by Rachael Stelzer
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Read Luke 5:1–11
Peter and his brother and friends had been fishing all night. And they had caught nothing all night. These simple men had not even caught enough fish to feed their families, much less enough to sell to make a profit.
And now this stranger, this itinerant preacher, was telling them to try again on the other side of the boat. It beggared all common sense. What did he know about fishing?
And yet, something about the way he spoke drew Peter in. There was something about him. And Peter figured he had nothing to lose. So, he talked the others into trying again.
And suddenly, they reeled in a catch like they had never seen before. So many fish that they were nearly swamped! They called for reinforcements from the other boat, and both almost sank under the weight of the fish!
And Peter knew without a doubt that something more than an abundant catch was being provided here. Peter recognised the power at work in this man. And his own imperfection. And the fear of God moved him to speak.
‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’
But the stranger did not turn away. Instead, he calmly said, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be catching people.’
And Peter was hooked from that moment.
Dear Lord, when we recognise the abundance you bring into our lives and communities, we are hooked. May our lives tell the story of your welcome, your leading and your rich love so that others will also be attracted to the abundant life you offer. Amen.
Rachael Stelzer is Primary Head of Faith and Spirituality at Coomera Anglican College near Brisbane. She is a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale.
Where the grass is greener, there is always a catch
by Stephen Abraham
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
But the king rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape? (Ezekiel 17:15)
Read Ezekiel 17:1–15
A parable involving two great eagles, a vine and a cedar tree. This prophecy represents the history of Judah’s political manoeuvring. Its lesson reaches across millennia and straight into our hearts, reminding us of the dangers of misplaced trust and switching allegiances when the going gets tough.
The story describes a great eagle that takes the top of a cedar tree and plants a vine in fertile soil. This vine grows, but it soon bends its roots toward a second eagle, seeking water and protection rather than relying on the soil where it was originally planted. God asks a piercing question: ‘Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and wither?’ The vine represents King Zedekiah and the people of Judah. God had placed them in a position to survive under Babylon, but they broke their covenant and turned to Egypt for help. They looked away from God’s provision and sought security in another alliance.
How often are we (or those we know) tempted to do the same? Something or someone upsets us in our community, but rather than working through the issues, we become disgruntled. Suddenly, the grass looks greener somewhere else. When difficulty comes, it is tempting to ‘bend our roots’ toward other securities – a new place of work, a different church, a fresh school, a more attractive community. We convince ourselves that these ‘new eagles’ will nurture us exactly the way we want them to.
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when God calls us to new circumstances. But it’s worth asking: ‘Is this what God wants, or is this what I want?’ When these questions come, remember the vine in Ezekiel’s riddle and the danger of turning away from the place where God has planted you. True stability does not come from shifting trust based on our whims; it comes from God’s faithfulness and trusting alone in his will for our lives.
Heavenly Father, I confess that when life gets difficult, I look elsewhere for security and comfort. Forgive me for the times I turn my heart away from you. Anchor my soul deeply in your love, truth and grace. Guide me with the tough conversations I need to have. Give me the strength to rely on your power alone so that I may grow, endure and thrive. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Stephen Abraham is a retired Lutheran pastor and musician who served as a school pastor and church planter in Mawson Lakes, South Australia. Having to retire due to a spinal injury that leaves him largely housebound with chronic pain, Stephen still preaches, takes chapel and serves his local church and school. He also writes and records personal songs, worship songs and Christian meditations, which he shares on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/StephenAbrahamMusic
Viewing Earth from eternity
by Stephen Abraham
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers (Isaiah 40:22a).
Read Isaiah 40:12–17,21–24
As a space enthusiast and a Christian, I’m fascinated by the experiences of astronauts who have gone to space, seen the entire small blue dot of the Earth laid out before them and had a profound religious experience. It is so common that philosopher Frank White coined the term the ‘Overview Effect’ in 1987. This phenomenon occurs when humans view Earth from this extreme distance and experience feelings of universal interconnectedness, overwhelming awe and an appreciation for a Creator. Several astronauts have become Christians or returned to their faith as a result of this experience.
