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Just prior to today’s reading, enemies in Jeremiah’s hometown of Anathoth had plotted to kill him, but God had revealed their plot (Jer. 11:18–23). Without this revelation, the prophet would have been “like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter” (11:19). God promised to punish those wrongdoers.

Jeremiah wanted immediate justice (vv. 1–4). He asked, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” (12:1). He wondered why these would-be murderers had not yet been punished? This wasn’t about revenge—the prophet wanted to see God vindicated. These evil doers were saying that God could not see. And what’s more, they thought they were getting away with it.

Jeremiah also had a bigger question. Why did God allow the wicked to live comfortable lives? That question puzzles us still today. We ask: Does God lack the power to make justice happen? Is He lacking in love? Is He uncaring about goodness? In a way, Jeremiah was accusing God of not being good or just. God appeared to let the faithless “live at ease,” as if the wicked are a special tree that God takes care of (the opposite of Ps. 1:3).

God answered Jeremiah (Jer. 12:5–6). But He answered with more questions. God doesn’t need to justify Himself, and He knew that His prophet trusted Him despite his frustration. Essentially, God’s questions indicate that worse was going to happen. If Jeremiah’s faith could not wait for justice in this case, how would he handle even tougher tests down the road?

These worse things would include the coming judgment on Judah (vv. 7–13). Because of their ongoing sin and rebellion, God would abandon His people and His house (the Temple). His love and protection would be withdrawn. Things would get worse before they get better.

>> The writer of Psalm 73 had similar feelings and doubts. He needed to relearn the truth about God. Why not read this psalm as you conclude your devotional time today?

Extended reading: Jeremiah 11– 12

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God's church should never become a goods spruiking, carnival of worldliness. It's a holy place where we meet with God, confess sins, worship together and meet needs.

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Have you ever been so excited about what the next day would bring that you awoke quickly and eagerly for its start? That mood was in the air for Ruth and Boaz the morning following her visit. Ruth woke before sunrise, to make the trip home under cover of dawn without being noticed. Boaz cautioned her to keep her visit a secret for the time being. While she took the initiative to come to him, now he took the initiative to guard and nurture their plan.

Before she left, Boaz gave her a gift. He fills her cloak with barley, yet another act of hesed and a symbol of his commitment to both Ruth and Naomi. When Ruth arrived home, Naomi was waiting for a report. The author summarizes Ruth’s response by simply letting the reader know that Ruth told Naomi “everything” (v. 17).

One specific line of their dialogue is highly intentional. Ruth adds: “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed’” (v. 17). No doubt, the use of the word “empty” communicates a key reversal regarding the emptiness Naomi had felt. In 1:21 she told the women of Bethlehem: “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.” Ruth heard and felt her deep despair.

Now Ruth had the joy of bringing fullness to her mother- in-law—first of all, physical in the form of more food. But there was more to come. They trusted Boaz unreservedly. Naomi articulated that confidence and encouraged Ruth to wait patiently. Boaz would now take center stage. His next actions would show God’s provision on their behalf.

>> God can act quickly, sometimes reversing a troubling situation in a single moment. Consider the problems you are facing that feel unresolved. You can trust God to fill you and to meet your needs. It may happen with a sudden reversal, but if not, know that God is present and holds your future.

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Christians often define success in terms of numbers: the number of people converted, churches planted, church members in attendance, money raised, etc. Would you answer a ministry posting like this one? “Wanted: Person to speak for the Lord. All content provided. Failure guaranteed—no one will respond.”

The job, of course, was “Old Testament prophet.” God sent Ezekiel to the Israelite exiles (v. 33). One would think that having already experienced God’s judgment—the Babylonian conquest—they would have been eager to listen and obey. Instead, they “listened” as if the prophet were an entertaining singer (v. 32), then went off and did as they pleased. Their mouths said the right words, but their hearts were in the wrong place (v. 31). They completely failed to put God’s words into practice (see days 9 and 10).

