Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them (John 17:26).

Read John 17:20–26

The words of today’s passage, part of Jesus’ prayer on the night before he died, seem to weave and cross over each other like a complex tapestry. I tried to tease apart the interwoven phrases and wondered if this was futile. Perhaps the interconnection of ideas is a literary illustration of a key theme in this text: unity.

‘They may be one’ is written three times, and there are many references to the unity within God and the unity between God and people.

What might this mean for us today? What does unity look like as part of God’s kingdom? We needn’t look far to see the opposite of unity: we see people divided based on politics, culture, race, sexuality, age, wealth and many other factors. It is in our families, churches, communities and world. Am I an instrument of unity and peace? Do my words and actions point to the God of love? So often I fall short.

The tapestry of text in this passage reminds us: God is love. God loves all people. God’s love is in us. We are called to share this love with all people.

When we are aware of the self-giving love of God in us, we can better share this love with others. We can be a vessel for that love, a conductor that passes this divine love generously and freely. Wouldn’t that be unifying?

When we are awake to God’s presence in us and each other, we can be united by this. We can work on being together, rather than divided. This unity and love in action, led by the Spirit, may guide others to know and love God too.

May we be one, bound in love forever, growing close together day by day; growing as God fills us with his life.

We are joined in him; he makes us one. (‘May we be one’ by Robin Mann, AT 172)

Loving God, open our hearts to see your presence in others, so that we may love freely and be united through and in you. Amen.

Renée lives on Ngunawal country with her family and belongs to the community at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, ACT. She works as a teacher and enjoys listening to music, reading, walking in nature and the challenge of solving cryptic crosswords.

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice (Psalm 97:1).

Read Psalm 97

‘The world is going to hell in a handbasket’ is an excellent idiom that describes the feeling that things in our world are out of control. It’s a strange phrase. A handbasket, a simple and mundane object, juxtaposed with the serious notion of hell, adds a layer of irony and emphasises how easily our world seems to slip into chaos.

Psalm 97 is part of a collection (Psalm 96 to 99) that reflects a major theme in this section of the Book of Psalms: no matter the chaos that seems to be going on in our world, we can trust that God reigns over all.

The imagery in Psalm 97 is striking. We have the divine presence of Almighty God hidden in the thick darkness of the Shekinah cloud, fire reminiscent of the pillar of fire of the Exodus, and the dramatic imagery of the mountains melting like wax before the Lord of all the earth. These vivid pictures speak of God’s unmatched power and majesty. Yet, amid this awe-inspiring description, we also find reassurance: ‘Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne’ (Psalm 97:2b). God’s rule is not cruel or arbitrary. It is built on what is right and fair.

In a world where injustice and uncertainty often dominate the headlines, Psalm 97 realigns our focus. The chaos around us doesn’t change who God is. He is still in charge. He is still just. He is still worthy of our praise.

And we find solace and encouragement in verse 11: ‘Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.’ Even in the darkest of times, Almighty God shines light and joy into the lives of those who trust him. His sovereignty doesn’t just command awe; it provides peace, purpose and hope.

God of peace, who brings light to the universe, shine your light into our chaos. Bring help to those facing injustice. Give us your peace, purpose and hope 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

Our true superpower

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

Read 2 Corinthians 12:1–10

Now we come to the ultimate superpower Paul reveals as he engages the super-apostles at Corinth. But it’s not authority given by the extraordinary experience of being temporarily ‘caught up into Paradise’ of verses one to four (which many regard as Paul self-referencing his own conversion experience). No, it is far more unexpected than that amazing experience. It’s not supernatural insight, powers of miraculous healing or signs of great power. Paul’s superpower is – wait for it! – weakness! His prickly thorn in the flesh (verses seven to nine).

What? No! It can’t be – but it is. Paul, this most faithful servant of Christ, was not spared from suffering. Instead, God used that suffering to reveal a deeper truth: his strength shines brightest when we are at our weakest. We often think our usefulness to God depends on our strength, success, abilities or gifts. But Paul’s life tells a different story: God works most powerfully when we are broken, letting go of our need to be strong and allowing his grace to sustain us.

Instead of resenting brokenness, Paul embraces it: ‘Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me’ (2 Corinthians 12:9b). My sisters and brothers, this is our superpower. God’s strength in our brokenness.

So we don’t need to pretend we have it all together. In fact, I’d argue based on this that one of the most powerful things we can do in this lifetime is to let down our guard and share our vulnerabilities with those God brings into our lives. For when we are weak, then we are strong.

Loving Father, thank you for the gift of your grace. Help us not hide our weaknesses but bring them to you, trusting that your power is made perfect in them. Teach us to rely not on our strength but on yours, for you are our true superpower. 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