Please give me a job description
by Emma Strelan Werner
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).
Read Ephesians 4:25–32
Allow me to pull out my ‘I learnt a tiny bit of biblical Greek’ card for a moment to point out some cheeky wordplay from Paul in this passage. In verse 32, the Greek word for ‘be kind’ is chrestos – strikingly similar to the Greek for Christ. So, when Paul tells us to ‘be kind’ to one another, perhaps he’s hinting that we ought to also ‘be Christ’ to one another. After all, that is, in fact, what we still call ourselves as Christians – our job is to be little Christs.
But there’s nothing I fear more than being given a job title with no blueprint or direction for what doing that role actually looks like. Perhaps many Christians have found that once they put their faith in Jesus and are told they are a new creation in him, they have no idea what that even means in practice!
Well, thankfully, we get a job description for a ‘new creation’ right here in Ephesians.
A new person in Christ:
- tells the truth (verse 25)
- knows when to let go of anger so it doesn’t lead to sin (verse 26)
- works honestly and gives generously (verse 28)
- speaks for the building up, not tearing down of others (verse 29)
- lives in a way that does not grieve the Holy Spirit (verse 30)
- controls emotions that lead to hurting others (verse 31)
- seeks to show the same kindness that God has shown them (verse 32).
This can be a nice list to spend some time considering: ‘In which area can I be more Christ-like right now?’ But, in all these things, a theme becomes evident: as Christians, the needs of others are to be our first concern, and Christ is the greatest example of that.
There’s one thing even better than a job description: having the person who did that job before you demonstrate what it looks like.
When we struggle to know what ‘being Christ’ looks like in a specific situation and can’t find a Bible verse giving us the answer, we can turn to Christ as our example. I don’t have to forge my own path ahead as a Christian, even in this ever-changing world, because Christ goes before me.
Lord Jesus, thank you for demonstrating love perfectly. Give me a hunger to know you more, so that more and more of you shines out of me. Bring to my attention where I can be living better as your new creation today. Amen.
Emma works part-time as a content producer at Lutheran Media, where she creates the Messages of Hope radio show and podcast. On her other days, she takes freelance video jobs, filming weddings and all manner of projects that come along. Having gotten married herself in May, she’s enjoying this new season of life with her husband, Tim.
Costly forgiveness
by Emma Strelan Werner
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them (Luke 17:4).
Read Luke 17:1–4
‘There is nothing particularly Christian about the practice of forgiveness. Whatever our religion, we must request and grant forgiveness almost every day of our lives’ (Douglas R A Hare).
If this quote is true, what makes Christian forgiveness unique?
Well, our sort of forgiveness, the kind that forgives the same person seven times (and more) in a day, is costly.
It is no small endeavour to forgive as Jesus instructs us to here. If someone wrongs you once? No worries! You can say, ‘It was a mistake, you’re forgiven, let’s move on!’ What if someone wrongs you a second time? Then you start to think, ‘Hmm, okay, that hurt again, but I want to keep this relationship with you, so I forgive you.’ But when the pattern goes on, and on and on, the pain and struggle to give up the anger gets harder and harder.
Forgiving someone who you know will probably hurt you again isn’t a small thing. But we do it for those who we truly love. We’re willing to accept that pain, because we know our Father in Heaven has forgiven us without limit.
When we understand the immensity of forgiveness offered to us by Jesus, what right do we have to withhold forgiveness from others even if they sin against us seven times in a day?
That kind of forgiveness is costly. It costs us our pride, our anger, our need for a certain type of justice. But it cost Jesus a whole lot more.
Dear Lord, when someone seeks forgiveness from me, remind me of your grace so that I can, without hesitation, offer them a restored relationship as you have given me. Amen.
Emma works part-time as a content producer at Lutheran Media, where she creates the Messages of Hope radio show and podcast. On her other days, she takes freelance video jobs, filming weddings and all manner of projects that come along. Having gotten married herself in May, she’s enjoying this new season of life with her husband, Tim.
Woe to the backyard brewers!
by Emma Strelan Werner
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
If anyone causes one of these little ones … to stumble, it would be better for them … to be drowned in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:6).
Read Matthew 18:6–10
Woe to those who brew backyard beer and lead children around corners!
We used to live in a house with one entrance from the street and one from the laneway around the back. One day, my brother, who was 18 months old, was playing in the front yard while my dad washed the family van on the lawn. After finishing the final polish, Dad jumped in the van to drive it around the block and park it in the backyard. Seeing my dad leave the driveway, my brother decided he would follow and toddled after him. Of course, his little legs meant that by the time my dad had turned the first corner, my brother was left in the dust, now seemingly completely alone, happily toddling through the neighbourhood in just his nappy.
All was well, as father and son were soon reunited. But I can certainly say the police were not too impressed when, after a call from an observant neighbour, they came to do a welfare check only to find my dad hanging out in a backyard littered with beer bottles (from his recent home-brew endeavours). It was not a good look for a pastor’s family, to say the least.
It’s a good thing for our society to care about the safety of our children. God takes our misleading those who are ‘little’ in faith (so, perhaps most of us!) seriously, too.
Whether we intend to mislead or not, maybe a question we should consider is: ‘If someone who looks up to me in my community was to follow what I’m doing, where would that take them?’ And ‘What could this behaviour look like from an outsider’s perspective, even if it is actually quite innocent?’
