Photo by...Photo by Rémi Walle on Unsplash
Paul’s in prison when he writes to Timothy, his young friend and co-worker. Acts 28 tells us Paul was in Rome at the time, under house-arrest guarded by a soldier. It wasn’t two weeks of quarantine in a hotel to wait for any signs of a virus but two years under house arrest.
During this time and close to the end of his life, Paul writes and describes some disappointment in those he considered friends.
16 When I was first put on trial, no one helped me. In fact, everyone deserted me. I hope it won’t be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood beside me. He gave me the strength to tell his full message, so that all Gentiles would hear it. And I was kept safe from hungry lions. 18 The Lord will always keep me from being harmed by evil, and he will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. Praise him forever and ever! Amen. 2 Timothy 4:16-18
I’ve highlighted the beautiful words of good news for Paul and for us. Jesus stood beside him.
Jesus’ disciples had a very interesting experience of the Lord standing beside them on the first Easter day. Jesus surprised them. Jesus came to bring peace and comfort to them in their fear.
But Thomas was missing and when they told him he wouldn’t believe it. Perhaps he thought it was too good to be true.
Many a sermon has been preached about Thomas and his doubting - with strong encouragement not to doubt like him. I wonder how many sceptic’s lives have been changed by those sermons.
It hit me this year (maybe it’s the isolation), Thomas isn’t the main character in this story, Jesus is. It’s about Jesus and his unending desire and determination to come alongside and help. He came and stood beside the group of disciples and they got it, he was alive. He came again, just for Thomas, and he got it.. Jesus didn’t want Thomas to be left in the dark of uncertainty. Jesus loved Thomas and wanted him to know the good news of his resurrection.
Jesus comes and stands beside us. He’s not satisfied till he knows that we know he’s alive, and that he loves us and is with us.
This is the good news of Easter!
Spiritual eyes to see Satan at work
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
esus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns’ (Matthew 16:23).
Read Matthew 16:21–28
I wish I had Jesus’ capacity to see and know when Satan was at work in me or around me. But being a sinful human being, I tend to be blind to those occasions, much to my annoyance. As the great deceiver, Satan uses every trick in his arsenal of lies and hatred of Jesus to obscure and thwart God’s plan of salvation for humanity.
In the previous verses (Matthew 16:13–20), Jesus engages in a conversation with his disciples about who they and the crowds say he is. Good on Peter for coming up with the right answer. Even Jesus seems pleased that at least someone could identify who he really is – ‘You are the Christ [or Messiah], the Son of the living God,’ says Peter (verse 16).
But it didn’t take long for Peter, on whom Jesus bestows a special title of ‘rock’ who will be used by God to build his church, to stumble at the first testing hurdle. Peter falls short of recognising that despite Jesus’ best efforts to prepare his disciples for the important events that unveiled God’s plan of salvation, Satan would be right there in the thick of things, trying to stop that plan from unfolding. The spiritual battle lines were drawn, and Peter was caught in the crossfire. Jesus calls it out, saying to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’
Many a great disciple of our Lord has moments as Peter did. Often, Satan and his tricks need to be identified through prayer so that, with ‘spiritual eyes’, we can see God’s will and actively participate in it, and his kingdom can be strengthened.
Reflect on a time when you were used by Satan to obstruct God’s plans for his kingdom to be nurtured and extended.
Holy Spirit, give me spiritual discernment to identify the plans of the evil one. Draw me to your word and implant in me the humility to see my faults, but also to accept the role I can play to grow your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Pastor Steve continues to enjoy his ministry in the beautiful southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Having announced his retirement date for May 2027, he will always be passionate about serving God, though it may look different in retirement.
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.