Daily devotions: A Wasted Life - 1 Kings 14:9

1 Kings 14:9   You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back.

            When I read some parts of the Old Testament, I get bothered by the punishment that is inflicted upon leaders, kings, and people who do wrong. It makes me wonder that if I was alive in those days and lived according to my current ways, would I have been forgiven or condemned by God?  I find it very unsettling and it makes me feel really guilty about my sins. I feel unworthy of God’s grace and separated from His love. I feel like I have created an insurmountable gap between myself and God. I feel unholy and alone.

            In today’s passage, 1 Kings 14:1-11, King Jeroboam is cursed and condemned by God for following idolatrous and self-serving ways, as well as for being ungrateful about the original blessings that God had bestowed upon him. Jeroboam was chosen by God to lead the ten tribes of Israel that had severed themselves from Judah. It was supposed to be an honor for him and a blessing for his descendants. Sadly, however, Jeroboam wasted this God-given opportunity. Instead of praising God, he set up false idols. Rather than give thanks to God, he made up his own new religion and consecrated his own priests. Jeroboam turned out to be a worse character than the misguided king that he had replaced.

            I know that God is both slow to anger and immensely patient, but I wonder how long He will put up with our sins and wicked ways. People feel sexually liberated and independently free, however, instead of using those rights and gifts to make the world a better place, young naïve people are being exploited and trafficked across the world; society has also become more selfish and uncaring to the point that if someone stumbles and falls in a busy street, people just walk on by.

            Jesus has the power to forgive us of all of our sins, but we've sadly reached a stage where most folks don’t feel the need to repent or even recognize that our behavior is sinful. As I've written several times before, what is morally right in the world’s eyes is everything that gets a person whatever they want; what is morally wrong is anything that gets in the way of obtaining that desire – which, of course, means that the true Church of Christ will always be confronting cultural morality and personal lifestyle choices.

Questions for personal reflection

Am I truly aware of how badly my sins damage my relationship with God? Am I willing to truly repent of those sins?

Lord Jesus, sometimes we treat You as if You’re our biggest pal and indulgent friend instead of acknowledging You as both our Judge and Savior. We all sin constantly, but we forget to repent or even cast aside our need to confess to You. Forgive us for taking You for granted; help us to truly distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, honesty and falsehood. 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 comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of my Good Friday drawings called ‘Cross Bound.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the link: Cross Bound.

Christian devotions: Naughty or Nice? - Luke 6:26

Luke 6:26                   Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

            They are called “Blessings and Woes” in the Gospel of Luke. It’s the Good Doctor’s equivalent of what Matthew wrote in his Gospel when Jesus preached the sermon on the hillside. Most people know the Matthew 5 version; very few have ever read or compared Luke’s version of the same message. Church people tend to want things to be bright and positive, cheerful and light – Matthew supplies that in his record of the Beatitudes. Luke, however, who was a physician, was perhaps more used to thinking in terms of remedies and consequences. His version of what Christ said reads more like a spiritual health warning from God.

            I often struggle with this in the ministry God has given me. There’s a fine balance between preaching, teaching, and writing what people want to hear or read, as opposed to what God wants us to understand. Life is not a game, it’s a gift. Faith is not a spiritual convenience, it’s a constant challenge. The symbol of what we believe in is not a smiley face, it’s a cross. In my humble opinion, Christianity is the hardest faith that anyone can seek to live by; it meddles with our lifestyle choices and interferes with our ideals. Sometimes, as Christians, we have to assertively push back against society and our own community because the wrong ideas and sinful choices are being promoted.

            C. S. Lewis in his wonderful book “Mere Christianity” wrote this: ‘A world of nice people, content in their own niceness, looking no further, turned away from God, would be just as desperately in need of salvation as a miserable world — and might even be more difficult to save.’ Luke’s version of the Beatitudes reminds us that all of our choices have both positive and negative eternal consequences. If we take salvation for granted, we will never be saved. If we live by our own personal creed, as opposed to Christ’s challenging message, we will never see God.

Questions for personal reflection

Where does my faith challenge me most? Do I surrender to Christ’s demands or the world’s ways?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, being a Christian is never easy and we each have crosses to bear. We sometimes think sin is just ‘being naughty’ and faith is just ‘being nice.’ Within our hearts and minds we know that there’s more to life than just being superficial. Teach us the serious differences between sin and salvation, deliverance and damnation, blessings and woes. 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 comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest waterfall drawing. It’s called “Heavenly Falls.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8020/7593826054_57a16df2f2_b.jpg

4 Minute Devotions: Just Another Belief?

2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

One of the major battles that Christianity is currently fighting within itself, is a creeping form of universalism. Universalism is a belief that no matter what people believe, God will forgive them, accept them, and bestow all of His eternal blessings upon them. Therefore universalists believe that if you’re Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, or of any other religion on the planet, it’s all the same thing in God’s eyes.

