Gus Cameron

10 November 2026

2 Kings 13:22-14:7

Gus Cameron

10 November 2026

22 And Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them, and He turned toward them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day, the LORD has been unwilling to destroy them or cast them from His presence.
24 When Hazael king of Aram died, his son Ben-hadad reigned in his place. 25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel.

Chapter 14

1 In the second year of the reign of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz over Israel, Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. He did everything as his father Joash had done.
4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.
5 As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king. 6 Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.”
7 Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He took Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this very day.

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

I love verse 23: ‘But the LORD was gracious to Israel and had compassion on them...’ What grace! What compassion! At the start of chapter 13 we were told that King Jehohaz did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them continually into the hands of their enemies. But when Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, the LORD listened to him because He saw Israel’s oppression. So LORD gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped the power of their enemies (13:2-5). That is grace! That is compassion! But notice also what God’s grace and compassion caused him to do in the second half of verse 23: ‘He turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ The reason he turned toward them in grace and compassion to save them, despite their evil, was his promise to the patriarchs – His promise that he would be their God and he would bless them, His promise that all peoples on earth would be blessed through Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:3).

This foreshadows the grace and compassion that God has showered on us through Christ! All of us, from birth, did evil in God’s eyes. So God’s anger burned justly against us. We lived as slaves to sin, under the sway of Satan, whether we realised it or not. But God saw our oppression. He was moved with compassion. He lavished us with grace by sending a deliver, his very own Son! Through trust in that Son, we are set free from our slavery to sin and transferred from Satan’s clutches into the kingdom of God. And all of this because of that same covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are grafted into Israel through faith in Christ. God is blessing all peoples on earth, even us, by bringing us into his people through trust in his Son.

Let us pray. Father, we thank you for your grace and compassion to us. Thank you for your faithfulness to your promises. Thank you for sending Jesus to deliver us. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is our Honorary Assistant Minister.

Gus Cameron

9 November 2026

2 Kings 13:14-21

Gus Cameron

9 November 2026

14 When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
15 Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows.”
So Jehoash took a bow and some arrows.
16 Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.”
So the king put his hand on the bow, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.
17 “Open the east window,” said Elisha.
So he opened it and Elisha said, “Shoot!” So he shot.
And Elisha declared:
“This is the LORD’s arrow of victory,
the arrow of victory over Aram,
for you shall strike the Arameans in Aphek
until you have put an end to them.”
18 Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!”
So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!”
So he struck the ground three times and stopped.
19 But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”
20 And Elisha died and was buried.
Now the Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring. 21 Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

I found this passage so strange! But let me see if I can lean into the two weirdest bits.

First, what King Jehoash says to the dying prophet Elisha: “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” These are exactly the same words that Elisha himself had cried out when Elijah was about to depart (2 Kings 2:12). The phrase means something like: “You are Israel’s greatest protection, far more than any army.” It shows that they knew the word of God is more powerful than any human force.

When faithful Elisha had said it to Elijah, God answered his cry by anointing Elisha himself as Elijah’s replacement. Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God provided another prophetic guardian. But here, the one who says it is the faithless, idol-worshiping Jehoash. It becomes very clear that he won’t become the new Elisha, because he fails the first prophetic test with the arrows. Perhaps this is a sign that God’s patience with Israel is finally running out.

The second weirdness is the dead man touching Elisha’s bones. I think this shows the tragedy of Israel’s failure. The ministry of one like Elisha promised to give life to the dead! But Elisha himself is now dead. His bones carry some residual power, like a chicken still running around after its head is chopped off. But even those bones will dissolve into dust.

How much greater is Jesus! Jesus, the great prophet and Word of God, died and was buried in a tomb. But God did not allow his body to decay (Acts 2:31); he glorified him as the risen life-giver. We have a mighty prophetic guardian for all who call him Lord – Jesus, the chariots and horsemen of the whole world. He is the one John saw in his vision: the rider called Faithful and True, the King of kings and Lord of lords who will judge the whole world and the Devil himself with justice and truth (Revelation 19:11-21).

The Bible warns us not to take God’s patience for granted (Romans 2:4). But for those of us who have answered his call to repent and trust in Christ, it’s such a comfort to know that Jesus lives to defend us in life from the assaults and accusations of the Devil, and to raise us with him in indestructible glory.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Gus Cameron

7 November 2026

2 Kings 13:1-13

Gus Cameron

7 November 2026

1 In the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash son of Ahaziah over Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria seventeen years. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them. 3 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them continually into the hands of Hazael king of Aram and his son Ben-hadad.
4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram had inflicted on Israel. 5 So the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel lived in their own homes as they had before.
6 Nevertheless, they did not turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, but they continued to walk in them. The Asherah pole even remained standing in Samaria.
7 Jehoahaz had no army left, except fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.
8 As for the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, along with all his accomplishments and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
9 And Jehoahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And his son Jehoash reigned in his place.
10 In the thirty-seventh year of the reign of Joash over Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.
12 As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with all his accomplishments and his might, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
13 And Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

The books of Kings have been following the parallel stories of the kings of Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Today we return to the north, with the reigns of Jehu’s son and grandson over Israel.

