Sabbath Psalms - The Singing God

Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your God, who is mighty to save, is with you. He will greatly delight in you, quieten you with His love, and then He will sing joyously over you.”

            I can remember someone once asking me “why do Christians sing so often in their churches?” It puzzled him that we spend so much time in worship using music and songs to convey our praise and prayers. “If you omitted the music,” he continued, “everyone would get out of church at 11.30AM. It wouldn’t make any difference to God. He’s only interested in your prayers anyway.”

            Obviously, this person hadn’t read the Bible. It’s full of songs and many passages are written lyrically. The scriptures are meant to be sung – joyfully as in the Psalms, or dolefully as in Lamentations; loudly like the Angels on the hillside, or quietly like Mary giving praise to God.

            There’s even a verse in scripture, the one that we have today, which tells us that God Himself likes to sing! Music is an integral part of creation, heaven, and salvation. Song is a sacred vehicle of how we approach God, confess to Him, and praise His glorious Name. If we were to take out music from our worship, if we were to remove all of the singing, we would be left with something tedious, droll, and unfeeling.

            Music captivates our hearts and connects with our souls, so that we may mystically and spiritually connect with God. One day, when all of His Son’s followers are gathered in eternity, we will hear the most beautiful voice and the most beautiful singing in all of creation, because that will be the sacred moment when God sings and rejoices with those who are saved.

Questions for personal reflection

In what ways do Advent songs and Christmas carols spiritually connect me to God? What do I think about God actually singing one day in Heaven?

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for the gifts of music and song in the Bible and within our churches. We are grateful for the many ways which we can praise You through singing in church. We look forward to that wonderful moment in Your Kingdom when we will at last hear Your beautiful voice. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Christmas Credit - Romans 4:23-24

Romans 4:23-24 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for Abraham alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. (NIV)

            My parents were working-class people who raised a large family of six in Glasgow, Scotland. We went through some hard times, but at Christmas, they both did their utmost to ensure that all us kids were given the special gifts we hoped for from Santa. I guess like every other parent in our neighborhood, they borrowed money at a high-interest rate and paid it all back throughout the New Year, only to begin the debt cycle again when December came around. When I look back, I don’t know how they did it, but I’m thankful they loved us deeply to make certain that our Christmases were wonderful times.

            There were no credit cards in those days, so each Friday evening a credit agent came to our house for the weekly payment that my folks had to make. The ritual was usually the same – my Dad would give his pay packet to my Mom – who would take out the amount owed and hand it to the credit man. He would then plow through a whole host of cards, write in the payment and initial it. I don’t ever remember my folks missing a payment, even though the interest rate would have been very high. Over the years, they must have paid back thousands of pounds, but they did it, not just for Christmas, to keep us six kids fed, clothed, and sheltered.

            In today’s passage from Romans, Paul writes about how God credits us with righteousness when we believe in His Son Jesus and that He was raised from the dead. Because of sin, we are completely indebted to God and have no way of paying back what we owe, not even on a weekly basis when we go to church on Sundays. However, the great thing is that God does not leave destitute of His love and care. He allows us to be restored to His favor through the death of Jesus, who paid in full our outstanding debt to God. In other words, Jesus becomes both our creditor and guarantor, so that when we fall into sin, God credits us with Christ’s righteousness and permits us to be fully pardoned. This is why we call the Gospel ‘Good News.’

Point to ponder

How much do I owe Christ? How does His forgiveness help me to renew my faith each day?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may we be eternally grateful for the salvation that You have obtained for our souls. We know that we do not deserve such love and mercy, but we are truly thankful for Your sacrifice and grace. 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 offer some feedback on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

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

Advent Devotion - Shine On Us - Psalm 80 v 3

Psalm 80:3      Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. (NIV)

            I think a lot of people get nostalgic at Christmas. I know that I do. I like to think about years long gone and folks from my past who no longer walk the Earth. I sometimes wish I could sit down and talk to them, just to hear their voices, see the sparkle of their eyes, and feel the love and friendship that we shared. I carry their memory in my heart and see them in my mind’s eye, but it’s not the same. I miss them dearly and just wish I could have one more Christmas with them.

            This, in turn, makes me wonder about Christmas in Heaven. As each year passes on Earth, do the angels prepare a wonderful celebration of Christ’s birth? Do they, like us, feel the mysterious love of God and proclaim the Good news of salvation, year after year? Do they invisibly gather above Bethlehem skies and remember the time they were sent to tell the humble shepherds that the long-awaited Messiah had actually been born in their neighborhood? I guess when we all get to Heaven, we’ll see how God celebrates the earthly and humble birth of His Son Jesus.

            In today’s verse, the ancient psalmist asks God to make His face shine on His people. They are missing His presence in their lives and seek His favor once again. They want to be reassured that God is with them and they need to know that despite their failures, God still abides with them. They are looking for God’s light to shine on them, so that they can find favor in His eyes and feel the love that He has shared with them.

            As we begin the countdown to Christmas, may we each be blessed with the love of God and the grace of Christ, as well as the favor of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Point to ponder

Who do I miss at Christmas? How does God’s love help me, especially at this time of year?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, walk with us as we stumble through life and help us to hold on to Your love. Remind us of times and people from our past who touched our hearts and whom we still miss dearly. Keep us mindful of the joy that awaits us in Your glory that is yet to come. In Your Holy Name, we wait and 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 Traqair@aol.com.

