Midweek Message - Restful and Peaceful

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (NIV)

     The other day I heard a simple short prayer to ask of God each night. It comes from the Cistercian monastery tradition which the monks recite just before their nighttime prayers end. It goes like this:

     “O Lord, grant me a restful night and a peaceful day.”

    It’s a beautiful prayer and one which I need every single day, especially during these turbulent and trying times. The words quietly remind me that God watches over us all through the night when we sleep and also seeks to support us during each moment of the day. Getting enough sleep is a problem for most people, so perhaps praying this short prayer will enable us to place our hearts and minds, bodies and souls into God’s hands until we wake in the morning.

     I think that the writer of the fourth psalm also experienced this blessing. His nightly surrender into the arms of God enabled him to let go of his daily worries and troubles, in order to be comforted and strengthened by God each night.

     So, whatever you’re facing today, I hope that God grants you peace and when it comes to lying down tonight, may your sleep be restful and your dreams be full of bliss.

 God bless you all.

 

Midweek Message: Cartoon Capers

Proverbs 28:19           He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Years ago, I used to watch a TV show called “My World and Welcome to It,” starring William Windom, one of my favorite American actors. Windom played a cartoonist called John Monroe and the storylines of each episode were crafted around short stories written by American humorist and cartoonist James Thurber. In fact, it was James Thurber’s cartoons that peaked my interest in drawing.

In the show, John Monroe often resorted to fantasy and created cartoons in his head to deal with the issues and problems he was facing. It was a fascinating way to bring solutions to his family’s difficulties and everything was usually neatly resolved by the end of the 30-minute show. It was pure escapism and moralistic entertainment, but it was only comedic drama and could not be counted upon as a real way of dealing with personal issues or family problems. 

The gift of imagination that God has given each of us can be a blessing or a disappointment. We can fantasize about being successful, rich, and famous; we can even draw on paper or make cartoons in our heads about experiencing health, wealth, and power, but unless we do something about achieving those goals, they are just mere fantasies and unfulfilled dreams that disappear into thin air.

It's the same with our faith. Every day, we are given a new opportunity to do something better with our lives and make something beautiful for God. The potential is there and the dreams for doing good are in our hearts and on our minds, but do we have the resolve to follow through and fulfill them? As Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers once said: “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” 

So, the challenge for us today is this: will we work more with our faith and share Christ’s love, or just dream and fantasize about it?

Prayer:              Lord Jesus, You fully know what our life’s potential is. There are things that You would have us accomplish this week for Your Kingdom. Help us to focus on what we need to do to fulfill the tasks of faith You constantly set before us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Pastor John

 

Midweek Message: Know the Truth

John 8:31-32 To those who had previously believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NIV)

Jesus faced a lot of opposition throughout His ministry, especially from some of His earliest followers who eventually decided to walk away from Him. In doing so, they rejected His teaching which was based on truth and love, and then they fiercely confronted Him with their doubts about His character, as well as their own retrenched beliefs.

Christ’s truth challenged His people, just as it still does for all who call themselves Christians today. He never said that believing in Him or following His way was going to be easy, but He did insist that what He was preaching and teaching was the God-given truth. People back then relied on many of their traditions and sacred texts to formulate their own ideas about what was important and true. When Jesus brought a new understanding of what those traditions and texts really meant, His ideas were initially treated as being novel and inventive, but eventually they were seen as being too radical and dangerous for regular religious people.

We are still faced with the same challenges, especially in our truth-forsaken society which relies more on what we feel rather than what is factual. A culture which insists that what people feel to be true as more important than what is actually true, can be easily manipulated by charlatans and liars, conmen and fanatics. Such a society enslaves itself to the whims and wiles of totalitarian leaders, as well as their henchmen and women, whose only purpose is to increase their power by spreading lies, causing chaos, creating division, and fomenting fear. This is why Jesus taught both His supporters and opponents that knowing the truth was essential to their freedom – lies took away their liberty whereas the truth kept them free.

