Free devotions: Church Restoration - Isaiah 58:12

Isaiah 58:12    Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. 

The Church as we once knew it is broken and just like Humpty Dumpty in the old children’s nursery rhyme, I’m not sure that it can ever be put back together again.

The dilemma that we currently face is this: do we stand around and weep at all of the broken pieces, or do we pick up what is left and build something better? Do we repair what is wrecked or do we create something new with the broken material?

One of my favorite television programs is called “American Restoration.” It’s all about a small business in Las Vegas where the owner and his family restore old machines, gas pumps, and vintage toys into something new. They start with a worn out piece of junk that nobody would want but, by the end of the program, it’s a completely restored item, in perfect working order and newly painted. Sometimes the restorers cannot mend a machine or the parts are so badly worn that they need to be replaced. When that happens, the boss and his workers re-invent the inner workings of the item and build it into something new, something that works, and something that is attractive.

I think that is what the task of God’s church currently is: to become restored and renewed. We cannot ever be what we once were, but with God’s guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and churches, we can become something beautiful for Christ. Therefore, the challenge we face this: are we going to wait, weep, and wail over what is broken and end up with nothing, or are we ready to re-gather the pieces, restore our hopes, and rebuild what we have into something new?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as Christians we are Followers of Your Way, Seekers of Your Truth, and Lovers of Your Life. Your Church is broken and we have lost something that can never be re-found. We are afraid of the future and fear the unknown; therefore we seek Your Living Presence among us so that we can faithfully and successfully rebuild, restore, and renew our churches for Your continuing ministry and mission in our communities and across the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s passage, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest digital glass designs. It’s called “Celtic Dawn.” In the larger version, you can almost touch the contours of the borders on the digital window. You can view the larger version here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6957944417_d242cd6902_b.jpg

Free Daily Devotions: A Lovely Place - Psalm 84 v 1

Psalm 84:1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!

We’re in the midst of a major renovation at Erin Church, so the whole place is anything but lovely! The parking lot is caked in wet red clay; the church parlor has been sealed off due to dust; chairs and equipment are stored all over the place, and some of our classes, programs, and projects are on the back-burner until the construction is completed. Everything is in a state of chaotic un-loveliness, so this whole year will be a washout as far as I am concerned.

We’re looking forward to Easter, though, because by that time the downstairs Fellowship Hall should be completed. If it is, then we’ll hold our annual Easter breakfast in it and celebrate the rebirth of the church. That promises to be one of the most meaningful resurrection Sundays our congregation have ever experienced.

In the ancient past, holy temples and sacred buildings were thought to be the dwelling places of God’s Spirit, but because we’re New Testament people, Christ has taught us that God is within us. We are meant to be the lovely dwelling places of God, exhibiting love and peace, grace and compassion to the world.

I hope that when the building renovations are completed at Erin, we will begin to focus on the spiritual renewal and Christian renovation of the hearts and minds of our people. It’s all very well having updated facilities that look great, but God is meant to dwell within us, not the bricks and mortar. So I guess the challenge for us all is this: what must I do to make God’s dwelling within me a lovely place, so that others may be attracted to Christ and His love?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, sometimes people cannot see You because we get in the way. Forgive us for causing others to miss who You are because of the mistakes that we make. Help us to open our hearts and minds, bodies and souls to Your Holy Spirit, so that we may become the lovely places and loving people that God requires. 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 drawing is from John’s psalms art project. It is of Psalm 84 v 3 – ‘Even the sparrow has found a home.’ You can view a larger version of the drawing here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3674099670_617ddcdeda.jpg