Short devotion: Majesty - Psalm 93v1

 

Psalm 93:1 The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. (NIV)

In a couple of weeks, the world will be focused on the coronation of Charles III. Television cameras from all over the world will broadcast this unique event live and no doubt many people will be amazed to see the coronation regalia, carriages, and parade that will take place in the United Kingdom. I will watch some of it – mainly to see the golden coronation coach which is only used for these special events. When I was a child in school, I won a special prize from my second-grade schoolteacher which was a beautiful drawing of the coach. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to see it being driven on the streets of London.

 For some folks, all the pomp and circumstance, as well as the massive expense, will be a major turn-off. Why we continue to support a medieval custom in the 21^st century or view a royal procession doesn’t have any relevance for them, especially for some folks over here in the United States which fought a long war to be independent of the British monarchy. I can sympathize with that, but it won’t stop me watching some of this unique historical event.

 However, rather than being captivated by it, the whole process will remind me of God’s splendor and majesty which a million coronations could never match. I serve a greater king than any sovereign which a royal family on Earth could produce; I am a subject, first and foremost, of God’s Kingdom through Christ, which is more powerful, sacred, and everlasting than any monarchy or republic could ever establish. The King who has my loyalty is robed with the righteousness of God’s grace and coronated with a crown of thorns, worth so much more to me than any made of gold.

 Point to ponder: If I believe Christ is my King, how do I seek to serve Him with my life?

 Prayer: Lord God, You are the King of Glory and the Creator of the Cosmos. May we serve You faithfully with our lives as subjects of Your Kingdom. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

 John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can view what’s happening at the church on its website here: Erin Presbyterian Church

 

 

A Real Refuge - Isaiah 32:2

Isaiah 32:2 Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. (NIV)

In Isaiah’s lifetime, life was very precarious because the people were subject to capricious kings and unjust sovereigns. God’s authority appeared to be usurped and the rulers of the day idolized themselves to such a degree that they led God’s people astray. The role of prophets like Isaiah was to interpret the times and let the people know that God was still in control. Despite the moral and religious failings of their kings, God’s presence was available to the nation and there would come a time when righteous rulers would shelter their subjects from injustice and release them from the emotional turmoil and spiritual wilderness that bad rulers and uncaring kings had caused.

God’s people were thirsty for justice and suffered under the harshness of their kings. They were meant to be a cherished religious nation where everyone served God and one another lovingly, fairly, and equally. Some of their kings understood that their role was to be an example of faithfulness to the people and that through their wise and benign rule, the people would prosper and the nation would be blessed. Other rulers though, treated their sovereignty as being sacrosanct, so they could not be held accountable nor confronted about their unjust ways. In such a climate, the people began to perish inwardly and lost their connection to God. Despair and desperation set in; truth was falsified and power was glorified. It was a morass of immorality which required God to send His prophets to speak out.

When Isaiah spoke about the coming of rulers of righteousness, he was letting his people know that God had not abandoned them and that those who spread malice, division, and discontent would pass away forever. In their place, would come kings of righteousness whose rule would restore the hope, strength, and confidence to God’s people. And ultimately, the last of those kings would be Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who would finally bring God’s justice to the oppressed, the powerless, and the meager in order to show and prove that love conquers everything and everyone.

Point to ponder

Where is Christ’s Spirit working for justice in our world today? How are we supporting and serving Him in that mission?

Prayer: Lord God, long ago You sent Your prophets to deal with unjust rulers and self-centered kings. You gave a word of hope to Your people that righteousness and truth would prevail, allowing them to remain confident in Your sovereignty over the whole Earth. Remind us of these blessings today. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome. 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s Psalm drawings based on a verse from Psalm 106. If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Psalm 106.

We Have No King - John 19:15

John 19:15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. (NIV)

            It was the ultimate act of betrayal. The chief priests in Jerusalem were the highest officers and leaders in the Jewish community. They represented centuries of their faith and all of the people. They were meant to be living examples of how to serve God and follow Him faithfully. They were supposed to be the upholders of the Law of Moses and all of their religious traditions. But in one hate-filled answer, they betrayed all that was dear to them and denied God’s authority over them.

            What was this act of betrayal? The answer that they gave to Pilate: “We have no king but Caesar.” God was their King and He was their Sovereign. The whole of Jewish history was built upon having no other god or ruler before God. Sure, there had been kings in the past who tried to rule the people as God’s chosen servants, but there was always a struggle between being ruled by God and governed by local kings. In the Book of Judges, the great warrior Gideon refused to be made king with these words: ‘I will not rule over you…the LORD rules over you.’ (Judges 8:22-23).

            When the chief priests said to Pilate that only Caesar was their king, they were betraying all of their beliefs in God and trading them in for a foreign despot to rule over them. Their hatred for Jesus was so intense that they were willing to displace God with a Roman Emperor. It was a scandalous act of betrayal and one which doomed Jerusalem. Forty years after this event, the Roman Emperor crushed the priests in Jerusalem and destroyed most of the great city. Allying their faith with a tyrant brought this upon themselves; putting their faith in a political figurehead created a situation where eventually their religion and nation lost God’s protection and wrought calamity on themselves.

            As Christians, we are supposed to remind ourselves each day that Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and King. Our allegiance belongs to Him and we are meant to serve His ways by applying His teaching in our daily lives. His words and ways are specifically meant to overrule any notions or ideas that go against God’s Will. Christ is our only King on Earth and in Heaven. If we displace Him with any other being, then just as the chief priests sadly did long ago, we betray Him.

Point to ponder

How often do I let Jesus shape my ideas, opinions, and choices? Am I guilty of rejecting Him in order to follow other people and other ways?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are our King and there is no other power or person who can take Your place. We call ourselves Christians, but we can only prove this to be true by how we embrace and apply Your words. Keep us from displacing Your authority and help us to truly serve You. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. If you would like to send John a question or a message, please email him at Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s church banner designs called ‘Christ is King.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: King.

The Real Jesus - Hebrews 1 v 3

Hebrews 1:3    The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven. (NIV)

            We all think we know Jesus and want Him to be our friend. In our mind’s eye, we probably imagine Jesus to look like the Bible pictures we saw as children. In those drawings, He’s often smiling, looking handsome, and doing something special for someone else. Those are wonderful, reassuring images to have in our heads, especially when we approach Him with our prayers, worries, and concerns. There is, however, a different picture of Christ, which the First Century Christians had of Jesus. To them, He was mighty and powerful, majestic and glorious – attributes that were normally reserved for local kings or even the Emperor of Rome himself.

            The Letter to the Hebrews, which we begin reading today, describes Jesus in these higher and heavenly terms. The Christ that we meet in the pages of this New Testament book is the princely Son that God knows. He sits on a throne in Heaven, on the right hand of God – a placement which symbolizes His position as the Heir to the Universe and the Lord of all Creation. He is probably still smiling and handsome, but He is also majestic and glorious, a divine sovereign with authority, a heavenly king with amazing power.

            One day, we will get to see Jesus like this. For the first time in our existence, we will know Him as He truly is. At that moment, we will understand that the Universe revolves around Christ, so our lives are meant to be devoted to Him. We will finally understand our own role as servants and subjects in His everlasting Kingdom.

Questions for personal reflection

When I pray to Jesus, do I see Him as my helper or king? What images do I have of Jesus, and where did they come from?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the King of all Creation and the Lord of Life. Help us to see You as You are, so we might better serve You each day of our life on Earth, as well as throughout our eternal existence in Heaven. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send them to John by email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s images of Christ called “Pop Ikon.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Ikon.