Point to ponder: How does Christ’s truth constantly challenge me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life which we all should seek and emulate. Forgive us for being duped by leaders who lie. Help us to follow and practice Your teaching which counters fear with faith and lies with love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

New Devotions Book: The Light of Love

My latest book of devotions has just been published. This time, I've uploaded it as an ebook for Kindle and also as a paperback edition. Some of you were asking for this option. Both editions are available at the following links now, in the US and internationally.

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1BJGHS

Here's a description of the book which is called 'The Light of Love.'

The Gospel of John has always fascinated me because it is so unlike the other writings of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Jesus has more personal encounters and conversations in the Gospel and this shows us each individual in the stories was highly valued and respected by Christ. This is what first attracted me to Jesus – His personal touch and deep interest in the lives and circumstances of the people He met.

The Gospel has twenty-one chapters and can be easily read over six weeks by reading approximately half of each chapter on a daily basis. I’ve written two devotions for each chapter with a point to ponder and a short prayer at the end. A daily plan is also included at the beginning of the book and the day’s readings are given in each devotion. I’ve inserted some of my artwork to separate each weekly section of the readings and devotions.

The book can be read individually or as family devotions each day. However you use this book, I hope and pray that it brings you closer to the Lord.

Short devotion: Caretakers

 

Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (NIV)

One of the biggest issues that we’re facing today has to do with climate change. Whether we believe in it or not, there seems to be something going on with regard to glaciers melting, sea levels rising, and more storms each year. Last year, our wee city of Knoxville, Tennessee, which is located on the foothills of the Smokey mountains and usually enjoys pleasant weather, was hit with a highly destructive tornado, the likes of which we have never seen. Our winters have also been getting warmer with less snow capping the beautiful mountains that surround us.

Whatever is causing these changes probably has to do with the many neglectful ways in which we take the Earth for granted. We also tend to leave our environmental problems to someone else, or to some future hapless generation to find solutions to the difficulties that are presently occurring. It is far easier to ignore the issues and neglect to do something positive politically, financially, or even globally. After all, isn’t it our God-given right to do as we please with the planet and to exploit its resources?

When I read the Biblical version of creation in the Book of Genesis, I’m always impacted with the role that God gives to humanity with regard to the Earth. In today’s highlighted verse, we read that God not only expected mankind to work in the Garden of Eden, but God also wanted human beings to take care of it. Thus, right from the beginning, we are divinely expected to be caretakers of this planet, this home we call Earth, and not to exploit it.

So, here’s our challenge for today: how can we fulfill our faith in God by looking after the environment we live in, so that we honor God’s creation and become responsible of the planetary role that our Maker expects?

Prayer: Lord God, this is a beautiful and exceptional planet which is a great and unique gift. Help us to heal the harm we have caused it and enable us to restore its balance by being caretakers of the Earth’s environments and not exploiters. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a retired Scottish pastor, now living in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read more of his regular devotions on his website at www.glenkirk.blogspot.com

 

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings based on Psalm 24. You can view a larger version at this link: Psalm 24.

Short devotion: Unworthy - Luke 12:6-7

 

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (NIV)

A couple of times this week, I’ve had friends confess to me about how unworthy they feel to be loved by God. It bothers them greatly and hinders them from coming back to church. They genuinely feel that because Covid has isolated them from coming regularly to the sanctuary to worship on Sundays, they have somehow disappointed and failed God. They seem to think that this unworthiness has separated them from both the worship community and the Lord Himself.

This is very hard to bear, and I can remember going through a similar time when I strayed away from the church. The feeling of unworthiness creates a barrier and forms a shell of shame around your spirit. It’s difficult to break through and overcome; it’s also one of the best weapons that the devil uses to keep people away from God.

The good news is this: we are all unworthy to be loved by God and yet, despite what we feel, God still values us as His children and His Son’s servants. This is why Jesus told His people not to worry about their lives or be anxious about their unworthiness. God valued them greatly and loved them deeply, so deeply, in fact, that God sent His Son to die for unworthy people and restore them to God’s favor forever.

So, know this: we who are unworthy, are welcomed back by God to worship in Christ’s church, not because of who we are, but because of Who God is and what Jesus has done.

