He said:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn,     for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek,     for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,     for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful,     for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart,     for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers,     for they will be called children of God.REFLECTIONSWritten by Stephen SheadWe often talk about people who we think are lucky or unlucky, don’t we? Some people just seem to have things go their way in life.Well, Jesus starts his great teaching by telling us who is truly blessed, or lucky. But what he says is actually shocking! He starts by telling us that the lucky ones are basically the losers – those who are poor and sad and meek. That’s not how I normally think!But the lucky ones aren’t just poor and sad. They know God, trust him and long to be like him. They hunger and thirst to be righteous and pure like him, and to show it in the way they treat others.It sounds like crazy talk – why are these people lucky? They certainly don’t look lucky here and now.It’s because of what Jesus promises them in the future, when he returns as king. His promises are just glorious! He says the kingdom of heaven will belong to us! We will be comforted and completely satisfied! I think the one that most grabbed me was verse 8: We will see God – and I’m sure that when we experience pure closeness to God, we’ll wonder why we ever thought anything could compare to it.This passage got me wondering why Jesus begins like this. I think it’s so we have the right expectations about belonging to him. It sure won’t make life comfortable now – it’s important to have that clear. But the joy he has in store for us will make all the suffering now seem “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Ask God to help you keep the right expectations for this life, and to dwell on all Jesus’ promises, so that you will keep hungering to know him and become like him.ABOUT THE AUTHORStephen is our senior minister, which means he wears many hats. But one “hat” he’s really enjoying wearing at the moment is recording the Podcast version of these daily devotions. (If you would prefer to listen, subscribe using one of the links in the email or on our website.)

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. REFLECTIONSWritten by Gus CameronIt must have been quite a sight seeing Jesus, on a mountainside, surrounded by that crowd – much like a celebrity today, although I’m guessing it was a little more sedate than when The Beatles came to Sydney all those years ago! But this crowd around Jesus was witnessing something far more life-changing.Within the crowd there were his disciples like Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. They “come to him” eager to be with him and learn from him. They’d given up their jobs and returned to retrain under their new teacher. And so Jesus begins to teach them, and we get to listen in too.After 4 weeks of reading Psalm 119 with that recurring call to delight in and listen to and obey God’s word, we now come again to listen to God, this time through words from the mouth of the Messiah. Are you ready to come and listen to Jesus like those disciples? Are you curious? Eager to find out what he’s going to say? Are you excited to hear Jesus life-changing words? Maybe also a little nervous about what it might expose in your life?Let’s pray that God would make us eager to listen to his Messiah. Pray that his words would change us and grow us in our relationships with God. And where necessary pray God would expose those hidden areas where we have not always chosen to follow Jesus in our lives.I hope you’ll join me on the mountainside on Monday when we begin the Sermon on the Mount!ABOUT THE AUTHORGus is an Assistant Minister with our Fairfield congregations. He’s looking forward to when we can have a big group hug at church.

ת Taw 169 May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. 170 May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. 171 May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. 172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. 173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I long for your salvation, Lord, and your law gives me delight. 175 Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. 176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands. REFLECTIONSWritten by Rebecca SheadReading these verses, it seems like the writer is in trouble – he's crying out to God, he asks for deliverance and help, and he’s longing for salvation. How do you respond when you’re facing troubles, or an uncertain future? I know I don’t always turn to God; instead, I feel anxious and look for ways I can help myself. But the Psalm writer looks for help in God’s word – he says it gives understanding, and it sustains him. It even gives him delight! These verses remind us that God has given us promises in his word, and that he is a God who saves! If we put our hope in God, and read his word, he will help us and even bring us delight, just like he did for the Psalm writer. Even in the middle of hard times, we can still praise him. Of course, we have even more reason to hope, because we know the salvation God offers through Jesus. I love how the psalm ends, with the picture of God searching out his lost sheep. I often find myself wandering away from God and his ways, even though I know I shouldn’t. Maybe you feel like you have wandered away from God too. In John 10:11 Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus is the one who brings us back to God, by dying to save us. Thank God that he doesn’t leave us lost, but that he sent Jesus to find us! Let’s pray that we will be like the Psalm writer – that we’ll dwell on God’s word in the good times and the bad, so that we won’t stray far from the one who saves. ABOUT THE AUTHORRebecca is part of our Bossley Park Morning Church.