Jehu was the one whom God had raised up to end the dynasty of Ahab and Jezebel, who had made Baal-worship the national religion. It seemed like Jehu would be a “good guy”. But instead of turning Israel back to the Lord God, he replaced Baal-worship with older idols. The very first king of the northern king – Jeroboam son of Nebat – had set up two golden calf statues, one at the southern end of the kingdom (in Bethel) and the other at the northern end (in Dan), and got all the people worshiping them instead of the Lord.

Jehu, his son and his grandson went back to “the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit” (v 2, 11). The regime change merely swapped one type of godlessness with a different type.

In lots of ways, the nations of Israel and Judah under the old covenant were unique, so we need to be careful about comparing modern nations with them. But especially this week with the US midterm elections, it got me thinking about our hopes for political parties and elections. It’s good for Christians to be actively involved in politics, and some governments do more damage than others. But as much as you want things to change, we need to remember that every change of government will be from one sinful regime to another. None of them are Christ’s kingdom. “But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Gus Cameron

6 November 2026

2 Kings 12:13-21

Gus Cameron

6 November 2026

13 However, the money brought into the house of the LORD was not used for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver for the house of the LORD. 14 Instead, it was paid to those doing the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD.
15 No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay the workmen, because they acted with integrity. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.
17 At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem. 18 So King Joash of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. So Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.
19 As for the rest of the acts of Joash, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
20 And the servants of Joash rose up and formed a conspiracy and killed him at Beth-millo, on the road down to Silla. 21 His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Amaziah reigned in his place.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Weirdly, I suspect the first half of today’s passage is part of the biblical basis for some of the “rules” about handling money in Anglican churches in Sydney. Or if it’s not, it’s just accidentally similar.

Two things struck me as similar. First, money used for restoring the temple was kept separate from the offerings that the Law of Moses said belonged to the priests (see Leviticus 5:15-18 and Numbers 18:8-9). In other words, as important as repairing the temple was, it was not to “bleed” money away from what was needed to provide for the priests and sustain their ministry and their families.

No, I’m not a “priest” like those Old Testament guys, but the New Testament has a similar principle of financially providing for those who are set aside for the ministry of the gospel (1 Tim. 5:17-18). And in the Sydney Anglican diocese, property money is to be used for property, and ministers are to be adequately provided for.

Secondly, the priests didn’t control the money. The priests helped collect it, but it was handed over to others (like the royal scribe and supervisors) to actually pay people. In Sydney Anglican churches, we ministers don’t have access to the money; it is entrusted to faithful and reliable laypeople – our church wardens.

A final note: I love the fact that everyone involved in repairing the temple – the supervisors as well as the carpenters and builders – worked with godly integrity and financial faithfulness. Why not thank God now for all the people at St Barnabas who both have practical trades and skills, and who use them with godly integrity and honesty?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

Gus Cameron

5 November 2026

2 Kings 12:1-12

Gus Cameron

5 November 2026

1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2 And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.
3 Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.
4 Then Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as sacred gifts into the house of the LORD—the census money, the money from vows, and the money brought voluntarily into the house of the LORD. 5 Let every priest receive it from his constituency, and let it be used to repair any damage found in the temple.”
6 By the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash, however, the priests had not yet repaired the damage to the temple. 7 So King Joash called Jehoiada and the other priests and said, “Why have you not repaired the damage to the temple? Now, therefore, take no more money from your constituency, but hand it over for the repair of the temple.”
8 So the priests agreed that they would not receive money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.
9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the house of the LORD. There the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the house of the LORD.
10 Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal scribe and the high priest would go up, count the money brought into the house of the LORD, and tie it up in bags. 11 Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those who supervised the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn would pay those doing the work—the carpenters, builders, 12 masons, and stonecutters. They also purchased timber and dressed stone to repair the damage to the house of the LORD, and they paid the other expenses of the temple repairs.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Earlier we saw the courage and faithfulness of Joash’s aunt and uncle, Jehosheba and Jehoiada the priest. It’s encouraging to see their influence on Joash – that he grows up with a firm commitment to worshiping the Lord and seeing that his people do the same. Apparently the temple in Jerusalem had been neglected and was in disrepair. Under the old covenant, this was the dwelling place of God among the people, so Joash’s insistence on restoring it was a sign of his genuine faith.

