Conversations: Jesus and … The Paralysed Man Read: Mark 2:1–12. This account is also recorded in Matthew 9:1–8 and Luke 5:17–26. Visualise the scene: A crowded house in Jesus’ hometown, Capernaum, including the Pharisees and teachers of the law from every town in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. As we read the account of Jesus healing the paralysed man in Mark, we are drawn into the depth of faith, the power of Jesus’ words, …
Conversations: Jesus and … A Rich Young Man “What must I DO to …?” Have you ever found yourself asking this question of an “expert” in relation to achieving an improved outcome in a particular area of your life? Maybe: a doctor and your health, a teacher and your child’s progress at school, a financial advisor and your retirement, or a pastor and your relationship with Jesus. During your inquiry, you may have found yourself …
Conversations – Jesus and the woman with a bleeding issue
Every concern you have matters to God. So, what’s on your mind right now? Where do you want God to show up in your life?
During 2020, in the months after COVID-19 was detected in Australia, we became accustomed to all manner of social restrictions, and especially so in Victoria with their lengthy lockdowns. We discovered that, for most people, social isolation is not an easy thing to deal with. For extroverts and their need to connect and communicate and share ideas it was challenging. For introverts and their need to have space to think, to process things, it may have given some welcome relief perhaps.
Our God is an awesome God, he reigns from heaven above, with wisdom, power and might. Our God is an awesome God.
These are the words of a song I have sung many times recognising the majesty of God and his amazing power. He is the one who created the world and you and me. Long before we were born, he already knew about us – our strengths, our weaknesses, our successes, and our failures. To believe this is to live by faith. He knew all about us and chose to make us the way we are, because he loves us.
Conversation on the road to Emmaus
What conversations have you had while travelling? My husband and I love to listen to the ABC radio podcast “Conversations” while on road trips. There is such a vast and diverse array of guests the interviewers interact with, some to make us laugh, some to move us to tears. Travelling conversations with a captive audience can pass the time, and also be enlightening.
Have you any siblings? What do conversations with them sound like? Often children from the same family are described as being “chalk and cheese”. Is that so for you?
Mary and Martha seem like “chalk and cheese”. It would be interesting to know if they were of similar ages, or how they shared the household duties. I get the impression that Martha is older, and I wonder if she was bossy or just very responsible. Was Mary easily distracted from a task or even lazy? Whatever my questions, they both appear devoted to Jesus – Martha devoted to serving him and Mary devoted to listening to him.
And Jesus loves them both. Read the full devotion for April 2024 …
Curiosity and an inquiring mind are triggers for gaining further information and knowledge about a particular topic. Recall a time when you carried out some research to become more deeply informed. Was it when buying a product, to obtain accurate facts, or just to enrich some prior understanding with a thirst for further knowledge?
What source of expertise did you use? A person, a book or “Mr Google”?
Read Margaret’s full devotion …
A Drink of Water and a Conversation with Jesus No doubt you have been asked to provide someone with a drink of water. Recall a situation. Who was the person: a child, an adult, a visitor, someone visited, a stranger? When and/or where did this request occur? Did an extended conversation follow? Read John 4:5–42 Here is a conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. This conversation is more than a mere exchange of words. …
Self-control But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other. Galatians 5:22–26 NIV Twelve months have passed since I first began …
“Gentle Jesus meek and mild, look upon a little child” – this well-known children’s hymn, sometimes used as a prayer, seems very fitting during the Advent season because as we approach Christmas, the model of gentleness takes centre stage. Jesus’ humble birth in a manger amidst the busy town of Bethlehem exemplifies the gentle nature of our God. Here our Lord is born in the humblest of places – an animal shelter no less – who would suspect?
Read the full devotion …
Faithfulness
Driving home after celebrating the beginning of another new year, I was surprised at how quiet and uneventful the streets of our little town were. It was relatively early for New Year’s Eve, around 12:30 am, the night was calm, the air crisp. Having just welcomed in 2023 and thinking about what the year ahead may bring, I noticed a movement to the left of my vision. There he was making a surprise appearance, entering unannounced, a huge grey kangaroo heading like a moth toward my headlights. It all appeared like slow motion – him bounding, my reacting as I slammed my foot hard against the brake. I managed to miss him; I don’t know how but I do know his fur polished my fender! Talk about a jolt to the new year! It crossed my mind; could this be a sign that 2023 would be a year of near misses!
Read the full devotion …