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.
Surmising Peter’s backstory
by Steve Liersch
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‘But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people’ (Luke 5:5b,10b).
Read Luke 5:1–11
There’s a lot written about the disciple Peter in the gospels. At the end of Luke’s previous chapter, in verses 38 and 39, we read that Peter has a sick mother-in-law whom Jesus heals so she can do the culturally right thing and ‘wait on them’. Today’s reading highlights Peter’s life as a fisherman, mending his nets while Jesus teaches the people who were crowding around him on the shore.
After Jesus finished speaking, he tells Peter to put out the nets for a catch of fish. After doing this, the catch is enormous, to the point that his boat is full. After calling his fishing partners, James and John, to help and seeing their boat fill up as well, Peter responded, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ (verse 8).
The closer Peter gets to Jesus, the more he sees that he is a powerful person in whose company he feels unworthy to be. But Jesus wants to be there by choice, showing Peter firsthand that despite what he thinks of himself, Peter has been chosen to be used by God for his kingdom’s work.
At this point, I have mused a few times over the years about Peter’s backstory. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law (big tick here), showing Peter that his wife and extended family will be cared for when he is away with the Lord. Then there’s the large catch of fish to show that when Jesus and his fishing disciples are away, their livelihood of fish and food is also no problem for Jesus to take care of.
Reflect on what God has provided for you and your family at times when you were busy doing his work. Thank him for those ‘backstory’ blessings that gave you peace of mind.
Great Provider God, thank you for the many hidden blessings you provide even without my asking. May you continue to give me and all your servants ‘our daily bread’ so that we may serve you with peace of mind. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Pastor Steve continues to enjoy his ministry in the beautiful southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Having announced his retirement date for May 2027, he will always be passionate about serving God, though it may look different in retirement.
Seventy-five and still going strong
by Steve Liersch
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So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran (Genesis 12:4).
Read Genesis 12:1–9
Faithfulness to God can be a strange thing. To be a long-term Christian can seem a bit daunting: all those years ahead, wondering what God has in store for your life here on earth before we get to heaven.
Just imagine what you will be doing 25 years from now. If you’re young, you might be in the prime of your life as a working person with a career. If you’re in your mid-age years, chances are that in 25 years you’ll be retired or about to be. And if you’re retired now, there’s a fair chance you have downsized your home and even found the place where you’ll see out your days.
Spare a thought for Abraham. God credited his faith to him as righteousness. At 75, the Lord told him to get up and go, taking his wife Sarah and nephew Lot, along with their possessions, from the land where they were living. God promised to lead him to a new land, make his descendants into a great nation, and bless his name.
God protected Abraham and Sarah and, in their old age, blessed them with a son, Isaac. Abraham was 100 then.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, allowing us to look back and see how God has woven together the tapestry of events in our lives. It’s a wonderful thing when God makes his promise to us, especially in the waters of baptism, assuring us that we are his children and that he will care for us. He says, ‘I will be your God, and you will be my child. Let’s journey through life together.’ We don’t know what’s in store, but as we journey, God is faithful. Upon reflection, we see his hand at work.
Reflect on some major events in your life in which God has been evident in what unfolded.
Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for watching over me throughout my life. Give me the eyes to see your hand at work and a heart to trust your promises that you will never leave or forsake me, because you want only what’s best for your children. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Pastor Steve continues to enjoy his ministry in the beautiful southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Having announced his retirement date for May 2027, he will always be passionate about serving God, though it may look different in retirement.
Spiritual eyes to see Satan at work
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
esus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’ (Matthew 16:23).
Read Matthew 16:21–28
I wish I had Jesus’ capacity to see and know when Satan was at work in me or around me. But being a sinful human being, I tend to be blind to those occasions, much to my annoyance. As the great deceiver, Satan uses every trick in his arsenal of lies and hatred of Jesus to obscure and thwart God’s plan of salvation for humanity.
In the previous verses (Matthew 16:13–20), Jesus engages in a conversation with his disciples about who they and the crowds say he is. Good on Peter for coming up with the right answer. Even Jesus seems pleased that at least someone could identify who he really is – ‘You are the Christ [or Messiah], the Son of the living God,’ says Peter (verse 16).
But it didn’t take long for Peter, on whom Jesus bestows a special title of ‘rock’ who will be used by God to build his church, to stumble at the first testing hurdle. Peter falls short of recognising that despite Jesus’ best efforts to prepare his disciples for the important events that unveiled God’s plan of salvation, Satan would be right there in the thick of things, trying to stop that plan from unfolding. The spiritual battle lines were drawn, and Peter was caught in the crossfire. Jesus calls it out, saying to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’
Many a great disciple of our Lord has moments as Peter did. Often, Satan and his tricks need to be identified through prayer so that, with ‘spiritual eyes’, we can see God’s will and actively participate in it, and his kingdom can be strengthened.
Reflect on a time when you were used by Satan to obstruct God’s plans for his kingdom to be nurtured and extended.
Holy Spirit, give me spiritual discernment to identify the plans of the evil one. Draw me to your word and implant in me the humility to see my faults, but also to accept the role I can play to grow your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Pastor Steve continues to enjoy his ministry in the beautiful southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Having announced his retirement date for May 2027, he will always be passionate about serving God, though it may look different in retirement.