Why did they fail to do so? They didn’t take sin seriously. The “detestable things” they had done were the reason for Jerusalem’s fall and their exile (vv. 27–29). We can infer that they didn’t take sin seriously because they didn’t take the Law seriously. Moses had taught repeatedly that keeping God’s covenant would lead to blessing, and breaking it would lead to judgment (see, for example, Lev. 26:14–45). Because they didn’t take sin or the Law seriously, they ignored God’s prophet as well. It seems they were presuming on God’s mercy and hoped their punishment would be over soon. As a result, they hypocritically “listened” to Ezekiel while focusing not on sin and repentance but on “unjust gain” or on their own advantage (v. 31).

Though God knew the people wouldn’t respond rightly, Ezekiel’s ministry wasn’t a failure. God, whose standards are different from ours, counted him a success due to his faithful obedience.

>> How much of your self-worth do you get from your earthly success? It’s difficult for us to escape this emphasis in our culture. Remember, God sees things differently!

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2 Timothy 2:14-19

A recent survey of evangelical Christians found that many hold unbiblical beliefs. Thirty percent thought Jesus was a great teacher, but not God. Forty-two percent thought God accepts worship from any religion. Forty-six percent thought the Holy Spirit is a force not a Person. Eighteen percent even thought the Spirit can tell a person to do something forbidden in the Bible.

These wrong beliefs probably come from a failure to properly interpret God’s Word. One of the most significant purposes of godly learning is to become a person “who correctly handles the word of truth” (v. 15). For Christians, the center of godly learning in our everyday lives must be Scripture.

The Bible is God’s revelation— inerrant, infallible, perfect. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit. As a book it’s in a category all by itself and must be studied in an attitude of submission and obedience. This is the reverse of how we normally read: Typically, we judge books (see any Amazon review!), but with Scripture the Book judges the reader (Heb. 4:12).

In context, Paul was warning against a gnostic heresy that devalued material reality (v. 14). In the Incarnation, the Word was made flesh (John 1:14). The gnostics wanted to change things to be compatible with human wisdom. Their teaching was like a disease in the Body of Christ (vv. 16–18).

The church—both then and now—can best defend itself against such false teachers by learning to handle Scripture accurately and faithfully (v. 15). Interpreting the Bible is in fact the responsibility of every Christian. One day, we want to stand before God as unashamed workers in this area. In any case, “God’s solid foundation” will stand firm to the end (v. 19; see Eph. 1:13).

>> We hope Today in the Word helps you become more faithful and mature Bible interpreters. If studying the Word with us has been helpful to you, why not share this devotional with a friend or family member?

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2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”

Zacchaeus met Christ and his life was transformed, almost overnight. Everyone saw him a sinner; Jesus extended love and grace, and Zacchaeus was changed...

How was he saved? He was changed by faith in Jesus. He was touched by the grace of God. I t is the love and the grace of God that has the power to change our lives.

We are not trying hard to be good. Since we are united with Christ, He is living out that righteous life through us. The closer we get to Him, the more we reflect His beauty.

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In biblical times as well, people with high levels of education could be seen as a bit weird. Paul had been trained as a rabbi under the famous Gamalie —one might say he had the equivalent of a Ph.D. from an Ivy League university (v. 5; Acts 22:3). No wonder Festus thought Paul’s great learning was driving him insane (v. 24)!

Still today, Christian truth can appear strange to the outside world. When Paul explained that Christ had risen from the dead, this sounded impossible and ridiculous to the two government officials (vv. 22–23). The same reaction had occurred in Athens when Paul mentioned the resurrection (Acts 17:31–32). Festus couldn’t help but burst out, “You are out of your mind!” or “Too much study has made you crazy!” A standard Greek reference notes that this phrase is “said to one whose enthusiasm seems to have outrun better judgment.”

A merely human framework for learning and knowledge is limited and sinful. That’s why the governor’s human expectations were wholly mistaken. He wanted Paul’s explanation to stay within the bounds of human knowledge. We want things to make sense on our terms. Prophecy and resurrection don’t fit the grid— until we take God into account.

Paul was not deterred but continued to witness boldly. He calmly responded that his words were true and appealed to King Agrippa’s knowledge of recent events (vv. 25–26). The apostle’s testimony (v. 12) demonstrates how human learning can do a 180-degree turn when coming under God’s control for God’s purposes in God’s service.

