Endure suffering
by Ruth Olsen
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… keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the good news, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you (2 Timothy 4:5).
Read 2 Timothy 4:5–8
In the past few days, we have been thinking about the costs involved in being a disciple of Jesus – being willing to lay down your life, rather than clutching on to it, and surrendering to Jesus as central in your life. In this letter to Timothy, Paul says his time on earth for doing that is nearly finished.
Paul has experienced his share of suffering, enduring beatings, stoning and, amazingly, being enabled to continue on his journey in sharing the good news of Jesus, even in a prison cell.
Difficulties and troubles happen in life. That’s just how things are this side of heaven. But because we are in Christ, by focusing on him, we are enabled to endure beyond what we thought was possible, walking with Jesus by the power of his Spirit one day at a time, even one step at a time, one moment at a time.
Keeping a clear mind amid difficulties and hardships is not easy, but keeping our focus on Jesus and asking him to enable us to see the situation from his perspective can make a huge difference. It’s like the difference between seeing the cross as an instrument of torture or as the place of Jesus overcoming sin, death and the power of the devil – for us!
Paul knew he had done what the Lord had asked him to do. Have we? Do we? Being ‘poured out like a drink offering’ involved a deep commitment to walking by faith. Paul is now focused on that finishing line and receiving the crown of righteousness awaiting him. And he calls his mentee, Timothy, to do likewise.
Lord Jesus, help us walk in your Father’s plans and purposes, one day at a time. We desire to honour you in all that we are and do – for your name’s sake. Amen.
Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’
The cost of being a disciple
by Ruth Olsen
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If anyone comes to me and does not hate [… their family] – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26).
Read Luke 14:25–35
Families are God’s idea and God’s creation. He has created us as social beings who need others. We are meant to help and encourage each other. When that happens, joy can flow. When it doesn’t, sorrow can flow.
Why would Jesus say we are to hate our family? That seems inconsistent, doesn’t it? Jesus loved his mum, Mary. He loved his siblings, though they may not have understood until later – likewise with his disciples.
To ‘hate’ one’s family is not about emotions but rather priorities. When we surrender to the lordship of Jesus, he becomes central and pivotal in our lives. As we yield to his ways of loving and caring, worked in us and through us by his Spirit, it flows to others and blesses them. He turns things the right way up for us as we learn to die to self, to yield to him, to honour him in all that we are and do. When we live in him and through him by the power of his Spirit, we are his disciples. Yes, that costs us too. After all, it cost Jesus everything, even his last breath, to open the way for us to be brought back into his Father’s family.
When family or our life is held on to more keenly than holding on to Jesus, things go wrong because we have put them in the place that rightly belongs to God. Once we awaken to this reality and say ‘Yes – thank you’ to Jesus and the life he gives, his peace can settle in our soul. This saying ‘Yes’ to Jesus is an ongoing daily choice. Then the focus is no longer on the cost of discipleship; instead, it is on him and our relationship with him, his presence with us each day to enable and empower us to be what he calls us to be. We thereby give him the glory. And we will grow in loving and caring as he works it in us and through us.
Lord Jesus, this sounds easy, but we can’t do it. By the power of your Spirit, continue to grow us in being your disciples. We bless you! Amen.
Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’
‘Who do you say that I am?’
by Ruth Olsen
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‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say that I am?’ (Luke 9:20)
Read Luke 9:18–26
In this passage, Jesus moves from a general knowledge to the specific. Therefore, I put it to you also: What do people around you say about Jesus, and who he is? Who do you say that he is? Our answer to that determines what can unfold from there. We each need to give our answer.
Peter’s immediate response was, ‘The Christ of God’, in other words, the Promised Messiah! It may seem strange that Jesus then warned them not to tell anyone. The people were waiting for the Messiah, but their expectations of the Messiah were very different to those Jesus had from the Father. Peter recognised but did not understand. The people didn’t recognise or understand. They needed further teaching before Jesus could publicly identify himself. He had a crucial schedule to keep and would not be interrupted by premature and superficial reactions. Yet immediately, Jesus started predicting his death.