It’s a good thing we have a Heavenly Father whose eye never leaves us when we wander, and a bloke called Jesus who’s worth following more than even my dad.
Dear Lord, please show me if any of my actions have led someone into sin because I didn’t think enough about the implications. Please keep me from stumbling, and may I fix my eyes on you and your ways, especially when it matters most. Amen.
Emma works part-time as a content producer at Lutheran Media, where she creates the Messages of Hope radio show and podcast. On her other days, she takes freelance video jobs, filming weddings and all manner of projects that come along. Having gotten married herself in May, she’s enjoying this new season of life with her husband, Tim.
Are you happy to take instructions from God?
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it (Psalm 119:34,35).
Read Psalm 119:33–40
How often have you got excited about being told what to do? It seems to go against one of our basic instincts, as pride often leaves little room for someone else’s advice when we think we know best. It can be observed in a very young child (think learning to eat) right through to a very elderly person (think using a modern TV remote).
Sure, there are times when being given instructions can result in a new skill being learnt, some danger being avoided, or even making us look good in the eyes of others. Often, however, there is a hidden motivation just beneath the surface. It reflects a ‘What’s in it for me?’ attitude. Words and phrases like ‘impress’, ‘climb the social or corporate ladder’ and ‘outdo a rival’ quickly come to mind.
Our psalmist, however, is here praying for instruction in God’s will as he longs for the opportunity to joyfully follow God’s path for his life. Wow! Let that sink in for a minute. The first seven verses begin with a request – almost a demand – for God to intervene, instruct, teach and guide his way through life so that he can actively delight in living for and serving his God, our God, the God of the universe.
To have a heart that seeks to live for God is truly a work of the Holy Spirit, as our sinful nature is not this way inclined without truly divine intervention. The wonderful thing is that our God of love is more than willing to answer such a prayer request because he knows what a blessing it will prove to be in our lives.
Identify a time when you willingly asked for instructions to gain life skills. Were you happy with the basics, or did you constantly seek more help to refine that skill?
God of love and giver of all good things, you know what’s good for me. Change my heart so that it willingly asks for your word and Spirit to instruct me in life skills that will honour you and bless others. 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.
Lord, I hope it never happens to me, but if it does …
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:12a,13a).
Read 1 Peter 4:12–19
I have just finished reading a fascinating and sobering report called ‘Australian Christian Freedom Index 2025’. If you go to the Canberra Declaration website, you will easily find it.
While I normally don’t intend to get into anything that could be misconstrued as a political bias or wrongly interpreted as ‘far-right ideology’, I couldn’t help but have a heavy heart for the way that Christianity is being attacked in Australia in our modern era. Between 27 February and 6 April 2026, 10,808 Christians from all eight states and territories completed the inaugural Australian Christian Freedom Index survey.
Here is what the report incorporates. There are 40 documented cases of Christians penalised for their beliefs; 74 laws passed since 2000 restricting Christian freedoms; 92 per cent of respondents say it’s riskier today to affirm Christian beliefs publicly than five years ago.
One of the things I found most interesting was the report’s use of an internationally recognised eight-stage persecution scale, with many parts of Australia assessed as being at stage five.
Peter wrote about this nearly 2,000 years ago. God knows that his followers will suffer for believing in Jesus and seeking to live according to his word. However, there is also our sinful nature, the wily ways of the devil and the world around us to contend with.
Thankfully, and ultimately, Jesus defeated sin, death and the power of the devil when he gave his life to bear the sin of the world. While the war is won, the battle rages. Pray for strength to remain faithful.
Merciful and loving God, pour out your Holy Spirit in me to create a desire to be more aware of suffering and persecution within your kingdom. Make me strong in faith, consistent in my spiritual battle and more reliant on your word. 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.
We all need role models in our lives
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
… 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
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘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
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘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.
Seventy-five and still going strong
by Steve Liersch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran (Genesis 12:4).
Read Genesis 12:1–9
Faithfulness to God can be a strange thing. To be a long-term Christian can seem a bit daunting: all those years ahead, wondering what God has in store for your life here on earth before we get to heaven.
Just imagine what you will be doing 25 years from now. If you’re young, you might be in the prime of your life as a working person with a career. If you’re in your mid-age years, chances are that in 25 years you’ll be retired or about to be. And if you’re retired now, there’s a fair chance you have downsized your home and even found the place where you’ll see out your days.
Spare a thought for Abraham. God credited his faith to him as righteousness. At 75, the Lord told him to get up and go, taking his wife Sarah and nephew Lot, along with their possessions, from the land where they were living. God promised to lead him to a new land, make his descendants into a great nation, and bless his name.
God protected Abraham and Sarah and, in their old age, blessed them with a son, Isaac. Abraham was 100 then.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, allowing us to look back and see how God has woven together the tapestry of events in our lives. It’s a wonderful thing when God makes his promise to us, especially in the waters of baptism, assuring us that we are his children and that he will care for us. He says, ‘I will be your God, and you will be my child. Let’s journey through life together.’ We don’t know what’s in store, but as we journey, God is faithful. Upon reflection, we see his hand at work.
Reflect on some major events in your life in which God has been evident in what unfolded.
Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for watching over me throughout my life. Give me the eyes to see your hand at work and a heart to trust your promises that you will never leave or forsake me, because you want only what’s best for your children. 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.