I’m not sure what was behind the delay in the building project actually going ahead – did the priests want to do it themselves to save money, and they just never got around to it? At any rate, that all felt way too close to home. It feels too similar to the delays we’ve had in trying to make progress on our plans to improve and expand our church buildings…

Except in a very important sense, it’s not at all similar, because our church buildings are NOT temples! We could meet in a warehouse, a barn, or a house like the New Testament churches, and it would be fine. (If you come from a church tradition where that hasn’t been clear, then repeat after me: “A church building is not a temple, it’s just a building.” Or better still, read John 2:21, Ephesians 2:19-22 and 1 Corinthians 3:16 – we are God’s temple, because Jesus is the true temple and he lives in us.)

The thing that is the same, though, is the importance of God’s people being joyfully generous in giving to support the work of ministry – motivated by a zeal for God’s name and for people to come to him. Maybe that’s something you can pray about now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

Gus Cameron

4 November 2026

2 Kings 11:13-21

Gus Cameron

4 November 2026

13 When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD. 14 And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.
Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”
15 And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
16 So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.
17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.
18 So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD. 19 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards.
Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne, 20 and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace.
21 Joash was seven years old when he became king.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul talks about various Old Testament rules and institutions, and then he says: “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (NIV). For some reason, as I read today’s passage, it felt like an Old Testament shadow of the whole gospel – like a tiny preview the great story of Jesus’ victory. Just switch Athaliah to Satan and the forces of evil, and Joash to Jesus.

This world is under the rule of Satan, the great usurper and leader of all those who oppose God’s purposes. Jesus came as the infant king, born (like Joash) as the true heir to David’s throne. As a baby, Jesus was whisked away to protect him from the murderous King Herod, and as an adult he was protected from those who sought to destroy him, until the time of his choosing.

When that time came, he cast down the devil and defeated him – not by the sword, but by his own death and resurrection. By his death, he broke the devil’s power and “freed those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Through his victorious death, Jesus has instituted a new covenant between God and people. Just as the people of Judah smashed their old altars and idols of Baal (v 18), Jesus calls us to get rid of the things that threaten to take first place in our hearts instead of God. And just as Joash’s victory brought joy and peace to the land of Judah (v 19-20), so also the result of Jesus’ victory is that we have joy and peace with God.

Does that seem like a stretch? Well, I don’t mind if it is, because it’s a great story – and it’s true. I’ll take any excuse to tell it again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

Gus Cameron

3 November 2026

2 Kings 11:4-12

Gus Cameron

3 November 2026

4 Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath.

He showed them the king’s son 5 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, 6 a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple— 7 the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. 8 You must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who approaches the ranks must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

9 So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD. 11 And the guards stood with weapons in hand surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

I wonder if anyone has ever made a movie of this? It reads like a classic action script … except there’s not much by way of character introduction. So I did a bit of research into who these people were.

Remember from yesterday, Ahaziah the king of Judah had been killed, and his mother – the Baal-worshipping Athaliah from the northern kingdom – had seized power and was trying to murder all the royal heirs of David’s line. But Ahaziah’s baby son Joash had been taken into hiding by a woman called Jehosheba. And today, a priest called Jehoiada assembles a heavily-armed commando unit to take young Joash into the temple so that he could be anointed as the new, true king.

So who are these people? Jehosheba was Athaliah’s daughter (and the dead king’s brother and little Joash’s aunt), and 1 Chronicles tells us Jehoiada the priest was Jehosheba’s husband.

That might seem a small detail, but it helped me to appreciate their courage – and with what’s coming up later in 2 Kings, it’s good to know there were leaders of courage! Not only was what they were doing highly dangerous, they were leading an armed rebellion against their own mother / mother-in-law. I assume they did it because they were so committed to keeping Judah faithful to worshiping the Lord alone, and they wanted God’s chosen king, the descendant of David, to be on the throne.

It’s not easy to go against your family because of Jesus – especially respected elders in your family. But today is a good reminder that faithfully worshiping God by allowing his Son Jesus to be on the throne of your life is always the right (and courageous) decision.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

Gus Cameron

2 November 2026

2 Kings 11:1-3

Gus Cameron

2 November 2026

This month we are returning to the Old Testament book of 2 Kings, which continues the history of the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah.

But first, I’ll give a recap. God had delivered the people of Israel from slavery and brought them to the land he promised them. He then set a faithful king over them – King David – to save them from their enemies. In 2 Samuel 7, God made a covenant with David, that David’s kingdom would be established forever and his descendants would always sit on the throne. However, there was a condition: David’s descendants must continue to obey the Lord’s commands faithfully and not worship other gods.

