Sabbath psalms - Delight in The Lord

Sabbath Psalms – Delight in The Lord

Psalm 37:4      Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

There's a scene in the movie "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," when the boy Edmund meets the White Witch for the first time in the land of Narnia. Because it's snowing, he's absolutely freezing, so the witch casts a spell and presents him with a cup of hot chocolate. She then asks him if he would like something to eat. "Could I have some Turkish delight?" he answers. The witch casts another spell and the sweets immediately appear.

I've always been fond of Turkish delights myself. Whenever I go back to Scotland, it's one of the first things that I buy. Fry's, the equivalent of Hershey's in Britain, make the most delicious chocolate covered Turkish delight you can ever imagine. As I'm typing this message, I'm beginning to long for some.

Delight is usually used to describe something that is delicate or luxurious. Even in the Bible, in the 37th Psalm, this is what it means. The old Hebrew word for delight is "a'nag", which means something that is delicate, pliable, and soft. In this context it means to bend to God's will, to conform to His requests, and to humbly accept His commands.

As we go through some critical times, perhaps we can all decide to delight in the Lord and choose to humbly serve Him, rather than give in to fear or despair. If so, then the effects, according to scripture, will be that our petitions and requests, our prayers and desires will be given to us, as we seek to please and delight in the Lord.

Point to ponder: What does God do that makes me delighted in Him?

Prayer: Lord God, reshape our lives and take us into Your hands. Humble our souls and remold our spirits, so that we may delightfully, cheerfully, and faithfully serve You all of our days. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

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

God Won't Forget You - Hebrews 6:10

Hebrews 6:10 God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. (NIV)

One of the greatest ways we can show God’s love is to help others. Most churches have faithful people who serve and worship God by compassionately – and very often quietly – supporting others who are undergoing hard times, health issues, and other problems. As a pastor, I am constantly amazed and encouraged by kindhearted people who live their lives lovingly. They make the world a better place and do a lot for the well-being of the local community with their good works, generosity, and empathy. Their faith is very down-to-earth and highly practical; in God’s eyes, their good works are commendable and memorable which is plainly expressed in today’s highlighted Bible verse.

Application Q: What good can I do today? Who can I encourage and support at this time?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You showed God’s love by healing people who were hurt, comforting those who were grieving, and restoring those who were lost. Your compassion displayed the goodness of God’s Kingdom in the world. Help us to do all that we can to follow in your footsteps today. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s early Communion drawings. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cup.

A Powerful Presence - 1 Corinthians 4:20

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (NIV)

            I spent six years at the University of Glasgow in the Divinity Faculty. The first four years were used to attain a Bachelor’s degree; the last two were post-grad studies in Practical Theology. The Bachelor’s degree prepared me for teaching the Bible and preaching the Word of God. The post-grad studies helped me to see how those words could be applied as ministry in the world.

            One of my post-grad assignments involved spending two days per week in a respite center for folks who were suffering from dementia. This was a new field at the time and the medical team of doctors and nurses who worked at the center were pioneering new methods and processes of caring for patients who were gradually losing their connections with the world. I was in my twenties and felt as though I was participating in an episode of the Twilight Zone. I found it difficult to relate to the patients and struggled to hold meaningful, theological conversations with them. I felt completely out of my depth and after a couple of weeks, I wanted to be reassigned.

            When I discussed this with my Practical Theology professor, he listened to my concerns sympathetically. I thought that I had convinced him to send me somewhere else, but he reminded me that I wasn’t there to fix the patients, convert them to Christ, or care for their souls. My role was to present God’s Word as ‘presence’. Being there was not just important for the patients, but also for the nurses who cared greatly about the people. The theology I was practicing had a name attached to it: Incarnation. In other words, the power of God was present in and with the people of God. I was just merely a channel of God’s peace and an instrument of His love. I realized there and then that the most powerful way of expressing God’s Word to the world was not through preaching or teaching; it was powerful through just being present.

            Since then, in all of the churches that I have served, I have seen this at work through the heartfelt and pastoral presence of the people. It is still a very humbling and beautiful way to practice ministry and I am thankful to be part of a tradition where the priesthood of all believers – the ministry of the people for each other – continues to be the most effective way to practice, extend, and advance the Christian faith. Perhaps, with this in mind, the apostle Paul could also have written today’s verse this way: ‘For the kingdom of God is not a matter of preaching but of presence.’

Point to ponder

How can I share God’s presence with others today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your presence in our world changed us forever. You left Heaven to be with us on Earth. You reached down to us, so we could be lifted up to God by Your presence. Thank You for being there when we needed You, and thank You for being with us still. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to give feedback on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

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

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.

True Love - John 16:27

John 16:27    No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (NIV)

            We live in a world where many people believe that God loves everyone, therefore, we can do whatever we want and God won’t mind. Sadly, it’s the biggest misconception that good folk have, and may even be a questionable idea which promotes a teaching of false assurance. It’s very easy to embrace this impression because none of us are comfortable with the notion that some folks are not loved by God. Even as a pastor, I struggle with this one but when I see the consequences of a carefree, casual approach to faith – moral anarchy, self-indulgence, and narcissism -  I question the veracity of such a popular misconstrued philosophy.

