First Generation - 1 Peter 4:19

1 Peter 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (NIV)

The First Christians must have been a very strong, faithful generation. They persevered through times of unjust persecution and cruel suffering in order to maintain the Church. We are the heirs of their endurance, but are we worthy of such a blessing?

When I read of Christians supposedly being persecuted in our country, I know it is exaggerated. We complain vehemently when we are challenged or inconvenienced because some of us aggressively want things to happen according to our beliefs, our standing, and in our time. It makes me wonder if the First Christians are looking down on us from Heaven and shaking their heads. They would consider our complaints paltry compared to what they had to endure.

Faith, during truly hard times, can comfort us but it was and is never meant to make us comfortable. As C. S. Lewis once wrote: “I didn't go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity.”

Application: How uncomfortable is my faith?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach us the truth about ourselves and make us more aware of the hardships that having faith implies. Keep us from complaining about trivial things and constantly remind us of the sacrifices and suffering of Your people in the past. In your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings based on Christ’s teaching. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cross.

Do Not Fear - 1 Peter 3:14

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated. (NRSV)

Fear is the instrument that manipulators use to control people. In Roman times, when the apostle Peter was writing this letter, fear was the weapon that the Emperor used to keep his opponents silent and the people subdued. Whenever Caesar issued a threat it made the politicians and population cower. The fear of reprisals negated any opposition, so the Emperor could do what he liked.

Christians, however, in those days, were willing to speak out and suffer for their faith. They did not surrender their souls to the Empire or totally submit to Caesar’s authority. They stood up for what was right and even though it cost them everything, they were not willing to exchange or compromise Christ’s teaching for peaceful lives and expedient results. They understood that to be disciples of Christ meant that their allegiance was to a higher authority, law, and kingdom.

Application: Am I guilty of compromising my faith? Does Jesus have my total allegiance?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we try to be Your disciples and hope that we please You with our lives. Grant us the courage of the First Christians and help us to stand up for justice, mercy, and love. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

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

The Last Word - Acts 28:31

Acts 28:31 Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! (NIV)

I love the last verse of the Book of Acts. It is full of encouragement and energy, showing us that Paul continued to preach and teach the Gospel for the rest of his days. His faith absolutely captivated him and we should be thankful for his focus on serving Christ. Most of what we still read, hear, preach, and teach about Christianity originates in the mission, work, and writings of Paul.

He must have known that his time was almost up. At some point, he was brought before the Emperor and his appeal was rejected. Traditional stories suggest that he was beheaded by Nero just after most of Rome was burned to the ground. The Christians were blamed for the fire, so Paul as a ringleader of the notorious sect was probably executed. During this time of persecution, Simon Peter was also crucified in Rome.

It must have taken a lot of courage to continue proclaiming the kingdom of God when Paul knew that he was under a death sentence. The apostle made sure that every minute of his diminishing days was spent talking to folks about faith or writing letters to people and churches that were beginning to flourish all over the Mediterranean. And this is why I love how the Book of Acts ends; it’s almost as if the writer Luke is handing over Paul’s mission to the rest of us, to take up his work and continue the Gospel story in our own lives. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the reading of the Gospels, and the studying of Paul’s letters that is exactly what we all can do – in effect, our story becomes a new chapter - Acts 29.

Point to ponder

What am I doing with the faith I have received? How am I continuing this great story of the Gospel?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach us Your ways and help us to continue proclaiming Your Kingdom in our lives and the world today. Enable us to share Your words and take up the mission that Paul laid down so long ago. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is of a Roman denarius coin. If you want to view a larger version, please click this link: Denarius.

Christian Devotion: A Real Testimony - Philippians 2:17

Philippians 2:17          But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

            You may not realize it, but the above verse contains some chilling words. When Paul referred to a drink offering and sacrifice, he was writing about decapitation, which he expected to occur after he personally made his appeal to Caesar. He wrote this letter to the Philippian church – a congregation that he nurtured and loved – from his prison as a dying testimony. He knew that his chances of survival were slim, but rather than hide it from the church, he veiled his words in a way that his people would understand what he truly meant. After the letter was written and dispatched, Paul’s case went to trial and he was beheaded.

            It has always taken a great deal of courage to be a Christian. Over the centuries, millions of people have lost their lives for believing in Christ. Around the world today, Christians are still being persecuted. A recent survey by the Vatican revealed that up to 100,000 Christians of all different denominations are killed every year on our planet. That is a chilling number which should cause us all to reflect upon on own commitment to Christ. Is it inconvenient? Does it take a great deal of courage? Are we under pressure simply because we call ourselves Christians?

