Podcast Devotion - Light of the World

In the midst of these dark times, Christ is our leading Light.
A short devotion on John 9:4-5

Church Devotion - Wee Small Hours - Hebrews 11:3

Hebrews 11:3  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (NIV)

You can also listen to an audio podcast of this message at this link: Wee Small Hours

            Sometimes when I wake up in the wee small hours of the morning, I gaze at the stars from one of the upstairs windows in my home. I recently purchased a pair of binoculars which makes the whole experience amazing. The stars that I can see with my own eyes are few in number, but when I look at them with the binoculars, I see thousands of stars and galaxies. After quietly stargazing for a while, I then prayerfully whisper to God my thanks for the incredible sights I have seen in the night sky.

            I’ve always believed that God was the Creator of the Universe, as well as being the Sustainer of Life on our planet. I see His handiwork in the stars and also in the world around me. At times, I am overawed by the depth of beauty and creativity that God displays; but I am also grateful that He created me to experience the joy of His loving labor.

            Looking at the stars at night makes me feel quite small and insignificant, and yet at the same time, I feel assured that God is real and He enjoys me enjoying His creation. This feeling gives me a peace of mind and solace in my heart. It builds up my faith and quietly strengthens my relationship with God through the gifts of wonder, amazement, and joy.

            Today, you may feel isolated and vulnerable, alone and forgotten. Please know and embrace this: the God Who created the wonderful stars also brought you into being. You are important to Him and You will always be loved as a child of God.

Prayer:            Heavenly Creator, thank You for allowing us to experience the universe in so many wonderful and awe-inspiring ways. Thank You for loving us personally and individually, wholly and completely. In Your Son’s precious Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Please feel free to send him an email to Traqair@aol.com about this message.

Today’s image is one of John’s nighttime drawings called “Moon Glow.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Moon Glow.

Gospel devotions: Couch Potato Christians - Philippians 4:13

Today’s podcast of this devotional can be heard at the following link: http://traffic.libsyn.com/stushie/Couch_Potato_Christians.mp3


Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

I’ve seen this verse on many car bumper stickers and heard it quoted by lots of Christians. It is used to encourage people to accomplish their dreams or overcome hurdles in their lives. It’s a good verse for doing that, but is this what Saint Paul had in mind when he wrote it in the first place?

It seems to me that this is about coping with good or bad circumstances and being content with our lot. When Paul used it, he stated that he had been through good times and bad times. No matter what he experienced or endured, he was content. He saw his time on earth as a gift of God’s grace and used his days to promote Christ’s gospel. Everything else was peripheral to his faith; anything else was trivial to his beliefs.

I’ve heard some people disparage Paul’s writings and brand him as a zealous fanatic who was narrow minded, intolerant, and blinkered. When I hear this, I often wonder what hardships the Christian complainer has undergone, or if it’s just couch-potato theology. Whatever the case, I am reminded that Paul’s faith was active and real, confrontational and challenging. When he wrote about “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength,” he wasn’t talking about wealth, success or accomplishments; what he was actually stating was: “everything I do for Christ’s kingdom, I do it in the strength of the Lord.”

That puts a whole new spin on what that verse is about. That challenges us to think of our lives in terms of God’s mission through Christ, and not on our own accomplishments, successes, and dreams.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep us from getting caught up in our own vanity and our own prosperity. Remind us of Paul’s successes through his sacrifices and experiences. Help us to remodel and refocus our lives on Your ministry and mission for the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray.

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.

Christian devotions and Podcasts: A Real Challenge - Philippians 2:14

The podcast for today’s devotion can be heard at the following link:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/stushie/A_Real_Challenge.mp3

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing

Wow! Now there’s a verse of scripture that takes a lot of doing! I grew up in a large family -4 boys and 2 girls- so there was a lot of competition for our parents’ attention in my household. Without complaining or arguing, none of us were ever heard or seen, and unfortunately it became a character flaw that I have carried with me to this very day.

