Always There - Matthew 14:14

Matthew 14:14           When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

            We often read about Jesus healing crowds of people in the Gospels, but today’s highlighted verse takes place at a deeply emotional time for Christ. He has just heard that His cousin John had been beheaded by Herod, which causes Jesus to go and find a solitary place. He wants to be alone to deal with His grief because the pain He must have felt must have impacted Him. It was a time to get away from the world and reflect upon where His future lay. It was a time to be alone, in order to weep and grieve the loss of family.

            But even in the midst of seeking to be isolated, the crowd clamor to find Him. There are still people to heal, sicknesses to cure, and demons to cast out. The people need Jesus to do something for them and want Him to fix their problems now. When Christ saw them, He could have been angry with them for breaking His time of grief; instead, as Matthew clearly states it, ‘He had compassion on them and healed their sick.’

            I don’t know about you, but Jesus’ response deeply affects me. It tells me that He always has time to help His people and that He is willing to hear our prayers, complaints, and issues, no matter how long they take or how often we approach Him. Christ’s compassion confirms my faith in Him. He knows who I am and understands what I need. He helps me when I’m down and He lifts me up when I most need Him.

            Perhaps you’re going through a difficult time or someone you know is having some serious problems. Please understand this: when you come to Christ directly, He hears your prayers and holds you in His compassionate, healing hands. Be embraced with His goodness today and be encouraged by His love.

Point to ponder

What issues am I struggling with today? Am I willing to bring them to Jesus in my prayers?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your compassion and mercy, forgiveness and grace. Be with us throughout this day and grant us Your guidance and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s winter drawings called ‘Winter Has Come.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Winter.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. The church’s website can be viewed at this link: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Encouraging Words - Matthew 11:4-5

Matthew 11:4-5         Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

            I like what Christ has to say to John the Baptist’s disciples in order to give hope to John, who is languishing in a dungeon beneath King Herod’s palace. The message is one which will restore John’s confidence and strengthen his faith. In the darkness and isolation of his bleak cell, John must have been tortured by self-doubt and misery. He had staked his reputation on pointing out to people that Jesus was the Messiah they were looking for. He asks Jesus to confirm this because he fears that he may have been mistaken.

            John’s situation would have reduced anyone to this level. When he was outside of his cell, proclaiming God’s message to his people, he was fearless and courageous. Now he was trapped in a dark, dank, and miserable cell where his mind was overloaded with anxiety and his spirit downcast with depression. No wonder then that John begins to lose some sort of grip on reality, so like most of the people at that time, he turns to Jesus to ask for help and healing.

            Christ does not disappoint him. He tells John’s messengers about all the wonderful miracles that are taking place, as well as adding that the good news of salvation is being proclaimed, especially to the poor. This is all that John needs to hear to reactivate his faith and restore his confidence. Jesus is doing all of the things that had been prophesied, so John accepts this news with a grateful heart.

            Perhaps you are experiencing some trouble in your life or are feeling isolated and disillusioned. Maybe you feel trapped in a situation which seems hopeless because you are powerless to change things. Let Christ’s Spirit enter into you. Let His words of faith calm your fears and settle your souls. Let His love embrace, energize, and encourage you. You are not alone – Christ is with you, ready to help and heal you, too.

Point to ponder

What things negatively impact my faith in God? How can Christ restore me?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, you know us completely and are perfectly aware of our present circumstances. Come to us and lift us up. Heal and restore us; embrace and encourage us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

As you reflect on today’s scripture and message, watch and listen to the great Country singer Alan Jackson sing the old hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,’ at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X35JDIdQF5A

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can view the church website at this link: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Christian Devotions: God Has other Plans - Genesis 39:20b-21

Genesis 39:20b-21      But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 

When Joseph was falsely accused of adultery and unjustly imprisoned (Genesis 39:11-23), he must have felt that his life was cursed and that God had abandoned him forever. Previously, his brothers had abused him and sold him into slavery. He was kidnapped and taken to a foreign land. He became an unpaid overworked servant in an Egyptian official’s household. Just when he thought that his life may have turned a positive corner, he suddenly found himself at the center of a woman’s scorn and his master’s wrath. He was thrown in prison to rot and die. Joseph’s life was a complete disaster and he was bereft of everything that was once good.

