July 15 devotion - God's Garden

Isaiah 61:11     For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

            Early one morning, I was visiting with one of our church members, who was showing me her amazing vegetable garden. Her husband had built an amazing irrigation system which collected all of the rainwater from their house gutters into barrels and then dispersed it throughout the whole yard using a computerized timing mechanism. He invented the whole system and I was amazed at so much ingenuity and productivity which could be used all over the world to grow food. The garden was absolutely filled with vegetables and fruit, all blessed by God through the ingenious distribution of rainwater.

            The day before my visit, a tragic event in Nice, France had occurred, where over 80 children and adults were deliberately mowed down by a terrorist driving a large truck. It was unbelievable and still is incomprehensible to me how anyone, in the name of their god, could inflict such inhumane and wicked carnage upon innocent people. In the past couple of years, we’ve seen these attacks around the world increase. Most people are horrified by these abhorrent events; most of us of different faiths and none at all, just want to live in peace, respect, and love.

            My prayer that day was the same one that Isaiah expressed in his ancient prophecy. I prayed that the Sovereign Lord would make righteousness and praise spring up before all the nations. Indeed, God has given us the seeds of hope, faith, and love that we need to grow such goodness around the world, but it’s up to us to keep growing those precious plants in our hearts, homes, churches, and communities across the entire planet. If we become bitter, then our humanity will become harsh. If we preach revenge, then we will relinquish hope. The only way to defeat fear is to focus on love. The only real antidote to terror is to embrace one another and share God's peace.

Questions for personal reflection

With whom can I share Christ’s love today? What can I do to advance His peace?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are often deeply saddened and affected by man’s cruel and vicious inhumanity to man. Sometimes we just feel downhearted and lost, depressed and confused. Help us to find Your way of peace, hope, and love in our lives first, so that we may then share those gifts with other people. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you have any questions or comments about today’s devotional, please feel free to send him a message by email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings of a Poppy Field in France. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Poppy.

Daily Devotional - Love and Compassion: Colossians 3:12

Colossians 3:12          Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

            The outpouring of love and compassion that I’ve seen on the internet after the Orlando Massacre has both humbled and deeply touched me. I know that there are still some ignorant folks venting their spleens and spreading hate, but their voices are diminishing and their influence is negligible. What I’ve seen are many photographs of people from all over the world attending candle lit vigils and showing their compassionate unity with the victims and families of the dreadful shooting. It will never take away the loss and pain that the affected friends and families will always feel, but it will offer a level of comfort and support in the midst of their agonizing grief.

            Religious congregations and secular companies, people of faith and those of none, have joined together in sadness and grief, shock and loss. It’s sad that such a level of basic goodness and unified humanity has been engendered by a terrible tragedy; however, if we remain united we can change and make better decisions. Sensible gun laws and acceptable choices can be accomplished, but only if we work together toward a brighter future for our children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren. It won’t be easy, but it can be achieved. It starts at a personal level and continues to expand in our community, country, and world.

            As Paul wrote long ago, God’s people are meant to embrace and express compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. If I want to experience these in my life, it all starts with me; if you are seeking the same, it begins with you, too.

Questions for personal reflection

How has the Orlando Massacre affected and changed me? How can I show God’s love and compassion to others at this time?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, help us to become God’s people and Your servants through personal acts of love, kindness, and compassion to others, this day and every day onward. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to contact him, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s drawing of a Celtic Cross in rainbow colors. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Cross.