David’s son Solomon foolishly turned away from the Lord. As a result, God tore the kingdom in two. Ten tribes broke away to become the independent northern kingdom of Israel. Only the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to David’s line. They became the kingdom of Judah.

However, the northern kingdom turned out to be even worse than Judah. In the south, at least some of the kings were faithful to the Lord, and the line of David continued. In the north, all the kings without exception led the people to worship idols.

The Lord began to raise up prophets in both kingdoms to call the kings and the people back to the covenant. The two most famous were Elijah and his successor Elisha, whom God raised up in the north to combat the most dangerous and unfaithful dynasty of kings: the dynasty of Omri. Omri’s son Abah and his wife Jezebel promoted the worship of the Canaanite storm god Baal.

Ahab’s pagan revolution was especially dangerous, because his dynasty infiltrated King David’s line in Judah. Ahab’s daughter Athaliah – who we will meet in today’s passage – married Jehoram the king of Judah, and that link threatened to bring Baal worship south.

For that reason, God raised up a man called Jehu in the north to end Ahab’s dynasty. Jehu not only wiped out Ahab’s line and seized the throne of Israel, he also killed the king of Judah in the south – Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram and Athaliah. That potentially ended the threat, except that the queen mother Athaliah was still alive in Jerusalem, and she saw an opportunity to seize power.