>> Apologetics focuses on defending faith through logic and evidence. A book from Moody Publishers can help you do this: A Reasonable Response: Answers to Tough Questions

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In today’s reading, Paul reflects on the status of Gentiles before and after the coming of Jesus. It was not a hopeful picture. They were “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (v. 12). But when Christ came, everything changed for them (v. 13). Through His sacrificial death, Jesus destroyed the barrier between them, and “made the two groups one” (v. 14).

Because of their new identity in Christ, Gentiles were no longer strangers with God’s people, but became “members of his household” (v. 19). The family metaphor became a key way in which Christians understood their relationship with God and one another. They not only had God as their Father, but other believers became their brothers and sisters. This was true even of people of different ethnicity and social status. People who used to be enemies can now relate to each other as members of one family under Christ. This does not mean that we lose our ethnic identity as believers. Rather, we are given a new status in Christ that is even deeper.

>> No believer in Jesus should consider themselves as an orphan. We have been made a part of the largest and most diverse family in the world! Our love for one another will serve as a witness to the world of the power of the gospel to unite and reconcile. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters” (Heb. 13:1).

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Jesus as FRIEND | John 15:1-17

One of the challenges in moving from one town to another is being without friends and family nearby. Calling a new place our home means more than simply moving boxes and furniture, it means establishing new relationships.

We have been reflecting on the gift of relationship we have received in Christ. Because of Christ, we have been adopted into a new family. In today’s reading, Jesus uses another word to describe His relationship with His disciples—friends.

John records Jesus’ final night with His disciples before the crucifixion. He prepares the disciples for His soon-to-come death, resurrection, and ascension. He knows that His relationship with them will change. Using the analogy of a grapevine, Jesus compares them to branches that are connected to a vine. He is the vine and they are the branches (John 15:5). Their job is to bear fruit (v. 2). But this can only be accomplished if they remain connected to the vine! (v. 5).

The disciples remain connected through their obedience (v. 10). But He also speaks to their motivation for obedience. They are not servants, but friends (v. 14). This may contradict our idea of friendship. Isn’t it usually between two equal parties? If Jesus has the right to demand obedience, how is He a friend? In two important ways! First, Jesus calls us friends because He revealed important things to us. He explains, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (v. 15). We are not called to blind obedience but to understand God’s mission. Second, Jesus laid down His life for us (v. 13). This is the greatest gift one friend can offer another.

>> One hymn says, “What a friend we have in Jesus / All our sins and griefs to bear / What a privilege to carry / Everything to God in prayer.” Prayer is a result of this intimate friendship with Jesus. You can share with Him what is on your heart today.

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Imagine what would happen if the apostle Peter came to visit your church. Peter was one of the original twelve disciples who walked beside Jesus during His earthly ministry. Surely, Peter’s arrival would get a lot of attention!

That’s exactly what happened when Peter visited the church at Antioch, an important center of the early Christian movement. It was in Antioch that followers of Jesus were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). The church also had a custom of Jews eating with Gentiles. In the ancient world, eating with someone was a powerful symbol of acceptance and association. Ordinarily, Jews had strict dietary laws that prevented them from having table fellowship with Gentiles. But at Antioch things were different. Jews and Gentiles ate together to symbolize their unity in Christ.

When Peter first arrived, he joined in this practice. However, when some other Jewish teachers argued that Gentiles had to be circumcised first to be Christians, Peter backed away. He did “because he was afraid” of their judgment (Gal. 2:12). Paul confronted Peter directly and publicly because he knew the gospel was at stake. We cannot be made right before God, or justified, through keeping religious laws, but only through faith in Christ (v. 16). The word “justification” simply means being in a right relationship with God. One of the reasons Christ came was to die for our sins so that we could be justified or made right with God. Paul explained, “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (v. 20).

>> Because of our identity with Christ and His work on the cross, we are justified before God. We have been declared innocent, freeing us to have a relationship with Him! When we slip back into legalism, thinking we can keep enough rules to impress God, we need to remember today’s lesson. This relationship was given, not earned.

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1 Corinthians 1:1-9

From Today in the Word

Have you ever been in a conversation with a name-dropper? These people look for every opportunity to tell you about all the powerful or important people they know. The reason for this behavior is not hard to discern. By highlighting their relationship with these important people, they hope to gain admiration and respect.

