But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)

God IS Love!

Every now and again when I have been driving to work and back, I just cannot help but feel so depressed every time I look back at all the many wrong things I have done. I feel so incredibly guilty and I know that I am a sinner just like everyone else. I don’t ever want to upset our Lord and Heavenly Father but I know that I do because of my sin through thought, word and deed. No matter what I do, however much I try not to sin, I know I will.

Being asked to do this particular devotion and upon reading my verse, I was overwhelmed with feelings of relief, as I realised God really does continue to love me. I can’t help but love God so much in return because He always looks after me, let alone everyone else.

It is so special to know of God’s awesome power and love. Every time I read this passage I feel so happy and truly blessed. What a lovely and special sign of God’s mercy and love for all of us.

Prayer: Thank You so much Dear Heavenly Father that I know to always trust in You. Your love is priceless and it has no beginning or end. Praise be to You always. Amen.

Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17)

Depending on which translation of the Bible you are using, this passage may cause one great confusion. If you have the King James, the verse reads, made Him perfect. So does this mean that Jesus was not perfect before this time?

But the Greek word used here, and other places in the New Testament, has nothing to do with perfection in a philosophical or abstract way. Instead, it has a very concrete meaning; it describes a person or thing made fully adequate to carry out the purpose for which it was designed. Examples of this include the spotless Lamb who was to be sacrificed; of a scholar who is no longer at the elementary stage, but mature; and a fully-grown human being or animal. So it was through His suffering that Jesus was truly identified with us. If Jesus had come in a form in which He was unable to suffer, then He would not be like us and could never serve as our Saviour. Jesus was perfect from eternity, but in His Incarnation He was perfectly fitted out in truly human flesh to be our Saviour; truly God and man.

And this Salvation was achieved because the Author, the one who begins something so that others may follow, was Jesus Christ. And this Jesus Christ became a propitiation for our sins. That means, that our sins alienated us from God. Our sins angered God so much that He would have nothing to do with us because of His Holiness and Justice. However, He still loved us, and put into action His plan of Salvation through Jesus. In His death and resurrection, Jesus paid the price for our sin, and thus God’s anger at sin has been assuaged. And even more than assuaged, but He is now our loving Father who bids us come to Him as dear children come to their dear father.

Prayer: Thank You Jesus for bringing peace with God and restoring a loving relationship with Him. In Your true humanity and true divinity, You have purchased my Salvation for me as a free and unmerited gift. For this let me give You thanks and praise now and forevermore, Amen.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Details are important to us. So we can sympathise with the disciples in John 14. Jesus is talking about going ahead of them to the Father to prepare a place for them. Despite His assurances that He’ll return for them and take them to Himself, the disciples get a bit antsy. Thomas says, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Philip adds, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” They’re not asking for much, really, just a few details – a road map, a high-definition photograph, a colour brochure – anything! And what is Jesus’ reply? “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words, “Keep your eyes on the road!”

In the hours and days that follow this scene, Jesus fulfils the meaning of “truth” and turns this world’s understanding of “life” on its head! The disciples are there to see it all. No doubt, they would have preferred the road map or the detailed how-to list rather than the suffering and death of their beloved Teacher. We sure would.

It’s tempting for us to think that Christian lives ought to be predictably free from struggle, sickness and sin. It seems like it would be quite reasonable for God to give us a ten-step self-help plan for curing our separation from Him. But Christian life is rarely a cake-walk, and we’ve failed at our ten-step plan before we’ve even begun. If we’re honest, we realise we can’t even handle the details we’ve been given.

Jesus’ words to his disciples are for us too. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” The details of our future – in this world and the next – may seem a bit hazy to us, but we are not without glimpses and landmarks, as it were. In God’s Word and in His Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion we are joined to Christ’s Death and Resurrection. They point us to the Way – to Jesus Christ. We have been eternally restored to our Father by the forgiveness of our sins won in Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. We keep our eyes on the road – on Him.

Prayer: God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Often our futures seem unclear, and we are bewildered by the changes and chances of life. Despite our preoccupation with details, we often see our good intentions marred by sin. Please forgive us, and through Your Word and Sacraments keep our eyes of faith firmly focused on Jesus. By His keeping every detail of the law, You have saved us. By His suffering and death, bridge our separation from You and by His resurrection give us sure hope in Life Everlasting with You, Amen.

