by Maria Rudolph
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Read James 3:1–12
I grew up in Germany, with today being St Nicholas Day. Now, it is my children’s turn to clean their shoes on the eve of 6 December and place them neatly outside their bedroom door. When they awake, they will find small goodies in their shoes - lollies, nuts and gifts. St Nicholas Day is a joyful event of giving and receiving.
Nicholas was the 4th-century bishop of Myra, located in modern-day Türkiye (Turkey). The stories surrounding his generous giving and godly conduct have somehow taken on a life of their own and curiously culminated in the modern-day creation of Santa Claus. While this is a far cry from the original person of Bishop Nicholas, it serves as yet another reminder of God, the giver of all things. St Nicholas is credited with this quote - ‘The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.’
How blessed we are with godly quotes from him and many other faithful Christians throughout the ages. How blessed we are with Scripture verses full of wisdom said and recorded by the people of old. Yet an observation and warning from St James in his epistle is true for all of them and us - ‘Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be’ (James 3:10). Even well-quoted people do not always use their tongues appropriately.
We already focus on giving gifts and sharing kind actions during this Advent season. But let us also focus on our tongues. Martin Luther instructs us in his Small Catechism on the eighth commandment:
Do not give false testimony. What does this mean? We should honour and love God and so we should not tell lies about other people, give their secrets away, talk about them behind their back, or damage their reputation in any way. Instead, we should speak up for them, say only good things about them, and explain their actions in the kindest way.
It takes effort to use our tongues appropriately, but with a focus on the giver of every good and perfect gift, we are on the right track. Let us all challenge ourselves to take note of our tongue and pray daily that we may use it solely for blessing.
Holy Spirit, living water, we need your help and guidance. We do not want to be a spring from which fresh and saltwater flow simultaneously. But we trip up and fail. Fill us with your living water so our cup overflows into our lives and the people around us from the spring of life inside us. Store the fruit of your Spirit in our hearts abundantly, so our mouth speaks of what our hearts are full of. 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.
Being a shepherd
by Glenn Crouch
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Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be (1 Peter 5:2).
Read 1 Peter 5:1–7
When I was a young adult involved in youth work with Scripture Union, people would say that I should become a pastor. I would smile and say that God had called me to work with young people – besides, pastoring was too hard a job for me. I think how God must have smiled at me in my youthful ignorance (now I’m not so young), and he had other plans.
Yesterday, we saw Paul commissioning the shepherds of Ephesus. Today, we see Peter doing a similar task. Verse 2 gives us interesting insight into vocation, and not just that of being a shepherd. Peter encourages willingness rather than inevitability. Yes, God wants you to do this, but you also must want to do it. Note also that being a shepherd is not about greed or power, but serving faithfully until our Great Shepherd (verse 4) appears.
It is worth rereading verses 5 and 6. Humility and a willingness to submit to those with more experience are not easy things for many of us. However, this is the way to follow Jesus. While American pastor and author Tim Keller didn’t invent the saying, his description of Christian humility always sticks in my mind: it is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.
We finish with verse 7, which gives us great comfort. We are often overwhelmed by screens telling us to be afraid. Be afraid of the other. Be afraid of being without food/fuel/toilet paper. Be afraid of violence/war. Is it any wonder that anxiety is rampant in our 21st-century Western culture? We need to follow this 1st-century advice: cast all your anxiety on God. Why? Because he cares for you!
Father Almighty, thanks for caring for me. Help me hand over my anxiety to you. Help me focus less on myself and more on others, and above all, help me focus on my Lord Jesus. In his name, I pray. 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 when they can get to Perth to spend time with their first grandchild.
Generations of shepherds
by Glenn Crouch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood (Acts 20:28b).
Read Acts 20:25–32
A couple of years ago, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our church building here in Esperance. I had the privilege of contacting the pastors who had served before me – some of whom I didn’t know. It was wonderful to hear the stories of these shepherds.
In our passage today, Paul is addressing the leaders of the church in Ephesus. He couldn’t enter the city, so he had these people come and meet with him at Miletus (about 50 kilometres away). Paul realises this is most likely his last time with them (verse 25), as his journey to Jerusalem is dangerous. As he has been the shepherd of Ephesus, teaching them ‘the whole will of God’ (verse 27), so now he commissions them to continue in this work (verse 28).
This is no simple task. There are savage wolves around (verse 29)! Shepherds not only have to worry about dangers from outside, but from inside as well (verse 30). This is a vocation that involves many tears (verse 31).
We often joke that pastors have it pretty easy, what with only having to work one day a week, and then only for an hour or so. We pastors often make this joke to each other, since we know how far from the truth it is. Pray for the pastors in your community, as they preach, teach, pray and weep for that community.
Think about the shepherds who have had an impact on your journey with Jesus.
Gracious Father, I lift before you all the pastors in our community. Help them be faithful to your word. Strengthen them as they teach about Jesus. Encourage them when they feel frustrated and alone. Protect them and their families from the evil one. I ask this in the name of the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus. 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 when they can get to Perth to spend time with their first grandchild.
The Good Shepherd dies for his sheep
by Glenn Crouch
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I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
Read John 10:11–18
We continue from Sunday’s passage, as Jesus explains more about how he is our Good Shepherd.
One thing I enjoy is getting to know people better and hearing their stories. Within our congregation, it is a blessing to discover the prayer warriors, those who care for others, those who open their homes and more. I’ve been the pastor here in Esperance for more than three years now, and I am still discovering new good works happening. No fanfare, just people following Jesus.
Today’s passage reminds us that this Jesus we follow is the Good Shepherd – and that he cares for us so much that he is not only willing to die for us, but he does die for us, willingly! His death is not something forced upon him, nor something he was tricked into. Rather, he chooses to lay down his life for us. But death did not stop our Good Shepherd – did you read verses 17 and 18?
As we discover more about our Good Shepherd, we not only learn the depth of love he has for us, but also that he has a unique relationship with the Father. Read verse 15 again. As we get to know Jesus better, we also get to know the Father better. We also see that the Father and the Good Shepherd work together for our benefit.
I’ve spent my entire life getting to know more about Jesus, and I am still discovering new things.
I encourage you to discover more about our Good Shepherd.
Father, thank you for loving me so much that you sent your Son to be our Good Shepherd. Thank you that he died for me. Thank you for his resurrection. Create in me a hunger to learn more about my Lord Jesus. In his name, I pray. 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 when they can get to Perth to spend time with their first grandchild.