by Stuart Gray
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It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God (Acts 15:19).
Read Acts 15:12–21
This passage starts with Barnabas and Paul relating the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. Their story was so powerful that the whole assembly became silent as they listened.
I can’t remember the last time I heard a speaker so powerful that the room became silent, let alone felt awe-struck by a speaker telling of what God has done through them.
Part of the story Paul and Barnabas were telling has been covered in this week’s devotions – the almost frenetic travels around parts of the Mediterranean, converting people to Christianity, enduring beatings and stoning, experiencing terrible conditions and conflicts, yet coming back to fledgling communities to support them in their spiritual growth.
In yesterday’s devotion, we saw that the relationship between Judaism and Christianity was a significant issue in the early church. Were Christians just a subset or sect within Judaism, or was this new?
In today’s passage, we get a resolution to the dilemma. James quotes Amos 9:11, 12 saying it was always God’s plan and purpose to ‘take in’ the Gentiles and that they should be part of God’s kingdom. He concludes that they shouldn’t make it difficult for people turning to God and should welcome the fulfillment of God’s promises. But as with all negotiations, a compromise was made, and while circumcision would not be required of the Gentiles, they were asked to abstain from four practices that were difficult for the Jews to accommodate.
Do we put roadblocks in the way of people turning to God on a journey of spiritual inquiry?
We could knowingly or unknowingly do this by our actions, our attitude towards them or our insistence that they have to go to church or the ‘right’ church.
What can we do to stop being a roadblock to those seeking God?
We pray that you work through us to bring healing and understanding to those around us. Help us to encourage people and not put obstacles in the way of people seeking your love and grace. Amen.
Stuart, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He loves living on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria, being involved in the Mansfield community and travelling. He is currently travelling in Europe, which will include a visit to the Poznan region of Poland, where some of Australia’s original German Lutherans came.
by Stuart Gray
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved (Acts 15:11).
Read Acts 15:1–11
It is often hard to let go of habits or beliefs we have held for a long time, even if they are no longer appropriate. For around 1500 years, circumcision had been part of the Law of Moses and a mark of belonging to God’s people; therefore, suddenly accepting this was no longer the case was difficult.
This passage relates to another great turning point in the early church. What is the relationship between the traditional Jews who now believe the promise of a saviour has been fulfilled and the Gentiles newly converted to the faith? I note that the church leaders were not afraid to tackle the significant issues impacting them as they arose and did so robustly.
Peter argues the Gentiles are accepted by God because they have the same Holy Spirit as the Christian Jews, and why burden the Gentiles with burdens that they (the Jews) nor their ancestors could bear? The Christian Pharisees argued that the Law of Moses must be maintained and that circumcision was a critical part of that law.
Then Peter states one of the fundamental tenets of Christianity: it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved. There is no place for legalism, the law has been fulfilled, and salvation is not by works of the law.
In an age where we think we have control over our lives, it is difficult to accept that the most valuable aspect of our lives – being in a relationship with God and being with him eternally – is only available by the grace of someone else. God’s grace is truly humbling and awesome at the same time.
Heavenly Father, we pray for faith to truly believe that we are saved by the grace of your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray that the Holy Spirit sustains us in that faith. Amen.
Stuart, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He loves living on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria, being involved in the Mansfield community and travelling. He is currently travelling in Europe, which will include a visit to the Poznan region of Poland, where some of Australia’s original German Lutherans came.
by Stuart Gray
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
They gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).
Read Acts 14:19–28
One thing I really like about travel is that it takes you out of your routine and comfort zone. It makes you live at a more conscious level. You may confront unfamiliar airports, train stations and road rules. Overseas, we may confront different languages, customs and foods. Sometimes, travel can be exhausting, but a good trip creates lots of stories to tell friends and family.
When reading the Book of Acts, at times, I have felt exhausted by the pace of travel that Paul, Barnabas and others undertook to spread the word of God.
In this passage, having been left for dead, a revived Paul set out the next day to go to another city that needed to hear about God’s saving grace. Then he and Barnabas returned to the three cities where they had encountered opposition but had also created new churches that needed support. Then, they were off again to other cities before returning to Antioch.