ש Sin and Shin161 Rulers persecute me without cause,  but my heart trembles at your word.  162 I rejoice in your promise  like one who finds great spoil.  163 I hate and detest falsehood  but I love your law.  164 Seven times a day I praise you  for your righteous laws.  165 Great peace have those who love your law,  and nothing can make them stumble.  166 I wait for your salvation, Lord,  and I follow your commands.  167 I obey your statutes,  for I love them greatly.  168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,  for all my ways are known to you. REFLECTIONSWritten by Wilmo WilmightonToday the acrostic poem that is Psalm 119 gets two letters for the price of one (the letters sin and shin are very similar in Hebrew). In the face of opposition from earthly authorities (hello Psalm 2), the person who has God’s word (verse 161), God’s law (verse 165), stands in awe of it, delights in it, and will not stumble (hello Psalm 1 and 2). When Jesus tells his disciples stories about the kingdom of God he compares it to a field in which someone finds a great treasure, or in another a perfect pearl, and in their joy the one who finds it sells all that they have in order to make sure they get it (Matthew 13:44-46). Everything else is less valuable.That’s how the poet feels about receiving God’s word (verse 162). They don’t just have it, they love it more than anything else (verse 167). God’s word keeps them grounded in the face of outward pressure (verse 161) and the temptation to listen to things that are untrue (verse 163).Do you set aside time to praise God seven times a day for his word like this Psalmist (verse 164)? Maybe not, but I do hope that you and I can spend some time each day standing in awe of God’s word, hoping in his salvation (in Jesus), and keeping his commandments (verse 166). If you miss or stumble today, be in awe that in God’s kindness there is still t-awe-morrow.ABOUT THE AUTHORWilmo mostly hangs at the back of Fairfield 10:30am and 6pm church, living in hope someone will make the call for a milk tea run after church.

ר Resh153 Look on my suffering and deliver me,  for I have not forgotten your law.  154 Defend my cause and redeem me;  preserve my life according to your promise.  155 Salvation is far from the wicked,  for they do not seek out your decrees.  156 Your compassion, Lord, is great;  preserve my life according to your laws.  157 Many are the foes who persecute me,  but I have not turned from your statutes.  158 I look on the faithless with loathing,  for they do not obey your word.  159 See how I love your precepts;  preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.  160 All your words are true;  ll your righteous laws are eternal.  REFLECTIONSWritten by Vincent ChanHere’s an exercise: Try and read verse 157-159 slowly.  How did it make you feel? For myself, it firstly felt foreign – I don’t feel like I have persecutors or adversaries, less so a desire to look upon people in disgust. But it also made me feel like a hypocrite – only this morning I was distracted in my own quiet times, how can I say I ‘love your precepts’ with confidence? And so, these passages make me thankful for Jesus. Jesus is the only one who truly ‘loved’ God’s law in the way this passage calls for. I am thankful that even when I find my own heart dull to God’s word, I remember my Saviour, who’s heart was never dull and promises me a new heart that will grow in love.  But this passage also reminds me that to live contrary to God’s way is not simply a different life choice, it’s to go against the God whose word is truth and whose precepts give life. Salvation is indeed far from the wicked because the wicked do not even recognise the need for salvation. Can it be that even as we are to love and long for the lost to know Christ, there is a rightful place in which we are offended for God’s honour that people are rejecting his rightful rule?  And finally, this passage gives hope. “Every one of your righteous rules endures forever” this section ends with. There is something significant in knowing the truths and realities I read in Scripture will never change. Never. Not with years, not with seasons, not with how I feel, not with how the world looks – God’s truth is the truest thing that I can possibly know and trust in. May we continue to trust in the one who does not change.  ABOUT THE AUTHORVincent Chan is an Assistant Minister with our Fairfield congregations. 