But God had other plans. He watched over Joseph and took care of his terrible circumstances. God did not abandon him like his family or wretchedly mistreat him like his false accusers. God sustained Joseph in the midst of his plight and elevated him into a position of trust and responsibility at the prison. He was not forsaken or forgotten by God. Joseph’s life was about to take on a whole new importance that would not only positively change his circumstances, it would actually change the history of faith in the world.

Perhaps you are in the midst of something that is either depressing you or just wearing you down. You may even feel isolated from God or even abandoned. Despair can imprison your spirit, but God wants you to be secure in His arms and feel enjoyment, meaning, and purpose once more. Put yourself into His hands and allow God to do what He does best: to make all things good again through Jesus Christ.

Questions for personal reflection

What problems or issues currently trouble me? Have I totally given them over to God in prayer?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, come into the midst of all that besets and plagues us at this present time. Grant us Your gracious guidance and assure us of Your loving presence. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly 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.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest art nouveau drawings called “Paper Roses.” It’s based upon the unique art style of Glasgow artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7834723686_d992ea78b1_b.jpg

Daily devotions: In Between - Genesis 25:19a

Genesis 25:19a  This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac.

Years ago, when I was growing up in Scotland, going to the movies meant spending the whole afternoon or an evening in the picture house. Instead of just previews and the main feature like today, a whole program consisted of some trailers, a newsreel of important events, a one hour ‘B’ movie, several cartoons, and then the main feature film. It took almost four hours from beginning to end to watch the whole program.

If an epic movie was being shown like “Gone with the Wind,” “El Cid,” or “The Sound of Music,” there was always an interlude when movie goers could stand up and stretch, buy some ice cream from the pretty usherette, or visit the restroom. You could also catch up with your friends and neighbors if you spotted them in the theater. After ten minutes, the lights would slowly go down, everyone would return to their seats, and the program would continue.

When I read about the biblical patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – I always feel as though Isaac’s life is just a mere interlude between Abraham and Jacob. He appears to be a spectator in his own life. Abraham almost sacrifices him as a child. His marriage is arranged by his parents. His wife bears him two sons and then we next meet him as an old blind man who is tricked by his youngest son and rejected by his oldest boy. After all is said and done, Isaac’s importance is merely peripheral, as if he’s only a small character in an epic movie.

For most of us, life is a lot like that. Our life story seems to carry no great importance in the realm of all things, and we can sometimes feel small, insignificant, as well as useless. And yet we believe in an Almighty God who takes a great interest in us individually, who watches what we do in our lives, and knows what we accomplish for His Son Jesus Christ. Our lives are not mere interludes that have no value; our lives have a purpose in the continuing ministry and mission of Christ. If anything, we are each an integral part of the amazing prelude to Christ’s Return.

Questions for personal reflection

How am I important to God? What does He want me to do with my life for His Son?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You know our lives completely and You have a personal plan for each one of us. We are uniquely created in a special time and place where we can serve You by being witnesses of our faith to all the people we encounter and embrace. Help us to understand that we are each significant to Your life, ministry, and work on Earth. 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.

Today’s image is John’s latest “Bonnie Scotland” drawing called ‘Dunure Castle Sunset.’ It features the medieval castle at Dunure, which belonged to the Kennedys, at sunset. The castle is situated on the West Coast of Scotland and John was parish minister at Dunure for nine years.

If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8153/7541052224_c2ca921d0c_b.jpg

Short Devotions: A Great Light - Matthew 4:16

Today’s readings are Isaiah 11:10-16  and  Matthew 4:12-17

Matthew 4:16                         “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

When I first became a minister, I worked for a while in an ophthalmic ward as its part-time chaplain. All the patients in it were recovering from eye surgery. Some of them needed implants, some suffered from glaucoma, and still others had been involved in car accidents which meant that the surgeons had to patiently pick out small fragments of glass and metal from their eyes.

95% of the time, the surgeries were successful. The other five percent had to undergo several different operations before their eye ailments were cured. Sadly, a small number of people each year remained blind. Dealing with those patients was amongst the saddest pastoral experiences I ever had.

For the rest of the patients, recovery took several days. They were gradually brought into the light, so that their eyes would not be permanently damaged by the sudden brightness of daylight. I can remember that large wooden shutters were placed over each window in the ward. The merest ray of sunshine, if prematurely exposed to the patients, could ruin their eyes forever.

