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 does far more than we can ever imagine
by Mark Gierus
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For this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over’ (2 Kings 4:43b)
Read 2 Kings 4:42–44
What is God calling you to do that seems too big, too hard or simply impossible? Many things seem impossible to us, yet nothing is impossible for God.
There was once a man who was asked to build a big boat, kilometres from the nearest ocean or, for that matter, any sort of body of water big enough to float it. Yet he obeyed, and it happened just as God had said it would. This man, of course, was Noah.
There was a man who saw a bush that was burning, yet it didn’t burn up, and so he sat there and had a chat with God. Even though this man said, ‘Maybe, God, you’ve got the wrong guy to do what you would like me to do’, it happened just as God said it would. This man was Moses, and he led the people out of Egypt through the Red Sea.
We may not part the Red Sea or build a boat in a dry place, but we are called to trust in God’s provision, purpose and word, knowing that all things are possible for him.
When it comes to heaven and eternal life, you or I could not find a way there, nor could we make ourselves right in God’s sight to earn a place in heaven. We can’t save ourselves from our hopelessness in our sinful ways.
It was God who gave us a way, and that way is Jesus Christ. God sent his only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die on the cross so that we might have eternal life and be forgiven and saved from sin, death and the power of the devil.
We are free to follow Jesus as God’s children and to trust that God can do all things, knowing that he does what he says he will do. If God calls you to a seemingly impossible task, he will give you what you need to follow him.
Lord, you are amazing, always doing more and giving more than I can ever imagine. Thank you for all you do and for who you are in my life. Help me see day by day the blessings you have given 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.
Not in my own strength
by Mark Gierus
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‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’ … Strengthened by that food, he travelled … until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kings 19:7b,8b).
Read 1 Kings 19:4–8
Have you been on a holiday recently that you really needed because of work, life pressures and busyness? One where you were able to get right away from the daily routine and stresses and just be?
Perhaps you enjoyed a brilliant new book or finally caught up on the sleep you’d been promising yourself. You may have even given up technology or social media for a while or reconnected with a spouse, family member or friend.
How did you feel when you returned from holiday? Were you refreshed and ready to face life with joy? Or did you wonder whether you had the strength to return to what had caused you stress?
Many of us fall into the trap of working ourselves to burnout – not just physical burnout but spiritual burnout as well. We tell ourselves to keep pushing on, and then we’ll finally reward ourselves with a holiday. Yet sadly, we don’t always get the holiday. Some holidays are not so relaxing either because we are tired, run down and have forgotten the art of relaxing.
In our worries and stress, we find it easy to take a holiday from God but not from that which stresses us. We forget that God loves us and provides for our every need. He seems far away, and we grow weary in work and life.
Elijah had a heavy work schedule and was asked to do some challenging things. Today’s reading shows Elijah so burnt out that he would rather die. After rest, God provides a nourishing meal so he can get up and go again.
We all need a good holiday, but more importantly, we need God, day by day, who gives us strength to sustain us in all we do. Reconnect with God, spending time in his word, and he will renew your strength to face each day.
Loving God, you have called me to follow where you lead for your purpose. Help me always to trust in you, knowing that you strengthen me, not only with the things for my body, but with your precious word for my soul so that I may go where you lead 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.
More than a safe place
by Mark Gierus
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May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge (Ruth 2:12).
ReadRuth 2:1–18
Don’t you love a good reading nook or a special place in the garden to sit quietly and feel like you have a place of refuge to get away from it all? Where do you go to find refuge in the busyness of life? In the daily challenges, where do you find peace and refuge?
Perhaps you are in a season where you don’t feel you have a place just to be? You feel like you are tossed about with little control over what is happening around you. Maybe you don’t have anyone to talk to about things that are burdening you or that you are so worried about, and you are not sure what will happen next in your life?
Even in our own safe spaces, we can still feel troubled in our souls. We can try to run away from the troubles, but we are not really at peace. So, what can one do when the worries, stresses and busyness of life start to pile up so much?
Run to our loving God, who is always there with outstretched arms to receive you as you are. Although God is always near, sometimes we get lost in our worries and fix our eyes on our problems rather than on the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the one who loves and cares for us.
Call on God’s name, ask him to cover you with his wings and wrap you up in his love. Run to God under whose wings you have come to take refuge and find peace in his presence. There, you can unload all that burdens you with a good chat, giving over to your loving God all that troubles you. Hear his voice as you find refuge in his care, protection and love, under the shadow of his wings. Know that you are loved, that you are safe and that you are home.
Gracious God, when I am afraid of what lies ahead and when I am not sure how to face the challenges of daily life, let me rest under your wings of safety and protection, for you are my rock and my refuge and give me peace. 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.