That was where we ended our last series in 2 Kings.

~~~

1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. 2 But Jehoshebaa daughter of King Joram,b the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.
And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

When our kids were little, Rebecca and I used to comment that one of the least loving things we could do would be to try to turn them into child actors or make them famous. Child mega-stars never seem to turn out happy, well-balanced and stable.

But that would still be a far better fate than the children in today’s passage – royal heirs at a time of political conspiracy and an evil, murderous usurper trying to seize power.

As I thought about that, it dawned on me: God sent his Son, born as a man, into a place where people would plot to kill him because he is the rightful heir to God’s kingdom (Matthew 21:38). God didn’t hide his Son in a bedroom; he allowed him to be publicly exposed, humiliated and murdered, so that we can be spared from judgment and find life with him forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

Gus Cameron

31 October 2026

Romans 10:16-21

Gus Cameron

31 October 2026

16 But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
18 But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did:
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”
19 I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says:
“I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”
20 And Isaiah boldly says:
“I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But as for Israel he says:
“All day long I have held out My hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Sarah Armstrong

Today’s passage reminds us of the importance of the word of God (the Bible). In verse 17 Paul says, “Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Believing and trusting Jesus and His word is the only way to have faith, and to be saved. That is true of all of us, Jew or Gentile.

In this passage, Paul is talking about the Jews specifically. Remember, from verse 1, he said his “heart’s desire and prayer to God” was that the Israelites would be saved. Now, Paul gives examples from the Old Testament where it was clear that the Israelites had been given many opportunities to hear and understand the word of God. Psalm 19 said that the word of God has gone into all the earth. In Isaiah, God said that he had revealed himself to those who were not seeking him, but the Israelites had shown themselves to be “a disobedient and obstinate people.”

This passage has challenged me in two ways.

First, I reread verse 21 several times. How often, like the Israelites, do I ignore the word of God and not give it the appropriate reverence? How often do I fail to take time to meditate on it and ask God to help me to actively understand what it is saying? Perhaps like me, you need to repent – but as we do, we can also thank God for his forgiveness through Jesus and remember how he continues to hold out his hand to us.

Secondly, I am reminded that God has no grandchildren. Even though the Israelites were God’s special old covenant people, not all of them are saved, but only those who have come to faith from hearing the message and believing the word about Christ. We need to be praying for our friends, family and those around us who need to hear and believe the word about Christ. But today, let’s pray specifically for our church’s young people, who are growing up hearing the word about Christ. Just like being an Israelite doesn’t guarantee salvation, being from a Christian family doesn’t mean you are saved. Our heart’s desire and prayer for these precious young people should be that they take on a personal faith in Jesus. Pray also for their parents and key Christians in their lives to love them and teach them the word about Christ.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah is our parish administrator.

Gus Cameron

30 October 2026

Romans 10:11-15

Gus Cameron

30 October 2026

11 It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Tim Mitry

This section of Romans 10 is a great call to action. I’m on board with more people believing in Jesus and following him – and so is Paul. But Paul makes it clear that to reach that end goal of people believing and following Christ, Christians must be sent out.

This is a good reminder to me that as I pray for God to save people, I need to be willing to be one of those ‘sent’ people to go and tell others. I don’t think this necessarily has to involve packing a suitcase and heading to some far-away place, but it does mean being missional in my every-day interactions with people. I can have the ‘beautiful feet’ of someone coming with good news, by sharing the good news about Jesus with friends or visitors. I could tell someone about how the good news of Jesus changes me and the world, and encourage them to go to the Jesus course.

I’m going to pray for courage. As Paul says, “How can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?” Let’s pray that we all will have courage to be the tellers of God’s Good News about his Son to everyone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim is one of our Ministry Trainees.

Gus Cameron

29 October 2026

Romans 10:5-10

Gus Cameron

29 October 2026

5 For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

This is one of my favourite passages in all Paul’s letters. At first, it sounds like Paul is doing bizarre things with the Old Testament. But actually, what he’s doing shows how deeply he understands the way the Old Testament law pointed to Jesus. (It’s pretty complex, but I’ll have a crack at explaining it!)

Paul knew that God’s grace had exploded into the world in the coming of Jesus, Israel’s Messiah. Now finally, salvation was available, as a gift through trusting in Jesus, the Lord whom God had raised from the dead (v 9). But Paul’s anguish is that his own people Israel had rejected Jesus. They thought they were already righteous because God had given them the law of Moses, so why would they need this Jesus?

So Paul quotes two passages from the law of Moses, to show that the law itself pointed to their need for Jesus.

The law of Moses is the first 5 books of the Old Testament (Genesis to Deuteronomy). Those books present two possible ways to seek salvation and life – but one was a dead end. The first way, which is through the law itself, is in Leviticus 18:5: “The man who does these things will live by them.” Paul’s point is: Having the law does nothing. You need to obey all its commands.

And that was always the problem. The people of Israel had stubborn and rebellious hearts. They always ended up turning away from God – and the law didn’t just give commands, it also told the story of Israel’s incurable disobedience. By the end of the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is tearing his hair out (Deuteronomy 31:27). It was clear that the law couldn’t solve the problem.

But at the same time, in Deuteronomy 30:1-10, God made an amazing promise: one day, he would do a great new work of forgiveness and heart-transformation, which would finally bring life. The details of that promise were still shrouded in mystery – but the law ended by showing that the way to righteousness lay in a new, future work of God’s grace.