But let’s stop and think about what Paul was trying to inspire in the young Philippian church. Those new Christians lived in a very busy town that had established itself as a powerful place. Old ways and old money kept the merchants happy; new groups and new faiths were frowned upon and even harassed. The first Christians in that town had to deal with a lot of public hostility and suspicion, so if Christ’s church was going to succeed, then His followers would have to be patient, compassionate, and passive in order to let the gospel take root in the hearts of the Philippian people. If the Christians complained about the harassment or persecution, they would have appeared to have been churlish and thin-skinned. However, if they put up with the discomfort and prejudices, and still acted justly and kindly to those who offended or hurt them, then Christ’s message would eventually win over the hearts and minds of the people in the town. Paul’s words must have been effective because a strong church was established at Philippi.

Sadly, there are a lot of churlish Christians in our society who seek to get their own way and bring the message of Christ into disrepute. Instead of being united in Christ’s love, Christians can be very divisive, argumentative and totally inadequate as witnesses to God’s Kingdom. This is why Paul’s words strike at the very heart of our lives and faith. If we were to sincerely apply them in our homes and churches, then the world would be totally conquered by Christ’s compassion and God’s love.

So here’s the challenge for all of us this weekend: let’s try to do everything without complaining or arguing. Instead, let’s do everything agreeably and with compassion. It will be interesting and perhaps life-changing to see how this all turns out.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we must disappoint You with our disagreements and sadden You with our complaints. Challenge us with Paul’s words this weekend and encourage us to apply them with our families, friends, neighbors and church people. 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 drawing is one of John’s wild bird drawings of an American Barred Owl. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click here: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5325073573_ce80eaec50_b.jpg


All of John’s drawings can be found on the Web at his art site at http://www.stushieart.wordpress.com/

Signed, numbered and matted prints are available for only $20 each (plus shipping if necessary). They make unique gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and new homes. Just contact john by email and he’ll be delighted to help you.

Podcast for Today's devotional: A Congregational Prayer

I'm getting back to podcasting my devotionals. Today's message (01-10-2011) can be located here:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/stushie/2011-01-10_A_Congregational_Prayer.mp3

Enjoy!

Daily Devotions: God's Timeline

2 Peter 3: 4     They will say, "Where is this 'coming' He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."

Podcast version here

Every now and then, I have to remind myself that Christ can return at any minute. I often take it for granted that the world will continue indefinitely and that the seasons will come and go, just as they usually do each year. But then I remember that I am a Christian first and a citizen of this world second. The Earth will not last forever and when Christ appears, human history will be over.

I get so caught up in my own routine and my own wee world that I forget about God’s intentions and Christ’s promises. The ultimate reality is the eternal reality and my ways, my words, and my works are just mere blips on God’s timeline. He is center of the Universe; He is the real thing.

It sounds cliché to some, but perhaps today is the Day when Christ will come back. Am I ready for such a cataclysmic event? Or will I just put it to the back of my mind and trivialize it, so that I can focus upon what’s in front of me and what’s happening now?

Within me, a quiet voice is saying: “Time marches on, John, but not forever.”

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, forgive us when we unintentionally set aside the thought of Your Return. Pardon us when we are so selfishly focused upon ourselves, that we forget about Your words, Your ways, and Your works that are still to come. Help us to remember that we serve You and await Your arrival on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we expectantly 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.

Daily Devotions: Battling Bitterness

Malachi 3: 15             “But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.”

Podcast version here: 

The greatest foe against faith is not unbelief; it is actually bitterness. Bitter people find it hard to truly believe in God because it seems as though He has not lived up to His side of the bargain we call life. Resentment and bitterness fragment faith and can eventually destroy it altogether. It is the fiercest foe that the Church has to face. It is the most damaging opponent that Christians have to conquer.

A tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one, can overshadow someone so much that, in the midst of their grief, they bitterly cry out against God’s goodness and grace. A major disappointment, from a Christian leader, family member, or friend, can also lead to an unresolved bitterness against God’s people. And even unfulfilled dreams can be a bitter experience to faithful people, especially when they see evildoers prosper. It’s like a spiritual slap in the face, which leaves the believer unappreciated, unnoticed, and unhappy.

Faith is not enough to face down bitterness. Hope and love are also required to reclaim bitter hearts and diminish resentment. The hope that we have in God’s everlasting justice and mercy reminds us that evil will not triumph eternally. The love that we experience from God through Jesus and His followers comforts and reassures us during the toughest and bleakest of times.

