Standing Before God 17th Day in Lent (Monday) Read: Romans 5:1-11 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5:1-2a (NIV) ‘Grace is the basis for our standing before God’. What does it mean to ‘stand before a King’? I enjoy reading the historical fiction books by Philippa Gregory. It is obvious in these books that there was a hierarchy in society in the Middle Ages. There was the upper class consisting of the kings/monarchs, nobles, knights, and clergy. Then the middle class tended to be the merchants, doctors, and those with important jobs; and then there was the lower class – the peasants and serfs who performed all the menial tasks and jobs. Firstly, to see the king you had to get through all the secretaries and make an appointment – only if you had an important issue. If it wasn’t important or considered necessary or beneficial to the kingship, there would be no way to stand in the king’s presence. Through the saving action of God in His Son Jesus Christ, God has allowed us to come directly into His presence and talk to Him freely. Back in the Old Testament times, the common people had to talk to God through the priests and offer sacrifices to make themselves worthy. Now we are reconciled with God. Reconciliation is talked about quite freely in society and between cultures and nations, but the essence of reconciliation is to bring people together with differences or conflicts and help them understand each other. Being reconciled with God means that He has come to us directly and made us clean through the act of Jesus on the cross. He opened Himself up for us to understand more of the nature of God. So, we can stand in His presence – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We don’t have to ask for an audience from a priest or secretary. Through the grace of God, we can stand in His presence and ask Him for whatever is on our minds. We can understand and accept the grace and love that He offers us every day. Jesus’ act of suffering allowed us to stand before God. Prayer: Dear Lord God, thank you for your reconciling love and act of grace toward me. Being able to stand in your presence is humbling, helps me always to be appreciative. Amen. 2
God’s tattoo
by Anne Hansen
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See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me (Isaiah 49:16).
Read Isaiah 49:14–21
I remember writing notes on my hand as a child to remember things I needed to do or get. Even now, I write something on my hand if it is really important. As it is temporary, it can be washed off. I remember my children liking temporary tattoos or stamps on their hands. It was a source of joy until it faded, and they wanted it off. I remember having friends at school who wrote test answers on their arms to ensure they got good marks. Tattoos have also become quite popular, with some people having children’s names, friends’ names, phrases or pictures that are special to them tattooed on their bodies.
God tells his people that he has ‘… engraved us on the palms of his hands …’ Basically, God is saying, ‘I am committed to you, and I am thinking about you all the time. I am caring for you always. You are a permanent part of me.’
The passage mentions that our walls are ever before him, meaning that all our needs are continually before God. We are his sons and daughters, and we belong to him. God provides for our daily needs and cares enough to give us what we need for our lives and to grow in godliness. He wants us to grow in our relationship with him and share his glory.
God encourages us to turn to his grace and provisions. He is intimately aware of all that is going on in our lives. He has etched us not only on his hands but on his heart. This is a great analogy as we consider what happened to Jesus at the cross.
Nails were embedded in his hands for us. So, we are with Jesus in his death and even more in his resurrection and the glory he prepared in advance for us. We have been permanently tattooed on God’s Son as he carries our needs and concerns. Today, know that you are God’s special child, and he has your name and life tattooed on his hands.
You are permanently etched on God’s hands and heart.
Thank you, my God, for naming and claiming me as your own. You bless me each day and guide me through all my concerns and issues. Forgive me when I do wrong and lead me always along your path to eternal life. Amen.
Anne Hansen has been the Lutheran Tract Mission development officer for 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband, Mark, who is a pastor. She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, Anne enjoys walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
Becoming wise
by Anne Hansen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
If you want to become wise, you must begin by respecting the Lord. To know the Holy One is to gain understanding (Proverbs 9:10).
Read Proverbs 9:1–10
Many of the Proverbs were written by King Solomon, who was given wisdom as a gift from God. In the chapter our text is from, King Solomon speaks of two contrasting invitations: Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly (verses 13–18).
Lady Wisdom is portrayed as preparing a grand, secure home with a rich meal. It requires preparation and investment and offers lasting nourishment. In contrast, Lady Folly sets her table in the streets, offering ‘stolen water’ and quick, secret thrills.
Worldly temptation is like eating cheap fast food – it offers instant gratification and a momentary high; however, it lacks the long-term nutritional value required to sustain your soul. Lady Wisdom, however, offers a prepared feast of truth that nourishes, satisfies and brings eternal life.
We are also asked to choose which invitation we would like to accept: a roast dinner from God or something from a fast-food chain. In the long run, a diet consisting solely of fast food will bring us health problems. Living life with God takes more time to organise and prepare; however, it offers eternal salvation, provides more nourishment, and has value for our hearts, lives and health. God wants us to choose the way of wisdom, but it is ultimately we who need to work out which path we take.
Read through the passage Proverbs 9:1–10 again and note how we become wise. Wisdom is discernment when choosing what is better for our lives. Wisdom is being open to learning about God and his ways. Wisdom is being able to be corrected and instructed. Wisdom is respecting God and honouring him in everything. Wisdom is walking with God and learning about his will for our lives. May you grow in the wisdom of our Lord and Saviour, who knows what is best for your life and will lead and guide you as you navigate the issues that you may face. He is the source of all wisdom.
Grow in God’s love and will for your life and live!
Lord of Wisdom and Life, grow in my life the understanding I need to walk in your ways and to follow them to find nourishment for my life. Thank you, Lord, for showing me your ways. Amen.
Anne Hansen has been the Lutheran Tract Mission development officer for 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband, Mark, who is a pastor. She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, Anne enjoys walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
Clear the stones
by Anne Hansen
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Blessed is the one whom God corrects … For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field (Job 5:17a,23a).
Read Job 5:17–27
In the Barossa Valley of South Australia, there are fences made of stones. They are dry-stone walls built in the 1850s and 1860s by the early settlers. They were built without mortar and show the ingenuity of the settlers of the land, who used stones in their fields to make these walls to contain the livestock and even to stop bushfires. At the same time as building fences, they cleared the land of the stones that would hinder ploughing and cause problems for the livestock. If you look carefully at the walls, you will see that the stones were carefully stacked and interlocked with smaller stones packed into spaces in the centre of the wall.
Back in Job’s time, the fields had to be cleared before sowing a crop. The jagged stones in the fields would ruin a plough, thwart the growing crop or hurt animals. In the Book of Job, he had three friends who sat with him, giving advice and helping him cope with all the issues the devil placed on him to get him to curse God. Eliphaz told Job that being corrected by God is a blessing, and Job would see healing in the long run. That was hard for Job to hear, for he loved and respected God and didn’t see why he was being punished. (But it was the devil who was doing the punishing; God doesn’t do this!)
When we are right with God, it is as though a promise has been made with us and all the ‘stones of the field’. These obstacles can be bruising throughout our lives, but they will no longer hinder our faith; instead, they can become stepping stones for growth.
God isn’t putting the stones in our way. Rather, he helps us through them to understand the difficulties we face. Just as the stones in the paddocks in the Barossa Valley were used to help the early settlers build walls, so the stones in our lives can help us grow and become sturdy and strong, knowing that in God we have the assurance of life eternal with him.
God is always present to help us clear away the stones.
Heavenly Father, you are always with me, helping me through the difficult times (the stones) and using them to build my faith and strength to withstand all obstacles. Thank you for being my Saviour. Amen.
Anne Hansen has been the Lutheran Tract Mission development officer for 20 years. She lives in Noosa, Queensland, with her husband, Mark, who is a pastor. She enjoys leading Know Your Bible (KYB) and Mainly Music. For relaxation, Anne enjoys walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.