What is required to be convinced
by Glenn Crouch
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If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Luke 16:31).
Read Luke 16:19–31
In my younger days, I was very zealous for the Lord. I studied a lot of apologetics. But I fell into the trap of thinking that if I had a really good argument, that would then convince others to follow Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong – apologetics is a useful tool. We should know what we believe and why. We should be prepared to give a good defence and to do so respectfully and gently (1 Peter 3:15). And yes, for some, the Holy Spirit will use a strong argument to move them along their journey to and with Jesus.
In this parable of Jesus, we see that the rich man discovers his error too late. The Lazarus in this story is not the brother of Martha and Mary; instead, he is a poor beggar. Some argue that Jesus gives him a name (whereas the rich man doesn’t have one) because God knew him.
The rich man, in his torment, wants Abraham to send Lazarus to minister to him. When that fails, he wants Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers so that at least they will change their ways. Notice that there is no repentance by the rich man. He wants his needs met and wants Lazarus (whose needs in life were ignored by the rich man) to be the one to do it.
Our Father in Heaven has already supplied all we need. To ‘update’ what Abraham says in this parable, we have the Bible, and we have our Lord Jesus, who did rise from the dead. Evidence is not what is needed; rather, our hearts need to change. We need the Holy Spirit to be at work changing the hearts of those who do not know Jesus.
List some who require the Holy Spirit’s work on their hearts, then pray for them.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the work your Holy Spirit has done within me, and please continue this work. Thank you for the Scriptures and for all you have done for me through my Lord Jesus. Make me your instrument. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Glenn is the pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia. Glenn and Karen have been married since 1985. They have two grown sons and are enjoying regular video chats with their first grandchild.
Compassion personified?
by Ruth Olsen
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[The Lord who] remains faithful forever … upholds … gives sight … lifts up … loves … watches over … sustains … (Psalm 146:6–9).
Read Psalm 146
Praise the Lord. Hallelu Yah. This is the first of five Hallelujah psalms with which the psalter closes. It’s an exhortation to trust the Lord. Why? He is worthy!
Have you ever needed to tell yourself to focus, get a grip, look up? When things of daily life seem to grind, we need reminders to look up, to remember whose we are and who never leaves us, no matter what things look like or feel like.
In all these things, the Lord often works through people to help, support, encourage and equip us. That can take time, testing our faith, but in the process, developing perseverance and endurance. Why do we need them? So that we stay standing, perhaps (see James 1:2–8; Ephesians 6:10–12)!
It takes courage to stand firm or to get up again when knocked over. But that’s also when we begin to discover the Lord is building his strength into our inner being – his strength that also carries his peace, which transcends our human understanding. His peace settles it (Philippians 4:7)! Why do we need to learn these things? Why, indeed.
We prefer the soft, cushy life. But that makes us soft, cushy people, with no strength, no backbone, no mature growth! As James 1:5 says: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God for it, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given …’ He gives generously, and without finding fault. Do you believe that?
You are precious to the Lord! Jesus gave his life for you! What you think of you is not the issue. What he thinks of you is. His faithfulness is!
Lord Jesus, you are compassion personified! You have told us that you and the Father are one. Your Spirit reveals this truth to our hearts, renewing our minds. Thank you for being here for us – every day! We bless you! Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
Changed hearts
by Ruth Olsen
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If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts … (1 Samuel 7:3a).
Read 1 Samuel 7:2–17
We began this week thinking about how we use the worldly wealth that God has placed into our care. Today, we see that the Israelites had adopted the local worldly ways of worshipping Ashtoreth and Baal, part of the common Canaanite practice in fertility cults. Consequently, they lost the Lord’s covering; he allowed strife to happen by the Philistines and others, causing them great distress (Judges 2:11–23).
