by Jonathan Krause
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What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36)
Read Mark 8:27–38
That’s the trouble, you know.
You work and work to get and get and get … and everything is lovely, and you’re having a wonderful time … and then real life sneaks up on you and smashes you in the head.
You lose a loved one. You are disappointed at work. You make a mistake you can’t get past.
Someone lets you down. Someone uses you up. Someone isn’t who you thought they were.
Suddenly, a hole opens up inside you. A yawning gap you thought you had filled with things that promised happiness. Success. Admiration.
Do you know that feeling?
The darkness of that hole can settle over you. It is infecting every day with gloom so that it’s hard to see light anywhere. Even a grandchild’s smile can struggle to find its way through.
Read further in today’s Bible reading, and you might be disappointed Jesus does not offer a quick, easy fix. (If Jesus were a TV salesperson, he would have spun a whole series of promises with an easy payment plan and a set of steak knives if you got in quick.)
But, no, what Jesus says is this: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’ (verse 34).
We’re not used to being asked to deny ourselves.
It’s the opposite. Each day, we’re pummelled with products to make life easier. You may feel challenged that receiving the gift of faith doesn’t guarantee a whole array of earthly benefits.
What we do know for certain, though, is that whatever happens in our lives, we are not alone.
So, if a hole of fear, despair, shame, loneliness, heartbreak, grief, or loss opens up inside you (as it will), hold on to the promise that you can turn to Jesus and be sure that hole will be filled with hope.
And that’s worth a whole lot more than the world.
Lord Jesus, you know me inside and out. You know my hurts and hopes, my faith and fears. Complicated, aren’t I? Give me the strength to see my whole world in you. Amen.
Jonathan lives south of Adelaide with his wife Julie. Blessed by children and grandchildren, Jonathan enjoys reading and writing, walking by the beach and watching Collingwood win. Author of many devotion books, Jonathan is the Community Action Manager for Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS
by Kathy Matuschka
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I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy (Psalm 116:1).
Read Psalm 116:1–9
This week, we have heard stories of rescue. First, Jesus healed the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter, and then Paul was rescued from death. In just five days of readings (two-and-a-half chapters of Acts), God has used Paul’s nephew, a Roman commander, 470 military personnel, two Roman governors, Paul’s Roman citizenship and Paul’s rhetorical skills to keep him safe from harm.
We have been following the missionary activities of Paul and others for weeks in our daily devotions. It would be interesting to list all the ways God provided for the early church, as recorded in Acts.
It reminds me that I ‘should’ keep a journal and that I ‘should’ organise my journalling well enough to keep looking back to recall what God is teaching me and how God is providing for me each day.
Some people consistently keep journals, but I don’t. I may not be able to recall all the details of my life and the ways God has answered my prayers, but I find that the Psalms remind me of God’s presence and provision for me throughout my life. Not only do psalms remind us to give thanks to God, but they remind us of our interconnectedness as people. When we recognise our own emotions, thoughts and experiences in the words of the Psalms, we notice that the difficulties we experience are not unique. Others have experienced similar things, looked to God for help and known God’s deliverance in times of need.
From the Syrophoenician woman who cried, ‘Lord, help me’, to the Apostle Paul, who followed the Spirit’s lead to Jerusalem, trusting his life and the number of his days to God’s hands (Acts 20:22–24), to you and me, our emotional heights and depths have been described in the Book of Psalms. Furthermore, through Jesus Christ, who lived, died and rose from the dead, there is no trial we can face and nowhere we can go where God is not present and ready to help.
Dear Lord, you are gracious, righteous and full of compassion. You hear my cries for mercy and are ready to protect and save. When things look grim or don’t make sense, help me rest in your care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
by Kathy Matuschka
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For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him (Acts 25:27).
Read Acts 25:13–27
Paul appeals to Caesar, but it’s not yet time for him to leave for Rome. Today, Governor Festus invests in another strategic partnership as King Herod Agrippa II and his sister Bernice arrive to welcome Festus to his new role.
