A heart laid bare
by Jane Mueller
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Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).
Read Psalm 51:1–10
David knew the weight of failure. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrating the death of her husband, David could have hidden in denial or defended his actions. Instead, he turned to God with a heart shattered by guilt and longing for mercy. Psalm 51 is rich in emotion and spiritual depth. It’s David’s raw, vulnerable cry – not just for pardon, but for renewal.
‘Have mercy on me, O God,’ David begins, appealing not to his worthiness, but to God’s steadfast and unfailing love, great compassion and abundant mercy. This is the beating heart of repentance – not fear of punishment, but trust in a merciful God who longs to restore.
David doesn’t gloss over or downplay his sin. He names it, owns it and understands its depth. ‘Against you, you alone, have I sinned.’ His confession is full, honest and humble. He knows that God desires more than apologies. God desires truth in the inmost being. David sees that his broken actions flow from a broken heart, and what he needs is not only forgiveness but transformation.
‘Create in me a pure heart, O God,’ he pleads. Not just cleanse me but recreate me. His prayer moves from remorse to hope and from guilt to grace. He believes in a God who can bring beauty from ashes and who delights not in perfection, but in contrite hearts made new.
This psalm calls us to a bold and honest surrender. It reminds us that God is not put off by our failures. Instead, he meets us in them. When we come to him with open hearts and truthful words, he doesn’t shame us; he restores us. There is no sin too dark and no heart too broken for the mercy of God. His love doesn’t just cover our past; it creates a new future.
Come as you are and let him make you new.
Lord, have mercy on me. Cleanse me. Wash me whiter than snow. Recreate me. Restore my joy by your unfailing love. Amen.
Jane is a former Lutheran school principal and now serves as Governance Leadership Director for Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA. Jane has a keen interest in psychology, enjoys hiking and loves learning about and trying new things.
Let spring speak
by Jane Mueller
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For I will not be so bold as to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me (Romans 15:18a).
Read Romans 15:14–24
The Apostle Paul had every reason to boast. His life was full of achievement – he travelled widely, built communities and poured himself into helping others grow. He mentored young leaders, wrote letters that shaped the early church and endured persecution for the sake of the gospel. Yet, he writes, ‘I will not be so bold as to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me.’ He steps back and gives credit not to himself, but to Christ working through him.
In a world that often tells us to prove our worth through success, status or self-promotion, Paul’s words cut through with quiet humility. He doesn’t deny the value of his efforts, but he shifts the spotlight. He speaks with gratitude, not pride.
Paul’s example invites us to look beyond ourselves – not just upward to Christ, but outward to the world around us.
As spring breaks through the chill of winter, creation itself seems to echo that humility. Martin Luther wrote, ‘Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.’ New life emerges quietly, with early blossoms, delicate leaves and green shoots pushing through cold soil. Spring doesn’t declare its achievements or seek applause. It simply unfolds in all its radiance, pointing to something greater. Similarly, often the most meaningful parts of our lives aren’t the ones we announce or display. They are the quiet, grace-filled moments that shape us from the inside out.
Take a moment today to notice the good that has flowed through you – not just what you’ve achieved, but what grace has made possible. A kind word offered at the right time. A relationship healed. A decision that brought peace. These moments don’t need to be loud to be powerful.
Boasting only in Christ isn’t about denying our gifts. It’s about recognising the deeper source behind them. It’s about humility and gratitude, and pointing to the goodness that flows through us, not just from us.
Gracious God, help me let go of the need to prove myself. Remind me that the good in my life isn’t mine alone – it’s a gift from you. Work through me in quiet, surprising ways. Shape me into someone who reflects your goodness so clearly that others catch a glimpse of you, not me. Amen.
Jane is a former Lutheran school principal and now serves as Governance Leadership Director for Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA. Jane has a keen interest in psychology, enjoys hiking and loves learning about and trying new things.
by Jane Mueller
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope … (Romans 15:13).
Read Romans 15:1–13
On 11 September 2001, the world held its breath. Coordinated terrorist attacks in the United States saw four commercial planes hijacked. Two struck the World Trade Centre in New York City, one hit the Pentagon near Washington, DC, and the fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers intervened. Nearly 3,000 people were killed. Broadcast live across the globe, it was the deadliest terrorist attack in history. The images were unforgettable: collapsing towers, dust-covered survivors, stunned silence.
