by Sal Huckel
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Read Matthew 3:1–12
Today’s passage invites us to the banks of the Jordan, where John the Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry. His humble lifestyle and calls to repentance were already bringing the people to respond to their sins and be baptised by John in the river. Not surprisingly, also came the conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees.
John’s reprimand and call to repentance is stark. We might feel that it was well deserved. After all, we do know much about the Pharisees and the Sadducees and their apparent hypocrisy. Paul himself was a Pharisee. While the Pharisees and Sadducees had doctrinal disagreements, they were united in their efforts against Jesus. Here, John’s warning is for them all.
What can we learn here today? We can study the baptism John was bringing, how Jesus’ baptism is the one we need and the meaning it has for us now to be baptised into Jesus’ baptism. We can also ponder what it means to ‘produce fruit in keeping with repentance’. How does that look? What do we need to repent of? We sometimes hear that Jesus simplified the Ten Commandments and that we don’t need to worry about all of those anymore; we are not ‘under the law’. However, Jesus said he did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfil them (Matthew 5:17).
Unless we understand God’s law, we cannot properly repent. We may feel the law is less prescriptive and onerous ‘since Jesus’, but if we begin to unpack the Ten Commandments and look at Martin Luther’s explanations – the Small Catechism is very helpful on this – we will see that they go further than we might expect. It’s a misleading idea that ‘Jesus replaced them’. Helpfully, rather like the ways in which it is best to teach children, Luther offers positive instruction to further expand on the negatives.
Start today with commandment number one: ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ We don’t have to look very far to see the things that compete for our attention, love and trust. How can you fear, love and trust God above all things today? To produce fruit in keeping with repentance, we need to follow through with this.
Father God, help me to more fully understand the law written in our hearts (Romans 2:15) and produce fruit in keeping with repentance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel, and they live in Victoria with their six children, enjoying their ministry with Moorabbin–Dandenong Lutheran Church. Their two eldest children are excited to study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels during term time in Sydney. Theology, music, philosophy, literature and history are passions the family shares and explores together. Sal loves writing, speaking and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
Eagles’ Wings 9th Day in Lent (Friday)
Read: Isaiah 40:1-8, 28-31
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 440:31 (NIV)
In January of 1991, I left Australia to join a Lutheran Youth Encounter team out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. I had no idea what that would entail. It was a journey of faith. Looking back, I realise how incredibly unprepared I was for this ministry. Training was to be held in the Black Hills of South Dakota (camping) for two weeks, but as I left Australia early, I missed all the correspondence of what to have and bring.
I didn’t have a sleeping bag, or pillow, or towel – just me, clothes, guitar and flute. As part of the training in South Dakota, we were to spend 24 hours in solitude in the bush, away from people and tents, just a sleeping bag, food and a Bible. I was rather concerned, not knowing if there were bears or mountain lions. Anyway, off I went – just me! I hiked to a hill above the camp – could just see it through the trees, it was at a point called ‘Eagles’ Nest’. There I lay my sleeping bag on the ground and sat on it. Silence can be very loud.
Well, I thought, let’s see what God has to say to me, so I just closed my eyes and opened my Bible, and it came to Isaiah 40. That day these verses spoke to me and gave me comfort. The Word of God is living, and the Bible says different things to me each time I open it. As I was reading the above verse, Isaiah 40:31, I looked up and there was an eagle soaring above me. I truly felt God’s presence and left all my fears of bears and mountain lions with God. To show me His presence, when I awoke the next morning, there was a small deer one metre from where I lay.
That time of solitude showed me so much about placing my hope and trust in a loving God. I pray that you also can experience this strength and comfort. Open your Bible and have it speak to you. Put your hope in God and feel yourself soar like on eagles’ wings!
Prayer: In you Lord, I put my trust. In you I hope and this gives me strength for each day. Help me to read your Word regularly and allow myself space and time to fully comprehend what you are saying. Amen.
Our Present Hope 8th Day in Lent (Thursday)
Read: Proverbs 23:15-19
“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18 (NIV) A year ago, my nephew went on a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) expedition taking a wooden sailing boat called the Vaka Hop’e from the Philippine Islands to the Solomon Islands. (You can google it to get all the tales of their journey.) The name signifies that it is a boat bringing hope across to the Solomon Islanders who will use it through mission activities and development within the community. During my nephew’s journey which took three months, and sailed over 2,900 nautical miles, the crew of four experienced many adventures.
It was a simple catamaran tied together with ropes to give flexibility on the seas. While travelling through the Indonesian waters in the night a rudder broke in heavy seas, then the second of the rudders broke. They thought they would be carried on to the rocks, but somehow using an oar as a rudder, they got to the shore of an island where a local islander made them two new rudders. In Papua New Guinea they encountered thieves and pirates, but all escaped unharmed. God was with them through their journey, and many friends and family (including us) were lifting them all up in prayer.
Throughout the journey, they felt the calling to do God’s work to bring and provide the Solomon Island community with this boat for their work and mission. We all are on a journey. Maybe not one like the Vaka Hop’e, but it is a personal journey through life. In Proverbs 23:15-19, the writer gives wisdom to his son. It is also wisdom to us.
We are to be wise and put our hope in the Lord. God is our present hope and our future hope. In your life, whatever adventures and mishaps that may steer you off path and cause concern, “…be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.”
(verse 19) When your heart and sight is set on God, everything else will fall into place. Meditate on God’s Word this Lenten season and watch Him steer your life. Our future hope starts with our present hope.
Prayer: My loving Saviour, through your life and the adventures you encountered, you never swayed from where your sight was set. God set your course to the cross to secure my future hope. Thank you. Amen.
Hope builds faith
The devotions for the coming week are taken from Lutheran Tract Mission’s 2026 Lenten devotional, ‘Hope for Our Future’. Written by Anne Hansen, Lutheran Tract Mission’s Tract Development Officer, the devotions focus on how our futures and hopes are assured in Jesus Christ. The Lenten devotional is available here. It can be downloaded, printed or used as a digital flipbook.
by Anne Hansen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love (Psalm 147:11).
Read Psalm 147:1–11
I believe that God gave farmers a mammoth share of faith. Year after year, they sow their crops in the hope that God will send rain for a good harvest. Other farmers spend money and time on feeding their animals in the hope that God will give a good return at the market.
While in Loxton, South Australia, I truly got to understand the meanings of faith and hope. In verses 8 and 9 of Psalm 147 is written:
He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
But what happens when this doesn’t occur in our timing?
My farmer friends from Loxton have faced desperate times without rain, as well as seasons of good harvests. God asks us and those farmers to fear him (respect him) and to continue hoping that, in his unfailing love, he will provide what is needed. It may not be the desired rain, but it may come in the form of help from friends, neighbours and family coming together in faith.
When we are in need and hope, we pray! God hears the prayers of the faithful, and he will uphold you with the strength to cope for another day. Throughout the Bible, we read of God’s love and faithfulness – we only need to hold onto this hope and promise.
This is a beautiful psalm of promise in remembering all that God does for us:
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit (Psalm 147:3–5).
Our God is an incredible God. If he knows the billions and trillions of stars by name, he knows your name and hears the prayers of his children. God wants us to rest in the hope that he loves us and hears all our concerns. This Lenten season, open your hearts to pray – for your family, your neighbours, those in need and the world.
Hope builds faith!
Loving Father, you know all my needs and concerns. I come to you in prayer, asking for help for our farmers. Knowing that you hear my prayers, I place my hope in your promises. Amen.
Anne Hansen has worked as the Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer for almost 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband Mark (a pastor). She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, she loves walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.