This happens because the world is a much smaller place these days and a cross-fertilization of cultures, beliefs, and traditions is happening all of the time. Rather than accepting Christianity as the absolutely true religion, people want to believe in tolerance, acceptance, and respect. It makes the world a whole lot easier and religion becomes a private pursuit.

The trouble with this is twofold: firstly, it causes people to lose their faith altogether in God, and replaces it with a faith in themselves. Secondly, we forget that Christianity emerged in a world where there were countless Roman, Greek, and Egyptian gods and goddesses. If Christianity was meant to be universalist, its first followers and devotees would never have undergone persecution and death. Rather than profess their sole allegiance to Christ, they would have gladly accepted Caesar as a god, too.

We tend to arrogantly think that just because we want it to be so, then God grants us a divine exemption from following the foundational beliefs in the Christian church. The temptation to be Christian universalists in the past is no different from today’s multi-cultural world. However, Christianity is an absolutist faith, whether we like it or not. Jesus is Lord absolutely, and not co-equally with any other religious leader, figurehead, or deity.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the King of all Creation and the Ruler of the Universe. Whenever we forget that, we are in danger of falling down a slippery slope that will take us away from You and into the morass of a world gone wrong. Remind us constantly of the courage of the First Christians, and help us to avoid the same old temptations of secularism, syncretism, and universalism. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Faithful Love

Is God a Great Santa in the sky who laughs and lovingly indulges everything that we do? Or is there more to faith, love, and life?

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

Ever since the Beatles came out with the song, “All You Need is Love,” our church and society seem to have adopted that creed. It’s as if we’re meant to excuse everything under the sun that we do or don’t do, and cover it all under the umbrella of love.

Don’t get me wrong, love is the greatest of all things, but we’re talking about real love here, not the indulgent, narcissistic love that our society idolizes. This text is about the total love that involves faith and loyalty, and in this case, it is the faithful love that we give to God.

Sometimes I worry about my own generation and how casually we treat God. Maybe it’s nothing to some folk, but as a pastor with people under my spiritual care, it’s a very big deal to me. If I couldn’t care less about where people ended up eternally, then the way we narcissistically approach the throne of God’s grace wouldn’t bother me one bit. But because I do care, I express my concerns in my preaching, my writing, and even my blogging.

Maybe I’m a dogmatic dinosaur who has outlived my need to be here. Or perhaps I’m a joyless Jeremiah or preacher-prophet who is destined to cry out in the wilderness of the world. Whatever the case may be, my approach to faith is not to follow the popular or well traveled path; I follow God first and lean on Christ when I fail. I guess it could be called ‘old-time religion’ and, as the song boldly declares, ‘if it was good for Paul and Silas, then it’s good enough for me.’

We’re all heading into a New Year and we will soon make new resolutions. How about we all take on an old one: to love God with all of our heart, strength, body, and soul? Perhaps then we would be able to show the world that faithful love Christians keep talking about. Perhaps then we would put God first and realize that life, as Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church so simply stated it, is not about us. It’s all about God.

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we take You for granted and we believe that anything we say, do, or write will be indulged by You. Forgive us for being so vain and for putting ourselves, our needs, wants, and desires, at the center of our lives. Re-teach us that the universe does not spin around us, and that we are all creatures created by You. In Christ’s Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Star Struck

Taking out the garbage on cold winter night can be an amazing experience.

Podcast version here

Psalm 89:6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?

I love winter nights. Last evening, as I was wheeling the garbage bin to the front yard, I looked up at the sky and was immediately overawed. Thousands of stars were dazzling like beautiful diamonds and even although it was very cold, I just stood there like a schoolboy, gaping and gazing at the glittering constellations. No matter how often I see them, I am totally amazed. I guess that the right phrase is ‘star struck,’ but it has nothing to do with the movies.

My neighbors must think I’m crazy. They probably hear me trundle out the bin to the street and then watch me from behind their blinds. “There’s that loony Scotsman, standing in the street again, looking up at the sky. Has he never seen the stars?” If I could answer them, I would say, “No, I haven’t.”

You see star gazing is a bit like sea watching – the sky is always different and constantly changing. I see a new sky each night when I stop to look upwards. What happens at that moment will never ever occur again. To the casual observer, everything looks the same, but to a star gazer like me, there’s always something that is different.