The best experiences in the ward were those great days when a patient was wheeled out into the courtyard in full sunlight. Their joy was ecstatic and tears of gladness were often shed by the patients, nurses, as well their families. It was indeed a fulfilling of the old Biblical prophecy – “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”

Spiritual darkness occurs in the hearts and souls of many people in the world today. Sometimes they’ve allowed fear, disbelief and distance from God to take them back into the shadows of doubt and despair. Sometimes painful events, grief, and illnesses cause people to retreat within them, cutting themselves off from God’s love and His people. Whatever the causes or the circumstances, as a pastor I have seen the light of Christ heal, restore, and reclaim people like them for God’s Kingdom, in words and ways that cause them to rejoice in the Lord and delight in His glory.

Perhaps you are currently undergoing some pain, hardship, or trouble. Maybe you feel vulnerable, isolated, and alone. Dark clouds may have almost overwhelmed your soul and you may feel depressed. Know this: Christ has the capacity to bring you back into the light. Allow Him to do what He is best at accomplishing – restoring peoples’ lives and returning them to God’s Love. All you need to do is ask Him to do this for you, even now as you are reading this message.

Prayer:                       Lord Jesus, You know the struggles we are all experiencing and the issues that over-shadow our lives. In the midst of all the darkness that we feel, bring to each of us Your Everlasting Light. Encourage and embrace us; empower and enable us to follow Your Light. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely 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 message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s picture is John’s latest drawing called “Halloween Jack.” If you would like to view a larger version of this drawing, click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/6242043547_520bbf2618_b.jpg

Christian Devotions: Cartoon Capers - Proverbs 28:19

Proverbs 28:19           He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Years ago, I used to watch a show called “My World and Welcome to It,” starring William Windom, one of my favorite American actors. Windom played a cartoonist called John Monroe and the storylines of each show were crafted around short stories written by American humorist and cartoonist James Thurber. In fact, it was James Thurber’s cartoons that peaked my interest in drawing.

In the show, John Monroe often resorted to fantasy and created cartoons in his head to deal with the issues and problems that he was facing. It was a fascinating way to bring solutions to his family’s difficulties and everything was usually neatly resolved by the end of the 30-minute show. It was pure escapism and moralistic entertainment, but it was only comedic drama and could not be counted upon as a real way of dealing with personal problems.

The gift of imagination that God has given us can be a blessing or a curse. We can fantasize about being successful, rich, and famous; we can even draw on paper or make cartoons in our heads about experiencing health, wealth, and power, but unless we do something about achieving those goals, they are just mere fantasies and unfulfilled dreams that disappear into thin air.

This week, we are all given a new opportunity to do something better with our lives and to make something beautiful for God. The potential is there and the dreams are in our hearts, but do we have the resolve to follow through and fulfill them? As Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers once said: “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

So the challenge for us today is this: will we work for our dreams or just fantasize? The free-will choice belongs to us alone.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You fully know what our life’s potential actually is. There are things that You would have us accomplish this week for Your Kingdom. Help us to focus upon what we need to do to fulfill our dreams and to complete the tasks of faith that You constantly set before us. 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. Please feel free to share this devotion with your own family and friends.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest depictions of the Space Shuttle, which launches for the last time this week. The drawing is called “Reach for the Stars,” and is John’s artistic homage to the NASA program. 8x10 inch signed prints are available. Contact John by email if you are interested. You can view a larger version of the drawing at the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5235/5883222966_d5585b0e03_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: Just the Same - Hebrews 13 v 8

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

When those words were first written, the Jewish-Roman war was taking place in Judea. The Jews had revolted against Roman occupation and so the Imperial troops were sent in on mass to suppress the people. Four years of a horrific war took place, culminating in the destruction of the Temple and the flattening of Jerusalem itself. Both Jews and Christians had to flee the Emperor’s wrath and after the revolt was over, Christians endured another two centuries of Roman persecution.

The purpose of this letter, therefore, was to encourage the Christians in Judea to remain faithful in the midst of unjust and painful circumstances. The writer of this letter urged his Christian readers to hold on to Christ’s teachings and to remember that, no matter what they experienced, Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Happily, this must have been effective because after the Judean Christians were scattered throughout the Mediterranean, churches sprang up all over the Roman world. Eventually, the Empire would decline and the Church would ascend.

