Short devotion - Nothing New - 1 John 5:20

1 John 5:20    We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

            The Apostle John lived in a multicultural and diverse world. The Roman Empire contained many different people from all sorts of backgrounds, nations, and religions. The success of the Empire lay not just in its military strength, but also in its tolerance of different cultures. Romanization of different ethnic groups and races did not involve the complete wiping out of local traditions, gods, and cultures. As long as people did not rebel and paid homage by paying taxes to the Emperor, they could remain under the protection of Rome.

            However, when Christianity appeared on the scene, it came into conflict with the Roman authorities almost immediately. The fact that Christ had been crucified under Roman Law meant that His followers were seen as insurrectionists who could not be tolerated or allowed to grow across the Empire. This is why so many of Christ’s original disciples were martyred; they were considered to be hostile extremists whose sole mission was to bring down the Roman Empire. In fact, only the Apostle John who wrote today’s verse, lived to a ripe old age, albeit in exile on a lonely island in the Aegean Sea.

            John was writing his first letter to new Christians who may have been frightened by the persecuting power of the Roman authorities. He expressed to them his absolute certainty that Jesus was sent by God in order to lead people to the Truth, so that his readers would know where and from whom to find eternal life. John states it simply and succinctly: ‘we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.’

            Today, we have the opportunity of sharing in and experiencing the same reality. Christ alone forgives our sins, draws us to God, and grants us eternal life. In a cosmopolitan, multicultural world, this is currently interpreted as being narrow-minded, exclusive, and intolerant. So what’s new? Those were the very same criticisms and charges that were raised against the Apostle John and the First Century Christians – why should we think that the world would see us any differently?

Questions for personal reflection

What makes me a Christian? Do I accept John’s ancient words that Jesus is the true God and eternal life? Why?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all seeking the Truth so that our lives can be lived out purposefully, genuinely, and effectively. Keep us mindful of the original beliefs that the Apostles like John had and which the First Christians embraced. In Your Holy Name, may we remain devoted to You. Amen.

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

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Today’s image is one of John’s Pentecost drawings called “Spirit Window.” You can view a larger version at the following link: Spirit Window.

Online Devotion: What the World Needs - Romans 1:5

Romans 1:5    Through Christ, and for the sake of His Name, grace and apostleship were given to us, in order to call people from all over the world toward faith and obedience.

(Passage context: Romans 1:1-7)

What the world needs now is the grace of Christ.

We've all become insecure and defensive, easily offended and constantly aggressive. We talk about toleration and coexistence, but we don’t practice or even exercise them. We are still hostile to our enemies and appalled by other ideas. We are quick to point out the weaknesses, faults, and inefficiencies of other people, but pride and self-centeredness won’t allow us to admit our own wrongs, failings, and inadequacies. We live our lives as we see fit, and justify whatever we do. We don’t accept blame easily, but we are often ready to identify other people as blameworthy. In short, everything that goes wrong in the world is someone else’s fault; everything that needs to be fixed in our lives is someone else’s problem.

Our lives were never meant to be like this. We were made to obey God and give our days to Him. We are the heart of His Creation, which He wants us to enjoy forever, but because we busy ourselves with other things and burden our lives with trivia, superficiality, and false senses of importance, we lose those precious moments of sacred presence, and drift further away from God’s love.

We need Christ’s grace in our lives to halt our weary un-holiness and put an end to the digital urgency that exhausts our minds and souls. We need Christ’s grace to re-open our eyes in order to see the beauty and wonder of Creation that we once knew as little children. We need Christ’s grace to help us both understand and cherish that each day is a gift, full of moments where God can be found and His love experienced. We need Christ’s grace to fully realize that we are just children, playing on a planet, under the watchful gaze of our Loving Creator.