The second passage Paul quotes comes straight after that promise, in Deuteronomy 30:11-14 – though Paul doesn’t just quote it. He removes the shroud of mystery. He fills in the blanks with the fulfilment of the promise: the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Lord. That was the second way of righteousness that law pointed to as the only hope for Israel and the world.

I love the Bible so much – and the more I study it, the more I marvel at Jesus. I guess the only question left is: Have you confessed “Yes, Jesus is Lord” (you could say it out loud now), and do you believe God raised him from the dead? If so, you are saved. End of story!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Gus Cameron

28 October 2026

Romans 9:30-10:4

Gus Cameron

28 October 2026

30 What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense;
and the one who believes in Him
will never be put to shame.”

Chapter 10

1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. 3 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Laura Lie

Earlier in this chapter we read Paul’s anguish over Israel’s continued unbelief, and his reminder that God is sovereign, as He calls his people to Him.

Which is where we come in at verse 30: “What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.”

Israel did not attain their goal of salvation, because they did not pursue it through faith, but saw it as something to be gained by works (v 32). They thought the old covenant meant they could earn their salvation through obedience to the law, but the old covenant pointed forward to Jesus. Paul saw that, in his day, the Gentiles were the ones entering the new covenant in Christ. They were putting their faith in Christ, believing in him and being saved.

Israel’s mistake was not only a danger for Jews in Paul’s day. How easily can we fall into the same trap? I was raised in a Christian household and was saved at a young age, praise God! And I know that the good works I do in obedience to God are the fruits of the Spirit’s work in my life. They can never earn me salvation, because I am saved through God’s mercy (Ephesians 2:8-10). But so quickly, in my mind they can become something to cling to “just in case” – a little ego, a little salvation backup plan. If I do enough works, if I serve enough, if I keep up the right appearance, then that should help. Right?

No. How would God, the creator of the universe, require my help? How would Jesus’ death on the cross serve any purpose, if my works are still required as part of the plan?

Thankfully, He does not, and Christ’s sacrifice was complete. God is sovereign and His plan is good.

Paul continues to remind us of this in chapter 10: “For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes” (v 4).

What joy and relief for those of us who have already received the Lord’s salvation, and what a wonderful message for those who have not yet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

27 October 2026

Romans 9:25-29

Gus Cameron

27 October 2026

25 As He says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people,
and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,”
26 and,
“It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’
they will be called
‘sons of the living God.’”
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
“Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea,
only the remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth
thoroughly and decisively.”
29 It is just as Isaiah foretold:
“Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have resembled Gomorrah.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Everett

I’ve always found Romans 9 a difficult chapter. I think most of us like to imagine that we are in charge of our own destinies. Yet Paul says that what actually determines our future is God’s sovereign mercy, not our efforts.

It feels unfair. And in a real way, it is.

But verses 25-26 remind me what is actually unfair. It’s unfair that God shows mercy to a sinful outsider like me.

I’m not a part of God’s original covenant people, Israel. I’m not a naturally good or godly person. I don’t deserve God’s compassion. None of us do.

And yet, because God delights in showing mercy, he calls us ungodly, underserving Gentiles, “My people.” He calls us “beloved.” He even calls us “sons” – his children.

Just let that sink in. If you trust in Jesus, you belong to God. You are his beloved. You are a child of his. That’s who you are now. And because that rests entirely on God’s choice to be merciful, you can’t stuff it up. You can’t earn it, or un-earn it. You are just as much God’s beloved on your bad days as your good days. That’s the kind of salvation Jesus has purchased for us.

God’s sovereign choice can be a tricky thing to wrestle with. But it’s also the only reason any of us can be called children of God. Let’s thank him for his mercy.

Heavenly Father, we know that we do not deserve your mercy. You have every right to judge us for our sin. Thank you so much for choosing to show us mercy instead. Thank you for calling us your people, your beloved, your sons. Help us remember today that we are your people not because of our efforts or desires, but because you decided to show us mercy through Jesus. In his name we pray, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

26 October 2026

Romans 9:14-24

Gus Cameron

26 October 2026

14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses:
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16 So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
19 One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
22 What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction? 23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory— 24 including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?

REFLECTIONS

Written by Gus Cameron

This passage helps us reflect on one of the most confronting aspects of our faith. It’s a question that has been asked at every Jesus Course and it is something you have probably asked as well: “Is God unjust to choose to save some people and not others?”

Here’s some comfort: This passage shows us that it is a question that was being asked at the very beginning of Christianity, and it’s a question that the Bible is not afraid to ask. It’s an important question that takes us to the very heart of God and our relationship with him.

In today’s section, Paul helps us to think about God’s mercy in two ways. First, he shows that it makes no sense to say that God is “unfair” in showing mercy. God has mercy on people who do not deserve mercy. That is the definition of mercy. If we deserved God’s mercy, it would not be mercy! God is not, and cannot, be unfair in showing mercy to anyone. What’s “fair” for every single person is to be condemned by God. The book of Exodus shows that even when God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, Pharaoh had already hardened his own heart against God.

So Paul reminds us that we are like clay in the hands of a potter. God is the creator, so he full authority to make and act and plan whatever he chooses. We are his creations; we cannot turn back and call him unjust. As creator God is right to do whatever he chooses.

Secondly, Paul reminds us that God’s mercy shows us his glory. God’s mercy should make us stop in amazement. The best response to our questions about God’s justice is to reflect on Jesus and his death for us on the cross, because there we see God’s mercy and justice come together. There God’s character shines so brightly, his good, righteous, merciful character. The infinite, holy, awesome creator of the universe chose to suffer hell for us, in the person of his Son on the cross, out of love for a sinful world. Even if we can’t fully understand his ways, it’s not that God doesn’t care.