When the people of Antioch first heard the word, Paul was challenged by the Jews who stoned him. That must have made it difficult for the Christians of Antioch, new to a faith that the powerful people in their city strongly opposed.
How encouraged the newly converted at Antioch must have been to hear the stories of all God had done through Paul and Barnabas on opening the door of faith to the Gentiles! The Christians at Antioch were not completely isolated; their faith would have been reinforced and validated by hearing of the faith of others.
I have been very moved by stories of people’s conversion to Christianity, what it means to them when they talk of a sense of freedom, being loved and supported, and how their lives have been transformed.
But with all travel, even our life’s journey, we need to stop and take heed of all that has happened and to reflect, consolidate and take care of ourselves and others around us. It’s good to know Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch ‘a long time’.
Heavenly Father, help us to be ready with stories of how you work in our lives and how Christ died for all. Sustain us on our journey of life. We thank you for the people around us who support and validate us in our faith journey. Amen.
Stuart, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He loves living on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria, being involved in the Mansfield community and travelling. He is currently travelling in Europe, which will include a visit to the Poznan region of Poland, where some of Australia’s original German Lutherans came.
by Stuart Gray
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God (Acts 14:15a).
Read Acts 14:1–18
In this and many other passages in Acts, God’s word is a sword through the fabric of the communities in which the word is preached. We are told on many occasions that the preaching was effective, and many people came to believe. But there is active opposition to the preaching of Paul and Barnabas, and the Jews who refused to believe ‘stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers’ (verse 2).
And then some misunderstand or struggle to grasp the point because this new teaching is so foreign to them. Even though Paul and Barnabas have been preaching the gospel in their midst, the people at Lystra are so amazed by the miraculous healing that Paul and Barnabas perform that they hail the missionaries as gods! All they know are their existing gods – Zeus and Hermes – and their familiar ways of worshipping. They are trying to make this new teaching, this new God, fit their existing ideas.
When Paul and Barnabas realise what is happening, they are horrified, tearing their clothes. How can they redirect the focus of their listeners, pagan people with no background in the Old Testament or real knowledge of Christ crucified? Their message is simple: reject worthless things (the old gods, the old ways) and turn to the God who made heaven, the earth, the sea and everything in them. And the evidence of this God? Well, he has given you good things, such as rain, crops and plenty of food, and fills your hearts with joy.
No doubt Paul and Barnabas would have followed up with the preaching of God’s love and saving grace through Christ crucified as they did so effectively with the Jews and Gentiles in many places. But, during this moment, they need to point the people first to the God of all creation, who gives them all good things.
There are many people in our society who are so disconnected from Christianity that simple messages are needed to connect with them, such as pointing to the wonders of God’s creation, that God created us to be in relationship with him, and we can be in relationship with him through Christ crucified.
The opposition to Christianity we see in today’s society, particularly in Western countries, is nothing new, yet through all of that, the church survives and, in some areas, prospers.
As God’s people, we need to share the good news at a level that people can understand, that meets them where they are and helps them grow in their knowledge from there. Sometimes, a simple message may be the best one.
Heavenly Father, help us tell people about you, the good you provide to all and, in particular, your saving grace. We pray we can relate to people at many levels with appropriate messages about your love and grace. Amen.
Stuart, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He loves living on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria, being involved in the Mansfield community, and travelling. He is currently travelling in Europe, which will include a visit to the Poznan region of Poland, where some of Australia’s original German Lutherans came.
by Stuart Gray
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46b).
Read Acts 13:44–52
There are several verses I could have highlighted in this passage, so rich is its content. What would bring out almost a whole city to hear a speaker? How often do we see jealousy drive contrary actions? When the Gentiles heard the word, they were glad and honoured it. However, the text that struck me most was the dramatic turning point described in the focus text.
God wanted the Jews to know that the promise of a Messiah had been fulfilled, so the disciples and teachers concentrated on telling the good news to the Jews. However, many non-Jews were hearing and believing the word, and this created jealousy amongst the Jews.
The jealousy was such that Paul and Barnabas saw that being stuck in their point of view was even more important to the Jews than eternal life.
What a turning point in the history of the church. Like other great turning points in history (Martin Luther’s 95 Theses comes to mind), we see dramatic divisions between peoples, with one group usually holding onto the past and another taking a turn in a new direction.
This works at a personal level as well.