ק Qoph145 I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord,  and I will obey your decrees.  146 I call out to you; save me  and I will keep your statutes.  147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;  I have put my hope in your word.  148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,  that I may meditate on your promises.  149 Hear my voice in accordance with your love;  preserve my life, Lord, according to your laws.  150 Those who devise wicked schemes are near,  but they are far from your law.  151 Yet you are near, Lord,  and all your commands are true.  152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever. REFLECTIONSWritten by Josh CosciaYou might have heard of the name William Carey. A missionary from the late 1700’s who served in India. In 1792, William Carey spoke to the Baptist Associating in Nottingham, England. In this sermon he used the now often quoted phrase, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” Carey passed away in 1834. By that time he had spent 41 years in India without any temporary leave. I wonder, is the first part of Carey’s quote appropriate for us to say? Can we ‘expect’ of God? Also, what leads someone to commit 41 uninterrupted years of their life to serve Him overseas?Two things strike me from this short part of the Psalms. The first is the confidence with which the author approaches God. He calls out to God for help, then states ‘answer me, Lord.’ He calls out again, ‘Save me’. So much expectation. Why? He could approach God with confidence because of His love and promises. This love is bound to his never changing moral character and laws which are established forever. When we call out to God for help, do we have complete faith in His promises, love and law? However, we should be wary not to expect God to give us all the desires of our heart. Our expectations of God are not requests made ‘far from the law’ (v150) as the wicked do. They are requests established in God’s word (v151-152).Also, let’s not make the mistake of only expecting from God. Knowing this confidence, we must obey his law. We must put our hope in him. The author responds to his own calls with words of action. ‘I will obey your decrees.’ I will keep your statutes.’ ‘I have put my hope in your word.’ For William Carey, that action was to heed God’s call to mission. What is it for you? Pray that God will give you an unearthly confidence in Himself and that it would spur you to attempt great things in His name.    ABOUT THE AUTHORJosh is part of the Bossley Park congregation. He is a Year 2 teacher by trade. When he's not repeating instructions for the millionth time, you might find him on his bicycle or lazing in front of his computer. 

צ Tsadhe 137 You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right. 138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. 139 My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. 140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. 141 Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. 143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. 144 Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live. REFLECTIONSWritten by Paul BoggDo we find it difficult to listen to God? Do we trust His Word to be true in our lives? We are living in a challenging time, and as we look around us, there is much to be concerned about - sickness, relationship breakdowns, a feeling of general disorder in society. The Psalmist in these short words has told us that he, too, has had trouble and distress come upon him (in verse 141). The Psalmist is no stranger to feeling lowly and despised (in verse 143). But in the midst of these feelings, the Psalmist recognises that God's Word is true, God's statutes are righteous (or in other words, good), and His law is right (verses 137, 142, 144). And the Psalmist tests God's Word out in his life thoroughly, and so, comes to love it and delight in it. Do we trust God's Word to be true in our lives? We have a further promise given to us in Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 20: "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ". If you find yourself not listening to God, or unsure about whether what he promises in His Word is true, good, or right - test it out for yourself today in Christ. Come to the foot of the cross of Christ and ask Him to help you see the promises for what they are, to trust them, and to apply it to your day. And so we ask, just like the Psalmist does in verse 144: "Lord, give me understanding that I may live" ABOUT THE AUTHORPaul and Tina are part of Bossley Park congregation. Paul struggles with chronic fatigue and is continuing to learn how to trust God with it. Tina wrestles with being a Godly mum to a bright, inquisitive 2 year old girl.

פ Pe 129 Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. 132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. 134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts. 135 Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. 136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed. REFLECTIONSWritten by Miriam BradshawObedience. I usually think of it like taking medicine, I do it because I know its good for me and I trust the doctor but its not fun. But I’m not sure I could describe a bitter cough medicine or a painful tetanus injection the way this psalmist talks about God’s statutes. In the first verse, they are just plain wonderful. Like a giant lighthouse God’s words give light and understanding in the second verse. Like an ice cold drink in the heat of summer he longs and pants for God’s commands in the third verse. Obedience isn’t a burden either, the psalmist wants to be freed from both the cruel ruler Sin and the harshness of human oppression. Why? So he can obey God! Obedience is freeing. And by the end we find the psalmist weeping. Why? Because God’s law is not obeyed. This year I think I’ve cried more than usual. I’ve longed to be with people more than usual. But have I longed to obey my Saviour more? Have I wept more for the disobedience around me? Sadly probably not. Pray that God would help us to weep more for people who don’t obey and believe in Jesus. Pray that God would help us to long and pant to obey him.ABOUT THE AUTHORThis week our devotions are coming from our Mission Partners. Miriam is serving as a missionary in Valencia, Spain where she’s currently learning Spanish. As you reflect on Psalm 119 please also take a moment to pray for Miriam and the preaching of the gospel in Spain.

