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!
God does far more than we can ever imagine
by Mark Gierus
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
For this is what the Lord says: ‘They will eat and have some left over’ (2 Kings 4:43b)
Read 2 Kings 4:42–44
What is God calling you to do that seems too big, too hard or simply impossible? Many things seem impossible to us, yet nothing is impossible for God.
There was once a man who was asked to build a big boat, kilometres from the nearest ocean or, for that matter, any sort of body of water big enough to float it. Yet he obeyed, and it happened just as God had said it would. This man, of course, was Noah.
There was a man who saw a bush that was burning, yet it didn’t burn up, and so he sat there and had a chat with God. Even though this man said, ‘Maybe, God, you’ve got the wrong guy to do what you would like me to do’, it happened just as God said it would. This man was Moses, and he led the people out of Egypt through the Red Sea.
We may not part the Red Sea or build a boat in a dry place, but we are called to trust in God’s provision, purpose and word, knowing that all things are possible for him.
When it comes to heaven and eternal life, you or I could not find a way there, nor could we make ourselves right in God’s sight to earn a place in heaven. We can’t save ourselves from our hopelessness in our sinful ways.
It was God who gave us a way, and that way is Jesus Christ. God sent his only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die on the cross so that we might have eternal life and be forgiven and saved from sin, death and the power of the devil.
We are free to follow Jesus as God’s children and to trust that God can do all things, knowing that he does what he says he will do. If God calls you to a seemingly impossible task, he will give you what you need to follow him.
Lord, you are amazing, always doing more and giving more than I can ever imagine. Thank you for all you do and for who you are in my life. Help me see day by day the blessings you have given me. Amen.
Pastor Mark Gierus currently serves as a Lutheran pastor in the Alberton Lutheran Parish, including the LORDS school at Ormeau in Queensland. He is married to Kerstin, and they have three beautiful girls aged 9, 13 and 23. They enjoy family things like hiking, going to the beach, singing and jamming, looking after their pets and going on road trips. Mark and Kerstin pray that God will continue to bless you as you grow in him and come to know him more and more through his life-giving eternal word.
Not in my own strength
by Mark Gierus
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’ … Strengthened by that food, he travelled … until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kings 19:7b,8b).
Read 1 Kings 19:4–8
Have you been on a holiday recently that you really needed because of work, life pressures and busyness? One where you were able to get right away from the daily routine and stresses and just be?
Perhaps you enjoyed a brilliant new book or finally caught up on the sleep you’d been promising yourself. You may have even given up technology or social media for a while or reconnected with a spouse, family member or friend.
How did you feel when you returned from holiday? Were you refreshed and ready to face life with joy? Or did you wonder whether you had the strength to return to what had caused you stress?
Many of us fall into the trap of working ourselves to burnout – not just physical burnout but spiritual burnout as well. We tell ourselves to keep pushing on, and then we’ll finally reward ourselves with a holiday. Yet sadly, we don’t always get the holiday. Some holidays are not so relaxing either because we are tired, run down and have forgotten the art of relaxing.
In our worries and stress, we find it easy to take a holiday from God but not from that which stresses us. We forget that God loves us and provides for our every need. He seems far away, and we grow weary in work and life.
Elijah had a heavy work schedule and was asked to do some challenging things. Today’s reading shows Elijah so burnt out that he would rather die. After rest, God provides a nourishing meal so he can get up and go again.
We all need a good holiday, but more importantly, we need God, day by day, who gives us strength to sustain us in all we do. Reconnect with God, spending time in his word, and he will renew your strength to face each day.
Loving God, you have called me to follow where you lead for your purpose. Help me always to trust in you, knowing that you strengthen me, not only with the things for my body, but with your precious word for my soul so that I may go where you lead me. Amen.
Pastor Mark Gierus currently serves as a Lutheran pastor in the Alberton Lutheran Parish, including the LORDS school at Ormeau in Queensland. He is married to Kerstin, and they have three beautiful girls aged 9, 13 and 23. They enjoy family things like hiking, going to the beach, singing and jamming, looking after their pets and going on road trips. Mark and Kerstin pray that God will continue to bless you as you grow in him and come to know him more and more through his life-giving eternal word.
More than a safe place
by Mark Gierus
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge (Ruth 2:12).
ReadRuth 2:1–18
Don’t you love a good reading nook or a special place in the garden to sit quietly and feel like you have a place of refuge to get away from it all? Where do you go to find refuge in the busyness of life? In the daily challenges, where do you find peace and refuge?
Perhaps you are in a season where you don’t feel you have a place just to be? You feel like you are tossed about with little control over what is happening around you. Maybe you don’t have anyone to talk to about things that are burdening you or that you are so worried about, and you are not sure what will happen next in your life?
Even in our own safe spaces, we can still feel troubled in our souls. We can try to run away from the troubles, but we are not really at peace. So, what can one do when the worries, stresses and busyness of life start to pile up so much?
Run to our loving God, who is always there with outstretched arms to receive you as you are. Although God is always near, sometimes we get lost in our worries and fix our eyes on our problems rather than on the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the one who loves and cares for us.
Call on God’s name, ask him to cover you with his wings and wrap you up in his love. Run to God under whose wings you have come to take refuge and find peace in his presence. There, you can unload all that burdens you with a good chat, giving over to your loving God all that troubles you. Hear his voice as you find refuge in his care, protection and love, under the shadow of his wings. Know that you are loved, that you are safe and that you are home.
Gracious God, when I am afraid of what lies ahead and when I am not sure how to face the challenges of daily life, let me rest under your wings of safety and protection, for you are my rock and my refuge and give me peace. Amen.
Pastor Mark Gierus currently serves as a Lutheran pastor in the Alberton Lutheran Parish, including the LORDS school at Ormeau in Queensland. He is married to Kerstin, and they have three beautiful girls aged 9, 13 and 23. They enjoy family things like hiking, going to the beach, singing and jamming, looking after their pets and going on road trips. Mark and Kerstin pray that God will continue to bless you as you grow in him and come to know him more and more through his life-giving eternal word.