4 Minute Devotions: Clay People

My mother’s name was McClay, and I used to think that the name “McClay” meant “son of the earth.” It made me feel as though I came from some very common stock, of pitcher people from long ago, who made jars of clay for my Scottish ancestors. Because my father’s family were all Stuarts, who were once Scottish kings and queens, I tended to be a wee bit snooty regarding my heritage when I was much younger. I would rather have royal blue blood running through my veins than to be taken from old grey clay, any day.

Podcast version here

But when I researched the name McClay I discovered it had nothing to do with clay pots or working with mud. You see McClay is an anglicized form of the old Gaelic name “Mac An Leigh,” which means “son of the Healer.” My mother’s heritage didn’t come from clay workers; they were instead the ancient shamans, medicine men, and pagan healers of the old Gaelic tribes. Perhaps instead of royal blood in my veins, I’ve got pastoral blood from my mother’s side.

Job 33:6 I am just like you before God; I too have been taken from clay.

No matter what my heritage may actually be, or how fanciful I think it is, I am humbled by this one thought: that we are all created equal by God and, as far as the Bible is concerned, we are all made from dust and clay. In God’s eyes, it matters not how noble or powerful, wealthy or esteemed, famous or infamous that we are in the world; as far as He is concerned, we are all His creatures, whose purpose is to praise God and enjoy Him forever.

We are all sons and daughters of clay, yet we are also destined to become sons and daughters of God through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s Holy Son. By placing our faith in Christ, we are not left to sink into the miry clay of darkness and oblivion; instead we are given the sacred opportunity of rising out of the mud, of being cleansed by Christ’s blood, and being led into the everlasting, holy, and joyful presence of God. Then, in my opinion, we all become the equivalent of immortal McClays – sons and daughters of the Healer of the world. My mother would just love that.

Prayer: Lord God, we all have different heritages and ancestry, backgrounds and cultures. And yet we have the same source of life, which comes from You alone. Thank You for allowing us to share this wonderful creation that is all around us. And we praise You for the glorious opportunity of experiencing this forever, through the noble sacrifice and royal blood of Your Son and our King, Jesus Christ. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Devotions: Starmaker

When I first came to live in the United States, the sky seemed very different. It was more expansive and I used to spend a lot of time looking at the wonderful clouds during the day and peering at the vast array of stars at night.

Podcast version here

Bible Verse of the Day

Job 9:9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

Initially, I couldn’t get my bearings from the night sky because there were so many other stars that I had never seen in Scotland. So I looked for the three constellations mentioned in the Bible – the Great Bear, Orion the Hunter, and the seven sisters of Pleiades. Once I found them, I felt that I was back in familiar territory and my sky view was re-established.

For most of my life, I have loved the stars. The first time I became conscious of them occurred when I was about four years old. My family was walking home together one winter’s night and I was playing a game with my shadow as we passed the street lamps one by one. Suddenly, I lost my shadow because the street lamp was broken and it was dark. I think I was about to cry when my Dad quietly said, “Don’t be scared, John. Look up at the sky.”

As I lifted up my head, I saw hundreds of shiny, twinkling dots in the sky. I was mesmerized and wanted to stay in the dark in order to keep looking at the night lights. “They’re called stars, John,” my Dad said, “and they’ll always be there, even in the darkest night.”

Almost every night since then, before I go to my bed, I wander outside in the dark to look at the stars. They link me to happy days with my Dad in the past; they still mesmerize me with wonder today; and I see my future in the stars as I look forward to being with the Maker of the stars and the Creator of the universe. They are an important part of my life and I am certain that through Jesus, they will still be a glorious part of eternity.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the stars and for being the Maker of all the constellations, star systems, and stellar galaxies. Thank You for the wonder of starlight in the midst of the darkest of nights. Bless us with the goodness and eternal light of Your Son Jesus, our Lord and Morning Star. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Holy Name

Audio version here

Acts 3: 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (NIV)

I was watching the news this morning and a saw a video of Stephen Hawking, the great physics professor from England, floating through the air inside a diving airplane. Hawking is an amazing person. He’s been a paraplegic all of his life and can only converse with other people via an electronic device. He has fought against all sorts of hurdles to become a prominent scientist. He is esteemed throughout the civilized world as a remarkably talented genius. He now wants to go up in a rocket and become the first wheel chaired person to go into space. I hope that he fulfills his dream.

There is, however, a side of Hawking that remains paralyzed within him. He has no belief in God and can be quite vitriolic against those who have faith. Stephen doesn’t think that the universe was created, but that it just happened by accident. I guess he feels that the same fate, which saw him born with no speech or mobility, caused the Cosmos to spontaneously appear. Perhaps if I was in his shoes, I would feel the same.

I wish that he could find God, for I believe it would have an immense impact in the world. I hope that if he gets up into space, he will undergo a spiritual awakening and discover that beautiful gate which will lead him to our Creator. It would be a wonderful event and could begin a renaissance of faith throughout our society. I think I’ll pray that it happens, and that Jesus of Nazareth will enable Stephen Hawking to walk in His Light.

Christ has the power to release us from all that paralyses our hearts and minds. Throughout the Book of Acts in the Bible, people are liberated from sickness and despair, madness and corruption, prejudice and pain. The first apostles understood how powerful Jesus was, and that by merely speaking His Name, people were healed. Perhaps it’s time that the Church reclaimed this power.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your Name is holy and sacred, precious and wonderful. We have forgotten that the gift of Your Name has the power to forgive our sins, restore our lives, and heal our sicknesses. Grant us the courage to reclaim the strength of Your Name. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.