Q: What makes me feel unworthy of God’s love? How has Christ overcome this for me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are times when we feel that we have failed You and sometimes this stops us from worshiping with others. Help us to accept that we are all unworthy, but that we are also valued highly by God, Whose love for us never ends. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and thankfully pray. Amen.

 

Pastor John.

www.erinpres.org

 

Short devotion: An Invitation - Acts 26:29

 

Acts 26:29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (NIV)

 

I love the genial attitude of Paul when he is being interrogated by the local Roman rulers in Acts chapter 26. He knows that his life is on the line, but instead of remaining fearfully silent or pleading for forgiveness, he shares his faith in Christ and hopes that those who listen to him will come to know Jesus, too. It’s not an act of staunch defiance; it’s a simple profession of faith which he compassionately expresses.

 

I think we can all learn a lot from the apostle about how we can share our faith. He doesn’t compel anyone to comply to what he believes, instead Paul offers an invitation to join Christ’s Kingdom to the rulers and their courtiers who are listening to his testimony. The apostle truly wants them to accept Christ as their Savior, but he does not insist that they must do this. He respects their individual freedom to choose what they want for themselves; all that Paul is doing is being the Gospel messenger that Jesus called him to fulfill.

 

As Christians, we witness to Christ every day through our words and deeds. Sometimes we say and do the right things which may complement our faith; on other occasions, our bad behavior and ill-chosen words can repel those around us from knowing Christ, especially when we try to force our beliefs on others who think, live, and do things differently. Remember, Paul did not coerce Agrippa and Festus into becoming believers; he sincerely invited them to consider it.

 

Q: How do I project my faith to others? Am I invitational or confrontational?

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we were invited to have faith in You through other people who followed Your way. We know that we are flawed and imperfect, so we ask for Your guidance to help invite others to faith through compassion, grace, and, above all, love. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You check out the church website at www.erinpres.org to see what’s currently happening there.

Short Devotion: Open Their Eyes - Acts 26:17a-18

Acts 26:17a-18 “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (NIV)

 

Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa revealed his personal commission from Jesus. In Acts 26, we read Paul’s confession of his inhumane religious zeal which led him to fanatically pursue, persecute, and punish any Christ believers in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Galilee, and even beyond their borders. He was on a one-man crusade which had a single purpose: to annihilate the Christian sect wherever it occurred.

 

Paul truly believed he was working for God until Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and changed him completely. What Paul thought was right in God’s eyes was actually wrong; what Paul felt God was compelling him to do was a religious delusion. Christ humbled Paul with a temporary blindness in order to get him to fully reconsider his fanatical ways. His personal mission was no longer valid; Christ’s commission for Paul to lead the Gentiles to the light of God had only just begun.

 

Over the decades of ministry that I have experienced, I now recognize those similar times of religious zeal and self-righteousness which took me off Christ’s path in order to pursue my own agenda, feelings, and self-constructed faith. Like Paul, I honestly thought I was doing God’s great work, but in reality, I was shaping a religious idol which reflected more about me rather than Jesus. When I dare to look back, I regret some of the things I said, wrote, drew, and did which perfectly expressed my zeal, but imperfectly witnessed to Christ’s compassion. If I knew then what I know now, things would have been different, but I was blinded by my own self-assurance, self-opinion, and self-focused faith that I could not see where I was so intolerably wrong.

 

Sadly, I see the same religious zeal hurting powerless people instead of healing them today. I see Christ’s compassion being cast aside in order to make people conform to religious rules. Instead of being the way to bring people into the light of God’s love, I see faith being abused to fearfully overshadow and engulf others in a destructive darkness which occurs when ignorance, intolerance, and religious zeal are forcefully combined to demonize, marginalize, and pulverize others into submitting to a regulated religion – the very same thing that Paul was guilty of empowering and unleashing, from which only the true Spirit of Christ could liberate him.

 

May Jesus release us from the same.

 

Point to ponder: Does my faith lead people to the light of God’s love? If so, how? If not, why not?

