Our God saves!

by Pauline Simonsen

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… all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God (Isaiah 52:10b).

Read Isaiah 52:7–10

Israel languishes in captivity in Babylon …

Suddenly a voice cries out, the voice of the Lord. ‘Wake up, my people and my holy city! Shake off the dust, put on your finest clothes – because your salvation has come! Too long have my people been oppressed, and my name slandered. But now, my people will know my name – I AM!’

The God who delivered his people from Egypt will deliver them from Babylon; the great ‘I AM’, Yahweh, returns with his people to his holy city Jerusalem, and the watchmen on the ruined walls shout for joy. The Lord has comforted his people, lifting his mighty right arm of power to redeem them from slavery. All nations will see that the God of Israel saves!

What glorious news for Israel in captivity!

But Isaiah’s beautiful message of hope rings in our ears even more gloriously, because we have seen Yahweh’s greatest act of salvation: our Lord Jesus defeating sin, death and the devil on the cross and rising to everlasting life. All nations of the earth see how the God of Israel saves: through his Son, now enthroned as king of all creation.

And one day the king will return in glory to his domain, earth, bringing final justice and shalom in the fullness of his kingdom.

What an astonishing, beautiful message of salvation and hope in these days of war and struggle and the apparent triumph of evil. Our God reigns! Our God of mercy and steadfast love lifts his powerful, holy arm to save his people – lifting Peter from the waters of Galilee, lifting you and me from our sinful struggles. This is the good news we carry and bring to other struggling sinners: receive the grace of this God who saves; rest and rejoice in it.

Those are our beautiful feet Isaiah describes!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’

Lord God, our Saviour and King, remind us daily how you have saved us – that in our baptism we were joined to Christ our redeemer, and we belong to you. Spirit of God, renew in us each day the joy of our salvation, and make us willing messengers of hope to those who need this glorious news! Amen.

Pauline lives in sight of the ranges in the beautiful Manawatu region of New Zealand with her husband Roger and their two cats. There, she leads Emmaus Bible College and offers spiritual direction and supervision to people from a wide range of backgrounds and denominations.

Heaven meets earth

by Pauline Simonsen

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Truly you are the Son of God! (Matthew 14:33b)

Read Matthew 14:22–33

Jesus is mourning the death of his relative John the Baptist, executed by Herod. Jesus has tried to withdraw from the crowds to grieve, but they pursue him, and in his compassion, he tends to them. He feeds 5,000 men (plus women and children!), and when all are satisfied, he dismisses them. Once more he withdraws, sending his disciples off in the boat across the lake, while he goes up into the hills to be alone with his Father.

What happens next reveals Jesus in a different realm than us mortals. After communing with his Father and receiving divine comfort, refreshment and energy, he decides to rejoin his disciples. Being far out on the lake, battling a savage headwind and buffeting waves, doesn’t appear to be an issue for Jesus. He walks out to catch them up, striding powerfully through the waves as though walking along a dusty road in Galilee. This Jesus is also the Son of God, Creator Lord of this natural realm.

This is how the disciples encounter him – a pale figure in the darkness striding past them on the water. A phantom?! This extraordinary figure, untroubled by wind, waves and darkness, greets their terror with the words, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’

For a moment, Peter glimpses the divine realm, his Master’s home, and he wants to experience it. When Jesus invites him, Peter climbs out of the boat and walks towards his Creator Lord. What an experience! In Jesus’ presence, the divine and mortal realms meet; heaven intersects with earth, and humans walk on water.

It only lasts a moment. Like the pull of gravity, Peter’s mortal nature reasserts itself. He sees the waves and feels the wind buffeting him, and he is once more merely human, now sinking into the Sea of Galilee, crying out to his Lord for salvation.

Immediately, Jesus reaches out his hand to catch Peter, to save him and bring him into the boat of safety. ‘You of little faith,’ he says to Peter, ‘why did you doubt?’

Why do we doubt our Lord Jesus when he brings the limitless power of his divine home to our cramped, mortal lives, when his hand alone saves and restores us to the safety of the boat with our fellow travellers?

Lord Jesus, forgive my doubts and fears, and stir my faith to see your true identity as my Saviour Lord and my God. Remind me that one day, your home will be mine as well. Amen.

Pauline lives in sight of the ranges in the beautiful Manawatu region of New Zealand with her husband Roger and their two cats. There, she leads Emmaus Bible College and offers spiritual direction and supervision to people from a wide range of backgrounds and denominations.

Not just a good season

by Mark Gierus

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The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest (Psalm 85:12).

Read Psalm 85:8–13

In the tropics, you have two seasons: the wet and the dry. In more temperate parts of the world, you have four seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring.

Wherever you live, you may notice the seasons change, bringing new things, new weather patterns and new temperatures. There are seasons when there are more flowers or fruit, and seasons when vegetable crops are ready for harvest. But who sends the rain? Who sends the sun? Who governs the seasons?

God gives us what is good in every season. You may not enjoy every season, but God continues to give good gifts in them all.

We are funny as humans, aren’t we? When it is dry for a little while, we complain because we have to water our lawns and gardens. When it rains, we complain because it is too wet. When it is cold, we are tempted to complain and say we can’t wait for the summer. When it is hot, we complain and want it to be cooler. Yet in every season God gives good things.

What season of life are you in right now? Is it a cold, winter-like season, or are you living it up in the spring–summer season of life?

Can you give thanks and be filled with joy in every season of your life? God doesn’t change. He is still the loving God who cares for you and continues to provide what is good, no matter what season you are in.

Can you begin each day in the confidence and trust in God and say, ‘The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.’

God is your God in all seasons – in times of harvest and sowing, growth, drought and flooding. He will bring a harvest of love in you as you live in him through every season. God is always present.

Loving Father, you provide so much for us, giving us all good things we need for this life and forever. Let me always be thankful for the gifts you have given, and let me always be willing to share these good gifts with those around me. Amen.

Pastor Mark Gierus currently serves as a Lutheran pastor in the Alberton Lutheran Parish, including the LORDS school at Ormeau in Queensland. He is married to Kerstin, and they have three beautiful girls aged 9, 13 and 23. They enjoy family things like hiking, going to the beach, singing and jamming, looking after their pets and going on road trips. Mark and Kerstin pray that God will continue to bless you as you grow in him and come to know him more and more through his life-giving eternal word.