Though it happened in the USA, the grief was not confined by geography. It shook people the world over. It pressed into our churches, conversations and hearts. In classrooms, chapels and loungerooms, we wrestled with the weight of what had happened. It was a defining moment in global history.
The world changed. Airport security intensified – liquid restrictions were introduced, and body scanners became normal. Global surveillance increased. Counter-terrorism became a central focus of international policy. Immigration laws tightened.
Fear surged. Suspicion of others – especially those who looked or believed differently – grew. Strangers became threats. Compassion wrestled with anger. Grief and outrage sat side by side as many struggled with the tension of both heartbreak and fury. The ripple effects of that single day still can be felt across political, social and cultural lines.
Yet, in the midst of the uncertainty, people gathered. Candles were lit. Prayers were spoken. The human heart still ached for peace, light, meaning and hope.
In moments like this, what does it mean to be the church?
Paul doesn’t suggest a passive response – he prescribes a radical one.
- ‘Bear with the weak’ (verse one).
- ‘Build each other up’ (verse two).
- ‘Live in harmony’ (verse five).
- ‘Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you’ (verse seven).
These aren’t suggestions for peaceful times. They are commands for when the world falls apart.
When fear rises, we don’t retreat. We rise. We lead with love. We open our arms wider. Christ’s people don’t echo the panic of the world; we rest in the enduring. In Christ, we are strong, courageous and grounded in grace.
And when the world feels uncertain, we stand on hope. Not optimism, but defiant, unshakeable confidence in God. Paul says, ‘May the God of hope fill you.’ Not with fear. Not with revenge. But with joy. Peace. Hope.
That’s the kind of hope the world still needs – and the hope God freely gives.
God of unshakeable hope, ignite in us a fierce trust in you. When the world trembles, make us strong. When others divide, make us reconcilers. When fear speaks loudly, let your love speak louder. As we remember the events of 9/11, all these years on, we grieve the loss, lament the brokenness, and pray for peace in a world still aching for healing. Fill us with joy and a bold faith, so that we might shine with your hope in every dark place. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jane is a former Lutheran school principal and now serves as Governance Leadership Director for Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA. Jane has a keen interest in psychology, enjoys hiking and loves learning about and trying new things.
by Jane Mueller
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Let us then pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding (Romans 14:19).
Read Romans 14:13–23
We live in a time when differences can quickly divide us – whether it’s how we vote, what we eat, how we care for our health, how we educate our children, or how we interpret social justice issues. Social media amplifies these differences and can turn even minor disagreements into battlegrounds. But Paul reminds us that the way of Jesus is different.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul addresses ‘disputable matters’ – those grey areas in which faithful Christians may hold different views. In the early church, it was about food laws and special days. Today, it might be about worship style, political opinions, climate action, or how we engage with technology and culture. Paul’s message still rings true: don’t let these issues become stumbling blocks.
Instead of judging or trying to convince others that our way is best, we’re called to pursue peace and mutual encouragement. Our love for one another should outweigh our need to be right. This means laying aside our preferences for the sake of another’s peace. After all, love doesn’t break – it builds. The true markers of God’s kingdom aren’t found in opinions, but in integrity, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Love means sometimes staying silent when we want to argue. It means choosing relationship over being right. It means remembering that the person who disagrees with us is someone Christ died for.
In a polarised world, what if the church became known for its radical love? What if we were the people who made space for difference without division?
What ‘disputable matters’ would you like to let go of, in support of love coming to life?
Lord, in a world quick to divide, teach me to choose the path of peace. Help me to build others up, even when we don’t see eye to eye. Help me to love others more than I love being right. Let me be known not by how strongly I argue my views, but by how fiercely and deeply I love. Amen.
Jane is a former Lutheran school principal and now serves as Governance Leadership Director for Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA. Jane has a keen interest in psychology, enjoys hiking and loves learning about and trying new things.
by Jane Mueller
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Welcome those who are weak in faith but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions (Romans 14:1).
