Cross Encounters
Pastor Samiec presents Lutheran Radio UK's weekly devotion. Inspiring messages that draw the listener close to the cross of Jesus where God comes to meet his people and to lead them in the way of truth.
Episodes
With Jesus we have resilience and hope – even if we don’t feel it on the ’inside’
Jesus and his Gospel and his revelation that God loves and cares for us does build us up not to ignore what is happening in the world, nor to try and make God and what he does in our image, but to have a confidence, hope, and resilience that God is good and does help us every day.
God laughing
There’s not much mention in the Bible of God laughing but the many references to joy, rejoicing, praise, delight, and living a full life (in Christ) must mean that God laughs with more joy for his people than with sad irony over a blind humanity.
Our environment
The environment is very topical today – as it should be – but the starting environment for Christians is coram Deo – in the presence of God. When that is understood then we can live and serve in any environment!
In the vastness of the universe
In the vastness of the universe, you are precious to God! When Jesus is the light of the world, you are truly enlightened!
Looking at amazing grace
We are observed, monitored, and tracked because people want something from us or to control us – so we find it very hard to imagine that God doesn’t do likewise. Amazing grace tells us another message – that God watches and acts towards us for our benefit! Amazing!
Not fake
Against the charge that all Christians are hypocrites, those who live repentance grounded in Baptism are not pretending to be something they’re not but are living the saint-sinner tension in this world.
Reality
However we define the world and its troubles and evil, frailties and weakness, we will never get close to reality until we define things theologically – before God – and with sin, we don’t like what we find. Thank goodness, God has good news for us!
Making it personal
All Christian theology, Bible studies, sermons, and more become personal in Baptism where God personally declares all Christian theology, Bible studies, sermon, and more to be FOR YOU.
Not side-stepping life
Jesus entered our world and lived each day not ’fast forwarding’ through the boring or dull days but died and rose again to be with us each day.
Rejoice
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4 ESV).
Baptism
So central and so important to the Christian life.
Getting enough rest
The best way is to come into God’s presence and he will serve you!
Our foundational identity
No matter our identities or roles in this world, Christians can have the sure foundation that they are God’s children because God is faithful!
Christmas and Holy Communion
Their message is the same – Jesus is God for us and with us – which is very personal!
The mystery of worship
Beyond our experiences of worship, God is present because he says so – through words, water, bread, and wine – and he is the one who is active towards us.
Getting whacked!
That is what life can seem like – one whack after another – never getting a break! (Where are you, God?!) The story of the crucified man alive again with us offers the best comfort and help that we or our life is not meaningless.
Words from us and words about us
As important as my confession of Faith is, what is more important is Jesus’ action of confessing us to the Father!
Overwhelmed by suffering?
It is so easy to be overwhelmed more and more with social media. There are many ways to respond. One key way is to pray. Another important way might be looking up more and more at the real world around you than the world on the screen.
Our God is good!
That is probably one of the hardest messages to keep saying in the world and to believe in the heart! Nevertheless, it is true! Look to the cross!
Angels
Yes, the Bible talks about angels but let us be clear about what the Bible says and what is not said.
Dealing with death
We cannot. Death takes our life. In Christ, Christians trust that death does not have the final say. That is the message at every Christian funeral. (Why not help your loved ones grieve at the funeral by writing down the Bible verses and hymns you would like at the service?)
Living words
We hear so many words and some of them speak to us. The Holy Spirit works so that we hear in God’s Word what we need to hear! Let us listen!
Intersections
Christians always live in intersections of faith and action, church, and state – or in Two Kingdoms as Lutherans sometimes say. Nevertheless, being aware of the intersections helps us remember the essence of the Church and gives us freedom in how we live our faith.
At the centre
For all the theological talk that is around and the mysteries we cannot fully understand, let us not lose sight of the joy and certainty of Jesus and salvation through him and live each day with his relationship with us at the centre of our being.
