Sunday Shorts - Choices

John 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

It was the lowest point in Christ's itinerant ministry. For three years, He had traveled up and down Galilee, gathering a great number of disciples and followers through His preaching, teaching, and healing. But now things were becoming gravely serious because He was meddling in people's lives. Jesus was also notorious to some of the authorities, and His preaching kept hitting raw nerves. On this particular occasion, Christ called His followers' faith into question, suggesting that some among them did not believe in His ministry and mission. And what was the outcome? The scripture states it very plainly: 'Many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.'

Christ continues to have a way of doing that same thing to Christians in our time, too. He still confronts us today, questioning our choices, demanding firm allegiance, and challenging our ways. We all want hope in our lives and a loving Savior, but we sometimes find it difficult to accept the belief baggage and lifestyle lessons that come along with our Christian faith. And for some folks, like those in today’s scripture (John 6:60-66), this is too hard to accept and apply, so they also sadly drift away from Jesus and His Church.

The good thing about this incident is that not all of the disciples abandoned Him. It was left to that good old boy, Peter, to encourage Jesus for a change. When His Savior asks the Twelve, "Will you also go away?", the Big Fisherman gives the sweetest answer to Christ's ears. "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Our faith journey isn't easy and sometimes we will be discouraged or deceitful, sinful or faithless, but we shouldn't despair. Instead, we should look at how Christianity ends. We do have a wonderful Savior and the promise of everlasting life. We have the opportunity to serve Jesus and to joyfully enter into His loving presence forever. We may feel like going away at times, but His healing words will keep drawing us back to Him to receive forgiveness and acceptance, guidance and grace. And when all is said and done, isn't that why we placed our faith in Christ in the first place?

Point to ponder: How difficult is following Jesus for me? How can Christ help me overcome this?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we were once lost souls, whose lives had no real meaning or purpose. In Your mysterious way, You drew us towards You and helped us to give our hearts to You. Sometimes, being a Christian is very difficult and we don't always get it right. We thank You for Your patience, forgiveness, and grace. Without them, we would perish from the Earth and have no hope. With them, we will delight in Your love forever, for You have the words of eternal life. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

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

Love Confirmed - John 13:35

John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)

For the last two months, I have had the pastoral privilege of leading five young people in our church through the process of Confirmation. This coming Sunday all of them will stand before our congregation and make special vows, by publicly declaring their faith in Jesus and promising to follow in His footsteps as His disciples. It’s always a very sacred moment in the life of our church and it gives everyone a sense of accomplishment. Most of the young people in this group have grown up in our congregation, so their confirmation affirms the years of support and encouragement that they have been given from their families, both at home and in the congregation.

It will also be a time when the adults in the church should personally review their commitment to being followers of Christ. Discipleship is a life-long process and never ends until we leave the surly bonds of Earth. Each day should be an opportunity to learn more about God in order to apply our faith and effectively display our Christianity. For Jesus, being a disciple meant showing love to one another, so a faith which is devoid of this is a mere religious fabrication. If other people cannot see Christ’s love in our lives, then our faith has a credibility problem and will be seen as inauthentic.

I have a lot of hope for the young people who are being confirmed, as well as their older peers who have already been through this wonderful process. They seem to care more about one another and have a high sense of what is unfair, unjust, and untrue. The world and its environment deeply matter to them, so they expect those of us who declare ourselves as Christians to be actively involved in caring for our planet and for one another. What they do not expect from Christians is a hard-hearted and contemptible faith which treats others disrespectfully and vengefully discriminates against people who disagree with them. Young people loathe self-righteousness and reject all forms of greed. In my opinion, they are truer disciples of Christ because they understand that love is what generates faith in the first place, and not pride or fear.

Point to ponder

What does Christian discipleship mean to me? What does it actually mean to Jesus?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we want to be Your disciples and show the world how much we love You. You also call us to be Your disciples but want us to show love to one another. Help us to follow Your simple teaching; help us to truly love one another. 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 on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings called ‘Spirit 2019.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit2019.

Wise Ways - Proverbs 9:7-8

Proverbs 9:7-8 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. (NIV)

We live in a dark age where brazen people publicly mock others and unabashed folks hurl abuse at anyone who crosses them. It’s been going on for a long time, but in recent years the emergence of social media like Facebook and Twitter has spawned massive amounts of intolerance, ignorance, and hatred on a scale that we’ve never seen before. Millions of people are being misled into thinking that to be strong and successful, they have to be strident and forceful. They follow the shameless example of their heroes, celebrities, sports stars, and leaders. Sadly, even faithful Christians and good church folks fall under the influence of such charmers, charlatans, and dubious characters. Instead of filtering our ideas and beliefs through Christ, we end up allying ourselves to false ideals and idolize the loudest insulters in our society.

As Christians, we are called to follow Christ and embrace His wisdom in our lives. If we are no different – which is what the word ‘holy’ means - from the rest of the world, then we have failed to be true disciples. If we jeer at our opposites and cheer when our ‘heroes’ kick them as they’re down, then we’ve forgotten who Jesus is and what He fully expects of us. His teachings of ‘turning the other cheek’ and ‘loving our enemies’ are not pious metaphors; they are spiritual commandments which are meant to differentiate us from manipulators and mobs, fearmongers and falsehoods.

In today’s highlighted verse from the Book of Proverbs, we are given great guidance and wisdom which we can actually embrace and practice in our lives. If we hate being criticized for mocking others then we are the saddest fools in Christendom; however, if we humbly receive godly rebukes, then we display spiritual maturity and great wisdom, making us effective witnesses to Christ’s forgiveness, grace, and love.