            As usual, when I get perplexed about this, I look to the Gospels and try to focus on what Christ actually taught, as opposed to common misunderstandings of what He said and did. In today’s passage (John 16:16-33), I am intrigued by Christ’s remark that God solely loves the disciples simply because they love and believe in Jesus. As a parent, I can understand this – whenever I see my daughters in the company of good and reliable friends, I love those friends dearly for loving my daughters. I think God, as Christ’s Father, felt the same way about the disciples who truly loved, believed, and supported Jesus. This, in turn, causes me to ponder on the whole idea: does God truly love us when we faithfully love and believe His Son?

            If this is the case – and remember, it comes from Christ’s lips – then doesn’t the Church do a disservice to Jesus, as well as to the world, when we dilute the faith by presenting it as a vehicle for being nice to others rather than being true to God? As I see congregations dwindling in mainline Christianity, it makes me wonder if our one-god-fits-all message has lulled us into a false sense of security and sadly doomed many people, including our own loved ones, into being separated from God forever for not truly loving and believing in His Son.

Point to ponder

Who do I truly believe that Jesus is? Is this what God expects me to believe?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your words often challenge us and Your ways confront our choices. Open up our hearts and minds to Your Gospel. Help us to read Your life story and teachings carefully, so that we may live our lives by loving You faithfully. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. If you would like to communicate with John, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s psalm drawings based on Psalm 149. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Psalm149.

Such a Small Word - Mark 12:33

Mark 12:33 To love God with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (NIV)

            One of my favorite groups from the Seventies was a band called ‘Lindisfarne.’ They had some great hits and their best album (yes, I am that old) was called ‘Fog on the Tyne.’ I recently added the album to my playing list from Amazon and listening to it took me back to those wonderful days of my High School years.

            In my opinion, one of the best tracks on the album is called ‘January Song,’ which is about how we all need one another, no matter who we are, what age we have become, or where we live. The lyrics contain a very simple verse, which still speaks to me today:

‘And love is such a small word
For something that is so vast,
But in it lies the future
The present and the past.’

            When Jesus was having a conversation with the teacher of the law in today’s Gospel story (Mark 12:28-34), I think He was trying to convey something similar. Christ was impressed by what the law teacher said in reply to His statement about the Greatest Commandment. The cleric appeared to completely understand what Jesus was expressing. Love of God and loving one another are meant to be combined – it is such a small requirement, and yet it contains everything that we truly need to live faithful, meaningful, and joyful lives on Earth.

Point to ponder

How many people do I truly love? How does that love include God and make the world a better place?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, we all need Your love and need to learn to love everyone. We want to make a difference in our lives, so help us to spread Your love wherever we can and with all whom we meet this day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

If you would like to listen to Lindisfarne’s ‘January Song,’ you can do so at this Youtube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5QLKft_a7A

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is the album cover from Lindisfarne’s ‘Fog on the Tyne.’

Holy Week devotions: Maundy Thursday - John 13:1-17 & 31b-35

Bible reading: John 13:1-17 & 31b-35

Today’s verse:             John 13:34-35

“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All people will know you are my disciples if you love one another.”

            Love is at the heart of our Christian faith and was the main theme of John’s Gospel, as well as his church letters. The apostle’s love for Jesus was effectively shown by his lifelong devotion to Christ’s’ ministry and mission.

            As 21^st century Christians, we are called to continue that ministry by showing love to one another, especially in our church as well as across our community. Our mission is meant to both proclaim and show that Christ’s love for the world still effectively endures.

How do I express my love for Jesus in my life? How is Christ’s love expressed by His Church in today’s society?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, teach us Your loving ways and help us to be effective witnesses of Your compassion. As we commune with one another, let us also reach out to our community and the world during this sacred time. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Short devotion: The Royal Law - James 2:8

James 2:8       If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

       

Yesterday, in the Sunday School class that I teach, we were discussing the parable of the Good Samaritan. It’s probably the best known story that Jesus ever told so, throughout the class, the participants offered their personal ideas and opinions about the parable. It was a good way to share our faith beliefs together, and even though it was a fictional story, Jesus told it in such a way that even thousands of years later the heart of its message is still as relevant today as it was in His lifetime.

I also like how James described the teaching ‘loving your neighbor as yourself.’ He called it ‘the royal law.’ This doesn’t mean that it was only meant for kings and queens, princes or princesses; James meant that this came as a command straight for the heart of Christ our King. In other words, it’s meant to be taken and practiced seriously by those who consider themselves to be disciples, followers, and servants of Jesus.

Throughout this week, we will all have many opportunities to ‘love our neighbors as ourselves.’ The real test will come in whether or not we respond to the needs our neighbors have, or whether we will be too busy, causing us to walk by on the other side and discard the royal law. The great Chinese scholar Confucius once wrote, almost five hundred years before Christ, “To see what is right and not to do it, shows a want of courage.” For the Christian, to see what is right and not to do it, shows a want of faith.

Questions for personal reflection

What hinders me from helping others in need when I see it? How do I justify my inaction?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, truly teach us Your ways so that we may practice our faith in loving and compassionate deeds. Keep us from being fainthearted, and encourage us to witness to You through our acts of kindness and care. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

 Today’s image is one of John’s latest stained glass Pentecost designs called ‘Sacred Spirit.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/14024051194_10b3cce1ec_b.jpg