One thing remains constant though, my thankfulness to God as I am overawed by the whole experience. If the winter sky looks so expansive, wonderful, and astounding, what must God be like? That’s why a verse like today’s has great meaning for me; each time I look at the stars I think: what can compare to God in the skies above? What is most like God across the stellar heavens?

I feel full of wonder, and that’s what makes God wonderful to me. He can take a weekly routine chore and turn it into something totally amazing.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for creating the universe and for filling it with stars. Thank You for the wonder and awe that they inspire. Continue to touch our hearts and souls with Your Creative powers. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Salvationists

The season of Advent is a special time for salvation…

Luke 3:6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.

Podcast version here

When I was a teenager in Scotland, I worshipped with the Salvation Army. My best friend at the time, George, had joined the Salvationists and was a great trumpet player. He always seemed to have a good attitude, was very dependable as a friend, and worked hard at school. I wanted to be like that, so I went to the Army Hall for a number of Sunday morning meetings.

I liked seeing the worshippers in their uniforms and the worship was amazing. The participants sang enthusiastically and the brass band played along. It was a wonderful experience and I wanted to be part of their community, but to do so I needed to sign the pledge and I just wasn’t prepared to do that at the time.

I guess I wanted to have my cake and eat it, or to put it another way, I wanted to have my beer and drink it. Eventually, I stopped going to services because I knew I was being a hypocrite. It never affected George’s friendship with me. If he was disappointed, I never knew it. He was a true Christian and years later, when I fiercely battled against alcohol and struggled with my faith, George’s example kept me going at times. I could see God’s salvation in him when I was a teenager and it helped me seek Christ later in life.

Advent is a time when we can rediscover Christ. We often think about Him as the holy child in the precious manger, but for those of us who have struggled in life, He is much more than a Christmas card baby. Christ is the Savior of our souls. He is the Chosen One in whom God’s salvation can be seen by the entire world.

If you’re presently struggling with issues in your life and you’re feeling insecure, then please come to Jesus and receive His total reassurance. He has promised us that He will help to carry our burdens and restore us to God’s merciful love. It’s a wonderful blessing and a remarkable opportunity for salvation.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the true Christians in our lives, whose characters and conduct attract us to God’s salvation. Bless them for their understanding and support. Bring us closer to You through God’s amazing love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Sovereign Lord

What does it mean for God to be our Sovereign Lord?

Ezekiel 17:22 "'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

Podcast version here

Recently, on the PBS channel, I watched a three part series on the British monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is one of the 20th/21st centuries unsung heroes in the world. Just because she is a rich woman doesn’t mean that she hasn’t any cares about the world. She works hard each day representing the monarchy, but she also raises awareness of many good causes throughout the entire world.

To me, the Queen is a blessed sovereign who does not rule her people with an iron fist, but presides over the Commonwealth with a loving heart. When I look back at old photographs from World War II and see her as Princess Elizabeth in her Army uniform, I am reminded that she is person who has struggled with her people through the worst of times, and who has reigned purposefully for 55 years. She epitomizes the word ‘sovereign,’ and the modern world has been fortunate to have known such a wonderful lady.

In the Old Testament, we are reminded of the sovereignty of God over the earth many times. He rules the universe and our planet in a caring and loving way. He allows us free will, to make our own choices, but he is deeply pleased when our choices coincide with His. During those moments in our lives, God becomes our blessed sovereign and we become His blessed people.

Sin, however, permeates throughout our world and hearts, which separates us from God. Normally, a ruler would cast off those who displease him or her. In this case, God sends forth His Son to be merged and blended in the midst of our struggles, in order to show us a path that will lead us back to God. The Christ child who is born amongst us will become the Savior of the world. God’s sovereignty is such that He is willing to sacrifice everything He loves, so that we might experience everything He eternally gives.

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, we thank You for the blessing of Jesus and for His sacrifice that wrought for us salvation. We praise for ruling us with a loving and patient heart. We adore You for offering us the opportunity of eternal life. In the Holy Name of Jesus our Savior, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Divine Separation

How could God let go of Jesus all of those Christmases ago?

Psalm 113:5, 6 Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

Podcast version here

I find Christmas absolutely amazing. And it’s not just because of the great music, the beautiful lights, or the glorious glitter. I find it amazing because it’s a celebration about the Lord of All Creation stooping down to our level, to leave His Holy Son amongst us. The whole event is a commemoration of an amazing sacrifice by God.