Words matter. Words are important. They carry life – and/or death. What you say about Jesus determines whether your life is lost or saved.
When we want to hold on to our lives, we can easily forfeit the life that really matters. When we are willing to let go of our lives, to place them and ourselves in the Lord’s hands and be available to him, we are likely to discover the fullness of life that Jesus alone can give us. We won’t find that by grasping, but by yielding to him, surrendering our will to his will for us. That is the risk and response of faith.
To follow Jesus requires self-denial, self-surrender and the obedience of faith that enables us to endure suffering, building our character through perseverance and hope that holds on to God’s love by the power of the Holy Spirit within us (Romans 5:1–5). Being available to him, the Spirit can work the Father’s purposes in us and then through us to others around us.
Lord Jesus, thank you that you ask me also who I say you are. Here’s my response to you [tell him in your own words]. Amen.
Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’
Heart – attachments
by Ruth Olsen
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Peter answered [Jesus], ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’ (Matthew 19:27)
Read Matthew 19:16–30
What is it that your heart holds dear? Is it your loved ones, career, body shape/appearance, reputation, bank account, mobile phone, health or faith? It can be different for each of us, likewise at different stages of life.
I have probably moved through each of those stages; however, my faith – my relationship with Jesus and, through him, with Abba Father and the Holy Spirit – has been central since I was about 18 years old, with much growth, development and adventure along the way.
Whatever our heart is focused on will absorb our attention. And if there have been hurts and wounds along the way, leaving us broken-hearted, then our focus is much more muddied. But it does not have to stay that way!
The wealthy young ruler in our Bible passage thought he had it all together except for the surety of eternal life. Jesus replies to his question with a question, to which the young man replied, ‘Which commandments?’ Had he not heard that if we break one of the commandments, it is the same as breaking all of them? Jesus then challenges the young man on his ‘heart focus’ to ascertain whether he was really seeking eternal life.
Then comes the conversation about a camel passing through the eye of a needle as a descriptor of the immense pull – and even addiction – that material wealth and possessions can have on our hearts’ priorities. This led to Peter’s spontaneous question voicing what was probably on each of their minds – and most likely on ours too! ‘What about me/us?’
We like being first. We do not like being last. Yet God’s perspective and priorities are very different to ours. For us to settle with his priorities, we must surrender our heart’s desires to Jesus and ask him to be central in all we are and do. If we are willing to let go of our grasping after the things of this life, we will discover the joy of a bigger picture and purpose to our life with him here on this earth.
Lord, help us be real and honest with you and with ourselves. Search our hearts; enable us to recognise our priorities and change them where your Spirit prompts. Amen.
Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’
Ask for workers?
by Ruth Olsen
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Ask the Lord of the harvest … to send out workers into his harvest field (Matthew 9:38).
Read Matthew 9:35–10:8(9–23)
Jesus, with his disciples, has been traversing the countryside, teaching in the synagogues, healing people and spreading the good news and life of the kingdom. People were responding hungrily. They saw that the message was not empty words, and they wanted more. Jesus had compassion on them. His strategy for dealing with the abundant harvest and shortage of workers: ‘Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.’
Take the situation to the Lord of the harvest. Ask him for whatever is needed, for workers, resources and favour. It is his harvest field wherever he sends us. He has delight in the harvest coming in, and he knows who may be open to his message at present. His healing, wholeness, light, love and truth can still touch many more lost people.
Jesus gathered the 12 disciples and told them they were the workers! He gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Then he gave them instructions: the good news of the kingdom was to be proclaimed first to Jews only. Later, it will be taken out wider. To start, go local, wherever you are. Don’t take anything … But remember that it was he who was sending them out, with his authority. They can rely on him and God for provision. But to take with them the message of the kingdom of heaven. Words that carry and communicate life.
If you were standing in the disciples’ sandals that day, what might have been happening in your thinking? Are you ready for his challenge afresh now through this Bible passage?