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, free us from the fetters of ignorance, intolerance, and fanaticism and lead us to compassion, care, and grace. Use our faith to heal and not to harm, to love and not to loathe, to help and not to hate. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can see what the congregation is doing by visiting the church website at www.erinpres.org.

 

 

Daily devotion: Following Paul - Acts 25;21

 

Acts 25:21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” (NIV)

 

Evelyn and I have just returned from a beautiful trip to Greece. We explored many places, climbed thousands of ancient steps, and visited some of the most amazing Greek and Roman ruins in the world. It was a holiday we had planned for almost three years and we both looked forward to visiting the many historical places associated with the Apostle Paul. We were not disappointed.

 

I’ve always admired Paul’s ministry since elementary school. I grew up in a time when my schoolteacher began each day with a Bible passage and commentary. Most of the time, my teacher read from the Book of Acts and talked about Paul’s arduous journeys to plant churches around the Mediterranean and in Asia Minor. More than fifty years later, I got to see those historic places, especially those in Ephesus, Corinth, Rhodes, and Athens.

 

Paul purposefully lived to spread the Gospel of Jesus and eventually was martyred because of his faith. He wanted to share the good news of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection to everyone who was willing to listen to his message. He even managed to talk about Jesus to the most powerful man in the world of his day – the Roman Emperor – as he made his personal appeal to Caesar. Imagine that – an itinerant preacher with no wealth or esteem – standing before the mightiest and most-revered person in the ancient world, talking to him about Jesus.

 

As Evelyn and I walked on ancient roads where Paul travelled, we both felt a connection to the great work that Paul accomplished in his day. And, as we listened to different local guides tell us parts of Paul’s story, we were both humbled and inspired to spread the Gospel for the rest of our lives to those who are willing to listen, because everyone is a child of God, and everyone can be saved by God’s grace. We just have to make the most of our opportunities to share Christ’s love and words with all whom we are still to meet.

 

Point to ponder: How do I share my faith in Christ?

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for personally calling Paul into Your ministry. We are grateful for the many things he accomplished through his total devotion to You. Help us to carry on the mission of Your Gospel by sharing Your love with all whom we meet and encounter today. 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 look at what the church is currently doing, please check out the website at www.erinpres.org.

 

Today’s photograph is of the ancient main street in Corinth where Paul spent eighteen months building up the church, preaching the Gospel, and probably selling the tents he made in one of the local stores on this remarkable street.

Lent devotion: Redirection

Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (NIV)

I love using my GPS (Satnav in the UK), especially when I’m traveling to a distant or new place. It takes the worry out of reaching my destination and has made driving so much easier. I trust the satellite system to be accurate and it has only failed me a couple of times. I rely on it to be updated and will continue to use it whether it’s to get me around the city or even across the country.

In very much the same way and with a great more faith, I place my life into God’s hands. The ultimate destination is a new and distant place: Heaven. I can only get there by following God’s directions which are mapped out for me in the Bible. There are times when I get lost, or take a short cut, or even ignore God’s guidance. During those moments, I need to return to God, ask for forgiveness, and allow Him to recalibrate my direction. Thankfully, God’s grace through Christ permits me to get back on His path again, so I can once more travel heavenward.

Perhaps you feel lost or have taken a wrong path. Maybe you feel a gap between you and God and don’t know where to go with life or what to do. Come to God in prayer and just ask for His guidance. He’ll put you back on the right road and once more you can find hope in Him all day – and all life – long. 😊

Q: Where am I headed in life? Am I willing to let God recalibrate my direction?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, be our Guide today and reset our tracks on the right road that leads to heaven. Grant us the guidance we need and reassure us of Your love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Short devotion: Sometimes - Acts 20v32

 

Sometimes

Some days, I feel so imperfect, inefficient, and inadequate that I question whether or not God will both accept and forgive me. I’ve made many mistakes throughout my life and sometimes I shudder when I think about the scrapes I got into during my teenage and drunken years. How I managed to survive them is incredulous to me. If it weren’t for God’s grace, I wouldn’t be here now, writing a devotional, trying to connect with other folks who have gone through similar things.