I think that St. Francis of Assisi best described this process of beating bitterness through his own wonderful prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. 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.

Daily Devotions: True Teaching

2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

For Podcast version click here

As far as I am concerned, my wife Evelyn is the best teacher in the world. She’s been a teacher for twenty eight years, so she’s dedicated to her profession. She knows how to motivate children and has dealt with more than her fair share of anxious parents through the years. She understands the need for her students to apply themselves and she tries very hard to encourage them to reach their fullest potential.

It isn’t easy because every student is at a different individual level from all the other students in her class. Evelyn concentrates on the basics – reading, writing, and arithmetic – as well as teaching art, science, and social studies. She has a lot of lessons and material to get through in any given school year. She does her best to help the children to do their utmost in order to prepare them for the next step: Middle School.

I could not do what she does for a full year. I could teach a class for half a day perhaps and squeak through a couple of lessons. I’ve seen her come home with tons of work to mark, and new materials to read, digest, and prepare lessons. Like all true teachers, Evelyn doesn’t do it for the money – it is a special calling. Without teachers like her in our community and across the nation, our children would become ignorant, unskilled, and unemployable. As someone else once wrote: if you can read a book, fill out a form, and work for a living – then thank a teacher.

Teaching is also an important part of Christianity. Without faith teachers, people would make up their own ideas about God and end up believing in anything. Sadly, there’s a trend in today’s churches where people don’t want to accept the old truths or the absolutes of our faith. They want to discover Christ for themselves and shape Him into being the Lord of what they want. Sunday school classes and Bible study groups across the land are diminishing because people are too busy doing other things. They want to put Christ in a convenient box and not be challenged by His ways or words.

All they want to hear is that they are good people, loved by God, and guaranteed everlasting life. Heaven is a given and hell is not real. Resurrection is guaranteed but redemption is not necessary. Confession is good for the soul but contrition is not required. In other words, they want to be accepted by God by rejecting the Cross, Christ’s teaching, and the need to be saved.

That’s not authentic Christianity, that’s post-modern universalism. It’s not Christian teaching; it’s a worldly heresy.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You were brought into the world to teach us about God. Your words reveal to us the true way to reach God. Your Gospel shows us how to be redeemed and restored to God. Keep us from false teaching and help us to pay attention to Your ways, instead of focusing on our own misconceived, misconstrued, and mistaken ideas. Remind us that no matter how sincere we are about our beliefs, we still can be sincerely wrong. Become our True Teacher and Holy Guide. In Your Sacred 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.

My Last Five Podcasts

If you enjoy hearing a Scottish accent, you might enjoy listening to my last five podcasts.

Power_of_Prayer.mp3

Prayer allows us to step back from our problems and let God step in to help us.

Faith_for_Hard_Times.mp3

In these uncertain economic times, how can our Christian faith help us?

Prisoner_for_Christ.mp3

Our government deplores torture against terrorists over here; but are our politicians willing to take a stand against China's continuing persecution of Christians?

Prison_Wall.mp3

Christ is our Liberator from our self-imposed prison walls. A tale from Scotland.

Sacred_Memory.mp3

Instant communication is wonderful today, but what about intra-generational communication?

Daily Devotions: Faith for Hard Times

In these uncertain economic times, how can our Christian faith help us?

1 John 5: 4 …for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Podcast version here

Because of the economic uncertainty, a lot of people are unsure about their future and feel insecure about themselves. These are tough times to be living in, but not as harsh as the past. A key element in surviving turbulent times lies in how much investment we make to our faith. Past generations of Christians have come through much worse, so there must be something special about our belief in Christ that enables us to persevere, endure, and overcome our troubles.

Faith helps us to overcome our fears. We are not alone because Christ is always with us and His Church seeks to support us. People who have a faith community usually do better than those who go it alone. They find that their Christian connections build up their esteem, their confidence, and their strength. For instance, to have others in prayer for us during critical times is like having a small army of resourceful people on our side.

