Church@Home February 2021

CHURCH@HOME www.lca.org.au/churchhome

Nurturing faith through home worship

An active home-worship life helps nurture faith – including across generations. We pray that you will receive blessings from the devotional materials contained here and in the Church@Home resources collection collated and shared on the special webpage at www.lca.org.au/churchhome. There are also other faith-building and practical resources available through this webpage. If you have internet access and a printer, why not print some and mail or deliver them to those who may otherwise miss out?

–Lisa

Deuteronomy 33:27

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

DEVOTIONS FOR HOME WORSHIP

These reflections are from a fresh set of devotions written for our LCA/NZ family and friends to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the Church@Home resources. You can find these and more on the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/daily-devotion

Don’t look back by Verena Johnson

‘But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt’
(Genesis 19:26).

Read Genesis 19:15–29.

We know very little about Lot’s wife. We don’t know her name, but she has been called ‘Ado’ or ‘Edith’ in some Jewish traditions. We don’t know where she was from. What we do know is that despite the angel’s very specific instruction not to look back, she did.

There are a lot of varying theories out there on why she looked back. Some say it was a punishment and that when she looked back at the cities that were so evil, she betrayed her secret longing for that way of life. Other much kinder theories speculate she was looking to see if her daughters were following. Regardless of the reason, Lot’s wife became an instant pillar of salt when she looked back. It seems very harsh.

We can spend a lot of our lives looking backward for a whole range of reasons. Wondering ‘what if’, replaying actions and conversations, and regretting things we’ve done or not done, to name a few. The new one for last year was, ‘If only I’d used all that time I had at home more wisely!’

We can spend so much time looking back that we don’t live in the moment and embrace all the joy and possibilities God gives us in the present.

Thank God that he doesn’t turn us all into pillars of salt but forgives us every day. Thank him that because of his grace, we don’t have to live with what-ifs, replays and regrets. In him, each day is a new beginning with new potential (Lamentations 3:22,23).

Dear God, I thank you that you are a God of forgiveness and new beginnings. Help me not to look back. Help me to give you all my what-ifs, replays and regrets, and leave them with you. Help me to walk into each new day with you and embrace all the moments, joys and possibilities you give me. Amen.

The right time by Neville Grieger

‘I can’t keep my mouth shut’ (Isaiah 62:1).

Read Isaiah 62:1–5.

Speaking of finding the moments and the right words, I am reminded of the well-known Aussie expression ‘to put a sock in it’. Most of us can probably recall occasions when we wished we had kept our mouth shut (or we regret having clicked Send on an email in frustration and haste). Once words are spurted out, they cannot be recalled, and the damage is done.

On the other hand, there may be times when in hindsight, we wished we had said something when a small window of opportunity arose to influence or respond to a situation. Sometimes this may involve standing up and being counted, even if we are standing alone.

Do we find it hard to keep our mouths shut in relation to the God stuff? Or have we missed an opportunity this week to initiate a spiritual conversation that may ignite a burning fire of spiritual growth for someone? For most of us, it’s probably having the courage to speak up, rather than struggling to keep our mouths shut.

Let’s remember that we may be the only copy of the Bible that some people will ever see!

Lord, grant us the gift of discernment, which gives us the wisdom to know when to stay silent and when to speak out. Give us the courage to speak out for you when the moment arises, and always show people Jesus by our actions. Amen. 

No lie comes from the truth by Annie Duarte

‘I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth’ (1 John 2:21).

Read 1 John 2:18–23.

In this last hour, it is so vital that we cling to the truth so that we might recognise a falsehood when we encounter one. We know that the truth we cling to is more than a set of ideas. We follow Jesus, who himself is the truth. No lie comes from the truth. Nothing false, misleading, manipulative, or deceitful comes from Jesus. As the Good Shepherd, he will not lead you astray.

Consider all the promises God makes in his word. He will never leave or forsake you. He will keep you in perfect peace. He has overcome the world. He will counsel you with his loving eye on you. He will bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim freedom to the captives, and release prisoners from darkness. He will bring justice swiftly to the oppressed. Nothing can separate you from his love. These are just a few of the promises God makes.

Praise the Lord that we can trust what he says to be true. He does not speak in vain. None of his promises are empty. He cannot lie because he is the definition of truth. Take a moment to recall your favourite promise from the Lord, and then rejoice because it is not a fairytale or a nice poem – it is the truth.

Father, I thank you that your words are not empty. Your word always accomplishes what it sets out to do. I ask that your promises would come alive to me today. Please give me a renewed passion for your word. Amen.

Hebrews 11:1

Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.

Care of the new believer by Tom Brennen

‘I have baptised you with water; but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit’ (Mark 1:8).

Read Mark 1:4–11.

I came to faith as an adult. The first Christian community I encountered was welcoming, understanding, encouraging and supportive. However, not all of them were like that. I have a clear memory of a time before I was baptised. I was part of a travelling music group that was visiting a congregation when one church member told me: ‘Wrong, wrong, you have it wrong! You can’t be a Christian and be a part of a church until you repent properly and are baptised.’ Even many years later, I feel the cut of those words.

Baptism is an integral part of being a Christian. In baptism, we receive the gift of faith. We join the community of believers that reaches back into the generations.

We join our church mothers and fathers in declaring the glory of God.

Let us never forget that ultimately baptism isn’t our doing – God is at work. As John 15:16 reminds us, we do not choose God; he chooses us.

As God’s people, may we act and speak carefully and lovingly as we mentor those new to the faith. May we be that welcoming community where people can safely explore faith as guided by the Spirit. Let us never cease praying for the gospel to bring forth great fruit.

Lord, we give thanks for your Spirit who works in all people to bring about faith. May we see the world through your eyes and support those new to the faith. Amen.

Put on Jesus by Pastor Mark Gierus

‘Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ’
(Romans 13:14a).

Read Romans 13:11–14.

When you wake up in the morning and put your clothes on for the day, how often do you stop to put Jesus on? Do you take the time each morning to clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ? Perhaps like so many people, there is just so little time to clothe yourself in your Lord Jesus, or perhaps you don’t even think of him when you are waking up in the morning.

What a wonderful gift Jesus is to the whole church (not the buildings, but the people of God), and what a wonderful gift Jesus is to you. God sent his only Son to suffer and die for your sins and offer you forgiveness, eternal life and salvation, simply to be received in faith.

When it comes to clothing yourself with Jesus, you don’t have to put on Jesus or God will not love you anymore. You don’t have to put on Jesus or you will be punished. You get to put on Jesus, clothing yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ for your benefit. You can do this not only in the morning but in the middle of the day, in the evening, and even during those 4.00am wake-up times when you just can’t sleep because of worry or fear.

But how do you clothe yourself with Jesus? Praying, reading his word and spending time with others in fellowship united by the Holy Spirit in love. As you are clothed in Christ Jesus, you are protected from all evil, and you are safe in his love.

Do you know the best sermon you will ever preach is your life? Clothing yourself with Jesus means he is living in you. Jesus is for you, behind you, beside you and above you. Jesus is always with you, and when someone meets you, they will see Jesus.

Dear Lord Jesus, cover me this day with your love, grace and mercy. Guard my heart and my mind so that in all my thoughts and actions, I may serve you. Grow your word deep in my soul so that I bear fruit, living as one who lives in the light of day. Amen.