When I start the day with a ‘downer,’ at some point God interrupts my self-pity and usually highlights a Bible verse which I can both ponder and rely upon. This morning was no different: God provided the verse and made me realize that His mercy and grace still abound. Here’s the verse I was given:

Acts 20:32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Just what I needed to read, embrace, and apply. God’s grace is not just for forgiving me, it is meant to help me grow in faith, with hope, and always through His love. It’s perfect for me today, so I hope that it will be very good for you, too. 😊

Prayer; Lord God, You love us completely and Your gracious heart beats throughout our lives. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, as well as Your patience and care. In Christ’s Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

www.erinpres.org.

Short Devotion: Anything - 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

 

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (NIV)

Christianity has never been about doing what we like to the detriment of others; it has always been about seeking the good of others around us in order to show God’s love through us. It can be very easy to do what we want and justify our actions by claiming that God approves, but that’s not faith; that’s self-indulgence and borders on idolatry where we put ourselves first and expect God to follow our lead.

When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he had to deal with this selfish attitude and nip it in the bud. Why? Because if he hadn’t put a stop to it, selfishness would have contaminated the whole congregation and Christ’s work would have been blemished by blatantly self-serving ‘believers.’ Christ called people to faith and asked them to be servants in God’s Kingdom. Paul had experienced this for himself on the Damascus road when Jesus stopped him in his tracks. Paul was serving his own fanatic and religious zeal; Christ needed him to completely  change in order to serve the very church he was persecuting.

One of the great sadnesses that I have witnessed in recent years has been the rise of self-centered Christians who care more about themselves than they do of the wider community. They put themselves first over the common good of others and whenever they come across something that they disapprove, they cloak it in their own self-made faith which causes them to despise or dismiss others simply because they have different views.

We live in troubled times, but most of our troubles are caused because we follow our own ideas and opinions, instead of faithfully asking God for counsel, wisdom, and guidance. Instead of catching on to what God is doing in the world, we want Him to catch up with us; rather than be led by His Spirit, we go our own way and expect God to change His direction.

Proverbs 16:25 warns us explicitly: There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death. (NIV). May we all reflect on what we believe is right and humbly ask God to show us instead what is really true.

Prayer: Lord God, open our eyes and minds to all that is true and help us then to do what is right. Challenge our self-centered ways and penetrate our hardened hearts in order to enable us to seek to serve rather than to be served. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

www.erinpres.org

 

 

 

Short devotion: Consequences - Proverbs 19:19

 

Proverbs 19:19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again. (NIV)

 When I read this morning’s highlighted verse from the Book of Proverbs, I recognized the godly wisdom behind it. The words were written long ago, but could easily be applied in our present circumstances. Less than a week ago, all of our lives were turned upside down by the hot-tempered rage that was clearly evident in the riot that took place at the Capitol Building. Angry people lost control and tried to tear apart the heart of our democratic republic. It was a horrible scene of hostility and violence that appeared fearfully apocalyptic. It wounded us deeply as a free people and we are now living in the after-shock of that calamitous moment.

 There are consequences for what took place and we need to be resolute in our efforts to ensure that we make the proper response. The Bible seriously cautions us that if we rescue those who have done this, then it will only happen again. Already, the FBI is telling us that armed protests may take place in every State Capital. If we excuse those who have caused this unrest and ignore their actions, we will be dealing with it for a long time and living under the fear that it may happen once more. One thing I learned the hard way as a child in elementary school – if you don’t stand up to bullies, they will continue to threaten you and make your life miserable.

 As I wrote yesterday. I want us to reach a point where we can unify and find some middle ground. However, that does not mean we have to appease those who resort to violence and use strong-arm tactics to coerce us. In fact, we need to be brave enough to call them out and state the truth. If we make excuses for what happened and spread false ideas, we will never heal, or as the Bible put it, we will have to go through the same situation once again. In other words, if we do not learn from history, we will be doomed to repeat it.

 Prayer: Lord God, You have given us solid wisdom from the Bible and in times like these, Your counsel shows us what we must do. Help us to apply Your words and grant us the courage to be resolute. In Your Holy Name. we humbly pray. Amen.

