by Charles Bertelsmeier
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
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.
Servant leadership
by Tania Nelson
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet (John 13:14).
Read John 13:12–20
Many books, journal articles and leadership development programs have been written about leadership styles. These authors often propose certain leadership traits or styles for particular situations. Does the company or team need a transformational leader, a strategic leader, an authentic or moral leader, or perhaps even a sustainable leader? We’re quick to discredit authoritarian leaders, as well as those with poor managerial skills. We love permission-giving leaders – if they permit the right things, that is, what I want!
The way of Jesus is different. Jesus’ leadership is countercultural. It is the way of foot washing, of servanthood, of shepherding. Jesus set us an example, not only when he washed the disciples’ feet, but throughout his ministry on Earth. Jesus was the true servant leader.
What could our servant leadership look like, sound like and feel like as followers of Jesus? Perhaps it looks like helping, without expectation of reward or even anyone’s notice. Perhaps it sounds like the stacking of chairs and the washing of dishes in a community centre. Perhaps it feels like kind and gentle encouragement to a harassed parent.
The servant leader’s core values determine their attitudes and actions. What the servant leader truly believes and holds in their heart often manifests itself in their behaviour. The Christian servant leader is a follower of Jesus. We love because Jesus first loved us. Jesus has given us his Spirit, who helps us to love and serve. And as we serve, we find that we are abundantly blessed, too!
Dear Jesus, I praise you for saving me. Fill me with your Spirit so that I can serve others as you serve me. Amen.
Tania is the ministry lead at Mawson Lakes Community Church in suburban Adelaide and is a pastoral ministry student at Australian Lutheran College. Tania loves taking beach walks with her husband, David, spending time with her family and friends, and reading. Sometimes she is blessed to experience all three of these joys at her family shack on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.
Reflecting the love of a generous and merciful God
by Tania Nelson
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me (Mark 9:37a).
Read Mark 9:37–41
I recall hearing the phrase ‘Children should be seen and not heard’ in my childhood. Perhaps the saying was directed to me, as I certainly had a tendency to talk a lot in school … and possibly haven’t outgrown that tendency! Praise God that we have a Saviour who loves children, welcomes them with open arms, listens to them and blesses them.
I love imagining Jesus with a child in his arms or a child on his lap. I picture a smile on Jesus’ face and love in his eyes as he takes the time to talk to the child. I imagine that the child is smiling too, perhaps laughing and feeling secure in the love and attention generously given.
The Bible has numerous stories and commands across both the Old and New Testaments to care for vulnerable people, including children. God’s people are to care for the poor, the homeless, the widows, the sick, victims of injustice, migrants and refugees. The LCA’s document God’s Love – Our Care, which outlines the theology underpinning the practice of Lutheran care, reminds us, ‘It is natural to show special care to one’s relatives, friends and fellow believers, but Christlike compassion reaches out beyond all ethnic, social and religious barriers, even includes enemies, and expects nothing in return.’
Our Lord said that when we welcome children in Jesus’ name, we are welcoming our Heavenly Father. May we be welcoming to children – and vulnerable people too – and may we reflect the love of our generous and merciful God.
Heavenly Father, I desire that you be known throughout the world. Help me to make you known as I show kindness and mercy in Jesus’ name to the people around me, including children, the vulnerable and the marginalised in society. May I reflect your love in my words and actions. Amen.
Tania is the ministry lead at Mawson Lakes Community Church in suburban Adelaide and is a pastoral ministry student at Australian Lutheran College. Tania loves taking beach walks with her husband, David, spending time with her family and friends, and reading. Sometimes she is blessed to experience all three of these joys at her family shack on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.
Sharing Jesus – welcoming the Father
by Tania Nelson
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me (Matthew 10:40).
Read Matthew 10:40–42
Today’s reading comes immediately after Jesus’ sending out of the Twelve in mission to preach, heal and bless. The disciples were instructed to ‘Go … to the lost sheep of Israel’ to proclaim that ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’ (Matthew 10:6,7b).
We, too, are sent to tell our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues of the wonderful deeds of the one who has sent us. How do we do this? We certainly don’t need to get the whole gospel out in one conversation. Neither do we need to get into a debate about creation and evolution or something like that. That’s not the way to go, at least not initially.
The late US theologian, Pastor Timothy Keller, spoke of keeping it simple. He suggested to:
- Let people know you go to church.
- Let people know you’re a Christian and that it means something to you.
So, when you let four people know you’re going to church this coming weekend, perhaps one will come back to you and ask about why you go. When you share those things – that you go to church and that your faith is meaningful to you – with the people you meet along the way, it may organically lead to more extensive, in-depth kinds of discussions.
You may be welcomed, because you shared the reason for the hope you have in Jesus, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). And when you are welcomed, your Father in heaven is welcomed too.
Lord, you sent the Twelve to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is near. Help me to share the hope I have in you with my friends, family and neighbours, for I know that you died for me and have given me eternal life. Amen.
Tania is the ministry lead at Mawson Lakes Community Church in suburban Adelaide and is a pastoral ministry student at Australian Lutheran College. Tania loves taking beach walks with her husband, David, spending time with her family and friends, and reading. Sometimes she is blessed to experience all three of these joys at her family shack on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.