Perhaps like me, you are struggling with the changes that are happening across the world, throughout society, and in the Church. Maybe you are wrestling with your faith and trying to make sense of it all. You might also be feeling like giving up and walking away. I know that I have felt the same at times, but when I read a verse like today’s, I remember that my faith is not about me; it’s all about Jesus – who is the same yesterday and today and forever. Changes may occur all around me, but Christ never does. He is what makes me a Christian; His constancy is what helps me to endure.

Prayer: 

Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.

All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!

Glory to His Name! Glory to His Name!

All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name! Amen!  -  Albert B. Simpson

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Scottish drawings. It’s called “Home for Hamish” and is a crayon depiction of the hidden highland village of Plockton. The BBC detective series “Hamish MacBeth” starring Robert Carlyle was shot on location there. If you would like to see a larger version of the image, please click on the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5207/5729213941_c8512f7c0e_b.jpg

Short devotions: A Timely Reminder - Proverbs 6:23 & John 14:6

Proverbs 6:23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

Somehow this verse from Proverbs reminds me of Christ’s great saying: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6)

It reminds us that in the midst of the unknown and uncertainties, Christ is our lamp, our light to show us the way to live our lives, so that we may one day enter God’s everlasting kingdom.

It reminds us that Christ’s teaching is all the truth that we need to know in our lives. If we follow His commands and apply His teachings, we will be content and know that we are doing what God wants of us.

And it also reminds us that by allowing Christ’s Life to influence our own, He will not only accept us, He will also correct us so that we will not stray from His embrace, His encouragement, and His empowerment to challenge our ways and positively change our lives.

Isn’t it wonderful that Christ is our reliable Guide, True Teacher, and great Lover of our souls?

Prayer:             Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last. Amen    Charles Wesley

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing in his “Bonnie Scotland” series of prints. It depicts the beautiful West of Scotland coastal town of Oban, which is also the Highland capital of Scotland’s Gaelic speaking people. The initial print of this drawing (#1 of 25) is currently being auctioned on Ebay. If you would like to view the details and see a larger version, please click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/48uj8da

Gospel devotions: Couch Potato Christians - Philippians 4:13

Today’s podcast of this devotional can be heard at the following link: http://traffic.libsyn.com/stushie/Couch_Potato_Christians.mp3


Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

I’ve seen this verse on many car bumper stickers and heard it quoted by lots of Christians. It is used to encourage people to accomplish their dreams or overcome hurdles in their lives. It’s a good verse for doing that, but is this what Saint Paul had in mind when he wrote it in the first place?

It seems to me that this is about coping with good or bad circumstances and being content with our lot. When Paul used it, he stated that he had been through good times and bad times. No matter what he experienced or endured, he was content. He saw his time on earth as a gift of God’s grace and used his days to promote Christ’s gospel. Everything else was peripheral to his faith; anything else was trivial to his beliefs.

I’ve heard some people disparage Paul’s writings and brand him as a zealous fanatic who was narrow minded, intolerant, and blinkered. When I hear this, I often wonder what hardships the Christian complainer has undergone, or if it’s just couch-potato theology. Whatever the case, I am reminded that Paul’s faith was active and real, confrontational and challenging. When he wrote about “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength,” he wasn’t talking about wealth, success or accomplishments; what he was actually stating was: “everything I do for Christ’s kingdom, I do it in the strength of the Lord.”

That puts a whole new spin on what that verse is about. That challenges us to think of our lives in terms of God’s mission through Christ, and not on our own accomplishments, successes, and dreams.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep us from getting caught up in our own vanity and our own prosperity. Remind us of Paul’s successes through his sacrifices and experiences. Help us to remodel and refocus our lives on Your ministry and mission for the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray.

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.

Christian Devotions: Passing Through - Philippians 3:20

Philippians 3:20         But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

A lot of people, when they get to hear my Scottish accent, usually ask me if I ever feel homesick. It surprises them when I usually say, “No.” They reckon that I would be pining for the Auld Country, but the truth is this: I miss the people, but not necessarily the place.

I’m not disrespecting the land of my birth either; it’s a beautiful place. It’s just that I’m moving onward and upward to God’s country. I’m just a pilgrim passing through the Earth, no matter where I’ve come from, or where I will ever live.

