Daily Devotions: The Joy of Jesus - 1 John 3:13

Ecclesiastes 1:3           What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

1 John 3:13                  Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

Being a Christian in today’s world, even in the Church, is not easy. There are so many voices telling us that our faith is outdated, our beliefs have no relevance, and our devotion to Christ is deluded. The world wants to walk its own way and do its own thing; it does not need to be hampered by honesty, obstructed by obedience, or kept back by Christianity. The followers of Christ have had their moment in the sun; now it’s time for 21^st century people to make their mark and joyfully jettison Jesus.

Make no mistake about this: the world hates Christianity because our faith confronts evil and challenges sinful choices. The Gospels constantly tell us that we live to please God, whereas the world constantly demands that we live to please ourselves. In the world’s eyes, preachers are party-poopers and disciples are demonized. The Bible is a cosmic joke book and the scriptures are not sacred anymore. The world, the flesh, and the devil have infiltrated the Church, so that we are no longer People of the Book or Servants of the Kingdom. We have become citizens of the world and demi-gods of our own making.

Jesus told us that this would happen. In His parable of the sheep and the goats, He warned His followers of the Judgment to come. And with regard to the End Times, Christ told His people of a terrifying moment when two people would be together; one would be taken into glory and the other left behind. If we dismiss this as being irrelevant or put it to the back of our minds, we will never be ready for when that awful time comes. We will be left behind.

Christianity is a hard faith to follow. It takes a great deal of perseverance and discipline, as well as a whole lot of devotion and dedication. When we get it right, we live an abundant life and center our choices on God. When we get it wrong, we merely exist and doom our souls to destruction.

That’s why we need Christ as our Savior. We don’t need to hide from Him because we can confess our mistakes, re-direct our ways, and receive His grace. The joy of Jesus is this: while we were yet sinners and enemies of God, He died for us so that we might be forgiven and restored to God’s everlasting love.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are sometimes tempted to capitulate and give up on the basics of our faith. The world constantly pressurizes us into conforming to its ways. Give us the strength to persevere in the face of cultural adversity, and grant us the courage to remain faithful to Your ways and words. 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, send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is John’s latest picture called “Boston Bound.” It is a crayon drawing of the Boston skyline from the Bay area. If you would like to view a larger version, please visit the following link:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5948796658_990048bfef_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: The Sheriff

Sheriff McEwen was a faithful supporter of the church and a merciful dispenser of justice. I got to know him when he and his family moved from Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, to the countryside of Ayr. He regularly attended the church in Maybole and I was impressed by his personal faith and knowledge of scripture.

Bible Verse of the Day
Acts 10:42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

He grew up in the Apostolic Church, which was a bible centered and prophecy orientated movement that lasted about a hundred years in Britain. I think there are a few remaining churches in the United Kingdom, but most of the ones in Scotland have all closed.

When Sheriff McEwen moved from Maybole to a new house in Troon, he asked me to perform a special service. The Apostolic Church had a set list of prayers, scripture readings, and blessings for a new house. He wanted me to come by and follow the prescribed formula. I was delighted to do so and made the appropriate prayers at the thresholds of each room and at the entrances to the house. The Sheriff and his family followed me around the home and we recited some prayers together. It was a unique ceremony and a sacred time. I felt the goodness of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit amongst us.

Before I left for America, Sheriff McEwen gave me an old book of Apostolic prayers from his church. It had been handed down from person to person for over 80 years. Inside the book’s cover are the names of those who owned it before. I am the fifth person to be given that honor. I still have it in my study at home and use it occasionally for inspiration and meditation. I mainly cherish it because of Sheriff McEwen. He was a man of discreet character, fair judgment, and sincere faith.

Whenever I think about Christ being the Judge of the earth, I know that He will be righteous and merciful, absolute and full of grace. He will fully uphold God’s laws and compassionately dispense His grace. We need not fear His judgment nor be afraid of His power. If we have placed our souls into His hands and surrendered our hearts to His love, then He will embrace and forgive us, redeem and restore us to God’s Holy Kingdom and Everlasting Delight.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have invited us to become Your own followers, servants, and disciples. We can freely choose or reject Your ways. Help us, this day, to place our lives into Your care and to dedicate our time, talents, and resources to Your Ministry and God’s Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.