Photo by...Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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.
All or nothing
by Tim Klein
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Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it (Matthew 10:39).
Read Matthew 10:24–39
Have you ever been in one of those total commitment situations? They say to you, ‘It’s all or nothing! You’re in, or you’re out – no middle ground – not “fair weather” but of “rusted on” followers.’ This relates to Jesus saying, ‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money’ (Matthew 6:24).
Matthew 10 speaks about a committed relationship of faith and trust in Jesus. He invites us into equality with him – to be one with him – to be lost in him – our teacher and Lord. This profound truth is also expressed in the light of John 14:20: ‘In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.’
In Matthew 10:39, Jesus invites us to invest ourselves completely in him: no half measures, no sitting on the fence, no having a bet each way!
In the middle of all the voices that cry out to us, calling us to invest in this or that, the voice of the Lord invites us to entrust our lives to him. Nothing and no one else can give us the assurance of life he does. Our lives cannot be assured by financial investment, by building strong family relationships, by hard work and commitment to our vocations, by diet and exercise regimes – by any human aspect of our lives.
Only Jesus can give that all-embracing assurance.
Jesus isn’t asking for one-sided blind faith but for a mutual commitment. He attaches a promise, a blessing: ‘Join with me, and your life – your eternal life – is safe and secure. Travel with me, trust me through the ups and downs, the sins and successes of life, and I will forgive and keep you!’
This is so important for us in today’s world, where we are constantly offered choices, to review our commitments and ask whether there is a better way.
Perhaps right now is the time to refresh your commitment as a disciple and follower of Jesus.
Dear Heavenly Father, in this world of choices, of wins and losses, let your Holy Spirit continue to reassure us of this truth: whoever loses their life for Jesus’ sake will find it. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening.
Tenacious trust
by Ruth Olsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me (Psalm 69:16).
Read Psalm 69:7–10,(11–15),16–18
David has been having a hard time and is in great distress. For whatever reason, he has been feeling the cost of discipleship in his daily life. People have turned against him, spreading false accusations. Even those closest to him dissociate themselves from him. And it hurt.
Yet the psalmist recognises that only the Lord can rescue and deliver him. He appeals to the goodness of the Lord’s love and great mercy to rescue and redeem him. ‘Lord, help!’
Times of trouble find us wherever we are. The trouble itself is not the issue. Rather, it’s what we do with it. Do we respond with faith, taking it to the Lord in prayer, or do we look to ourselves to solve the trouble and throw a pity party?
Let’s learn from the psalmist David and appeal to the Lord because of who he is and what he is like. Let us grow in becoming tenacious in our trusting him, no matter what is happening. In moments of need, the psalmists frequently ask God why he hides his face, or as here, they plead with him not to do so. For when he does hide his face, it’s like the sunshine has gone. But when his face shines on a person, blessing, encouragement and strength come.
The Aaronic (priestly) blessing (Numbers 6:22–27) places the Lord’s name and blessing on his people. When a loving parent gazes upon a beloved child, their face shines with delight. Can you imagine your Abba Father gazing at you like that? His face turned toward us reminds us that nothing can separate us from his love, despite the lies the enemy may feed us. Jesus confirms the Father’s gaze of loving acceptance. He has come to rescue and redeem us and anyone who trusts him.
Father, by your Spirit, draw us into a closer walk with you to recognise you at work in our lives each day. Open our eyes to Jesus. Thank you for being totally trustworthy! We bless you! Amen.
Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’
Choices
by Ruth Olsen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
… he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:5a).
Read Titus 3:1–11
Recently, I have been reading from various sources about the history of the Lutheran Church in Australia. In the early years of settling in South Australia, people who had come from various parts of Germany, seeking freedom to live according to Lutheran teaching, established small communities with vegetable gardens and helped one another. They had a common goal. It is like Pastor August Kavel, as their leader, encouraged the living out of the first and second verses of our reading for today. Yes, difficulties and then splits came later – but that is always the challenge of life, isn’t it?
Today’s reading is another call to discipleship. Do you recognise and acknowledge your inclination to be selfish and self-centred? If we don’t, we are in trouble. But if we do, gratitude rises for the Lord’s mercy to us!
‘He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit …’ (Titus 3:5). Rebirth and renewal. What does that say to you? Is it a ‘once-off’ or ‘walking in it every day’ for you? Are you growing in trusting the Holy Spirit to lead, empower and enable you in the things of each day? To exercise patience, kindness, self-control and the other fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23)? Do you remember to ask for his help? In his mercy, he waits to help. Justified by Jesus’ grace, we are made heirs with him. It’s the ‘now, but not yet’ tension. In and through Jesus, we have received, and now we get to walk in what we have received. That changes our perspective.
What is unprofitable, and what is useful? We make these choices every day. Yet we are so easily distracted. As we mature, each of us is responsible for our choices. Are we doing what the Spirit says is good, or not?
Abba Father, by your Spirit, help us to grow in Jesus – to live in ways that honour him as he honoured you. Give us the courage to recognise anything in us that dishonours him. Change our hearts and renew our minds, day by day. Amen.
Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’