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
Jesus as judge
by Greg Fowler
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Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent (Matthew 11:20).
Read Matthew 11:20–24
What an uncomfortable text. Jesus delivers a sobering warning to the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. These were the very places where he performed most of his miracles, yet he pronounces woe upon them because they did not repent. Scripture is consistent in its witness; Jesus is our Lord who rules with grace. He is also the judge. While faith in Christ gives us security, Jesus as judge doesn’t sit well with us.
This passage highlights a profound spiritual truth: privilege brings responsibility. These towns had front-row seats to the kingdom of God, but familiarity bred complacency. They enjoyed the multiplied bread, the physical healing and the spectacle, but they refused the transformation of their hearts. They mistook God’s patience for permission to remain unchanged. They refused the invitation of grace offered by God in their midst.
Let’s not get too self-righteous. We may not have walked the dusty roads of Galilee; however, we possess the complete Word of God, the indwelling Holy Spirit, the real presence of Jesus in the sacrament and a lifetime of answered prayers. We, too, can take God for granted. We can grow spiritually numb, treating God’s daily mercies as entitlements.
How are our hearts? Are we taking God’s blessings for granted? We dare not let familiarity with God’s presence and blessing harden our hearts. The overwhelming grace offered to us by our loving God is the start of a renewed life. The joy of unconditional love is reason for praise and witness. May we live in your will.
Lord, forgive me for the times I have taken your grace for granted. Soften my heart. Keep me from spiritual complacency, and help me to respond to your daily mercies with repentance and deep, abiding gratitude. Amen.
Pastor Greg lives in beautiful Redland Bay with his wife, Connie, where they enjoy the beaches, weather and outdoor lifestyle of south Brisbane. He serves as the college pastor at Faith Lutheran College, Redlands.
Peace
by Greg Fowler
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They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks … (Micah 4:3b).
Read Micah 4:1–4
In Micah 4:3, the prophet paints a breathtaking picture of God’s ultimate kingdom: ‘They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.’ This powerful imagery speaks of radical, divine transformation. God takes instruments of destruction and repurposes them for cultivation and life.
While this prophecy points to a future of global peace, it also holds a profound mirror to our personal lives today. We may not wield literal swords, but we often carry weapons that do just as much damage. A sharp tongue, a defensive attitude, a lingering grudge, or the relentless need to be ‘right’ in an argument are all weapons we use to protect ourselves or strike at others. Who among us hasn’t struck out at another, driven by our own hurt?
God’s invitation to us is to surrender these weapons. He wants to take our defensiveness and forge it into patience. He wants to melt down our harsh words and reshape them into encouragement. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, he transforms our relational battlefields into gardens of grace.
So, what swords are we carrying? Is it a resentment toward a family member? A critical spirit at work? Unsettled energy that often comes out as anger? We can lay that down; we can ask God to help us repurpose that energy into a ‘ploughshare’ – an intentional action that cultivates peace, such as offering encouragement, extending forgiveness or choosing to listen rather than retaliate.
Lord, forgive me for the ways I wield my words and attitudes like weapons. Transform my heart. Take my sharp edges and shape them into tools of your peace, love and restoration. Help me to live the grace you give me. Amen.
Pastor Greg lives in beautiful Redland Bay with his wife, Connie, where they enjoy the beaches, weather and outdoor lifestyle of south Brisbane. He serves as the college pastor at Faith Lutheran College, Redlands.
Rest
by Greg Fowler
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28,30).
Read Matthew 11:16–19,25–30
We live in a culture that glorifies busyness. We often wear our exhaustion like a badge of honour, juggling careers, family obligations and endless digital notifications until our souls feel heavy and frayed.
Into this chaos, Jesus extends a radical, countercultural invitation: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28,30).
In the ancient world, a yoke was a wooden frame joining two oxen to pull a heavy load. Typically, a young, inexperienced ox was yoked with a mature, stronger one. The older ox bore the majority of the weight and dictated the pace.
When Jesus invites us to take his yoke, he isn’t offering a life of zero responsibility. He is offering a divine partnership; he steps into the yoke with us, bearing the crushing weight of our obligations, anxiety, guilt and need for control.
What burden are we carrying? Are we carrying the weight of others’ opinions, financial worry or the pressure to be perfect? Tell it to Jesus. Be yoked to him while we uncouple from the world’s frantic pace. We do not have to hustle to prove our worth; our value is already securely anchored in Christ.
Let’s step into his rhythm. Spend time with Jesus in word and prayer. Speak to him about where we can surrender control and actively ask him to carry that load with us.
True rest isn’t found in an empty calendar, but in a surrendered heart full of grace.
Lord, I am weary from trying to do it all alone. I surrender my heavy burdens to you today. Teach me your gentle, humble rhythm and give my soul true, lasting rest. Amen.
Pastor Greg lives in beautiful Redland Bay with his wife, Connie, where they enjoy the beaches, weather and outdoor lifestyle of south Brisbane. He serves as the college pastor at Faith Lutheran College, Redlands.