Perspective
What is your perspective of God? What is the divine perspective of you? The world’s gods are ’up there’ or ’far away’ but in Christianity Jesus is close by and face to face.
When death draws near
When death is near, for the Christian Jesus is nearer!
Receptive spirituality
To be busy and active for God always means receiving from Him first.
Left-handed
Whatever culture might say about left handedness; God expects me to use both hands to his glory.
My Olympic musings
In the world we have ladders, podiums, and medals all because we are measured by achievements. Jesus gives us his victor’s wreath so we can live with confidence and concentrate not on beating others but serving them.
More goes right than wrong
No matter the trials and troubles of this world, more goes right than goes wrong because God keeps working in hidden ways to stop us totally wrecking everything. Don’t believe me? Look at the cross of Jesus!
Expectations
Expectations are wonderful for good things and fearful of bad things. The world fears death. The followers of Jesus have a different expectation about death.
In the civic realm
Jesus’ disciples can follow him in any civic realm – and each civic realm will have its own challenges.
It’s a mystery!
If we are saved, it is by God’s grace. If people are lost, it is their own fault! It is a mystery! But thank you, Jesus, it is so!
Powerful words
It is better to confront bad words with truth spoken in love than trying to ban or silence them.
Fitting in
Knowing where we ’fit’ in this world is so very important. Christianity proclaims the best message anyone can ever hear – and it is more radical than ever could be imagined.
Forgiveness
Christian forgiveness seems absolutely absurd when the benefit is for the perpetrator and the relationship that had been broken. ’What about me?’ cries the world.
A D-Day Reflection
No matter the circumstances we face, we can go forward each day in the confidence of God’s grace and mercy in Christ. Such grace and mercy are daily encounters and not God clicking his fingers to make our life easy.
Letter and Spirit
We need rules and regulations to live safely and well but we also need to enact them so that they are just. Often Christians can believe that living with God means that the Gospel is in service of the Law. Jesus is not a new Law Giver! But it is hard not to abuse God’s grace! Keeping Law and Gospel correctly discerned is what discipleship and ministry are all about.
Understanding messages
Messages are more than words. We need context and intention to help us understand. God’s message, context, and intention in Jesus is the message we – and the whole world – needs to hear!
God is not absent
The ascension of Jesus is not ’Up, up, and away!’ but the event that guarantees his presence with us wherever we are! God is never absent from his people!
Looking up ... at the moon ... and at the cross
I think we would view the moon differently if men had died on it. How interesting that God in Jesus has died on this world! How does that make us view life?
3
We can find threes anywhere we are in the world! Public speakers are often taught to only make three key points. It’s almost as if creation and the way we are trying to tell us something! Welcome to the Trinity!
Why do people want to go to heaven?
Why do people want to go to heaven and be stuck for eternity with a God they don’t want to have anything to do with here?
So many identities
We have so many identities but what is foundational for Christians is what Jesus says about us.
Waiting around
Actually, there is no waiting around with Jesus!
Reflecting on the solar eclipse
No darkness can ever snuff out Jesus!
Things are not always as they appear!
That is so true for the followers of Jesus!
The spoiler that is not a spoiler
The resurrection of Jesus is not a spoiler. Its light shines on Jesus’ life and death and reveals that Jesus is true!
At home when not at home
This side of eternity we can have various homes. The only one that is stable and indestructible is when Jesus makes his home with us!
Not what was expected
That is really the story of Jesus! Yet Jesus is what we need when we expect to live a good life!
The Church
Despite what we see or think, the Church is really one and dynamic. That truth is a hidden reality. The truth of the Church is found in Jesus – in what Jesus uses to come to us, in the people who gather to meet him, and in the words used to explain what is going on!
The unexpected
God is with us even in the unexpected – and no matter how frustrating, problematic, or troublesome – God brings good from all things for nothing is unexpected to him.