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

Advent devotion: Poles Apart - Mark 6:20

Mark 6:20       Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

            Even evil people know the truth when they hear it. King Herod was no exception. Like his wicked father before him, he was a cruel despot who retained his power by wiping out his enemies. He was also a puppet-king who sovereignty solely depended on the reports of the Roman Governor and the whims of the Emperor. If Herod did anything to displease the Romans, he would have been immediately assassinated or executed. On the other hand, if he did anything which displeased the people, he could always rely upon the Roman garrison to back him up.

            Herod’s fascination with John the Baptist is full of contradictions. He imprisons John for preaching against Herod and his wife, and yet the king visits him in prison because he liked to listen to him. He was a despotic ruler who ruthlessly crushed his enemies, and yet he is afraid of John because he speaks the truth. Herod is used to being pampered in his palaces and lives a life of luxury; John, however, is the exact opposite – he lives in the rough outdoors, surviving on locusts and wild honey. The two men are worlds and poles apart – and yet Herod protects John because likes to listen to him.

            I wonder what would have happened if Herod had not made the rash promise which resulted in John’s beheading. Would Herod have eventually repented and been restored to God? If so, would he have intervened on Christ’s behalf or kept him protected as a prisoner so that the king could listen to the carpenter? We’ll never know, but at some point in his life, Herod listened to what God had to say through John; his only trouble was this: he never fully accepted or personally applied the truth of John’s words.

            As we approach Christmas, our churches become fuller because of the special programs and great festivals that take place in our sanctuaries. People like to listen to the Christmas carols and hear the Christmas story. However, just like Herod in the past, they miss the wonderful opportunity to make a direct connection to God through Jesus. They like listening to Christ’s words; they’re just not ready to live accordingly.

Questions for personal reflection

What truths do the Gospels convey to me, especially during this season of Advent and Christmas? Do I like listening to them, or am I willing to go further and live by them?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, speak Your Truth to us throughout this season of Advent. Allow our hearts and minds to embrace Your words and to live according to the challenges that they contain. Be with us and strengthen our faith in You this day. 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 message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest nativity drawing called “Long Ago.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Long Ago.

Christmas Devotion: The Gift - Ephesians 1:7-8

Ephesians 1:7 -8         In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Every year, I see people putting themselves under a lot of pressure trying to make everything perfect for Christmas. I watch others lavish their loved ones with precious gifts and expensive presents. I look at parents who are desperately trying to find the right gifts for their children, as well as hoping that in the last week before Christmas, their children won’t suddenly change their minds. It’s all done with a great deal of affection and it’s just part of being human, of showing our love to those nearest and dearest in our hearts.

In the midst of all this hurrying and scurrying, there’s one lavish gift that is available for each of us. It doesn’t come free, because it was paid for with the life-blood of a holy young man. It can’t be purchased in stores, because it comes straight from heaven. And it cannot be re-used or given away once it is received, because it is an everlasting gift of God’s infinite love.

The old word associated with this lavish gift is ‘Redemption,’ which doesn’t have a lot of meaning in a post-modern world. Redemption is an essential part of a process which means that those who receive this gift are brought back into God’s favor, their mistakes are deleted, and their lives are re-started. In the entire history of the world and the personal circumstances of every single human being, it’s the most important gift ever to be offered and the greatest blessing that people can ever to receive.

It comes wrapped in a manger and is built upon a cross. It comes with instructions and ends with praise. It has humble beginnings and promises a glorious end. This lavish gift is, of course, Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of God, the Savior of our souls, the Lord of all Creation, and the King of kings. There’s no greater gift in life because what He offers is a greater life than we could ever know on Earth. And He’s the Gift that keeps on giving, for every day someone somewhere in the world accepts and receives this amazing bounty of God’s blessing.

May you know this lavish gift in your life, and may all of your loved ones receive Him, too.

Amen.

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

Today’s image is John’s latest Nativity drawing. It’s called “The Outsiders.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/11411785985_b7c36a34dd_b.jpg

Christmas Devotion: Signs and Symbols - Galatians 4:18

Galatians 4:18                        It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. (NIV)

Throughout December, we all see bumper stickers, church posters, and yard signs that read ‘Jesus is the reason for the season,’ ‘Keep Christ in Christmas,’ and my all-time favorite, “Beat the Christmas Rush – come to church this Sunday!” Whenever I see them, they make me smile, but I wonder how they come across to people who are not church goers or even Christians?

Are those signs too ‘preachy?’ Do they come across as being smug and self-righteousness? Is our zeal for the Lord hampering our effective witness in the community? And, can you really capture the real message of the Gospel in a bumper sticker anyway?

Over the years, the best witnesses to Christ at Christmas come from the loving words and deeds of compassionate people. They effectively put Christ back into Christian, which for me is more important rather than relying upon a silly slogan. If church people were zealous for the Lord in ways that would support the poor, comfort the heartbroken, and embrace the unloved then our churches would be filled each and every Sunday, no matter which season we were in.

Question for personal reflection

How can I become a sign of Christ’s love in my home, at work, and in the community at large?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we want to positively witness on Your behalf, especially at this time of year when so many people are thinking about Your Birth. Enable us to be aware of the effect that our words and deeds have on other folk. May we become human signs and symbols of Your grace and love. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely 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 one of John’s latest snowman drawings. It’s called ‘Even Snowmen Know.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/11192118666_85888f4534_b.jpg