by Anne Hansen
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… just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:21).
Read Romans 5:12–21
The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team in a baseball game. The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was zero to zero, and it was in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs. The coach and the Lord stood by, observing the game. As they watched, a batter, whose name was Love, stepped up to the plate.
Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because ‘love never fails’. The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because faith works with love. The next batter was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass … ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings at what Satan throws.
The bases were loaded. The Lord then turned to the coach and told him he was now going to bring in his star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Coach said, ‘He sure doesn’t look like much.’ Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch.
To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried, as his centre fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing to the ground. Then it continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord’s team won.
The Lord then asked the coach if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Coach answered that he didn’t know why. The Lord explained, ‘If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only my grace can get you home.’ (Story by Kraig Pullam.)
Living by grace through Christ gets us home to our heavenly home.
Lord, your grace is the only way I can get to my heavenly home. Jesus has paved the way for my salvation through his love. Your grace is sufficient for me! Amen.
For 19 years, Anne has been the Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer. She lives in Noosa with her husband, Mark (a pastor), has three grown children – Jonah, Christian and Emma – and is a proud new mother-in-law to Brooke. She enjoys walking, reading, gardening and playing pickleball.
STEP UP TO COMMUNION
We’re excited to invite children aged 10 and up to participate in our Step Up to Communion Program—an opportunity to learn about and prepare for receiving Holy Communion for the first time.
This year, participants will join with our confirmation students for two engaging sessions run by Pastor Brian Schwarz:
Monday 1st September & Monday 8th September
After school until 5:00pm
Langmeil Centre
Afternoon tea provided
Together, we’ll explore the meaning of Holy Communion, ask big faith questions, and grow in understanding of God’s grace and love.
The children will receive their first Communion as part of the Confirmation Service held on Sunday 28th September at Barossa Arts Centre.
TO REGISTER OR TO FIND OUT MORE PLEASE CONTACT
Rachel Brown at rachelabrown83@gmail.com.
by Stuart Gray
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But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love (Psalm 33:18).
Read Psalm 33:12–22
This psalm is a poetic expression of praise to God, emphasising his sovereignty, creative power and faithfulness. It calls people to worship and trust in the Lord.
But what struck me was the highlighted text, particularly when read in conjunction with verse 13: ‘From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all humankind.’
God sees all of humanity and understands the hearts of all. But he has a special place for those who are faithful to him and have hope in his love: ‘The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him … to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine’ (verses 18 and 19).
It’s a little like having your toddler play in a group of toddlers. You see them all, but you have a special ‘eye’ for your own as you want to protect them in case something happens.
It is comforting to know God has a special relationship with us, but how often do we feel we are not looked upon by him? How much are we unaware of his keeping a special eye on us? After all, everyone benefits when it rains or suffers when it floods.
I think in this day and age, and particularly in western culture, we have a strong sense that we are in control of our lives, that we can manage without God. We put our trust in material wealth, power, status and our own abilities to manage our lives.
We also believe we have full control over the environment and the climate. Many believe we can change the climate through a few small actions, while, in reality, the world is using resources at a far greater rate than at any time in history. Psalm 104 praises God not only as the creator of all that is, seen and unseen, but also as the sustainer of the earth and all that is in it.
How many of us confidently declare ‘We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name’ (Psalm 33:20,21)?
God wants all of humanity to see his saving grace. Christ died for all. It would be a help to others if our hearts truly rejoiced in the trust we have in God’s holy name.
Heavenly Father, as the psalmist says, ‘May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.’ Give us hearts that rejoice in your name and in the salvation that is given to us by grace through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Stuart is retired and, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He now loves living a peaceful life on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. He mentors learner drivers and is a Red Cross Patient Transport driver. Stuart is also involved in the Mansfield Anglican church and the Mansfield community.
Peace with God
by Stuart Gray
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Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5:1,2a).
Read Romans 5:1–11
When we stand for something, we make a show of conviction and often moral courage. The famous phrase, ‘Here I stand, I can do no other’, is attributed to Martin Luther when he refused to recant his writings that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. Taking a stand can be very powerful.
But to ‘stand in’ something is to be immersed in and surrounded by that thing.
To stand in faith means to remain steadfast and unwavering in one’s beliefs, especially during challenging times. It involves trusting in God’s promises, remaining committed to his word and persevering in
In the face of adversity. It’s not just about an intellectual understanding of doctrine, but also about a deep, lived-out faith that impacts every aspect of life.
This part of Paul’s letter to the Romans (and to us) is yet another rich, faith-affirming passage that explores the themes of justification by faith, peace with God, hope, and God’s love demonstrated through Christ.
It presents a new way of looking at life. Even suffering takes on a new meaning.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us (Romans 5:3–5).
Suffering is not meaningless. If we view suffering as something with meaning, it shapes our character and deepens our hope in the salvation promised to us.
Paul then says that while we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Paul says very rarely someone would die for another person, ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (verse 8).
Through Christ’s death, we are put in a new and right relationship with God – we have peace with God. This is not just an inner peace but a reconciliation with God. How amazing is that?