It helps greatly if we are aware of what is holding us back and when we need to take a new direction. Luther said we should ‘die daily to sin’. My interpretation is that we must choose the direction of Christ each day anew.
This is not easy. Just think of the turning points in our own lives, positive and negative. We have the big things in our lives that make us change direction, such as completing education, taking a new job, getting married, having children and experiencing the death of family members and friends. Each requires us to adjust to new ways of being, a new paradigm.
Through all of those turning points, we need to be aware of the need to turn to Christ, the risen Lord, in the big and little events of our lives and daily.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us a beacon in Jesus, so we know in which direction to turn. Give us the power and desire to always turn to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, in all we do. Amen.
by Stuart Gray
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For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (John 6:33).
Read John 6:24–35
I find preparing these devotions very challenging. I am not trained in theology, so I am constantly wondering whether I have made the right interpretation of the texts, if relating my life’s experience is relevant and whether the devotions are engaging enough for people to read.
But the challenge is so very rewarding. I am forced to read widely, compare translations, ponder and contemplate, pray for guidance, and draw on personal experiences to illustrate points and to share my thoughts and feelings.
In preparing for this item, I read the online NIV version of the text and then looked at my NIV study Bible to check the notes when I noted a small but significant difference in the highlighted text.
‘For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world’ (online version).
‘For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world’ (NIV study Bible).
The second version, by personalising Jesus as the bread of heaven, was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me, a tangible deepening of understanding of an important biblical truth.
Yes, I know the texts say that Jesus is the bread of heaven, that Jesus is the bread of life, but on reading ‘For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven …’, within moments, I had a greater depth of understating of the interconnectedness between the Israelites supported by manna from heaven during their wandering in the wilderness, Jesus, as the bread of life, sustaining us and giving us eternal life and the sustaining wonder of the Eucharist, ‘unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you’ (John 6:53).
It was an awesome moment – I was literally in awe of God’s plan for his people and how he executes that plan through Christ, the bread from heaven who died for our sins, so we may be in relationship with God, and who sustains us with the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the rewards you give us when we study your word. We pray that we gain new insights and new understandings that reflect on who we are in the church and the community. We thank you for Christ, the life-giving bread from heaven who sustains us until we are eternally in your presence. Amen.
Stuart, with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh, lives in Mansfield, Victoria. Stuart has a background in agricultural science, rural journalism and corporate affairs. He loves living on a small farm in the beautiful High Country of Victoria, being involved in the Mansfield community and travel. He is currently travelling in Europe which will include a visit to the Poznan region of Poland, from where some of Australia’s original German Lutherans came.
by Sal Huckel
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Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven (Psalm 78:23,24).
Read Psalm 78:23–29
‘Yet’. Today’s lectionary reading starts with this small, three-letter word directing us to what goes before to get the full sense of our passage. We need to look to the beginning of this Psalm to understand today’s reading.
Psalm 78 is headed: ‘Tell the coming generation’. Today’s passage comes from the second longest psalm in the Bible, which tells of God’s miraculous provision of food to the Israelites in the desert. So, why the ‘yet’?
To marvel at our amazing God and his provision for the Israelites, and of course for us – we need to understand the context here. This psalm encourages us to teach the story to future generations and recounts the story of God’s people from Jacob onwards, and Israel’s history. Pastors and households must tell the accounts of the wonders of God’s work to our children to be passed on. When we learn of the miraculous food that rained down on the Israelites in abundance, we marvel at the works of the Lord. When we investigate the ‘yet’, we realise this: the Israelites time after time tested God, sinned against him, forgot his miracles, and complained about him some more. ‘Yet’.
Read today’s section of Psalm 78 and be in awe of our amazing God. Put it in context and worship even more our forgiving, loving God, who removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Worship God the Father, whom Jesus shows us is like the Father welcoming back his prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). Worship Jesus the Son, who while we were still sinners, died for us (Romans 5:8 is one example of many).
What can we learn from this psalm? Just as in our previous readings in Acts, where the history was recounted up until the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection in the testimonies and teachings of the apostles, we too need to take note of this history. We must note the inability of humankind to keep God’s law – and the saving grace we have in the gospel. We will make mistakes, like the Israelites, time after time. God forgives us over and over again. ‘Tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders he has done’ (Psalm 78:4).
