May 26 devotion - In the Dog House

Proverbs 21: 9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. 

Sometimes the Book of Proverbs makes me laugh out loud. Today’s verse had me smiling because I know what it feels like to be in the dog house, especially when I’m the one who sent me there.

I’ve got this picture in my mind of the writer being a very wise man who’s sitting at the table writing down all of these great words of advice and feeling very smug with himself, only to realize much too late that he forgot again to take the garbage out. Before he can gather all of his scrolls together, he’s outside sitting on the corner of the roof in the pouring rain, remonstrating himself for being so absent-minded and upsetting his wife. Perhaps his wise instruction might have been better if he had written:

“Better to remember to take the garbage out than end up in the dog house on the corner of the roof.”

This is what makes me love the Bible so much. There’s always a verse or two that is applicable for each and every situation that we find ourselves in, especially when we make mistakes and need to resolve situations of our own creating.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, help me to be aware of other people’s feelings and be sensitive to their needs. Teach me the wisdom of patience and grant me gracious opportunities to resolve issues that I have unwisely created. In Your Holy Name, I humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest Scottish drawing of Duart Castle, which was once a 13^th century stronghold of the MacLeans. The castle is situated on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. If you would like to view a larger version of the image, please click on the following link: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/5775199608_a5383a5e3e_b.jpg

May 18 devotion - Puzzled by Paul

Ephesians 4:30            And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

            Whenever I read today’s chosen verse, I often wonder what it truly means. I find it hard to picture Christians grieving the Holy Spirit, so it perplexes me that Paul wrote this as an important lesson, yet I fail to understand it. In my experience, grieving entails suffering, separation, sadness, and loss. Does this mean that Paul is teaching that we can lose the Holy Spirit in our faithful lives? That would be a terrible calamity for any person. That would mean eternal separation from God.

            So I wrestle and struggle with the text, especially in times when my faith is weak and my commitment to Christ is diminished. It makes me fearful of stepping toward the edge of a spiritual abyss, from which I may not be able to clamber out. The whole context of the verse is the fuller passage where Paul is writing about behavior. His teaching makes me question my own sinful behavior and honestly have to ask myself if I’ve wandered from the path that I’m meant to be on.

            And then, in the middle of my struggle, I am reminded of Christ’s grace by the Holy Spirit. I may feel awkward and ashamed about my behavior. I may have been selfish and sinful in recent days. I may have allowed myself to be distracted by other things which have distanced me from God. I may have done a hundred things which disappoint God, sadden Christ, and offend the Holy Spirit, but I am not forsaken or abandoned, forgotten or cast aside. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit continually redeem me, reclaim me, and restore me to the Kingdom and favor of my Heavenly Father.

            Perhaps you are also struggling with commitment and sin. It may be that you’ve fallen away for a while and taken a wrong turn. It could be that you feel as if you’ve let down God and disappointed Jesus. If so, then please know this: Christ’s grace is sufficient to forgive you, love you, and restore you, too.

Questions for personal reflection

What is currently troubling me in my life? How has it affected my faith? Am I willing to come to God with it in prayer? Am I ready to seek Christ’s forgiveness and grace?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, being human is really difficult at times, especially when we try to be more faithful, attentive, and devoted to You. Forgive our faults and failures. Allow us to restart our lives. Grant us Your mercy and grace, so that we may be restored to God’s love and majesty. 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 Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings of the Holy Spirit as a dove descending to the Earth. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Dove.

May 16 devotion - Precious People

1 Peter 4:16                However, do not be ashamed if you suffer for being a Christian; instead, praise God that you bear Christ’s name!

            This Sunday, four of our young people will go through the rite of Confirmation at church and publicly declare their faith in Jesus. They are very bright young people and each of them has prepared Faith statements about their Christian beliefs. They have been nurtured spiritually by their families and our congregation, so the whole event will be both a sacred and special time for all of us.

            They are all deep thinkers which is what Presbyterians are known for. However, they are also Presbyterians in the Bible Belt, which is not always easy to practice. Some of them have been confronted and demeaned by their evangelical peers, who seem to take great delight in telling them that they are not going to Heaven simply because they are Presbyterians. It must be very hard for our young people during those moments, but they are all strong in their faith and know who they actually are in Christ’s eyes. One day, each of them will become leaders in our church. They have great potential and we all feel both honored and deeply privileged to have them among us.

            When Peter was writing about the sufferings that Christians were experiencing in his time, he was reminding them that to follow Christ was never easy. During those dangerous times, Christians were persecuted by both Imperial and religious authorities. They were regarded as seditionists whose beliefs were thought to be corrupt and shameful. They were hunted down and arrested, humiliated and executed for believing in a religious fanatic who had been crucified for his criminal behavior.

            I wonder what Peter would have thought of today’s Christians who bait and provoke one another, causing our young people to reject the church? I think that he may have been both disappointed and righteously angry by our pride and arrogance, our heartlessness and hostility. Perhaps it is time to re-learn our faith from our young people; perhaps it is time to seriously rethink about our divisive ways. I know that I have been guilty of this, too. I know that I need to reconsider that how I express myself as a Christian is more important to our young folks than what I actually have to say.

Questions for personal reflection

How do I convey my Christian faith to those around me? Is my witness to Christ effective or aggressive?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, the world is constantly changing and our young people are the most precious gifts that You bring to our churches. Help us all to support them in their faith journeys, to nurture them spiritually, and to encourage them faithfully, so that they may develop their Christian beliefs in productive and positive ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings called “After the Fire.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/14077009816_c339a8caf4_b.jpg