Through Christ, we are justified by his blood, but also through Christ, we are reconciled with God. Such deep and abiding peace is available to all.
Heavenly Father, with awe and humility, we give you thanks for sending your Son to die for us, even though we are sinners. We rejoice in the peace we have with you through Christ’s blood. With the help of the Holy Spirit, spread that peace we have with you throughout our families, communities and all peoples. Amen.
Stuart is retired and, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He now loves living a peaceful life on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. He mentors learner drivers and is a Red Cross Patient Transport driver. Stuart is also involved in the Mansfield Anglican church and the Mansfield community.
by Stuart Gray
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Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised (Romans 4:20,21).
Read Romans 4:13–25
How often do we waver in our faith? Most of us enjoy a ‘woe is me’ conversation – this shouldn’t be happening to me, I do the right thing. I don’t deserve to be sick, have relationship problems, or have money troubles. I’ve always done the right thing.
In myself, I can see that these conversations are, in part, a lack of faith and not putting my full trust in God.
Imagine what it was like for Abraham. He was told that he would be the father of many nations, yet here he is, nearly 100 years old, with a body that was ‘as good as dead’, with an elderly wife whose womb was ‘as good as dead’. Not a good basis on which to be the father of many nations.
But Abraham ‘did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God’.
What a great and inspirational faith. This is a powerful example for believers to trust God even when circumstances seem impossible. I pray for that faith, but I certainly don’t think I am in that league. I am more like the father in Mark 9:24 who says, ‘I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.’
Paul then quotes Genesis 15:6: ‘Abraham’s faith was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ The fundamental point that Paul drives home is that righteousness comes by faith, not works. Just as Abraham’s faith was credited as righteousness, so too will our faith in the God who raised Jesus from the dead be credited to us as righteousness.
This passage reminds us that salvation isn’t earned through rule-following, but through faith in God’s promises. We can have confidence that, like Abraham, we are justified by our faith in Christ – his death for our sins and his resurrection for our justification. It’s not about achieving perfection but about trusting in God’s power and grace.
What freedom this gives. We are not under pressure to try to earn God’s favour through good works. Whatever would be good enough? God has given us the means to be in relationship with him through faith in Christ Jesus.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that we have examples like Abraham to show us what unwavering faith in you looks like. Help us to have that faith that moves mountains so that our faith moves the mountains of unbelief around us. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, the resurrected one. Amen.
Stuart is retired and, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He now loves living a peaceful life on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. He mentors learner drivers and is a Red Cross Patient Transport driver. Stuart is also involved in the Mansfield Anglican church and the Mansfield community.
by Stuart Gray
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There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:22b–24).
Read Romans 3:21–31
Just as in yesterday’s passage, where Paul leaves us in no doubt about humanity’s sinfulness, and we cannot achieve righteousness through the law, in today’s passage, Paul leaves us in no doubt that it is through faith in Christ Jesus that we are justified.
The word ‘faith’ is used eight times in just 10 texts. Righteousness is used four times in the same passage.
Sin is universal – ‘there is no difference between Jew and Gentile’ – so it needs a universal solution for us to be in relationship with God; ‘… all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’
Paul packs a lot into this text. ‘All are justified’, that is, declared righteous. ‘Freely by his grace’; it is freely given, not earned, but a true gift of grace. ‘Through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.’ ‘Redeemed’ means bought back, so something must be paid. Christ paid the price.
Paul goes on:
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus (verses 25 and 26).
This shows God’s justice. Because of God’s patience and forbearance, he left previous sins committed unpunished. He could have continued that way and ignored sin, but God deals with sin so that we can be in relationship with him through faith.
Having a relationship with God is something we can boast about, but Paul says that is excluded because we have not earned salvation; however, justification is by faith, not by works of the law, by our own efforts.
And finally, in this passage, Paul asks if we nullify the law by this faith. He answers: ‘Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.’ Faith doesn’t abolish the law, but the law is fulfilled in Christ’s death on the cross.
This is an amazing passage. A reference I used describes the first eight chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans as the ‘heart of Christianity’. It is rewarding to take the time to study these chapters.
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you for the sacrifice Christ has made so that through faith, we are justified in your sight. Uphold in us this faith, which we receive by your grace, and help us to be beacons for others to receive the faith that justifies. Amen.
Stuart is retired and, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He now loves living a peaceful life on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. He mentors learner drivers and is a Red Cross Patient Transport driver. Stuart is also involved in the Mansfield Anglican church and the Mansfield community.
by Stuart Gray
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Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin (Romans 3:20).
Read Romans 3:9–20
I like to think I am a reasonably good person. I try to do the ‘right’ thing. I contribute time and effort freely to my family, friends, community and church. I know my weaknesses and vulnerabilities, but overall …!
Not so, says Paul. While writing to the Romans, he is also speaking to me. My assessment of myself is by human standards; Paul judges by God’s standard.
This is a devastating passage. Paul makes no bones about it; we are all sinful and cannot be in relationship with God by our own efforts. Not only are we sinful, but we ‘are under sin’ (verse 9), under the power and guilt of sin.