 John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

www.erinpres.org

 

Short devotion: Pandemic Post - 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

 

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (NIV)

 Throughout this pandemic, I have been collecting British stamps. I am doing this for two reasons: firstly, I’m gathering them in several albums to give to my grandson in years to come. I hope he appreciates the stamps as something that I personally put together for him during a time of crisis. Secondly, I needed something in the evening to take me away from the television and my obsession with the news. I was becoming overwhelmed and depressed with the situation which was affecting my faith and relationships. I thought that if I did something quietly and peacefully it would bring down my levels of anxiety and distress. It worked.

 I rediscovered my boyhood joy of collecting stamps. The colors, the artistry, and the events depicted on the stamps – all brought back memories from my childhood and remembrances of historic celebrations and commemorations. It helped me to escape from the pressures of the present pandemic into a past world that I cherished. It has been a wonderful godsend to me and has kept me balanced, focused, and determined to get through this critical time.

 Stamps are really postal seals that are used by us to guarantee that a letter or package will be successfully sent from one place to another. Most of the stamps that I have collected have been purchased online from all over the world. It has been delightful to receive letters from folks on the other side of the planet who share this wonderful hobby. I’ve also realized that the stamps I collect have their own individual stories of messages and packages, letters and notes sent by people years ago. It’s amazing to think that something which began its journey in someone else’s life has ended up in an album that I will pass on to my grandson.

 When I read today’s Bible verses, I was reminded of the seal of ownership – the stamp of approval, if you like – which God gives to us through Jesus. And with the Spirit’s blessing within our hearts, we are guaranteed a better and brighter future to come. I like that idea, especially during this pandemic. It gives me hope for the years to come and peace throughout this present time.

 Q: What have I done during this pandemic to sustain me and bring me peace?

 Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the greatest gift in our earthly lives and by God’s seal, we are stamped with Your love, grace, and approval. Help us throughout this present crisis and enable us to discover new or old ways to find hope, peace, and love. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

 John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and see what’s happening at the church by visiting our website at www.erinpres.org.

Pandemic Purpose - Mark 9 v 5

Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!” (NIV)

For most of us, being at home is like house arrest. We want to go places and be with people elsewhere, but we cannot because we’re trying our best to help others. We end up sitting around after our work, probably watching old movies, checking out the fridge, or cleaning out stuff that we’ve gathered or kept in boxes way too long. Perhaps there are some moments when we don’t know what to do with ourselves, so we just end up trudging through the day as best as we can and then go to bed early. We’re on pandemic imprisonment and we don’t like it.

But what if God wanted us to use some of this time to grow closer to His Son Jesus? What if this was the opportunity to fully read that Gospel or Old Testament book that we’ve always promised ourselves to do? What if God, who really loves His Son, wants us to listen to Him now? Wouldn’t that transform our spirits? Wouldn’t that give us something to aim at or spiritually deepen?

Usually, we are so busy that we never really stop to listen to Jesus. We bring Him into our lives whenever there’s a crisis or something that we want from God. Now that we’re in a crisis, shouldn’t we be asking ourselves what does God want me to do in this strange time?

So, go on. Read that book from the Bible. Study that passage that has always intrigued you. Choose a Gospel and read it from beginning to end. The insight that Christ gives you may also change you, but then again is that not why God says to the three disciples on the mountainside and also ourselves: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we waste a lot of our lives by focusing on unimportant things. During this pandemic help us to change that. Encourage us to meditate on Your Word and allow us to use this opportunity to grow closer to You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

PS – if you would like to find a Bible online, the best ones to be freely found are at this great link:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

Today’s image is John’s latest Pentecost drawing called “Spirit 2020.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit2020.

Video devotion - Clean Hands - Psalm 18:20

Jesus At The Door - Revelation 3:20

Revelation 3:20 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. (NRSV)

Christ’s message to the church folks in Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) is not very complimentary. Jesus complains about their lackadaisical and laid-back attitude to being involved in the work of their congregation. They had become lukewarm because they took God’s grace for granted, so Jesus expressed His disappointment with the church. It must have been a hard message to receive and one that probably offended a number of Laodicean folks at that time. They wanted to be encouraged for their effort, not rebuked, even if it was only a meager one.

