Photo by...Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
In my first year of high school, Australia converted to decimal currency and Simon and Garfunkel released the song, “I am a rock”. While everyone in Australia was working together to adjust to the new currency the song spoke of going it alone. “I am a rock. I am an island.”
It’s a sad song about being hurt and withdrawing into isolation in order to avoid any more pain.
We’ve had some experiences of isolation this year and depending on our nature we’ve either enjoyed or hated those times.
Our God is into community. God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in a divine community of love and because we’re made in the image of God we’re also made for community.
The Christian faith in particular and life in general aren’t meant to be solo adventures. Even those with an introverted nature need others. We all need community.
Paul describes the community in terms of a body with many different and varied parts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. The different parts of the body need each other and when they work together the body functions properly.
The beauty of this image and situation is found in the love and support we give and receive in the community. There are times when we desperately need the support of a loving community and there are times when we provide the support to members of the community.
This ‘strange’ year has highlighted the need for community. We need to care for each other and look out for each other.
It’s great to know God is always doing his best for us. It’s also clear our sisters and brothers are gifts from God. God often helps us through the community. God bless you with all the help you need and with all the strength you need to help others.
by Pastor Glenn Crouch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does (Psalm 145:13b).
Read Psalm 145:10-18
I have heard the Psalms referred to as Jesus’ hymnbook or as his prayer book. This book was so important to the early church that it is quoted in our New Testament more than any other Old Testament book. Sadly, until about 10 years ago, I didn’t take the book seriously. Sure, I had read all 150 of the Psalms many times and I have my favourites, but the psalter came alive when I was advised to pray them. When I read them as my prayer to my Lord, and then built on that prayer all that has been revealed through Jesus.
In our passage today, we have the basis of a prayer of praise. Read the passage again, then use it as a prayer to your heavenly Father. Then build on that with what Jesus has revealed. So, for example, the following prayer is based on the section quoted above:
Father, you are trustworthy. You keep all your promises, and you are faithful in all of your actions. You promised Israel a Messiah. You promised a seed that would crush the head of the serpent. These and so many more promises, you faithfully fulfilled in and through your dear Son, Jesus. My faith is so feeble compared with your faithfulness – help me to trust you, help me to keep my focus on my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
See how you fare with the other verses in our passage today. It can be very helpful to write them down. Why stop with this passage? Through Scripture, the Holy Spirit can give us words when we struggle to pray.
Faithful Father, forgive me for not spending more time talking with you. Through your Holy Spirit, open your word to me. I want to know you better. I want to love you better. Help me see Jesus more clearly. In his name I pray. Amen.
by Pastor Glenn Crouch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul (Acts 11:25).
Read Acts 11:19–30
Barnabas, this man from Cyprus (Acts 4:36,37) is worth looking into. Why not check him out on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnabas – and don’t forget to check the Bible references given.
Following the situation with Cornelius, which we have been looking at for most of this week, reports come in that in the city of Antioch (in Syria), there were those sharing the gospel with Gentiles and that the church there was expanding – with both Jews and Gentiles. So, this needed investigation and Barnabas is chosen for the task. Notice (verse 23) that he was pleased with what he found and encouraged them to continue to remain true to the Lord.
Barnabas did not only encourage with words. He set off for Tarsus to grab Saul (who will become better known by his other name of Paul) and brought him to Antioch. This is not a trivial task – check out a Bible Atlas and see where these cities were! We see here the Holy Spirit at work. We know all that he will do through Paul (Saul) and it started by Barnabas fetching him from Tarsus so that they could work together in Antioch.
The Holy Spirit cannot be contained. The Jerusalem church did not seek out Cornelius – nor did they seek out the Samaritans, nor the Ethiopian. They did not decide to start a church plant in Antioch. Rather the gospel could not be contained, and they had to play catch up. The Holy Spirit helped them with that as well – through Philip, then Peter and now Barnabas.
Are you open to the Holy Spirit working in you? You can be his instrument in your home, your work, your school, your community – wherever you may find yourself. Join with me in desiring to be like Barnabas and be full of the Holy Spirit and faith.
Gracious Father, thank you for including me in your kingdom. Help me to be your instrument in the task of bringing heaven to earth. Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit, so that I may not only better serve you but that I may also be an encouragement to all whom I encounter. Not by my strength, but by yours. In the power of my Lord Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Glenn is the Pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and also looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Karen and he have been married since 1985 and have two grown sons – and have recently become grandparents.
by Pastor Glenn Crouch
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life’ (Acts 11:18).
Read Acts 11:1–18
It seems what happened at Cornelius’ house (as we read earlier this week) spread like wildfire and consequently, when Peter and his colleagues returned to Jerusalem, they were not greeted with enthusiastic inquiries. No, they received criticism – it almost appears that they were put on trial. As we may struggle with change, it seems it wasn’t any easier for the very first church.
As Peter had stood up several times already in this book, so now he stands up and gives an account of the work of the Holy Spirit to his fellow members of the Jerusalem church. While it is perfectly reasonable that those in Jerusalem wanted Peter to give an account of all that had happened in Caesarea (and Joppa), it is disappointing that things started with criticisms and accusations. This is a good reminder that the church today is still a family of sinners – yes, we are forgiven, justified, redeemed, and reconciled – but we still mess up.
Not only do we as individuals need to use the Scriptures as a mirror to see how well we are loving God and loving our neighbour but our congregations and our church organisations need to do this as well. Peter and Paul will later have a conflict over eating with Gentiles (Galatians 2) and the first recorded church council (Acts 15) will look at this issue again. So, if we see that the first Christians – many of whom knew Christ and who all had direct access to the apostles – struggle to determine God’s will, it’s not that surprising that we still struggle.
It is worth noting that our text today ends with the church praising God.
Lord of our salvation, grant me your patience and wisdom as I deal with fellow believers with whom I have disagreements. Help me to keep my focus on my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and all that he has achieved for all of us. In his mighty name, I pray. Amen.
Glenn is the Pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and also looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Karen and he have been married since 1985 and have two grown sons – and have recently become grandparents.