Meanwhile, the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim. Twenty years is a long time, but maybe that’s what was needed for the hearts of the people to be genuinely turned back to the Lord. Samuel tells them to demonstrate their intentions to serve the Lord only by putting away their Baals and Ashtoreths. I wonder what they did; we are not told. But there is a change of tone with them heeding Samuel’s call to gather at Mizpah, where he would intercede for them.
Thinking that the Israelites had gathered for war rather than for worship and intercession, the Philistines decided to attack. Big mistake! The Israelites begged Samuel to continue with his offering and intercession on their behalf; the Lord responded to Samuel and routed the Philistines, resulting in Israel reclaiming some territory.
The Philistines made the mistake of going by appearances. We so easily do likewise! We can easily get swept away by worldly ways unless we learn to assess and discern according to the measure of God’s word, will and ways. He knows our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7) – better than we do! A prayer he loves to answer is ‘Change my heart, Lord; please renew my mind’ (Romans 12:1–3), resulting in us growing in using ‘eyes of faith’ and seeing what we previously could not see.
As King David shared from experience: ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise’ (Psalm 51:17).
Abba Father, thank you for Jesus! And thank you for your Spirit who reveals Jesus to our hearts, renewing our minds to grow in trusting you! Keep it coming, please. Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
Grief and more grief
by Ruth Olsen
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The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured (1 Samuel 4:22).
Read 1 Samuel 4:12–22
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s reading, a runner comes, his clothes torn and dust on his head, with this report of devastation. The capture of the ark of God’s covenant is significant. It is mentioned five times in this chapter: verses 11, 17, 19, 21 and 22.
Eli was aware of the danger in the presumptuous act of taking the ark of God into the battle. He was more concerned for this reminder of God’s presence with them being taken from them than for his two sons, who had ignored him.
Grief upon grief. Eli dies, his sons die, and his daughter-in-law dies in childbirth. God’s word to Samuel (1 Samuel 3:11) is swiftly fulfilled. The glory of Israel was Israel’s God, not the ark. Loss of the ark didn’t mean God had abandoned his people – God was not inseparably bound to the ark (see Jeremiah 3:16,17). The following two chapters describe the troubles faced by the Philistines wherever the ark was found.
Later, the focus of God’s presence came to be in Jerusalem. Later, still, in his conversation with the woman at the well in Samaria, Jesus said true worshippers would worship the Father, not in a specific set location, but in spirit and in truth, because God’s nature is spirit (John 4:21–24). The Gospel of John identifies Jesus as God’s truth in person (John 14:6; John 1:14). Jesus embodies truth – it’s part of the essence of his nature.
The revelation of God’s presence is now available to all with the outpouring of God’s Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2). For followers of Jesus, there is now joy upon joy because of his promised presence with us wherever we are, revealed to us by his Spirit at work in us and through us.
No human being can capture God’s presence, but we can resist and reject him. When we do that, we bring grief upon ourselves. His desire and heart are for all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1–6).
Father, awaken us to where we grieve you and your Spirit. By your Spirit, convict, convince and convert us wherever needed, to walk in the truth of Jesus that sets us free (John 8:32,36). Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
God’s presence
by Ruth Olsen
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… Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? (1 Samuel 4:3a)
Read 1 Samuel 4:1–11
In any confronting or troubling situation, it is wise to ask, ‘Lord, what do you want to teach me through this?’ Even when we have remembered to seek the Lord’s leading in our situations, other details may not be ready for the revealing yet, and so we need to wait. That can be a big test of our patience and our willingness to wait for the Lord’s timing in things. As it has been said, ‘The Lord may seem to be working slowly, but he is never late!’ His timing is right; he knows the bigger picture.
Today’s reading speaks of two battles between the Israelites and the Philistines. As the first battle spread, the Philistines killed about 4,000 Israelites on the battlefield. On hearing this, the elders of Israel asked (verse 3), ‘Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines?’ That was a good starting question. We can hear their shock and grief. We then hear their solution: to take the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh with them, so that it may save them from the hand of their enemies!