Once more, Festus demonstrates his collaborative, consultative skills. He asks Agrippa and local leaders if they will help him write a covering letter explaining why Paul has been imprisoned and is being sent to Caesar. One of the reasons Festus asks is because he is having difficulty making sense of the case.
Festus was undoubtedly aware that a well-written letter to Caesar could significantly impact his reputation and future career. But there was more to it than that. Festus also observes: ‘I found he had done nothing deserving of death’ (verse 25a).
Festus is concerned about being reasonable and just, but he doesn’t consider himself to have the corner on reason. So, he gathers a team to hear their perspectives and talk it through.
Do you have a support team – people you trust to help you process your thoughts, who share their perspectives and stretch your thinking? They may be people who see gifts and capacities in you that you didn’t see yourself.
Sometimes, when we support and encourage others, we may say a few words that we quickly forget but which stay with the other person for life. Can you recall people whose words and perspectives have stuck with you, who helped you achieve more than you could have imagined?
Dear loving God, thank you for the people who sharpen my thoughts and understanding. Thank you to those who have challenged and encouraged me to keep growing in my faith in you. Help me notice opportunities to help others grow into who you have made them to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
by Kathy Matuschka
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After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: ‘You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!’ (Acts 25:12)
Read Acts 24:24–25:12
So, there was an undercurrent to the delays in resolving Paul’s case – we learn that Governor Felix hoped to receive a bribe payment to set Paul free (verse 26). Meanwhile, by keeping Paul in prison, Felix earned ‘brownie points’ with the Jewish leaders. This, in turn, contributed to Governor Felix's and his team's safety as the tension and unrest in the region increased. As a new scene begins, Paul has been under guard in Caesarea for two years …
Exit Governor Felix. Enter Governor Porcius Festus. Enter Jewish leaders who campaign to have Paul moved back to Jerusalem (so they can have another try at ambushing and killing him).
According to the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus, Festus was a good leader who inherited more than one problem from his predecessor. Festus appears to be a ‘get things done’ leader, but his issues are complex.
Festus proposes a solution: that Paul return to Jerusalem and face the Jewish judiciary system. In response, Paul, again, ‘names the thing’: ‘I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you know very well … I appeal to Caesar!’ (verses 10 and 11).
Once more, Paul plays his trump card as a Roman citizen … appealing to the top this time! How different would things have been if Paul didn’t have Roman citizenship? But as it turns out, two men – Festus and Paul – each play their part, contributing what they have to develop a satisfactory solution to a complex problem. Two people achieving together what neither could have achieved alone.
Festus now gets Paul ‘off his books’, which means one less issue with the Jewish leaders. Festus’ conscience and Paul’s safety are no longer threatened by the prospect of a sham trial in Jerusalem. And Paul gets the opportunity to proclaim the gospel in the centre of the Roman Empire, maybe even to Caesar!
Dear God, thank you for creating us to exist in relationships and communities. Thank you for unlikely partnerships that achieve good things for your kingdom. Bless our communities and fill us with a vision for your mission among us. Through your Spirit, unite us to share our gifts, passions and skills for your glory and the common good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
by Kathy Matuschka
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It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today (Acts 24:21b).
Read Acts 24:1–23
The tension and the drama are high in Governor Felix’s court today. The lawyer Tertullus begins by fawning before the governor:
We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight … Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude … (verses 2 and 3).
What will happen next? Will Felix see past the act to the fact that the Jewish leaders have no case against Paul?
But then Paul holds his own with his well-developed oratory skills and some good points. He even cites rules he didn’t break (for example, Paul states he was ceremonially clean when he entered the temple courts – verse 18), an action some might consider over the top. How is a judge to decide who is in the right? Are there undercurrents that might sway the outcome?
After the preliminary manoeuvres, Paul has the courage to name the thing, as in our text above. It’s as though Paul says:
Now that we’ve finished posturing, let’s get to the heart of the matter. The people who accuse me don’t like the changes that are happening within their religion and culture, but none of this was our idea: We are simply proclaiming what God has done among us all by raising Jesus from death.
