Daily Devotion: Comfort and Care - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Today’s readings:

Judges 5:10-18          

2 Corinthians 1:1-7  

2 Corinthians 1:3-4    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

The best ministries that I have seen in all of the churches that I have served, have always been those connected to compassion and comfort. Apart from worshipping God and bringing people to Christ, I think that these ministries are very important to a church’s effective witness to the community where it resides. How we apply what we are taught is a valuable way of encouraging others to experience God’s love. What we do in the eyes of the wider community is always more important than what we dictate.

            Congregations that have this compassionate capacity are great at being supportive to their extended church families and friends. I am constantly amazed and humbled at the goodness of ordinary people doing extraordinary deeds in times of illness, grief, and stress. They do this because they care; and they care because God has helped and comforted them. It’s a beautiful way of showing Christ’s compassion; it’s a wonderful method of sharing God’s presence.

            If you get the opportunity to be a channel of encouragement, care, and support today, take it and help someone else. Your compassionate words and comforting presence may be the very things that they need to hear and feel right now. Your Christian love and sincere support may be the conduit of God’s comfort in the midst of their troubles.

Questions for personal reflection

Is there someone that I know who is undergoing some trouble today? Am I willing to support and help that someone?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You showed compassion and comfort all throughout Your ministry on Earth. Help us, as Your followers, to give the same kind of help and support to those with troubles today. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask a question or make a comment about today’s message, please send him an email to: traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest Communion drawing called “Sunrise, Sunset.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/10322159433_2f6342e432_b.jpg

Gospel devotion: Archie the Engineer - Luke 9:2

Luke 9:2         Jesus sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

            Archie was a great preacher and many of the young people in Glasgow, Scotland that I knew in the late 1970s were drawn to Jesus through his straightforward, no-nonsense style of preaching. He was a heating engineer by trade and originally worked in the great Glasgow shipyards on the Clyde. He was skilful at his job, so eventually he set up his own firm and became quite successful. At some point in his life, he met Jesus and gave his heart to the Lord.

            Like most people who go through a dynamic conversion experience, Archie wanted to tell everyone about Christ. He became a part-time preacher at the Gospel Club that I attended each Wednesday evening.

            I can still see and hear him preaching about God’s Kingdom with a confidence and strength that came from the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. As he preached his message, Archie held a large Bible in his hands and often flicked through its pages, quoting book, chapter, and verses to back up his Gospel message. His strong clear voice and candid preaching reached into the hearts and minds of my friends, as well as me. At the end of the meeting, new souls were saved and old sinners were changed. To all who heard him, Archie exuded Christ’s authority and preached with the power of the Holy Spirit.

            When Jesus sent out his disciples to other areas during the winter season, He gave them His power and authority to preach the Gospel and heal the sick. It must have been a remarkable time for His faithful followers, as well as the people in that region. Lives were changed, sicknesses were cured, and souls were saved. It was really the beginning of Christ’s Church in the world.

            The world still needs powerful preachers and healing miracles today. Instead of being distracted and divided by the devil, Christianity could empower people with hope and heal the brokenness of humanity. If we would open our hearts and minds to being revived by the Holy Spirit instead of reviling one another, this entire planet could be saved within a couple of generations. The challenge that we all have today is this: are we willing to set aside our theological woes and simply work for Christ?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You know what the world really needs and what Your Church needs to do. Help us to reclaim our faith, renew our commitment to You, and revive our spirits. May we preach with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, as well as healing the world through Your Loving Way. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest African drawing called “Sunset Parade.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7778524948_dd17801487_b.jpg