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.
Why? Oh, why?
by Jonathan Krause
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But he said, ‘Why should my lord be so kind to me?’ (Genesis 33:15b)
Read Genesis 33:1–16
You likely have more Bible-smarts than me, so I’ll leave it to you to explore the backstory of today’s reading.
Just make sure you enjoy the wonderful story of forgiveness, reconciliation and healing. While it’s not exactly a classic ‘happy ending’, it’s still encouraging to see the coming together that allows two brothers to carry on with their own individual life journeys with a sense of peace. They can move forward.
The words that jumped out to me were Jacob asking, ‘Why should my lord be so kind to me?’
Do you ever find yourself asking the same question? But about God’s love for you?
For me, I look at myself and see all my flaws and all the times I have fallen short, done wrong, messed up and think: How could God possibly ‘be so kind to me’? How could I be in any way worthy of forgiveness, acceptance and love?
That’s such a ‘human’ thing to feel. You and I are used to having to earn what we receive, to pay a price for what we get. In fact, if you’re anything like me, you’re wary of anything that looks too good to be true. Because usually it is.
Yet again, I find myself trying to shrink God down to fit the limited scope of my human understanding. And experience.
Surely no one could love me that much.
How do you and I get past this?
When you look at Jacob, he approached Esau warily. Nervously. Uncertain of what would happen. (I counted at least six acts of humility in just these few verses.)
That’s what I feel I should do when I approach God seeking forgiveness.
Head bowed. Down to the ground. Afraid to look up.
Yet if I only ever look down, I miss seeing the smiling face of forgiveness. The love that overflows in joy.
For Jacob and Esau, it was tears, embrace, kisses – intimate physical expressions of love, prepared to let go of the past and to move forward. What is it for you and me?
That’s the challenge I take away from today’s reading, and why I pray that you might feel, in a special way today, God’s answer to the question we ask of him, ‘Why should my Lord be so kind to me?’
Lord, I come to you in wonder that you could love me, forgive me and welcome me with hugs and kisses. Help me reflect that joy to each person you place before me in the hours that remain today. Amen.
Jonathan describes himself as a ‘happy husband, proud dad and grandad, ALWS worker and gracious Magpie fan’.
Quite a bargain
by Jonathan Krause
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Then he said, ‘Oh, do not let my lord be angry if I speak just once more’ (Genesis 18:32a).
Read Genesis 18:20–32
I am hopeless at bargaining. When I see a price on a market stall, I am too shy to suggest anything less. For me, it’s easier to walk away having paid more than the item was worth, or what the seller was willing to accept, than to bargain.
So, when I read about Abraham bargaining with God about the fate of the city of Sodom, I am shocked – at several levels.
Now, I am in no way a theological person, so my reflections are those of a blundering human being drawing what I can from what I read. So, please forgive me if I get things wrong.
But this reading stumps me a bit.
First up, part of me thinks the people of Sodom deserve whatever they get. They are ‘wicked’, not only doing all the ‘normal’ sins we associate with Sodom and Gomorrah, but some commentators suggest oppressing the poor and perpetrating injustice as well.
Second, and even stronger, how can a mere human being bargain with/argue with/pester God? Isn’t that utterly disrespectful?
When I think about it a bit more, though, and put myself in the place of the people of Sodom, knowing that just like them I continually fail and fall short of what God wants me to be, I find myself (literally) thanking God that Jesus – just like Abraham did for the people of Sodom – steps in for me, pleads for me, pays with his life for me.
Then I look at Abraham, and at myself, and wonder where my courage is to plead with God. After all, Jesus promises, ‘Ask and you will receive.’
It’s like I’ve shrunk God down to a size I can understand, which leaves me missing out on all the richness that a real relationship with God offers. Yes, I can talk honestly and bluntly and, like Abraham, perhaps even outrageously, to God. I can keep coming back (just like a widow banging on her neighbour’s door for a loaf of bread), just like Gideon.
So, for me, this event is a wake-up call and challenge to be bolder in my conversations with God, unafraid to be persistent, and confident in God’s infinite mercy, love and patience with me.
That’s quite a bargain I’ve received.
Lord, help me to talk with you honestly, openly, persistently and strongly. Strengthen my trust, so I can be blessed with all you offer. Amen.
Jonathan describes himself as a ‘happy husband, proud dad and grandad, ALWS worker and anxious Magpie fan’.
Forgive. Forget. Forever?
by Jonathan Krause
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ (Matthew 18:33).
Read Matthew 18:21–35
So, this forgiveness thing?
Thinking about verses like today’s reading, I straight away see how much work I need to do to forgive others. Over and over.
And, even harder, to forget and move forward.
Well-meaning friends tell us that forgiving helps free us from the burden of whatever was done against us. Indeed, John Hopkins Medicine states:
Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress.
I expect all that’s right. But you know what I find even harder than forgiving, and even forgetting? Accepting forgiveness.
Yes, I know that through the sacrifice of Jesus, my sins are forgiven and washed away (Isaiah 1:18) … but surely they can’t be forgotten?
For me, I can’t shake the fear that our Father in Heaven is keeping track of all the times I have let him down, turned away, done wrong. Yes, you and I may be forgiven, but isn’t there always the threat that our ‘forgiven’ sin is still lurking there – ready to be dragged out again and used against us the next time we fail and fall?
That’s where Hebrews 10:17 clubs me over the head and demands I re-read today’s Bible verses in this certainty: ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’
That’s forever. That’s me set free.
God is not holding the stain of my sin against me. Instead, I’m set free to give that same gift of forgiveness and grace to those who wrong me.
Whether it’s seven times, or seventy-seven times, or seventy times seven times.
What a blessing to have so many chances to model the amazing blessing of God’s love, expressed in forgiveness, to those around me.
Forgive. Forget. Forever.
Lord, thank you for forgiving me, even when I fall over and over again. Thank you for your amazing grace that ‘forgets’ my failings. Forever. Now, help me do the same for those who may fail me, so they can see the light of your love in my life. Amen.
Jonathan describes himself as a ‘happy husband, proud dad and grandad, ALWS worker and proud Magpie fan’.