by Pastor Peter Bean
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Read Mark 10:17–31
God is exceedingly generous: he sends rain to the just and the unjust and cares for people how a mother hen cares for her chicks. God looks after nature, despite our (humans’) best attempt to destroy it. He forgives the most heinous sins if we repent. He dishes out grace like it is everyone’s birthday every day.
God is exceedingly generous, and he can do all things. Unlike humans! Despite our efforts, we can never match the generosity and creativity of the Creator God. It doesn’t matter how wealthy we are, how powerful or how many commandments we keep. God’s love is not dependent on those things. No, God loves because God is love.
Neither the rich young man (verse 22) nor Peter (verse 28) get this. I am not sure we do either. Do we not try to live better, be generous and serve others? All good things. But to what end? Particularly if they are simply to win God’s favour, to impress those we live with? Perhaps our motives are more altruistic.
But we constantly want to obey the commandments and demand that others do, too. The rich young man had done this perfectly – at least according to him.
You see, it’s not about us; it’s not about what we do; it’s not about how we live; it’s not about whether we are rich or poor (although if you’re rich, you do well to read these verses closely!). What saves is God’s generosity – not our wealth, power or even obedience.
Grace alone, accepting it, trusting in God’s promise of life and life abundantly (John 10:10). Who do you trust? What do you trust? Our lifestyle might reveal a surprising answer. It is better to return to the one who says this is something people cannot do, but God can. God can do all things (verse 27).
Thank you, generous God, for your creativity, for your generosity and for looking beyond our human weaknesses. Thank you for your gift of grace, life and love. May we live in response to these. Amen.
In early October, Peter enjoyed a family camp with his children and grandchildren at Lake Bonney, South Australia. Then, he returned to weeding, planting, riding, reading and relaxing!
by Carolyn Ehrlich
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I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown [me] … Please deliver me from the hand of my brother (Genesis 32:10a,11a).
Read Genesis 32:3–21
Unworthy. I don’t know about you, but when I feel unworthy, I often focus on what is wrong with me. How broken I am. I also want to please others. I certainly would come with gifts to placate a brother who would rightly be angry with me. Jacob does that, too. But he also recognises and appreciates the steadfast love and faithfulness that God has shown him. He has been blessed with family, livestock and riches, and he knows it. Despite his brokenness, God has continually shown Jacob how much he is loved. And still, Jacob is frightened of Esau. So, he boldly asks God for deliverance even though he is unworthy.
From today’s reading, one reality and two questions arise for me, which I think deserve to be pondered. The reality: God’s love is steadfast, unchanging, ongoing, given, a gift, unwavering, believable, trustworthy, available and demonstrated. When I think about the vastness and certainty of God’s love for me, I am overwhelmed. Still, it is right and proper to think about God’s love for you. Like Paul, it leads me to say:
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38,39).
Based on this unwavering, steadfast love of God, the two questions that I think deserve consideration are: ‘Where has God shown his steadfast love for you in your life?’ and ‘What can you boldly ask him to deliver you from today?’
Jacob had good reason to be frightened that Esau would harm or kill him. But he turned to God for deliverance. We, too, can and should turn to God for deliverance. Does that mean things will go the way we want? No. But they will go the way God wants. His love is steadfast. He is faithful and delivers us, even though we are unworthy. Praise God.
My Father in Heaven, thank you for your steadfastness. Thank you for all the mercies you extend to me every day. Thank you for always loving me. Thank you for the many blessings you give me each day. Today, I come before you and boldly ask you to deliver me from [fill in the whatever you need here]. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
by Carolyn Ehrlich
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Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you’ (Genesis 31:3).
Read Genesis 31:1–21
God gives Jacob a promise, a promise that Jacob could rely on. That promise was simply, ‘I will be with you’. God gives each one of us that promise, too, when we are obedient to his instruction. All we must do is to be available. In response to God’s calling, like Jacob, we must say, ‘Here I am’ (verse 11).