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:39)

Refreshingly straightforward, surely? The basic division between salvation and condemnation is laid out and we are told exactly what is required for salvation. We are not to shrink back, but to have faith. Now, at least, we know what we have to do. Rather a challenge, but at least we know where we are.

Except if we think that, we don’t comprehend the magnitude of the challenge, or where we truly are.

There is a reason why we are only told we are to “have faith” and not given any details of what works are required to demonstrate that faith. Shockingly, God does not require works from us at all. While the verse looks like a requirement of the law for our salvation, it is in fact a gospel proclamation about assurance.

Tellingly, we are “of” those. This is a clue that the achievement is not ours. In fact, our lives are hidden in Christ Jesus so we are counted as of Him. As such we are members of a community, a people of faith – a prominent theme in Hebrews, and nowhere more so than the very next verses. The writer’s aim is to reassure his readers – and us – that they belong to the people of God, the same people who are then listed in chapter 11.

One of the striking things about the characters listed in that chapter is how dodgy, in human terms, many of them were. No sin is left unrepresented! But that is the point. The verses do not make us feel inferior as we contemplate those “super-saints” and their amazing works which earned their salvation. Instead, what shines through is the faithfulness and power of God, and also His gracious mercy in crediting the works He prepared in advance for His people to do, as their righteousness.

Our assurance is through Jesus, not through our works, not even through us “doing” our faith. And thus verse 39 is not about us at all, but about Jesus. Firstly because of what He did, not what we do, and secondly because the very nature of faith, as chapter 11 tells us, is “the assurance of things hoped for”. Faith looks away from the holder to the author of our faith.

Lord Jesus, Thank You for doing what we cannot and for the glorious inheritance You promise us as part of your chosen Israel. Amen.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

We died 2000 years ago also? We died on the cross with Jesus? This is a strange saying indeed.

It seems impossible but it is not. The author Paul here wants to draw the reader and the hearer to the truth of our Baptisms. This is true as Paul also says to the Romans, ‘You were baptised into Jesus’ death, but you were also baptised into Jesus’ resurrection.’

Because we have been “crucified with Christ”, hence, ‘baptised into Jesus’ death and resurrection’, being given eternal life, His Spirit produces a longing in our hearts to live for Him; to live for our dear Saviour.

This life is lived in faith because it is a life living in trust to the Lord. Sometimes this hope can only be trusted because there is not real evidence before us of our being connected to Christ when we are still acting out our sin.

But because God forever loves us and Jesus’ sacrifice was for eternity; not just from His life up to when you were baptised, God’s forgiveness also stands for eternity.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice for eternity. May it inspire us to work for You but may we also continually be reminded that it is only on account of Your mercy that we are saved everlastingly. Amen.

The LORD is my Strength and my Song,
and He has become my Salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise Him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:2)

I often wonder how society, in fifty years say, has changed so much so that we can’t leave our front (or back) doors open. When we are walking, be it to the shops, to your car, through the woods or even down a footpath, there is always that feeling of being unsure of what or who is behind you. Now I don’t know firsthand what it was like many years ago but I have been told many stories, as I am sure many have. Doesn’t it seem like a completely different world? Do people realise what today’s society and yesterday’s society and no doubt the future’s society is doing to the world? Does it feel like there must be a turning point?

Yes, ‘The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God’. Before this Bible verse is the story of Moses leading the Israelites away with the Egyptians chasing after them. They knew who were behind them. They were afraid but the Lord spoke to them through Moses and they were saved. Even when we are never sure of what is behind us, or indeed lies ahead for us, we are always with the comfort that God is fighting for us. He is our strength and light in the dark; our Saviour.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, it is clear we have never changed; we were sinful people, are sinful people and will be sinful people. We pray that Your Perfect Son remain in our stead and take us to Heaven one day to be with You, where we will no longer wonder who is behind us. We will forever be in Your surrounding, guarding Presence. Thank You for Jesus’ sake, Amen.