Point to ponder

Am I guilty of following celebrities and crowds instead of Christ? Am I willing to receive His critical teaching and apply His gracious ways to others?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive our arrogance, especially when it blocks or blinds us to Your merciful ways and loving teaching. Rid us of our self-deceit and open our eyes to Your understanding. 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 on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s new Holy Week drawings. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: HolyWeek.

Just Yeast - Mark 8:15

Mark 8:15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (NIV)

            For most people who bake bread, yeast is absolutely essential. Yeast enables the dough to be more flexible for shaping, to help the bread rise in the oven, and to add some texture and flavor to the whole loaf. Without the yeast, most loaves would be flat and a bit bland. With the yeast, however, thousands of different breads can be baked to make them look attractive in the shops, stores, and bakeries where we buy them.

            Yeast breaks down the sugars in the other mixed ingredients and releases carbon dioxide which allows the bread to rise. Most of the flavor in bread is determined by the crust that the yeast helps to create. As it permeates throughout the combined ingredients, every part of the bread is affected by the yeast. In fact, the quality of the bread is mainly developed by the yeast’s pervasive presence.

            When Christ’s warned His disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, He was cautioning them about the false words and ways His opponents would use to influence and corrupt their spirits. His closest followers were not immune from the wiles and ways of deceitful people; in fact, because His disciples were deeply religious, they were more susceptible to being manipulated by those who were deemed to be powerful, authoritative, and in control. Jesus gave His disciples this grave warning because He was concerned that His own people would be led astray. This is why He also referred to the Pharisees as vipers and called Herod a fox. Their message could poison the hearts and minds of the people and their cunning charms could even contaminate the most faithful of servants.

            The importance of this lesson still remains with us today. Faithful people are not flawless, nor are they protected from the lies of leaders and the deliberate deception of despicable demagogues. We only have to look back to the 1940s to see how outrage and nationalism corrupted the hearts and minds of millions of people, most of whom were good church-going Christians. They yielded to the yeast of jingoism, allowing it to destroy decency, causing them to descend into depravity, furthering disunity, and promoting idolatry. With this in mind, Christ’s teaching about the yeast is very clear: if we embrace liars, we become the lie; if we excuse falsehood, we become just as false.

Point to ponder

Who or what currently influences me most? What would Jesus honestly say about this influence?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You gladly call us to be Your servants but You also ask us to be aware of other things that can distract us from You and divert us from the truth. Keep us mindful of our weaknesses and protect us from those who would brazenly corrupt us with lies, deceptions, and devious ways. In Your Holy Name, we fervently pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you have some questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Celtic Pop.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Celtic Pop.

Come to The Table - Revelation 3:20

Today’s Bible readings can be found here: Psalm 22:1-15 and Revelation 3:14-22.

Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (NIV)

            Our church recently decided to set its overall theme for the coming year as “Come to The Table.” It’s a great idea and one which all of our people, teams, ministries, and missions can embrace, experience, and express in wonderful, effective ways. We are all looking forward to seeing how each team and ministry work this into their regular tasks and projects. By the end of the year, we hope to have grown in worship, discipleship, fellowship, and faith.

            As I was reading and reflecting on today’s New Testament passage, it struck that the very first invitation of asking someone to come to the table should be given to Christ Himself. In fact, in today’s highlighted verse, Jesus encourages us to do that. He says that if we open the door (of our hearts and spirits), He will come in and eat with us. In other words, Christ will come to the table where we are dining and join us for a meal. It’s a beautiful picture of our Savior which shows us that He is ready, willing, and wanting to be a participant in our lives, a faithful friend in all that we seek to do.

            So, to initiate our theme, we can all invite Jesus to come to the table of our lives, our faith, our church, and our homes. He will be delighted to do this – all we have to do is open the door and enjoy the meal together.

Point to ponder

Where is Jesus in my life? Am I willing to invite Him to come to the table?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come to the table of our lives and join our celebration. Enable us to enjoy Your company, to listen to Your conversation, and to share spiritual food with You. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on any Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. Like Jesus, you’ll be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s Communion drawings called “Glasgow Cup.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cup.

Online Devotion: Grace - Home and Abroad - Romans 11:5-6

Romans 11:5-6           So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

            Yesterday, we celebrated Rally Day in our wee church. It’s a special Sunday because it officially kicks off the new Church year with regard to discipleship. A lot of good people put in a lot of time and work to make the whole venture successful. Breakfast and buttons, classrooms and coffees were all prepared for this annual occasion.

            God is so gracious to us! Many families and members turned out, not just to enjoy breakfast, but to also get actively involved in discipleship. It was wonderful see people of all ages make an initial commitment of their time to learn more about God, to share their spiritual experiences, and to make strong connections with their peers. At Erin, we all want to grow in hope, faith, and love. God has graciously made all of this possible, so we are truly thankful to Him for allowing us such a blessing.

            Grace is a wonderful gift in any church, congregation, or community. Later on, during the worship service, we were reminded of the hostility and violence that our Egyptian brothers and sisters are currently experiencing. Their churches are being burned and their Christian faith is being severely challenged. Compared to what they are presently enduring, we are so blessed with peace, fellowship, and love. The challenge that we now have today is this: how can we prayerfully support and care for the Coptic Christians in Egypt? What can we do, in the midst of our blessings, to ease their distress and rebuild their faith communities?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, help us to remain committed to growing more in faith, so that we can support those whose faith is being attacked. Keep us focused on strengthening our congregation and churches, so that we may support, send aid, and stand with other Christians around the world who are facing real persecution in their lives. 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 question about today’s devotion, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is from one of my collectible card drawings called “Cat’s Eye Moon.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/9420111961_5c2249a355_b.jpg