Attending church and worshipping regularly during tough times gives us both discipline and focus. Our spirits are strengthened by the teachings we receive. Our confidence is boosted by belonging to a group of people who share similar beliefs. And the friendship, fellowship, and love of true Christians are powerful aids that enable us to overcome trying moments in our lives.

Inspiration can also be acquired by focusing on our faith. The Bible is not just a history book; it’s a guidance manual for getting through tough times. It’s a spiritual survival course that relates to just about every incident or event that we can ever experience. The richness of the psalms, the wisdom of proverbs, and the hopefulness contained in the Gospels grants us all some wonderful information and insights, letting us know that God is in control and that we are very important to Him.

The teaching of the Bible in both Old and New testaments has stood the test of Time. For thousands of years people have been moved and motivated, spurred on and encouraged by God’s holy words. There’s always something that we can glean from a familiar Bible story or a Gospel passage that will give us the guidance we need. It’s also amazing how often a Sunday School lesson or a pastor’s sermon will speak to us at the right time, giving us assurance, advice, and assistance.

Hope, faith, and love help us through bad times, as well as the good. By taking the time to focus on our faith in the midst of our present circumstances, we will discover several useful gifts - strength and determination, character and perseverance, endurance for the present and hopefulness for the future. In Christ, we live an abundant life at all times. In His word, we find our way. Through His love, we rediscover our lives.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for bringing us to faith and helping us to believe in Your words, Your ways, and Your works. In these uncertain times, assure us that Your promises are powerful, Your guidance is always good, and Your salvation is our strength. In Your Holy Name, we gladly and confidently 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.

Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Podcast version here: http://media.libsyn.com/media/stushie/Just_Jude.mp3

Sometimes we think that the original New Testament church was full of people who were completely united and totally happy in their work together for the Lord. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those First Christians struggled to keep the Church alive, not just they were persecuted by the authorities, but because of the tribulations within the Church itself.

Different people had different ideas about what was important to Christianity. Some felt that God’s grace through Christ was unlimited so that they had complete freedom to do anything they liked. If they were immoral or made mistakes, Jesus would constantly forgive them.

But other Christians like Jude, believed that faith in Christ placed obligations and responsibilities on His followers. They were entrusted with Christ’s ministry and mission, which made them personally accountable for their lives, their actions, and their beliefs. Being a Christian was never meant to be easy or cozy. It required persistence in the face of persecution, and resistance when confronting temptation.

Eventually, Christians like Jude won the day and the Church survived. But every generation since then has had to struggle with the same issues. Our faith is not a given. Each generation can squander it by allowing the world to shape the Church’s culture, principles, and beliefs.

The struggle that we fight today is inconsistency and a laissez-faire attitude to what is important for Christians to believe, practice, and accomplish. Jude’s words sound critical and judgmental to us today, but does that make them unimportant or wrong? Are we more interested in a Church that suits our beliefs and is tailored to fit our lifestyle choices, or are we up to the challenge of having Christ mold us?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, these are challenging days and turbulent times for the Church. In every generation, people are called to serve and honor You with their lives. This involves sacrifice and dedication, persistence and determination. Help us each day to keep focused on what You would have us do and accomplish with our lives for Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the 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.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Rebel Cry

How a religious rebel kept his faith in the midst of injustice and oppression.

Psalm 138:1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise.

Podcast version here: http://media.libsyn.com/media/stushie/Rebel_Cry.mp3

This is a rebel psalm. It was perhaps written when the Jewish people were exiled in Babylon and found themselves surrounded by images and idols, statues and altars to the mighty gods of the Babylonian empire.

In such conditions, people usually become overwhelmed, but not the guy who wrote this psalm. When he bows down in front of the other ‘gods’, he doesn’t give his heart to them. When he sings praises, he doesn’t offer them to Bel or Nebo. And when he prays, he doesn’t ask foreign idols to intercede on his behalf.

On the outside, he may have looked like any other convert to paganism, but within himself he keeps his faith fully focused on the God of his fathers, the Jehovah of Jerusalem, the Lord God of hosts.