What God did way back then, would be like me taking my daughters, when they were babies, and leaving them on the dirty streets of Calcutta. I couldn’t ever do it because my fatherly love would not want to abandon them and I would feel the need to protect them. And that’s precisely what makes Christmas so wonderful to me, when I realize how much love God truly has for the whole world that He was willing to let go of Jesus.

Years ago, when I first came to live in the United States, my eldest daughter Lynsey went to her first overnight camp. We were just in Knoxville about ten days and felt totally cut off from our families back in Scotland. We were on our own and it just didn’t seem right that our eldest would be spending time away from us so soon. Lynsey felt the same separation anxiety and just after midnight I had to go and bring her home.

We were emotionally exhausted and weary as we journeyed home. I didn’t know it, but I was driving on the wrong side of the road. Suddenly, I saw headlights in front of me and heard the blaring of a car horn. Seconds later, we were involved in a head on collision. Thankfully, no one was injured but Lynsey and I were both emotional wrecks.

These days, Lynsey is a graduate student living hundred of miles from home. We may be separated geographically, but we are very close. It makes me wonder if that’s the kind of relationship that God maintained with Jesus throughout His life. God may have let Christ go to Earth that First Christmas, but They still carried each other in their hearts.

As I stated before, Christmas is amazing. And each year, I like to believe that God and Jesus stoop down to look at the Earth and celebrate this grand season with us.

Prayer: Lord God, most of us cannot comprehend what it took You to let go of Your Holy Son and leave Him to the mercies of the world. Even though You loved Him dearly, You never protected Him from what the world and people like ourselves eventually did to Him. That level of love and sacrifice is amazing to us and we are truly thankful for Your sacrifice which brought us salvation. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Expectantly Waiting

Is Advent about Christmas or something more important? What’s the reason for this season?

Luke 3:15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.

I wonder what would happen if we were to celebrate Advent every day? Most of us think about Advent when we see the candles being lit in church on Sunday mornings. Some of us even think that Advent is the season when we await the baby Jesus being born amongst us.

But Advent is much more than candles and cribs. It’s not about nostalgically looking back; it’s all about expectantly looking forward.

Looking forward to what, I can hear some of you say? Looking forward to that wonderful day when Christ will return to the Earth in all of His glory, majesty, and power. You see Advent is not about Christmas time; it’s about the end of Time.

We spend so much of the Yuletide holidays singing carols, buying gifts, and wrapping presents, that we’ve forgotten to wait expectantly for Jesus. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the lights and decorations, glitters and garlands, Christmas trees and cards, but they don’t reflect what this important church season is all about.

I often wish that someone would produce Advent cards with a picture of Christ’s Second Coming and these words inside: ‘Are you ready for Christ to return?’ Instead, we will all send and receive ho-ho-ho Santa cards, or ones pictured with snow covered churches and sparkling fir trees, which sadly lead our thoughts away from the Coming Messiah and back to the commercialized manger.

So I guess today’s challenge is this: are you getting ready for Christmas or Advent?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we have largely forgotten what Advent represents. We busy ourselves with Christmas, instead of taking time to remember that You are coming again to completely reconcile Creation, bring an end to Time, and to judge the Earth. Keep us mindful of Your return and help us to wait expectantly each day. 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.

4 Minute Devotions: God is Our Future

The economic crisis and stock market meltdown makes us all feel uneasy. Where is God in these uncertain times?

Podcast version here

Psalm 46:5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Economically, people are hurting all over the world. The stock markets are fluctuating wildly; businesses are closing down; unemployment is at an all time high for decades. There just doesn’t seem to be a lot of hope going around and some of us are wondering what we should be thankful for this year.

Spiritually, people are also hurting around the world. When uncertainty creeps into our society, God becomes a scapegoat for our frustrations and fears, our anxieties and anger. How can He allow all of this suffering to continue? Why doesn’t God do something about it? With all of His power, He could straighten things out and let us all lead healthy, wealthy, and successful lives.

But then we would just become puppets and wouldn’t know freedom. We wouldn’t experience triumph over hardship, or even learn from our mistakes. Each day would be the same and eventually, in my opinion, all of our feelings – good or bad – would shut off entirely.

So what does God do about uncertain times? How does He help us overcome our present troubles?

God abides within us, giving us guidance and encouragement, as well as granting us mercy and grace. It may seem trite to some people, but for those who maintain a strong spiritual connection to God, it is a wonderful blessing. Our future is in God’s hands; in fact, God is our future. As Christians, we look forward to an amazing day when we will be with God. Jesus, our Savior, has given us an everlasting opportunity to enter God’s Kingdom here on earth. Stock markets may rise and fall; jobs may come and go; but the love of God endures forever.

