23rd January 2026.
(John 8:48-59).
When Jesus was challenged by the Jewish leaders about His identity He said, “I tell you the truth before Abraham was born I am!” See verse 58. His bold assertion shocked those who were confronting Him, and they sought to stone Him. They knew He wasn’t referring to a chronological age but was actually claiming to be eternal by taking the ancient name of God, “I AM ” See Exodus 3:14. But as a member of the Trinity, He could make that claim legitimately.
In John 17:3, Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life: that they may you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” The timeless One entered into time so we could live forever. He accomplished that mission by dying in our place and rising again. Because of His sacrifice, we anticipate a future not bound by time, where we will spend eternity with Him. He is the timeless One. So reflect on this SLM:-
“Christ holds all things together.” See Colossians 1:17.
…Pastor Ross.
(John 8:48-59).
When Jesus was challenged by the Jewish leaders about His identity He said, “I tell you the truth before Abraham was born I am!” See verse 58. His bold assertion shocked those who were confronting Him, and they sought to stone Him. They knew He wasn’t referring to a chronological age but was actually claiming to be eternal by taking the ancient name of God, “I AM ” See Exodus 3:14. But as a member of the Trinity, He could make that claim legitimately.
In John 17:3, Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life: that they may you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” The timeless One entered into time so we could live forever. He accomplished that mission by dying in our place and rising again. Because of His sacrifice, we anticipate a future not bound by time, where we will spend eternity with Him. He is the timeless One. So reflect on this SLM:-
“Christ holds all things together.” See Colossians 1:17.
…Pastor Ross.
21st January 2026.
(Romans 12:1-8).
Every athlete who achieves success has to trust the coach enough to do whatever the coach asks them to do for the team.
In Christ, we are to become God’s “living sacrifices”
See Romans 12:1.
We say to our Saviour and Lord: “I trust You. Whatever You want me to do, I am willing.” Then He “transforms” us by renewing our minds to focus on the things that please Him.
It’s helpful to know that God will never call on us to do something for which He has not already equipped us. As Paul reminds us, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (v.6).
Knowing that we can trust God with our lives, we can abandon ourselves to Him, strengthened by the knowledge that He created us and is helping us to make this effort in Him. So reflect on this SLM:-
“There is no risk in abandoning ourselves to God.”
…Pastor Ross.
(Romans 12:1-8).
Every athlete who achieves success has to trust the coach enough to do whatever the coach asks them to do for the team.
In Christ, we are to become God’s “living sacrifices”
See Romans 12:1.
We say to our Saviour and Lord: “I trust You. Whatever You want me to do, I am willing.” Then He “transforms” us by renewing our minds to focus on the things that please Him.
It’s helpful to know that God will never call on us to do something for which He has not already equipped us. As Paul reminds us, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (v.6).
Knowing that we can trust God with our lives, we can abandon ourselves to Him, strengthened by the knowledge that He created us and is helping us to make this effort in Him. So reflect on this SLM:-
“There is no risk in abandoning ourselves to God.”
…Pastor Ross.
19th January 2026.
(Psalm 126).
Tucked away in Psalm 126:3 is a wonderful reminder of God’s tender mercies and what they ultimately mean for us: “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” What a great verse to take to heart as we remember Jesus’s compassion for us at the cross! The difficulties of any given day cannot change the truth that come what may, our Lord has already shown us unfathomable kindness, and “His love endures forever.” See Psalm 136:1.
When we have lived through a difficult circumstance and discovered that God was faithful, keeping that in mind helps greatly the next time life’s waters turn rough. We may not know how God will get us through our circumstances, but His kindness to us in the past helps us trust that He will. So consider this SLM:-
“When we cannot see God’s hand, we can trust His heart.”
…Pastor Ross.
(Psalm 126).
Tucked away in Psalm 126:3 is a wonderful reminder of God’s tender mercies and what they ultimately mean for us: “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” What a great verse to take to heart as we remember Jesus’s compassion for us at the cross! The difficulties of any given day cannot change the truth that come what may, our Lord has already shown us unfathomable kindness, and “His love endures forever.” See Psalm 136:1.