I love this psalm because it encourages God’s people to hold on to their faith in the midst of trying circumstances. This person would be silently praying in schools and public places. He would organize and attend underground churches in China. He would hold on to hope in the midst of a Nazi concentration camp. He would keep the faith no matter who or what tried to take it away from him. This psalm is a sacred poem of a religious rebel.

We may never experience anything like this in our lifetime, but the lesson that we learn from this psalm is the same as that of which Paul once wrote: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the courage of some of God’s people whose faith never fails them, even in the midst of tyranny, oppression, and injustice. We pray especially for Christian groups in China that seek to worship You, even though they are constantly harassed, arrested, and imprisoned. Help us to be reminded of the true cost of faith and of the blessings that we freely experience. 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.

4 Minute Devotions: Everything We Need

This is one of those blessed verses that we all need to read and hear during uncertain times. Peter reminds us, in a cheerful way, about the grace of God and how He uses His divine power to sustain our needs.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Podcast version here

Most of us worry about our future, and with the stock market crash, some of us have lost substantial amounts in our savings. Others of us are working for businesses that are teetering on the edge of liquidation. And there are some of us who are getting ready to go out into the marketplace, to look for or start a new job. In times like these, faith becomes a priceless commodity through the promises that God makes in the Bible.

Peter states that God has given us everything that we need for life. It’s not everything that we want, but it is all that we need. As we get through this recession, we may come out of it as more thrifty people. We may have a better understanding of what is necessary for our lives, and what are luxuries. It may be tough on all of us for a while, but God’s promises are always fulfilled. His divine power has given us everything we need for life. That’s an assurance that God will sustain His people through these times.

But God also adds a blessing to this promise. Peter talks about being given godliness through our knowledge of God. In other words, as we experience God’s blessings, we increase our understanding of who God is; and as we grow in understanding, we become more confident of His assurances, blessings, and promises. Having faith in Christ and knowing who God is, gives us tenacity, strength, and wisdom for the years ahead. People without faith are left to get through these times on their own. People with faith are carried and supported by God to better days, better times, and better, more meaningful and purposeful lives.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life.

Prayer: Lord God, we are all subject to fears and worries, anxieties and concerns, especially about the future. We thank You for the blessings of Your words and the promises of scripture. Assure us that Your presence and power is all that we need for life. Help us to share this message with those who need to be most reassured throughout these times. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Divine Separation

How could God let go of Jesus all of those Christmases ago?

Psalm 113:5, 6 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

Podcast version here

I find Christmas absolutely amazing. And it’s not just because of the great music, the beautiful lights, or the glorious glitter. I find it amazing because it’s a celebration about the Lord of All Creation stooping down to our level, to leave His Holy Son amongst us. The whole event is a commemoration of an amazing sacrifice by God.

What God did way back then, would be like me taking my daughters, when they were babies, and leaving them on the dirty streets of Calcutta. I couldn’t ever do it because my fatherly love would not want to abandon them and I would feel the need to protect them. And that’s precisely what makes Christmas so wonderful to me, when I realize how much love God truly has for the whole world that He was willing to let go of Jesus.

Years ago, when I first came to live in the United States, my eldest daughter Lynsey went to her first overnight camp. We were just in Knoxville about ten days and felt totally cut off from our families back in Scotland. We were on our own and it just didn’t seem right that our eldest would be spending time away from us so soon. Lynsey felt the same separation anxiety and just after midnight I had to go and bring her home.

We were emotionally exhausted and weary as we journeyed home. I didn’t know it, but I was driving on the wrong side of the road. Suddenly, I saw headlights in front of me and heard the blaring of a car horn. Seconds later, we were involved in a head on collision. Thankfully, no one was injured but Lynsey and I were both emotional wrecks.

These days, Lynsey is a graduate student living hundred of miles from home. We may be separated geographically, but we are very close. It makes me wonder if that’s the kind of relationship that God maintained with Jesus throughout His life. God may have let Christ go to Earth that First Christmas, but They still carried each other in their hearts.

As I stated before, Christmas is amazing. And each year, I like to believe that God and Jesus stoop down to look at the Earth and celebrate this grand season with us.

