Short Devotion: Issuing Orders

Matthew 8:8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. (NIV)

I’m currently reading a series of biographical books on Great American Generals. I’ve finished two books on Generals Patton and Grant and am now reading a book about General Eisenhower. All three of them were men of their time and called to give major leadership decisions that principally affected the outcome of the battles and wars they were facing. All three of them knew how important training and discipline were to keep their armies fighting for victory. Each of them knew the critical value of issuing clear and precise orders for their military strategies to succeed.

It seems to me that the centurion who approaches Jesus for help is also a like-minded soldier. He knows his place and understands what he precisely requires. He wants his faithful servant to be healed by Jesus. He knows that Christ has this power at His disposal, so he makes the request personally and fully believes that all Jesus has to do is to speak the word of command and his servant will be cured. It’s an incredible act of faith and even Christ is surprised by the centurion.

We are told in this Gospel that Jesus declared He had never encountered such faith, not even among His own people. The soldier submits to Christ’s authority and awaits His command. He is ready to carry out whatever orders Jesus gives; he is ready to believe all that Christ has to say.

For such faith, the ailing servant who is at home, is instantly healed when Jesus pronounces it. The centurion believes everything that Christ has spoken, so that when he returns to his house, he finds his faithful and beloved servant completely cured. It’s a remarkable event and it reminds us of Christ’s power and compassion.

Wherever we are today and whatever we are facing, let’s approach Jesus with the same confidence about His power and compassion. Let’s take time to ask Him for help and seek His blessing. Let us be soldiers and servants of Christ who faithfully follow Him.

Point to ponder: What help do I require from Jesus today? Am I willing to approach Him faithfully and humbly with my request?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our Commander-in-Chief and King of this world. Help us to serve You faithfully and humbly seek Your guidance. Enable us to follow Your orders and to spread Your Gospel with faith, hope, and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

 

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

D-Day Devotion: Overlord

Genesis 17:8   The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."

Today is the 70^th anniversary of the commencement of ‘Operation Overlord,’ otherwise known as the Battle of Normandy which included ‘Operation Neptune,’ or the D-Day landings. Over 12,000 allied planes were involved in the battle, along with 7000 vessels. Initially over 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops assaulted the beaches and fought valiantly in order to secure the coastline. By the end of Operation Overlord, the Allied Forces incurred almost 250,000 casualties but also managed to inflict 400,000 casualties on the Nazi troops. Within a month, 1.3 million Allied troops of many nations had landed on French soil and the Liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation earnestly began.

When I look at old newsreels of the young men wading through bloody waters and trying to get past enemy fire, I wonder what they must have been thinking and feeling. Most of them were aliens in a foreign land, fighting and dying on strange shores, giving up everything so that the whole world could have peace. Those who survived do not readily speak of those horrifying days. They must have seen, heard, and experienced terrifying times. They put their lives on the line for foreign people and for generations that were still to be born. In my book, they are the greatest heroes who ever fought and died for all of the freedoms that I experience today.

God’s ancient promise to Abraham was also fulfilled on D-Day and throughout the year of battles that took place after that historic and monumental event. The Jewish people, without European Liberation, would have been remorselessly and totally eradicated by the Nazis. God could not and would not allow that, which is why I believe the Hand of God was also evident in the Battle of Normandy.

Today, let’s give thanks to God for our freedoms, but also let’s take time to pray for and thank those veterans among us who, as young men and women, put their lives on the line for the entire world.

Prayer:            Lord God, we praise You for the success of Operation Overlord and we remember the price of our freedom. We honor those who gave up everything, so that we may retain our civil rights and human liberties. Bless those veterans who are still with us. Comfort them as they recall within their hearts and minds the hell that they experienced in battle in order to win freedom for the Earth. In Christ’s 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 pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Devotion for D-Day

Genesis 17:8   The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."

Today is the 68^th anniversary of the commencement of ‘Operation Overlord,’ otherwise known as the Battle of Normandy which included ‘Operation Neptune,’ or the D-Day landings. Over 12,000 allied planes were involved in the battle, along with 7000 vessels. Initially over 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops assaulted the beaches and fought valiantly in order to secure the coastline. By the end of Operation Overlord, the Allied Forces incurred almost 250,000 casualties but also managed to inflict 400,000 casualties on the Nazi troops. Within a month, 1.3 million Allied troops of many nations had landed on French soil and the Liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation earnestly began.

