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
That’s ridiculous!
by Kathy Matuschka
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Then he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son’ (Matthew 21:37).
Read Matthew 21:33–46
Jesus’ parables can be confusing, but this one seems straightforward, at least from our perspective as Christians. There seems to be an obvious, one-to-one correlation between the story as Jesus told it and God’s salvation story, as many of us have been taught all our lives.
The vineyard owner (God) established a vineyard complete with a fence and a tower (abundance). When the vineyard was under threat by bad tenants (the Jewish leaders at the time), the owner responded by first sending his servants (prophets), and then eventually his son (Jesus), to restore order (redemption).
But this story isn’t just a clever way of tricking the Jewish leaders into judging themselves, so that Jesus can ‘one-up’ them. It’s more than a shrewd response to their challenges to his authority.
This is an announcement – to all the powers of this world and beyond – of God’s ridiculous rescue plan for this world!
I mean, how ridiculous is it that the owner of the vineyard would send his son when the bad tenants have already killed his servants? Who would do that? A smart landowner would surely send an army and wipe out the opposition once and for all.
That’s how ridiculous God’s rescue plan was. And still is for us today. But unlike Jesus’ parable in our text today, God’s rescue story doesn’t end with the son being killed. God’s Son – our brother, Jesus – willingly became weak and vulnerable, and died … but then was raised from death. All praise and thanks to God!
Who would think that the creator of the universe, the author of all power, would act like that?
That’s ridiculous.
That’s love.
Amazing love! How can it be that you, my God, should die for me (Charles Wesley)? Amen.
Kathy is learning to give up her struggle to make sense of God and God’s world, and instead rest in the mystery of love that holds her each day.
Renew us; give us life (outsiders welcome)
by Peter Bean
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Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved (Psalm 80:7).
Peter’s paraphrase of Psalm 80:7: Renew us, Enabler of Life; your Presence bless us; give us life.
Read Psalm 80:7–15
This verse occurs three times in Psalm 80: verses 3, 7 and 19. That gives it some importance! The New Living Translation translates this verse as: ‘Turn us again to yourself, O God … Make your face shine down upon us.’
God takes the initiative. Whether we are close to God or far away! Whether we are born into a Christian family or come from a different situation! God takes the initiative!
The psalm talks about the various things that God has done for his people. But it also acknowledges that they have slipped away; they have forgotten the provision of life and all its benefits. So the prayer begins with: ‘Turn us again to yourself, or renew us; give us life.’
The writer recognises that only God can revitalise us; only God can turn us back; only God can give us life. And how does God do that? By becoming like us!
Ironic, isn’t it? We were made like God (Genesis 1:26,27). But to renew us, God becomes like us: The Word became human and made his home among us (John 1:14). The psalmist knows, as God does, that we cannot turn to God on our own. So, God becomes human. Jesus, the Christ, lives among us, experiences human life and begins the work of renewal.
Christ becomes the enabler of life as God’s face literally shines on people. God takes the initiative. If you are struggling, looking for hope or feeling lonely, pray for God to be present in your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to turn you to Christ again. And be blessed. And experience life.
God, thank you for becoming like us, so that we could be like you. Renew us; give us life. Amen.
Spring has sprung. Flowers are displaying their colours; fruit is forming on the trees. There is new growth everywhere. As you observe this wonderful new life, may you revel in the new beginnings God offers you each day. As Peter continues to meander his way through the Book of Psalms, he invites you to read them anew and apply them to your life. If you would like his paraphrase of any psalm (from 1 to 120), send your request to pbean087@gmail.com
Go … to the Gentiles (outsiders welcome)
by Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21b).
Read Acts 22:1–21
What an amazing conversion story Paul’s is! Read it and rejoice.
Paul was proud that he was a Jew. He often mentioned it when defending himself (Acts 22:3; Acts 26:4,5). Naturally, when God converted Paul, Paul wanted to witness to his fellow Jews. But God had bigger plans. Instead, he sent Paul to the Gentiles. If you are familiar with Paul’s adventures, you would know he went to many towns across the Roman Empire and wrote many letters to early believers (what we call the epistles).
In these towns, he often spoke in the synagogues, debating with Jewish believers; however, his main task was sharing the revelation about Christ that he had received with non-Jews. And he did it well, starting and encouraging groups of believers in Christ in many places. He is often called the apostle to the Gentiles.
Whatever we think of Paul and his various teachings (often taken out of context today), he demonstrates many of Christ’s characteristics.
He proclaims a message of grace – as opposed to living according to the law – and winning God’s favour that way. He does not dismiss the law but makes it subservient to the gospel.
He definitely goes to the Gentiles: to Macedonia, to Cyprus, to Ephesus, and many other non-Jewish towns. He engages with all kinds of people, sharing the good news of Christ with whomever he meets. Even though he wished to witness to the Jews he grew up with (and he did at times), his main focus was on the outsiders – those who had not grown up with the understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures that Paul had.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is for us, and we rejoice in that. But it is also for those who are outside our church circles. Will we go, will you go … to the outsiders? How will you live out the gospel truth of life, hope and grace?
Thank you, Jesus, for life, hope and grace. Thank you for messengers like Paul. I am not like him, but I am still your beloved one. Help me to share this love and life generously and freely. Amen.
Spring has sprung. Flowers are displaying their colours; fruit is forming on the trees. There is new growth everywhere. As you observe this wonderful new life, may you revel in the new beginnings God offers you each day. As Peter continues to meander his way through the Book of Psalms, he invites you to read them anew and apply them to your life. If you would like his paraphrase of any psalm (from 1 to 120), send your request to pbean087@gmail.com