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.
Conspiracy!
by Tim Klein
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… Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel (2 Samuel 15:5b,6).
Read 2 Samuel 15:1–16
A person once came to me and said they appreciated that I did not plot or connive for things – in other words, I played it straight. I was genuine. I received it as a compliment, for this person lived in a corporate world where ‘the game’ was played. That person’s world was about selectively placed influence and cultivated partnerships – saying the ‘right’ thing to the person who wanted to hear it. A far cry from Jesus’ ‘Let your yes be yes, and your no be no’ (Matthew 5:37a). Sadly, this also happens in the church.
In this story, Absalom has mastered the art of conspiracy and is gathering supporters against the king. Seemingly simple things, such as taking an interest in a person’s home location, taking a person’s hand warmly, giving a welcome kiss and promising assistance. Absolom painted himself as one who would do justice for those who perceived they had suffered injustice. He did this consistently over four years, cultivating favour.
Surely Absalom could not do this without his father knowing what was happening – even allowing it to continue. This shows David’s tolerance and love for his son. Perhaps he believed – even hoped – that Absalom had honourable intentions. However, we learn this is not the case as the story of conspiracy and betrayal unfolds.
Perhaps you have been in David’s position. What would you do? How would you act? Would you give such people the benefit of the doubt? Would you be prepared to continue loving them, forgiving them and caring for them?
We have every reason to thank the Lord for continuing to love and care for us despite our conspiracies of sin: when lip service belies our true feelings, when a smile disguises anger, and lies or even silence betray his truth.
Father God, we are so thankful that you continue to love us despite our consistent betrayal of you. Please renew and restore us to true and constant faith in you. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening. This is the season of flowers: beautiful irises, anemones, proteas, leucodendrons and leucospermums – and roses! They all give witness to God’s glory and grace.
God knows what’s inside us
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25a).
Read 2 Samuel 14:25–33
Here’s a song that had some sort of resonance with my younger self – or perhaps not, maybe?
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble
When you’re perfect in every way
I can’t wait to look in the mirror
I get better looking each day
Did you read about Absalom’s hair? Lustrous, luxurious locks. He cut it once a year, weighed it and valued it greatly. He was the golden boy of the kingdom with visions of the throne in mind. ‘From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him’ (verse 25b).
I suspect when we look in the mirror, we are hoping to see something like that – rather than our lost and wrinkled dreams.
The blemish we can’t see is the mess inside – sin’s blemish, and it can’t be hidden. It will emerge.
Under the physical beauty, Absalom seethed against his half-brother, who had raped his sister, ultimately having him killed. Absalom’s rage against his father, David, led him to plot David’s downfall so that he could seize the Kingdom of Israel. (More to come in the following devotions.)
While at war with David, Absalom suffered a tragic death. Ironically, it was his beautiful hair that tangled in the branches of a tree, suspending him where he died at the hands of Joab, a general of David’s army.
Despite all that Absalom had done, David mourned his death. He was heartbroken for the son who tried to kill him and steal his throne. You can read more of Absalom’s story in chapters 13 to 18 of 2 Samuel.
How amazing that David could still love this son of his, whose anger had led him to war against his father. Finally, it was Solomon (Jedidiah), another of David’s sons, who became king of Israel.
We are children of the King – our King Jesus! Give thanks that he looks beneath our surface, recognises the blemishes of sin in our lives and still loves us.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good – his love is everlasting.
Father God, we are humbled by your love. Thank you for your mercy and grace that forgives sin’s stain in our lives and keeps us in your kingdom. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening. This is the season of flowers: beautiful irises, anemones, proteas, leucodendrons and leucospermums – and roses! They all give witness to God’s glory and grace.
Where there’s death, there’s hope
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat! (2 Samuel 12:21)
Read 2 Samuel 12:15–31
From time to time, we use the phrase ‘Where there’s life, there’s hope.’
But it seems the Lord has other ways of dealing with life, death and hope. Here in today’s word, where there’s death, there’s hope!
While David’s son, born to Uriah’s wife, lies dying, David is fasting and pleading with the Lord for his life. He had hope that the Lord would rescue this child from death. When the child finally dies, David, instead of entering into mourning, gets on with life. Life continues with a new hope, a new way ahead. Solomon, David’s son from Bathsheba, is born. He is also named Jedidiah. This name, given by the Lord through the prophet Nathan, means ‘beloved by the Lord’.
So we have this situation where, while the child from Uriah’s wife is dying, David has hope, and when the child dies, it’s not the end! A new hope emerges: new life, new plans.
That’s how it can be with life and death among us. There’s always something dying – life ebbs away in so many ways. Yet the Lord, with grace and mercy, will be at work doing new things. He says it in Revelation 21:5: ‘He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”’
You could consider some of the things that are dying or broken around you right now. Death is there: from a loved one dying to church decisions with which we disagree to international losses and griefs. In any of these sorts of situations, would you also consider this as true, that while there’s death, there’s hope? Hope for new life, for something new. Hope for the present and future.
Jesus’ death is the death that gives us hope in the middle of our sin and related struggles. In Robin Mann’s song ‘May We Be One’ comes this wonderful truth: ‘Dying our death he restores our life; heaven has begun, he makes us one!’
God of the living and the dead: through Jesus, fill us with new hope every day, even in the face of our dying. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening. This is the season of flowers: beautiful irises, anemones, proteas, leucodendrons and leucospermums – and roses! They all give witness to God’s glory and grace.