Routines
We have routines for all sort of things in our life. Discipleship involves incorporating encounters with Jesus into our life – daily, routinely even – not out of fear or self-promotion before God – but because the relationship with God who loves us so enriches everything in our life.
Martyrdom
Christians do not seek to be martyrs but because Jesus is who he is, Christians do want to witness to him in all circumstances.
Being what you cannot see
Seeing, role models, good examples are very important! However, through faith Christians live who they are in this world – new creations in Christ – by what they hear – God’s Word – more than by what they see.
Always singing
May the Church treasure its songs while encouraging more to be written. God is always worth our praise!
Coping
It can be such a turmoil – but with a focus on Jesus and on others – others may say that we are coping best.
What is true?
Truth is not based in sincerity but in something objectively measured. For Christians that means Jesus and who he is and what he has done for us.
The human factor
We cannot get away from it when things in life crash. Let us be honest about it. God is honest about it. Look what Jesus did because of human error – even worse – sin.
Who is doing more harm than good?
Religion? Science? Governments? Or really is it simply you and me? And that is why Jesus is the solution rather than the problem.
Precious Baptism
In Christian Baptism, the baptised and Jesus are linked person-to-person – personally so that we become who we are in Christ.
What we say and what we do
Where accountability is flaunted if possible in the world, Christians seek to be accountable to Jesus – not because of rules or fear but because Jesus’ grace gives living the best meaning and purpose.
FOR YOU
We don’t grasp Christmas or The Epiphany – they are more than just stories from the past – until we understand that these events happened and are actually and truly for all people. Yes, FOR YOU!
Telling the time
No matter the year, Christians know that now is the time of salvation which is there for people all the time – thank you, Jesus!
Violence and the Prince of Peace
There is so much violence in the past and still today that the message of the Prince of Peace can seem simply ludicrous – except to Jesus’ followers who seek to follow him.
Honest and having integrity
Should we be?
When things are too much – up or down
Whether we feel as if we’ve been kicked in the guts or we’re on Cloud 9, Jesus in the Divine Service helps us not be depressed or conceited as we focus on him and he directs us to live well with those round us.
God is faithful
In all the ups and downs of the Church, in all the ups and downs of our life, God is faithful.
Thank you
Thank yous are always more than just words.
Remains and remaining
Wherever our mortal remains might be, those in Christ always remain with the Lord because the grave is not the end of the story.
Reformation Practical
If the Lutheran Reformation is only historical and not for today – for people today – then what is the point?
Saints
There is a lot of confusion about saints today. Most commonly thought of as ’super good people’ the biblical idea is of people touched by a holy God to be his people in this world and so all those in Christ are saints and called to live that identity.
Words matter
Without words there is no life; there is no us. What words matter to you? Why?
Emojis
Emojis communicate. God’s emoji to us is Jesus. Perhaps a black cross on a red heart would best declare in an emoji the foundation of the relationship God establishes with us and reminds us that God is for us not against us.
Cutting short
We can’t create God’s blessings to us but we can certainly cut them short. Only with Jesus can we have life in all its fullness.
Names
When we are invited to call someone by their name, we are being drawn into a personal relationship.
Learning to walk
Learning to walk is marked by joy and frustration whether we’re talking about it physically or in terms of discipleship. Our footsteps can reveal our identity, mood, and intention. Only when following Jesus do we truly learn about ourselves and, more importantly, about our God who wants us to live and walk with joy.
How do we really regard others?
When we have something in common – DNA, place of birth, or occupation – we make alliances because to be alone is to be vulnerable and fodder. Jesus came along and revealed that we all have something in common – that he loves each one of us and rescued us to live with him. That new perspective has reshaped the world but there is so much more to do.
Gold medal behaviour
Gold medals are all about winning but perhaps one should think of them as an acknowledgement of champions. How might you be a champion disciple of Jesus?
Faith
Faith is very personal but in Christianity it is not centred in us!