Read Romans 14:1–12
We often long for unity in our churches but frequently mistake unity for uniformity. We assume that if everyone believed the same things, behaved the same way, or worshipped with the same preferences, harmony would follow. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking our way is the most faithful way. But Paul offers a different vision in his letter to the Romans: true Christian community isn’t built on conformity. It’s built on love.
The early church wrestled with differences: what to eat, what days to honour, how to live faithfully. Paul didn’t demand that everyone agree. Instead, he called them to welcome one another, to resist the urge to pass judgement and to trust that each person was seeking to honour God.
We don’t need to fix each other. That’s not our job. We’re not called to be the conscience for someone else’s journey. We’re called to walk alongside, to love generously and to create space for God to work in hearts that aren’t ours.
When we welcome others – truly welcome them with grace rather than suspicion – we embody the heart of Christ. And when we stop trying to correct and start trying to connect, the church becomes a place of belonging, not just belief.
Each of us stands before the Lord. He alone is the judge. Our calling is not to decide who is right, but to decide to love.
Gracious God, thank you for welcoming me with open arms. Help me to let go of judgement, resist the need to fix and build community not on sameness, but on grace. Amen.
Jane is a former Lutheran school principal and now serves as Governance Leadership Director for Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA. Jane has a keen interest in psychology, enjoys hiking and loves learning about and trying new things.
by Jane Mueller
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Owe no-one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8).
Read Romans 13:8–14
You don’t owe God a thing because Jesus has already paid it all. The law has been fulfilled, the debt erased, and your identity sealed in grace. There is nothing left to prove. And yet, from this place of complete freedom, Paul calls us into something powerful and purposeful: love. It is not as a burden, but as a formidable response to the love that has first been poured into us.
Paul reminds us that all the commandments – every ‘do not’ and ‘must not’ – are summed up in one beautiful, radical call: love. Love God, and love your neighbour as yourself. And this isn’t theoretical. It’s grounded in the example of Jesus, who loved audaciously. He touched the untouchable (Mark 1:40–42), welcomed the outsider (John 4:7–26), dined with sinners and tax collectors (Luke 5:29–32), defended the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11), wept with those who were grieving (John 11:32–35), and forgave those who crucified him (Luke 23:34). His love wasn’t cautious or calculating – it was full, free and fearless.
This love isn’t abstract or sentimental; it’s active and practical. For you and me, it shows up in our patience when we’re frustrated, in kindness when we feel wronged, and in listening when we’d rather speak. It shows up in giving others the benefit of the doubt, in holding back gossip, in including the person on the edge, in forgiving without demanding payback, in choosing grace over sarcasm, and in showing up when it’s inconvenient. (This list is not exhaustive!)
When we love others, we’re not trying to meet a rule or tick a box – we’re reflecting Christ himself. His Spirit at work in us helps us see people differently, not as problems to fix, but as neighbours to love.
You are already fully known and fully loved in Christ. Let that truth shape your heart, mind and soul today.
Jesus, you loved me when I least deserved it. You paid every debt so I could live free. Fill me with your love today – real, bold, grace-filled love. Help me see and love people as you do. Amen.
Jane is a former Lutheran school principal and now serves as Governance Leadership Director for Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA. Jane has a keen interest in psychology, enjoys hiking and loves learning about and trying new things.
by Jane Mueller
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27).
Read Luke 14:25–33
Jesus never sugar-coated what it means to follow him. In Luke 14, he doesn’t pitch discipleship as a part-time hobby or a feel-good label. Instead, he speaks of cost: carrying your cross, counting the price and surrendering everything.
Pastor Andy Stanley puts it plainly: ‘Jesus never invited anyone to become a Christian. He invited us to follow.’
Stanley asserts that many of us are comfortable claiming the title of ‘Christian’ and challenges us by asking, ‘But are you a Jesus follower?’ Being a Christian costs nothing: the price has been paid, we believe in Jesus, and we receive the gift of salvation and forgiveness. Easy!
But following Jesus costs us something.
Following Jesus cost the first disciples their comfort, their careers and even their relationships. They abandoned their old lives and the things they thought were true to walk with Jesus. They moved beyond what was reasonable and expected. They opened their hearts to an unorthodox worldview, counter-cultural values and a new way of being. They adopted a kingdom mindset in which enemies are loved, generosity is extravagant, and reconciliation matters more than rules and rituals. They didn’t just believe; they rearranged their entire lives around Jesus.