I don’t know about you, but I cling to God’s promise that he will be with me. I do not know what is around the corner. I also do not see the full picture of what I am saying ‘yes’ to when I say to God, ‘Here I am’. I might get an idea about what this picture looks like by looking back over my life and seeing where God has been and what he has done. I know that God’s fingerprints and handiwork are all over my life.
But how do I hear God? Most certainly in his word and the teaching of his word in Sunday services. What am I listening for? Like Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11–13, we do not always hear God in the big things like fire and earthquakes. Instead, ‘After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper’ (1 Kings 19:12). Be still and listen for the sound of a low whisper. Pay attention to it.
Knowing that God will be with you today, would you join me in listening for his gentle voice? Ask God to show you where he has been in your life. Ask him to show you his hand, even in the most challenging places of your life. In trauma, grief, childhood, adulthood, loss, joy, sorrow, happiness, tears, work, play, disagreements, shared conversations, controversy, disobedience, someone else’s disobedience and all the places and spaces of your life, God has been with you. I know that for certain because he promises to be with each of us who believes in the name of Jesus. But I don’t always see his hand. Ask and then wait for him to show you. Get a cup of tea, sit and ask. Look, listen, smell, taste, feel. God will show you because he is faithful and steadfast.
Loving Father, you always keep your promises and have promised that you are with me. Here I am. Show me where you are in my life. You know my heart’s deepest yearnings. You know my desires. Please help me always know and unquestionably trust your goodness. Amen.
Carolyn Ehrlich lives in retirement with her husband Wayne in Ipswich, Queensland. Prior to retirement, Carolyn worked as a researcher in the disability and rehabilitation fields. Today, Carolyn keeps busy with hobbies, supporting the Ipswich Lutheran Parish in various leadership roles and supporting her family.
by Carolyn Ehrlich
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
And to love him with all the heart … and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:33).
Read Mark 12:28–34
Have you ever loved someone so much that it almost hurts? That person who captures your whole being? Your heart feels like it would burst from your chest. You gaze adoringly at them. You hang onto their every word. You want to spend time with them. You can’t wait for the next word, whisper, smile, hug, gurgle, coo, phone call. You run to them with all your might. You want to be with them, hold them. You think about them all the time.
How do you love God? Do you hold onto his every word? Desire to spend time with him? Gaze adoringly toward him? Do you look for his whispers, smiles and hugs? As I write this, I am on holiday near McLaren Vale in South Australia. It has been the most beautiful day. The sun has been shining – the warmth of the morning sun gently kisses my face. The scent of the ocean dances gently to my nostrils, and the sound of warbling magpies as they play in the trees is a melody to my ears. Today, I have tasted God. All the things that have delighted me so much today were created by God. None of the most delightful things have been human made. Today, I know that God loves me. But how well do I love God?
Jesus commands us to love God with all of us. All our heart. All our strength. All our mind. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I don’t even think I can focus on one thing with my entire being for even one second. I cannot even fathom what loving God with all of myself looks, feels, tastes, smells or sounds like. It is so much more than the offerings and sacrifices that I bring. SO. MUCH. MORE. Today, as I see, hear, feel, taste and smell all of God’s creation, I know that loving him is so much more than Sunday worship – although that is important, too. Today, I know that I eagerly wait to be able to love God with all my heart, all my mind and all my soul.
My Heavenly Father, loving you with all my heart, mind and soul is so much more desirable than offering you sacrifices of time, money or material things. Thank you that I can love because you first loved me. Thank you for instilling the taste of your love within me. Help me to love you with everything I am today. Help me to love others as I love myself today. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
Carolyn Ehrlich lives in retirement with her husband Wayne in Ipswich, Queensland. Prior to retirement, Carolyn worked as a researcher in the disability and rehabilitation fields. Today, Carolyn keeps busy with hobbies, supporting the Ipswich Lutheran Parish in various leadership roles and supporting her family.