Look ahead with confidence

by Tim Klein

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For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:25).

Read Matthew 16:21–28

Here’s a story of one of my young grandchildren – one of those memorable images this grandparent carries around with him. About 10 other little children were running from activity to activity, laughing and having fun together in our backyard. She really wanted to belong with them, but she was finding it hard to keep up and engage. They had all run on, and she stood there swinging one arm – like pumping herself up – till finally she took off and joined them. I loved it.

Being with Jesus can be a bit like that – recognising that his invitation is real and trustworthy: wanting to be with him, swinging our arms and finally running after him. What could possibly be better than living unafraid in a life of faith with him and his family?

Only six more chapters into the Gospel of Matthew, we encounter almost the same text as yesterday. How different is your life today from yesterday? Can any of us tell how any day will unfold as we hang our heels over the edge of the bed each morning? A simple browse of the death notices of the local newspaper reminds us of the fragility of our confidence.

What is the significance of our life? The words of ‘the Teacher’ in Ecclesiastes 1:2 are a sober reminder of the sum total of our lives.

If that’s the full story, why bother continuing? But it’s not. We continue by living with Jesus. How easily we can lose a sense of purpose and joy in life.

And so, we lose our lives and find them again in Jesus.

He reminds us that life with Jesus is full, even in the middle of struggles. Eternal life is assured. In baptism, we are welcomed into the kingdom of God.

How do we live in this kingdom? With confidence! Ecclesiastes 2:24 puts it this way: The best thing we can do is to enjoy eating, drinking and working. These are God’s gifts to us. So, live life to the full. Find an opportunity to love, serve, bless and praise the Lord every day.

We pray with Steve Kuban, who sang in 2014:

I will praise you with all of my life

I will praise you with all of my strength

With all of my life, with all of my strength

All of my hope is in you

My life is in you, Lord

My strength is in you, Lord

My hope is in you, Lord

In you, it’s in you.

Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening.

All or nothing

by Tim Klein

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

Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it (Matthew 10:39).

Read Matthew 10:24–39

Have you ever been in one of those total commitment situations? They say to you, ‘It’s all or nothing! You’re in, or you’re out – no middle ground – not “fair weather” but of “rusted on” followers.’ This relates to Jesus saying, ‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money’ (Matthew 6:24).

Matthew 10 speaks about a committed relationship of faith and trust in Jesus. He invites us into equality with him – to be one with him – to be lost in him – our teacher and Lord. This profound truth is also expressed in the light of John 14:20: ‘In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.’

In Matthew 10:39, Jesus invites us to invest ourselves completely in him: no half measures, no sitting on the fence, no having a bet each way!

In the middle of all the voices that cry out to us, calling us to invest in this or that, the voice of the Lord invites us to entrust our lives to him. Nothing and no one else can give us the assurance of life he does. Our lives cannot be assured by financial investment, by building strong family relationships, by hard work and commitment to our vocations, by diet and exercise regimes – by any human aspect of our lives.

Only Jesus can give that all-embracing assurance.

Jesus isn’t asking for one-sided blind faith but for a mutual commitment. He attaches a promise, a blessing: ‘Join with me, and your life – your eternal life – is safe and secure. Travel with me, trust me through the ups and downs, the sins and successes of life, and I will forgive and keep you!’

This is so important for us in today’s world, where we are constantly offered choices, to review our commitments and ask whether there is a better way.

Perhaps right now is the time to refresh your commitment as a disciple and follower of Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father, in this world of choices, of wins and losses, let your Holy Spirit continue to reassure us of this truth: whoever loses their life for Jesus’ sake will find it. Amen.

Tim is a recently retired LCANZ pastor. He enjoys spending time with family, connecting with neighbours and gardening.

Tenacious trust

by Ruth Olsen

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Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me (Psalm 69:16).

Read Psalm 69:7–10,(11–15),16–18

David has been having a hard time and is in great distress. For whatever reason, he has been feeling the cost of discipleship in his daily life. People have turned against him, spreading false accusations. Even those closest to him dissociate themselves from him. And it hurt.

Yet the psalmist recognises that only the Lord can rescue and deliver him. He appeals to the goodness of the Lord’s love and great mercy to rescue and redeem him. ‘Lord, help!’

Times of trouble find us wherever we are. The trouble itself is not the issue. Rather, it’s what we do with it. Do we respond with faith, taking it to the Lord in prayer, or do we look to ourselves to solve the trouble and throw a pity party?

Let’s learn from the psalmist David and appeal to the Lord because of who he is and what he is like. Let us grow in becoming tenacious in our trusting him, no matter what is happening. In moments of need, the psalmists frequently ask God why he hides his face, or as here, they plead with him not to do so. For when he does hide his face, it’s like the sunshine has gone. But when his face shines on a person, blessing, encouragement and strength come.

The Aaronic (priestly) blessing (Numbers 6:22–27) places the Lord’s name and blessing on his people. When a loving parent gazes upon a beloved child, their face shines with delight. Can you imagine your Abba Father gazing at you like that? His face turned toward us reminds us that nothing can separate us from his love, despite the lies the enemy may feed us. Jesus confirms the Father’s gaze of loving acceptance. He has come to rescue and redeem us and anyone who trusts him.

Father, by your Spirit, draw us into a closer walk with you to recognise you at work in our lives each day. Open our eyes to Jesus. Thank you for being totally trustworthy! We bless you! Amen.

Ruth lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, Steen. Peritoneal dialysis at night is now their settled ‘new normal’. Ruth says, ‘It is in the challenges of life where we grow in recognising the Lord’s enabling and faithfulness. Like the psalmist, we grow in knowing the goodness of the Lord’s love and his great mercy. All praise be to him!’