How often have you been part of a large group where everyone agrees on the heart of the matter and keeps the conversation focused? Not that often, right? Getting to the heart of the matter can be challenging work, and the person who proposes it to a group can put themselves at risk of criticism or even scapegoating.
Governor Felix already knows a bit about the religion known as ‘the Way’, and it seems that on this day, he chooses not to explore the heart of that matter further. In response to Paul’s assertion, Felix adjourns the proceedings. So, Paul continues safely in the governor’s care, with his future still in limbo.
Dear Lord Jesus, even as I wish we could live without disputes between people, I acknowledge that I am as adept at contributing to disagreements and misunderstandings as the next person. I like to be right, and I prefer to have my way. Help me to get to the heart of my matter. Heal me so that I can be a healer, Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
by Kathy Matuschka
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Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight (Acts 23:23).
Read Acts 23:23–35
We already know that Paul is a Roman citizen and that his citizenship has kept him safe from being ambushed and killed by the Jewish leaders. Today, we see the might of the Roman military machine working to Paul’s advantage.
Paul travels to Caesarea on horseback, accompanied for more than half the journey by 470 personnel. The 70 soldiers on horseback continue with Paul for the final leg into Caesarea to Governor Felix. Does that sound impressive to you? Just picture it. If I were living in the region then, you wouldn’t have seen me on the streets: I would have moved as far away from that entourage as possible!
The commander (whom we now know is named Claudius Lysias) sends a letter to Felix, the governor of Judea. Claudius concisely explains the facts of the story and the reasons for the decisions in accordance with the authority of his role. Felix then uses his authority to determine that he will wait for the Jewish leaders to arrive and hear the case in Caesarea. They appear to be acting ‘by the book’ – following military and government regulations and standards.
We tend to have ideas about who the good and bad guys are in the stories we tell and retell. To be sure, the Bible tells us stories of people working for the Roman Empire who were corrupt and abused the power and authority associated with their roles.
So, let’s not rush past this story without appreciating that, on this occasion, some ‘bad guys’ acted as the ‘good guys’ by keeping Paul safe from harm. Then and now, people don’t enter the military or similar community service professions expecting to stay safe and comfortable. We thank God for leadership and an ordered society that allows its citizens to be safe and flourish.
Dear Lord God, thank you for good order and stable government in our countries and churches. It’s easy to notice the things that could be better; however, we thank you for what we have today and pray that our orderly systems will flourish for the good of many, especially the most vulnerable among us. Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
by Kathy Matuschka
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But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul (Acts 23:16).
Read Acts 23:12–24
We return to the narrative of Paul, imprisoned in Jerusalem – in protective custody after the crowd tried to kill him. Paul may be immobilised, but there is movement around him and because of him: politics, posturing and plotting!
The Jewish leaders ask that Paul be handed over to them so they can ‘ask him some questions’. They intend to ambush and kill Paul while he is en route to meet with the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish council.
But Paul’s nephew – his sister’s son – hears about the plot and divulges it to Paul, who arranges for him to tell the Roman commander. Instead of handing Paul to the Jews, the commander transfers Paul (who has protection as a Roman citizen) during the night and under heavy guard to Caesaria and the care of Governor Felix.
I wonder if Paul’s sister arranged for her son to follow and listen. Or perhaps Paul’s nephew felt compelled to follow the action and look out for him. Or did God place the young man in the right place at the right time?
Dozens of Jewish leaders have united around a common purpose – to eradicate Paul – but all their planning is thwarted by the eyes, ears and voice of one young man and the fact that Paul has the respect of his guards. And so, Paul lives one more day.
Today’s story leads me to reflect on two gifts that God has given me: firstly, family and friends who care about my wellbeing, look out for me and sometimes notice my need for support even before I do. And secondly, those quiet voices of reason that every community needs – people who stay away from frenzied behaviour, choosing to stand back, observe and reflect. They are worth listening to!