When we have lived through a difficult circumstance and discovered that God was faithful, keeping that in mind helps greatly the next time life’s waters turn rough. We may not know how God will get us through our circumstances, but His kindness to us in the past helps us trust that He will. So consider this SLM:-
“When we cannot see God’s hand, we can trust His heart.”
…Pastor Ross.
16th January 2026.
(Psalm 136:1-9).
Every day nature offers a new and fresh declaration of God’s glory. The question is do I see Him through that beauty, or do I merely glance at it and shrug it off in indifference?
All nature declares the beauty of the One who made it. Our response can be worship, adoration, and thanksgiving for the radiance of a flower, the splendour of a morning sunrise, the symmetry of one particular tree.
Author C.S. Lewis describes a walk in the forest on a hot summer day. He had just asked his friend how best to cultivate a heart thankful toward God. His hiking partner turned to a nearby brook, splashed his face and hands in a little waterfall, and asked, “Why not begin with this?” Lewis said he learned a great principle in that moment: “Begin where you are.”
A trickling waterfall, the wind in the willows, a baby bird, the blue sky, a tiny flower. Why not begin your thankfulness with this? So reflect on this SLM:-
“God is the beauty behind all beauty.”
…Pastor Ross.
(Psalm 136:1-9).
Every day nature offers a new and fresh declaration of God’s glory. The question is do I see Him through that beauty, or do I merely glance at it and shrug it off in indifference?
All nature declares the beauty of the One who made it. Our response can be worship, adoration, and thanksgiving for the radiance of a flower, the splendour of a morning sunrise, the symmetry of one particular tree.
Author C.S. Lewis describes a walk in the forest on a hot summer day. He had just asked his friend how best to cultivate a heart thankful toward God. His hiking partner turned to a nearby brook, splashed his face and hands in a little waterfall, and asked, “Why not begin with this?” Lewis said he learned a great principle in that moment: “Begin where you are.”
A trickling waterfall, the wind in the willows, a baby bird, the blue sky, a tiny flower. Why not begin your thankfulness with this? So reflect on this SLM:-
“God is the beauty behind all beauty.”
…Pastor Ross.
14th January 2026.
(Colossians 1:15-20).
In the ancient poem “The Dream of the Rood” the crucifixion story is retold from the perspective of the tree–the cross. When the tree learns that it is to be used to kill the Son if God, it rejects the idea of being used in this way. But Christ enlists the help of the tree to provide redemption for all who will believe.
In the garden of Eden, a tree was the source of the forbidden fruit that our spiritual parents tasted, causing sin to enter the human race. And when the Son of God shed His blood as the ultimate sacrifice for all of humanity’s sin, He was nailed to a tree on our behalf. Christ “bore our sins in his body on the tree.” See 1 Peter 2:24.
The cross is the turning point for all who trust Christ for salvation. And ever since the crucifixion, it has become a remarkable symbol that represents the sacrificial death of the Son of God for our deliverance from sin and death. The cross is the inexpressibly wonderful evidence of God’s love for us. So reflect on this SLM:-
“Christ gave His life on the tree for our salvation.”
(Colossians 1:15-20).
In the ancient poem “The Dream of the Rood” the crucifixion story is retold from the perspective of the tree–the cross. When the tree learns that it is to be used to kill the Son if God, it rejects the idea of being used in this way. But Christ enlists the help of the tree to provide redemption for all who will believe.
In the garden of Eden, a tree was the source of the forbidden fruit that our spiritual parents tasted, causing sin to enter the human race. And when the Son of God shed His blood as the ultimate sacrifice for all of humanity’s sin, He was nailed to a tree on our behalf. Christ “bore our sins in his body on the tree.” See 1 Peter 2:24.
The cross is the turning point for all who trust Christ for salvation. And ever since the crucifixion, it has become a remarkable symbol that represents the sacrificial death of the Son of God for our deliverance from sin and death. The cross is the inexpressibly wonderful evidence of God’s love for us. So reflect on this SLM:-
“Christ gave His life on the tree for our salvation.”