As Paul stated long ago, people who are Christians should view things like citizenship and nationality as being temporary, which means that our patriotism and loyalty ultimately and truly belong to God. There is no Scotland in heaven; there is no USA beyond the Pearly Gates. There is just one kingdom and one country: that of God’s Sovereign realm.

So do I ever get homesick? Yes, but not for Scotland. I yearn for the day when my soul will be at one with Christ in God’s Kingdom. I long to be home in Christ’s Country and everlasting presence. And in the end, when all is said and done, isn’t this the reason why we became Christians in the first place?

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest New Yorker series. It’s called “Snow Show at Radio City” and features traffic in the snow outside of the famous theater. You can view a larger version of this picture online at: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5345410288_aa183fa9f1_b.jpg

All of John’s drawings can be found on the Web at his art site at www.stushieart.wordpress.com

Signed, numbered and matted prints are available for only $20 each (plus shipping if necessary). They make unique gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and new homes. Just contact John by email and he’ll be delighted to help you.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Trying Times

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Podcast version here:

http://media.libsyn.com/media/stushie/Trying_Times.mp3

To paraphrase Thomas Paine, “These are the times that try the souls of men and women.”

The Stock Market has crashed again and the recession is getting deeper. No matter how many bail outs that our leaders employ, they just don’t seem to be working. We’re now at a 12 year low as far as the financial market is concerned, which means that we’re right back to where we were in 1997. If we follow the same pattern to reach our all time highs, it’s going to take about seven years to make up for the difference.

A lot of people are unsettled and sadly some have become unemployed. Everyone is tightening their belts and reducing costs. For the moment, gone are the days of unlimited credit cards, spending sprees, and buying luxuries. Most folks are doing well with what they have and just glad to be surviving.

In times like these, faith in God becomes a bulwark, an anchor, and a fortress. We need to feel that no matter what we are experiencing, He will help us to endure. That’s why today’s words, expressed and written by the prophet Isaiah 2700 years ago, are highly relevant to what we are going through.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

In other words, no matter what we face, our fears will not overwhelm us and our troubles will not destroy us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, these are anxious times and we all worry about the future. We pray that You will help us endure and support us in the coming years. Remind us also that our lives and our faith are eternally invested in You. Guide us, protect us, and love us. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly 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 Devotions: Clearing the Way

God helps us to overcome obstacles and can clear the way ahead in our lives, so that we may serve Him fully and faithfully. A short reflection on Isaiah 57 v 14.

Podcast version here

They’ve been working on the main road next to my subdivision for over three years and they still haven’t finished it. It’s only about a mile long, but there are some nasty bends to negotiate, so the contractors are trying to straighten them out. They also had to widen the road for the amount of extra traffic, so that involved moving a lot of houses back about twenty yards from the original road. I don’t know when they will finish it, but one day it will be completed and there will be no more traffic cones, gravel or obstacles to drive through. It will be a joyous day for the commuters in my area when it is all completed.

Our church is also going through some major improvements and renovations. We’re just getting started with a long process of modernizing the church for the 21st century. It will take a while to complete and there will be some obstacles in the way ahead, but once everything is completed, the church will be ready for the next generation of ministers, leaders, and members to carry on Christ’s work in this community. It will also be a joyous day when the scheduled work is actually completed.

Isaiah 57:14 And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."

I like the idea of God building up His people and removing all obstacles in their way. That gives me a lot of hope in these troubling times when the Christian Church appears to be losing ground and dividing itself. The cultural obstacles and the obstinate rocks of division will one day be removed by God and Christ’s work will be completed. That will be a joyous occasion when all of God’s people can freely proclaim Christ as their King and pledge their total allegiance to Him as their Lord.

Perhaps you are currently experiencing some obstacles in your own life. They might arise through illness or worry, trouble or heartbreak, disappointment or loneliness. Know this: God has enough power to remove those obstacles that are in the way of enabling you to fulfill your life for Him. One day the road will be clear and you will move on freely, knowing that God is up ahead of you, preparing the way.

Prayer: Lord God, there are obstacles in all of our lives that prevent us from joyously experiencing life as it is meant to be. Whether those obstacles are self-created, made by others, or caused through troubling circumstances, we pray that You will graciously remove them from our lives. Be with us now and prepare the way ahead. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him some feedback on this devotional, send an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.