August 19 devotion - Grace: Home & Abroad

Romans 11:5-6           So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

            Recently, we celebrated Rally Day in our wee church. It’s a special Sunday because it officially kicks off the new Church year with regard to discipleship. A lot of good people put in a lot of time and work to make the whole venture successful. Breakfast and buttons, classrooms and coffees were all prepared for this annual occasion.

            God is so gracious to us! Many families and members turned out, not just to enjoy breakfast, but to also get actively involved in discipleship. It was wonderful to see people of all ages make an initial commitment of their time to learn more about God, to share their spiritual experiences, and to make strong connections with their peers. At Erin, we all want to grow in hope, faith, and love. God has graciously made all of this possible, so we are truly thankful to Him for allowing us such a blessing.

            Grace is a wonderful gift in any church, congregation, or community. Later on, during the worship service, we were reminded of the hostility and violence that our brothers and sisters are currently experiencing around the world. Churches are being burned and Christians are being severely challenged. Compared to what other followers of Christ are presently enduring, we are so blessed with peace, fellowship, and love. The challenge that we now have today is this: how can we prayerfully support and care for persecuted Christians around the world? What can we do, in the midst of our blessings, to ease their distress and rebuild their faith communities?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, help us to remain committed to growing more in faith so that we can support those whose faith is being attacked. Keep us focused on strengthening our congregation and churches, so that we may support, send aid, and stand with other Christians around the world who are facing real persecution in their lives. 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 a question about today’s devotion, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is from one of my collectible card drawings called “Cat’s Eye Moon.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/9420111961_5c2249a355_b.jpg

August 18 devotion - Making a Difference

Judges 6:15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (NIV)

            Like most Christians, I love the story of Gideon in the Old Testament. He starts from humble beginnings and ends up becoming one of the greatest leaders the Israelites had ever known. He was chosen by God to do something significant and make a difference in his generation. In the Bible passage, Judges 6:1-24, when the angel of the Lord visits with him, Gideon cannot believe what is being asked of him. In his own eyes, he’s too small, too insignificant, and too weak to change his people’s world and make an impact on his community.

            In times of turmoil and crisis, we can all feel that way. There are too many problems to overcome and we convince ourselves that we don’t have enough power, resources, or strength to make a difference. We believe that we are weak vessels, unable to stand up to what is going wrong in our society or too insignificant to be able to change things. However, when we read the Bible we soon discover that God changes things when the humblest, weakest, and most powerless of folks become resolute, focused, and intentional. I guess God likes it when we rely on His strength instead of our own and follow His guidance rather than doing it ourselves.

            We can all become agents of change and confront evil in our cities, towns, and communities. We can all stand up for what is right and face down what is false. Instead of worrying about current situations, we need to pray. Rather than buckling under every crisis, we need to build up ourselves as people of faith, compassion, and justice. No matter who we are, God can lead us to do better things. No matter what we’ve done in the past, God can use us today to make a difference, to right wrongs, and build a better, freer, and lovelier world for future generations. After all, if God could take a weak person like Gideon and turn him into a strong leader, then who knows what God can do with each one of us?

Point to ponder

What changes would I like to see in the world today? Am I ready to let God help me make those changes?

Prayer: Lord God, You know every weakness about us and yet You are still willing to call and equip us to do Your work in the world. Allow us to make an impact in our congregations and communities so that changes can be made which will make our world a better place. In Christ’s 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. Come and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome :)

Today’s image is one of John’s cross drawings called “Celtic Rainbow.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cross.

June 22 devotional - The Man Who Has Everything

John 4:10      Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

            The Man who has everything – that’s who Jesus was, still is, and will always be. I often wish that I could find some positive way of letting my family and friends know this amazing truth about Jesus. They all seem to be constantly striving, under a lot of pressure, and continually trying to keep on going with no real understanding about where life is headed. They are all good people and I love them dearly. I just wish that somehow I could convince them that in Jesus they would find all that their restless hearts, minds, and souls are looking for.

            I enjoy seeing their pictures on Facebook, with all of the different and wonderful experiences they have, as well as seeing the places they visit all over this planet. Yet, I sometimes wonder, when they get back from their exciting trips and amazing events, what do they think about when they are alone with their thoughts? What are their hopes and dreams? What do they ponder and wonder about their own existence? Do they have any understanding of their mortality? What beliefs do they have about life after their own inevitable deaths?

            In today’s passage, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman who has no earthly idea about who He is, what power He possesses, or how He can significantly change her life. She is surprised by His presence and even more amazed at His asking of her for some water. She knows that Jesus is Jewish, so she is startled that He is having a conversation with someone that His race was known to vehemently despise.

            At one point in the conversation, Jesus relates to her about what He can actually do for her. He could refresh her weary soul with His power. As Jesus says, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

            I hope and pray that all of my loved ones, my family and friends, will one day realize, recognize, and receive all that Jesus – the Man Who has everything – can actually give them. It will be a wonderful day for them, and a great blessing to me.

Questions for personal reflection

Which of my loved ones do I wish that Jesus would become their personal Savior? Am I willing to continually pray for this to occur?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me and for Your wonderful love being continually present in my life. Please help my loved ones open their own hearts and minds to Your presence, so that they may also experience the wonderful joy of truly, personally, and eternally knowing You. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest sunflower drawings called “Just Around the Corner.” If you would like to view a larger image, please click on this link: Sunflower.