Prayer: Lord God, most of us cannot comprehend what it took You to let go of Your Holy Son and leave Him to the mercies of the world. Even though You loved Him dearly, You never protected Him from what the world and people like ourselves eventually did to Him. That level of love and sacrifice is amazing to us and we are truly thankful for Your sacrifice which brought us salvation. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: God is Our Future

The economic crisis and stock market meltdown makes us all feel uneasy. Where is God in these uncertain times?

Podcast version here

Psalm 46:5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Economically, people are hurting all over the world. The stock markets are fluctuating wildly; businesses are closing down; unemployment is at an all time high for decades. There just doesn’t seem to be a lot of hope going around and some of us are wondering what we should be thankful for this year.

Spiritually, people are also hurting around the world. When uncertainty creeps into our society, God becomes a scapegoat for our frustrations and fears, our anxieties and anger. How can He allow all of this suffering to continue? Why doesn’t God do something about it? With all of His power, He could straighten things out and let us all lead healthy, wealthy, and successful lives.

But then we would just become puppets and wouldn’t know freedom. We wouldn’t experience triumph over hardship, or even learn from our mistakes. Each day would be the same and eventually, in my opinion, all of our feelings – good or bad – would shut off entirely.

So what does God do about uncertain times? How does He help us overcome our present troubles?

God abides within us, giving us guidance and encouragement, as well as granting us mercy and grace. It may seem trite to some people, but for those who maintain a strong spiritual connection to God, it is a wonderful blessing. Our future is in God’s hands; in fact, God is our future. As Christians, we look forward to an amazing day when we will be with God. Jesus, our Savior, has given us an everlasting opportunity to enter God’s Kingdom here on earth. Stock markets may rise and fall; jobs may come and go; but the love of God endures forever.

Prayer: Lord God, everything seems to be changing in our world, and at times we are fearfully anxious. Help us to cling to Your promises and allow us the holy experience of Your comforting presence in our hearts, minds, and souls. We pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord forever. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Handling the Word

Correctly handling the word of truth is something that all preachers should remember. Omitting what we don't like from scripture only causes us to rewrite the Gospel and reject God's Word.

Podcast version here

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

I’ve been a bit remiss these past couple of weeks in writing these devotionals. It’s been really busy at the church I serve, and lately I’ve had difficulty in prioritizing my time. It makes me feel ashamed because I’m always advising people to make time for God. It seems as though the pastor hasn’t been practicing what he preaches, so I need to get back on the right track.

I’ve also been more aware of what constitutes correctly handling the word of truth. At a big meeting the other day, which was full of pastors and elders, someone preached a really good sermon on chapter three of John’s Gospel. It was a great message of hope and full of the Spirit, but the preacher only preached from John 3: 1-17. She opted to omit verses 18-21, which actually ends the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus in this chapter. It made me wonder why. Here are the verses:

John 3:18-21 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

You see those last four verses reveal how serious it is to reject believing in God through Jesus. Up until that point in the chapter, Jesus is attempting to teach Nicodemus about the love, grace, and mercy of God. But He ends His conversation with dire warnings, and so when we preach from that chapter, we need to be prepared to correctly handle the word of truth. It may be a lot easier to ignore the bad bits and just preach the good, but when we do that, we end up rewriting the Gospel and making Christ’s words suit ourselves.

Do I wish that Jesus had never spoken verses 18-21? Sometimes, but then I remember that God’s grace is never given cheaply or just casually placed before us. We are given an invitation to believe in Jesus, along with an opportunity to receive salvation. It is never thrust upon us and each person must accept or reject it. The consequences of our decision are plainly expressed by Christ; we can never complain to Him that we didn’t understand our options. Grace and judgment go hand in hand. How we finally experience them depends upon the choice each one of us makes.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your Gospel gives us the greatest opportunity of a lifetime for each one of us. You offer us the hope of being forgiven for all of our mistakes, and restored to God’s favor for all of eternity. This is the greatest blessing that we can receive in our lives. But You do not force this upon us; instead You allow us to use our free will to determine whether or not we will accept Your invitation. Grant us the wisdom to respond lovingly to this everlasting gift. Remind us of the consequences which will follow our final choices. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and gratefully pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Striped Pajamas

The Boy in Striped Pajamas is a new Holocaust movie with some very important messages about raising children.