I think I forget just how incredible God’s mercy is. I deserve nothing from God. More than that, I deserve his wrath. But he is merciful. We will find both mercy and justice nowhere else but in Jesus. Give thanks to God for his mercy poured out on the world, and poured out on us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gus is our Senior Assistant Minister with our Fairfield congregations.

Gus Cameron

24 October 2026

Romans 9:6-13

Gus Cameron

24 October 2026

6 It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. 11 Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, 12 not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Ken Wong

Playground soccer games were always a nerve-racking affair for me. The two best players were usually the captains of each team (which was never me). They had the task of picking their teammates one by one. I had the task of nervously waiting to be picked. It was always a great relief when I was picked by the captain that day.

Today we encounter another type of selection, or perhaps non-selection. In yesterday’s passage, Paul lamented that despite the advantages that his fellow Jews enjoyed, very few were being saved. Now Paul says in verse 6, “not all descended from Israel are Israel”. In other words, not every physical descendent of Israel belongs to the true Israel. Not all Israelites will receive the blessing that God promised to Israel.

That raises a very important question: Has God’s promise failed?

Paul uses two examples from the book of Genesis to show that, no, God’s promise has not failed. It was always intended to work that way. God promised that a “seed” or descendant of Abraham would bless the world, but not all “seeds” of Abraham would belong to God.

First, Abraham’s sons Ishmael and Isaac. Both were born to Abraham, but Ishmael is described as a child born of the flesh and human effort. Isaac was born to Sarah in her old age, as the child of God’s promise, by God’s sovereign power. Only Isaac was the seed of God’s promise to bless the world.

Secondly, Isaac’s twin sons Esau and Jacob. Even before they were born, Jacob was destined for blessing, but God had rejected Esau as part of the line of Abraham’s seed. That was not because Jacob was good and Esau was bad, even though later Esau despised God’s promise. But salvation is always by God’s grace and sovereignty and not by human family line or works.

The truth of God’s election to salvation is in the Bible is meant to give great assurance to believers. We might struggle with it (we’ll think more about it tomorrow). But God’s election is like being picked by Lionel Messi for his team, only infinitely better, because when Jesus picks us for his team, victory is assured. And his choice doesn’t depend on our worth or our feeble efforts, only on his death and resurrection for us. He always carries his team.

On the flip side, I am also reminded not to fall into the trap of the Pharisees. Being born to a Christian family, or being in church for a long time, are both great blessings. But neither our family line nor belonging to church save us. I need to recommit myself to Christ each day and rely on him alone for my salvation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ken is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

23 October 2026

Romans 9:1-5

Gus Cameron

23 October 2026

1 I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. 2 I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Jess Chow

Yesterday’s passage from the end of Romans 8 gave us the assurance that absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. That is such a comforting and uplifting truth, particularly in times of hardship.

But in today’s passage, Paul’s tone shifts to one of sorrow as he thinks about his fellow Jews, the people of Israel, who have rejected Christ Jesus as Lord and do not share in that truth with Paul. He’s so filled with anguish he even goes as far as to say he wishes he could sacrifice himself and endure separation from Christ for their sake – if it would lead to their salvation. This is quite extreme! I take it that Paul is speaking hypothetically, since he has just reminded us in the previous chapter that nothing can separate us from Christ. But what is clear is the depth of Paul’s love and longing for the Jews to know and believe in Jesus, their own Messiah.

In the rest of Romans 9 Paul will go on to discuss God’s sovereignty in election, something Christians often refer to as ‘predestination’. Sometimes predestination can seem like a bit of a cold theological idea. You might be tempted to think that, because God is sovereign and chooses whomever He chooses, there’s no point in making the effort to evangelise. I can’t do anything about God’s choice, so I can just go about my own life concerned with my own salvation, not anybody else’s.

But that is completely the wrong way to think. For Paul, knowing that God predestines some to salvation doesn’t lead him to indifference about the Jewish people. He doesn’t wipe his own hands clean since it’s in God’s hands. Instead, knowing God’s sovereignty actually pushes him towards a deep compassion for his people and a self-sacrificial desire that they would know the Christ who proceeds from their bloodline. Is there anyone I would say that I could wish to sacrifice my own salvation for, that I would do whatever is humanly possible to help them know Jesus? This is certainly a challenge. I pray that God would grant me a deep heart to see the lost saved!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jess is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

22 October 2026

Romans 8:35-39

Gus Cameron

22 October 2026

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Keith Hengpoonthana

We have all experienced love of one sort or another in our life, whether from family members, friends, or even strangers who you have only just met. If you ask people at random to define what love is, you will probably get many different answers. Some will define it as a feeling, while others see it as about your actions. Either way, worldly love is temporary and unstable. We fall in and out of love, we sometimes fail even those we love most, and eventually we will be separated from those we love in this world.

What if someone was to love you for who you are, despite all of your flaws and external features? What if that love was forever and nothing could separate you from it? What if that love also builds you up, protects and nurtures you, overcomes all hardship and troubles, and even brings you back to life from death?

The love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord is that love. When you are feeling lonely and unloved, when you are experiencing grief and distress, and when you feel like something is missing in your life, take the time to reflect on this passage. This is real and true love, something only God can give, because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This love can only come from the creator God, and you simply cannot get it from things or people in this world.

