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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 Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
May the Lord help you keep your promise … (1 Samuel 1:23b).
Read1 Samuel 1:21–2:11
Promises! Promises! Who really wants to make a promise? So many obstacles can appear when trying to keep it: ‘It’s not the right time’, ‘You misunderstood what I meant’ (notice the shifting of guilt in this statement), ‘Circumstances have changed’, ‘I wasn’t myself when I made that promise.’
Hannah could certainly have used the latter excuse. As we read yesterday, she was very discouraged and poured her heart out to the Lord. She was so distressed that Eli thought she was drunk. One can imagine her thinking, if not saying: ‘God, you will understand. You knew my distress; I was beside myself. Now I have a son, and I must give him up? Surely, God, you are more merciful than that!’
All understandable. All reasonable. Perhaps we have said or thought similar things ourselves. Yet, despite these (possible) thoughts, Hannah kept her promise. She realised that everything – life, possessions, children – is a gift from the Lord. And so, with the Lord’s help, she could release her son to be a servant of the Lord. And, in doing so, she sang a praise hymn to God (1 Samuel 2:1–11). Her truth-telling became a praise hymn!
The best promises are not those we make, but the ones that God has made, kept and continues to fulfil. What is your favourite promise from God? Perhaps you can list two, three or more. Obviously, promises about new life and shalom are wonderful. I like the verses in Isaiah about wolves and lambs living together, wastelands blossoming, eyes being opened and ears being unplugged (see Isaiah 11 and Isaiah 35).
All these have their fulfilment in Christ. ‘The one sitting on the throne said: “Look, I am making all things new!”’ (Revelation 21:5). If you make a promise, ask the Lord to help you keep it. And remember the promises God has made – and kept – through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Loving Creator, thank you for all the gifts you bless us with. At all times, help us to remember your promise of new life, won for us by Christ. Amen.
Spring has sprung. Flowers are displaying their colours; fruit is forming on the trees. There is new growth everywhere. Peter prays that as you observe this wonderful new life, may you revel in the new beginnings God offers you each day. As Peter continues to meander his way through the psalms, he invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any psalm (from 1 to 91), send your request to pbean087@gmail.com
Discouragement or praise hymns?
by Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:15b).
Read 1 Samuel 1:1–20
It’s not popular to talk about our woes or to suggest we are discouraged or down in the dumps. Enter that into a conversation, and it is likely people will turn away. How sad!
When you read (and work with) the psalms, as I have been doing for more than three years, you learn that people were willing to take their gripes to their God. As American theologian Walter Brueggemann said, ‘Old Testament praise is not a practice of “praise hymns” that cover over the reality of life. Rather, there is a habit of truth-telling, to wonder where the loving mercy of God is.’ Again and again, the people ask, ‘Where are you, God?’
In these verses today, I can imagine Hannah speaking some truth-telling to the Lord. ‘Why have you not given me children? Where is your mercy, Lord? Have you forgotten me?’ She was so distressed that Eli, the priest, thought she had been drinking (verses 13 and 14).
But Hannah quickly made it clear that was not the case. Instead, she was pouring out her heart to the Lord. After their conversation, Eli wished her peace and that her request would be granted. She went away no longer sad (verse 18).
If you are discouraged, I want to encourage you to be brave. Take your concerns to the Lord. Take part in some truth-telling. God is big enough to take it. Pour out your heart; wait on the Lord. If you don’t know what to say, let your sighs be your prayer. Take comfort that the Spirit takes them to God (Romans 8:26–28). Or you might want to use a psalm; try Psalm 88, Psalm 86 or another one that works for you.
Let your thoughts or words of discouragement become praise hymns to the Lord.
Lord, when I am discouraged, help me come to you with words, thoughts and sighs. Let your Spirit plead for me. And then grant me peace as I wait for your mercy. Amen.
by Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong (Romans 16:19b).
Read Romans 16:17–27
Ah, wisdom! The most wonderful of gifts (see 1 Kings 3:10ff), yet so elusive.
Having greeted the various people involved in the church (see yesterday’s devotion), Paul gives final greetings and asks them to be wise. Is he expecting too much? Who among us would claim to be wise? As we age, we hopefully gain more wisdom, but would any of us actually claim to be wise?
I wonder if these readers thought similarly. Okay, Paul, we appreciate your prayers and greetings. Now, just let us get on with the job. Why add this burden of having to be wise?!
Except, it is not a burden. Read the phrases from Romans surrounding this request:
- ‘… obedient in the Lord’ (verse 19a)
- ‘The God of peace …’ (verse 20)
- ‘The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you’ (verse 20)
- ‘… all glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ …’ (verse 27).
Perhaps wisdom is simply accepting Christ’s love for us: living in his grace and forgiveness and allowing his peace to permeate our lives. When we are surrounded by love, grace, forgiveness and peace, perhaps wisdom just flows. Not always, of course. We are human. But when it doesn’t, we are restored to a wise place. Living in God’s grace.
And so, a positive circle develops: grace, forgiveness, wisdom; grace, forgiveness, wisdom. Then, we are enabled to do the right things to stay innocent. And when we fail, we are restored to a place of righteousness, to a place of innocence.
Grace, forgiveness, wisdom. A good place to live.
God of wisdom, allow us to live in your grace and forgiveness, so we may be wise in all we do and say. Amen.
Spring has sprung. Flowers are displaying their colours; fruit is forming on the trees. There is new growth everywhere. Peter prays that as you observe this wonderful new life, may you revel in the new beginnings God offers you each day. As Peter continues to meander his way through the psalms, he invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any psalm (from 1 to 91), send your request to pbean087@gmail.com