Question for personal reflection

Where have I seen God in the world today?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, help us to see the world through Your eyes. Enable us to embrace Your love and receive Your grace. 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 a question about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is an old stained glass picture that John designed several years ago. It’s called “A New Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3084/2432537217_e82364bff8_b.jpg

Christian devotions: Essentials - Daniel 3:17-18

Daniel 3:17-18            “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Some people might have said they were being disrespectful and disloyal to the king. Others could have condemned them for being ornery and unfaithful. Whatever was said against them at the time, the audacious faith that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had in God was undiminished and unswerving. And even when they faced a fiery execution, they still did not turn away from the God of their people, not even if God failed to deliver them.

That’s what made their faith so audacious. No matter what happened to them, whether for better or for ill, they still held on to their essential belief that there was only One God. No matter how many threats were made against them or how hot the fiery furnace was raised, they did not swerve from their devotion to the LORD. It must have been both perplexing and infuriating to King Nebuchadnezzar. He wanted to save them – all they had to do was bow down to a golden image – but they would not adhere to the king’s commands. There was a Higher Power active in their lives and a greater authority than that of the earthly king. The three men would not surrender their faith in order to save their lives.

            In these contentious times for the Church, it can be very easy to let go of some essential beliefs in order to accommodate everyone’s ideas and notions about God. However well intended, if we stray too far from the truth, then we are in danger of losing our faith for the sake of keeping up with the world. We could even end up with a belief system that is not worth dying for, nor even living by.

            Within each of ourselves, we have to work out what is important to Christ and His Church. Perhaps we can do no better than to practice a favorite saying of the 17^th century English Puritan Richard Baxter: “In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity.” Now that would be a faith worth living by and dying for.

Questions for personal reflection

What beliefs are essential to my Christian faith? Do I live according to those essentials?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, grant us the gift of spiritual discernment in order to truthfully know what is important to You, Your Kingdom, and Your Church. Grant us an audacious faith that will not compromise the essentials, but will also maintain a spirit of charity to those with whom we disagree. 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 traqair@aol.com.

 

Today’s image is one of John’s Pentecost drawings called “The Coming One.” It’s a stained glass design for children. You can view a larger version at the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/8734328860_763c4691c0_h.jpg

Today's Devotion: Swords and Clubs - Mark 14:48

Mark 14:48     “Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?”

For the past nine months, I’ve been reading some sad stories about churches and pastors who have been treated badly by their religious authorities. Some ministers have been quickly dismissed and some congregations have been locked out of their buildings. Instead of showing understanding and grace, authority figures are displaying indignation and contempt. Rather than seeking reconciliation by arbitration, both sides get locked into a war of words that destroys Christ’s witness in the local community. If there are tears of sadness in heaven over these acts of unkindness, then there must also be tears of laughter in hell. Instead of showing Christ’s compassion in these trying times, we are all guilty of brandishing the devil’s swords and clubs.

Some days I wonder where it will all end up. Will we fatally fracture the Western Church with our social issues and creeping universalism that many people will just give up and forsake their faith? I’m seeing diminishing congregations across the land and churches struggling to survive. If accepting the present trends in culture is so good for the Church, then why are our numbers still going down at an alarming rate?

And then I read today’s Gospel passage (Mark 14:43-52) and I realize that it’s all part of the Great Plan. There is no revival without betrayal; there is no salvation without the crucifixion; there is no resurrection without persecution.

Questions for personal reflection

How is my faith impacted by society? When and where do I betray Christ?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, having faith in You is not easy. Across the generations and throughout the nations, Christians have struggled with cultural demands, as opposed to eternal commands. Help us to be honest with Your Word and keep us from allowing the devil to diminish the gracious witness of Your Church among ourselves, as well as throughout the world. 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 one of John’s latest ‘art nouveau’ roses drawings. It’s called ‘Lifetime Joy’ and is drawn in the style of Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose work inspired Frank Lloyd Wright. If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8148/7299741342_ea6f7664c3_b.jpg

John also has note cards and gifts available with these new designs which you can view at the following online store: http://www.cafepress.com/stushienotes