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.
Betrayal and grief
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: ‘O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!’ (2 Samuel 18:33).
Read 2 Samuel 18:19–33
The saga of Absalom is over. Absalom and his lustrous locks lie in a stone-covered pit. The king, his father David, mourns for his death. ‘O Absalom, my son, my son.’
Given Absalom’s betrayal, why did David mourn with such grief? This son, a son whom he loved greatly, had conspired against him, attacked him and caused grief in the households of thousands of soldiers. Does he deserve the grief of his father?
Contrast this with the death of David’s son from Uriah, which we read in Monday’s devotion. The boy is dying, David is fasting and weeping, pleading with God to heal him. When the boy dies, David simply gets on with life. We don’t hear about any significant grief – nothing at all like his grief over the death of Absalom.
I am wondering if there is some crossover with Jesus’ thoughts when he said, ‘I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance’ (Luke 15:7).
It’s as if the boy, who was young and had done no evil against David, is not mourned because he is safe and saved. Whereas Absalom, on the other hand, has committed so much betrayal and violence that David is mourning his eternal loss.
There’s no easy way to explain this double-sided dealing from a human perspective. But what about from the Lord’s perspective? I’m still reflecting on this.
I’m caring for a dying man as I write this. He’s a man of faith. Yes, his family and I will mourn his death, but we will also celebrate and give thanks to God for his life – here and into eternity. God will welcome him safely home: Well done, good and faithful servant – enter!
God grant that our families and loved ones will mourn us, not with deep, explosive grief, but with certainty that we are safe and saved.
Father, we ask in Jesus’ name for a sure and certain faith and trust in you as we commit our loved ones into your keeping. Keep them in faith. Let their hope and ours rest 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.
A monument to me!
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, ‘I have no son to carry on the memory of my name.’ He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day (2 Samuel 18:18).
Read 2 Samuel 18:1–18
Have you ever reflected on these questions: ‘What is my legacy?’ or ‘Who will remember me when I am gone?’
I have a beautiful wife, three children and 10 grandchildren. Will they be my everlasting legacy? I also have several ‘daffodil children’ – seedlings that I hybridised while living in New Zealand. Some are listed in the international daffodil registry. Will that be enough as an everlasting legacy? Or should I perhaps do an ‘Absalom’ and erect a pillar, a statue of myself to be seen by everyone who follows after me?
And then I remember the words of the funeral rite: ashes to ashes, dust to dust. From dust you came and to dust you shall return.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 tells us:
‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher.
‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’
How ironic that Absalom was buried in a stone-covered pit, despite his enduring pillar, his plotting, and his efforts to go to war with his father to take over the kingdom and the thousands of soldiers who died in that war.
Let’s not hand over our lives to anger and war. Instead, let’s seek peace and pursue it, using all we have to serve the Lord and each other. Our lasting monument is to be in Christ. Christ is the beginning and the end. In Christ we remain. His love, his mercy and his grace are the heartland of eternity at work in us now.
They will remember us for a while – but then we will be gone from this place, and they will remember us no more. When we live and move and have all our being in Christ, we are not ‘meaningless’. The best legacy we can leave is to be the living, loving, serving, gracious presence of Christ.
Father God, thank you for gathering us up into Jesus. Let our serving in his name, as his living presence, be our eternal legacy. We ask this in his name. 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.
Conspiracy!
by Tim Klein
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
… 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.