JQA - Psalm 45:1

Psalm 45:1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. (NIV)

            I’m currently reading a biography of John Quincy Adams – my favorite US President. The book is called ‘Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams,’ which was written by one of his relatives, Josiah Quincy. The book contains many sections of the speeches and writings of JQA, especially the ones he wrote and gave after he left the Presidency. In my opinion, he was the most intelligent President we have ever had and much of his writing reflects the breadth of his international experiences, as well as his love of classical books.

            JQA was a fierce opponent of slavery and a strong advocate for the liberty of all people, especially where their rights to petition or protest had been suppressed or ignored. When he gave a speech in Congress, his words were often jeered by his opponents, but JQA’s perseverance and great command of language enabled him to strongly express what needed to be changed about how the American people were governed. He fought continuously against the notorious Gag Rule of 1835 which unjustly, as well as unconstitutionally, tabled and silenced any petitions against slavery in the House of Representatives. This disreputable procedure was introduced by James Polk from Tennessee and practiced for nine inglorious years during which JQA constantly railed against it in Congress, at public gatherings, and in the newspapers. Eventually, both his tongue and pen overcame the fierce opposition, leading the way toward ending slavery in the US.

            In this post-modern age of superficial sound bites, snap chat, and jingoism, we need solid speeches, effective writing, and committed leaders to keep us on a path which will advance life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone. JQA fully understood why universal equality was so important because he saw it as an inalienable right given to us by God. As he once wrote, ‘Quench not the spirit of freedom. Let it go forth, not in the panoply of fleshly wisdom, but with the promise of peace, and the voice of persuasion, clad in the whole armor of truth, conquering and to conquer.’

            As people of faith, we have an opportunity to make our congregations, communities, and countries much better places by promoting Christ’s teaching and truth, rejecting what is false and unjust, and writing about or expressing our beliefs in ways that are kind, loving, and full of hope. If we are willing to do these things, then our tongues and pens will no longer be weapons of division and disunity, but will effectively become channels of God’s mercy and instruments of peace.

Point to ponder

What things can I write, say, or do which will promote peace and advance God’s love among my family and friends?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to cherish Your ways and communicate Your love to everyone we encounter today. Keep us from causing division and enable us to promote Your peace. 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 Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s Psalm drawings based on today’s Bible verse. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Psalm 45.

Eyewitnesses - 2 Peter 1:16

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. (NIV)

            Almost every day, I receive emails from Christian ministries and organizations with invitations to subscribe to a special conference or video series about church growth. They usually try to entice me with special gifts or claim to have a wonderful seven-step plan that will double congregational membership within a year. All I have to do is sign up, pay hundreds of dollars with my credit card, and everything will be well.

            Years ago, I did participate or sign up for a few of these conferences and plans, but after more than 30 years in ministry, I have found that the most productive way of making a church grow depends on individual congregational members asking and inviting others to come to a worship service or special event. It seems that the personal invitation is more effective than anything else; no other program, plan, or project accomplishes this.

            I think this is what the Apostle Peter was referring to when he mentioned the eyewitness accounts that he and other people shared. His personal relationship with Christ was what he wanted to tell others about. Even in old age, with death by execution imminent, Peter expressed his total confidence in Jesus. His ministry was based on his personal testimony and because there were others who expressed the same, the Christian Church grew all over the world. In the end, it was the personal invitation and individual witness that was most effective.

            We all want our churches to grow because our Christian faith is important and we believe that the world will be a much better place with a living and loving relationship between us and God. What Christ and His disciples repeatedly tell us through the New Testament is to share the Gospel and invite other folks to church. If we want our congregations to increase, we have to be willing to ask others to come and worship with us. We need to become eyewitnesses of the Spirit of God moving among us by letting folks know about our faith, about our church, and about our personal commitment to Christ.

Points to ponder

Am I concerned about the numbers of members at my church? Who have I invited this year to come to a worship service? Have I followed up with that invitation?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You inspired Your disciples to go out into the world to share the Gospel and invite others to follow You. Help us in this generation to take up this challenge and give us the desire to ask others to come to our worship services and other church events. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along and join us for worship at 11:00 AM on Sunday mornings. You will be made very welcome 😊

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

Faith Sharing devotion: Mighty Acts - Psalm 145:4

Psalm 145:4    One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

            While reading this verse today, I started wondering what mighty acts of God have happened during my lifetime, which could be told to the upcoming generation.  I was born in 1957, so perhaps what I’ve experienced as mighty acts may not be so great to the next generation. I can list several things: the success of the Civil Rights movement under Dr. King; the Peace Accords in Northern Ireland; the tearing down of the Berlin Wall; the rebuilding of New York after 9-11; the restoration of the Gulf Coast after Katrina; the invention of cell phones; the major medical breakthroughs in the fields of cancer and disease research; the progress of space exploration. There are many more that I have surely forgotten; there are other major events that I have not recalled.

            In the Faith community, the mighty acts of God are harder to pinpoint because they have a major effect on individuals and small groups, rather than being noticed on a world-wide scale. I have known people to be cured of cancer through the power of prayer. I have seen people so moved by the words of Christ that their lives have changed. I have watched the people of God embrace those who are deeply hurt by loss and tragedy. I have seen the spiritual nurturing of young children who have grown in the Christian faith. I have been with people as they pass over from this world to the next, quietly surrendering themselves to the Almighty will of God.

            God’s mighty acts can be seen and found wherever there are people on Earth. He has never abandoned us to the evil that mankind often does, nor has He ever forsaken us in the midst of our troubles. His mightiest act was to send His Son Jesus Christ into our world to save us from our sins, to heal us of our hurt, and to restore us to God’s favor. Above all else, this mighty act of salvation through Jesus, is the one amazing event that I want to tell constantly to the next generation. In my humble opinion, there is no other greater story, there is no other mightier act of God.

Questions for personal reflection

When and where have I seen God’s mighty acts in the world during my lifetime? When and where have I personally experienced His mighty acts in my own life?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for being present in the world and in our own lives. We seek Your guidance and look for Your presence each day. Help us to see God’s mighty acts in the world, as well as the ones we can experience in our everyday lives. 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 or ask 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 ‘Summertime Sunflowers.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Sunflowers.