Also remember that whenever you feel like your sin is too big to be forgiven and you feel distant from God, then as long as you have put your trust in Christ, nothing can ever separate you from His love for you, all because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. When you are going through hard times and struggling in life, maybe you feel like God is not with you. Nothing could be further from the truth! God is always with you, and it is impossible for anything to separate you from his love.

It’s a good thing to know that someone loves you. What Paul shows us is that, however much anyone in this world loves you, their love is only a tiny speck compared to how wide and long and high and deep is the love of God in Christ for you (Ephesians 3:14-19). Keep these verses in your heart, a love letter like no other.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

21 October 2026

Romans 8:31-34

Gus Cameron

21 October 2026

31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Ashel Singh

How often do I live as though everything depends on me? I often find myself striving to get things perfectly right, worry about what others think, and carry the weight of my failures. When I fall short, it can be easy to question where I stand with God.

Romans 8:31–34 invites us to pause and consider a wonderful truth: God is for us.

The God who created the heavens and the earth has demonstrated his love for us by giving his own son. At the cross, we see just how far God was willing to go to bring us to himself. We do not have to spend our lives trying to convince God to love us. He has already shown us his love through Jesus.

I wonder if there are things from your past that still weigh heavily on your heart. Perhaps you are disappointed in yourself, or you find yourself comparing your faith to the faith of others. When these thoughts arise, where do you turn to for reassurance? Do you look at your own performance, or do you look to Christ?

Paul assures us that Jesus died, rose again, and now intercedes for us. What a comfort it is to know that our hope does not rest on our ability to get everything right, but on the Saviour who has done everything necessary to bring us to God.

Reflecting on this passage, it brings me comfort to rest in that truth. I do not need to carry the burden of proving my worth to God. Instead, I need to remember the love he has already demonstrated and the grace he continues to extend.

I’m usually calculated. I like to be very particular with how things pan out in my life. But that means sometimes I feel as if I need to do things to a certain standard to live for God. This passage brings me reassurance – it has been done, God is for us. It takes away the pressure to get it right. Instead, I can go to God with thankfulness and praise instead of guilt and pressure.

Pray with me. Heavenly Father, help me to rest in your love rather than striving to prove myself. When I am burdened by guilt, fear, or doubt, turn my eyes back to Jesus. Thank you that my confidence rests in what Christ has done, not in what I can achieve. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashel is a member of our Fairfield Evening congregation.

Gus Cameron

20 October 2026

Romans 8:28-30

Gus Cameron

20 October 2026

28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Keng Lio

When I read Romans 8:28-30, what strikes me most is the security and assurance in these verses.

Paul says that those God foreknew, He predestined. Those He predestined, He called. Those He called, He justified. And those He justified, He also glorified.

As I read those words, I can’t help but feel thankful that God has chosen me to be one of His children.

When I look honestly at myself, I know I haven’t earned that privilege. I’m a sinner... and left to myself, I deserve judgement and death, not forgiveness, acceptance and a place in God’s family. And yet, because of Jesus, that is exactly what God has given me.

I find it amazing that verse 29 says, God’s purpose is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son, and that Jesus would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Because of what Jesus has done, I don’t just stand before God as someone whose sins have been forgiven. I have been brought into His family. I can call God my Father, and Jesus my brother.

That is incredibly humbling.

These verses also remind me that my salvation doesn’t ultimately rest on how well I am doing as a Christian. There are times when I feel strong in my faith, and other times when I’m very aware of my weakness and sin. But this passage reminds me that God is the one who called me, justified me, and is bringing His work in me to completion.

Even the word “glorified” gives me hope. Paul speaks about it with such certainty. God’s purpose for His people will not fail.

So when I read this passage, my response is simply gratitude. I deserve none of this. Yet in Christ, I have been forgiven, justified, adopted into God’s family, and given the certain hope of glory.

What an incredible gift it is to belong to Him!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keng is a one of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

Gus Cameron

19 October 2026

Romans 8:24-27

Gus Cameron

19 October 2026

24 For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

Sometimes when I get my daughters to pray, they know what to pray for, but other times they don’t have the words. So I’ll try help them out, talk through what they are thinking about praying, and once in a while they’ll just turn and ask me to pray for them. I’m more than happy to oblige: I count it a real privilege to bring the concerns of my kids before the almighty God and creator of the universe.

I’m not so different to them. There have been times when I have struggled to find the right words to pray – especially when there are crises with no obvious solution, or when people we know have suffered tragedies. In those times, I feel a bit lost. I know I desperately want God to work through the circumstances, but I don’t know what to ask him for.

As Romans has been teaching us, God calls us into a loving relationship with himself as our Father, by adopting us as his children through faith in his Son Jesus. We are weak – we often struggle to find words, we struggle to know how to pray. And as our loving Father, God doesn’t leave us alone in our weakness. He gives us help: his Holy Spirit.

As I reflect on this, there are two ways I realise the Spirit helps me with intercession. First, he reminds me of Scripture and puts Scripture in my mouth as I pray. Sometimes I’ll find myself praying through verses I read earlier, and somehow they fit the types of things I should be praying for at that moment, according to God’s will. One time, after reading James 1:5 on a Thursday morning, I prayed for our senior minister Stephen, that God would give him wisdom to prepare well for Saturday. After I finished praying, I had no idea why I had prayed that – I didn’t even know what Stephen was doing on Saturday. But as I found out later, he was officiating a wedding that day!

Secondly, there have been times I have said to God, “Father, I have no idea what to pray for. But please work in this situation.”

In both cases, today’s passage makes me so thankful that I can trust that the Spirit intercedes, and I can trust that he turns a fumbling, confused set of words into something that brings God glory and benefits his church and his kingdom. All I need to do is make the time and … pray. Let’s do that now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.