Dear God, I thank you today for family and friends who support and care for me as Paul’s family did for him. Thank you also for the people who gently offer your perspective and speak the right words at the right time. May your peace be with us all, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
by Kathy Matuschka
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
As soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet (Mark 7:25).
Read Mark 7:24–37
While Jesus was in the region of Tyre, a Syrophoenician woman fell at his feet and begged him to drive a demon from her daughter. Jesus’ initial response was that the children of Israel were his ministry priority. In the parallel account in Matthew’s Gospel, the woman responds with three words: ‘Lord, help me.’
Some commentators note that this foreign woman was able to win a debate with Jesus where Jewish leaders failed. Refusing to be ignored or offended, she cleverly turned a potential insult (‘for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs’ in verse 27) to her advantage. Jesus was impressed by her quick response and granted her request. (In Matthew’s version, Jesus commended her for her faith.)
I wonder when the woman achieved her goal of seeing her daughter healed: Was it when she out-debated Jesus? Or was it earlier when she implored him for help? In three words, ‘Lord, help me’, and by her actions, the Syrophoenician woman showed that she accepted Jesus’ authority (‘Lord’) and his ability to help her (‘help me’). That’s why I’d suggest she had him at ‘Lord, help me’.
By comparison, the Jewish leaders who attempted to debate with Jesus did so from the opposite stance, as though they were saying, ‘You are not my Lord, and you have nothing I need’.
We, as humans, can find it hard to admit that we need help and to ask for it. We might not try to trap Jesus as the Jewish leaders did, but are we sometimes reluctant to ask our Lord for help, pretending we are fine when we are not?
Lord, help me. Shine your light into the hidden crevices of my heart, where my deepest wounds and needs reside. Please heal those wounds and supply those needs. Please help me not be satisfied with the leftover crumbs but ask for your help and healing daily until I am at complete peace with you in heaven. Amen.
Kathy Matuschka and her husband, Mark, live in Brisbane and worship at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale. Kathy continues to discern her ministry calling through her employment as a hospital chaplain and voluntary LCANZ activities. This year, she has contributed to the Way Forward Pastoral Care Working Group as a member.
by Neil Bergmann
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Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save (Psalm 146:3).
Read Psalm 146
Psalm 146 calls us to ‘Praise the LORD, my soul’. As you may well be aware, whenever we see ‘LORD’ in capitals in the Old Testament, this refers to the personal name of the God of the Israelites. So it is not just any God we praise it is the God of Israel, the God we know as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The psalm also tells us why and how we should praise God. We should praise God with our souls. The Hebrew word translated here as ‘soul’ means our innermost being – the inner life force breathed into us by God. So, we praise God, not just with our thoughts and words, but with every part of our being and lives.
The psalm gives a list of reasons why we should praise God. We praise God because God is the creator of everything in heaven and earth, and God’s creation gives us everything we need to sustain our earthly life. God is faithful; God never deserts us. God reigns forever. We praise God because God cares for and loves those the world does not love. God upholds the oppressed. God provides food to the hungry. God sets the prisoners free. God lifts those who are bowed down. God takes care of those who are lacking in the basics – the foreigners and refugees who have lost their homes, the fatherless and widows who have lost a stable income. God frustrates the ways of the wicked who seek to exploit and demean those in difficulty.
So, how do we praise God? If we expect that the political, social and economic systems of the world will fix inequality and oppression, then our trust is misplaced. Instead of human institutions, we put our hope in the LORD, our God. When we do this, we see the world through God’s eyes. We love what God loves. We love a beautiful but suffering creation. We love the oppressed, the poor, the helpless, the blind, the prisoners, the refugees and those who are bowed down. And this love is not a passive emotion – it is love in action. It is love that consumes our innermost being to work towards God’s kingdom of peace and justice. Praise the LORD, my soul.
Eternal God, creator of heaven and earth, we praise and adore you. Help us to love those whom you love, the ones the world thinks are unlovable. Let your kingdom come. Amen.
Neil Bergmann worships at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale, Queensland. He enjoys the quieter pace of life after retirement, being able to spend more time with his wife, Margit, and their daughter, Elina.