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
The source of integrity
by Dianne Eckermann
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness (Psalm 26:2,3).
Read Psalm 26:1–8
Could anyone stand up and claim to have led a blameless life? Would anyone actually believe them if they did? Yet, this is precisely what the psalmist does as he begins his prayer to God, asking for vindication.
Superficially, this sounds like quite a hypocritical prayer. It’s a bit like footballers called before the tribunal, insisting they are blameless and have always played fairly – after all, you can just look at their record. Or a politician who has just ousted a previous leader, claiming to act with integrity. It only takes the media a second or two to find incriminating quotes that make claims of integrity go viral.
However, the psalmist confidently asks God to test him and examine his conscience. If we look carefully at verse three, the writer of this psalm can give a compelling reason for his prayer. It is his ongoing trust in God’s unfailing love. It is a love that is always present no matter what happens. God has always been faithful; therefore, the psalmist, in response, is faithful too, praising God and finding joy in his presence. Because the psalmist is walking with the Lord, he is not under the influence of the hypocrites, the deceitful and others who do wrong. In choosing a life of integrity, the psalmist is under the influence of his Lord. It is a life of trust, love and faithfulness.
Lord, thank you for your unending love and mercy. Keep us from the influence of those who are deceitful, and guide us to lead lives of integrity so that we know the joy of living in your presence. Amen.
Dianne has served in Lutheran education as a teacher, school leader and system leader at Lutheran Education Australia. Now retired from full-time work, she continues to volunteer on several committees and as a school board member. She lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband, Robert, and is in strong demand as a babysitter for her three grandchildren.
People of God
by Dianne Eckermann
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:10).
Read 1 Peter 2:4–10
In the 2,000 years since these words were written, Christianity has grown throughout the world. The concept of Christianity is not new to us. It is not unfamiliar, even to non-Christians.
In today’s passage, we read of Christ as the living stone, referring to the resurrected Christ. His followers are like living stones, as they too have life – through the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through the images in this passage, people who believe are given a new identity. They are a chosen people, special to God, called into his wonderful light. They are early Christians united with God through Jesus.
This must have been a wonderful revelation to the early church. Before they knew Jesus, the rejected cornerstone, there was nothing to bind them together, but now they know who they are and whose they are. Now, through God’s unearned mercy, they are people of God and are precious to him.
The followers of Christ today have grown from these early beginnings and live in a different world, spiritually, culturally, politically and technologically. Different denominations have emerged over the centuries. However, these differences change nothing – it is still a world in need of mercy. Despite divisions in the church, we are given a beautiful, unifying statement in verse 10: ‘… now you are the people of God …’ This is our identity as Christians. We are all people of God.
Merciful God, we come to you with thanks that you do not treat us as we deserve but offer us your great mercy. Help us to show your mercy and love to people around us each day. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Dianne has served in Lutheran education as a teacher, school leader and system leader at Lutheran Education Australia. Now retired from full-time work, she continues to volunteer on several committees and as a school board member. She lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband, Robert, and is in strong demand as a babysitter for her three grandchildren.
Short time or long
by Dianne Eckermann
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Paul replied, ‘Short time or long – I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains’ (Acts 26:29).
Read Acts 26:18–29
Arachnophobia, a fear of spiders, is allegedly the most common phobia in the world, followed by glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. There is also a relatively new phobia, nomophobia, or the fear of being without your mobile phone, which is catching up. St Paul’s attitude towards spiders is not recorded; however, he is known for his ability to craft and deliver his amazing message about Jesus and his victory over death.
In today’s reading, Paul is again speaking up, not just in public, but before King Agrippa. Paul is a notable orator, and his speech on this occasion displays just how well he can deliver his message, even though the Jewish leaders arrested him and he stands before the king in chains. He is not overawed by authority or the presence of the king and, with the help of God, he stands to ‘testify to small and great alike’ (verse 22).
The end of Paul’s speech is about how his message about Jesus is consistent with the teachings of Moses and the prophets. When he is interrupted and accused of being mad, he responds calmly and politely, yet again stressing that nothing he says is new to those familiar with the prophets and flattering King Agrippa by including him among the knowledgeable.
Paul’s response to Agrippa at the end of his speech is most powerful. ‘Short time or long,’ he begins. In other words, time does not matter, as he will continue to preach about Jesus for as long as it takes. He continues, ‘I pray to God.’ It is God’s message he is sharing, and through God’s help that he can stand before Agrippa and his accusers and speak. His message also is not just in response to Agrippa, but to all who are listening to him. It is not a message just for the powerful or for leaders; God is for everyone. Finally, we can imagine a wry smile when Paul says he prays that all will be like him, except, of course, for his chains.
We, too, can thank God that if Paul ever had a fear of public speaking, he overcame it, and many years later his voice is still heard.
Heavenly Father, thank you for all who share your message and for helping us to understand the full extent of your love for us all. Guide us through your Holy Spirit as we live out your truth and love in our world. Amen.
Dianne has served in Lutheran education as a teacher, school leader and system leader at Lutheran Education Australia. Now retired from full-time work, she continues to volunteer on several committees and as a school board member. She lives in the Adelaide Hills with her husband, Robert, and is in strong demand as a babysitter for her three grandchildren.