            Towards the end of May, we traditionally commemorate Memorial Day in the United States. It is a special day that we set aside to remember the true cost and sacrifices that have been made by the military to maintain the freedoms we enjoy over here. It is a somber time for those who truly remember why we hold it, but it is also a cheerful day for families who freely gather together.

            Perhaps as Christians who enjoy a great deal of freedom, we should also remember the true cost and great sacrifices in the past, as well as the present, that allows us to both somberly and cheerfully enjoy our faith.

Questions for personal reflection

How committed am I to Christ and His church? How has my personal faith been shaped by the lives of Christians in the past?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we thank You for the many leaders and people like Paul, who put their lives on the line, so that we may enjoy our Christian faith today. Help us to honor their sacrifices by living our lives in faithful and dedicated ways. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Please feel free to share this message with others. John will also be delighted to receive any questions, comments, or feedback on today’s message. Send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s drawing for Memorial Day of this year. It’s called Memorial Rose. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Rose.

Christian devotions: Get Real, People - Luke 12:11-12

Luke 12:11-12            "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

We don’t really know what religious persecution actually is in Western Society. We tend to exaggerate the unpopularity of our Christian beliefs into something that isn’t true. We are not being physically attacked, imprisoned unjustly, or tortured for our allegiance to Christ. In fact, most of society totally ignores us; we’re no longer relevant and most people pay no attention to our whines and complaints.

Now this isn’t true in other places, nations, and societies around the world. Christian people are being beaten, imprisoned, oppressed, and killed for their beliefs. They are being persecuted; for instance, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani in Iran has spent years in prison for refusing to teach his children the Islamic faith. He’s been sentenced to death, but when the rest of the world protested, his sentence was reviewed. He’s still in prison, on the equivalent of Iran’s Death Row. His lawyer is now also in prison and new charges of rape, insurrection, and high treason have been made against Pastor Youcef. He’s enduring real persecution, so when I read about Christians over here in the United States getting really upset about the banning of prayer in schools, displaying the Ten Commandments, or marketplace nativity scenes in malls, I really wonder what Pastor Youcef would have to say. He’d probably shake his head in disbelief and state something like “Get real, people. This is not persecution.”

If we as Christians want to become influential again in society, then we have to stop whining. After all, who would be attracted to a faith community that just wanted to get its own way all of the time? We seem to forget that the symbol of our faith is a wooden cross and not a silver spoon.

Question for personal reflection

Are my ways Christ’s ways? Do I cheerfully express my faith to others, or do I forcefully impose it on others?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, teach us the difference between paranoia and persecution. Give us a passion to express our faith through works of compassion. Keep us from turning minor inconveniences into major upsets. Help us to win souls for Your Kingdom instead of selfishly whining about the world. 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 comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is a photo of Pastor Youcef. Please continue to pray for his release, as well as for the safety of his family and friends.

Daily Devotions; The Fighter - 1 Timothy 6:12

1 Timothy 6:12           Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Yesterday I was reading about two pastors and their wives who were arrested in Iran about 9 months ago for preaching the gospel. They have been charged with sedition and have endured many beatings whilst they have been in prison. One of the women also miscarried her baby due to the lack of pre-natal care in her jail. These four young Christians are fighting the good fight and truly suffering for their faith.

In the Western church, we are just fighting. Issues have become incendiaries; theological tussles are creating turmoil; and church problems are preventing Christ’s peace from being embraced. The question we need to honestly ask ourselves is this: are we fighting the good fight or just battling ourselves?

When I see the horrific destruction in Japan and read about the blatant persecution of Christians all over the globe, it makes my own problems and conflicts seem trivial. I ask myself two important questions: Where is Christ in the midst of this mess? What is the Spirit really doing across the world?

Fighting the good fight may not necessarily mean being doggedly dogmatic and solidly scriptural. Perhaps in today’s world it means fighting against despair, struggling with survivors, and mightily loving those whose losses are overwhelming their lives.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You live and walk among the ruins of Japan, as well as the isolated cells in Iran. You fight for the faith by embracing the shattered souls and helpless hearts of people everywhere. Your Spirit seeks the lost and weeps with those whose lives are wrecked. Enable us to be empowered by Your empathy and to conquer despair with compassion. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Japanese prints. It’s simply called “Geisha.” I heartily recommend that you view the larger version of the drawing which brings out the beauty of the girl’s hair and comb. You can view it here:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5511261006_91b8a00621_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: Comic Book Christian - Acts 20

Acts 20:3b       Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, Paul decided to go back through Macedonia. 