To this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10

We have our hope set on the living God and in this hope we shall not be disappointed, for not only is He a kind God and hence the Saviour of all men, showering blessings upon them, but He is in a very special sense the Saviour of those who by faith embrace Him and His promise for to them He gives salvation and everlasting life in all its fullness.

If Christ is the Saviour of all men then how much more will He reward those seek and serve Him. He will provide in abundance for those whom He made anew.

The Living God is the providential preserver of all men but He is especially so for believers, for He not only physically and temporarily delivers them, but He also spiritually and eternally saves them.

Prayer: Lord God and Merciful Father, we look to You to look upon us with favour. We believe in You and we trust that You will shower abundant grace to us simply because we believe in You. You came to save all. May all those who believe that You truly came to save them receive Your blessings. Amen.

In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of Reconciliation. (2 Peter 5:19)

Too often we cross the line. We trespass against our mighty Creator. Once was enough but we do it often. Our profession may not be thievery but because it is a natural instinct of ours to covet, we can easily picture the situation of the thief and what it would take to steal from a neighbour. Break a window perhaps, foil a lock or pretend to be someone you’re not.

And what if we get caught? Some homes say, ‘Beware of Dog’, others, ‘This house is legally licensed to hold arms and are liable to be used in the case of a break-in’.

So what happens when God catches us? Does He put us to death as is His right? No. He says to the thief; to us, ‘Because you have wronged me, a price needs to be paid. But because I love you so much, though you have wronged me, I will sacrifice my Son for you.’

Someone needs to die. That’s the law. We deserve to die but Jesus died for us. Jesus reconciled our relationship to the Father via His death. Being perfect Jesus could not only reconcile Himself or one other man, but the whole world of sinners and trespassers.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for reconciling us with the Father by Your Sacrifice. May we be bold in telling this message to others as it has been entrusted to us. Amen.

I Am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. (John 10:14)

What comforting words Jesus says in this verse; how wonderful that He knows each one of us and that we know Him.

Though through our daily sinfulness we are not worthy of such a Good Shepherd, we know that the depth of God’s love is limitless. God showed us this through the sacrifice Jesus made by dying on the cross.

Saviour, like a shepherd lead us,
much we need Thy tenderest care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare.

Keep us all, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray. Amen.

The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. (Revelation 5:7)

This verse is in the middle of a vision, given to St. John, that starts at the beginning of chapter 4. The vision is of heaven itself with the God Almighty, the Eternal Father on the throne. Four mysterious creatures are worshipping Him continually, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (4.7) Then 24 elders fall down before Him and praise Him in these words, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for You created all things and by Your will they existed and were created.” (4.11)

These words are paralleled by another song of praise, sung by the four mysterious creatures and the 24 elders, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom of priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth.” (5.9-10)

Who was worthy? And why was it such a big deal?

In v.2 of ch. 5, an angel asked this first question, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” Then in verse 3, no one was found in heaven or earth who was able to open the scroll. Then St. John starts to cry loudly because no one was found, until one of the elders said to him, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Only Jesus was worthy, because it needs someone who has conquered death, so you can search through the ages and find only Jesus is worthy, because a holy man or a prophet is inadequate in some way; it needs the sinless Son of God. No prophet is perfect, not Gandhi nor Buddha nor Mohammed nor John the Baptist. ONLY JESUS.

The scroll is first mentioned in verse 1 of chapter 5; it is clearly a scroll of prophecy. It has seven seals and the last is only opened in chapter 8. In verse 5 Jesus is called a Lion – the Lion of Judah – and in the next verse He is a Lamb. The whole chapter is full of symbols, showing how He fulfils Old Testament prophecy, but if you read this literally, it is almost a grotesque picture – a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes – how peculiar. But to a Jew, seven is the number of perfection.

The important point is that this was a Lamb that had been slain, led like a lamb to the slaughter, echoing the words of Isaiah 53. Jesus died at Calvary for us, to redeem us, to wash away our sins and to make us one with God. Therefore we can rejoice with the words of verses 12 and 13, which are the last words of Handel’s Messiah before the final Amen,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing. Blessing and honour, glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb, forever and ever.” Amen.