preview

What is true Christian humility?

What is true Christian humility?

by Glenn Crouch

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me? (1 Samuel 9:21)

Read 1 Samuel 9:15–10:1

You may remember the song from Mac Davis in which the chorus goes, ‘It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.’ While the song is, of course, comedic, it highlights a problem we all deal with.

We see in the quote above that Saul does not see himself as worthy of such attention from Samuel. These words become more meaningful if you are aware of the sad story near the end of Judges involving the tribe of Benjamin. Sometimes we can be guilty of false humility, where we denigrate ourselves so that others can praise us. We don’t see that happening here. This is how the Lord reveals to Samuel why he has chosen Saul. While people may be attracted to his looks, the Lord sees his humility.

It is a challenge to have an honest and accurate opinion of ourselves. We delude ourselves into seeing strengths we don’t possess and concern ourselves with weaknesses that others barely notice. Rather, we should follow Paul’s advice and be confident that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).

In the late Tim Keller’s book about humility, he says, ‘Christian humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.’ This is based on CS Lewis’ approach in Mere Christianity and appears to have been first coined by Rick Warren. Think about this statement.

Creator God, thank you for accepting me as I am and for not leaving me as you found me. Continue to work in me, so that I might better shine forth your light. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.

Glenn is the pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia. Glenn and Karen have been married since 1985. They have two grown sons and are enjoying regular video chats with their first grandchild.

View

Seek the Lord as to which path to take

Seek the Lord as to which path to take

by Glenn Crouch

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

… Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true (1 Samuel 9:6a).

Read 1 Samuel 9:1–14

In today’s reading, we are introduced to Saul, who is presented like the ideal lead for an action movie: young, tall and handsome (verse 2). Israel wanted a king, and here we certainly see someone who seems like the perfect fit for the job. That Saul obediently follows his father’s direction and sets out looking for the missing donkeys (verses 3 and 4) also bodes well. He also takes advice, as we see him do with his servant (verses 6–10).

How do you handle decision-making? Does it lead to inaction? Rather than decide, we can listen to our fears and just try to avoid the situation. Which, of course, is still a decision we have made. The action that Saul decides on is to follow his servant’s advice and seek out the man of God.

As followers of Jesus, we need to be actively following him and his words. To do that, we need to know our Bibles better. We need to seek the Lord in prayer and to listen to his Spirit. This includes following good advice, as Saul does.

For those who know the whole story of Saul, it is sad to be reminded of how well things started. It is not just in the decision-making that we need to seek the Lord. We also need to keep him in focus as we find out whether we have made good or bad decisions. We need to remain humble and dependent on our Lord. When we make poor decisions or we exclude the Lord in our decision-making, we need to return to the foot of the cross. Confess our sins and receive forgiveness. These issues will later become a problem for Saul.

Often, we will not know which choice the Lord wants us to make. So, make the most loving decision you can and seek forgiveness if you mess up. Don’t be so indecisive that you will not have breakfast until the Lord speaks to you through your daily devotion – you may get Matthew 3:4 as your reading for your next meal (look it up!).

Heavenly Father, your patience and mercy astound me. Thank you for not giving up on me. Help me make good decisions today. Bless me with good advice and grant me your discernment. May your Spirit help me love you and love my neighbour. Amen.

Glenn is the pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia. Glenn and Karen have been married since 1985. They have two grown sons and are enjoying regular video chats with their first grandchild.

View

Ignoring God’s warning

Ignoring God’s warning

by Glenn Crouch

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king (1 Samuel 8:7b).

Read 1 Samuel 8:1–22

Have you ever stopped to think about how blessed you are because God did not give you what you wanted? There have been many times in my life when I found that the things I wanted were bad for me, and the things I didn’t want were good for me. In my twenties, I told people so many times that I did not want to be a pastor. How blessed I am that the Lord had other plans!

This week, we follow the story of Saul as he becomes king. We start with the problem that Samuel’s kids were not suitable to take his place, and so what was Israel to do when he was no longer able to lead them? The solution: do what all the other nations do – follow a king.

