June 9 devotional - The Contender

Colossians 2:1            I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. (NIV)

            Paul contended for the young churches under his care. He knew that the faith of those new Christians was delicate and that they could be led astray by flattering words and false gospels. He fought for them in many ways and eventually sacrificed his life for the Gospel. He was a remarkable fighter for the faith; he was a strident contender for Christ.

            Sometimes I wonder how Paul would have fared with today’s Church. We seem to have wandered so far away from the Gospel Truth that I think he would stridently confront our mistakes and try to redirect our paths. Unfortunately, he would probably come across as being intolerant, out-of-touch, and imbecilic to most post-moderns. His statements would be ignored and his opinions would be cast aside, just as his written words are somewhat treated today.

            I wish that God would raise up another Paul among us, instead of the ‘Guy Smiley’ preachers that abound in our mega churches. People say that they are thirsting for real, authentic Christianity, but that involves changing a lot of what we have become. If another contender does arise, then she or he will shake the foundations of our cozy beliefs and make us honestly reconsider our ways. It won’t be easy, but then again, the symbol of our faith is a sacred Cross and not a comfy sofa.

Questions for personal reflection

What do I honestly think of Paul and his teachings? Why?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You chose Paul to contend for Your Church on Earth. Help us to understand why You selected him and what his writings truly teach us about You. Help us to re-evaluate our faith and renew our commitment to You alone. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him an email about today’s message, send it to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s drawings called “Christ is King.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: King.

Deeply Rooted - Colossians 2:6-7

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (NIV)

            A couple of years ago, we added a rockery to our church campus through a gracious donation from some church members. It was built on the side of a slope which was forever covered in moss and weeds. The whole area was very unattractive and was right next to our main entrance. One morning, a group of landscapers appeared and transformed the whole area into a beautiful Japanese type of garden. Large boulders were built into place and special shrubs were planted. It was remarkable to see the slope change from being an eyesore into a very picturesque shrubbery.

            As the years have passed, the roots of the plants have grown stronger which means that during summer and fall, we will experience some beautiful colors all over the garden area. And now that we’ve added a special irrigation system, we can look forward to the shrubs and small trees growing and expanding all over the rockery. What was once an unattractive zone has become a place of beauty and pride for our members and visitors.

            Today’s highlighted verses from Paul to the Colossians convey the same type of planting and growth with regard to our faith in Christ. His Spirit works within us to produce thankful hearts and devoted souls to God’s Kingdom. As our faith deepens, our spiritual influence can expand so that we may positively share Christ’s blessings with our families and friends, neighbors and colleagues. In other words, we become living witnesses of the ministry and mission of Jesus in our homes, churches, circles, and communities.

Point to ponder

How thankful am I to know Jesus is my Lord and Savior? Do others see that thankfulness in me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for planting faith within each of us and for helping us to spiritually grow. Encourage us to deepen our connection to You, so we may become better witnesses of Your ways, words, and works. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost images called ‘Spirit 2018.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit.

Christian Devotions: Sacred Secrets - Colossians 2

Colossians 2:2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.

Paul is exactly right – Christ is the mystery of God. I recently heard someone say that a secret is a truth that is not fully known, but a mystery is a truth that cannot ever be fully known. This means that whoever Jesus truly is, only God will know the complete truth. There is something deeply personal and solemnly sacred between God the Father and God the Son, and even when we dwell with them in eternity, we shall never truly know the infinite depths of their love for one another.

For some people that may sound discouraging because they want to know everything about Christ, but the heart of the matter is this: we will only know of Jesus what God wants to reveal to us about Him. Because we are sinners, we are shown a great grace from God in being allowed to know Jesus from history and from our personal experiences. But that grace, amazing though it is, actually has limits, and there will be things about Christ that will remain eternally mysterious to even the best of His followers.

Does this mean that God is holding back and keeping something of Christ for Himself? The simple answer to that is: Yes. Being a loving parent allows you to treasure things, events, and experiences about your children that you cherish and keep close to your heart. I believe that God is the same: He loves Jesus proudly and personally, faithfully and fiercely, infinitely and mysteriously.

When Paul was writing to the Colossians about the church in Laodicea, he was encouraging them to cherish and remember their commitment to Christ. As young Christians, they wanted to know everything and they were thirsty for the word of God to change their lives. Somehow, they took a wrong turn and ended up following a false gospel spread by elite evangelists who claimed, with fine sounding sermons, that they knew sacred secrets about Christ. They wanted to manipulate the people by claiming to be the chosen mentors of the great mysteries of Christ, (much like some popular novelists exploit their naïve readers by suggesting that the Church has many secrets that only a privileged few know or understand). Paul was warning his own readers not to be captivated by these speakers or secrets; instead he urged them to remember their initial experience with the Spirit of Christ in their hearts when they had truly heard and accepted the Gospel.

So today, let’s reflect upon how we became Christians in the first place. And then let’s look forward to that cherished time in eternity when we will know Christ face to face.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have entered our hearts and claimed our souls for all of eternity. Your words have affected us deeply and Your teaching has changed our lives forever. We praise You for these blessings and we are truly thankful to Your Glorious Father who sent You into this world. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully 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 John’s latest Smoky mountain prints called “Spring Falls.” If you would like to see a larger view of this drawing, please visit the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5350070427_01e9f1b652_b.jpg



If you would like a signed and matted copy of the print, contact John by email. Only 25 are available and cost $20 plus shipping if necessary.