Have you seen the new movie “Salt” starring Angelina Jolie yet? It’s actually a very good and highly entertaining film. It’s the usual spy thriller about lies, love, and deception. Jolie plays an American spy who ends up being double-crossed and chased by the NYPD, FBI, CIA, and the Secret Service. The KGB are also after her and the whole movie is about how she avoids capture and manages to save the world from a nuclear war. Yes, it’s a bit far-fetched and could never happen in real life, but it’s a movie, so what do you expect?

When I read about the Apostle Paul and all of his escapades in the Book of Acts, I am constantly amazed at how he survives. He’s blinded, beaten up, and imprisoned. He’s almost lynched and has to escape mobs in various cities. He’s hunted down by religious fanatics who take a divine oath to kill him. He survives an earthquake and is shipwrecked. Wow! Any one of those incidents would have wiped me out, but Paul perseveres and continues to preach all across the Mediterranean.

I guess you could call Paul the New Testament’s answer to a comic book hero. Nothing brings this man down. He is so confident about his faith in Christ that he is willing to face danger wherever he goes.

It makes me wonder what Paul would be doing today if he was still on Earth. How many escapades would he have to face in order to preach the Gospel? How many times would he upset the Church by not conforming to the culture? Which lands would he dare to take the Gospel to? Israel? India? Saudi Arabia? The USA?

But Paul is not here and so the responsibility of taking the Gospel to the world is in our hands. It makes me wonder what faith adventures and witnessing opportunities God will bless us with this week. Will we accept the mission that Christ gives us, or will it seem too hard or impossible to carry out? Maybe when we are given the chance to share the Gospel, we should ask ourselves inwardly: “what would Paul do?”

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Paul as a pioneer of the Gospel. He led an incredible life and we are so fortunate to have records of his journeys, as well as the letters that he wrote. We know that we can never be totally like Paul, but we pray that we can fulfill the opportunities that You give us to witness to Your Gospel. 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 on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s drawing of the road leading up to the Plantation on Pawley’s Island. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4891285135_f7ee928fc9_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: Good News! - Acts 2

Acts 2:25         David said about him: “I saw the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

Several months ago, I wrote about two Christian women Marzieh and Maryam who were being held in an Iranian prison. They were arrested for being Christians and originally charged with sedition against the State. Maryam was very ill and in her last phone call to her family, she believed that she was dying.

Good news! Both these young women were fully acquitted of the charges and released last Saturday, May 22. They have now travelled to another country where they will remain free from the threat of re-arrest and unjust conviction.

Maryam and Marzieh thank you for all your prayers. "We are most grateful to everyone who prayed for us," Marzieh said. "I have no doubt that God heard the prayers of his people." Maryam added, "I believe our arrest, imprisonment and subsequent release were in the timing and plan of God, and it was all for his glory. But the prayers of people encouraged and sustained us throughout this ordeal." 

The faith of these two women in the face of unjust persecution has been remarkable. They truly know what it is like to stand up and be counted for their faith in Christ. Like the disciples of old, they knew what it was like to have the Lord always before them in the midst of their trials and never have their faith shaken. Praise the Lord!

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for the release of Marzieh and Maryam. Their faith has never wavered and we are in awe of their commitment to You. Thank You also for the many prayers that have been answered. May these two courageous young women continue to inspire faith, hope, and love wherever they go. 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 on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Religious News: From Tractor Pulls to Petrol Bombs

A schoolboy argument over a tractor has led to a Christian village in Pakistan being looted and burned.

Lahore, July 2 : Over six hundred Muslims attacked Christians in Bahmniwala village in Kasur District of Pakistan after local mosques urged them to unite and "teach a lesson" to the Christians.

Angry Muslim mob, after accusing of blasphemy, destroyed Christians' houses, looted valuables and tortured Christian men and women ruthlessly.

At least 110 Christian families, almost 700 people, were forced on Tuesday night to flee the village. The families sought safety in the fields surrounding their village.

However, locals said the problem started when a Christian boy, Arif Mashi, was travelling on a tractor and asked a Muslim boy, Muhammad Riaz, to allow him to pass. When Riaz refused, the two quarrelled.

Following this incident, on Tuesday night, a mob attacked houses of the area's Christian community with petrol-bombs, destroying their electricity meters and thrashing any Christians they found., the Daily Times reported.

Read the rest of the story here…