Toward one another

The devotions for this week are featured in LCA International Mission’s 2026 ‘Pentecost Devotional and Prayer Guide’ and are written by mission partners from around the world. LCA International Mission invites you to pray during Pentecost for the connections and ministries of our international partners. An electronic copy of the full devotional is available to download at the LCA International Mission website.

by Lydia Jarupong

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If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone (Matthew 18:15a).

Read Matthew 18:15–20

As someone who works with people from diverse nationalities, languages and cultures, I’ve learnt that unity isn’t always easy. Differences can easily lead to misunderstandings. Even good intentions can be interpreted differently, and if left unaddressed, small issues can gradually grow into distance.

At times, I feel tired: too tired to explain, too tired to speak, and unwilling to enter another difficult conversation. At times, I also recognise that I may be the one who causes others to stumble, whether through my personality or the way I communicate. Because of this, I sometimes choose to avoid facing problems directly, afraid of damaging relationships or making things worse.

Yet silence doesn’t bring healing. In Matthew 18:15–20, Jesus teaches us to go to one another not to accuse, but to restore. Through his death and resurrection, Christ has already reconciled us to God. We’re called to seek reconciliation with one another. This requires honesty, humility and the courage to speak the truth in love, even when it feels uncomfortable.

When I begin to see those around me as family, my perspective changes. In a family, a father desires his children to talk to one another. Siblings may argue, but they don’t remain separated forever. They find their way back to each other. In the same way, we’re called to live as one family in Christ.

Often, our conflicts come from the same desire: that the work may move forward and that what we do may honour God. When we remember this, it becomes easier to return to one another, listen and seek understanding. Our differences of culture, language and personality are no longer barriers, but expressions of the beauty God has created in each of us.

Jesus also reminds us that he is present among us when we gather in his name. This means that he is with us not only in unity, but also in the process of restoring it.

Because Christ is already at work among us, unity is lived out through honesty and restoration. It calls us not to run away, but to move toward one another with grace. Even now, I’m still learning not to run away, but to stay, trusting God in the process and believing he can bring healing, restore relationships and draw us together as one family for his purpose.

Are you avoiding a conversation that could bring healing? How might Christ help you approach it with truth and love?

Pray for the Strong and Safe Family Project in Thailand, that the Holy Spirit will guide its work in strengthening relationships and restoring families and give the staff wisdom, patience and courage to walk alongside others with grace.

Lydia Jarupong is a staff member of the Strong and Safe Family Project of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand.

Created for relationship

The devotions for this week are featured in LCA International Mission’s 2026 ‘Pentecost Devotional and Prayer Guide’ and are written by mission partners from around the world. LCA International Mission invites you to pray during Pentecost for the connections and ministries of our international partners. An electronic copy of the full devotional is available to download at the LCA International Mission website.

by Dr Stefan Gradl

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

So God created humans in his image (Genesis 1:27a).

Read Genesis 1:26,27

Let’s start early. Not on day six, when God creates human beings, nor on day three, when the plants are created. Not even on day one, when God starts creating. Let’s start before day one, when there’s no creation, only God.

Already, then, there are relations. God isn’t only relating to creation; there is relationship within God. Our God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each is fully God, and yet distinct. So, even before creation, God isn’t one isolated person. There’s an eternal ‘We’, not just an ‘I’. The very nature of our God is relational.

Because God is relational, we’re relational. God says, ‘Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness.’ This is the starting point of God’s relationship with us. Before we measure ourselves by achievement, ability or social standing, we must receive the truth God declares: we belong to him. Our worth isn’t earned; it’s bestowed.

As God is relational, being created in his image means we’re made for relationship with God and other people. Though sin has broken this relationship and distorted God’s image in us, in Christ we’re restored and drawn back into right relationship with God and one another.

When we look at human beings, we see differences. No two people are alike. Genesis 1:27 says, ‘So God created them in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ Gender differences aren’t to cause division, but rather to reveal the fullness of God’s image through diverse perspectives and shared life. We may add other differences as well: culture, traditions, language, education and personality. We humans are all different, and that is precisely why we can complement one another.

We find unity in this diversity by being made in God’s image. When our identity is rooted in God’s image, we stop treating other people as competitors or threats. We begin to see them as fellow image-bearers made for connection, dignity and purpose. Being created in God’s image isn’t to separate us from others, but to draw us toward each other until our lives become a sign that belonging is God’s gift and unity is his work.

What does it mean for you to see others as people created in God’s image? How might this shape the way you relate to those who are different from you?

Pray that the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong will continue to form leaders who are grounded in God’s word and equipped to serve Christ’s church in diverse contexts.

Dr Stefan Gradl is the associate professor of missiology and Christian education at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong.

Superman’s funeral notice

by Jonathan Krause

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They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness (Psalm 145:7).

Read Psalm 145:1–8

When I used to train young people in leadership and ethical living, one of the first things I did was ask them to write a funeral notice for themselves.

This was inspired by an elderly man called Stanley, who died after being struck by a car near my place. His family and friends placed a whole column of notices in the paper about the life he’d lived – his kindness, compassion and generosity, and the inspiration he’d been to them.

Stanley’s grandchildren summed it up by writing: ‘Fly like Superman, Poppa.’

When I challenged the young people to write their funeral notices, I wanted them to think about who they wanted to be, even if that was not who they were right now.

I was reminded of this when I read the words of this psalm.

Would someone ever write something about my life similar to what the psalmist wrote about God?

Of course, it wouldn’t be as magnificent as ‘greatness’ or ‘glorious’. There’d be no use of words like ‘splendour’, ‘wondrous’ or ‘abundant’ … and yet, could they look at my life and see at least some glimpses of ‘goodness’, ‘steadfast love’ and ‘graciousness’?

This came into special focus for me after spending a weekend with my grandkids.

What example was I modelling to them?

It’s more than just the things we do together – the perfect purple pancakes that manage to flour the whole kitchen … the ‘you-can-never-escape’ knee-lock game we invented … the ‘Tallest Tower to Topple’ building blocks construction destruction distraction … rather, it’s those simple values of kindness, grace and love. Those things are inspired in me by the command and example of Jesus. Not just in the words I say but in the things I do.

When the day comes that my life is remembered in a newspaper funeral notice, what will my grandchildren say? Those who love me? Those who know me as a neighbour, work colleague or friend?

I can never be a superman, but I hope my life will always point to the one who is.

Lord, what a blessing it is that I can come to you in all my weakness, with all my flaws, and yet have you love me and count me precious. Help me share this with others, in all that I do, each day of my life. Amen.

Jonathan describes himself as a ‘happy husband, proud dad and grandad, ALWS worker and ALWayS a Magpie fan’.