Podcast version here

Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

I went to a free screening of a new movie the other night. It is called “The Boy in Striped Pajamas.” The story is about two boys who are separated by the electric barbed wires of a concentration camp. One boy, called Bruno, is the son of the Commandant of the camp. The other boy, Schmoel, is the son of a Jewish watchmaker.

It’s a very sad movie and the ending is heartbreaking. I left the theater stunned. I don’t know whether or not to recommend it to anyone. It’s not a feel good movie at all, although it does have many important messages to impart.

For instance, several times during the movie, Bruno is being taught by an old fascist teacher. He’s being indoctrinated into the Nazi party line. Bruno resists this because of his friendship with Schmoel. Bruno’s sister, however, becomes infatuated with Nazism and begins to change her personality. It’s a good lesson about how impressionable children actually are. They can be molded, manipulated, and brainwashed at an early age. They are learning machines, especially between the ages of 8-12. What influences them during those years usually shapes their character for years to come.

That’s why it’s very important for parents to be parents to their children, and not friends. If we set no boundaries, we only end up raising savages. Children need boundaries because the world that they will grow up into has some serious boundaries.

This lesson also applies to the Church. When we teach our children faith in Christ, we’re giving them strength for the future and hope for what lies ahead of them. If we neglect to share our faith with them, they will lose their connection to God. Sadly, too many adults end up becoming addicted to tobacco, sex, drugs, or alcohol simply because they feel spiritually empty and cut off from God. If we can teach them to have faith at an impressionable age, then we may save them from some of society’s ills.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our children are precious gifts in our lives and community. Help us to share the joy of our faith with them, so that they may grow nearer and closer to You throughout their adult lives. Keep us mindful of the cultural persuaders that would undermine Your influence over them. Help us to help our children avoid them. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Baker's Van

Sometimes, when I pray "Give us our daily bread," it reminds me of a Scottish baker I once knew.

Podcast version here

Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

Every day, around 10.30AM, the bread man used to arrive in our street. He drove a large van that had a walk-in counter at the back. He tooted his horn twice and everyone in our street knew that he had arrived. During the summer, when I was on holiday from school, my mom usually gave me a note, written on the corner of an old envelope, with our order: one plain loaf and a packet of potato scones.

As I entered the baker’s van, I could smell the beautiful aroma of freshly baked bread, sugared donuts, and buttered scones. The shelves were full of different breads and cakes, as well as various candies and chocolates. It looked absolutely heavenly to me, and I often wished that my parents had the money to buy the whole van.

The baker was a tall bearded man with a cheery smile. He took my mom’s list and placed the goods on the counter. He knew that we didn’t have much money, but he always treated us as if we were the most important customers on his route. He asked how my mom was doing and then he checked our items in his credit book. We always settled up at the end of the week when my father was paid.

On Saturday mornings, I would take another list, on the corner of an old envelope, with the money that we owed the baker. I felt important as I handed him over the money and received the change. He would hand me the plain loaf and potato scones, and then he would smile as he added in a few donuts to the package. This was Saturday, when our family had money!

Sometimes, when I’m praying the Lord’s Prayer, I remember those days of the Scottish baker when I say the words: ‘give us our daily bread.’ It reminds me that God’s grace is something that we all get on credit. At the end of our lives, we can never repay what we owe to God, which is when Christ steps in to pay the ransom for our souls. And just when we think that would be enough, He adds something sweeter to the whole divine package: everlasting life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love and grace through which our lives are truly blessed. We depend upon You each day to guide and lead us, comfort and sustain us. You are our Daily Bread and the Bread of Eternal Life. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Celestial Song

Last night, I watched a movie that dealt with separation issues in a beautiful way – through the gift of music. It was called “August Rush.”

Podcast version here

Genesis 1:4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.

I watched a great movie last night and it has become one of my top ten. I had been meaning to watch it for a while because my daughters told me it was terrific. I’ve also used some clips from the movie in the Sunday School class that I teach each week. So, at 11.15 PM last night, I began to watch “August Rush.”