The elders demand that Samuel give them a king (verse 7). They did not request Samuel’s help to learn God’s will. They also seem to have forgotten that the Lord God, who had led them out of Egypt, was the only king they would ever need.

God sends his people a stern message, explaining the downside of having a king like everyone else (verses 11–18). Yet, the people are still determined to be like everyone else and demand a king (verses 19 and 20).

So, the Lord gave them what they asked for (verse 22). As you read through Samuel, Kings and Chronicles, you will see there are very few good kings, and that all that God had warned about came to pass. Even David, their greatest king, committed adultery and murder.

The good news is that even though the people abandoned God as their king, he did not abandon them. Neither does he abandon us! Through the line of David, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords would come. God would become one of us and be the king we needed – not the one we wanted.

What is something you really wanted but are glad you did not receive?

Gracious Father, help me focus on what you want for me rather than what I want for myself. Through your Holy Spirit, make me into the follower of Jesus that I need to be. I ask this in his mighty name. Amen.

Glenn is the pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia. Glenn and Karen have been married since 1985. They have two grown sons and are enjoying regular video chats with their first grandchild.

View

What is required to be convinced

What is required to be convinced

by Glenn Crouch

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Luke 16:31).

Read Luke 16:19–31

In my younger days, I was very zealous for the Lord. I studied a lot of apologetics. But I fell into the trap of thinking that if I had a really good argument, that would then convince others to follow Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong – apologetics is a useful tool. We should know what we believe and why. We should be prepared to give a good defence and to do so respectfully and gently (1 Peter 3:15). And yes, for some, the Holy Spirit will use a strong argument to move them along their journey to and with Jesus.

In this parable of Jesus, we see that the rich man discovers his error too late. The Lazarus in this story is not the brother of Martha and Mary; instead, he is a poor beggar. Some argue that Jesus gives him a name (whereas the rich man doesn’t have one) because God knew him.

The rich man, in his torment, wants Abraham to send Lazarus to minister to him. When that fails, he wants Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers so that at least they will change their ways. Notice that there is no repentance by the rich man. He wants his needs met and wants Lazarus (whose needs in life were ignored by the rich man) to be the one to do it.

Our Father in Heaven has already supplied all we need. To ‘update’ what Abraham says in this parable, we have the Bible, and we have our Lord Jesus, who did rise from the dead. Evidence is not what is needed; rather, our hearts need to change. We need the Holy Spirit to be at work changing the hearts of those who do not know Jesus.

List some who require the Holy Spirit’s work on their hearts, then pray for them.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the work your Holy Spirit has done within me, and please continue this work. Thank you for the Scriptures and for all you have done for me through my Lord Jesus. Make me your instrument. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Glenn is the pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia. Glenn and Karen have been married since 1985. They have two grown sons and are enjoying regular video chats with their first grandchild.

View

Compassion personified?

Compassion personified?

by Ruth Olsen

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

[The Lord who] remains faithful forever … upholds … gives sight … lifts up … loves … watches over … sustains … (Psalm 146:6–9).

Read Psalm 146

Praise the Lord. Hallelu Yah. This is the first of five Hallelujah psalms with which the psalter closes. It’s an exhortation to trust the Lord. Why? He is worthy!

Have you ever needed to tell yourself to focus, get a grip, look up? When things of daily life seem to grind, we need reminders to look up, to remember whose we are and who never leaves us, no matter what things look like or feel like.

In all these things, the Lord often works through people to help, support, encourage and equip us. That can take time, testing our faith, but in the process, developing perseverance and endurance. Why do we need them? So that we stay standing, perhaps (see James 1:2–8; Ephesians 6:10–12)!

It takes courage to stand firm or to get up again when knocked over. But that’s also when we begin to discover the Lord is building his strength into our inner being – his strength that also carries his peace, which transcends our human understanding. His peace settles it (Philippians 4:7)! Why do we need to learn these things? Why, indeed.