This week we are focusing on another gift we have received in the coming of Jesus—the gift of relationship. Because Christ came to earth to live among us, we can have a close relationship with Him. For the next days, we will examine what makes the relationship possible, several different aspects of it, and what this gift of relationship means for the believer.

In today’s reading, Paul opens his first letter to the church in Corinth by highlighting their relationship with Christ. Three times he reminds the Corinthians that they are “in Christ” (vv. 2, 4, 5). This phrase emphasizes our close connection to Him. We aren’t just inching closer to Him, we are intimately connected. Our identity is bound up with His (Rom. 6:1–14).

Paul gives thanks to God for the grace that has been given to the Corinthians “in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 1:4). Through this relationship, God has provided them with spiritual gifts to help them minister in the present (v. 7). He will also help them endure faithfully until Christ returns (v. 8). Everything they have in Christ is a gift from their initial conversion, to their continued growth in holiness, to their secure hope for the future. Paul reminds them of their primary calling. God has called them, first and foremost, “into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (v. 9).

>> The word “fellowship” means much more than a surface friendliness. At its root, the word communicates the idea of “sharing” or of “being a shareholder” in something. As believers, we share in the life of Christ. How can you deepen your fellowship with other believers?

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Yes!

I've started a Window cleaning business, and it's going well so far!

To book me: www.cleanrwindow.carrd.co

I do homes and shop fronts, and also weeding for people's gardens.

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One day an important man was riding in a chariot on a dusty road. As he bounced to and fro, he was trying to read the Scriptures. The Lord told Philip to approach the chariot and talk to the man inside who was reading from Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:26–40). Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I . . . unless someone explains it to me?” (vv. 30–31). Philip told the man the “good news about Jesus” (v. 35), and this Ethiopian official became the first recorded African believer in Christ!

In the second half of his book, Isaiah looks forward to Israel’s return from their exile (Isaiah 40–66). Because the exile was a result of Israel’s sin, Isaiah also foretold of a unique servant, Jesus, who would pay the ultimate sacrifice for their sins and for the sins of those to come: “For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (53:12).

This servant of the Lord would not look impressive by worldly standards (53:2). In fact, He would be despised and rejected by many (53:3). He would be beaten to the point that He would look inhuman (52:14). Unlike Israel, this servant would not suffer for His own wrongdoing. Instead, He suffered on behalf of those who had sinned. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (53:5). The suffering of the Lord Jesus was not merely for Israel’s sins, but for all the nations (52:15).

>> God fulfilled the promise told by Isaiah. As one commentator put it, “there is only one brow upon which this crown of thorns will fit.” Because Jesus, the suffering servant, paid our debt, rose again, and conquered the grave, we have eternal hope! Read Isaiah 53:5 and reflect deeply on His sacrifice today.

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👍✊DIRECTOR'S UPDATE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN FAMILY COALITION✊👍

Dear Damian,

I’ve never felt our country so divided.

This email will probably even divide AFC supporters, but I’m compelled to write it.

Recent weeks have seen a torrent of emails from supporters about vaccine mandates.

Please read to the end before you decide how (or whether) you respond to this email.

Many supporters have asked me: isn’t it strange to focus only on securing freedom of religion and belief when the right of many people to even earn a living is at stake?

No, this is not an “anti-vaxxer” email. (Whatever “anti-vaxxer” even means. The term has become so widely used as a term of abuse as to become almost meaningless, a bit like “bigot” or “extremist”).

I’m not going to discuss people’s health choices. That’s entirely your own business.

But I am going to say, unequivocally, that vaccine mandates are wrong.

Aside from the many AFC supporters who have contacted me, I personally know:

dozens of people who have lost their livelihoods;

a minister who, for most of the week, is now locked out of his own church;

people whose studies are now pointless; and

two people who made short trips interstate and were then denied entry back home! No opportunity to even quarantine – nothing.

Surely even the most ardent supporter of government responses to date would have to admit: this is madness.

Most Aussies have given authorities the benefit of the doubt in terms of Covid responses, especially in the early period.

Who would want to be in their position, really? With such a divided society, with many people anxious and wanting our leaders to “do something”, they must have felt damned if they did, damned if they didn’t.

But it’s been nearly two years now. Two. Whole. Years.

