus is alive.
And then Jesus comes. And he commissions the remaining disciples to preach the gospel and perform signs in his name.
And blow me down, they do! The disciples saw their resurrected Lord and received his commission. And off they went – preaching everywhere.
I’m drawn to the final words in verse 20: ‘and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.’
Signs point us to things or draw attention to things. In today’s text, they point to (or underscore) Jesus’ commission, which, in turn, invites us to trust in Jesus Christ, the Word of God and our Saviour.
Today’s text offers two wonderful assurances, even for us today. Firstly, as we speak God’s word, Jesus is working with us to confirm his word through signs. This leads to the second point: because it is Jesus working the signs, we needn’t be concerned about what might or might not happen when we share our faith.
Dear Holy Spirit, help me to trust your work and cooperate with you as you speak your truth into and through my life. Amen.
Kathy Matuschka serves within the LCA Queensland District as Assistant Director for Mission. Kathy and her husband Mark have three wonderful adult children, one lovely son-in-law and another officially joining the family next month.
Those who passed by hurled insults at him (Mark 15:29a).
Read Mark 15:22–32
As the marketing urges us to prepare for Christmas, it may seem strange to be reflecting on Christ’s passion. While the stores arrange their displays of glitz and glamour, Christians approach the season of Advent by pausing to reflect on the transience of this world. As we join all creation in groaning with longing for the restoration of all things, it seems timely that this week, we will reflect on God’s amazing rescue plan for us and all creation.
Today, I invite you to notice the behaviour of the members of the public who passed by Jesus while he was on the cross, hurling insults at him as they went. And then the chief priests and teachers of the law, who scapegoated Jesus more privately. (Rather than leading the charge of abuse, the Jewish leaders repeated the comments of the crowd … bravely amongst themselves.)
And if you can bear to, look at Jesus, staying on the cross and taking the fear and anger of all humanity.
In Leviticus 16, Yahweh gave the Hebrew people a process of atoning for their sins. It involved two goats, one of which was sacrificed on the altar and the second which carried the ‘wickedness and rebellion’ (Leviticus 16:21) of the people into the desert. This second goat took their anger and fear far away from the Hebrew people, which was essential to the process of setting them free to start again.
Together, the goats pointed ahead to Jesus Christ dying on the cross for the sins of humankind. Jesus was a willing sacrifice and also a scapegoat – the Son of God who came among us to absorb our anger and abuse while offering himself as the greatest gift ever.
In our world today, nations are paying a high price for the anger and fear that is characteristic of all humankind. Scapegoating behaviour powers wars and other abuses of power because when we scapegoat, we decide that a person or group of people is ‘other’ than us and, therefore, does not require our respect and care.
Have you ever experienced being scapegoated? If so, do you struggle to forgive those who hurt you? Are you experiencing being scapegoated today? Take comfort: Jesus knows how you feel. By staying on the cross for us – even while being scapegoated – Jesus rescued us from all the fear and shame we so often pile onto one another.
Dear Jesus, thank you for the scapegoating you endured on the cross for me and all humanity. Through your Spirit, please set my heart free from the urge to retaliate when I feel abused. Amen.