…Pastor Ross.
12th January 2026.
(Nehemiah 2:11-18).
The last time I visited my home town of Dubbo I was briefly struck with feelings of sorrow and loss. It had changed and so had I.
Nehemiah had been in exile from the land of Israel for many years when he learned of the desperate plight of his people and the devastation in the city of Jerusalem. He received permission from Artaxerxes, the Persian king, to return and rebuild the walls. After a night reconnaissance to examine the situation as detailed in vv.13-15, Nehemiah told the inhabitants of the city, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace”(v.17).
Nehemiah did not return to reminisce but to rebuild. It’s a powerful lesson for us as we consider the damaged parts of our past that need repair. It is our faith in Christ and His power that enables us to look ahead, move forward, and rebuild. So reflect on this SLM:-
“We cannot change the past, but God is changing us for the future.”
…Pastor Ross.
(Nehemiah 2:11-18).
The last time I visited my home town of Dubbo I was briefly struck with feelings of sorrow and loss. It had changed and so had I.
Nehemiah had been in exile from the land of Israel for many years when he learned of the desperate plight of his people and the devastation in the city of Jerusalem. He received permission from Artaxerxes, the Persian king, to return and rebuild the walls. After a night reconnaissance to examine the situation as detailed in vv.13-15, Nehemiah told the inhabitants of the city, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace”(v.17).
Nehemiah did not return to reminisce but to rebuild. It’s a powerful lesson for us as we consider the damaged parts of our past that need repair. It is our faith in Christ and His power that enables us to look ahead, move forward, and rebuild. So reflect on this SLM:-
“We cannot change the past, but God is changing us for the future.”
…Pastor Ross.
9th January 2026.
(Romans 8:31-39).
There is no doubt that God wants us to work to feed our families and to responsibly take care of the world He created. And He expects us to serve others in various ways as we remain alert to those who have not yet responded to the Holy Spirit’s tug on their lives.
And yet we serve a God who loves us more than our work. We must never forget this because there may come a time when our ability to ” do for God” is torn from us by health or failure or unforeseen catastrophe. It is in those hours that God wants us to remember that He loves us not for what we do for Him but because of who we are: His children! Once we call on the name of Christ for salvation, nothing–“trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword”–will ever again separate us “from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vv.35,39).
When all we can do or all we have is taken from us, then all He wants us to do is rest in our identity in Him. So reflect on this SLM:-
“The reason we exist is to be in fellowship with God.”
…Pastor Ross.
(Romans 8:31-39).
There is no doubt that God wants us to work to feed our families and to responsibly take care of the world He created. And He expects us to serve others in various ways as we remain alert to those who have not yet responded to the Holy Spirit’s tug on their lives.
And yet we serve a God who loves us more than our work. We must never forget this because there may come a time when our ability to ” do for God” is torn from us by health or failure or unforeseen catastrophe. It is in those hours that God wants us to remember that He loves us not for what we do for Him but because of who we are: His children! Once we call on the name of Christ for salvation, nothing–“trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword”–will ever again separate us “from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vv.35,39).
When all we can do or all we have is taken from us, then all He wants us to do is rest in our identity in Him. So reflect on this SLM:-
“The reason we exist is to be in fellowship with God.”
…Pastor Ross.
7th January 2026.
(Exodus 17:8-15).
In today’s reading we aren’t told much about Hur, only that he played a crucial role in Israel’s history. During a battle against the Amalekites he helped Aaron hold up Moses’s arms so the Israelites could triumph.
This reminds us that unseen heroes matter, that supporters and those who encourage leaders play a key and often overlooked role. Leaders may be mentioned in the history books or lauded on social media, but the quiet, faithful witness of those who serve in other ways is not overlooked by the Lord. He sees the person who intercedes daily in prayer for friends and family. He sees the person who puts away the chairs each Sunday in church or puts out the church garbage bins each week or cleans the church. He sees the neighbour who reaches out with a word of encouragement.
God is using us, even if our task feels insignificant. And may we notice and thank any unseen heroes who help us. Reflect then on this SLM:-
“Unseen heroes are always seen by God.”