Do you settle for belief without surrender? The name without the journey?
Jesus calls us beyond the title of ‘Christian’ into the daily, often costly, reality of discipleship.
It’s not a guilt trip; it’s an invitation. To follow Jesus is to step into a life richer and riskier than we imagined. To release what holds us back and to trust that what Jesus offers in return – peace, purpose and his presence – is worth everything.
Jesus, help me move beyond belief into true discipleship. Teach me what it means to follow you, especially when it requires a cost. Please give me the courage to let go of anything that competes with you. I want to walk with you: fully, faithfully and without fear. Amen.
Jane is a former Lutheran school principal and now serves as Governance Leadership Director for Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA. Jane has a keen interest in psychology, enjoys hiking and loves learning about and trying new things.
by Neil Bergmann
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Romans 13:1).
Read Romans 13:1–7
In today’s reading, Christians are encouraged to see their governing authorities as part of God’s care for God’s people. I don’t think this is a hard ask for us in Australia and New Zealand. We don’t necessarily agree with everything that our local, state or national government decides; however, the government acts in the way it believes is best for our country. In our democracy, governments are elected when their intended policies and programs align with those of the majority of the population.
How does this same passage apply if you are a Christian in a country where dissent results in imprisonment and even execution, where elections, if they are held at all, are not fair and free, or where governing authorities are corrupt and where some groups in the population are persecuted? What about those countries in which Christians are not free to openly practise their faith? Surely such governing authorities have not been established by God.
I think Paul provides some guidance in this passage. If the governing authorities uphold what is good and punish what is wrong, then they are God’s agents. If those who do God’s will are punished and those who do evil are rewarded, then the government has not been established by God.
How can we support our God-established governing authorities? We should obey the laws of the land. We should pay our share of taxes. We should give our governing authorities the respect and honour that they deserve both in private and in public. Either individually or corporately as a church, we can participate in the political process by making submissions to government inquiries or reviews of proposed legislation.
Finally, we can pray for our governing authorities in our private prayers, but especially in our public prayers. This is one visible mark of the honour and respect they deserve, and I’m sure it is a real and tangible encouragement to our parliamentarians, councillors and public servants for the work that they do.
Lord, empower your servants in our governments and councils with humility, wisdom, honesty, compassion and courage. Amen.
Neil Bergmann worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale, Queensland. He enjoys being part of the monthly Messy Church worship, which provides a welcoming, interactive and intergenerational form of church.
by Neil Bergmann
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited (Romans 12:16).
Read Romans 12:9–21
In recent years, our global society has become increasingly divided. While there have always been differing opinions on social and political matters, divisions now seem to be deeper and more entrenched, often with no real middle ground. It can sometimes feel as though ideas different from ours are not only wrong, but that the people who hold them are also seen as stupid, deluded or even evil.
We could speculate on the reasons for this, such as blaming social media, which rewards more extreme views. However, I think it is just an aspect of basic human nature, that is, what Paul called ‘the pattern of this world’ in yesterday’s reading from earlier in Romans 12.
Today’s reading suggests a different path. We should not be proud or conceited, believing that we have all the right answers and opinions. Part of our discipleship mission is to care for those in need, to practise hospitality, and to share God’s love with all. We are called to hate what is evil and love what is good. Somebody who has a different opinion, faith or lifestyle is not evil. Instead, the hatred caused by political and social divisions is evil. What is good is living in harmony with each other.
We cannot spread the love of God if we only associate with those who share our beliefs. Spreading the love of God through word and action requires us to move beyond our comfort zone.
We are all simultaneously a mixture of good and evil – saint and sinner. When we follow the patterns of behaviour that we see in the world around us, we emphasise the evil aspect. It is only when we turn to God and share God’s love for all humanity and all creation that God’s good shows through.
God of humility, help me to live in harmony with all. Take away my pride, greed, arrogance and self-deception. Fill me with your Spirit of love, so that I may learn to live in your kingdom of heaven, here on Earth. Amen.
Neil Bergmann worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale, Queensland. In addition to professional qualifications in engineering, he has coursework and research master’s degrees in theology, and he has just started a PhD at Australian Catholic University on the topic of catholicity and ecumenism.