by Charles Bertelsmeier
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Read Ecclesiastes 1:1–11
Although I can remember the names and a little about the lives of my grandparents, I would struggle to tell you the names of all my great-grandparents or anything about their lives.
Then I think about my grandchildren and realise they know virtually nothing about my parents and previous generations. I’m sure we could all agree with the sentiment expressed in today’s verse.
We will spend today and the next four days looking at the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. Before you open your calendar app and set a reminder to resume reading LCA devotions next Saturday and skip these five days, let me encourage you to persevere. God has put every book of the Bible there for a reason and has a message for us. I pray that God has a message for you in what he gives me to write. You may also like to read the whole book before we proceed with these devotions.
The first verse of this book indicates that the author is King Solomon. God blessed King Solomon to be one of the wisest people in history. He is also believed to be the author of the biblical book Song of Songs and to have collected many proverbs.
In Ecclesiastes, the author conducts a series of scientific experiments to find the meaning of life. In reflecting on this, I think we are all doing the same, but probably not as scientifically as Solomon. As young children, we are absorbed in play. As teenagers, we are trying to discover who we are. As young adults, we seek acceptance through our friendship circles and employment. Then, we aim to perpetuate our identity through our children, moving on to get ourselves financially secure and finally retiring to contemplate what we have achieved with our lives. Maybe we will even write up our life stories to perpetuate our legacies.
Solomon tries a range of activities to find meaning and fulfilment but comes up empty each time. Most of these things are things we also do to try to discover meaning and purpose. Spoiler alert: The conclusion Solomon comes to is that we only find that meaning and purpose through our relationship with God and by surrendering our lives to the plans he has for us.
Most of us, me included, didn’t want to hear that when we were younger and tried looking elsewhere. I thank God he didn’t give up on me and gently led me to accept Solomon’s conclusion.
Heavenly Father, I accept that life without you is meaningless. Please help me to listen to your Spirit as we dive into the Book of Ecclesiastes and to find meaning and purpose in your plans for us. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
We all need role models in our lives
by Steve Liersch
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… forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13b,14).
Read Philippians 3:7–16
In Philippians 3:13,14, the Apostle Paul provides a masterclass in spiritual focus, writing, ‘Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.’
While these verses describe a personal journey, they highlight a truth about human nature: we need role models to show us how to run the race of life. Paul serves as one ultimate example of resilience and unwavering vision. A true role model does not just offer advice; they embody a trajectory. They give direction and inspiration.
In this passage, Paul models how to handle the heavy baggage of the past. Whether dealing with past failures or accomplishments, he demonstrates how to intentionally release them so that they do not weigh us down. Witnessing someone else successfully navigate life’s distractions gives us a practical blueprint. When we see a mentor strain forward, it inspires us to stretch beyond our current comfort zones.
Furthermore, role models provide the framework for our ‘pressing on’. Life inevitably brings moments of fatigue, doubt and stagnation. During these seasons, looking to those who have run before us clarifies the goal.
Listening to the stories behind some of the successful Commonwealth Games athletes competing as I write typifies this thinking. They remind us that the prize is worth the struggle.
A godly role model points us away from temporary achievements and past setbacks, directing our eyes back to the eternal, heavenly calling. Ultimately, no one navigates life successfully in isolation. We need the footprints of mature mentors to guide our steps when the path gets steep. By imitating their focus, embracing their resilience and adopting their forward-looking gaze, we find the strength to keep pressing toward our goal.
Think of a person who has been a godly faith role model in your life. Thank God for them and try to copy one of their best godly traits.
Gracious Heavenly Father, provider of all good things; thank you for giving me godly role models who have helped keep me focused through the ups and downs of life. Help me be one of those people for someone else. 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.
Isn’t that a bit harsh, Jesus?
by Steve Liersch
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‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God’ (Luke 9:59b,60).
Read Luke 9:57–62
Jesus was on a mission to preach in Jerusalem with urgency and determination. He wasn’t going to let that focus be taken away.
You can often tell when someone is on a mission. You get that sense of urgency that gives the vibe, ‘Don’t bother me now cos you won’t get much out of me.’ Even others chime in with remarks like, ‘Can’t you see she’s busy?’, as though they can sense there’s no point in interrupting someone’s train of thought or their single focus to get something done.
As Jesus was on his mission to Jerusalem to preach, he was very blunt with the three people in our text. Two said they would follow him wherever he went but didn’t; the other one Jesus called into service. Did they just get Jesus on a bad day for him to be so blunt? That poor guy who said he needed some extra time to make sure he could bury his father. The issue here is not that he couldn’t do that, but that he most likely didn’t even know when his father would die, and so his hesitation to follow and serve Jesus was at his discretion.
Jesus has no time for his approach to following him. Jesus wanted his followers to share his same sense of urgency. And there’s the clue to this conversation about following Jesus. His blunt response cut through the excuses, and it was necessary.
What are you waiting for to happen in your life before you respond to the urgency of serving our Lord and Saviour? For most of us, there is never the perfect time to drop everything and serve our Lord. All God wants are willing hands and feet, generous hearts that care and a reprioritising of time. Once he has that in a person, the Holy Spirit will work with them more easily.
Think of a time when you have dropped everything to serve your Lord. What did it cost? And what was the outcome?
Empowering God, forgive my hesitation in serving you at times. Place your heart in my heart so that I become a willing servant in your kingdom as you equip me by your Spirit. 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.
Surmising Peter’s backstory
by Steve Liersch
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‘But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’ Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people’ (Luke 5:5b,10b).
Read Luke 5:1–11
There’s a lot written about the disciple Peter in the gospels. At the end of Luke’s previous chapter, in verses 38 and 39, we read that Peter has a sick mother-in-law whom Jesus heals so she can do the culturally right thing and ‘wait on them’. Today’s reading highlights Peter’s life as a fisherman, mending his nets while Jesus teaches the people who were crowding around him on the shore.
After Jesus finished speaking, he tells Peter to put out the nets for a catch of fish. After doing this, the catch is enormous, to the point that his boat is full. After calling his fishing partners, James and John, to help and seeing their boat fill up as well, Peter responded, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ (verse 8).
The closer Peter gets to Jesus, the more he sees that he is a powerful person in whose company he feels unworthy to be. But Jesus wants to be there by choice, showing Peter firsthand that despite what he thinks of himself, Peter has been chosen to be used by God for his kingdom’s work.
At this point, I have mused a few times over the years about Peter’s backstory. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law (big tick here), showing Peter that his wife and extended family will be cared for when he is away with the Lord. Then there’s the large catch of fish to show that when Jesus and his fishing disciples are away, their livelihood of fish and food is also no problem for Jesus to take care of.
Reflect on what God has provided for you and your family at times when you were busy doing his work. Thank him for those ‘backstory’ blessings that gave you peace of mind.
Great Provider God, thank you for the many hidden blessings you provide even without my asking. May you continue to give me and all your servants ‘our daily bread’ so that we may serve you with peace of mind. In your 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.