Prayer: Lord God, everything seems to be changing in our world, and at times we are fearfully anxious. Help us to cling to Your promises and allow us the holy experience of Your comforting presence in our hearts, minds, and souls. We pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord forever. Amen.

Nashville Nativity Best in the Nation

Two Million Sparkling Lights Will Be On Display at Gaylord Opryland Resort's A Country Christmas
Nashville, TN

(Vocus) November 21, 2008 –

The outdoor Nativity display (http://www.christmasatgaylordopryland.com/) on the iconic Magnolia Lawn of the Gaylord Opryland Resort for this year's 25th Anniversary of A Country Christmas (http://www.christmasatgaylordopryland.com/) is surrounded by two million sparkling lights.

Nowhere does the meaning of Christmas shine more brightly than at the resort a Travel Channel program calls "The Most Christmassy Hotel in the Nation." The outdoor Nativity is comprised of 50 white statues, some of which are eight-feet tall, that depict the story of the legendary trip to Bethlehem made by Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The tale is narrated for all those who stroll along the nearby path. But that is only one of The Four Greatest Nativities at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

A second glistening Nativity is located in ICE!, which in 2008 is a theater full of 2 million pounds of giant ice sculptures telling the story of the How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Suess. The main theme may change from year to year, but each year thousands return to ICE! just to see the grand finale, a 9æF room where a larger-than-life Nativity scene is carefully displayed with special theatrical lighting, all hand-carved from massive blocks of sparkling clear ice. Here, guests stop for longer than the temperature would seem to allow, listening to the story of Christmas as the sculptures are lighted one by one, including a 15-foot tall ice angel.

Read the rest of the story here…

Tales of Terror…from the Bible

DES MOINES (AP) — Don't expect to hear these Bible stories at church.

Cannibalism, rape, a bear that mauls children — this is the Bible?

They're among six stories from the Old Testament acted out in "Terror Texts," a musical at Northwestern College in Orange City.

Adding to the shocking nature of the stories are the theatrics, with actors decked out in Goth attire, a rock band and a mosh pit.

Theater professor Jeff Barker said the obscurity of the stories belies their value.

Read the rest of the story here…

4 Minute Devotions: Handling the Word

Correctly handling the word of truth is something that all preachers should remember. Omitting what we don't like from scripture only causes us to rewrite the Gospel and reject God's Word.

Podcast version here

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

I’ve been a bit remiss these past couple of weeks in writing these devotionals. It’s been really busy at the church I serve, and lately I’ve had difficulty in prioritizing my time. It makes me feel ashamed because I’m always advising people to make time for God. It seems as though the pastor hasn’t been practicing what he preaches, so I need to get back on the right track.

I’ve also been more aware of what constitutes correctly handling the word of truth. At a big meeting the other day, which was full of pastors and elders, someone preached a really good sermon on chapter three of John’s Gospel. It was a great message of hope and full of the Spirit, but the preacher only preached from John 3: 1-17. She opted to omit verses 18-21, which actually ends the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus in this chapter. It made me wonder why. Here are the verses:

John 3:18-21 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

You see those last four verses reveal how serious it is to reject believing in God through Jesus. Up until that point in the chapter, Jesus is attempting to teach Nicodemus about the love, grace, and mercy of God. But He ends His conversation with dire warnings, and so when we preach from that chapter, we need to be prepared to correctly handle the word of truth. It may be a lot easier to ignore the bad bits and just preach the good, but when we do that, we end up rewriting the Gospel and making Christ’s words suit ourselves.

Do I wish that Jesus had never spoken verses 18-21? Sometimes, but then I remember that God’s grace is never given cheaply or just casually placed before us. We are given an invitation to believe in Jesus, along with an opportunity to receive salvation. It is never thrust upon us and each person must accept or reject it. The consequences of our decision are plainly expressed by Christ; we can never complain to Him that we didn’t understand our options. Grace and judgment go hand in hand. How we finally experience them depends upon the choice each one of us makes.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your Gospel gives us the greatest opportunity of a lifetime for each one of us. You offer us the hope of being forgiven for all of our mistakes, and restored to God’s favor for all of eternity. This is the greatest blessing that we can receive in our lives. But You do not force this upon us; instead You allow us to use our free will to determine whether or not we will accept Your invitation. Grant us the wisdom to respond lovingly to this everlasting gift. Remind us of the consequences which will follow our final choices. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and gratefully pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Striped Pajamas

The Boy in Striped Pajamas is a new Holocaust movie with some very important messages about raising children.