Father, by your Spirit, open the eyes of our hearts to see people around us through your eyes of compassion. Touch our hearts afresh with the message of your kingdom among us, and move us to share naturally wherever opportunities open. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’
Knowing God’s will
by Anne Hansen
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Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).
Read Psalm 100
‘Elisabeth Elliot once stayed in the farmhouse of a Welsh shepherd and his family high in the mountains of North Wales. She stood watching one misty summer morning as the shepherd on horseback herded the sheep with the aid of his champion Scottish collie. The collie, she realised, was in its glory. It was doing what it had been bred and trained to do. Its eyes were always on the sheep, but its ears were dedicatedly tuned to obey its master. Through obedience, the dog had experienced its glory. The same is true in the spiritual realm, as Mrs Elliot insightfully summarised: “To experience the glory of God’s will for us means absolute trust. It means the will to do his will, and it means joy.”’ (Story by Kent and Barbara Hughes)
We are made in God’s image and to know and do the will of God. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all followed God’s will without question? What if we allowed God to guide us to better places and we, like sheep, followed? God is not asking us to be sheep to be herded by him and just follow without thinking. God gave us amazing minds to think and a free will to choose. God wants us to follow him and live with him in perfect harmony, but that is our choice.
He will never leave us. As in the story above, the Scottish shepherd was watching, caring and helping when danger approached. The sheepdog was dedicated to doing what the shepherd asked, but he also allowed the sheep to wander on their own. But once you have experienced God’s glory and know his love and trust him in all ways, you will want to do his will and be his children (sheep of his pasture). God never leaves his children, but he wants us to know and understand his will for our lives and then to share in his glory.
Study and learn to understand the love and will of our loving Father.
Loving Shepherd, lead and guide me in your ways and to know your will for my life. At times I stumble, fall and fail, but I know you are always there to lead me to the living waters of your love. Amen.
Anne Hansen has been the Lutheran Tract Mission development officer for 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband, Mark, who is a pastor. She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, Anne enjoys walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
Righteous discipline
by Anne Hansen
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We have all had human fathers who trained us for a little while. They did what they thought was best. But God trains us for our good. He does this so we may share in his holiness (Hebrews 12:9a,10).
Read Hebrews 12:4–11
I really enjoy gardening. I think there is something very therapeutic about having your hands in dirt and seeing plants grow under your care. When I plant little tomato plants, they grow for a little while on their own, but if I leave them without support, they can easily be broken in the wind and rain. So, I tie a stake to the flimsy stem to help it grow straight. As the tomato plant grows, a larger stake is needed so it can get tall and produce a lot of fruit. When tying the plant to the stake, I am not doing it to hurt the plant, but to support it, care for it and help it produce fruit.
God loves you so much that he does all he can to support and protect you from all the evils in the world. He has sent his Holy Spirit to help us when needed, and so we can know his love. He sent his only Son to die for our sins and to assure us of his forgiveness and life forever with him.
God also sent his word for us to read, learn from and understand his ways. Then God also placed us in families to guide, lead and protect each person so that they may know God’s love.
But sometimes we make mistakes, and God lovingly corrects us. This correction is to help us grow, be strong and produce fruit – like the tomato plant. God allows us to face the consequences of our sinful actions or tells us ‘No’ to keep us safe. We may feel that God is hurting us, but it is his way of helping us to grow straight and strong in his love.
Human parents discipline their children not to hurt them, but to guide and protect them because they love their children so much. God is the same with us. He doesn’t discipline because he is angry or wants to punish. He disciplines because he loves us and wants us to share in his holiness and spend eternal life with him. See the training and correcting from God as a sign of his intense love for you to bear the fruits and be the person God made you to be.
You will have bad days, but God is always there, loving you!
My loving Father, you care for me so much that you correct and train me in your ways. Help me to understand that it is all because of your great love for me. Guide me to listen and follow your commands. Amen.