From God’s perspective, the entire Earth – and all its overwhelming problems – is remarkably small. Isaiah uses breathtaking, poetic imagery to zoom out from our daily anxieties and ground our hearts in the absolute supremacy of the God who ‘measures the oceans in his hands’. When we feel overwhelmed by the shifting sands of our lives, Isaiah invites us to look at them from an eternal perspective.
Verses 13 and 14 remind us that God answers to no one. He requires no counsellor, no teacher and no advisor. In a world full of experts, breaking news and constant opinions, God stands alone in perfect wisdom. He does not need our help to figure out a solution to our struggles, nor is he surprised by global events. To him, the nations and their intimidating political powers are like a drop in a bucket.
When your world feels chaotic, remember that God is Almighty; he is vastly greater than anything you will face. You do not need to carry the weight of the world, because it is already held safely in his hands. Bring your smallness to his greatness today, and know that for Jesus’ sake, you can find rest in his care.
Heavenly Father, when the world feels overwhelming and my problems feel like mountains, help me to remember your immense greatness. Forgive me for the times I let fear and anxiety rule my heart. I lift up the burdens I am carrying and place them into your hands. Remind me that nothing is too big for you to handle. Give me peace as I step out in faith, trusting that you are holding my world together. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Stephen Abraham is a retired Lutheran pastor and musician who served as a school pastor and church planter in Mawson Lakes, South Australia. Having to retire due to a spinal injury that leaves him largely housebound with chronic pain, Stephen still preaches, takes chapel and serves his local church and school. He also writes and records personal songs, worship songs and Christian meditations, which he shares on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/StephenAbrahamMusic
When the hunter is hunted
by Stephen Abraham
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever (Isaiah 25:7,8a).
Read Isaiah 25:7–9
Spoiler alert! In the final chapter of the classic nail-biting blockbuster film Jurassic Park, our heroes are being hunted by a pair of relentless, intelligent, nine-foot-tall killer dinosaurs: the velociraptors.
Despite all their efforts to escape, the survivors are finally cornered in the park’s main exhibit – and about to be eaten alive by these invincible killing machines. Just as one pounces, the mighty ‘king of lizards’ – the Tyrannosaurus rex (T. rex) – bursts into the room, snatching the leaping velociraptor out of mid-air with its jaws. The T. rex finishes off the second velociraptor, finally letting out a massive, triumphant roar inside the rotunda, letting all know: ‘I am the king of the dinosaurs.’ The End.
In the ancient cultures of Old Testament times, death was often thought of as a great mouth swallowing people whole. We hear it mentioned several times in Scripture, like in the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16:32, which records that ‘the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up’. Here in Isaiah 25:8, at the end of time, reality is flipped – the King of Heaven swallows up the swallower! (Kind of like the T. rex in Jurassic Park taking out the velociraptors). Paul also mentions this in 1 Corinthians 15:54b when talking about the triumphant resurrection of the dead: ‘… then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”’
What a powerful image – the King of Heaven destroying death itself. It’s no wonder the response is worship in Isaiah 25:9: ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’
Almighty God, King of the Universe, we look forward with bated breath to this amazing time – the end of death, the end of suffering. As we wait, and as we suffer this side of eternity, Lord Jesus, cry with us and wipe away our tears in readiness for that great day of days: the day of our eternal salvation. Amen.
Stephen Abraham is a retired Lutheran pastor and musician who served as a school pastor and church planter in Mawson Lakes, South Australia. Having to retire due to a spinal injury that leaves him largely housebound with chronic pain, Stephen still preaches, takes chapel and serves his local church and school. He also writes and records personal songs, worship songs and Christian meditations, which he shares on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/StephenAbrahamMusic