And only now, when the vast majority of the population have been vaccinated, we are seeing mandates rolled out in the most arbitrary and blunt manner possible.

Consultation with those affected has either been lip service or non-existent. At the extreme, even alternatives to simply ending people’s careers, such as rapid testing or redeployment, have been left by the wayside.

It makes a mockery of claims that mandates are there to protect the vulnerable – or even for the wellbeing of those sacked!

No, this is about compulsion, pure and simple. And it’s wrong.

I’ve heard the counter arguments – and I’ve considered them at length. Everything from vaccination as a social good (one of the stronger arguments) to “but you don’t complain when the government makes you wear a seat belt” (a pathetic comparison).

Putting all else aside, even if one has no problem with the vaccines, and considers mandates to be reasonable in the circumstances, surely that person would still have to ask:

Am I comfortable with government having so much control over my life – and even my body?

And when regimes implemented (such as QR codes for checking in) have already been misused for other purposes (however ostensibly noble, such as fighting genuine crime) should we not be alarmed by what they may enable?

I am no conspiracy theorist, but I am a student of history.

Besides, all we need to do is look around us to see how things are playing out.

Look at Victoria, where MPs have been forced to sit through the night to debate some of the most draconian powers ever potentially wielded in Australia.

This shocking power grab would be enough to make even Lord Acton (“power tends to corrupt”) blush.

Now, what’s the point of me saying all this?

One of the reasons AFC has grown so quickly has been its well-defined focus on traditionally “family” issues. We’ve been united on a core scope of challenges and haven’t really delved beyond.

With so many issues directly affecting life and the family unit, especially this year, we’ve also had to use our limited resources prudently.

But things have gotten to a point where I personally believe that, whether vaccinated or not, we all need to speak up.

To do nothing risks untold damage to people’s lives, family wellbeing, and the very social fabric of our country.

And what does “speaking up” look like? Well, this is where I genuinely value your response.

If you believe I’m on the right track, please tell me.

If you disagree with what I’m saying, feel free to tell me too. (I trust you’ll stick with AFC regardless as I’m sure you know the good work it does. Please treat this as a separate issue for now).

I can’t promise you an individual response, as I expect plenty of emails. But I do undertake to try and read your message and incorporate it into my planning going forward.

Whatever your stance on this vexed issue – and I acknowledge many are not simply “for” or “against” but hold a nuanced view – I appreciate you taking the time to consider.

If you’ve been reading my missives for a while, you’ll know that (agree with me or not) I strive for sincerity and the good in whatever I share.

>>> Our next email will be a normal update on the Federal Government’s ‘Religious Discrimination Package’.

Thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes

Damian Wyld

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It has often been said that “people don’t quit their jobs; they quit their bosses.” A toxic leadership culture can make it difficult to retain employees even for desirable jobs. On the other hand, a healthy and vibrant leadership culture can make employees want to stay at difficult and demanding positions.

In the early chapters of Isaiah, Judah was suffering from poor leadership. King Ahaz trusted in military might and political alliances instead of trusting in the Lord (Isaiah 7). Israel had suffered long from corrupt kings and officials (Isa. 9:8–10:4). In contrast to these poor examples of leadership, God promised that one day a future king would come who would be the perfect leader—the Messiah.

This future king is described as a “shoot” from the “stump of Jesse” (Isa. 11:1). Jesse is the name of David’s father, so this is a reference to the Davidic line of kings. Notice that Jesse’s line is described as a “stump” because it had been cut down in judgment. Yet, from this stump a new growth would sprout. The Messiah would be uniquely empowered by the “Spirit of the LORD” (v. 2). He would be full of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, and knowledge (v. 2). Righteousness and faithfulness would be at the core of His character (v. 5).

This king will usher in an age of peace. At that time, even animals who are natural enemies will dwell together in harmony. The wolf and the lamb, the leopard, and the goat, along with the lion and the ox (vv. 6–9). He will gather the remnant of His people from all the nations to live under His rule (vv. 12–16).

>> With the coming of Jesus, God kept His promise of a future ideal King (Rom. 15:12; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 5:5). As Jesus himself said, “I am the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16). Today, we can look forward to His Second Coming when all these promises will be fulfilled.