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

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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’.

Beyond a beggar

by Jonathan Krause

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How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? (1 John 3:17)

Read 1 John 3:16–24

The lady was a widow and a beggar.

When I met her in a little village in remote Bangladesh, she showed me the handful of rice she’d begged for that morning. Then she gestured for me to sit down while she cooked it for us to share.

I’d come from one of the world’s richest countries, from a comfortable house, a beautiful family, and all of the things you and I take for granted as essentials – clean, fresh water at the turn of a tap, a supermarket full of endless food choices, electricity to keep us warm and cool and entertained.

This lady was a widow and a beggar.

I’d come to thank her. She had come into the aid agency with a few coins she’d gathered, and handed them over, demanding we use them to help ‘the poor people’.

Despite her own condition, she saw others in more need than herself and gave the little she had for them. What love!

I took her photo and shared her story back in Australia. A few months later, a 17-year-old girl wrote to me and told me how that widow beggar had changed her life. It inspired her to change her career choice, from a high-flying, high-paid legal job to a social worker so that she could help others.

When we reflect God’s love for us by extending it to others, we should never be surprised by the impact this love can have.

Working at ALWS, I’ve seen how it goes beyond the practical impact we may have on our ‘brother or sister in need’. The hope we can bring, the reassurance that someone cares – this can be inspiration for life.

So, if we choose not to help someone in need, while we may keep the money with which we’ve been blessed, we also miss out on the joy that comes when we bring love to life for others.

Just like so much of what Jesus teaches us, that can seem challenging or countercultural or simply go against our human instincts.

Yet I’ve learnt that loving our neighbour can be freeing, inspiring and an example to all those around us of what God’s love means in our lives.

Even if we are ‘only’ a widow and a beggar.

Jesus, your life shows me how I should live my life for others. Please give me your strength to do this, hold me to account when I don’t and keep showing me the joy when love comes to life. Amen.

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