Podcast version here

Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

I went to a free screening of a new movie the other night. It is called “The Boy in Striped Pajamas.” The story is about two boys who are separated by the electric barbed wires of a concentration camp. One boy, called Bruno, is the son of the Commandant of the camp. The other boy, Schmoel, is the son of a Jewish watchmaker.

It’s a very sad movie and the ending is heartbreaking. I left the theater stunned. I don’t know whether or not to recommend it to anyone. It’s not a feel good movie at all, although it does have many important messages to impart.

For instance, several times during the movie, Bruno is being taught by an old fascist teacher. He’s being indoctrinated into the Nazi party line. Bruno resists this because of his friendship with Schmoel. Bruno’s sister, however, becomes infatuated with Nazism and begins to change her personality. It’s a good lesson about how impressionable children actually are. They can be molded, manipulated, and brainwashed at an early age. They are learning machines, especially between the ages of 8-12. What influences them during those years usually shapes their character for years to come.

That’s why it’s very important for parents to be parents to their children, and not friends. If we set no boundaries, we only end up raising savages. Children need boundaries because the world that they will grow up into has some serious boundaries.

This lesson also applies to the Church. When we teach our children faith in Christ, we’re giving them strength for the future and hope for what lies ahead of them. If we neglect to share our faith with them, they will lose their connection to God. Sadly, too many adults end up becoming addicted to tobacco, sex, drugs, or alcohol simply because they feel spiritually empty and cut off from God. If we can teach them to have faith at an impressionable age, then we may save them from some of society’s ills.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our children are precious gifts in our lives and community. Help us to share the joy of our faith with them, so that they may grow nearer and closer to You throughout their adult lives. Keep us mindful of the cultural persuaders that would undermine Your influence over them. Help us to help our children avoid them. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Baker's Van

Sometimes, when I pray "Give us our daily bread," it reminds me of a Scottish baker I once knew.

Podcast version here

Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

Every day, around 10.30AM, the bread man used to arrive in our street. He drove a large van that had a walk-in counter at the back. He tooted his horn twice and everyone in our street knew that he had arrived. During the summer, when I was on holiday from school, my mom usually gave me a note, written on the corner of an old envelope, with our order: one plain loaf and a packet of potato scones.

As I entered the baker’s van, I could smell the beautiful aroma of freshly baked bread, sugared donuts, and buttered scones. The shelves were full of different breads and cakes, as well as various candies and chocolates. It looked absolutely heavenly to me, and I often wished that my parents had the money to buy the whole van.

The baker was a tall bearded man with a cheery smile. He took my mom’s list and placed the goods on the counter. He knew that we didn’t have much money, but he always treated us as if we were the most important customers on his route. He asked how my mom was doing and then he checked our items in his credit book. We always settled up at the end of the week when my father was paid.

On Saturday mornings, I would take another list, on the corner of an old envelope, with the money that we owed the baker. I felt important as I handed him over the money and received the change. He would hand me the plain loaf and potato scones, and then he would smile as he added in a few donuts to the package. This was Saturday, when our family had money!

Sometimes, when I’m praying the Lord’s Prayer, I remember those days of the Scottish baker when I say the words: ‘give us our daily bread.’ It reminds me that God’s grace is something that we all get on credit. At the end of our lives, we can never repay what we owe to God, which is when Christ steps in to pay the ransom for our souls. And just when we think that would be enough, He adds something sweeter to the whole divine package: everlasting life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love and grace through which our lives are truly blessed. We depend upon You each day to guide and lead us, comfort and sustain us. You are our Daily Bread and the Bread of Eternal Life. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Obama's Election

The election of Barack Obama has brought about a new wave of hope across the world; but are we in danger of idolizing him and replacing God?

Podcast version here

Isaiah 49:8 This is what the LORD says:” In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,

I’ve had some really nice emails from friends in Scotland, expressing their thankfulness about the election and their hopes for a better world. After Barack Obama’s historic win, the world seems to have regained a lot of hope. It appears to be a time of renewal and unity, instead of fear and apprehension.

It is a wonderful time and for black people across the world, who have been treated inhumanely for centuries, it must be an amazing time. To have a black man lead the most powerful nation on earth will bring hope to millions of Africans around the globe. People in the streets Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania were celebrating this historic victory, just as much as the African-Americans in Harlem, Chicago, and Atlanta.

