by Maria Rudolph
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
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.
False teachers
By Peter Bean
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These false teachers … scoff at things they do not understand … (2 Peter 2:12).
Read 2 Peter 2:10b–22
Hmmm. I don’t know about you, but I struggle with these readings at the end of the church year. What are we to do with them? I struggle to find a verse to use as a starting point (although I have chosen one).
Who or what are false teachers? What are false teachings? Perhaps it might be the tendency to pick and choose a verse or part of a verse that speaks to us. But when taken out of context, does it become a false teaching? Perhaps it is to worship the written word rather than the Living Word!
What gives us life? Is it words on paper? Yes, a verse or chapter might inspire us. Even a well-written poem or a wonderful literary work can help us view life in a different light. But isn’t it what the verse, chapter, poem or literary work points toward that is important?
Scripture points us to Christ. This is perhaps why I struggle with a passage like today’s. I’m not saying we should ignore it, but we do need to read it in context. In the context of the whole book, in the context of Peter’s situation in life – in prison, expecting to die soon – in the context of the entire Scripture. I think it was Martin Luther who said, ‘Was Christum treibt.’ What points to Christ?
Unless we read Scripture through the lens of Christ’s love and sacrifice, of Christ’s willingness to ‘not think of equality with God as something to cling to’ (Philippians 2:6), we could easily fall into the trap that Peter is condemning in this passage.
So, what to do? Thank God for his word, even when it is difficult to understand. Thank God for his Living Word, Jesus, who the written word points to and who gives us life.
Divine Author, there are many things I don’t understand, but I thank you for them all the same. Particularly for the death and resurrection of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, for each one of us. Amen.
Despite the cold spring in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, it is mulberry-picking time, which means mulberry jam, pies and mulberries every way you can imagine. Peter prays that you enjoy whatever God offers you each day. Having now paraphrased Psalms 1–100, Peter invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any of these psalms, send your request to pbean087@gmail.com
Godly people?
by Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials (2 Peter 2:9a).
Read 2 Peter 2:1–10a
If you have read this whole passage, you might be left wondering what hope is there? Unless you are a holy, righteous person, and so never sin, any of the following might apply: you will not be spared (verse four), you will be condemned (verses three and six), and God will be hard on you (verse 10).
Woe is me! If I may be bold enough, woe is you!
Who among us is a holy, righteous person? Who among us is godly? If we follow the demands in this passage – to avoid false teaching, to not be greedy, to practise hospitality and to be holy, unlike everyone around us – we are in trouble. Because, in reality, we are just like everyone around us.
How much do we fit into society? How often do we accept cultural norms, even though they may be questionable? How often do we live as Christ lived, with grace and peace pouring out from us, with compassion and mercy towards the asylum seeker, the refugee or those who are different from us? Quite often, we fail.
BUT … The great gospel ‘but’! The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials. Being godly starts with God. Being godly is a gift won by Jesus. Being godly is a daily breath of life from the Holy Spirit.
Nothing to do with my goodness, righteousness or holiness! The only way I am holy is through the gift of love, the gift of presence and the gift of new life – as it was for all the righteous people throughout the Bible. God takes the initiative. God rescues Noah, Lot, David and Paul. God rescues you. God rescues me. He turns us into holy people who can reflect grace and peace, live with compassion and mercy, and practise justice and integrity. Lord, make me holy again!
Thank you, God, for your grace, peace, love and mercy. Help me to rest in these gifts and live as your person. Amen.
Despite the cold spring in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, it is mulberry-picking time, which means mulberry jam, pies and mulberries every way you can imagine. Peter prays that you enjoy whatever God offers you each day. Having now paraphrased Psalms 1–100, Peter invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any of these psalms, send your request to pbean087@gmail.com
Keep reminding each other
by Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Therefore, I will always remind you about these things – even though you already know them (2 Peter 1:12).
Read 2 Peter 1:12–21
Reminders are pretty important in our lives. People set alarms for appointments, get reminder calls and are constantly reminded by road signs about how fast to drive, which lane to be in, and so on. How would we survive without reminders?
The Apostle Peter said he would always remind the people he was writing to about these things. Not what I have just mentioned. But the things that give life: grace and peace, walking with Jesus daily, and allowing the Holy Spirit to move in our lives.
How do you remind yourself, your family and your friends of these things? Perhaps you use a daily devotion (this one?), a Bible-reading guide, a quiet time, or a walk along the beach or in nature. Our wonderful Creator God gives us many reminders as we go about our daily lives. Sometimes, we just need to open our eyes to see them.
These reminders, like the words of the prophets pointing to Jesus, are ‘like a lamp shining in a dark place’ (verse 19). Reminders of Jesus, of grace and peace and of the Creator’s generosity and abundance all bring light to our lives, hope when we are anxious, comfort when we need comforting and life when death seems close.
How do you remind yourself, your family and your friends? If you don’t know how, ask the Holy Spirit to breathe the breath of life in you, to allow your creative side to emerge, to find reminders that assist you to live life fully and to bless those around you.
Remember grace and peace, love and joy, hope and compassion, and live with Jesus in your heart.
Holy Spirit, give us life. Remind us of grace and peace. Enable us to be like a lamp shining in a dark place. Amen.
Despite the cold spring in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, it is mulberry-picking time, which means mulberry jam, pies and mulberries every way you can imagine. Peter prays that you enjoy whatever God offers you each day. Having now paraphrased Psalms 1–100, Peter invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any of these psalms, send your request to pbean087@gmail.com