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In my first year of high school, Australia converted to decimal currency and Simon and Garfunkel released the song, “I am a rock”. While everyone in Australia was working together to adjust to the new currency the song spoke of going it alone. “I am a rock. I am an island.”
It’s a sad song about being hurt and withdrawing into isolation in order to avoid any more pain.
We’ve had some experiences of isolation this year and depending on our nature we’ve either enjoyed or hated those times.
Our God is into community. God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in a divine community of love and because we’re made in the image of God we’re also made for community.
The Christian faith in particular and life in general aren’t meant to be solo adventures. Even those with an introverted nature need others. We all need community.
Paul describes the community in terms of a body with many different and varied parts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. The different parts of the body need each other and when they work together the body functions properly.
The beauty of this image and situation is found in the love and support we give and receive in the community. There are times when we desperately need the support of a loving community and there are times when we provide the support to members of the community.
This ‘strange’ year has highlighted the need for community. We need to care for each other and look out for each other.
It’s great to know God is always doing his best for us. It’s also clear our sisters and brothers are gifts from God. God often helps us through the community. God bless you with all the help you need and with all the strength you need to help others.
Restlessness
by Maria Rudolph
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
One evening, David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful (2 Samuel 11:2).
Read2 Samuel 11:1–27
King David had it all. A big palace. More than one wife. Riches. A nation at his feet. Success in battle. A good relationship with God. But somehow, David was restless.
This restlessness sent him roaming around on the roof of his palace in the middle of the night, which eventually led to adultery, deceit and murder. A slippery slope of sin begins for David. How did he go from beloved king to murderer of loyal Uriah? A mere moment of restlessness turned into a sinful thought, then into an action, and finally into deeper darkness.
All big things in our lives, and in the world, start with one small thought that turns into a small act, which then grows into a bigger and bigger thing.
This applies to bad, dark, sinful things and good, life-giving, godly things.
Paul gives great advice to the Christians in Ephesus when he says, ‘Do not give the devil a foothold’ (Ephesians 4:27). No matter how blessed we are at any given time, we are all prone to restlessness occasionally, either in real life or as we watch TV or spend time on the internet. Our eyes wander. Our minds might too. And just like that, we can find ourselves entangled in sin if we are not careful.
Paul instructs us to ‘put off [our] old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our minds … Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:22,23,32).
Loving God, make me new. Restore me and cleanse me from within. Remind me of my baptism. In my times of restlessness, let my mind safely rest in you and in your goodness. Draw my wandering eyes back to you and your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Maria serves at St John’s Lutheran Church Perth in Western Australia. She is blessed with her pastor husband, Michael, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Church, Duncraig. With God’s help, they navigate ministry across two parishes and life at home with two beautiful primary-school-aged kids and one amazing high schooler. Pastor Maria also serves the Lutheran Church on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
From rags to riches
by Maria Rudolph
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’ (2 Samuel 9:8)
Read 2 Samuel 9:1–13
Before David became the esteemed king of Israel, he had a tender friendship with Jonathan, King Saul’s son. They were inseparable. In the end, Jonathan fell in the battle of Gilboa, along with his father and brothers.
Grief-stricken, David mourned him deeply (2 Samuel 1:26). When he became king, David actively sought ways to show kindness to Jonathan’s son. Crippled, disadvantaged, orphaned, at the mercy of other people’s charity due to his condition – Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth would have lived a sad life. King David showed him incredible grace: he made him the owner of much land and gave him servants to work for him for the rest of his days. He also invited him to feast at the king’s table forever.
Isn’t that exactly what Jesus has done for each of us? You and I were crippled in our sin, disadvantaged and cut off from God’s goodness. But by his grace, he adopted us as his children, gave us a seat at his table for eternity and provides for us forevermore!
What King David did for Mephibosheth, Jesus has done for us on the cross, and it has become ours through baptism. Does this astound you?
Along with Jonathan’s son, who exclaimed in surprise, ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’, we might wonder what God sees in us, to do such a great thing for us. Let us be humble like Mephibosheth today and bow our heads to Jesus and say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’ (Luke 17:10b).
Merciful Jesus, you have redeemed me, you have called me by name, I am yours! Through your grace, I have become your beloved, precious child. You have even promised to me that I will feast at your table in eternity. Help me to be your worthy servant and to glorify your name now and forevermore. Amen.
Pastor Maria serves at St John’s Lutheran Church Perth in Western Australia. She is blessed with her pastor husband, Michael, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Church, Duncraig. With God’s help, they navigate ministry across two parishes and life at home with two beautiful primary-school-aged kids and one amazing high schooler. Pastor Maria also serves the Lutheran Church on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.
The Messiah from the House of David
by Maria Rudolph
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘… O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant [David]. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?’ (2 Samuel 7:19)
Read 2 Samuel 7:18–29
A common question to ask my confirmation class is: ‘How many gospels are there and what are they called?’
‘Four! Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!’
A boy who was eager to get his hands on a Bible opened the first page of the New Testament in anticipation. He looked up with a furrowed brow and said, ‘Pastor, there’s a big, long list of names right at the beginning!’
Too right. The first page of the New Testament, Matthew, chapter 1, is chock-a-block full of complicated names. However, at a closer reading, this list of names tells us many stories, more than we could fit into one single confirmation lesson.
We learn that the Anointed One, Jesus the Messiah, God made flesh, came from a line of real people. King David himself is in that list. But having lived about one thousand years before the birth of Jesus, David had absolutely no idea what God’s ultimate plan of salvation through Jesus would look like.
God simply revealed to David, who was humbly submitting to God’s guidance:
When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring … and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12,13).
On the one hand, David’s son Solomon would become the one to build a magnificent temple to the Lord, one that would stand for about 410 years! On the other hand, ultimately, God would bring Jesus up from the line of David, whose kingdom still stands today!
Jesus was the temple that was destroyed and built up again in three days (John 2:19) – in his resurrection. All this was beyond King David. But he simply submitted himself to God and trusted in God’s plan for his life, despite not understanding it.
Can you do the same? Hand over your plans to God, and trust him to lead you in the right paths. Check in with God to ensure you are in tune with where he wants you to go. You can’t go wrong when you seek God’s guidance – even if you can’t understand the ultimate plan. Trust God with those details.
Loving God, I seek your guidance today. Show me the right path and help me discern the direction you want me to go. I am in your hands – do with your servant as you please. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Maria serves at St John’s Lutheran Church Perth in Western Australia. She is blessed with her pastor husband, Michael, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Church, Duncraig. With God’s help, they navigate ministry across two parishes and life at home with two beautiful primary-school-aged kids and one amazing high schooler. Pastor Maria also serves the Lutheran Church on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.