But will Obama save the world? That’s a tough question and perhaps it’s unfair to set such a colossal responsibility upon his shoulders. He has new ideas about peace and prosperity; he has a charisma that is attractive and inspiring; he has the opportunity to restore our land and make up for the deficiencies of the last eight years, but will it be enough to change things for the good, or will his Presidency just become another pile of political promises that are destined to be unfulfilled or broken?

None of us know, but at least there is a new opportunity ahead of us. The President-elect does not need our adulation; he needs our prayers. Tragically, there are still people in our land who hate the idea of a black President. Barack Obama needs our prayers each day for God to protect him.

No matter what happens during Obama’s presidency, we need to remember that only God can truly save His people. Barack Obama will be the most powerful man on earth after his inauguration, but he is also just a vessel and just a servant of God’s purposes. If we ever replace our adoration of God for the adulation of our world leaders, we will be guilty of idolizing that which is only temporal; or as the writer of Psalm 146 so eloquently puts it:
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. (Psalm 146 v 3) NIV

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for these wonderful times and for the election of Barack Obama. We pray that You will protect him and his family. We ask that You will sustain his Presidency. Keep us mindful that he is just a man. Enable him to shoulder the responsibilities of our great nation through You mercy and grace. This is Your world, O Lord, and we are all Your children. In Your Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Constitutional Crossroads

Today is one of the most important days in the history of our nation. May God bless America and our next President, whoever he turns out to be.

Podcast version here

Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says:” Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

This is the most amazing election I have ever experienced. I think the nearest election in comparison was Tony Blair’s win way back in Britain in the 1990’s. By that time, our family had crossed the Atlantic, but our relatives were really buzzing about the changes that were coming. After five elections and sixteen years of Tory rule, the people in Britain were crying out for change.

I don’t what will happen today, but this I do know. America is a winner. When so many people are fired up about voting, it means that the people are actually taking power back into their hands. Far too often, we take our freedoms for granted. But this year, things are wonderfully different, and I feel that God is truly blessing America at this moment in her history.

Whatever the outcome, the next President will really need our prayers. The economy is in a mess and its affecting all of our lives. We’ll be looking for strong leadership from our President and he will probably have to make some unpopular decisions in order to get us back on the right course. That’s when our daily prayers will become crucial. We want our President to be guided by God and protected by His Spirit. I’m going to try to pray for him each morning and night.

Let’s hope that together, we find the good way for our country and that we all walk in it. We are all weary of broken promises and governmental inefficiency. We don’t need anymore political filibusters or failed policies. We need our politicians to act, represent and carry out good government for all of our people. That way God will bless America and enable us to help the rest of the world.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, these are crucial times and we thank You for the beautiful and dutiful responsibilities that our citizens are fulfilling today. May the outcome of this election lead us to a brighter and better future, not only for the USA, but for the entire planet. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Celestial Song

Last night, I watched a movie that dealt with separation issues in a beautiful way – through the gift of music. It was called “August Rush.”

Podcast version here

Genesis 1:4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.

I watched a great movie last night and it has become one of my top ten. I had been meaning to watch it for a while because my daughters told me it was terrific. I’ve also used some clips from the movie in the Sunday School class that I teach each week. So, at 11.15 PM last night, I began to watch “August Rush.”

It’s really an updated version of Oliver Twist (“Oliver!” is also in my top ten). The plot is about a young boy called Evan, who grows up in an orphanage, who has some amazing hearing and musical skills. As he listens to the world around him, he can hear all sorts of music and rhythms. He also believes that his parents, who unknowingly abandoned him, can hear that music too. Evan thinks that if he can write and play the music he hears in his head and heart, he will be reunited with his parents.

The music in the movie is beautiful and most of it is set in New York. Evan’s adventure is as delightful as Oliver Twist’s in London Town. The whole story is a musical journey and the characters, who lead separate lives, are wonderfully drawn together. The crescendo of the movie builds until it reaches both a musical and dramatical climax that had me in tears. It’s a great family movie, and I would recommend it to anyone. The separation issues in “August Rush” are beautifully overcome.

When God separated the light from the darkness in the creation of the universe, I wonder if He did it musically, as well as dramatically. I wonder if all the angels, who watched the universe being born, sang gloriously as God spun the galaxies, stars, and planets together. I would love to have been there, watching God as a Master Craftsman building the physical structure of the cosmos. And as He wove our planet into being, I wonder if God was whistling, humming, or singing.

Today, as I look at the world around me, I’m going to try to listen as well. I want to be keyed into the voice of God and hear what He is saying through all the interaction of life that is buzzing around me. I want to feel that I am ready to hear what He says and no longer be separated from His universal song. I want to listen to God singing; I want to join in the cosmic chorus.

