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
True greatness
by Linda Macqueen
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Solomon … shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place (1 Kings 1:30b).
Read 1 Kings 1:5–31
This reading describes a dramatic event in the history of Israel’s monarchy. In today’s language, we might call it a military coup. Adonijah, an elder brother of Solomon, defies the authority of his father, King David, gathers around him fickle religious and political leaders, disloyal factions of the army and opportunistic members of his own family, and declares himself king. He makes lavish public sacrifices, but this is not done to honour God; it’s feigned humility and reverence designed to garner the support of the people. This overgrown, spoilt brat does not sound anything like the descendant of David whom God had promised would continue the royal bloodline (2 Samuel 7:11b–16).
Meanwhile, young Solomon is waiting quietly and patiently in the background. Like his father before him, he does not put his name forward to be king. And unlike his brother, Solomon does not grasp power, fame or anything else that might prop up a fragile ego. It’s no surprise then that it is Solomon, not Adonijah, whom God establishes as king of Israel.
This pattern is seen time and time again in God’s dealings with his people. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). In Jesus, we see humility perfected. Though he was God, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant and obeying God even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:5–8). His leadership was marked not by self-promotion, but by self-sacrifice, love and service.
Whether it is found in a kitchen or a boardroom, true greatness in the kingdom of God always has and always will be clothed in humility and self-denial.
Heavenly Father, help me to reject the spirit of Adonijah – the temptation to use my knowledge, position or strength to promote myself. Instead, help me to adopt the humility of Solomon and, ultimately, of Jesus: to trust your timing, to wait patiently for your call, to serve with humility wherever you have placed me, and (if you ask me) to lead with gentleness and grace. Amen.
Linda Macqueen retired in September 2025, having served 26 years as editor of The Lutheran and Communications Manager for the LCANZ. She has rapidly adapted to retirement, happily and energetically bringing her long-neglected home and garden back to life. She lives in the beautiful Adelaide Hills with her husband, Mark, and with their household’s lord and master, Nelson the rescued galah.
Get ready for a shake-up
by Linda Macqueen
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… The time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down (Luke 21:6).
Read Luke 21:5–19
Imagine that Jesus is looking at you right in the eye and telling you that everything you’ve built your hope on is about to crumble, that even what you believe about God and his promises is sinking sand. That’s pretty much what Jesus is telling his disciples in today’s text.
For the disciples and all devout Jews, the temple was much more than a building. It was the very heart of their worship, the place where heaven and earth met, and the dwelling place of God among his people. Its grandeur was a visible sign of God’s presence and his promise of enduring faithfulness. So, what Jesus was saying, that ‘not one stone will be left on another’, was utterly shocking – and this, coming from a rabbi!
Jesus was preparing the disciples for the day when everything they thought they knew about God and how he works would shatter. The temple had reached its use-by date; God was about to create a radically new way of living among his people. Jesus’ declaration to his disciples – about the fall of the temple and the awful hardships ahead – was a harsh one. But the disciples’ religious foundations had to shatter, so they could build a faith on the Rock that would last forever.
Still today, God, in his great love for us, will not allow us to build our lives on anything less than Christ himself. From time to time, he will rattle us, causing the foundations of our self-made security to tremble. If necessary, he will even shake us free of our religious rules and rituals, if they are what we are building our hope on. God will do whatever it takes to make us cling to Christ alone.
Jesus, my Rock and my Redeemer, what is it that you are asking me to let go of today? Help me to place my trust not in what can be lost (no matter how noble it might be), but in you alone, my eternal Saviour who holds me safe, no matter what is crumbling beneath my feet. Amen.
Linda Macqueen retired in September 2025, having served 26 years as editor of The Lutheran and Communications Manager for the LCANZ. She has rapidly adapted to retirement, happily and energetically bringing her long-neglected home and garden back to life. She lives in the beautiful Adelaide Hills with her husband, Mark, and with their household’s lord and master, Nelson the rescued galah.
The power of song
by Tim Klein
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Sing to the Lord a new song (Psalm 98:1a).
Read Psalm 98
Sometimes, we can feel totally powerless and out of control. We don’t always understand what God is doing, and things are happening around us that distress and wound us. The world is in turmoil, and even Australia, which has known relative peace, experiences unrest. God’s word has gone out into all the world, yet so many reject and oppose him. Many people loved by God – even some in our own families – have rejected his love and salvation.
All these things can distress our hearts. They can unsettle our faith and call into question God’s faithfulness. We can feel powerless in the face of such distress. But there is a power greater than all of us. God is still God! He rules. Nothing can change that.
What a privilege that we can connect with the Lord’s power in many ways. That happens when he feeds us with his own body and blood in holy communion. It also occurs through the direct power of God’s word, present and at work in our lives.
There is another significant power that God gives us: the power of song. In the face of our struggles, he tells us to sing: ‘Sing to the Lord a new song!’
Tell the Lord’s story in song. Be reminded of all he has done, is doing and will continue to do for his people. Sing of hope. Sing of past and present mercies. Sing of miracles and mighty acts. Join with his creation – with rivers and trees, seas and mountains. With them, we praise and honour our God.
Not only does this honour and praise the Lord, but it gives us power and courage in the face of darkness, and brings light and hope into our lives. It empowers our lives with hope and the promise of God’s continuing lordship over all creation.
Lord of all: open our eyes to see your presence and what you are doing in the world. Open our ears to hear your voice all around us. Open our hearts and minds to acknowledge and praise your wonderful name. Open our voices to sing a new song to you every day. Empower us to live with boldness and hope as your living and active presence in the world. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening. This is the season of flowers: beautiful irises, anemones, proteas, leucodendrons and leucospermums – and roses! They all give witness to God’s glory and grace.