ע Ayin121 I have done what is righteous and just;  do not leave me to my oppressors.  122 Ensure your servant’s well-being;  do not let the arrogant oppress me.  123 My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,  looking for your righteous promise.  124 Deal with your servant according to your love  and teach me your decrees.  125 I am your servant; give me discernment  that I may understand your statutes.  126 It is time for you to act, Lord;  your law is being broken. 127 Because I love your commands  more than gold, more than pure gold,  128 and because I consider all your precepts right,  I hate every wrong path. REFLECTIONSWritten by Dan WebsterThe Psalm writer’s experience is ever present here in Namibia. Have you experienced it too? He seems to be really trying to follow God’s word. But rather than salvation and joy and blessing, he’s experiencing oppression from people around him. And they’re the people who don’t care about God’s word! Have you experienced that? It’s seems so wrong! This Psalm made me ask myself, ‘How do I respond when that happens?’ I noticed the Psalm writer responded in two excellent ways. First, he doesn’t give up on God. He doesn’t look elsewhere for other solutions. How tempting is it to think, ‘Well Jesus’ way isn’t working. I’m still struggling. I’ll try the world’s way.” But the Psalm writer looks to God alone. He’s waiting on God. Even though his ‘eyes fail, looking for your salvation.’ He waits with confidence because God has made a ‘righteous promise.’ It’s a promise. So he waits on the Lord, begging him to deal with him ‘according to your love.’ For us, we’ve got an even better ‘righteous promise’ in Jesus, because he waiting on God to the extreme. We can be absolutely sure that God will deal with us according to his love. We’ve got every reason to wait on the Lord! The second thing I noticed is this: While he waits on the Lord, he wants God to teach him his decrees and to give him understanding and discernment. He loves God’s commands more than gold! When I’m waiting on God to change things for me, I’m usually not interested in this! I act like I have the right to be selfish because I’m struggling. Let us become like the Psalmist (and Jesus), turning away from ourselves to seek God’s ways.ABOUT THE AUTHORThis week our devotions are coming from our Mission Partners. Dan and his family are Mission Partners of St Barnabas serving as missionaries in Namibia where Dan teaches at a local Bible college. As you reflect on Psalm 119 please also take a moment to pray for Dan, his family and the Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary.

ס Samekh113 I hate double-minded people,  but I love your law.  114 You are my refuge and my shield;  I have put my hope in your word.  115 Away from me, you evildoers,  that I may keep the commands of my God!  116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;  do not let my hopes be dashed.  117 Uphold me, and I will be delivered;  I will always have regard for your decrees.  118 You reject all who stray from your decrees,  for their delusions come to nothing.  119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;  therefore I love your statutes.  120 My flesh trembles in fear of you;  I stand in awe of your laws. REFLECTIONSWritten by James LaneHow do you go with obeying God when you feel like the only one? What about when someone is trying to get you to join in and do what is wrong? On a good day I joyfully stick to God’s better way of living, even if I am the only one. On these days it is so easy to remember why I love God’s law (v113). His words become my refuge and shield, helping me to stay away from evildoers (v114-115). I want to throw away wickedness now because I know God will throw away the wicked one day (v119).On a bad day though, I compromise and join in ignoring God’s instruction. Or I just become unsure if it’s worth sticking with God’s way. When I do that I forget that God will reject all who stray from his decrees (v118). I forget that living my own way is delusional because it will come to nothing (v118). I forget that God’s laws are awesome and I should stand in awe of them (v120).Can you relate to those good days and bad days? I am sure the Psalmist could. But amazingly Jesus couldn’t. He never had those ‘bad days’ like us! He is the person the Psalmist longs to be. That we long to be. The one who loves God's laws perfectly and always stayed away from evil. And amazingly one day I will love God's laws as much as him and stay away from evil as much as him. So for now, let’s cry out together with the Psalmist to God… “Sustain me and uphold me” (v116-117). God, help me to keep loving your ways when there is the danger of evil all around me. And just like the Psalmist, we can know that our hopes will not be dashed because God has promised it (v116).ABOUT THE AUTHORThis week our devotions are coming from our Mission Partners. James teaches scripture in our local high schools. As you reflect on Psalm 119 please also take a moment to pray for James and the other scripture teachers.