We prefer the soft, cushy life. But that makes us soft, cushy people, with no strength, no backbone, no mature growth! As James 1:5 says: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God for it, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given …’ He gives generously, and without finding fault. Do you believe that?

You are precious to the Lord! Jesus gave his life for you! What you think of you is not the issue. What he thinks of you is. His faithfulness is!

Lord Jesus, you are compassion personified! You have told us that you and the Father are one. Your Spirit reveals this truth to our hearts, renewing our minds. Thank you for being here for us – every day! We bless you! Amen.

Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!

View

Changed hearts

Changed hearts

by Ruth Olsen

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts … (1 Samuel 7:3a).

Read 1 Samuel 7:2–17

We began this week thinking about how we use the worldly wealth that God has placed into our care. Today, we see that the Israelites had adopted the local worldly ways of worshipping Ashtoreth and Baal, part of the common Canaanite practice in fertility cults. Consequently, they lost the Lord’s covering; he allowed strife to happen by the Philistines and others, causing them great distress (Judges 2:11–23).

Meanwhile, the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim. Twenty years is a long time, but maybe that’s what was needed for the hearts of the people to be genuinely turned back to the Lord. Samuel tells them to demonstrate their intentions to serve the Lord only by putting away their Baals and Ashtoreths. I wonder what they did; we are not told. But there is a change of tone with them heeding Samuel’s call to gather at Mizpah, where he would intercede for them.

Thinking that the Israelites had gathered for war rather than for worship and intercession, the Philistines decided to attack. Big mistake! The Israelites begged Samuel to continue with his offering and intercession on their behalf; the Lord responded to Samuel and routed the Philistines, resulting in Israel reclaiming some territory.

The Philistines made the mistake of going by appearances. We so easily do likewise! We can easily get swept away by worldly ways unless we learn to assess and discern according to the measure of God’s word, will and ways. He knows our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7) – better than we do! A prayer he loves to answer is ‘Change my heart, Lord; please renew my mind’ (Romans 12:1–3), resulting in us growing in using ‘eyes of faith’ and seeing what we previously could not see.

As King David shared from experience: ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise’ (Psalm 51:17).

Abba Father, thank you for Jesus! And thank you for your Spirit who reveals Jesus to our hearts, renewing our minds to grow in trusting you! Keep it coming, please. Amen.

Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!

View

Grief and more grief

Grief and more grief

by Ruth Olsen

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured (1 Samuel 4:22).

Read 1 Samuel 4:12–22

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s reading, a runner comes, his clothes torn and dust on his head, with this report of devastation. The capture of the ark of God’s covenant is significant. It is mentioned five times in this chapter: verses 11, 17, 19, 21 and 22.

Eli was aware of the danger in the presumptuous act of taking the ark of God into the battle. He was more concerned for this reminder of God’s presence with them being taken from them than for his two sons, who had ignored him.

Grief upon grief. Eli dies, his sons die, and his daughter-in-law dies in childbirth. God’s word to Samuel (1 Samuel 3:11) is swiftly fulfilled. The glory of Israel was Israel’s God, not the ark. Loss of the ark didn’t mean God had abandoned his people – God was not inseparably bound to the ark (see Jeremiah 3:16,17). The following two chapters describe the troubles faced by the Philistines wherever the ark was found.

Later, the focus of God’s presence came to be in Jerusalem. Later, still, in his conversation with the woman at the well in Samaria, Jesus said true worshippers would worship the Father, not in a specific set location, but in spirit and in truth, because God’s nature is spirit (John 4:21–24). The Gospel of John identifies Jesus as God’s truth in person (John 14:6; John 1:14). Jesus embodies truth – it’s part of the essence of his nature.

The revelation of God’s presence is now available to all with the outpouring of God’s Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2). For followers of Jesus, there is now joy upon joy because of his promised presence with us wherever we are, revealed to us by his Spirit at work in us and through us.