They knew that, at previous times in their history, there was a connection between God’s presence with his people and the ark of the Lord’s covenant. They mistakenly believed that having the symbol of his presence with them meant that his favour was automatically with them. It was welcomed into the camp with great shouting. Eli’s two sons were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
The Philistines had also heard fearful reports surrounding the Israelites. Yet they urged each other to be strong … and they defeated the Israelites. In this second battle, 30,000 Israelite foot soldiers were lost, the ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons were killed! Devastation! This did not come out of nowhere! See the link between today’s verses with 1 Samuel 2:27–36 and 1 Samuel 3:11–18.
I am so grateful that Jesus has taken my place, that there’s repentance and forgiveness available through him, and that he’s with us wherever we are!
Father, have mercy on us for Jesus’ sake. Teach us to seek your face, your heart, to rest in your presence. Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
Are we listening?
by Ruth Olsen
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In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not too many visions (1 Samuel 3:1b).
Read 1 Samuel 3:1–21
A loving father loves talking with his children. Do you notice when your Heavenly Father is trying to get your attention? Do you hear him speaking to you through his word, through people or a song, in your circumstances? Are you expecting to hear from him? If not, why not?
Eli’s failure to recognise at once that the Lord had called Samuel may be an indication of his own unfamiliarity with the Lord.
But since then, God has spoken to us through his Son (Hebrews 1:1,2), and Father and Son have sent the Holy Spirit, the Counsellor, to teach us all things and to remind us of what Jesus has said (John 14:25,26).
The Spirit is given to all followers of Jesus, irrespective of sex, age and rank (Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:17–21). He will enable us to prophesy, receive dreams and visions from God, and much more. But are we taking notice? Are we listening?
Yesterday, we saw the contrasting attitudes of Eli’s sons, who followed the ways of the world and did as they pleased. Whereas Samuel was submitted to those who gave him covering, and thereby was submitted to the Lord. And now, when Samuel listened to the Lord, he heard the Lord’s perspective on things. Samuel was understandably afraid to tell Eli what he had heard, but Eli wisely gave Samuel no option.
This chapter concludes with, ‘The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up … The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word’ (verses 19,21).
One person available to the Lord can make a big difference. Likewise with the prayers of a mother!
Are you available to the Lord for his purposes? For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Father, here I am. I welcome your working in me and through me, for Jesus’ sake. I desire to honour him in all that I am and do. Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
Contrasts
by Ruth Olsen
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And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with people (1 Samuel 2:26).
Read 1 Samuel 2:12–26
What a way to be remembered in the Bible: ‘Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord’ (verse 12). The following verses provide details of their arrogant, contemptuous behaviour.
It had become accepted practice that a three-pronged fork thrust into a pot of boiling meat would providentially determine a fair priest’s portion of the fellowship offering meat. This practice was already different to the original specific instructions the Lord had given to Moses (see Leviticus 7:31–36, Leviticus 10:14,15 and Deuteronomy 18:1–5).
The priest’s portion was also to be given voluntarily, not taken by force. The fat was to be the first part burned up before the Lord; however, Eli’s sons arrogantly violated those customs and the original requirements. What they were doing wasn’t just sinning against people but against the Lord.
To summarise, ‘they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt’ (verse 17). Their priority was self, demonstrating they were not suitable for the role of priests who represent the Lord.
Contrast this with the backstory of Hannah and Samuel in 1 Samuel 1–2:11. Hannah’s heart attitude of submission to the Lord carried life and blessing from the Lord to others beyond what she would ever know! The ways of the world can seem so right yet be so wrong.
Eli’s sons ignored their father’s words, probably thinking they knew better than he did; Samuel submitted to his mother’s desires, to Eli, and through them to the Lord. That may not have been easy!