Paul then goes on to quote Old Testament passages, mainly from the Psalms and Isaiah, which poetically but graphically describe the condition of humankind (verses 13 to 18):
‘Their throats are open graves.
their tongues practise deceit.’
‘The poison of vipers is on their lips.’
‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.’
‘Their feet are swift to shed blood.
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.’
‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’
This passage by itself would leave us with no hope. But what Paul is doing is making us face the reality that by our own efforts, we well and truly miss the standards God has set for us; therefore, we cannot be in relationship with God. If we don’t face this reality, we will have trouble accepting what Paul covers in tomorrow’s devotion. Paul is setting the stage to reveal the good news of God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.
The law does not make us righteous; it exposes sin and stops self-justification. No-one can earn a right standing before God through obedience to the law alone.
Thankfully, we know this is not the end of the story, and over the next few days, we will explore how Paul powerfully introduces how we can be in relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, give us the humility to recognise that we cannot come to you through the law or by our own efforts. Grant us the faith to know that by your grace, we can be in a right relationship with you through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Stuart is retired and, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He now loves living a peaceful life on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. He mentors learner drivers and is a Red Cross Patient Transport driver. Stuart is also involved in the Mansfield Anglican church and the Mansfield community.
by Stuart Gray
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Then Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions’ (Luke 12:15).
Read Luke 12:13–21
Stories of inheritance disputes often appear in the media. They mostly display some sort of greed on behalf of one party or another. With his trademark wisdom, Jesus avoided engaging in the inheritance dispute in this story. Instead, he used it as an opportunity to teach about greediness and materialism.
The dictionary describes greed as manifesting in various forms, encompassing excessive desire for material possessions, wealth, power, and even opinions or personal image. It can be driven by a desire to accumulate, hoard or manipulate to gain an advantage.
Greed can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and a sense of emptiness. Greedy behaviour can damage relationships, as it often involves manipulation, exploitation and a lack of empathy. The most important relationship it damages is our relationship with God. Greed focuses on the present, material life, not on what God wants us to be.
We live in the richest period of human existence. The great majority of Australians have an abundance of possessions. Does that make us greedy? It is often said that things are getting worse, for example, that people are becoming greedier, but I doubt the fact of greed has changed. It’s just that our ability to express greed is greatly enhanced.
The parable in our text does not condemn the man for being rich but for his attitude towards his abundance. He believes he is set for life because of his possessions. However, his life ends suddenly; his earthly possessions go to someone else; he has not prepared himself to meet his maker and judge.
Jesus says in verse 21: ‘This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.’ What a beautiful phrase ‘rich towards God’ is. Jesus urges us to be generous, to trust in God, to live in relationship with God and to value what he values: compassion, justice, humility and generosity.
However, we still need to ask ourselves: Where might I be putting trust in material things rather than in God?
Heavenly Father, you have given us lives of abundance, but we too often think we live in scarcity. Help us to recognise that our material wealth can be used to bless others and is not just a tool for self-indulgence. We pray that we can continually focus on being rich towards you. Amen.
Stuart is retired and, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He now loves living a peaceful life on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. He mentors learner drivers and is a Red Cross Patient Transport driver. Stuart is also involved in the Mansfield Anglican church and the Mansfield community.
by Pauline Simonsen
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People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish (Psalm 49:12).
Read Psalm 49:1–12
We live in frightening times. Great nations are dominated by rich, power-hungry individuals who shape the law to their benefit. Ego and greed influence government. Wars of age-old, stubborn hatred are stirred up, and the common people suffer. Christians are increasingly persecuted in this amoral, cruel age. For many, it feels more like Jesus’ ‘last times’.
But it has always been this way, as any reader of history knows. Since Genesis 3, human sin has fomented evil, especially for God’s people. Our time is no different.
So, listen to the psalmist in Psalm 49:5,6:
Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me? They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
That’s written up to 3,000 years ago! Human ways haven’t changed much. Why should I be afraid that this still happens? The psalmist counsels themself to keep an eternal perspective. ‘Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life; there is no price one can give to God for it’ (Psalm 49:7).
All the riches and power in this world won’t help a person save their eternal life. Nor, indeed, their earthly life.
Fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away, and leave their wealth to others.
Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place.
They name their lands after themselves, but, despite their wealth, people do not last (Psalm 49:10–12).
Throughout the week, we’ve seen how all the created things we humans vest our trust in fall away. Our fig leaves, our badges of honour, our wealth and power – none help us before God. Only God can help us, and he has – in Jesus Christ. The greatest wisdom in the world is simply this:
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling.
Naked, come to thee for dress.
Helpless, look to thee for grace.
Foul, I to the fountain fly.
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
(A M Toplady, Rock of Ages)
Our Heavenly Abba draws us to his Son, our Rock of Ages, who hides us in himself. Cleansed, safe, loved. Home forever.
Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee. You alone are my Saviour, and in you, I find rest and peace forevermore. Bless you, Lord Jesus.
Pauline lives in sight of the ranges in the beautiful Manawatu region of New Zealand with her husband, Roger, and two cats. She leads a small Bible College there and offers spiritual direction and supervision to people from a wide range of backgrounds and denominations.