It’s really an updated version of Oliver Twist (“Oliver!” is also in my top ten). The plot is about a young boy called Evan, who grows up in an orphanage, who has some amazing hearing and musical skills. As he listens to the world around him, he can hear all sorts of music and rhythms. He also believes that his parents, who unknowingly abandoned him, can hear that music too. Evan thinks that if he can write and play the music he hears in his head and heart, he will be reunited with his parents.

The music in the movie is beautiful and most of it is set in New York. Evan’s adventure is as delightful as Oliver Twist’s in London Town. The whole story is a musical journey and the characters, who lead separate lives, are wonderfully drawn together. The crescendo of the movie builds until it reaches both a musical and dramatical climax that had me in tears. It’s a great family movie, and I would recommend it to anyone. The separation issues in “August Rush” are beautifully overcome.

When God separated the light from the darkness in the creation of the universe, I wonder if He did it musically, as well as dramatically. I wonder if all the angels, who watched the universe being born, sang gloriously as God spun the galaxies, stars, and planets together. I would love to have been there, watching God as a Master Craftsman building the physical structure of the cosmos. And as He wove our planet into being, I wonder if God was whistling, humming, or singing.

Today, as I look at the world around me, I’m going to try to listen as well. I want to be keyed into the voice of God and hear what He is saying through all the interaction of life that is buzzing around me. I want to feel that I am ready to hear what He says and no longer be separated from His universal song. I want to listen to God singing; I want to join in the cosmic chorus.

Prayer: Lord God, life is truly amazing and this planet is a wonderful world. Help us to listen to Your voice and realize that there is music in all that You do and accomplish. Allow us to accompany You in the celestial song of Creation. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: The Duchess

Keira Knightley perfectly plays the Duchess of Devonshire in her new movie, "The Duchess." What lessons of faithfulness can we learn from such a movie?

Podcast version here

Nehemiah 9:33 In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong.

Yesterday, Evelyn and I went to see the new British movie called “The Duchess.” It stars Keira Knightley, who usually pouts, sighs, and overacts too much for me to enjoy any of her movies. I wanted to see this movie because I read the book a couple of years ago.

It’s all about Georgiana Cavendish, who marries young to become the Duchess of Devonshire. It takes place towards the end of the 18th century, when Britain was undergoing turmoil due to the American Revolution overseas. The movie portrays the loves and sadnesses in Georgiana’s life, as well as the impact that she had on society. Keira Knightley portrays her perfectly, whilst the scenery and costumes are absolutely amazing. It’s one of those movies that you have to see on the big screen and I give it two thumbs up.

Who was the Duchess of Devonshire? She was the Princess Diana and Elizabeth Cady Stanton of her time. She was a trend setter whose sense of fashion was copied throughout Britain. She was also a political pioneer and even although she could not vote, she made appearances and speeches at conventions, seeking to usher in a brave new world for the failing British Empire. Many of the famous Gainsborough paintings of Regency women were based upon Georgiana’s influence. Had she lived in today’s world, she would be on the cover of every fashion magazine on earth, as well as Time magazine.

The sadness in her life was that she desperately tried to be faithful to her older husband. His unfaithfulness and rakish life both shocked and scandalized her until she was forced to look for love elsewhere. She had an affair and a daughter by her lover Charles Grey, who was destined to become Prime Minister of Britain and to whom Earl Grey tea is named after. Georgiana sadly died at the young age of 49. Two of her most famous descendants were Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, both of whom were married to Prince Charles and Prince Andrew of the present British Royal Family.

So what’s this got to do with a devotional for today? I think it comes in the faithfulness factor. Georgiana was a young girl when she married, full of hopes, dreams, and expectations. Those closest to her wronged her and changed her through their unfaithfulness, which serves as a lesson for all of us.

God remains faithful to us through the power of Christ’s obedience to Him. We are often unfaithful in worshiping and revering God, but His patience is long standing and His love for us endures. Through Jesus, we can come back to God at any time, to confess our biggest faults and mistakes. With Christ beside us, we are heard, cleansed, and restored to God, no matter who we are or what we’ve done.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive our foolish and unfaithful ways. Cleanse us of the past and restore us to God’s favor. You are our Lord and Champion; our Savior and Great Redeemer. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.