No human being can capture God’s presence, but we can resist and reject him. When we do that, we bring grief upon ourselves. His desire and heart are for all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1–6).

Father, awaken us to where we grieve you and your Spirit. By your Spirit, convict, convince and convert us wherever needed, to walk in the truth of Jesus that sets us free (John 8:32,36). Amen.

Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!

View

God’s presence

God’s presence

by Ruth Olsen

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

… Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? (1 Samuel 4:3a)

Read 1 Samuel 4:1–11

In any confronting or troubling situation, it is wise to ask, ‘Lord, what do you want to teach me through this?’ Even when we have remembered to seek the Lord’s leading in our situations, other details may not be ready for the revealing yet, and so we need to wait. That can be a big test of our patience and our willingness to wait for the Lord’s timing in things. As it has been said, ‘The Lord may seem to be working slowly, but he is never late!’ His timing is right; he knows the bigger picture.

Today’s reading speaks of two battles between the Israelites and the Philistines. As the first battle spread, the Philistines killed about 4,000 Israelites on the battlefield. On hearing this, the elders of Israel asked (verse 3), ‘Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines?’ That was a good starting question. We can hear their shock and grief. We then hear their solution: to take the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh with them, so that it may save them from the hand of their enemies!

They knew that, at previous times in their history, there was a connection between God’s presence with his people and the ark of the Lord’s covenant. They mistakenly believed that having the symbol of his presence with them meant that his favour was automatically with them. It was welcomed into the camp with great shouting. Eli’s two sons were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

The Philistines had also heard fearful reports surrounding the Israelites. Yet they urged each other to be strong … and they defeated the Israelites. In this second battle, 30,000 Israelite foot soldiers were lost, the ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons were killed! Devastation! This did not come out of nowhere! See the link between today’s verses with 1 Samuel 2:27–36 and 1 Samuel 3:11–18.

I am so grateful that Jesus has taken my place, that there’s repentance and forgiveness available through him, and that he’s with us wherever we are!

Father, have mercy on us for Jesus’ sake. Teach us to seek your face, your heart, to rest in your presence. Amen.

Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!

View

Are we listening?

Are we listening?

by Ruth Olsen

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not too many visions (1 Samuel 3:1b).

Read 1 Samuel 3:1–21

A loving father loves talking with his children. Do you notice when your Heavenly Father is trying to get your attention? Do you hear him speaking to you through his word, through people or a song, in your circumstances? Are you expecting to hear from him? If not, why not?

Eli’s failure to recognise at once that the Lord had called Samuel may be an indication of his own unfamiliarity with the Lord.

But since then, God has spoken to us through his Son (Hebrews 1:1,2), and Father and Son have sent the Holy Spirit, the Counsellor, to teach us all things and to remind us of what Jesus has said (John 14:25,26).

The Spirit is given to all followers of Jesus, irrespective of sex, age and rank (Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:17–21). He will enable us to prophesy, receive dreams and visions from God, and much more. But are we taking notice? Are we listening?

Yesterday, we saw the contrasting attitudes of Eli’s sons, who followed the ways of the world and did as they pleased. Whereas Samuel was submitted to those who gave him covering, and thereby was submitted to the Lord. And now, when Samuel listened to the Lord, he heard the Lord’s perspective on things. Samuel was understandably afraid to tell Eli what he had heard, but Eli wisely gave Samuel no option.

This chapter concludes with, ‘The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up … The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word’ (verses 19,21).

One person available to the Lord can make a big difference. Likewise with the prayers of a mother!

Are you available to the Lord for his purposes? For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Father, here I am. I welcome your working in me and through me, for Jesus’ sake. I desire to honour him in all that I am and do. Amen.

Because of Ruth’s autoimmune disorder that attacked her kidneys, she and her husband, Steen, have been trained this year in using peritoneal dialysis at home at night. Ruth says this was a very steep learning curve! Other underlying health issues are now also being treated, giving a new lease of life that still needs to be paced. Praise God!

View