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
Act kindly, love mercy, walk humbly
by Tania Nelson
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity (1 Timothy 5:1b,2).
Read 1 Timothy 5:1–22
St Paul gives quite the list of dos and don’ts to Timothy in today’s reading. I wonder what particular issues Paul was compelled to correct.
We are given a general clue to the situation in verses 1 and 2: ‘Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.’ The passage speaks of acting mercifully, kindly, with compassion and integrity.
Paul exhorts us, too, to recognise those ‘who are really in need’ (1 Timothy 5:3), to provide for our relatives (1 Timothy 5:8), to show hospitality (1 Timothy 5:10) and to honour spiritual leaders and teachers (1 Timothy 5:17). We are to keep ourselves pure and thereby act toward others with integrity.
Unfortunately, we don’t always act how we should. Acting kindly, loving mercy, walking humbly (Micah 6:8) – well, that’s quite the challenge! How blessed are we that we have a Saviour who forgives us when we have acted badly and forgives us when we have failed to act justly. Jesus died and rose for us, for me, and he sees me as his holy child. I am a sinner and, at the same time, through Jesus, I am a saint. Thank you, Jesus.
Father in heaven, it’s not easy to act kindly, love mercy and walk humbly as I journey through life. Help me treat others as you treat me – with kindness, compassion and love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Tania is the ministry lead at Mawson Lakes Community Church in suburban Adelaide and is a pastoral ministry student at Australian Lutheran College. Tania loves taking beach walks with her husband, David, spending time with her family and friends, and reading. Sometimes she is blessed to experience all three of these joys at her family shack on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.
Servant leadership
by Tania Nelson
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet (John 13:14).
Read John 13:12–20
Many books, journal articles and leadership development programs have been written about leadership styles. These authors often propose certain leadership traits or styles for particular situations. Does the company or team need a transformational leader, a strategic leader, an authentic or moral leader, or perhaps even a sustainable leader? We’re quick to discredit authoritarian leaders, as well as those with poor managerial skills. We love permission-giving leaders – if they permit the right things, that is, what I want!
The way of Jesus is different. Jesus’ leadership is countercultural. It is the way of foot washing, of servanthood, of shepherding. Jesus set us an example, not only when he washed the disciples’ feet, but throughout his ministry on Earth. Jesus was the true servant leader.
What could our servant leadership look like, sound like and feel like as followers of Jesus? Perhaps it looks like helping, without expectation of reward or even anyone’s notice. Perhaps it sounds like the stacking of chairs and the washing of dishes in a community centre. Perhaps it feels like kind and gentle encouragement to a harassed parent.
The servant leader’s core values determine their attitudes and actions. What the servant leader truly believes and holds in their heart often manifests itself in their behaviour. The Christian servant leader is a follower of Jesus. We love because Jesus first loved us. Jesus has given us his Spirit, who helps us to love and serve. And as we serve, we find that we are abundantly blessed, too!
Dear Jesus, I praise you for saving me. Fill me with your Spirit so that I can serve others as you serve me. Amen.
Tania is the ministry lead at Mawson Lakes Community Church in suburban Adelaide and is a pastoral ministry student at Australian Lutheran College. Tania loves taking beach walks with her husband, David, spending time with her family and friends, and reading. Sometimes she is blessed to experience all three of these joys at her family shack on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.
Reflecting the love of a generous and merciful God
by Tania Nelson
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me (Mark 9:37a).
Read Mark 9:37–41
I recall hearing the phrase ‘Children should be seen and not heard’ in my childhood. Perhaps the saying was directed to me, as I certainly had a tendency to talk a lot in school … and possibly haven’t outgrown that tendency! Praise God that we have a Saviour who loves children, welcomes them with open arms, listens to them and blesses them.
I love imagining Jesus with a child in his arms or a child on his lap. I picture a smile on Jesus’ face and love in his eyes as he takes the time to talk to the child. I imagine that the child is smiling too, perhaps laughing and feeling secure in the love and attention generously given.
The Bible has numerous stories and commands across both the Old and New Testaments to care for vulnerable people, including children. God’s people are to care for the poor, the homeless, the widows, the sick, victims of injustice, migrants and refugees. The LCA’s document God’s Love – Our Care, which outlines the theology underpinning the practice of Lutheran care, reminds us, ‘It is natural to show special care to one’s relatives, friends and fellow believers, but Christlike compassion reaches out beyond all ethnic, social and religious barriers, even includes enemies, and expects nothing in return.’
Our Lord said that when we welcome children in Jesus’ name, we are welcoming our Heavenly Father. May we be welcoming to children – and vulnerable people too – and may we reflect the love of our generous and merciful God.
Heavenly Father, I desire that you be known throughout the world. Help me to make you known as I show kindness and mercy in Jesus’ name to the people around me, including children, the vulnerable and the marginalised in society. May I reflect your love in my words and actions. Amen.
Tania is the ministry lead at Mawson Lakes Community Church in suburban Adelaide and is a pastoral ministry student at Australian Lutheran College. Tania loves taking beach walks with her husband, David, spending time with her family and friends, and reading. Sometimes she is blessed to experience all three of these joys at her family shack on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.