June 9 devotional - The Contender

Colossians 2:1            I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. (NIV)

            Paul contended for the young churches under his care. He knew that the faith of those new Christians was delicate and that they could be led astray by flattering words and false gospels. He fought for them in many ways and eventually sacrificed his life for the Gospel. He was a remarkable fighter for the faith; he was a strident contender for Christ.

            Sometimes I wonder how Paul would have fared with today’s Church. We seem to have wandered so far away from the Gospel Truth that I think he would stridently confront our mistakes and try to redirect our paths. Unfortunately, he would probably come across as being intolerant, out-of-touch, and imbecilic to most post-moderns. His statements would be ignored and his opinions would be cast aside, just as his written words are somewhat treated today.

            I wish that God would raise up another Paul among us, instead of the ‘Guy Smiley’ preachers that abound in our mega churches. People say that they are thirsting for real, authentic Christianity, but that involves changing a lot of what we have become. If another contender does arise, then she or he will shake the foundations of our cozy beliefs and make us honestly reconsider our ways. It won’t be easy, but then again, the symbol of our faith is a sacred Cross and not a comfy sofa.

Questions for personal reflection

What do I honestly think of Paul and his teachings? Why?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You chose Paul to contend for Your Church on Earth. Help us to understand why You selected him and what his writings truly teach us about You. Help us to re-evaluate our faith and renew our commitment to You alone. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him an email about today’s message, send it to Traqair@aol.com.

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

Short devotion - Spanish Lesson - Mark 7:8

Mark 7:8 “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

            Christ’s teaching influences my whole life, but some parts of the Gospels directly relate to what I do as a Presbyterian minister. Much of the criticism that Jesus had for the religious clerics of His time still applies today and I confess to struggling with denominational practices and New Testament tenets. I inwardly flinch when I read about Jesus rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees because I see myself doing similar things like them. This, in turn, causes me to question whether or not I am guilty of holding on to human traditions, rather than keeping God’s commands.

            Years ago, I can remember discussing this with a Roman Catholic friend who was training to become a priest. The conversation took place in Valladolid, Spain and we were talking about our denominational differences and what was personally important about our religious traditions. At the end of the discussion, my friend said to me words I will never forget, which still influence me today: “No matter what our differences are, John,” he said, “I am a Christian first and a Roman Catholic second.”

            Can you imagine what kind of a positive and effective influence we would have on the world if church people everywhere became Christians first and their denominational choice second? A lot of the religious wounds on Earth would be healed and we could begin to fix our broken world. For me, this means that the challenge I face is to be a better Christian than a Presbyterian, and to continually become a better disciple of Christ than a pastor. And in the end, is that not what Christ expects of me, as well as all of us who follow His ways?

Point to ponder

Do people see me as a Christian or something else?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we all want to be Christians at home, in church, in school, in our workplaces, and wherever else we go. Help us to grow closer to You in such a way that our faith will be honestly and positively displayed to those around us. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. The church website is at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Easter drawings called ‘Resurrection.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Resurrection.

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.

Fake Documents - 1 Timothy 1:3-4

1 Timothy 1:3-4          As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. (NIV)

            Every now and then, some scholar publicizes a new discovery that challenges our ideas and opinions about our faith. A couple of years ago, a Harvard professor claimed that she had found a fragment of papyrus which proved that Jesus was married. She was convinced about this and sought to persuade lots of other people about her claims. It rocked the Church and created a lot of spiritual uncertainty, causing some people to doubt their traditional beliefs, while allowing others to diminish the claims that Christians have made about Christ.

            A couple of weeks ago, the same professor conceded that the piece of papyrus was a fake, so her whole idea of Christ being married was refuted. It was a public embarrassment for her and her credibility as a scholar has been tarnished; however, it was also an example of someone having an agenda to discredit traditional Christianity and who foolishly pounced on questionable sources simply because it suited her own unsubstantiated viewpoint. You can read about the professor’s retraction at this link from the Boston Globe newspaper – Fake Papyrus.

            Such things are not new. The Apostle Paul in his personal letter to Timothy advised and cautioned him to be on his guard against false teachings. Even in the Early Church, people liked to speculate about their faith. Paul’s advice to Timothy was to make him aware about these types of religious conjectures. The fact that we are still dealing with these issues today, even from scholarly people, shows us that we have to focus on what the Bible actually reveals to us about God and Jesus, rather than make up our own ideas, notions, and opinions. Perhaps if more people consistently read the Bible rather than quickly embracing fanciful ideas or fake documents, our faith and churches in the West would be growing instead of declining.

Questions for personal reflection

How have the scriptures shaped my faith in God? What do I truly believe about Jesus? What are my sources for my Christian beliefs?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, keep us focused on Who You are, by constantly reading what the New Testament reveals to us. Prevent us from being misdirected with popular misconceptions or fanciful speculations about You. Be with us and bless us this day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s devotional, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings based on an ancient icon which depicts Christ as a teacher of scripture. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Icon.

Daily Devotional - A Brand New Week - 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12        For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

            It’s a brand new week and hopefully it will be full of new opportunities to share our love of Christ with other people. Some folks think that ministry is something that pastors mainly do on a Sunday, but the fact about our faith is this: we all have personal ministries that God gives to each of us every day.

            At some point this week, someone is going to need our help. It may be at work, at school, at home, or in a public place. Wherever and whenever it happens, let’s hope and pray that we can respond in an encouraging, compassionate, and supportive way. If we do, then we will be honoring Christ and reflecting the goodness that God has given us.

            Paul’s message to the young church in Thessalonica was meant to encourage them. He appreciated the support that the members had given to him when he first came to the small congregation. They helped him to share his faith in positive and effective ways, so that even today, more than nineteen hundred years later, the Christian Church is still present there and effectively ministering to the thousands of Syrian Christian refugees who have recently fled that city.

            So, wherever we are this week, whoever we meet, and whatever we do, let’s also try to be supportive, compassionate, and encouraging in order to help other people, while honoring Christ at the same time.

Questions for personal reflection

What do I hope to accomplish this week? How can I reflect and share Christ’s goodness to those that I encounter?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all called to be servants of Your Kingdom, followers of Your way, and ministers of Your Gospel. Help us to convey our faith to others in effective and lasting ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him a message, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Communion drawing called ‘Sanctification.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Sanctification.