Submission to authority requires humility and trust in God. We are urged to pray for all in authority that we may live peaceful and satisfying lives (1 Timothy 2:1–4). Submission to authority also requires wisdom and courage in knowing when and how to raise questions if something feels wrong.
Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, show us where our attitudes are out of alignment with the Father’s word, ways and will. Give us the courage to repent quickly, so that we may honour Jesus in all that we are and do. Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
Attitudes
by Ruth Olsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much (Luke 16:10a).
Read Luke 16:1–13
Jesus was teaching his disciples something deeper in this tricky story of a manager who was wasting his master’s wealth. Those were large quantities that the debtors owed the master. They would have been happy to have the debt halved. The manager had his own agenda for these debtors to owe him when his job finished. On hearing this, the master commended the manager for acting shrewdly.
Generally, the attitude of the world and of fallen human nature is: ‘What’s in it for me?’ Wheeling, dealing and manipulating happen in that pursuit. That’s the way of the world. In contrast, people of light seek to be honest, truthful and trustworthy, not manipulating others nor using dishonestly what has been placed in their care.
But do we wisely use the worldly wealth that God has placed in our care? After all, we are managers who will be asked to account for what we have done with what we have been given. By helping those in need, people will be blessed and can, in gratitude, pass the blessing on to others in the future. It’s like ‘paying it forward’, blessing someone so that they can also bless others. This sharing of worldly wealth carries something eternal, something of God’s character that blesses and uplifts.
Do we even think about using our worldly wealth for eternal purposes to bless others? No matter what we do, we cannot serve both God and money. Either we pursue God and his ways that bless others, or, in our blindness, our pursuit of money leaves us frazzled and empty.
God knows our hearts better than we do. It requires courage and trust to ask God to search our ‘heart attitudes’ regarding our use of worldly wealth he has placed in our care. His ways carry eternal life and blessing. Money cannot satisfy our deepest needs. Let’s be shrewd enough to seek the Lord’s ways of using what he gives us to bless others also.
Father, open our ears, eyes and hearts to ways you desire to bless others through what you have placed into our care. Thank you! Amen.
Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!
What is praise?
by Peter Bean
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He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump (Psalm 113:7).
Read Psalm 113
No doubt, this psalm is a psalm of praise! The word ‘praise’ (the Lord) is used three times in the first verse – five times altogether. Most of the psalm is about how wonderful God is – the usual things you think of when you want to give praise.
But then there are verses 7 to 9. As the Lord looks at Earth, what does this generous, wonderful God do? Lifts the vulnerable. Goes out searching for those who are not doing so well. And places them among princes. High and exalted. A totally different place from where they were. Praise the Lord, indeed.
How do you praise the Lord? Do you sing praise songs or hymns? Do you tell God what a wonderful God he is? Bless the name of the Lord? All good and worthy things to do. But it seems there is more. The psalmist is very much in line with many of the prophets. Seek justice, help the oppressed (Isaiah 1), turn your courts into true halls of justice (Amos 5), act with love and justice (Hosea 12), and many more!
Lift the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump! How does that work out in your life? Or is the psalmist unrealistic and doesn’t understand your situation? Perhaps we need to examine ourselves and, in doing so, recognise we might even be the poor and needy – possibly not in a physical sense, but perhaps in a spiritual sense.
And then we can know that Jesus Christ indeed lifts us up to be princes and princesses in his kingdom. So, we can sing our praise songs. But perhaps we can give even more praise by looking around us – at our society – and, as we are able, lifting the poor and needy. I reckon the Lord would enjoy that sort of praise!
Thank you, gracious Lord, for lifting us up. Help us look for opportunities to uplift others and give you praise. Amen.
Spring has sprung. Flowers are displaying their colours; fruit is forming on the trees. There is new growth everywhere. Peter prays that as you observe this wonderful new life, may you revel in the new beginnings God offers you each day. As Peter continues to meander his way through the psalms, he invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any psalm (from 1 to 91), send your request to pbean087@gmail.com