In God's Hands - Revelation 4:11

Revelation 4:11          “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will, they were created and have their being.”

            Being a life-long Presbyterian, I have personally believed and heavily relied upon the Sovereignty of God. My faith informs me through the Scriptures that God made everything and that by His infinite will, life is sustained throughout the universe. This helps me immensely in situations beyond my control, as well as during times outside my understanding. Since God created all things, then I believe that He constantly oversees our lives and continually prepares the future ahead of us. Tomorrow is always in His almighty hands.

            I know that many people are concerned about the future of our country, especially when the outcome of this present election is known. However, no matter what happens or whoever is chosen to be our leader, Christ is still the Head of the Church and God is the Supreme Being of the entire universe. Leaders come and go, nations rise and fall, but the word, way, and will of the Lord continues forever, so in the end, it is God’s leadership that will prevail; it is His Kingdom that will endure.

Questions for personal reflection

What worries me about the future? Am I willing to place it in God’s capable hands?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of our lives and the King of our hearts. In the midst of all that troubles and concerns us, help us to reach out to You for peace and tranquility, hope and harmony. In your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

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

Walk in Love - 2 John 1:6

2 John 1:6        And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (NIV)

            Like most people, I’ll be glad when this Presidential Election is well and truly over. It seems to have brought out the worst in most of us and, unfortunately, has not been a good civil exercise in community building. I’m as guilty as anyone else, so quite recently I stopped making political comments on Facebook and other places in order to maintain both my sanity and friendships with other folks. It is my fervent hope and prayer that after this is all over, we can live and work together as free people, who love their liberties and cherish their relationships.

            Looking at today’s highlighted verse, it seems to me that as Christians, we have a greater responsibility to walk in love and grow that peace. If we get too caught up in party politics and partisan divisiveness then we’ve forgotten the higher road, as well as the greater standard, that we are supposed to follow. In the Christian Church, loving one another is not just a personal elective or individual choice; it’s a command that came straight from Christ’s lips to those who would be His followers and disciples.

            So perhaps the best way to walk in Christ’s love is to begin it today and not to wait for the Election to end. If we treat each other respectfully, faithfully, and lovingly, then we won’t get caught up in the frantic turmoil that usually occurs in the last days before voting ends.

Questions for personal reflection

How has my witness as a Christian been displayed during this campaign? Am I willing to follow Christ’s command to love one another, especially those who support a different candidate?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we pray for our nation like never before. We confess to being polarized by politics and characterized by our candidates. Help us to take a higher path and walk throughout this time in Your love, in order to display Your grace and peace. In Your Holy Name, we humbly confess and sincerely pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is this week’s bulletin cover art for the Church, based on a timely Bible verse from 2 Thessalonians. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Bulletin.

Super Tuesday devotion - Running to Win - 1 Corinthians 9:24

1 Corinthians 9:24     Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 

            It’s a big day in America because millions of people will turn out to vote in the Primaries. A lot of people are deeply concerned, including me, about how our elections are being manipulated by the media. Whether it’s from biased news coverage or prejudiced comedy shows, the outcome is the same: a dangerous polarization of the greater community which threatens to tear apart the fabric of freedom across the country.

            How we got here is anybody’s guess and I’m sure that the historians a century from now will know all the answers. What I believe we need to do as Christians is to ask God for healing to come to our nation after the main elections, and then work to restore a practical unity and commonality in our own communities. No matter who is elected, poverty, ignorance, and disease will still be around, so we will still have plenty of missions and ministries to undertake, accomplish, and fulfill.

            When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about running a race and winning a prize, he was talking about our individual faith journeys. We rush through life headed towards the finish line, but rather than keeping our eyes on death, we raise them up to look at Christ and see Him waiting for us beyond the end of the race. He is our ultimate destination; He is our ultimate prize.

            So, no matter where we end up at the finish of this election, our eyes need to go beyond the political temporal world and look up to the sacred everlasting kingdom. Of course, we need to be in the world to help our communities, but we also need to look beyond this life to the eternal faith community to which we ultimately belong. There is no point in running this race we call life, only to finish at a dead end.

Questions for personal reflection

How often do I think about life after my death? Do I know where I am headed?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, in the midst of all the important events that are happening in our lives and around the world, help us to keep focused on You. Remind us that we are Your servants and enable us to work in our communities by sharing Your love and compassion with other people. Lead us through life, so that we may always look ahead and still see You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to make comments or ask questions about today’s devotion, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

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