Father God, you are the creator of the universe: almighty and everlasting, forgiving and loving. Through the power of your Holy Spirit help me to live daily in my baptism, to come to you for forgiveness, and to tell of your mighty acts and deeds to the next generations. May we remember our history and learn from it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel and they live in Victoria with their six children. Music, theology, literature, and languages are passions the family share and explore together. Sal loves writing, speaking and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
by Sal Huckel
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told to them the next Sabbath (Acts 13:42).
Read Acts 13:26–43
What a response to Paul’s message! When have we been so keen to hear the word of the Lord brought to us that we cannot wait to hear it again next week?
Perhaps you are part of a Bible study group and look forward to attending each week. You may look forward to Sunday, for refuelling with word and sacrament. Or perhaps many of us might feel we can miss a Sunday here and there, or that attending church once in a while is enough.
As Lutherans, we believe that the word of God is efficacious and that he works through it to produce faith and obedience. Certainly, we see an example here of that happening in the synagogue as a result of Paul’s teaching.
We have the privilege of a free country. The word of God can sit openly on our bookshelves, in our pews, on our phones and computers. Look at how much opportunity there is for God to work if we give him the opportunity. While our faith is a gift from him and not something we create ourselves – we need to allow him to work. We must move on from spiritual milk to solid food. Are we as hungry for the word as the hearers of Paul’s message?
Choose a book of the Bible, and commit to reading it daily, asking the Lord to work through his word and create a deeper faith in you. Ask him to give you desire and passion for his word and the ability to encourage others in their faith. In this world where so many voices call out to us daily, let’s give the Lord the priority of our attention. Go to church!
Father God, you declare that the word that goes out from your mouth shall not return to you empty, but it shall accomplish that which you purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which you sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Work in our lives through your word brought to us by faithful pastors and increase our desire to learn from you through them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel and they live in Victoria with their six children. Music, theology, literature and languages are passions the family share and explore together. Sal loves writing, speaking and walking to the beach at every opportunity.
by Sal Huckel
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
After the reading from the law and the prophets, the synagogue rulers sent a message to them, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it’ (Acts 13:15).
Read Acts 13:13–25
Visitors to the synagogue were invited to give the message from the Scriptures read that day, which is why we find Paul teaching here. We may recall Jesus being invited to do the same. Paul begins with the history of Israel in Egypt, and this passage continues to the genealogy of Jesus from the line of David, and the preparation of the people for Jesus, by John the Baptist.
We have no idea what the rulers of the synagogue were expecting when they invited Paul to speak, but one may liken this teaching to the account Stephen gives before he is stoned to death (Acts 7). Paul (Saul) was present to hear Stephen’s testimony and approve of his death. Now Paul is giving his testimony and teaching right in the synagogue. We will find out in our next passage how this turns out for Paul.
There is a small detail in this passage to cross-reference. We learn that John left Paul’s mission and returned to Jerusalem (verse 13). We hear nothing more of this as Paul continues to serve where the Lord has sent him. However, the departure of John becomes the source of a ‘sharp disagreement’ between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36–41).
The root of that disagreement and eventual separation began here while carrying out the Lord’s mission together and bringing many to faith. Even for Paul and Barnabas, partnering in the gospel in miraculous ways, this divides their ministry. The result of this of course is that the mission is divided up and more ground is covered. What the enemy intends for evil God will use for good (read Genesis 50:20).
Again, we see through the readings this week that God has a plan. Through the early church and the members’ adversity and interference from the enemy, God works his purpose out and brings the gospel to save the lost. He works through imperfect human beings who are persecuted, who sometimes persecute each other, and who are sometimes even killed while doing his work. How are you encouraged through this knowledge today?
If you have time, seek out a recording of the hymn, ‘The Church’s One Foundation’.
Lord, you work through your people, in our weaknesses, and our disagreements. Even in times when ministries divide, you are glorified and your will prevails. Help us to remember that you are in control, you are glorified and what the devil intends for harm, you will use for good. We submit to your will in our lives for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sal is married to Pastor Matthew Huckel and they live in Victoria with their six children. Music, theology, literature, and languages are passions the family share and explore together. Sal loves writing, speaking, and walking to the beach at every opportunity.