The good thing about the passage is that Jesus wasn’t willing to give up on them. In fact, He was ready to personally get involved in each of their lives. Today’s highlighted verse describes Christ as standing outside of the door of the church, or even each individual’s heart, just waiting to be welcomed back into the congregation and the personal lives of each church member. It’s a beautiful image of how God’s grace actually works – we are always offered it when we least deserve it.

The good folks in Laodicea must have heeded Christ’s message because, 1900 years later, the church still exists there today. It is an example of how the truth about our faith can actually help re-motivate ourselves, if especially if we are honest about our casual approach to our personal commitment to Jesus and His Church. In these uncertain times, we need to grow our faith in order to use our faith to overcome our fears, anxieties, and worries.

Point to ponder: Have I distanced myself from God? Am I willing to let Christ back into my life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything about us and how faithful we actually are. Help us to re-evaluate our spiritual lives especially during these trying and unusual times. Encourage us to open our hearts, homes, and churches to Your gracious presence. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship at the church or online each Sunday at 11:00 AM. No matter who you are or where you are, you are very welcome 😊

Today’s image is an old drawing of John’s called ‘Sunrise Communion.’ If you want to view a larger version, please click this link: Sunrise.

Worthless Words - James 1:26

James 1:26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. (NIV)

According to James, the brother of Jesus, being religious and being Christian were two separate things, especially when it came down to behavior. In his time, folks were very religious and sought to distinguish themselves by proudly displaying their faith and testifying to their own righteousness. However, when they spoke disdainfully or aggressively criticized others, this conveyed, as James wrote, that their religion was worthless. In other words, they were just going through the motions of appearing to be faithful, but their brutal words and strident ways showed them for what they were: absolute hypocrites who were not worth following or copying.

Application: During these troubled times, we need to personally ask ourselves: is my religion real or worthless?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, open our eyes to those who feign to be faithful and keep us from being misled. Let us also be aware of our own sinful ways. May our faith be real and not worthless. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship each Sunday at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called ‘Spirit 2020.’. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit.

Do Not Forget - Hebrews 13:15-16

Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (NIV)

Anyone can say from their lips that they love and serve Jesus. It doesn’t mean that they actually believe it or even practice what this entails. Healthy folks can also post religious verses or statements on the internet to indicate their beliefs, but they may not even go to church on Sundays. This is not a new issue, however, because the writer of Hebrews reminds the young Christian Church that praising Jesus also involves doing good and sharing with others. In fact, the author urges the new congregations not to forget about doing these things because some of them became so centered on their personal beliefs that they neglected to follow through with good deeds and Christian love.

Application: Is my faith deeply personal or distinctly relational? Who can I help to love and support today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to proclaim our faith in You by practicing Your teaching through helping and caring for others. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship each Sunday at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called ‘A New Earth.’. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Earth.

Builder of Everything - Hebrews 3:4

Hebrews 3: 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. (NIV)

I can remember watching my grandson playing with some blocks recently. He was cheerfully building a tower by piling each brick on top of the other. At some point, the tower became unstable and he laughed loudly as the blocks tumbled down. He would then start again to build another tower with the same outcome.

I think the urge to build something is a divine hallmark within all of us. Our world is full of many structures that people have built throughout the centuries. The greatest landmarks that we have are all buildings whether they be towers, castles, or even pyramids. We live to build and we build in order to live.

God is the greatest builder that we know. He built the Heavens and the Earth, the majestic mountains and the rolling seas. Our planet has been built over billions of years initiated by God and built upon His Word. God also builds our lives through the work of Christ and the interaction of the Holy Spirit within us. God has built us to be His people and He continually builds our spirits by filling us with faith, hope, and love.

Application: Think about the plans that you have for your life. Ask yourself “what is God building within me?”

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for building everything including our planet, our people, and our purposes. Encourage us to keep building what You have made within us. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome :)

Today's image is one of John's crayon drawings of Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Castle.