…Pastor Ross.
(Exodus 17:8-15).
In today’s reading we aren’t told much about Hur, only that he played a crucial role in Israel’s history. During a battle against the Amalekites he helped Aaron hold up Moses’s arms so the Israelites could triumph.
This reminds us that unseen heroes matter, that supporters and those who encourage leaders play a key and often overlooked role. Leaders may be mentioned in the history books or lauded on social media, but the quiet, faithful witness of those who serve in other ways is not overlooked by the Lord. He sees the person who intercedes daily in prayer for friends and family. He sees the person who puts away the chairs each Sunday in church or puts out the church garbage bins each week or cleans the church. He sees the neighbour who reaches out with a word of encouragement.
God is using us, even if our task feels insignificant. And may we notice and thank any unseen heroes who help us. Reflect then on this SLM:-
“Unseen heroes are always seen by God.”
…Pastor Ross.
5th January 2026.
(1Corinthians 15:50-58)
With almost every decision we make in life there is uncertainty about the outcome. Yet there is one course we can follow where no matter what happens, we know that in the end it will not be a wasted effort.
The apostle Paul spent a year with the followers of Jesus in Corinth, a city known for its moral corruption. After he left, he urged them in a follow up letter not to be discouraged or feel that their witness for Christ was of no value. He assured them that a day is coming when the Lord will return and even death will be swallowed up in victory. See verses 52-55.
Remaining true to Jesus may be difficult, and at times discouraging, and even dangerous, but it is never pointless or wasted. As we walk with the Lord and witness to His presence and power, our lives are not in vain! We can be sure of that. So reflect on this SLM:-
“Our life and witness for Jesus Christ are not in vain.”
…Pastor Ross.
(1Corinthians 15:50-58)
With almost every decision we make in life there is uncertainty about the outcome. Yet there is one course we can follow where no matter what happens, we know that in the end it will not be a wasted effort.
The apostle Paul spent a year with the followers of Jesus in Corinth, a city known for its moral corruption. After he left, he urged them in a follow up letter not to be discouraged or feel that their witness for Christ was of no value. He assured them that a day is coming when the Lord will return and even death will be swallowed up in victory. See verses 52-55.
Remaining true to Jesus may be difficult, and at times discouraging, and even dangerous, but it is never pointless or wasted. As we walk with the Lord and witness to His presence and power, our lives are not in vain! We can be sure of that. So reflect on this SLM:-
“Our life and witness for Jesus Christ are not in vain.”
…Pastor Ross.
2nd January 2026.
(2 Corinthians 4:1-7)
Discovered in 1974 the Terracotta Army dating back to the third century BC has over 8000 life size sculptures. It has become one of the most popular tourist sites in China, attracting over a million visitors annually. This amazing treasure lay hidden for centuries but is now being shared with the world.
The apostle Paul wrote that followers of Christ have a treasure inside them that is to be shared with the world: “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.” See 2 Cor 4:7 (NLT). The treasure inside us is the message of Christ and His love.
This treasure is not to be hidden but is to be shared so that by God’s love and grace people of every nation can be welcomed into His family. May we, through His Spirit’s working, share that treasure with someone today.
Reflect then on this SLM:-
“Let others see your testimony as well as hear it.”
…Pastor Ross.
(2 Corinthians 4:1-7)
Discovered in 1974 the Terracotta Army dating back to the third century BC has over 8000 life size sculptures. It has become one of the most popular tourist sites in China, attracting over a million visitors annually. This amazing treasure lay hidden for centuries but is now being shared with the world.
The apostle Paul wrote that followers of Christ have a treasure inside them that is to be shared with the world: “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.” See 2 Cor 4:7 (NLT). The treasure inside us is the message of Christ and His love.
This treasure is not to be hidden but is to be shared so that by God’s love and grace people of every nation can be welcomed into His family. May we, through His Spirit’s working, share that treasure with someone today.
Reflect then on this SLM:-
“Let others see your testimony as well as hear it.”
…Pastor Ross.