Looking Forward - 2 Peter 3:13

2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (NIV)

At times, our world can be a very scary and unpredictable place. Changes challenge us constantly and most folks get weary of all the social, political, and religious turmoil that is constantly going on. We try to keep up with things, but eventually, we run out of steam. The world keeps moving on and we sometimes feel left behind.

But this is where our faith becomes meaningful. We remember that our destination is not tied to this frenetic world. As Christians, we look forward to a time when God through Christ will recreate a New Heaven and a New Earth which means that all the former things like pain, suffering, conflict, and war will be replaced with peace, grace, and love.

Application: Am I worried about the future? Am I willing to leave it all to God, so I can look forward to when he makes all things, including myself, new?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we live in anxious times so we are asking for Your peace to be present in our lives. Help us to focus on what You are doing in the world, so we may prepare ourselves for the recreation of everything. In Your Holy Name, we wait and 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 Smoky Mountain drawings called “Heaven meets Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Heaven.

June 21 devotion - Promises, Promises

Genesis 21:1    Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. (NIV)

            My Grandma Stuart had a saying about people who disappointed her: “He’s a great promiser, but a bad fulfiller.” She came from a small Scottish religious community who were known as Rechabites. Her direct family members were all teetotalers who abstained from drinking alcohol and smoking, which is funny, because of her grandfather, James Doyle, who made his money manufacturing clay pipes for tobacco users. She was a strong-willed person who had a lot of gumption and determination. I guess I get most of my stubbornness and religiosity from her side of the family.

            Throughout the Bible, God constantly makes promises and never fails to fulfill them. In Sarah’s case, from the events described in Genesis 21, He sees to it that she bears a child even in her old age. The same blessing is also accomplished in Luke 1 when the elderly Elizabeth gives birth to John the Baptist. It’s all part of God’s way of completing the work of His salvation for the people on Earth. God is not only a great promiser; He’s also a great fulfiller.

            Every day, we experience the promises of God in our individual lives and across the entire Earth. His promises are both personal and global, as well as being current and historical. In Jesus, we have the greatest promise of salvation that humanity has ever known; in Christ, we also see the greatest fulfiller of God’s holy words.

Points to ponder

When and where have I experienced God’s promises in my life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, through Your complete obedience to God and the fulfillment of all His promises, we have been given the sacred opportunity of forgiveness of our sins and being eternally restored to God. In response, we dedicate our lives to You and to Your continuing ministry of salvation throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully serve and thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s church bulletin covers called ‘The Promise.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: Promise.

Thanksgiving devotion: Outlaw - Judges 11:3

Today’s readings:       Judges 11:1-11 and 2 Corinthians 11:12-21

Judges 11:3    So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him.

The story of Jephthah reminds me of the tale of Robin Hood. Jephthah becomes an outcast because of his immoral parentage and, in order to survive, he collects around him a band of adventurers who fiercely defend the exiled land where they are now living. Jephthah and his band of brothers are treated like outlaws until their homeland comes under a severe attack from its enemies. Jephthah’s strength, bravery, and courage are so well known in the region that the elders of his tribe come to him for help. They are even willing to forget his shady family tree and offer him the leadership of his own people. They are all living in desperate times, which requires desperate action.

Later on in the story, Jephthah becomes a tragic character because of a rash promise, but during this time when the people needed him, his leadership saves the day. God obviously blesses Jephthah because he is a man of faith who keeps his word. Even though this will cost him his dearest love, Jephthah will not abandon his people who had once forsaken and outlawed him.

It’s a remarkable story, full of many different angles, lessons, and teaching points. It shows us how God can use outcasts to fulfill His will. It also reminds us of the noble qualities of loyalty and service which can be found in humanity. It displays fortitude and courage in the face adversity and prejudice, as well as how compassion and sacrifice show humility and devotion before God.

Jephthah’s tale could have been written as a Shakespearean tragedy, but it also reminds us of how God kept His promise by sacrificing His own dear Son in order to redeem and restore the world that He loved. And if you read through Judges 11 over the next couple of days, you’ll fully understand all that I am writing about today.

Questions for personal reflection

Have there been times in my life when I've felt like an outcast among my peers? How has God helped through those moments of isolation?

Prayer:            Lord God, You have kept all of Your promises and continue to fulfill Your word each day. We thank You for the precious gift of Your Son Jesus whose death brought us life, and whose compassion granted us mercy. Help us to share His gift with our families and friends during this time of Thanksgiving and Hope. 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 questions about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is a holiday card for a friend.