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!
by Emma Strelan
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But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God’ (Matthew 26:63).
Read Matthew 26:57–68
Today’s challenge to Jesus comes from the high priest Caiaphas.
Caiaphas represents and embodies the Jewish religious establishment, supposed to uphold the ancient laws and customs that establish the Israelites as God’s chosen people. Yet, Caiaphas is also a politically controversial religious leader, as he was appointed by the occupying Romans.
Unlike the expert in the law from yesterday’s reading, who was willing to engage in Jesus’ returning questions, Caiaphas is only really looking for one answer from Jesus: proof that this come-from-nothing backwater preacher isn’t a threat to his own religious authority and power.
So, Caiaphas presents Jesus with this challenge: ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ He’s basically telling Jesus to either admit he’s not who he’s claiming to be or be charged with blasphemy.
But Jesus won’t be cornered that easily. He knows that making plays for power and control do not ultimately impact the Father’s almighty plan.
Caiaphas fails to realise that this man whom he charges ‘under oath by the living God’ is, in fact, the God who dies. While the great high priest is doing all he can to keep control of the situation and maintain his place as the religious leader of the Jews, the very God he claims to serve is giving up his control, becoming powerless, weak and dead. Actions speak louder than words.
We can challenge God’s power and sovereignty all we want, but God’s response will always be: ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And that ‘I AM’ is the Messiah, our Saviour. Let us not let our pride and desire for control blind us to who God is and what he has done for us.
God of truth, may our pride, fear and power be laid low so that your truth may be made known in our hearts and lives. Amen.
Emma Strelan works part-time as a content producer with Lutheran Media and part-time as a freelance videographer around Adelaide. You’ll often find her rummaging through op shops or dreaming of her next camping trip or outdoor adventure. She feels blessed that her current work combines two of her biggest passions – creative media and exploring faith – and hopes the projects she works on will have a positive impact on others.
by Emma Strelan
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise’ (Luke 10:36,37).
Read Luke 10:25–37
This week is a week of challenges. If you follow along the Scripture passages, you’ll witness Jesus’ varied responses to those trying to figure out just what his radical message and subversive presence mean for them.
Today, we read of an expert in the law challenging Jesus: If we are to love God and love our neighbour as ourselves, who is our neighbour?
My church recently noticed we weren’t focusing on mission as much as we wanted to. So, we created a mission ministry support person role to ensure that at least someone was thinking about mission. Having specific roles is a good way to ensure the ministry load is shared around a congregation or community. If there’s no receptionist, who will answer the office phone? If there’s no worship coordinator, who will organise the service orders? If there’s no youth worker, who will run the Friday night youth group? (The answer to all of these is too often, ‘The pastor!’ unfortunately.)
In today’s passage, we hear that loving our neighbour and showing mercy should be one of the highest priorities a Christian should have. So, in congregations filled with band members, money counters, PowerPoint slide operators, communion assistants, Sunday school teachers, flower arrangers, and numerous other roles, perhaps we should add ‘official neighbours’ to the weekly roster to make sure we’re covering our bases. Or perhaps not.
The trap I’ve seen my own church fall into when we assign roles is that anything outside of those responsibilities can easily be brushed off as ‘not my job’. But Jesus reminds us that being a neighbour isn’t defined by the role we’re listed as in the church directory. The Samaritan wasn’t trained in any specific ministry. He simply had a missional opportunity placed along his path, a heart (and resources) ready for compassion, and he decided to move in love toward brokenness.
It’s easy to let things fall into the ‘not my job’ category, especially when our jobs or roles often already come with an overwhelming number of responsibilities. However, when it comes to the battle of obligations, Jesus is very clear in what we should prioritise: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
Do this, and you will live.
Lord of love, may I see the needs of others that you place before me today, and may I be open to new ways to serve you, even if I don’t feel equipped. Amen.
Emma Strelan works part-time as a content producer with Lutheran Media and part-time as a freelance videographer around Adelaide. You’ll often find her rummaging through op shops or dreaming of her next camping trip or outdoor adventure. She feels blessed that her current work combines two of her biggest passions – creative media and exploring faith – and hopes the projects she works on will have a positive impact on others.
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
No-one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame … (Psalm 25:3a).
Read Psalm 25:1–10
The writer of this psalm certainly knows a lot about the ‘Lord, my God’ in whom he puts his trust. This is one of King David’s psalms, and he should know*. David’s life was full of experiences that tested his relationship with God. From killing bears and lions while tending his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 17:34–37) to slaying Goliath and then taking on some of the largest neighbouring armies around and defeating them also.
But David also had to learn some difficult life lessons. As a harpist, he supplied soothing music to a boss (King Saul) who didn’t always wake up on the right side of the bed and needed calming. There was also learning to dodge the occasional spear hurled his way (1 Samuel 18:10,11). David had to learn to trust an unlikely ally in the king’s son (Jonathan) and be guided by his spiritual mentors in the prophets Samuel and Nathan. He committed major adultery and murder and lost a child. All along, he could see God’s hand guiding him through life, teaching him lessons, revealing his plans and protecting him from his enemies.
By the time he wrote this psalm, he could write with a lot of confidence in what the ‘Lord, my God’ had done for him. But David didn’t stop there, and neither should we. Whether God has answered a few prayers and revealed some amazing truths in your life, or whether you’re just starting out on your faith journey, these words are such an encouragement.
David is asking God to ‘show me your ways, Lord’ (verse 4), ‘guide me in your truth and teach me’ (verse 5) because his hope is in him ‘all day long’. With all the praise due to his name and all the accolades David could shower upon his great God, this psalm encapsulates so much of God’s character from one who learned firsthand over many years.
Reflect on your life and journey with God, and then re-read the psalm and put yourself in David’s place. List what stands out to you.
O Lord my God, I praise you for all the amazing ways that you protect, guide and strengthen your people, especially me. I ask that you never stop creating in me a new and clean heart that forever sings your praises. Amen.
*Read all about King David’s life and be inspired by his journey with God in 1 Samuel 16 through 2 Samuel, and until 1 Kings 2:12.
Pastor Steve Liersch and his wife, Angelyn, are now empty-nesters living in Port Kennedy in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth. Steve says that he sees every day as a gift from God, allowing him to discover new ways to journey with Jesus and learn more about the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as how his Heavenly Father wants to use him in some small or great way.