When I look at old newsreels of the young men wading through bloody waters and trying to get past enemy fire, I wonder what they must have been thinking and feeling. Most of them were aliens in a foreign land, fighting and dying on strange shores, giving up everything so that the whole world could have peace. Those who survived do not readily speak of those horrifying days. They must have seen, heard, and experienced terrifying times. They put their lives on the line for foreign people and for generations that were still to be born. In my book, they are the greatest heroes who ever fought and died for all of the freedoms that I experience today.

God’s ancient promise to Abraham was also fulfilled on D-Day and throughout the year of battles that took place after that historic and monumental event. The Jewish people, without European Liberation, would have been remorselessly and totally eradicated by the Nazis. God could not and would not allow that, which is why I believe the Hand of God was also evident in the Battle of Normandy.

Today, let’s give thanks to God for our freedoms, but also let’s take time to pray for and thank those veterans among us who, as young men and women, put their lives on the line for the entire world.

Prayer:            Lord God, we praise You for the success of Operation Overlord and we remember the price of our freedom. We honor those who gave up everything, so that we may retain our civil rights and human liberties. Bless those veterans who are still with us. Comfort them as they recall within their hearts and minds the hell that they experienced in battle in order to win freedom for the Earth. In Christ’s 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 pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: We Will Remember Them

Psalm 39:4      Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.

2 Corinthians 8:5       And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

November 11^th has always been a very special and solemn day for me as far back as I can remember. As a child I watched Remembrance Day parades and wondered why all of the pipers, soldiers, and people were marching in the street. Later on in life, I would attend solemn church services and school programs where everyone kept a minute’s silence at the 11^th hour. The silence had a profound affect upon me and I have annually tried to keep it sacred.

A lot of people think about the older men and women at today’s Veterans’ Day marches, parades, and services. I don’t see them as old, frail, and grey haired. In my mind’s eye I picture them all as young twenty-something people whose hopes and dreams were set aside by two terrifying World Wars.

When I hear or read the names of those who died, I see them as young people who should have been at college, but who were called up for service of their country. Their lives were fleeting because they gave absolutely everything.

I feel sad and deeply humbled by their holy sacrifice. I hope that I have lived my life in ways that would not belittle their giving. I may never go to war or serve my country on a foreign battleground, but I will remember, respect, and honor those who have done that in the past, and who are still doing it today.

In Britain and across the many nations of what was once the British Commonwealth, the following beautiful statement is expressed after the sacred time of silence:

“They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. We will remember them.”

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are thankful for Your sacrifice that has guaranteed us salvation. Today we also remember those young people who have given of their lives to secure the freedoms, liberties, and rights of our people. Help us to honor their sacrifice by living our lives freely and faithfully. 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.

4 Minute Daily Devotion: Soldier-Servant

Acts 10:2 Cornelius and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

I think when I get to heaven, I’d like to meet Cornelius. His story fascinates me and I love the fact that God uses him as a vehicle to spread the Christian faith throughout the mighty Roman militia. He is chosen by God because of his faithfulness and generosity. He walks the talk and makes himself not only acceptable to the Jews around him, but more importantly to God Himself.

In the scripture we are told that Cornelius is a centurion in the Italian regiment. That means that he is an officer in one of Caesar’s finest troops. His loyalty to the Emperor must have been strong, and yet he is also a follower of the God of the Jews.

I like the fact that God is willing to use an outsider like Cornelius to accomplish an important part of Christ’s ministry. God is favoring the centurion because of his devotion and charitable contributions. Cornelius just isn’t a person who says he believes; he puts his faith into practice by giving to and providing for the poor in his community. Usually, a Roman centurion couldn’t care less about the Jews or those living in poverty. Cornelius is an exception to the rule and because of this, God uses him in an extraordinary way.

I think what the passage is teaching us is this: Cornelius was a Christian even before he knew about Christ. His devotion to God, regular praying, and giving to the poor were very Christ-like. He was an honest soldier with noble characteristics. He was a man of God who would soon become a servant of God’s Son. Cornelius provides for all of us a trustworthy example of a faithful devotee of God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for people like Cornelius, whose lives are filled with faith and honesty, loyalty and charity, commitment and compassion. Help us to receive his example of faith with love and grace. Empower and enable us to try to do much of the same. 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 pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.