Anne Hansen has been the Lutheran Tract Mission development officer for 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband, Mark, who is a pastor. She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, Anne enjoys walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
God’s tattoo
by Anne Hansen
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See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me (Isaiah 49:16).
Read Isaiah 49:14–21
I remember writing notes on my hand as a child to remember things I needed to do or get. Even now, I write something on my hand if it is really important. As it is temporary, it can be washed off. I remember my children liking temporary tattoos or stamps on their hands. It was a source of joy until it faded, and they wanted it off. I remember having friends at school who wrote test answers on their arms to ensure they got good marks. Tattoos have also become quite popular, with some people having children’s names, friends’ names, phrases or pictures that are special to them tattooed on their bodies.
God tells his people that he has ‘… engraved us on the palms of his hands …’ Basically, God is saying, ‘I am committed to you, and I am thinking about you all the time. I am caring for you always. You are a permanent part of me.’
The passage mentions that our walls are ever before him, meaning that all our needs are continually before God. We are his sons and daughters, and we belong to him. God provides for our daily needs and cares enough to give us what we need for our lives and to grow in godliness. He wants us to grow in our relationship with him and share his glory.
God encourages us to turn to his grace and provisions. He is intimately aware of all that is going on in our lives. He has etched us not only on his hands but on his heart. This is a great analogy as we consider what happened to Jesus at the cross.
Nails were embedded in his hands for us. So, we are with Jesus in his death and even more in his resurrection and the glory he prepared in advance for us. We have been permanently tattooed on God’s Son as he carries our needs and concerns. Today, know that you are God’s special child, and he has your name and life tattooed on his hands.
You are permanently etched on God’s hands and heart.
Thank you, my God, for naming and claiming me as your own. You bless me each day and guide me through all my concerns and issues. Forgive me when I do wrong and lead me always along your path to eternal life. Amen.
Anne Hansen has been the Lutheran Tract Mission development officer for 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband, Mark, who is a pastor. She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, Anne enjoys walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
Becoming wise
by Anne Hansen
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If you want to become wise, you must begin by respecting the Lord. To know the Holy One is to gain understanding (Proverbs 9:10).
Read Proverbs 9:1–10
Many of the Proverbs were written by King Solomon, who was given wisdom as a gift from God. In the chapter our text is from, King Solomon speaks of two contrasting invitations: Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly (verses 13–18).
Lady Wisdom is portrayed as preparing a grand, secure home with a rich meal. It requires preparation and investment and offers lasting nourishment. In contrast, Lady Folly sets her table in the streets, offering ‘stolen water’ and quick, secret thrills.
Worldly temptation is like eating cheap fast food – it offers instant gratification and a momentary high; however, it lacks the long-term nutritional value required to sustain your soul. Lady Wisdom, however, offers a prepared feast of truth that nourishes, satisfies and brings eternal life.
We are also asked to choose which invitation we would like to accept: a roast dinner from God or something from a fast-food chain. In the long run, a diet consisting solely of fast food will bring us health problems. Living life with God takes more time to organise and prepare; however, it offers eternal salvation, provides more nourishment, and has value for our hearts, lives and health. God wants us to choose the way of wisdom, but it is ultimately we who need to work out which path we take.
Read through the passage Proverbs 9:1–10 again and note how we become wise. Wisdom is discernment when choosing what is better for our lives. Wisdom is being open to learning about God and his ways. Wisdom is being able to be corrected and instructed. Wisdom is respecting God and honouring him in everything. Wisdom is walking with God and learning about his will for our lives. May you grow in the wisdom of our Lord and Saviour, who knows what is best for your life and will lead and guide you as you navigate the issues that you may face. He is the source of all wisdom.
Grow in God’s love and will for your life and live!
Lord of Wisdom and Life, grow in my life the understanding I need to walk in your ways and to follow them to find nourishment for my life. Thank you, Lord, for showing me your ways. Amen.
Anne Hansen has been the Lutheran Tract Mission development officer for 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband, Mark, who is a pastor. She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, Anne enjoys walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.