Prayer: Lord God, life is truly amazing and this planet is a wonderful world. Help us to listen to Your voice and realize that there is music in all that You do and accomplish. Allow us to accompany You in the celestial song of Creation. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: A Gift of God's Kindness

Infant baptism is a beautiful way of encountering God’s holiness in church. Babies not only have a right to life, they also have a right to be sanctified.

Podcast version here

Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

One of the greatest gifts that God gives to Presbyterian pastors is the joy of baptizing a child. I absolutely love cradling babies in my arms, sprinkling them with water, and declaring them to be in God’s Kingdom. It’s a beautiful ceremony and a wonderful blessing to the baby.

I have been privileged to have baptized hundreds of babies. When I was a parish minister in Scotland, I baptized many babies whose parents had hardly any connection to the church. My attitude was, and still is, that the baby is completely innocent and should welcomed by the community of faith, no matter who their parents are or what they are like. Once that wee innocent baby is baptized, no one can ever take that blessing from him or her. It’s with them throughout their lives and I firmly believe some good, at a later stage, will come from the baptism.

It’s the work of the Holy Spirit that seals the baptism. Nothing I do or say makes the ceremony sacred. The outward signs of water and word are religiously performed; the Holy Spirit is invoked to bless the water and the child – only when that happens, outwardly and inwardly does a true baptism take place. Heaven and earth meet when the innocence of the child encounters the holiness of God. It’s a wonderful moment and a sanctified time.

The riches of God’s kindness are bestowed upon the baby and parents. It is not a time of judgment, but a memorable moment of God’s love. It’s a modern equivalent of Christ saying, “Let the little ones come to me.”

I wish that more babies in our community were baptized and that the grace of God was bestowed upon them in this remarkable and miraculous way. These precious little ones not only have the right to life, they also have the right to be sanctified. I will do my utmost to baptize as many as I possibly can before I am called to glory.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the sacrament of baptism and for the many babies and children who receive this blessing in our churches. Help us to reach out to other families in our community and offer them this precious gift. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: The Duchess

Keira Knightley perfectly plays the Duchess of Devonshire in her new movie, "The Duchess." What lessons of faithfulness can we learn from such a movie?

Podcast version here

Nehemiah 9:33 In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong.

Yesterday, Evelyn and I went to see the new British movie called “The Duchess.” It stars Keira Knightley, who usually pouts, sighs, and overacts too much for me to enjoy any of her movies. I wanted to see this movie because I read the book a couple of years ago.

It’s all about Georgiana Cavendish, who marries young to become the Duchess of Devonshire. It takes place towards the end of the 18th century, when Britain was undergoing turmoil due to the American Revolution overseas. The movie portrays the loves and sadnesses in Georgiana’s life, as well as the impact that she had on society. Keira Knightley portrays her perfectly, whilst the scenery and costumes are absolutely amazing. It’s one of those movies that you have to see on the big screen and I give it two thumbs up.

Who was the Duchess of Devonshire? She was the Princess Diana and Elizabeth Cady Stanton of her time. She was a trend setter whose sense of fashion was copied throughout Britain. She was also a political pioneer and even although she could not vote, she made appearances and speeches at conventions, seeking to usher in a brave new world for the failing British Empire. Many of the famous Gainsborough paintings of Regency women were based upon Georgiana’s influence. Had she lived in today’s world, she would be on the cover of every fashion magazine on earth, as well as Time magazine.

The sadness in her life was that she desperately tried to be faithful to her older husband. His unfaithfulness and rakish life both shocked and scandalized her until she was forced to look for love elsewhere. She had an affair and a daughter by her lover Charles Grey, who was destined to become Prime Minister of Britain and to whom Earl Grey tea is named after. Georgiana sadly died at the young age of 49. Two of her most famous descendants were Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, both of whom were married to Prince Charles and Prince Andrew of the present British Royal Family.

So what’s this got to do with a devotional for today? I think it comes in the faithfulness factor. Georgiana was a young girl when she married, full of hopes, dreams, and expectations. Those closest to her wronged her and changed her through their unfaithfulness, which serves as a lesson for all of us.

God remains faithful to us through the power of Christ’s obedience to Him. We are often unfaithful in worshiping and revering God, but His patience is long standing and His love for us endures. Through Jesus, we can come back to God at any time, to confess our biggest faults and mistakes. With Christ beside us, we are heard, cleansed, and restored to God, no matter who we are or what we’ve done.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive our foolish and unfaithful ways. Cleanse us of the past and restore us to God’s favor. You are our Lord and Champion; our Savior and Great Redeemer. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.